Disclaimer- I own nothing!!!!!!
Mia- neither did I- but I had to get rid of him some way. Actually- when I write, I have no idea what's going to happen. We'll have to wait and see. But I am considering a sequel- just to see what their married life is like- but I don't know.
Eowyn- Glad you understand- wasn't sure about that- thanks
Uhhh. . . . I have no name- I thank you for Legolas- he's being very good- what did you do to him? And his friendship with the corgi is really quite frightening. And thank you- as always
Lady Viola- thank you, Celeborn would very much appreciate that.
And to all those others who I haven't named- thank you
The air was thick with an unspoken malice as the inhabitants of Imladris sat in the council chambers.
Lord Elrond sat stiffly as he awaited the 'human' to be presented.
Thalia sat beside Elrond, straight-backed, mirroring her Adar, who sat on the other side of Elrond. On her face was an expression of grim determination. But beneath that was a little girl who was scared of seeing her dad, who wanted nothing more than to go back to the familiarity that was home, no matter how bad it was. Something deep down inside her told her that she loved him, there was some part of her that was desperately begging her to forgive him.
Legolas sat close to Thalia. As a prince he had been taught how to hide his expression and replace it with a mask of indifference. He, like Thalia, was keeping a brave face. Underneath the stony mask was a boiling rage and hatred that if given the chance would erupt. But he kept it to himself, he had to be strong for Thalia.
Unlike Legolas, the twins and Haldir allowed their feeling to be perfectly clear. Although, Elrohir did show a little more restraint than his brother and his friend.
Glorfindel was perhaps the most conflicted of all that were present. His expression was entirely forced. The anticipation of meeting this 'man', was almost too much to bear. On one hand he wanted nothing but to kill him before he had a chance to speak. His actions and Thalia's scars spoke for themselves. Her condition when she was brought to Imladris was enough reason to kill him.
But on the other hand, he had a daughter to protect. He could feel her anxiety and her indecision come off of her in waves.
The sound of heavy footfalls and laboured breathing reached the ears of the elves. Elrond paused to look at Thalia, who in turn nodded her permission.
Elrond stood as the guards brought the man to the middle of the floor. Then let go of him and he fell to the floor.
"Martin Mathews. You have been summoned here to answer to you crimes of abuse. You have been given this time to speak your words, and choose them wisely, for they may be the ones that may earn you a swift verdict"
Elrond sat down, resuming his position as before.
Thalia looked at her father through wide eyes. She was like a little girl, at that moment an innocence that only a child can carry came over her.
A small smile came over her face as she knelt down in front of the haggard looking man.
"Thalia. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it?"
"No you're not"
"What?" he barked
Her demeanour changed and a scowl came over her face.
"You are not sorry. You are just sorry that you've been caught"
A shadow passed across his face as he sneered at her.
"Alright. No. I'm not sorry. You are worthless. You have always been useless. You stupid little bitch"
Haldir's eyes flew wide open and Elladan growled menacingly. Glorfindel was ready to pounce on him at any moment.
"Look at you. You're a weak pathetic little girl. You're nothing"
"No. you're wrong!" she screamed.
"I'm not a little girl anymore! I'm not your little girl anymore!"
"No. you're right. You're not mine. You're nobody's, nobody wants you. You are alone"
The only obstacle in Glorfindel way was Elrond's arm on his holding him there. He calmed a little and Elrond let him go.
He stood and crouched down in front of him.
"She's mine now. She's my daughter. And you are so very wrong. She is everything that you will never be. Including alive!"
Glorfindel hissed at him in a biting tone. He had achieved the reaction he had wanted.
"You're welcome to her. She makes a crap slave but you never know what talents she may be hiding. She might even be a good lay"
At this Legolas snapped. He rose from his seat and wrapped his fingers around Martin's neck. With is other hand he firmly backhanded the man, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"You will never speak to my future wife with such disrespect!"
The man on the floor began to laugh.
"Oh, I see. What…talents, had she shown you in order to keep herself in your life? Hmm? Prince. You know if you need to, if she doesn't do what you tell her. A belt works like a charm. Or even a whip. They're much better. But what works the best is your…"
He was cut of as Haldir dove forward and punched him, breaking his nose.
Whilst all of this was happening, Thalia had retreated further into her seat. Her knees where drawn up and her chin was resting on them, her arms firmly locked around them. Her eyes were wide and glistening as a few tears made their way down her pale cheeks.
He recovered from the blow and tried his best to sit up staring at her, he said,
"But if you leave her alone. She does it all for you. She bleeds and you don't have to raise a finger. Sometimes, she even takes great chunks out of herself. She wallows in her own self-pity. With no thought for anybody else. And maybe if you wait long enough, she'll eventually kill herself"
"Enough! Silence!" Elrond shouted.
He motioned for the guards to remove the man from the court.
Once he was gone he turned to Thalia. Who was sat, rocking herself back and fourth in her chair, whimpering. Slow tears falling.
Glorfindel was by her side trying to calm her, as was Legolas.
Everybody had been dismissed from the council, and had been asked to return at noon for the verdict.
Haldir and the twins had left immediately to spar, something they only did when they were enraged.
Thalia was now on Legolas' knee. Who in turn was sat on the floor, as was Glorfindel. She had long since calmed and was now staring blankly ahead of her.
The two elves sat with her. Not knowing what to say. She wasn't listening anyway.
Their fury at the man had only grown fiercer as every word poured from his mouth. The tension was unbearable. Legolas was livid. He was outraged at what he had heard. How dare somebody dare to talk about another in that manner. Especially his beloved.
Glorfindel was much the same. He was seething. His daughter had been nothing but a cheap toy for that man. And how dare he insinuate such crude situations regarding her.
It was a silent verdict. Agreed by everybody. The man was to die. But by which method was the question.
Elrond sat in front of Thalia and carefully turned her head to face him.
"Thalia. He is to die. You know this"
She nodded, still holding a blank expression.
Elrond's brow creased with worry. This was not normal. Not even when she had been catatonic had she been like this. Maybe they were asking too much of her.
"Do you wish to have a say in how he dies"
Her head snapped up and she looked at him. Her yes narrowed.
"You bet I do. That son-of-a-bitch deserves to suffer"
She said with renewed vigour. Glorfindel and Legolas exchanged smirks. This is the woman they knew. She was stronger than she thought she was.
"So" she said clapping her hands and rubbing them together. "What are the options?"
"We can give him the kindest option. We can poison him, which means that he will die in his sleep. We could shoot him, although I cannot say that the archer involved will make it a swift kill. Or we could be-head him. This method had not been used since the days before the last alliance"
She nodded, deep in thought.
"Ok, leave it with me. How long before I have to come up with an answer?"
"Two hours"
And she stood up, and left.
Legolas sat still, for a moment. Until he realised where she was heading. Where else would she go after this?
Thalia was already over halfway to their room when she felt his presence behind her. She increased her pace. The bathroom was calling her. She needed this. She had not done it for a few weeks, but this was an emergency.
She flung the door open and ran toward the bathroom, Legolas hot on her heels. Just as she tried to shut the door, Legolas caught it and held it open. He pushed it. And won by sheer force, he was bigger than she was.
She stood, back against the wall. Watching him. Her wide eyes darting form him to the doorway behind him. Her hands stayed behind her back. As he had pushed open the door, she had grabbed a razor from off of the sink.
"Thalia. Come here" Legolas coaxed her. She faltered slightly, but regained her control.
She shook her head, the tears still falling.
In a move of desperation she darted behind him and tried to get through the door. Legolas was too quick for her and he caught her by the waist before she could get away.
She kicked and screamed at him. Until she fell against his chest, sobbing.
He slid down the wall and held her in his lap, her hands carefully within his. The razor lay forgotten on the floor.
He stroked her back and whispered to her softly, calming her and reassuring her. It was a few moments before she stopped.
She lay there, listening to his steady and comforting heartbeat.
She sat up and turned to him. Tears glistening in her eyes.
"I think we should poison him"
As she said this a lone tears ran her face. And then she laid her head back down on Legolas chest.