A/N: Once again, I'm terribly sorry for the delay. I'm posting this in a hurry so I don't have much time to answer reviews. I just want to say thank you guys for being so patient with me, and that I don't intend to leave this story unfinished. Actually this is one of the reasons behind the delay: the story is now planned to the end... So on the good side, the next chapters should be quicker to come... Hopefully...
Also big thanks to Raven and Candice for betaing this chapter.
Anyway, here comes the new chapter!
Chapter 17
Revelation
That night was tense and sleepless, the Elves knew there was still a murderer within the walls of the City. The sudden departure of two of the princes had left a tension anyone could feel.
Faelernil's men proceeded with the searches during the night while Legolas, Aragorn and his men decided to rest for a few hours at least. Once the morning came though, and since Gimli was still missing, they began moving heaven and earth again to find the Dwarf. But with Mîrdolen gone there was no one left to lighten the mood of their search party.
Legolas now had more than one worry on his mind. Besides Gimli's welfare, he was concerned about his brothers' as well as his father's. Faelernil and Mîrdolen were about to fight a dangerous battle they were likely to lose, while Thranduil's behaviour had become more than troubling lately.
But the Elf decided to push most of those worries aside - all but one - to concentrate on the work in hand when he and Aragorn agreed on which places to search before parting ways.
There were very few places that had not been searched thoroughly yet and - quite ironically considering Mîrdolen's comment the day before - the dungeons were one of them.
As he came near the dungeons' entrance Legolas immediately noted the presence of the single guard there. The place was indeed supposed to be guarded but usually by two guards. But Legolas had been told there was no prisoner there at the moment. Since the fall of Sauron, the Orcs' behaviour had become more erratic and taking an enemy prisoner rather useless - the interrogation of one no longer helped to learn their Master's motives.
When Legolas walked towards the entrance the guard immediately stood in his way.
"I am sorry my Lord, but I cannot let you go any further," the guard claimed.
Speechless, Legolas stared at the other Elf for a second before crossing his arms on his chest. "And may I enquire why?" he asked.
"The King forbid it, my Lord," answered the Guard.
"Really? King Thranduil ordered you to prevent anyone from entering the dungeons?" clarified Legolas.
"He did, my Lord," the guard confirmed.
"And why would he do that without informing me? I heard we had no prisoners at the moment," Legolas objected.
"I know not, my Lord."
Legolas shook his head and as he tried to get past the guard the other Elf stepped in front of him again.
"My Prince," emphasised the guard, "the King was extremely clear. No one is to get inside the dungeons except the King himself."
Legolas ignored the comment and stepped aside again in an attempt to get round the guard but the other Elf moved in his way once more.
"I am afraid I have to insist my Lord," the guard said. "I am to take very drastic measures should someone trespass and I would not want to go that far," he went on, his hand moved to the handle of his weapon - he made very clear what the drastic measures were.
"This is absolutely ridiculous," Legolas declared incredulously.
"King's orders, Sir," the guard simply stated.
Legolas stared at the other Elf. He could try to force his way in but he wished the guard no harm for he was only obeying his King's orders - as exasperating as they were.
"I shall take it up with the King," Legolas affirmed before turning on his heels and walking furiously back to the palace.
That was more than he could endure and King or no King, Thranduil was going to hear his son's opinion about his decisions. Thranduil seemed completely out of his mind lately: preventing anyone from entering empty dungeons, sending his sons to a certain death…
Legolas suddenly froze. So many inconsiderate decisions in so short a time from his usually rather thoughtful father could not be a mere coincidence.
Legolas turned round and quickly walked back to the Elf guarding the dungeons.
"When did the King give these orders?" he asked gravely.
"Yesterday morning, Sir," the guard replied.
Everything now seemed to fit in Legolas' mind. Gimli had disappeared that morning. The orders about the dungeons were given that same morning. And Thranduil had decided to send his sons away later that day and had not bid them farewell - so unlike the caring father he was.
The creature was no longer possessing Gimli but Thranduil.
Legolas resolutely strode towards his father's office, determined to confront the creature immediately, but soon froze again as a sudden dread invaded his mind.
The creature always had its former hosts killed - except himself since it did not have the chance to do so. But what about Gimli?
Legolas looked back at the dungeons. If Gimli was still alive somewhere it had to be there. And the creature would have given specific orders so that no one would find the Dwarf.
If he was right about the creature shifting to Thranduil then at the moment Gimli could be seriously wounded and in pain, dying or worse - already dead.
Legolas took a step towards the dungeons.
But what if he was wrong about the creature? What if Thranduil was not possessed? Or what if he was right about the creature but not about the dungeons? His raid in the dungeons would be fruitless and he would lose his advantage on the creature - it would be alerted immediately and discover that Legolas knew about its identity.
Legolas took a step back towards the palace.
He was so certain about the dungeons though. Gimli was there, he could tell it, he could almost feel it. It was the perfect place to hide someone now that there were no other prisoners.
Legolas hesitated and turned towards the dungeons once more. He then looked back at the palace, then at the dungeons again, his heart wavering between his will to find and help his friend and his need to make sure his accusations against his father were justified.
No, he had to make sure about the creature first.
Almost unwillingly Legolas walked away from the dungeons and towards his father's office.
* * * * *
Turning round and round in his cell almost made Gimli feel giddy.
He could do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Being so useless was making him crazy. He was a warrior. He was not used to being out of things while the significant battle was probably being fought.
He had been trapped there for quite a while now. Considering his lifelong experience at living in caves and his stomach crying famine he could tell a whole day had gone by.
He then realised he had spent a night without sleep. But how could he have found sleep?
Maybe was it presumptuous of him to hope his friends would come and rescue him. If they had found out about the creature's presence they would probably think him dead and would have stopped looking for him long ago. And if they had not, would they think of looking here?
Gimli gave a new quick look down the hallway and sighed. If he kept turning round and round any longer his footsteps would be engraved on the floor forever.
Gimli eventually sat on the ground. If he was condemned to remain there, better have some sleep while he still could.
* * * * *
This last day was arguably the worst day in his entire lifetime - and that was saying quite a lot. The King of Mirkwood had gone through many ordeals, what with the Necromancer and Dol Guldur, the dark forces invading the south of Mirkwood countless times, the never-ending Orcs attacks…
However the worst of all had been the day his beloved spouse decided to leave Middle-Earth for Aman alone. She had resisted the call of the sea for many years but a day came when she could no longer bear to see her kin and her beloved ones suffer more and more from the growing darkness. So she sailed, leaving him and their sons behind. But no matter how dark Thranduil's days became he knew he would meet her again the day he himself decided to cross the Great Sea.
But this. This. This was in a class of its own. A whole new scale of horror. The hell Legolas or his Dwarf friend must have lived while possessed by this creature was not hard to imagine - actually no imagination was required since he was living it himself.
He could not believe it. Faelernil and Mîrdolen, his two oldest sons, gone to a battle lost from the start because the creature wanted to keep them away. And it was also planning on getting rid of Legolas as soon as it could as well.
Thranduil feared not only for his sons but for all his kin as well. That creature had many plans. Delusional plans of grandeur. Once the upcoming battle lost - and his sons likely dead - it already planned to forge an alliance with the Orcs.
An alliance with Orcs!
He had not fought for thousands of years to see such a day. He had not fought against the darkness so long to see his sons die before him. He would not stand it.
He would not even be allowed the relief to die of grief or despair. Not with the creature controlling him like that. Or maybe his soul would die while his body would remain in this world like an empty shell possessed by a parasite.
A very annoying, maddening, infuriating parasite.
At least his oldest memories were preserved from this filthy creature. It seemed it did not have access to his earliest past. It was the only way to momentarily escape its grasp: take refuge in the pleasant recollections of a past long gone.
And as his mind wandered back to such times, Thranduil pictured himself entering the gardens to find all his sons there. The two youngest ones were joyfully playing together while the eldest was studying on bench at a distance, a book on his lap. A soft smile lit Thranduil's face at that sight.
A delicate hand took his, fingers slowly entwining with his own. Thranduil did not need to look at his side to know she would be there. His beloved.
When he eventually turned left his eyes met hers and his smile broadened. She was as beautiful as ever. No words were needed for she had always been able to tell him anything just with one look. And at the moment her eyes were reassuring and telling him that everything would be all right.
And he believed her. Everything would be all right in the end.
A tiny Elfling's hand suddenly grasped Thranduil's free one as his youngest son tried to hide behind him while his older brother came after him. The two of them kept whirling around their parents, chasing one another, the air echoing with their crystal-clear laughters.
* * * * *
While Legolas was quickly making his way through the palace he abruptly stopped as a thought hit him. This was where Niyan had seen Gimli's axe. A quick look down the corridor confirmed that the King's office was only a few yards away.
Legolas continued his way. This could not be another coincidence. Was there still any need to prove his point? All the clues pointed in the same direction. He was wasting time he could use to save his friend while - if - it was still possible.
"Yes, Legolas?"
Only then did Legolas realise that his steps had mechanically led him to the doorstep of his father's office and that Thranduil was looking at him expectantly.
There was no turning back now.
"Do you have a minute?" Legolas asked.
Thranduil gestured for his son to step in.
"I saw you forbid access to the dungeons," Legolas began. He had to be cautious. "Is there a particular reason?"
"The dungeons are empty these days. A place of choice for someone to hide, so as soon as I learned about Gimli being on the loose I gave specific orders so that no one would be able to hide in there," Thranduil replied.
A valid answer, Legolas thought. "Of course," he nodded with a smile, knowing that his father would immediately notice it was a fake smile. But would the creature be able to notice it as well, he wondered?
His gaze fell on the crack in the middle of the desk. And then he remembered. The knife in the wood of his father's desk the morning before. Thranduil's behaviour at that moment, cold and dismissive.
It had happened right then and right there. Right under his eyes. And he could have prevented it all. Gimli had probably still been in the office. If only Legolas had paid more attention…
"Anything else?"
Legolas looked up to his father. He had sent Faelernil and Mîrdolen away. He had tried to send all three of them, probably to prevent any of them to notice what was going on. The creature's intentions for him were quite clear.
Make sure it thinks you still trust him or you will soon be a dead Elf, Legolas thought. And at the hands of your own father… But he knew his father was still there somewhere, able to hear him. He had to let Thranduil know his son knew about the creature. But how to do so without arousing the creature's suspicion?
In front of him, the King of Mirkwood was still waiting for an answer. Think fast, Legolas…
"I have a question about what you told me the other day," he eventually began, "about the difference between my sea longing and Mother's."
Yes, that was it! Why had he not thought about it earlier? The only time he had felt free while still possessed by the creature was when his mother had come to him. No, when he had come to his mother. The creature was unable to reach him there - there or in any of his childhood memories, he realised.
The creature could not handle and steal all the memories gathered during the immortal life of an Elf. It was restricted to the last centuries only - a mortal being's lifespan.
If it was the same with his father, the creature would not know a single thing about the Queen of Mirkwood - she was part of too distant memories.
Meanwhile, Thranduil nodded cautiously.
"As you know," Legolas went on, "I was still young when she left so I might not remember correctly. But I only want to clarify something. She never showed any sign of it but is it right that Queen Laermenel managed to withstand her sea longing for many years?"
Thranduil nodded slowly. "Many years, indeed."
Legolas smiled broadly. He was most pleased with the answer. "So hopefully I will be able to do the same and resist my own sea longing for many years to come." He did not even have to feign his enthusiasm - though it was totally unconnected with sea longing.
"I am afraid I have to go for now," Legolas went on, "but remind me to tell you about a project I have for South Ithilien some time."
Legolas left his father's office when the older Elf dismissed him. Obviously the creature had not noticed anything amiss and Legolas was convinced that if Thranduil had listened to that conversation then he would know of his son's awareness. He had to find Aragorn quickly and tell him that there was no doubt as to whom the creature now possessed.
For his mother's name was not Laermenel but Míriel.
-----------------------------------
End of chapter 17...
Short chapter, I know, but the next is much longer I promise. It should come sooner than this one did. Anyway in the meantime, don't forget to review... I know it's been a long time but the review button hasn't moved, it's still down there on your left... No, your other left... Yeah, that's it! ;-)
Next chapter: "The weight of memories" (with a long flashback to Legolas' childhood! Oooh, I bet you can't wait!)
Also big thanks to Raven and Candice for betaing this chapter.
Anyway, here comes the new chapter!
Revelation
That night was tense and sleepless, the Elves knew there was still a murderer within the walls of the City. The sudden departure of two of the princes had left a tension anyone could feel.
Faelernil's men proceeded with the searches during the night while Legolas, Aragorn and his men decided to rest for a few hours at least. Once the morning came though, and since Gimli was still missing, they began moving heaven and earth again to find the Dwarf. But with Mîrdolen gone there was no one left to lighten the mood of their search party.
Legolas now had more than one worry on his mind. Besides Gimli's welfare, he was concerned about his brothers' as well as his father's. Faelernil and Mîrdolen were about to fight a dangerous battle they were likely to lose, while Thranduil's behaviour had become more than troubling lately.
But the Elf decided to push most of those worries aside - all but one - to concentrate on the work in hand when he and Aragorn agreed on which places to search before parting ways.
There were very few places that had not been searched thoroughly yet and - quite ironically considering Mîrdolen's comment the day before - the dungeons were one of them.
As he came near the dungeons' entrance Legolas immediately noted the presence of the single guard there. The place was indeed supposed to be guarded but usually by two guards. But Legolas had been told there was no prisoner there at the moment. Since the fall of Sauron, the Orcs' behaviour had become more erratic and taking an enemy prisoner rather useless - the interrogation of one no longer helped to learn their Master's motives.
When Legolas walked towards the entrance the guard immediately stood in his way.
"I am sorry my Lord, but I cannot let you go any further," the guard claimed.
Speechless, Legolas stared at the other Elf for a second before crossing his arms on his chest. "And may I enquire why?" he asked.
"The King forbid it, my Lord," answered the Guard.
"Really? King Thranduil ordered you to prevent anyone from entering the dungeons?" clarified Legolas.
"He did, my Lord," the guard confirmed.
"And why would he do that without informing me? I heard we had no prisoners at the moment," Legolas objected.
"I know not, my Lord."
Legolas shook his head and as he tried to get past the guard the other Elf stepped in front of him again.
"My Prince," emphasised the guard, "the King was extremely clear. No one is to get inside the dungeons except the King himself."
Legolas ignored the comment and stepped aside again in an attempt to get round the guard but the other Elf moved in his way once more.
"I am afraid I have to insist my Lord," the guard said. "I am to take very drastic measures should someone trespass and I would not want to go that far," he went on, his hand moved to the handle of his weapon - he made very clear what the drastic measures were.
"This is absolutely ridiculous," Legolas declared incredulously.
"King's orders, Sir," the guard simply stated.
Legolas stared at the other Elf. He could try to force his way in but he wished the guard no harm for he was only obeying his King's orders - as exasperating as they were.
"I shall take it up with the King," Legolas affirmed before turning on his heels and walking furiously back to the palace.
That was more than he could endure and King or no King, Thranduil was going to hear his son's opinion about his decisions. Thranduil seemed completely out of his mind lately: preventing anyone from entering empty dungeons, sending his sons to a certain death…
Legolas suddenly froze. So many inconsiderate decisions in so short a time from his usually rather thoughtful father could not be a mere coincidence.
Legolas turned round and quickly walked back to the Elf guarding the dungeons.
"When did the King give these orders?" he asked gravely.
"Yesterday morning, Sir," the guard replied.
Everything now seemed to fit in Legolas' mind. Gimli had disappeared that morning. The orders about the dungeons were given that same morning. And Thranduil had decided to send his sons away later that day and had not bid them farewell - so unlike the caring father he was.
The creature was no longer possessing Gimli but Thranduil.
Legolas resolutely strode towards his father's office, determined to confront the creature immediately, but soon froze again as a sudden dread invaded his mind.
The creature always had its former hosts killed - except himself since it did not have the chance to do so. But what about Gimli?
Legolas looked back at the dungeons. If Gimli was still alive somewhere it had to be there. And the creature would have given specific orders so that no one would find the Dwarf.
If he was right about the creature shifting to Thranduil then at the moment Gimli could be seriously wounded and in pain, dying or worse - already dead.
Legolas took a step towards the dungeons.
But what if he was wrong about the creature? What if Thranduil was not possessed? Or what if he was right about the creature but not about the dungeons? His raid in the dungeons would be fruitless and he would lose his advantage on the creature - it would be alerted immediately and discover that Legolas knew about its identity.
Legolas took a step back towards the palace.
He was so certain about the dungeons though. Gimli was there, he could tell it, he could almost feel it. It was the perfect place to hide someone now that there were no other prisoners.
Legolas hesitated and turned towards the dungeons once more. He then looked back at the palace, then at the dungeons again, his heart wavering between his will to find and help his friend and his need to make sure his accusations against his father were justified.
No, he had to make sure about the creature first.
Almost unwillingly Legolas walked away from the dungeons and towards his father's office.
Turning round and round in his cell almost made Gimli feel giddy.
He could do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Being so useless was making him crazy. He was a warrior. He was not used to being out of things while the significant battle was probably being fought.
He had been trapped there for quite a while now. Considering his lifelong experience at living in caves and his stomach crying famine he could tell a whole day had gone by.
He then realised he had spent a night without sleep. But how could he have found sleep?
Maybe was it presumptuous of him to hope his friends would come and rescue him. If they had found out about the creature's presence they would probably think him dead and would have stopped looking for him long ago. And if they had not, would they think of looking here?
Gimli gave a new quick look down the hallway and sighed. If he kept turning round and round any longer his footsteps would be engraved on the floor forever.
Gimli eventually sat on the ground. If he was condemned to remain there, better have some sleep while he still could.
This last day was arguably the worst day in his entire lifetime - and that was saying quite a lot. The King of Mirkwood had gone through many ordeals, what with the Necromancer and Dol Guldur, the dark forces invading the south of Mirkwood countless times, the never-ending Orcs attacks…
However the worst of all had been the day his beloved spouse decided to leave Middle-Earth for Aman alone. She had resisted the call of the sea for many years but a day came when she could no longer bear to see her kin and her beloved ones suffer more and more from the growing darkness. So she sailed, leaving him and their sons behind. But no matter how dark Thranduil's days became he knew he would meet her again the day he himself decided to cross the Great Sea.
But this. This. This was in a class of its own. A whole new scale of horror. The hell Legolas or his Dwarf friend must have lived while possessed by this creature was not hard to imagine - actually no imagination was required since he was living it himself.
He could not believe it. Faelernil and Mîrdolen, his two oldest sons, gone to a battle lost from the start because the creature wanted to keep them away. And it was also planning on getting rid of Legolas as soon as it could as well.
Thranduil feared not only for his sons but for all his kin as well. That creature had many plans. Delusional plans of grandeur. Once the upcoming battle lost - and his sons likely dead - it already planned to forge an alliance with the Orcs.
An alliance with Orcs!
He had not fought for thousands of years to see such a day. He had not fought against the darkness so long to see his sons die before him. He would not stand it.
He would not even be allowed the relief to die of grief or despair. Not with the creature controlling him like that. Or maybe his soul would die while his body would remain in this world like an empty shell possessed by a parasite.
A very annoying, maddening, infuriating parasite.
At least his oldest memories were preserved from this filthy creature. It seemed it did not have access to his earliest past. It was the only way to momentarily escape its grasp: take refuge in the pleasant recollections of a past long gone.
And as his mind wandered back to such times, Thranduil pictured himself entering the gardens to find all his sons there. The two youngest ones were joyfully playing together while the eldest was studying on bench at a distance, a book on his lap. A soft smile lit Thranduil's face at that sight.
A delicate hand took his, fingers slowly entwining with his own. Thranduil did not need to look at his side to know she would be there. His beloved.
When he eventually turned left his eyes met hers and his smile broadened. She was as beautiful as ever. No words were needed for she had always been able to tell him anything just with one look. And at the moment her eyes were reassuring and telling him that everything would be all right.
And he believed her. Everything would be all right in the end.
A tiny Elfling's hand suddenly grasped Thranduil's free one as his youngest son tried to hide behind him while his older brother came after him. The two of them kept whirling around their parents, chasing one another, the air echoing with their crystal-clear laughters.
While Legolas was quickly making his way through the palace he abruptly stopped as a thought hit him. This was where Niyan had seen Gimli's axe. A quick look down the corridor confirmed that the King's office was only a few yards away.
Legolas continued his way. This could not be another coincidence. Was there still any need to prove his point? All the clues pointed in the same direction. He was wasting time he could use to save his friend while - if - it was still possible.
"Yes, Legolas?"
Only then did Legolas realise that his steps had mechanically led him to the doorstep of his father's office and that Thranduil was looking at him expectantly.
There was no turning back now.
"Do you have a minute?" Legolas asked.
Thranduil gestured for his son to step in.
"I saw you forbid access to the dungeons," Legolas began. He had to be cautious. "Is there a particular reason?"
"The dungeons are empty these days. A place of choice for someone to hide, so as soon as I learned about Gimli being on the loose I gave specific orders so that no one would be able to hide in there," Thranduil replied.
A valid answer, Legolas thought. "Of course," he nodded with a smile, knowing that his father would immediately notice it was a fake smile. But would the creature be able to notice it as well, he wondered?
His gaze fell on the crack in the middle of the desk. And then he remembered. The knife in the wood of his father's desk the morning before. Thranduil's behaviour at that moment, cold and dismissive.
It had happened right then and right there. Right under his eyes. And he could have prevented it all. Gimli had probably still been in the office. If only Legolas had paid more attention…
"Anything else?"
Legolas looked up to his father. He had sent Faelernil and Mîrdolen away. He had tried to send all three of them, probably to prevent any of them to notice what was going on. The creature's intentions for him were quite clear.
Make sure it thinks you still trust him or you will soon be a dead Elf, Legolas thought. And at the hands of your own father… But he knew his father was still there somewhere, able to hear him. He had to let Thranduil know his son knew about the creature. But how to do so without arousing the creature's suspicion?
In front of him, the King of Mirkwood was still waiting for an answer. Think fast, Legolas…
"I have a question about what you told me the other day," he eventually began, "about the difference between my sea longing and Mother's."
Yes, that was it! Why had he not thought about it earlier? The only time he had felt free while still possessed by the creature was when his mother had come to him. No, when he had come to his mother. The creature was unable to reach him there - there or in any of his childhood memories, he realised.
The creature could not handle and steal all the memories gathered during the immortal life of an Elf. It was restricted to the last centuries only - a mortal being's lifespan.
If it was the same with his father, the creature would not know a single thing about the Queen of Mirkwood - she was part of too distant memories.
Meanwhile, Thranduil nodded cautiously.
"As you know," Legolas went on, "I was still young when she left so I might not remember correctly. But I only want to clarify something. She never showed any sign of it but is it right that Queen Laermenel managed to withstand her sea longing for many years?"
Thranduil nodded slowly. "Many years, indeed."
Legolas smiled broadly. He was most pleased with the answer. "So hopefully I will be able to do the same and resist my own sea longing for many years to come." He did not even have to feign his enthusiasm - though it was totally unconnected with sea longing.
"I am afraid I have to go for now," Legolas went on, "but remind me to tell you about a project I have for South Ithilien some time."
Legolas left his father's office when the older Elf dismissed him. Obviously the creature had not noticed anything amiss and Legolas was convinced that if Thranduil had listened to that conversation then he would know of his son's awareness. He had to find Aragorn quickly and tell him that there was no doubt as to whom the creature now possessed.
For his mother's name was not Laermenel but Míriel.
-----------------------------------
End of chapter 17...
Short chapter, I know, but the next is much longer I promise. It should come sooner than this one did. Anyway in the meantime, don't forget to review... I know it's been a long time but the review button hasn't moved, it's still down there on your left... No, your other left... Yeah, that's it! ;-)
Next chapter: "The weight of memories" (with a long flashback to Legolas' childhood! Oooh, I bet you can't wait!)