Legolas sat at the top of the steep palace steps, long after his father had left. Tears of guilt mixed with anger burned in his eyes as he kept replaying in his mind all that had happened those past few days. He was alone – alone and confused. Why did Calaen hate him so much? Why was he not believed?
"I saw Ada leaving a while ago. How are you?"
The Prince suddenly tensed, but relaxed again almost immediately. It was Airëlus. Or at least, that is what he believed. The newcomer sounded like his eldest brother. Legolas had taught himself to always be on his guard, and if his emotions had not been so consuming, then he surely would have remembered Calaen's ability to impersonate the others.
He shook his head sadly. "I do not know how to feel. Ada left because of me."
"He was going to leave anyway," Calaen replied, keeping the soft voice of Airëlus.
"That is not the point," Legolas muttered. "I don't know what to do. I try my hardest to get on with Calaen, but he just makes it so hard. What have I done to him? Why should he want to treat me the way that he does?" The young Prince could not stop his voice from shaking softly.
Calaen stepped forwards, and rested a hand on his brother's shoulder. "He blames you, doesn't he? He blames you for killing her."
"I did not mean to," Legolas whispered, closing his eyes. He buried his face in his arms, letting the long held back tears fall freely.
"Of course it was not your fault," Calaen soothed. He rolled his eyes as he gently stroked his brother's golden hair.
"Then, why does he still blame me?" Legolas asked. "Why?"
"Because you did kill Naneth, and you got away with it. You should die for what you did!" Calaen snarled, instantly switching back to his own voice, as he tangled his hand in Legolas' hair, and pulled him to his feet.
The younger Prince's eyes widened in shock and he tried to call out, but Calaen pushed him against the wall, and covered his mouth. "Who is going to help you? Ada has been driven away by you, and Airëlus will not come. Why would he want to?"
Legolas shook his head in disbelief. It was not true – he knew that his eldest brother would never leave him to be harmed, no matter what Calaen said. The dark haired Elf took his hand away from his prisoner's mouth, but he did not release the tight grip that he had.
"If you call out, then rest assured you will be falling down those stairs," he said in a low voice. "Understand?"
"I thought you were Airëlus," Legolas said softly.
Calaen nodded, and smiled briefly. "I know. You forgot that I can mask my own voice by using those of others. Can you not remember when you were but an Elfling, and I would put on different voices to scare you?"
"I remember," Legolas muttered, swiping the sleeve of his tunic across his eyes.
The dark haired Elf touched a hand to his brother's cheek, and brushed away some of the tears. "Do not cry," he said silkily. "That would be a waste of your energy. You need to conserve it. Or, have you forgotten that we two will be left alone in the palace?"
Legolas shook his head. "We are not alone. Airëlus is here."
"You speak the truth. We are not alone…yet. But we will be soon enough, and then I can make you pay," Calaen sneered. "I will get rid of Airëlus, whatever it takes."
"You are going to kill him," Legolas breathed. "You would murder him in cold blood?"
"What has he ever done to hurt me? Nothing. So to answer your question: no, I am not going to kill him," Calaen replied. "He was supposed to be going on patrol today. He is not now. I do not think he trusts me with you. Now, why would that be? But I digress. I will get him out of Mirkwood, one way or another. But you, you will be staying right here with me."
Legolas closed his eyes, hardly daring to believe he was hearing this. "I can tell Airëlus. I could warn him of your sick plans."
"But you would not do that. Do you want to know why?" When the other Elf nodded, Calaen pushed him to the edge of the steps, and held him still.
"You wouldn't," Legolas breathed, gazing up into his brother's green eyes.
"Believe me, I would," Calaen said carelessly. "And I will do it, if you do not keep quiet." With that, he spun Legolas around, so that he could look down at the steps. "It is a long way down."
The young Prince nodded slowly, and tried desperately to step out of the tight grip he was being held in. Calaen however, shook him slightly to still him, and he smiled as he felt the waves of terror coming off his brother. He was so powerful, and it was that power which had kept him going all these years.
"Let me go," Legolas whispered, eyes closed. "I will not say anything to Airëlus. Please, do not make me stay here…with you."
Calaen nodded, and pulled the younger Elf back from the edge. "I will let you go. But I want you to do one thing for me: you must admit the truth."
"The….the truth?"
"Yes, the truth." Calaen smiled, and leaned forwards slightly. "We both know what that is, do we not?"
Legolas drew in a sharp breath as he realised what was meant. "I will not do that. I am no murderer."
The dark haired Elf said nothing, and kept his cold eyes fixed on his brother. Legolas held the gaze for a few seconds, but then he shook his head, and turned to leave. But Calaen reached out and grabbed his wrist, dragging him back. He pulled his brother close, and looked deep into his eyes.
"Let go of me!" Legolas hissed.
"Admit it," Calaen said softly.
It was too late that he saw the younger Elf's fist come swinging up, and he tried to dodge it. But he stepped backwards, when it would have been safer to step to the side. Calaen's foot met thin air, and as he fell from the top step, he tried valiantly to save himself, to grab onto anything that would stop him.
"Oh Valar," Legolas breathed, flinging out a hand to try and help his brother. But it was no use. Calaen fell.
………………………………………………………..……………………………………..
Airëlus looked up in irritation as the door to his room swung open violently. He was ready to shout at whoever it was to go back out and knock, but when Legolas ran in, red stains on his tunic and his hands, the Crown Prince was immediately concerned. He jumped to his feet, and waited impatiently for his brother to speak. But all Legolas could do was shake his head helplessly.
"What is it?" Airëlus demanded, gripping the younger Elf by the shoulders.
Legolas screwed up his eyes, and shook his head again. "Calaen…"
"You must tell me what has happened," Airëlus pressed. When he got no reaction, he shook Legolas briefly, before holding him still once more to look into his eyes. "Tell me."
"He fell…I didn't mean…." the golden haired Prince leaned forwards slightly, supporting himself against his brother. "Calaen fell, and he's not moving. You must go to him, Airëlus."
As soon as Legolas finished talking, the Crown Prince grabbed his arm, and pulled him from the room. "It will be alright. Calm yourself, and lead me to where he is."
Legolas nodded, blinking back tears. This time though, they were not tears of anger, rage or frustration – they were tears of guilt. What if Calaen was dead? First his mother, and now his brother. That would be the second member of the Royal Family to be killed under circumstances caused by him…
………………………………………………………………………………………………