Chapter 4
After finally drowsing into a soft sleep, Legolas woke to see that the sun had not risen, but alas that was not true, and the clouds that covered the sky proved to be the disturbance. The floor of his cage was hard and came to have no help against the snow that began to fall. Legolas realized that he was not in the nightgown that he was wearing when he was abducted, but a red outfit with gold cuffs at every joint break. As soldiers passed his cage, he noticed he was wearing the same colors as they.
The outfit of Mirkwood was usually green or brown, to camouflage with the natural background, the woods. Never had Legolas known that Taurnil's soldiers sported these colors, and thought it foolish, seeing that the colors were so bright and obvious!
Outside of the cage, he saw that many elves came in and out of the great hall that Uruviel and Taurnil had entered. Nearby that hall there stood several buildings where nobler elves lived. They wore great robes and rode majestic horses. At every mealtime they would enter different halls depending on their social level.
At noontime, Legolas's meal server brought out an even smaller dish than yester eve. Its content was just a fragment of stuffed mushrooms. He was surprised by such a food, and suspected at once this was some of the maiden's own food.
"This is not the king's designated meal, is this, milady?" Legolas asked her. She shook her head, and gave him a half-smile, careful so no one would notice. "What is your name, fair maiden?"
She quickly looked behind, forward, and around her to see if anyone was watching. However, every elf was feasting besides she. Then in her quietest voice she muttered, "Nevweneh of Lothlorien." She unbuttoned her cloak; shivering in the cold, and revealed the leaf of lothlorien pinned on the inside of the hem of it. Nevweneh then turned and trotted, picking up her skirt, back through the hall, trudging through the slush that the short snow had left behind.
Legolas slowly ate his meal, although he was desperately hungry, but he insisted upon himself that he should act as he was supposed, being a prince, and so not to show Taurnil that he was weakening so soon.
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Back at the castle, Thranduil was worrying. Where was his son? He has been gone the entire morn, and did not return at noon, nor at supper. The guests were leaving, and Thranduil wished that his son were there to bid them farewell.
Arwen soon had to leave for Rivendell once again, and she went to Legolas's bedchamber to say goodbye to her friend. "Legolas," She said as she entered. He was not there. She decided to check the gardens. He was not there either. After nearly an hour of searching, she grew wary. "Legolas," she called. "Where are you?!"
"Arwen?" A voice called, and she spun around suspecting to see Legolas. It was not him, but Aragorn. "Your father bids you. We must leave for Rivendell soon."
"There is something wrong, Aragorn, Legolas has been missing since Morn! It is nearly four past the mid of day, and he is still not here. He knows that he is to be here right now, to farewell the guests. I wish to say goodbye to him." Arwen said.
"I dread to cause you despair, but if we do not leave now, we will be caught in the winter storm that Elrond has predicted. And I must leave for the council of rangers soon," Aragorn said.
"First I must tell Thranduil." She said, and with Aragorn, she returned to the castle. She soon found the king standing near a doorway, bidding two elves away. "Thranduil! Do you not know of your son's sudden disappearance?"
"Nay! I do know! All day have I grew more cautious," He replied, a sad look in his eyes.
"Well, do you not want to find him?" Arwen asked.
"I considered that he was with Uruviel, but she has returned ere noon today! I sent for servants to search the surroundings, but he was not there," Thranduil said, "I have been advised by the best of my advisors, that alas, Legolas has run away."
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At around sunset, Taurnil came to see Legolas. With him was several guards and Nevweneh with another dish of food. "Are you hungered, Legolas? Having had nothing since yester eve?" He laughed. "Well, you shall get used to it." His laugh was cold and unfulfilled. It meant nothing to Legolas.
Nevweneh looked away, so as not to give herself away. Taurnil set the platter down, and Legolas observed it. It was once again a bland piece of bread, but this time there was just water to accompany it.
"Be glad that I consider to feed you at all," The king said. After another good laugh, which his guards joined in with, he turned and left, his blonde hair flowing in the cold air. Nevweneh turned after a long stare that meant more than many words to Legolas and she followed Taurnil into the hall, where Legolas could only imagine the comforting carpets and fires.
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After the barely visible sun sat in the cloudy distance, Legolas began to sing. All who passed were captured by his voice and melody. He sang of sad times in Mirkwood, he sang of the lands that he had yet to see, and of free kingdoms where peace endured. At one time a little girl came to his cage and said, "Lord, why are you caged so? Your voice tells me that you belong naught in a cage, but in the halls singing for our king!"
Legolas smiled and replied, "I would not sing for your king if he gave me my freedom back! As for why I am caged, I could not tell, for I have no knowledge of it." A guard outside the hall pulled the little girl away eventually. She was scolded for talking to Legolas.
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Arwen stood in front of Thranduil in shock. Legolas would never run away like this! She knew him all to well. Or do I, she thought. "You cannot be sure of that, lord! Why would Legolas run away? What reasons would he do that for?"
"Well, he never did like these parties. Maybe he is off hunting, for a little time away from the stress that he feels in the kingdom." The king suggested. Arwen looked at him curiously. He has acted strange lately. He was not acting kingly but childish. How could he think that Legolas ran away?
"He was taken," Arwen said, but Thranduil just smiled.
"Who would take him? Now be off, and join your father and your love on the journey home," He said, dismissing her. Thranduil turned and walked off, leaving her to her own thoughts.
"Arwen, we must go," Aragorn said again. Arwen turned and looked at the Ranger. She did not want to go home, but she followed Aragorn to the horses.
"Arwen! Now that you have joined us," - and by us he meant mostly the entire inhabitance of Rivendell- said Elrond, "We may depart now."
Arwen mounted her horse with little emotion. As Elrond, at the lead, began, everyone followed him. But Arwen paused for a moment. She had seen something through the dark trees that made up Mirkwood. She stopped and dismounted, staring at the tree she had just seen something through. Suddenly Arwen saw, through the trees, a village. It looked of Elven nature, and Arwen was surprised, because she had never seen this place before.
It had many large halls and few trees. It looked almost like a man's settlement, only everything had elvish culture. She could see that this place was located next to Mirkwood, for on all edges it had dark trees bordering it. But soon her gaze was dropped from the outskirts of this town. She saw that in the middle of the town there lay a cage, a single cage. And on the inside of this cage was an elf. It didn't take long for Arwen to realize that elf was Legolas.
Arwen stared at the vision for a lengthily time, to shocked to move, until she realized that she was alone on the forest path. She ripped her gaze from the town and the sad-looking Legolas and mounted her horse. And she did not rejoin with Elrond for many days. She was going back to Thranduil's palace.
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Legolas woke with a start, and realized that he was once again awoken by Taurnil's gaze. He was standing outside the cage, and had been for quite a while, waiting and not pressuring Legolas to leave the dream realm.
"You are Thranduil's brother," Legolas said. He was surprised to see that Taurnil just smiled and nodded. "So why do you imprison me?"
"I see that your fool of a father hated me so surely that he never spoke of me to you," The king said.
"Never. And I know now that you lied of the reason of my capture. It is merely sibling rivalry, no?" Legolas guessed, trying to sound wise.
"Not just that. And yes, I did lie. Thranduil was--- is ---- younger than me. Our father cared for him more, however. In old lore and law, the king must choose the older of his sons or daughters to inherit his throne. But nay, he gave the throne to Thranduil, and soon I was forgotten. I ran from my father's palace to here, where I started Envindurrn, which is an old blend of Elvish for---"
"Renew the faith," Legolas said. "You name it that because you still believe that you should have the throne. You have no chance now."
"Oh, but I do have a chance. Because when Thranduil finally realizes that I took you, I shall give him the terms. Either he gives me Mirkwood, or you stay in this cage until you rot, and he shall have no heir or a son," He said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* PLEASE REVIEW! More soon. This took me some time to write, please give me some reviews, good or bad!
After finally drowsing into a soft sleep, Legolas woke to see that the sun had not risen, but alas that was not true, and the clouds that covered the sky proved to be the disturbance. The floor of his cage was hard and came to have no help against the snow that began to fall. Legolas realized that he was not in the nightgown that he was wearing when he was abducted, but a red outfit with gold cuffs at every joint break. As soldiers passed his cage, he noticed he was wearing the same colors as they.
The outfit of Mirkwood was usually green or brown, to camouflage with the natural background, the woods. Never had Legolas known that Taurnil's soldiers sported these colors, and thought it foolish, seeing that the colors were so bright and obvious!
Outside of the cage, he saw that many elves came in and out of the great hall that Uruviel and Taurnil had entered. Nearby that hall there stood several buildings where nobler elves lived. They wore great robes and rode majestic horses. At every mealtime they would enter different halls depending on their social level.
At noontime, Legolas's meal server brought out an even smaller dish than yester eve. Its content was just a fragment of stuffed mushrooms. He was surprised by such a food, and suspected at once this was some of the maiden's own food.
"This is not the king's designated meal, is this, milady?" Legolas asked her. She shook her head, and gave him a half-smile, careful so no one would notice. "What is your name, fair maiden?"
She quickly looked behind, forward, and around her to see if anyone was watching. However, every elf was feasting besides she. Then in her quietest voice she muttered, "Nevweneh of Lothlorien." She unbuttoned her cloak; shivering in the cold, and revealed the leaf of lothlorien pinned on the inside of the hem of it. Nevweneh then turned and trotted, picking up her skirt, back through the hall, trudging through the slush that the short snow had left behind.
Legolas slowly ate his meal, although he was desperately hungry, but he insisted upon himself that he should act as he was supposed, being a prince, and so not to show Taurnil that he was weakening so soon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~
Back at the castle, Thranduil was worrying. Where was his son? He has been gone the entire morn, and did not return at noon, nor at supper. The guests were leaving, and Thranduil wished that his son were there to bid them farewell.
Arwen soon had to leave for Rivendell once again, and she went to Legolas's bedchamber to say goodbye to her friend. "Legolas," She said as she entered. He was not there. She decided to check the gardens. He was not there either. After nearly an hour of searching, she grew wary. "Legolas," she called. "Where are you?!"
"Arwen?" A voice called, and she spun around suspecting to see Legolas. It was not him, but Aragorn. "Your father bids you. We must leave for Rivendell soon."
"There is something wrong, Aragorn, Legolas has been missing since Morn! It is nearly four past the mid of day, and he is still not here. He knows that he is to be here right now, to farewell the guests. I wish to say goodbye to him." Arwen said.
"I dread to cause you despair, but if we do not leave now, we will be caught in the winter storm that Elrond has predicted. And I must leave for the council of rangers soon," Aragorn said.
"First I must tell Thranduil." She said, and with Aragorn, she returned to the castle. She soon found the king standing near a doorway, bidding two elves away. "Thranduil! Do you not know of your son's sudden disappearance?"
"Nay! I do know! All day have I grew more cautious," He replied, a sad look in his eyes.
"Well, do you not want to find him?" Arwen asked.
"I considered that he was with Uruviel, but she has returned ere noon today! I sent for servants to search the surroundings, but he was not there," Thranduil said, "I have been advised by the best of my advisors, that alas, Legolas has run away."
~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*
At around sunset, Taurnil came to see Legolas. With him was several guards and Nevweneh with another dish of food. "Are you hungered, Legolas? Having had nothing since yester eve?" He laughed. "Well, you shall get used to it." His laugh was cold and unfulfilled. It meant nothing to Legolas.
Nevweneh looked away, so as not to give herself away. Taurnil set the platter down, and Legolas observed it. It was once again a bland piece of bread, but this time there was just water to accompany it.
"Be glad that I consider to feed you at all," The king said. After another good laugh, which his guards joined in with, he turned and left, his blonde hair flowing in the cold air. Nevweneh turned after a long stare that meant more than many words to Legolas and she followed Taurnil into the hall, where Legolas could only imagine the comforting carpets and fires.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After the barely visible sun sat in the cloudy distance, Legolas began to sing. All who passed were captured by his voice and melody. He sang of sad times in Mirkwood, he sang of the lands that he had yet to see, and of free kingdoms where peace endured. At one time a little girl came to his cage and said, "Lord, why are you caged so? Your voice tells me that you belong naught in a cage, but in the halls singing for our king!"
Legolas smiled and replied, "I would not sing for your king if he gave me my freedom back! As for why I am caged, I could not tell, for I have no knowledge of it." A guard outside the hall pulled the little girl away eventually. She was scolded for talking to Legolas.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Arwen stood in front of Thranduil in shock. Legolas would never run away like this! She knew him all to well. Or do I, she thought. "You cannot be sure of that, lord! Why would Legolas run away? What reasons would he do that for?"
"Well, he never did like these parties. Maybe he is off hunting, for a little time away from the stress that he feels in the kingdom." The king suggested. Arwen looked at him curiously. He has acted strange lately. He was not acting kingly but childish. How could he think that Legolas ran away?
"He was taken," Arwen said, but Thranduil just smiled.
"Who would take him? Now be off, and join your father and your love on the journey home," He said, dismissing her. Thranduil turned and walked off, leaving her to her own thoughts.
"Arwen, we must go," Aragorn said again. Arwen turned and looked at the Ranger. She did not want to go home, but she followed Aragorn to the horses.
"Arwen! Now that you have joined us," - and by us he meant mostly the entire inhabitance of Rivendell- said Elrond, "We may depart now."
Arwen mounted her horse with little emotion. As Elrond, at the lead, began, everyone followed him. But Arwen paused for a moment. She had seen something through the dark trees that made up Mirkwood. She stopped and dismounted, staring at the tree she had just seen something through. Suddenly Arwen saw, through the trees, a village. It looked of Elven nature, and Arwen was surprised, because she had never seen this place before.
It had many large halls and few trees. It looked almost like a man's settlement, only everything had elvish culture. She could see that this place was located next to Mirkwood, for on all edges it had dark trees bordering it. But soon her gaze was dropped from the outskirts of this town. She saw that in the middle of the town there lay a cage, a single cage. And on the inside of this cage was an elf. It didn't take long for Arwen to realize that elf was Legolas.
Arwen stared at the vision for a lengthily time, to shocked to move, until she realized that she was alone on the forest path. She ripped her gaze from the town and the sad-looking Legolas and mounted her horse. And she did not rejoin with Elrond for many days. She was going back to Thranduil's palace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas woke with a start, and realized that he was once again awoken by Taurnil's gaze. He was standing outside the cage, and had been for quite a while, waiting and not pressuring Legolas to leave the dream realm.
"You are Thranduil's brother," Legolas said. He was surprised to see that Taurnil just smiled and nodded. "So why do you imprison me?"
"I see that your fool of a father hated me so surely that he never spoke of me to you," The king said.
"Never. And I know now that you lied of the reason of my capture. It is merely sibling rivalry, no?" Legolas guessed, trying to sound wise.
"Not just that. And yes, I did lie. Thranduil was--- is ---- younger than me. Our father cared for him more, however. In old lore and law, the king must choose the older of his sons or daughters to inherit his throne. But nay, he gave the throne to Thranduil, and soon I was forgotten. I ran from my father's palace to here, where I started Envindurrn, which is an old blend of Elvish for---"
"Renew the faith," Legolas said. "You name it that because you still believe that you should have the throne. You have no chance now."
"Oh, but I do have a chance. Because when Thranduil finally realizes that I took you, I shall give him the terms. Either he gives me Mirkwood, or you stay in this cage until you rot, and he shall have no heir or a son," He said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* PLEASE REVIEW! More soon. This took me some time to write, please give me some reviews, good or bad!