Chapter 5
The days following Legolas's return were uneventful as life fell back into a regular pace.
A week had passed and Legolas sat idle in Thranduil's marble halls. There was nothing to do; the last meeting had just ended, and Adrahil, Brethilorn, and Thalion had left to patrol the Mirkwood borders.
Thranduil looked at his son. Legolas was toying absentmindedly with his fair hair, a habit he'd had since being an elfling. He was dressed in his usual silver court robes and was staring unfocusedly at the wall opposite him. By all outward appearances he seemed perfectly normal, but the eyes of a father are not as easily deceived.
"*Ion-nin, what is troubling your mind?" Thranduil asked bluntly.
Legolas jerked out of his trance-like state. "N-Nothing, Ada," he answered uncertainly, slightly taken aback by the question.
Thranduil merely stared at him, eyebrow slightly raised.
"Really, Ada, nothing troubles my mind!" the young prince insisted.
Thranduil sighed, somewhat irritably. "You've not been yourself since you returned. You rarely speak, you eat little, you rest less than what is normal even for an elf, and yet you say nothing is wrong. Do you take me for a fool?" the King demanded. But he calmed swiftly as he caught sight of Legolas staring at the ground. "Please, ion-nin," he pleaded, crossing to his son's throne and kneeling by him. He gently lifted Legolas's head so that he was looking into his eyes. "Please. I cannot bear for you to hate me."
"I do not hate you, Ada," Legolas muttered shortly. It is myself. he thought
"Then what is it? Will you not unburden your heart? Let me carry your burden, ion-nin."
Legolas sighed. What he truly wanted the most at the moment was to unburden his heart, to confide in someone, to his father especially. What have I to lose in telling him? he thought. He already hates me.
Making a quick decision, the prince resolved to tell his father what was troubling his mind. But just as he opened his mount to speak, the oak doors flew open. It was Adrahil.
Thranduil bit his lip to keep from exploding at his eldest son. Legolas had been on the verge of speaking. Instead, he swallowed, stood up, and turned to the Crown Prince. "What is it?"
"*Yrch," Adrahil gasped. "On the Southern Border. They've set it to flames."
"How many are there?"
"Many, they outnumber our men. Thalion and his men are already there."
"And Brethilorn?"
"Gathering as many of his men that can be spared, but we still are outnumbered."
"I will take 100 of our men and go with you, Adrahil," Legolas suddenly said. Before he could be stopped, he rushed out of the room. A few moments later, a horn calling men to arms sounded outside, and after a few more minutes had passed, Legolas reappeared in the hall, wearing a brown tunic, bow in hand, quiver slung over his back, and a long white knife at his side.
He bowed swiftly to his father in a motion of farewell and dashed out the door with Adrahil following.
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*"Ion-nin" = My son
*"Yrch" = Orcs
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Gozilla – Thanx! Srry bout the short chapters, I've never really been one to write long ones. I'm trying tho! hope this one is slightly better in length ;P
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Review pleez! Or email at silwenaurdomiel@yahoo.com!