Disclaimer: See default chapter
Chapter 18
Just for.
I want to take his eyes out
Just for looking at you
Yes I do
I want to take his hands off
Just for touching you
Yes I do
And I want to rip his heart out
Just for hurting you
And I want to break his mind down
Yes I do
And I want to make him
Regret life since the day he met you
Yes I do
And I want to make him
Take back all that he took from you
Yes I do
And I want to rip his heart out
Just for hurting you
And I want to break his mind down
Yes I do
(Just for by Nickelback)
As the sun slowly began to rise in East, it cast a quick heat upon the cold land and soon a fog began to roll in. And soon the forest was turned into a ghostly white, so thick that the sentries had to use birdcalls to find one another.
But as the sun rose higher in the Eastern sky, it soon cast its rays upon Middle Earth, sending eerie splashes of reddish orange through the gathering fog. The snow from the previous day still remained, but in many places it had melted, leaving patches of bare ground.
As the elven camp stirred, a mild panic arose. King Thranduil had slipped off during the night and had not come back. Lomion had ordered all elves to keep quiet about the missing king so Legolas wouldn't become alarmed and somehow injury himself all the more.
But as Lomion looked out the small cavern, he knew that Thranduil needed some time for himself. Legolas' tale had angered him greatly and as soon as the young prince had fallen asleep, the king had stormed off into the night.
Lomion knew very well what his Adar was feeling, but he also knew that he did not know the full extent of a father's anger. Nay, he only knew of a brother's anger.
A soft moan quickly turned his attention back into the darker cavern.
"Arise sleepy head." Lomion teased lightly, his heart was too full of sorrow for anything else.
"I am awake." Came the reply. "Where is Ada?"
"He is outside." The crown prince said smoothly. "He needed some time to sort some thing out."
"In his head?" The younger elf asked hesitantly.
Lomion shook his head. "I do not know, but I think it would be more in his heart."
Legolas' face fell. "Is he ashamed of me?" He asked softly.
The older elf looked in askance at his sibling. "And what in the world would give you such a thought?"
Legolas would have shrugged, but it hurt to even move so he just sighed tiredly. "I don't know."
Instantly Lomion was on his knees. "Tell me." He ordered.
The young prince sighed. "With everything that has happened to me, I wouldn't really be surprised if he was." He shrugged. "I'm rather ashamed of myself." His voice lowered. "I should have been more aware of my surroundings. I shouldn't have let Adoril take command the way I always let him." The blue-gray eyes focused on the wrapped body close to the entrance then quickly flitted away.
"There are so many things that I should have done." The words were not spoken bitterly or even sadly, but rather with a sense of finality.
Lomion studied his younger brother before speaking what he knew was on his heart. "My very first battle didn't end the way I always thought it would." He began, ignoring Legolas' look of confusion.
"I always pictured myself ridding home in glory with everyone bowing at my feet, everyone praising my skill and boldness." He smirked at the memory. "It was a patrol of seven."
Legolas looked up in shock. "A patrol of seven?" He repeated.
The crown prince chuckled. "Remember at this time, it was called Greenwood the Great, and we did not have as many spiders, orcs and wargs as we do now."
The young prince nodded.
"Out of the seven, three were killed and four were badly wounded. In fact one of them died when we returned to the palace." Lomion continued, his voice oddly calm contrasting sharply to his tale. "I blamed only myself, as we son's of Thranduil seem to do." He threw a quick smile to his youngest sibling. "But in the midst of all my grief and wanting to change everything that happened, Ada confronted me with this, he told me 'You can't change the past, but you can always change the future.'" Lomion smiled distantly. "The future is always in motion, 'Las. We become who we are by the tides that change us. None of us could have foreseen the evil one returning. I doubt that even Ada could have changed the way Dol Guldur stands in the south."
Lomion tousled the blonde hair so much like his own. "Just remember this Legolas. Not even the wisest of wizards, the most powerful of elves or the strongest of any mortal can change the past. But we all have the same gift."
"And what is that?" Legolas asked, though he knew what his oldest brother would say.
"We can all change the future." Lomion grinned. "Even the little hobbits."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "How could something smaller than four feet change the course of the world?" He challenged.
Lomion laughed again. "You never know Legolas. You never know."
*~*~*
A tall, blonde haired elf stood surrounded by the many snow-covered trees. His eyes were closed and his fists tightly clenched. One did not have to look twice to see that the powerful elven king, renowned for his famous temper, was angry.
Within the king's mind a memory played. It was not one of a far distant memory; indeed it was one that happened only a few short hours ago. It was the memory of his youngest child, lying helplessly with tears running down the dirtied cheeks.
The tears had made a clean pathway, contrasting sharply with the dirt and grime. For every tear, Thranduil had grown angrier. For every choked reply, Thranduil had forced his own emotions back. For every haunted look in the blue gray eyes so like his own, Thranduil wished with all his might that he had not killed the Easterling so quickly.
He knew many ways of prolonging death, many painful ones. He had seen orcs work over their victims, indeed many an elf had taken days or even weeks for the orcs to finally kill. Many times they would be forced to watch their fellow elves be tortured and killed on the slopes of Mount Doom. Many elves, humans and orcs had been taken prisoner on those slopes, each had their own ways of torture, but the orcs had found a particular way of torturing that would always bring a response from the other side.
But for all the arrows fired, all the spears thrown, all the knives thrown, there was little they could do to save a fellow warrior, a brother, a friend, a father, a brother in law, an uncle, a cousin and so the list went on. Every elf feared being taken, and if possible would take his own life if left behind.
No one wanted to face what the orcs did. No one wanted to watch. No one wanted to hear the screams. No one wanted to see the bright red blood, but they all did. Nothing could shut out the screams of those whose souls were ripped away from them.
The sounds of battle were a welcome relief to the screams of those being raped. But it always came back.. Often in the dead of the night, the stillness of the night would become drenched with the screams.
Everyone knew what was happening. And everyone prayed it was not someone they knew. For seven long years the screams were permanently etched upon the woodland king's heart. He thought he had buried those years in the past. They had not been disturbed until now. Until Legolas' tale of horror had been fully told of what had been done to him, what had almost been done to him.
The elves raped upon the slopes of Mount Doom had been his fellow warriors, true, but this was something far more personal.
It was his son, his son that was almost raped. It had been his son who had been forced to such vileness. It had been his son who had felt those vile hands. It was his son who had felt that vile breath.
Anger coursed through the king's body. And suddenly, without warning the sword at the king's side was whipped out and thrown several yards away into a dead tree.
His chest heaving from the anger still coursing through his veins, Thranduil strode over to the dead tree and reaching forward tugged at it the whirled around catching his blade with the blade of another.
He stared into the face of his oldest friend and fellow warrior, Gómir. Gómir had been born the same year and even the same month as he had been, and they had formed a close almost brotherly bond between them.
Of all the elves in the Mirkwood realm, Gómir would be the only one who could know what Thranduil was feeling at the moment. Gómir had lost his oldest brother on the slopes of Mount Doom. He had watched helplessly as his brother was captured, tortured, raped then murdered.
The only reason Gómir had not died of grief was the simple fact that he knew he was of better use on Middle Earth than the Halls of Mandos. He had been able to comfort many elves whose relative or friend had died, and Thranduil knew exactly what he was doing in front of him.
"You are angry." Gómir stated simply.
Furious blue-gray eyes met calm sea green ones.
"You wish you did not kill that animal so quickly." Gómir guessed quietly, his sword still defensive against the other sword.
Thranduil snorted, taking his sword away and wiping it clean he sheathed it. "That is my wish." His bitter tone of voice did nothing to bring a reaction from the other elf.
"You wish you would have given him a slow, painful death." Gómir continued.
Thranduil was suddenly weary. "That is my wish." He said sobering. His fists clenched again, trying hard to regain his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "I want to cut his fingers off for touching him." The voice broke then continued. "I want to rip his heart out for hurting him. I want to tear his eyes out for looking at him. I want to break him into a million pieces just for even thinking about my son. I want. I want." Thranduil's voice broke the same time he did.
Gómir was quick to catch his best friend and king into his arms as Thranduil sank forward under a burden no one should ever have to carry. The dark haired elf stayed silent, letting the blonde haired elf cry out his emotions so long damned up.
It was several minutes before Thranduil finally regained control. Letting out a shuddering breath, he sat up, giving the other elf a wavering smile. "Hannon Le." He whispered.
Gómir smiled. "You held me when I cried." He replied simply, holding his hand out.
Thranduil gave a weak grin then took the other elf's hand and allowed the other to pull him up.
*~*~*
Humming softly in the empty healers ward Miriwen carefully flipped through another page. She was at the moment trying to figure out how far along she might be. She had found several fascinating books about pregnancy and had eagerly delved into them.
Judging by her size she guessed that she was in her fifth or sixth month. But what didn't make sense was the fact that she was rather large for even five months along. So she continued to flip idly through the pages of the book when she suddenly froze.
Unable to really believe what she was reading she started at the top again. And then she read it again. Still quite shocked, she read it yet again.
Still unable to believe it she flipped through the book until she came to the index, there it was! Quite shaken she grabbed a complete different book and found the index and then flipped to the page.
It said the exact same thing.
By now her pulse had sped up quite a bit and placing her hand over her chest to try and calm herself down, she felt something rather, unexplainable.
She had always loved listening to her heartbeat, and had found a surprising joy in leaning her head against Thalion's chest to hear his heart beat as well. She knew the beats of his heart as much as she knew the beats of her own heart. But when she felt her own pulse she found that there were two more beating with hers.
Two more tiny hearts had found a stronger rhythm to beat in tune with. Their hearts beat careful in time with their Naneth's.
*~*~*
Thalion sighed. How he wanted to get up and go to Mirkwood, but Lord Elrond must have given him some sort of sedative because he felt like doing nothing but lie contentedly on the warm bed wrapped up in blankets. He yawned then rolled over on his side half inattentively looking for his wife's warmth. It was only until he had looked for it, did he realize that his wife was back in Mirkwood.
He sighed heavily. How he missed her.
A knock on the door broke the prince from his thoughts. "Enter." He called out, pressing his body up to a sitting position.
It was Lord Elrond. "Still abed yet?" He teased lightly, sitting next the bedridden prince.
Thalion scowled. "I hate being bedridden as much as Legolas does." He gave the other elf a waning smile. "But I don't feel so good."
Elrond's gaze sharpened. He sat down. "Where?"
Thalion shrugged. "Just a general." He sneezed suddenly. He groaned, and then sneezed again, holding his head between his hands. "Not to mention a really bad headache."
Elrond sat back, a thoughtful expression covering his face. "Let me check your wound." He said, proceeding to do just that. When nothing stood out, he sat back once more. "Everything seems to be alright with your wound."
"Achoo!" Thalion sneezed again, and then rubbed his suddenly watering eyes.
"Adar?" Both elves turned at the sound of Aragorn's voice.
Elrond froze, seeing a smoking pipe in the man's mouth.
Thalion really paid no attention because he started sneezing all the more.
"Aragorn!" Elrond quickly stood. "Get out and douse that pipe!" He hurriedly shoved the young man out and closed the door then quickly went over to the still sneezing prince. After a few moments the sneezing subsided leaving a very weak feeling prince and a rather amused elven lord.
"You are allergic to pipe weed." Elrond stated quietly, his lips turning up into a smile.
Thalion stared at the elven lord. "And what does that mean exactly?"
Elrond laughed. "I keep forgetting that elves rarely have allergies, it is the humans."
Thalion sneezed again. "And of course I just happen to be one of the rare ones." He wiped his nose, grimacing at the snot on his hand.
Elrond chuckled, reaching into a drawer next to the bed and pulled out a royal blue colored handkerchief. "Here." He handed the prince the handkerchief. "Don't worry about giving it back." He smiled. "Allergies are something that some people and very few elves get. When that person smells something." He gave the prince a wry smile. "They get a reaction to that particular smell and their body thinks it is something bad and it immediately tries to ward it off."
He smiled sympathetically at the watery-eyed prince. "I will inform the rangers and Aragorn not to smoke and I will get something for that headache of yours."
Thalion nodded, still a little confused. "When can I go home?" He asked instead.
Elrond raised an eyebrow. "You should wait until at least tomorrow." He said dryly.
Thalion sighed, then nodded he didn't really even want to move, let alone get out of bed. Perhaps the morrow would bring some vigor. He hoped anyway.
*~*~*
Siverron studied the elf before him. Something was bothering Thorinell, or someone. He had been watching the settlement elf for a while now. He had been hoping that Thorinell would break the shell he usually put himself in and start talking, but since it didn't look like that was going to happen anytime soon, Siverron decided to try and break the shell a little.
"Thorinell." He edged his horse over to the other elf's horse. "What burdens your mind so?"
Thorinell look mildly surprised. "Burdens my mind?" He asked contemplating how far he could go as to not let the other elf know.
"I know something is bothering you." Siverron said matter a fact. "And I have many friends that I could.."
"Tell bug me until I tell." Thorinell finished with a smirk at his friend's surprised look. "Am I right?"
Siverron had the nerve to look outraged. "And where did you get this information?" He grilled.
Thorinell laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Everyone in the entire kingdom knows all of your 'friends' and how you get information so quickly."
"Oh?" Siverron challenged.
"Yes." Thorinell replied calmly. "You eavesdrop." He burst out laughing with the other elves then pushed his horse into a light gallop leaving an astonished elf behind with his mouth opened.
"Get back here!" Siverron yelled urging his own horse into a gallop to catch up to the others. After a few moments of fun the elves settled down once more. "You know what your problem is Thorinell?"
"No." The other elf said rather exasperated. "What is my problem."
"You need a wife." Siverron stated triumphantly.
"Ok." Thorinell replied, exchanging amused glances with the other elves. "And who would you suggest I marry."
Siverron chuckled. "Princess Lothgil." He stated then rode ahead, this time leaving Thorinell sitting astonished with his mouth open.
Siverron knew he had hit a nerve, but didn't say anything more until they reached the palace. Though they had been unchallenged, the settlement elves could feel someone watching them just to make sure that their intentions were right.
Once they reached the outer gates of the underground realm, their hidden escort vanished back into the forest to watch for any other intruder. Thorinell raised an eyebrow at Siverron. "What now?" He questioned.
Siverron shook his head and then slid off of his horse. "We go into the palace and ask for an audience with the king and then I'll give my report then you will give your report then you can go woo your princess."
Thorinell's face tightened, but he nodded. He motioned for the others to slide off then they gave the horses to the care of another elf then strode into the palace.
"Siverron! You're back!" A young girl on the edge of womanhood quickly walked over and threw her arms around the elf.
"Addaith." Siverron murmured, pressing his forehead to hers in a manner of affection. "Where are Naneth and Adar?"
"I think Naneth is in the healers ward helping Princess Miriwen and I think Adar is helping Cievan prepare some maps." Addaith replied crossing her eyes comically. "They told me not to disturb them and to go find something to do."
"Embroidery?" Siverron teased.
Addaith snorted, quite un-lady like. "I'd rather ride a horse." She retorted. Her eyes caught Thorinell and the other settlement elves. "Thorinell!" She cried out in surprise, she wiggled out of her brother's arms then threw herself into Thorinell's arms. "I've missed you so much! Why don't you come around to visit me anymore?"
"Sorry Addy." Thorinell used the long time nickname. "I've been busy, but I'll make it up somehow, I promise." He pressed a kiss to Addaith's forehead. "Now I have to go make a report to the king, so we will talk later alright?"
Addaith frowned. "But you can't see the king." She blurted out.
"Why not?" Siverron questioned.
"Because he and Prince Lomion are gone, as are Prince Thalion and Prince Legolas." Addaith stated.
"Where are they?" Thorinell asked baffled that the king, crown prince and even the second in line for the crown were all gone. If Thranduil, Lomion, Thalion and Legolas were all gone that left just Tasari and of course the three princess's; Lainiel, Miriwen and Lothgil.
"Prince Legolas was captured by some Easterlings, Prince Thalion was taking a patrol down to the south and King Thranduil and Prince Lomion went to go rescue Prince Legolas." Addaith recited, almost as if she had been forced to memorize the entirety.
"And how do you know all of this, Addy?" Thorinell pressed.
Addaith had the decency to look ashamed.
Thorinell shook his head. "Eavesdropping? You Addy? I knew that your brother did, but you?" He made a tsk-ing sound with his tongue, holding a smile back. He exchanged amused glances with one of his settlement elves. "Must run in the family."
"What!"
Already heading down the corridor to the throne room, Thorinell safely out distanced any cuffs to his head for his cheek. Chuckling as he turned the corner he ran smack dab into a soft female. With one breath, Thorinell instantly knew who it was.
Lothgil.
*~*~*
Galion bit his lower lip as he carefully re-wrapped the prince's leg up. When the horse had fallen, the rump had managed to land entirely on the knee and shin- bone shattering it completely. The bone fragments had splintered into the flesh and when Galion had first seen the leg, there had been many white pieces of bone actually sticking out of the skin.
In all of his healing experience he had never seen a bone shatter as Legolas' bone had. With a sinking heart, the healer knew that without a doubt, if they didn't get back to the palace within so many hours or else Legolas would either lose his leg or his life.
Galion quietly finished wrapping the leg and then stepped outside to see King Thranduil and Gómir approaching. He waited for them to approach him and then motioned Thranduil over to his side. He immediately noticed the redness in Thranduil eyes and knew Gómir had been successful in helping his king release his emotions.
"Galion." Thranduil greeted. He knew very well that the healer had been appraising him and most likely had been the one to send Gómir after him. He gave the healer a weak smile that told of his thanks.
"Thranduil. Gómir." Galion nodded. "We need to get Legolas back to the palace immediately. We can't afford to wait any longer. " The brevity of his words landed hard upon the king.
"What do you mean?" He asked his voice shaking slightly.
Galion looked sympathetically at the king, but knew that he had to press on with his news. "His leg is getting worse, if it's not worked on very soon then." He stopped, and shook his head not wanting to say what he knew would tear a jagged edge to Thranduil's already torn heart.
"Say it, Galion." Thranduil said quietly, fixing his eyes upon the healer.
Galion sighed. "If Legolas doesn't get back to the palace, he could easily lose his leg."
Thranduil took a step back under the weight of the shock. "You are serious." He whispered.
Galion nodded. "It is imperative that Legolas gets back to palace. We can ill afford to wait for even a few hours."
Thranduil nodded, his mind quickly picking over and choosing warriors. He called out four warriors names and ordered them to ready the horses. He then called Lomion over and told him of Galion's report. Agreeing to Thranduil's quickly made up plan he told the rest of the warriors while Thranduil, the four other warriors, Galion and Legolas readied to leave.
Legolas was given another sleeping draught and then carefully placed in front of Thranduil, while the four warriors took protective sides on the sides and behind the king. Galion rode beside him.
For Legolas the ride past in complete oblivion; for Galion the ride was made with him thinking of every little thing that would need to be done to save Legolas' leg; for Thranduil the ride was the one of the hardest things to do. The realization that even upon arriving at the palace as fast as possible, there still was a chance that Legolas would lose his leg. And Thranduil knew if Legolas lost his leg, it would kill him. He was sure of it.
As the gates were opened, the king and his escort were greeting by the palace guards who already had healers waiting for Legolas.
The healers took Legolas from Thranduil's arms, leaving the king and father to stand in the courtyard, staring at the still form in the stretcher and praying with all his might, that Legolas would live..
A/N: This chapter is not beta read, my beta was really busy so I told her that I would wait until she got a little more settled down:-)
I will be gone this weekend to ATF (Acquire the Fire), so I will not be posting a new chapter of The Dare until probably Monday.
Gwyn: lol, I think half the world is on the MC list. :-) I'm glad you think Legolas' Ada is cute, I rather like him myself;-) Thanks for the review and sorry it took a bit!
Iras: I am soo sorry! I completely forgot to email you! Hopefully I will do a little better job (winces) Thank you so much for sticking with me!
Deana: Thank you so much for your encouragement. I was a little hesitant to state my true reasons, but I am glad that I did. I am so glad to find other spoken Christians on the net! You have no idea how blessed I feel (sigh) Isn't God just way cool? Lol, just had to say that. Thank you so much for reviewing and encouraging me!
Jess Perry: lol, yes I did get the email but I accidentally deleted it and then, silly me forgot all about it. Lol. I'm glad you got that figured out! Well pretty soon the conflicts will be sorted out and hopefully before I get too many chapters going! :-) Thanks for the review!
Sparrow Greenleaf: Embarrassing you? Is that possible? Lol. JK. Lol. I love you, in an author - reader sort of way. (scratches head puzzled) But anyway, yes Legolas needed to be a little more open and he's finally got a little bit off his chest, ok so it was a lot:-) Thanks for the review! And did you remember or no?
Kit Cloudkicker: Awww! Kit and Legolas, sittin' in a tree.. Oh wait, that is supposed to be Faith and Legolas sittin' in a tree, H-U-G-G-I-N-G. lol. Crazy wacky mood I'm in tonight;-) Thanks for the review!
Feanen: How about complex, or intricately plotted, or something besides interesting! Lol. Just kidding, I don't care how short the review as long as I get a review;-) Especially from you, and no I am not sucking up;-)
Nikki: Don't worry, I have plenty of chapter ahead yet. Whew, makes me tired thinking about them. But oh welll;-) Yes, Sarlacc was a little creepy, but he is dead so he can't really creep people out anymore, unless he was a ghost. Now that would be creepy, but anyway.. :-) Thanks for the review!
White Wolf1: You are exactly right, Legolas saved his family and the entire kingdom, by refusing to tell the Easterling. It cost him quite a bit, but I think Legolas is finally realizing that some sacrifices must be made. :-) Thanks for the review!
Lady Ana Maria Lorinan: Thanks! I'm glad you think so! Thanks for the reivew~
HalandLeg4ever: Well, well, well, look who decided to show up;-) JK, you know I don't mean it:-) Sorry it took me a bit, but I did get it too you! Thanks for the review!
DeepBlueSomething: Yes, things are finally looking up. At last right? Lol. Yes I can't wait until Thalion returns home! Of course since I'm writing it, lol. Anyway. Thanks for the review!
Thank you to all the 27 people who have put me on their favorites list or on their author alerts. You guys are my inspiration. Without you I would just be a faceless name in a crowd. Thank you all so, so much.
Chapter 18
Just for.
I want to take his eyes out
Just for looking at you
Yes I do
I want to take his hands off
Just for touching you
Yes I do
And I want to rip his heart out
Just for hurting you
And I want to break his mind down
Yes I do
And I want to make him
Regret life since the day he met you
Yes I do
And I want to make him
Take back all that he took from you
Yes I do
And I want to rip his heart out
Just for hurting you
And I want to break his mind down
Yes I do
(Just for by Nickelback)
As the sun slowly began to rise in East, it cast a quick heat upon the cold land and soon a fog began to roll in. And soon the forest was turned into a ghostly white, so thick that the sentries had to use birdcalls to find one another.
But as the sun rose higher in the Eastern sky, it soon cast its rays upon Middle Earth, sending eerie splashes of reddish orange through the gathering fog. The snow from the previous day still remained, but in many places it had melted, leaving patches of bare ground.
As the elven camp stirred, a mild panic arose. King Thranduil had slipped off during the night and had not come back. Lomion had ordered all elves to keep quiet about the missing king so Legolas wouldn't become alarmed and somehow injury himself all the more.
But as Lomion looked out the small cavern, he knew that Thranduil needed some time for himself. Legolas' tale had angered him greatly and as soon as the young prince had fallen asleep, the king had stormed off into the night.
Lomion knew very well what his Adar was feeling, but he also knew that he did not know the full extent of a father's anger. Nay, he only knew of a brother's anger.
A soft moan quickly turned his attention back into the darker cavern.
"Arise sleepy head." Lomion teased lightly, his heart was too full of sorrow for anything else.
"I am awake." Came the reply. "Where is Ada?"
"He is outside." The crown prince said smoothly. "He needed some time to sort some thing out."
"In his head?" The younger elf asked hesitantly.
Lomion shook his head. "I do not know, but I think it would be more in his heart."
Legolas' face fell. "Is he ashamed of me?" He asked softly.
The older elf looked in askance at his sibling. "And what in the world would give you such a thought?"
Legolas would have shrugged, but it hurt to even move so he just sighed tiredly. "I don't know."
Instantly Lomion was on his knees. "Tell me." He ordered.
The young prince sighed. "With everything that has happened to me, I wouldn't really be surprised if he was." He shrugged. "I'm rather ashamed of myself." His voice lowered. "I should have been more aware of my surroundings. I shouldn't have let Adoril take command the way I always let him." The blue-gray eyes focused on the wrapped body close to the entrance then quickly flitted away.
"There are so many things that I should have done." The words were not spoken bitterly or even sadly, but rather with a sense of finality.
Lomion studied his younger brother before speaking what he knew was on his heart. "My very first battle didn't end the way I always thought it would." He began, ignoring Legolas' look of confusion.
"I always pictured myself ridding home in glory with everyone bowing at my feet, everyone praising my skill and boldness." He smirked at the memory. "It was a patrol of seven."
Legolas looked up in shock. "A patrol of seven?" He repeated.
The crown prince chuckled. "Remember at this time, it was called Greenwood the Great, and we did not have as many spiders, orcs and wargs as we do now."
The young prince nodded.
"Out of the seven, three were killed and four were badly wounded. In fact one of them died when we returned to the palace." Lomion continued, his voice oddly calm contrasting sharply to his tale. "I blamed only myself, as we son's of Thranduil seem to do." He threw a quick smile to his youngest sibling. "But in the midst of all my grief and wanting to change everything that happened, Ada confronted me with this, he told me 'You can't change the past, but you can always change the future.'" Lomion smiled distantly. "The future is always in motion, 'Las. We become who we are by the tides that change us. None of us could have foreseen the evil one returning. I doubt that even Ada could have changed the way Dol Guldur stands in the south."
Lomion tousled the blonde hair so much like his own. "Just remember this Legolas. Not even the wisest of wizards, the most powerful of elves or the strongest of any mortal can change the past. But we all have the same gift."
"And what is that?" Legolas asked, though he knew what his oldest brother would say.
"We can all change the future." Lomion grinned. "Even the little hobbits."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "How could something smaller than four feet change the course of the world?" He challenged.
Lomion laughed again. "You never know Legolas. You never know."
*~*~*
A tall, blonde haired elf stood surrounded by the many snow-covered trees. His eyes were closed and his fists tightly clenched. One did not have to look twice to see that the powerful elven king, renowned for his famous temper, was angry.
Within the king's mind a memory played. It was not one of a far distant memory; indeed it was one that happened only a few short hours ago. It was the memory of his youngest child, lying helplessly with tears running down the dirtied cheeks.
The tears had made a clean pathway, contrasting sharply with the dirt and grime. For every tear, Thranduil had grown angrier. For every choked reply, Thranduil had forced his own emotions back. For every haunted look in the blue gray eyes so like his own, Thranduil wished with all his might that he had not killed the Easterling so quickly.
He knew many ways of prolonging death, many painful ones. He had seen orcs work over their victims, indeed many an elf had taken days or even weeks for the orcs to finally kill. Many times they would be forced to watch their fellow elves be tortured and killed on the slopes of Mount Doom. Many elves, humans and orcs had been taken prisoner on those slopes, each had their own ways of torture, but the orcs had found a particular way of torturing that would always bring a response from the other side.
But for all the arrows fired, all the spears thrown, all the knives thrown, there was little they could do to save a fellow warrior, a brother, a friend, a father, a brother in law, an uncle, a cousin and so the list went on. Every elf feared being taken, and if possible would take his own life if left behind.
No one wanted to face what the orcs did. No one wanted to watch. No one wanted to hear the screams. No one wanted to see the bright red blood, but they all did. Nothing could shut out the screams of those whose souls were ripped away from them.
The sounds of battle were a welcome relief to the screams of those being raped. But it always came back.. Often in the dead of the night, the stillness of the night would become drenched with the screams.
Everyone knew what was happening. And everyone prayed it was not someone they knew. For seven long years the screams were permanently etched upon the woodland king's heart. He thought he had buried those years in the past. They had not been disturbed until now. Until Legolas' tale of horror had been fully told of what had been done to him, what had almost been done to him.
The elves raped upon the slopes of Mount Doom had been his fellow warriors, true, but this was something far more personal.
It was his son, his son that was almost raped. It had been his son who had been forced to such vileness. It had been his son who had felt those vile hands. It was his son who had felt that vile breath.
Anger coursed through the king's body. And suddenly, without warning the sword at the king's side was whipped out and thrown several yards away into a dead tree.
His chest heaving from the anger still coursing through his veins, Thranduil strode over to the dead tree and reaching forward tugged at it the whirled around catching his blade with the blade of another.
He stared into the face of his oldest friend and fellow warrior, Gómir. Gómir had been born the same year and even the same month as he had been, and they had formed a close almost brotherly bond between them.
Of all the elves in the Mirkwood realm, Gómir would be the only one who could know what Thranduil was feeling at the moment. Gómir had lost his oldest brother on the slopes of Mount Doom. He had watched helplessly as his brother was captured, tortured, raped then murdered.
The only reason Gómir had not died of grief was the simple fact that he knew he was of better use on Middle Earth than the Halls of Mandos. He had been able to comfort many elves whose relative or friend had died, and Thranduil knew exactly what he was doing in front of him.
"You are angry." Gómir stated simply.
Furious blue-gray eyes met calm sea green ones.
"You wish you did not kill that animal so quickly." Gómir guessed quietly, his sword still defensive against the other sword.
Thranduil snorted, taking his sword away and wiping it clean he sheathed it. "That is my wish." His bitter tone of voice did nothing to bring a reaction from the other elf.
"You wish you would have given him a slow, painful death." Gómir continued.
Thranduil was suddenly weary. "That is my wish." He said sobering. His fists clenched again, trying hard to regain his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "I want to cut his fingers off for touching him." The voice broke then continued. "I want to rip his heart out for hurting him. I want to tear his eyes out for looking at him. I want to break him into a million pieces just for even thinking about my son. I want. I want." Thranduil's voice broke the same time he did.
Gómir was quick to catch his best friend and king into his arms as Thranduil sank forward under a burden no one should ever have to carry. The dark haired elf stayed silent, letting the blonde haired elf cry out his emotions so long damned up.
It was several minutes before Thranduil finally regained control. Letting out a shuddering breath, he sat up, giving the other elf a wavering smile. "Hannon Le." He whispered.
Gómir smiled. "You held me when I cried." He replied simply, holding his hand out.
Thranduil gave a weak grin then took the other elf's hand and allowed the other to pull him up.
*~*~*
Humming softly in the empty healers ward Miriwen carefully flipped through another page. She was at the moment trying to figure out how far along she might be. She had found several fascinating books about pregnancy and had eagerly delved into them.
Judging by her size she guessed that she was in her fifth or sixth month. But what didn't make sense was the fact that she was rather large for even five months along. So she continued to flip idly through the pages of the book when she suddenly froze.
Unable to really believe what she was reading she started at the top again. And then she read it again. Still quite shocked, she read it yet again.
Still unable to believe it she flipped through the book until she came to the index, there it was! Quite shaken she grabbed a complete different book and found the index and then flipped to the page.
It said the exact same thing.
By now her pulse had sped up quite a bit and placing her hand over her chest to try and calm herself down, she felt something rather, unexplainable.
She had always loved listening to her heartbeat, and had found a surprising joy in leaning her head against Thalion's chest to hear his heart beat as well. She knew the beats of his heart as much as she knew the beats of her own heart. But when she felt her own pulse she found that there were two more beating with hers.
Two more tiny hearts had found a stronger rhythm to beat in tune with. Their hearts beat careful in time with their Naneth's.
*~*~*
Thalion sighed. How he wanted to get up and go to Mirkwood, but Lord Elrond must have given him some sort of sedative because he felt like doing nothing but lie contentedly on the warm bed wrapped up in blankets. He yawned then rolled over on his side half inattentively looking for his wife's warmth. It was only until he had looked for it, did he realize that his wife was back in Mirkwood.
He sighed heavily. How he missed her.
A knock on the door broke the prince from his thoughts. "Enter." He called out, pressing his body up to a sitting position.
It was Lord Elrond. "Still abed yet?" He teased lightly, sitting next the bedridden prince.
Thalion scowled. "I hate being bedridden as much as Legolas does." He gave the other elf a waning smile. "But I don't feel so good."
Elrond's gaze sharpened. He sat down. "Where?"
Thalion shrugged. "Just a general." He sneezed suddenly. He groaned, and then sneezed again, holding his head between his hands. "Not to mention a really bad headache."
Elrond sat back, a thoughtful expression covering his face. "Let me check your wound." He said, proceeding to do just that. When nothing stood out, he sat back once more. "Everything seems to be alright with your wound."
"Achoo!" Thalion sneezed again, and then rubbed his suddenly watering eyes.
"Adar?" Both elves turned at the sound of Aragorn's voice.
Elrond froze, seeing a smoking pipe in the man's mouth.
Thalion really paid no attention because he started sneezing all the more.
"Aragorn!" Elrond quickly stood. "Get out and douse that pipe!" He hurriedly shoved the young man out and closed the door then quickly went over to the still sneezing prince. After a few moments the sneezing subsided leaving a very weak feeling prince and a rather amused elven lord.
"You are allergic to pipe weed." Elrond stated quietly, his lips turning up into a smile.
Thalion stared at the elven lord. "And what does that mean exactly?"
Elrond laughed. "I keep forgetting that elves rarely have allergies, it is the humans."
Thalion sneezed again. "And of course I just happen to be one of the rare ones." He wiped his nose, grimacing at the snot on his hand.
Elrond chuckled, reaching into a drawer next to the bed and pulled out a royal blue colored handkerchief. "Here." He handed the prince the handkerchief. "Don't worry about giving it back." He smiled. "Allergies are something that some people and very few elves get. When that person smells something." He gave the prince a wry smile. "They get a reaction to that particular smell and their body thinks it is something bad and it immediately tries to ward it off."
He smiled sympathetically at the watery-eyed prince. "I will inform the rangers and Aragorn not to smoke and I will get something for that headache of yours."
Thalion nodded, still a little confused. "When can I go home?" He asked instead.
Elrond raised an eyebrow. "You should wait until at least tomorrow." He said dryly.
Thalion sighed, then nodded he didn't really even want to move, let alone get out of bed. Perhaps the morrow would bring some vigor. He hoped anyway.
*~*~*
Siverron studied the elf before him. Something was bothering Thorinell, or someone. He had been watching the settlement elf for a while now. He had been hoping that Thorinell would break the shell he usually put himself in and start talking, but since it didn't look like that was going to happen anytime soon, Siverron decided to try and break the shell a little.
"Thorinell." He edged his horse over to the other elf's horse. "What burdens your mind so?"
Thorinell look mildly surprised. "Burdens my mind?" He asked contemplating how far he could go as to not let the other elf know.
"I know something is bothering you." Siverron said matter a fact. "And I have many friends that I could.."
"Tell bug me until I tell." Thorinell finished with a smirk at his friend's surprised look. "Am I right?"
Siverron had the nerve to look outraged. "And where did you get this information?" He grilled.
Thorinell laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Everyone in the entire kingdom knows all of your 'friends' and how you get information so quickly."
"Oh?" Siverron challenged.
"Yes." Thorinell replied calmly. "You eavesdrop." He burst out laughing with the other elves then pushed his horse into a light gallop leaving an astonished elf behind with his mouth opened.
"Get back here!" Siverron yelled urging his own horse into a gallop to catch up to the others. After a few moments of fun the elves settled down once more. "You know what your problem is Thorinell?"
"No." The other elf said rather exasperated. "What is my problem."
"You need a wife." Siverron stated triumphantly.
"Ok." Thorinell replied, exchanging amused glances with the other elves. "And who would you suggest I marry."
Siverron chuckled. "Princess Lothgil." He stated then rode ahead, this time leaving Thorinell sitting astonished with his mouth open.
Siverron knew he had hit a nerve, but didn't say anything more until they reached the palace. Though they had been unchallenged, the settlement elves could feel someone watching them just to make sure that their intentions were right.
Once they reached the outer gates of the underground realm, their hidden escort vanished back into the forest to watch for any other intruder. Thorinell raised an eyebrow at Siverron. "What now?" He questioned.
Siverron shook his head and then slid off of his horse. "We go into the palace and ask for an audience with the king and then I'll give my report then you will give your report then you can go woo your princess."
Thorinell's face tightened, but he nodded. He motioned for the others to slide off then they gave the horses to the care of another elf then strode into the palace.
"Siverron! You're back!" A young girl on the edge of womanhood quickly walked over and threw her arms around the elf.
"Addaith." Siverron murmured, pressing his forehead to hers in a manner of affection. "Where are Naneth and Adar?"
"I think Naneth is in the healers ward helping Princess Miriwen and I think Adar is helping Cievan prepare some maps." Addaith replied crossing her eyes comically. "They told me not to disturb them and to go find something to do."
"Embroidery?" Siverron teased.
Addaith snorted, quite un-lady like. "I'd rather ride a horse." She retorted. Her eyes caught Thorinell and the other settlement elves. "Thorinell!" She cried out in surprise, she wiggled out of her brother's arms then threw herself into Thorinell's arms. "I've missed you so much! Why don't you come around to visit me anymore?"
"Sorry Addy." Thorinell used the long time nickname. "I've been busy, but I'll make it up somehow, I promise." He pressed a kiss to Addaith's forehead. "Now I have to go make a report to the king, so we will talk later alright?"
Addaith frowned. "But you can't see the king." She blurted out.
"Why not?" Siverron questioned.
"Because he and Prince Lomion are gone, as are Prince Thalion and Prince Legolas." Addaith stated.
"Where are they?" Thorinell asked baffled that the king, crown prince and even the second in line for the crown were all gone. If Thranduil, Lomion, Thalion and Legolas were all gone that left just Tasari and of course the three princess's; Lainiel, Miriwen and Lothgil.
"Prince Legolas was captured by some Easterlings, Prince Thalion was taking a patrol down to the south and King Thranduil and Prince Lomion went to go rescue Prince Legolas." Addaith recited, almost as if she had been forced to memorize the entirety.
"And how do you know all of this, Addy?" Thorinell pressed.
Addaith had the decency to look ashamed.
Thorinell shook his head. "Eavesdropping? You Addy? I knew that your brother did, but you?" He made a tsk-ing sound with his tongue, holding a smile back. He exchanged amused glances with one of his settlement elves. "Must run in the family."
"What!"
Already heading down the corridor to the throne room, Thorinell safely out distanced any cuffs to his head for his cheek. Chuckling as he turned the corner he ran smack dab into a soft female. With one breath, Thorinell instantly knew who it was.
Lothgil.
*~*~*
Galion bit his lower lip as he carefully re-wrapped the prince's leg up. When the horse had fallen, the rump had managed to land entirely on the knee and shin- bone shattering it completely. The bone fragments had splintered into the flesh and when Galion had first seen the leg, there had been many white pieces of bone actually sticking out of the skin.
In all of his healing experience he had never seen a bone shatter as Legolas' bone had. With a sinking heart, the healer knew that without a doubt, if they didn't get back to the palace within so many hours or else Legolas would either lose his leg or his life.
Galion quietly finished wrapping the leg and then stepped outside to see King Thranduil and Gómir approaching. He waited for them to approach him and then motioned Thranduil over to his side. He immediately noticed the redness in Thranduil eyes and knew Gómir had been successful in helping his king release his emotions.
"Galion." Thranduil greeted. He knew very well that the healer had been appraising him and most likely had been the one to send Gómir after him. He gave the healer a weak smile that told of his thanks.
"Thranduil. Gómir." Galion nodded. "We need to get Legolas back to the palace immediately. We can't afford to wait any longer. " The brevity of his words landed hard upon the king.
"What do you mean?" He asked his voice shaking slightly.
Galion looked sympathetically at the king, but knew that he had to press on with his news. "His leg is getting worse, if it's not worked on very soon then." He stopped, and shook his head not wanting to say what he knew would tear a jagged edge to Thranduil's already torn heart.
"Say it, Galion." Thranduil said quietly, fixing his eyes upon the healer.
Galion sighed. "If Legolas doesn't get back to the palace, he could easily lose his leg."
Thranduil took a step back under the weight of the shock. "You are serious." He whispered.
Galion nodded. "It is imperative that Legolas gets back to palace. We can ill afford to wait for even a few hours."
Thranduil nodded, his mind quickly picking over and choosing warriors. He called out four warriors names and ordered them to ready the horses. He then called Lomion over and told him of Galion's report. Agreeing to Thranduil's quickly made up plan he told the rest of the warriors while Thranduil, the four other warriors, Galion and Legolas readied to leave.
Legolas was given another sleeping draught and then carefully placed in front of Thranduil, while the four warriors took protective sides on the sides and behind the king. Galion rode beside him.
For Legolas the ride past in complete oblivion; for Galion the ride was made with him thinking of every little thing that would need to be done to save Legolas' leg; for Thranduil the ride was the one of the hardest things to do. The realization that even upon arriving at the palace as fast as possible, there still was a chance that Legolas would lose his leg. And Thranduil knew if Legolas lost his leg, it would kill him. He was sure of it.
As the gates were opened, the king and his escort were greeting by the palace guards who already had healers waiting for Legolas.
The healers took Legolas from Thranduil's arms, leaving the king and father to stand in the courtyard, staring at the still form in the stretcher and praying with all his might, that Legolas would live..
A/N: This chapter is not beta read, my beta was really busy so I told her that I would wait until she got a little more settled down:-)
I will be gone this weekend to ATF (Acquire the Fire), so I will not be posting a new chapter of The Dare until probably Monday.
Gwyn: lol, I think half the world is on the MC list. :-) I'm glad you think Legolas' Ada is cute, I rather like him myself;-) Thanks for the review and sorry it took a bit!
Iras: I am soo sorry! I completely forgot to email you! Hopefully I will do a little better job (winces) Thank you so much for sticking with me!
Deana: Thank you so much for your encouragement. I was a little hesitant to state my true reasons, but I am glad that I did. I am so glad to find other spoken Christians on the net! You have no idea how blessed I feel (sigh) Isn't God just way cool? Lol, just had to say that. Thank you so much for reviewing and encouraging me!
Jess Perry: lol, yes I did get the email but I accidentally deleted it and then, silly me forgot all about it. Lol. I'm glad you got that figured out! Well pretty soon the conflicts will be sorted out and hopefully before I get too many chapters going! :-) Thanks for the review!
Sparrow Greenleaf: Embarrassing you? Is that possible? Lol. JK. Lol. I love you, in an author - reader sort of way. (scratches head puzzled) But anyway, yes Legolas needed to be a little more open and he's finally got a little bit off his chest, ok so it was a lot:-) Thanks for the review! And did you remember or no?
Kit Cloudkicker: Awww! Kit and Legolas, sittin' in a tree.. Oh wait, that is supposed to be Faith and Legolas sittin' in a tree, H-U-G-G-I-N-G. lol. Crazy wacky mood I'm in tonight;-) Thanks for the review!
Feanen: How about complex, or intricately plotted, or something besides interesting! Lol. Just kidding, I don't care how short the review as long as I get a review;-) Especially from you, and no I am not sucking up;-)
Nikki: Don't worry, I have plenty of chapter ahead yet. Whew, makes me tired thinking about them. But oh welll;-) Yes, Sarlacc was a little creepy, but he is dead so he can't really creep people out anymore, unless he was a ghost. Now that would be creepy, but anyway.. :-) Thanks for the review!
White Wolf1: You are exactly right, Legolas saved his family and the entire kingdom, by refusing to tell the Easterling. It cost him quite a bit, but I think Legolas is finally realizing that some sacrifices must be made. :-) Thanks for the review!
Lady Ana Maria Lorinan: Thanks! I'm glad you think so! Thanks for the reivew~
HalandLeg4ever: Well, well, well, look who decided to show up;-) JK, you know I don't mean it:-) Sorry it took me a bit, but I did get it too you! Thanks for the review!
DeepBlueSomething: Yes, things are finally looking up. At last right? Lol. Yes I can't wait until Thalion returns home! Of course since I'm writing it, lol. Anyway. Thanks for the review!
Thank you to all the 27 people who have put me on their favorites list or on their author alerts. You guys are my inspiration. Without you I would just be a faceless name in a crowd. Thank you all so, so much.