Title: Inseparable
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: You need eyeglasses if you think I look like Tolkien!
Author Note: Sorry for the lengthy update! I really didn't mean to make you wait that long! REALLY!
Story time!
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Chapter 15. Attempted Murder
It was now really early in the morning, almost one o'clock. Estel looked for Legolas. He had gone to the elf's room, with the help of Barlay, but it was vacant. Instead, he went to Thranduil's room and knocked on the door.
"Enter." Came Thranduil's voice from the other side of the door. Barlay waited behind the door as Estel opened it and saw Thranduil sitting in one of the comfortable chairs that was in his room, reading a book.
"King Thranduil," Estel said, bowing, "Do you know where Legolas is?"
Thranduil looked up from his book.
"I believe he is taking a walk in the garden. You might find him in a tree, so look up all the really good, tall ones."
"Hannen lle, Heruamin." Estel said, bowing again and closing the door as he left. Then, he turned to Barlay. "Can you take me to the gardens?"
"My King, shouldn't you be going to sleep? You are to have a big day ahead of you!" Barlay said as they turned around and walked in the direction of the gardens.
"Doing what?" Estel asked curiously, looking up at the aged servant of Gondor.
"Learning kingly ways from Ecthelion." Barlay answered.
"But I don't want to! I don't even want to be king, yet! When did I ever say I came here to be king? I just came here because we can't go to any of the elven realms!" Estel yelled.
"My King, please! Do lower your voice! It is very late and people are sleeping!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so angry." Estel whispered, looking down at the floor as they walked.
"Well, no matter." Barlay said, opening the front doors and the two humans walked out.
"You're very nice." Estel said and Barlay looked startled.
"Why, I'm flattered, Your Highness!"
"Did you ever have children? You would make a good father!"
"In fact, I did have a daughter, but I have heard no word of her for years. You see, I am actually a Rohirrim. I only came here to serve The Lord and I have found Gondor to be a better home for me."
"What of your daughter?"
"Well, you see, her mother was an elf. She left for Valinor long ago. My daughter and I lived in Rohan until one day, my hand went astray as I shot an inaccurate arrow and it killed an elf. I did not mean to do it, but nonetheless, I was dragged to Mirkwood and beaten. Then, there, I was shot. They took me for dead and threw me into the Anduin River and from there, I swam all the way to Gondor (I know that's a REALLY long way, but Barlay is cool. He was in his prime years at the time. Just pretend people can actually swim all that way). I have been here ever since. I have tried finding my daughter, but no word came to me. I have taken her for dead."
"What was her name?"
"Her mother gave her the name of 'Morier.'" Barlay shook his head and his gray, shoulder length hair fell into his eyes. "Why she did, I do not know, for it means, 'dark one.' But my little Morier was a sweet little Elandili [half elf] from day one. She never drew the sword I gave her, unless it was unavoidable. How I wish she were still alive."
Morier. Estel thought. The name sounded familiar… but where had he heard it?
"Her name sounds familiar." Estel voiced.
"Really?"
"Yes, but I do not know where I have heard it, although I'm sure I have before. If it comes to me, I shall let you know."
"Hannen lle." Barlay said. "Yes, I speak a little elvish myself. I am not as excellent in that language as elves, but that it was you must expect from a sixty-year-old man, eh?"
"Could you teach me elvish? I know a few things that my friend, Legolas taught me, but he has failed to teach me more during our journey here."
"I would be honored, my lord."
"Call me Estel." Estel said.
"Estel… 'Hope' is it not?"
"Yes."
"Well, Young Hope, I would be honored to teach you elvish. But not right now, for we are at the gardens. I shall leave you here. I trust you can find your way back to your room from here?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Then, goodnight. And tell your friend I said hello."
"I will. Hannen lle."
"Namaarie." Barlay said, his bright gray eyes twinkled in the darkness and he winked, then strolled away, back into the palace.
Estel looked around the giant garden. In the moonlight and the few torches that lit it up, Estel could see different varieties of flowers, all of different colors. He didn't wonder why Legolas wouldn't want to take a walk here. It was so peaceful, but he had to look for Legolas. Estel searched around the garden and picked out the biggest tree. He walked over to it and looked up. Sure enough, he found Legolas, sitting up on one of the highest branches, humming 'Glaer oen Elenath.' [Song of the Stars]
"Why do you climb so high? You know I can't follow!" Estel said, laughter in his voice and his hands on his hips in mock annoyance. Legolas looked down and saw Estel.
"You should not be up this late, Estel." Legolas said, smiling.
"I'm the king. I can do what I want."
"You're good." Legolas said, when he couldn't find a comeback to what Estel had just said.
"Hannen lle." Estel said. Legolas climbed down a little until he was in the lower braches of the giant tree.
"Do you want to come up for a while?" Legolas asked. Estel nodded and Legolas reached down a hand. Once Estel took it, Legolas heaved him up and they settled in the branch together. Legolas lay back on the branches, resting his head on a bunch of leaves.
"Something has been ailing you, Estel. I can feel it, so don't deny it. What is wrong?" Legolas said, looking up at the rest of the branches in the tree and Estel bit his lip. He wanted to tell Legolas everything about what Denethor said to him.
"N-nothing." Estel lied.
"Estel, you are not a good liar. Tell me what is wrong."
"I can't."
"And why can't you?"
"Because, I-- no. I don't want to say."
"Estel, am I not your friend?" Legolas said.
"You are."
"And do friends tell other friends what is wrong?"
"Sometimes they don't have to." Estel said.
"Tell me what is wrong, Estel. You will feel better once you have."
"If I do… will you promise not to tell anyone?"
"I promise."
"You swear?"
"I swear, on my word as the Elf Prince of Mirkwood, that I will not tell a soul on what we talk about."
"Well…" Estel started, looking around to make sure that they really were alone. When he was satisfied, he turned back to Legolas.
"You know earlier today, when Denethor took me inside to tell me the rules of Gondor."
"Yes," Legolas said.
"Well, he-- he didn't really…"
"What did he do?" Legolas said, a note of urgency in his voice.
"Legolas-- I can't say."
"Why not?"
"He said he would kill one of you if I told--"
"One of who?"
"You or another elf."
"He said he would kill us if you told anyone what?" Legolas said, sitting up and looking Estel directly in the eyes.
"Well. He said he wanted to be Steward of Gondor and that he has been waiting for that moment for a long time and that I should not be here, because he should be Steward and I told him I would not let him be Steward, so he punched me in the stomach--" Estel said this all in one breath.
"Slow down, Estel. He hurt you?"
"Not badly." Estel said truthfully.
"Still, he should not be hurting you."
"But--"
"Why did he do such a thing?"
"He's jealous, I think."
"Estel, we should tell someone. Denethor should not be acting like that--"
"No, please, Legolas! You promised you would not tell!"
"But if Denethor is doing something bad--"
"Legolas, you promised on your word as the Elf Prince of Mirkwood that you would not tell a soul!"
"I won't say, but you should. Tell Ecthelion."
"Yeah, he would believe me in an instant that his perfect son threatened to kill innocent people." Estel said sarcastically.
"He should believe your word. You are the king."
"But I don't want to be!"
"But you are."
"You told me just this morning that I didn't have to be king if I didn't want to be, but since I have been here, that's all anyone ever says to me! 'You're the king!' And I thought if I had to be king, at least you would tell me I didn't have to be if I didn't want to be! But no! You're just the same as everyone else, Legolas!"
"Calm down--"
"No! I won't! Leave me alone! And don't you dare speak about this meeting! I only told you because I thought you would understand my view on it!"
"I did, and I was only giving you advice, Estel--"
"NO!" Estel yelled, jumping out of the tree and running to the palace. "Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to you ever again!" And slammed the giant door, leaving Legolas to think. Estel was mad at him again. Why did the boy always jump off the handle like that? Legolas climbed down the tree and sighed as he walked to the palace door, his heart heavy.
What the two friends didn't know was that someone had been listening in on the conversation. Denethor stepped out of the shadows, anger rising in his chest. The brat had snitched after all. He would pay.
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Denethor went into his room and took his prized Gondor sword from behind his dresser, where he stored it. The sheath was leather, with the White Tree and Seven Stars on both sides of it. Denethor grasped the cool, golden handle of the sword and pulled it out of the sheath. The blade glinted in the candlelight and Denethor saw his reflection, his eyebrows knitted together in fury. He couldn't use this sword. Someone would be able to tell that it was him. He would need a different sword. He would try one of the elves' rooms, to see if any of them had any weapons lying around. They would be framed. Aragorn would pay for snitching… but which of the elves should he attack?
He didn't want to kill any of them… yet… he just wanted the boy to know he wasn't joking. The blonde elf Aragorn had been talking to… Legolas, he believed was his name… would be a difficult target. Aragorn seemed closest to that elf in particular. But no… Legolas was probably still awake, somewhere else in the palace, pondering at what Estel had said to him. That elf passed. No, this elf had to be vulnerable… well-- more vulnerable than a regular elf.
…A female elf…
Denethor thought of Lady Galadriel… but no… she was rooming with Celeborn. He would wake up if she cried out.
…A female elf…
…Lady Arwen…
Denethor grinned evilly, his dark green eyes flashed with malice. But he would need to cover up. They would wonder where the sword cut had come from. Silently, he tiptoed to Legolas's room and peeked inside. Sure enough, the elf wasn't there. But his elvish blades, bow and quiver full of arrows were. Making sure the room really was deserted, he walked inside and pulled out one of the blades. It was beautiful… perfect. Quietly, he snuck to Arwen's room, his Legolas's blade in his hand. He opened her door. It creaked slightly, but when he peeked inside, she appeared to be sleeping… she was still, anyway.
He crept to her bedside and his heart skipped a beat. She was awake! Her eyes were open! But no, she breathed deeply as though in a slumber and she made no notice of his appearance. When Denethor remembered, he had the urge to kick himself.
Of course, he thought, Elves sleep with their eyes open.
Arwen looked so hauntingly beautiful, Denethor couldn't help but pause and stare at her for a while. She glowed as all the elves did, but her face was fairer than that of the male elves. Her chest rose with her breath, under her silky nightgown. Her arms were atop her stomach and showed perfectly manicured fingernails. But what really entranced Denethor, were her eyes. They were a beauty beyond things. The bluish-green eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, unaware of his presence. They twinkled as the moon reflected them from the open window.
Denethor mentally shook himself. He was not here to gaze upon this beauty, he was here to get Estel back for snitching. Drawing a breath, as though to prepare for the elvish blade to slide across his own flesh, he placed it at her neck, careful to place it in a spot, where she couldn't die, but only be seriously hurt. Then, with a swift motion, he drew it across her neck. She cried out and then screamed. Denethor dropped the blade and made to leave the room, but he could already hear soft elvish footsteps echoing in the halls. He looked around for a place to hide. Finally, he chose to hide behind her dresser.
Just in time, he got behind it, before the door opened and three elves raced inside. Denethor recognized them as Lord Elrond and his twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir.
"Arwen!" They all whispered in unison and she cried, unable to say anything out of pain. Elrond gathered up his robes and hut them to her neck to attempt to stem the bleeding, but to no avail. Her blood was now staining the sheets under her.
"Elladan," Elrond said to his oldest, taking his daughters hand and rubbing it, "Get the Healer and tell him to bring Athelas, Cathenford, and Raldonian. And hurry!" Elladan nodded and ran out of the room.
"Elrohir," Elrond said to the remaining twin, "Wake the others. Tell Legolas to get Estel, but you must get your grandparents and Thranduil. And when you tell Legolas to get Estel, tell him to get Estel to take you to Ecthelion. He will not be allowed there on his own, but Estel is allowed. Please hurry!" Without another word, Elrohir left.
Denethor watched as Elrond whispered elvish words to Arwen and he suddenly felt guilty about what he had done. Elrond looked around for any clues and picked up Legolas's blade, shaking his head in disbelief. Elladan returned with the Healer, who immediately commanded for Elladan to mix some leaves together. He then placed his ear over Arwen's heart.
"She still lives. I think we will be able to save her."
Denethor then had to hide farther back behind the dresser, for Elladan went over to it to grab the water pitcher. He could hear nothing else they said. He must get out soon. If his father was coming, he would want Denethor to come as well, and if he found that Denethor was not there… his whole plan would be ruined.
Arwen started to scream in pain and everyone went to aid her. Denethor prayed they would not hear him leave. He snuck past them all and surprisingly, made it out the door. Then, he ran to his room.
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Legolas was walking along a corridor when his ears picked up the sound of elvish footsteps, running frantically.
"Legolas!" He heard Elrohir call his name and he broke into a run, following the twin's voice.
"Legolas!" Elrohir yelled again.
~"I am here! What ails you?"~ He yelled back. Elrohir appeared from around a corner, his face unusually white and scared looking.
"Arwen had been hurt. Ada wants you to get Estel. And then he wants you two to get Ecthelion."
"I will hurry." Legolas said and ran around the corner, listening to Elrohir's footsteps die down. It was then he realized he did not know where Estel's room was. Nor was he allowed there. Then, out of pure luck, he saw an old servant wandering in the hallway.
"You!" He yelled. The servant looked around at him.
"Yes, My Lord, what is it?" He said, noticing that Legolas still wore the headdress.
"I need you to take me to Estel-- Aragorn-- King Aragorn's room!" Legolas said.
"My Lord, you are not allowed there." The servant said.
"It's an emergency! I must see him!"
"Very well," The servant said, "But please, do not tell Ecthelion of this."
"I will not."
"Then follow me."
"Please hurry. Someone is hurt."
"I shall do my best to run." The servant said, speeding up. What seemed ages, they arrived in front of a giant door.
"This is Estel's room." The servant said, and Legolas didn't even notice that he used the boy's elvish name, instead of saying 'King Aragorn,' like everyone else. He was too scared. He banged on Estel's door and the boy opened it.
"Oh," He said unenthusiastically, "It's you. And you, Barlay!" He said happily to the servant.
"Estel," Legolas said.
"What do you want? I thought I told you to leave me alone." Estel made to close the door in Legolas's face, but Legolas put his arm through the door to stop it, wincing as the door slammed against it.
"LEAVE ME ALONE, LEGOLAS!" Estel yelled angrily, clawing Legolas's arm and the elf winced even more, but not at the pain, but at the fact that Estel was mad with him. Legolas used all his might to push the door open. Once he slid his body through, the door slammed shut and Estel jumped on him.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" He yelled, punching Legolas in the face.
"Estel," Legolas said as he felt blood fill his mouth and spill down his chin, "If you care even a winkling about Arwen, you would do well to listen to me!" Estel stopped attacking Legolas almost immediately.
"Arwen?" He asked.
"She is hurt."
"How?"
"I am not sure, but Elrohir wants us to get Ecthelion."
"Fine. Let's go!" He opened the door to where Barlay stood casually as though he had doors slammed in his face every day.
"Barlay," Estel said, "Take us to Ecthelion's room."
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Fifteen minutes later, the elf and the four humans (Denethor and Barlay had come too) ran into the room. Their first sight was of the Healer and the four elves drenched in elven blood… Arwen's blood.
Legolas ran over to his friend and saw that there were tears running down her face as she cried and occasionally screamed. Legolas kneeled beside her and all went silent, except for Arwen's sobs. Then, Legolas began to sing 'Glaer oen Elenath,' to her. The humans couldn't understand it, but they were all entranced. They had never heard an elf sing before. Arwen stopped crying as she listened to Legolas. When his song finished, he started over and sang it three more times for her. Then, he spoke in elvish to her.
"Avo dabolle gurth na telch coille, mellon nin." He whispered. [Don't allow death to stem your life, my friend]. And his tears spilt. He felt ashamed to cry in front of everyone, even Galadriel, Celeborn and Thranduil, who just showed up with Elrohir.
Legolas groped at his wrist and pulled Arwen's charm bracelet off. He clasped it around her wrist once more.
"Look!" Estel said and Legolas turned to look at the boy, but he saw Estel pointing at Arwen, so he looked back at her. With a gasp, he realized that she was no longer glowing!
"Baw! Tul ni calad! Avo ego!" Legolas shouted. Thranduil walked to his son and placed a hand on his shoulder. [No! Come to the light! Don't go!]
"It is too late, ion-nin. She is leaving us for the Halls of Mandos."
"Baw! Turore ure ego! Turore ure!" The Prince shouted. He was so stressed he couldn't think enough to speak edain [men's tongue]. [No! She can't go! She can't!]
"I am sorry, ion-nin. She has chosen this for herself. You cannot help her." Thranduil said solemnly, rubbing his sons back soothingly. Legolas stared at his father, tear stains on his cheeks, his face turning red out of anger and remorse.
"Ennas naa estel anre." [There is hope for her]
"No, Legolas, there is no hope."
"Ennas naa estel anre… sui ennas naa estel anamin." [There is hope for her… as there was hope for me]
All was silent as Legolas spoke these words. Even the humans who could not understand elvish could understand that Legolas had said something serious. When Legolas heard no response to his statement, he turned back around to face Arwen's pale face and started singing 'Glaer oen Elenath' again.
"The Elf's gone mad!" Ecthelion said, not bothering to lower his voice. It wouldn't have made a difference, anyway. Legolas was too focused on Arwen to hear anything else but his own singing, which was wavering as fresh tears poured down his face and making little wet stains in Arwen's bed sheets and nightgown.
"No he isn't!" Estel yelled, defending his friend whose sobs were getting harder and harder to ignore.
"Be quiet, Aragorn." Ecthelion said. Denethor smirked, which proved to be hard because of his guilt. It seemed he had hurt the Elf Legolas more emotionally than Estel.
"Denethor, Aragorn." Ecthelion said, "Bed."
Denethor obediently bowed to his father and left the room. Estel, however, stayed, looking at Legolas, who was kneeling at Arwen's bedside.
"Aragorn, now!"
"No! I must stay here! I'm not listening to you! Legolas needs me!"
If looks could kill, Estel would have dropped dead in less than a second. Ecthelion backhanded him. The boy put a hand to his cheek, shocked, tears in his eyes.
"You are the King, Aragorn!" Ecthelion yelled over Legolas's singing. The Elf had done nothing, or showed no signs of helping Estel.
"And you are a Steward! If I'm the King, let me do what I want! I want to stay!"
"I, however, and in charge of you until you take up the throne permanently."
"But he is my son." Elrond said, stepping forward and putting a bloody hand on Estel's shoulder. "And I say he stays."
"I know what's best for him!" Ecthelion yelled.
"Arathorn and Gilraen entrusted him with me. Therefore, my word is best for him, not yours. I say he should decide what he wants and not have you make his choice up for him. Estel?"
The Steward and Elf Lord looked at the child. He gazed over at Arwen and saw Legolas had changed his position. He was now sitting on the edge of his bed, patting her hand, still whispering his song.
"I want to stay here." Estel said finally.
"Very well!" Ecthelion huffed stiffly, "Goodnight to you all!" And he turned on his heel and stomped out the door in an un-Stewardly manner.
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Once Estel had gone over and put a comforting arm around Legolas, Elladan walked to his father as Elrohir talked to Galadriel, Celeborn and Thranduil.
"Who did this to Arwen?" He asked his father.
"I do not know who did it," Elrond responded, watching as the Healer pushed through Legolas and Estel to get to Arwen to apply bandages to her neck. "But they left the blade. I am afraid I recognized it."
"Wouldn't that be a good thing, Adar?"
"Not when the blade was Legolas's." Elrond said, showing Elladan the gleaming, bloodstained knife.
"But it can't have been Legolas! He is showing more distress than anyone else right now."
"I know Legolas is innocent. In my heart, I will always know that. But this happened in Gondor, not Imladris. Ecthelion is to decide who is guilty, not me."
"But he would kill Legolas!" Elladan said in a loud whisper so he wouldn't disturb Legolas with the conversation about him.
"We do not know what Ecthelion would do. This accident happened to an elf, not one of his own people, but he would still think of it as the fact that someone is dangerous within Minas Tirith."
"Should we show Legolas the blade?" Elladan asked.
"No. Not yet. And nor will we show anyone else tonight. Let Arwen heal. Let Legolas be at peace. But tomorrow, I will have to show Ecthelion and Thranduil."
What they didn't know was that there was one other, besides themselves that knew about Legolas's knife. Denethor hid in the shadows of a drape on the wall, bearing the white tree and seven stars. He wondered how long he could keep this lie going, just how far he could push everyone into believing it was Legolas who hurt Arwen… just how much he could hurt Aragorn if something were to happen to his precious friend Legolas.
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Boy, everyone's out to get to Legolas, aren't they? I am really sorry for the fact that this chappie is kinda confusing. I was confused when I wrote it. I wrote it like, two other times. I'm still confused. Oh well… at least the chapter is longer. On my computer, it is 12 pages! WOW! I like Barlay. You have no idea how hard it was to have Leggy and Estel have a conversation and not bring up Morier. I want to wait a little before Barlay learns about Morier. That's why I made them have an argument… so they wouldn't talk about anything… but I hated the way that I wrote Estel flying off the bat like that. He was way too rash, but that's how the story goes sometimes! I'm really sorry and I promise the next chapter will be better! Reviews!
Mistopurr- EVIL MORIER! How about that? Her name means 'evil one!' I don't have much to say here, because I said it all in the e-mail I responded with.
Trinityelf- Thank you! -iel… I'll have to remember that…EVIL DENETHOR! I also want you to e-mail me your promised ideas for 'ONU!' Heh, heh… I wonder if I could win the costume contest. Oh well… we'll see. Legolas isn't as popular as Jack Sparrow. My mom will soon call your mom to talk about the Lopez trip, so that way, your mom feels a little safer with you going. Bye, now!
Sammy- Thanks!
Gilraen Felagund- That's okay about you messing up Oropher's name. I do it all the time with other names. Yeah, when I realized his name was Oropher, I was like; any relation to Haldir's brother? But, I guess not… *sighs sadly*
The evil witch queen- Yeah, Denethor is an evil little git! I HATE HIM! EVIL MORIER! Thank you very much!
Leggylover03- Yes, I am evil! Evil me! Evil-er Morier! Heh, heh : )
Deana- Thanks!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR REVIEWS! I made it to 100 reviews! Thank you sooooooooooooo much! Here's a present-- *hands out Legolas-shaped cookies, and for those who don't like Orlando Bloom, she hands out Jack Sparrow cookies. If you don't like Jack Sparrow either, just eat the cookie! It ain't gonna kill you!* But thank you sooooooooooooo much! I'm started cheering when I made it to 100 reviews, earning a weird glance from my sister. Oops. Oh well… she's weird too! Once again, thank you!
If I don't post again until after Sunday, have a GREAT Easter! *Hands out chocolate eggs.*
I will review soon, but in the meantime, REVIEW!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88