Title: Inseparable
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Declaimer: Yup, it's me, Tolkien and I own everyone in this story, not that creepy Legolas-gurl88 person who seems to be obsessed with Orlando Bloom. (I thought I'd try a different view for the disclaimer).
Story!
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16. All a Lie
Arwen awoke, her throat stinging. With a lot of effort, she sat up and saw that only one other person was in the room; Legolas.
He was curled up in the chair in the corner, looking much like the Elfling that he had once been. His eyes were open and his braids had come undone in his sleep. The headdress he had never bothered removing had fallen to the floor when it slipped off Legolas's head. His silver tunic was stained red with blood and his eyes were tinged pink. The Elf had been crying. Suddenly, Legolas's eyes grew focused and he stirred and groaned. Once he sat up and rubbed his eyes, Legolas saw Arwen staring at him.
"Undó miel," He whispered, moving swiftly to her side. In his azure-colored eyes, Arwen saw relief, happiness, sadness and wordiness.
"Sut naa lle umien?" He asked. [How are you doing?] Then, he reeled off with many questions. "Lle tyava quel? Lle anta yulna en alu? Mani um a lle merna?" [Do you feel well? Do you need a drink of water? What do you want?]
"Dina, Legolas," Arwen spoke in a whisper, due to her throat. At least she could talk, though. [Be silent]. Arwen moved her hand up to her head, to put her hair behind her ear. As she did so, she was on her wrist, the charm bracelet.
"This is yours, Legolas." She whispered, taking it off and handing it back to him. He stared at it smiling.
"I was worried." He said finally. Then, his smile ceased, "Who did this to you?"
Before Arwen could answer, the door opened and Elladan and Elrohir walked in.
"Good morning, sleepyheads." Elrohir said, walking to Legolas and ruffling his hair. Legolas attempted to brush out the blonde hair with his fingers. He was unsuccessful.
"You can borrow my brush, Legolas." Arwen whispered to the prince, pointing a finger in the direction of her dresser. Legolas nodded his thanks and reached for the brush. Once he brushed his hair out, Elladan said, "Legolas, Ecthelion and our Adars want a word with you, now, in Ecthelion's study just down the hall. Don't bother with braids. Just put your hair back."
"And you'll want this," Elrohir picked up the headdress that still lay on the floor. Legolas grabbed it and, while putting his hair in a half-ponytail, he spoke to Arwen.
"I'll be back in a minute." He jammed the delicate silver headdress on his head and walked out of the room.
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Legolas knocked on the door to Ecthelion's study and entered. The first thing he saw were Thranduil, Elrond and Ecthelion.
Thranduil sat at Ecthelion's desk, his head in his hands. Without thinking, he was shaking his head from side to side. Elrond stood next to the King of Mirkwood, his arms folded and his eyebrow locked together in anger, his eyes staring blankly at Legolas, showing that he was not mad at the younger elf. Ecthelion was next to the door, a strange gleam of happiness in his eyes.
"You called?" Legolas said, hoping to break the uncomfortable silence that had settled in the room as the three adults stared at him.
"Please, Legolas, sit." Elrond said, gesturing to a chair in front of the desk. Legolas obediently did so, Ecthelion trailing behind him to stand next to the elves.
"We-- we have had a talk about last night, ion-nin." Thranduil said from the desk, his head rising from his hands to stare at his son.
"What's wrong? Is Arwen going to be okay?"
"Arwen will be fine." Elrond said, "Instead, our discussion was about you."
"Me?" Legolas asked dimly.
"Elrond searched for clues in Arwen's room las night and found the blade that harmed her." Thranduil said.
"And?" Legolas urged his father.
Thranduil cleared his throat and pulled out a wooden case from behind him. He opened the case. Legolas gasped as he saw his own white knife gleam dangerously in the torchlight (there were no windows in the room).
"What do you have to say about that, Elf!" Ecthelion said.
"Please, Ecthelion, call him Legolas." Thranduil said.
"I didn't do it." Legolas said, his throat clogged.
"A likely story! I say we let the guards deal with him!" Ecthelion said.
"Ecthelion, we are here to ask Legolas about his side of the story, not to arrest him." Elrond said as Thranduil buried his face in his hands again, his blonde hair, (which Legolas had inherited) falling over his head and shoulders limply. But then, he bravely stared up again.
"Very well, then, but remember, I decide what we are to do with him in the end." Ecthelion said.
"I didn't do it." Legolas repeated, staring at his father, trying to see belief in his father's eyes. They were so blank with worry, he would have found so much as a glimmer of sadness in them.
"You may begin your story Legolas." Thranduil said, his eyes filling with tears, "And please, ion-nin, do not lie. It will only get you in worse trouble."
Legolas gulped and licked his dry lips. Where to start?
"A-after dinner, I went on a walk in the garden. I sat in a tree and sang until--" Legolas paused. He had been singing until Estel had shown up. But if he mentioned Estel, the elves and man might badger him about what they spoke of, "--Until I felt like walking inside."
"Did you have your weapons with you?" Elrond pressed.
"No. I had left all of my weaponry in my room."
"So, you walked to your room, grabbed the knife and slit that poor Elf's throat!" Ecthelion said.
"No! I--"
"Ecthelion, please do not jump to conclusions. Let us hear his story before acting upon anything." Elrond said. Legolas did not continue, thinking it would be odd to keep talking after that particular type of line had been said.
"Go on, ion-nin." Thranduil said, sensing his son's reluctance.
"I walked for a little while before Elrohir ran up to me, telling me Arwen was hurt. I was also told to get Estel so I--" Legolas broke off. He had asked Barlay to guide him to Estel's room. But he had promised the aged servant he wouldn't mention him to Ecthelion. "--I walked to his room. When I got there, we ran to Ecthelion's room and summoned him. The rest, you already know of."
The older elves and the man were silent after Legolas had finished.
"So, you know naught of why your blade was in Arwen's room." Elrond said.
"I am as oblivious as you."
"Maybe not as much, though, eh?" Ecthelion butted in, "How do we know you are telling the truth? Why take walks at all last night?" The Steward's eyes were popping crazily and he pounded his fist on his desk and the three elves flinched as the loud sound met their delicate ears.
"No-- I swear by the Valor that I did nothing!" Legolas said, his voice raising.
"Hush, Legolas." Thranduil said, his eyes once again full of tears.
"There were no witnesses to say that you had indeed been walking innocently the whole time?" Ecthelion said, regaining his Steward-like manner.
"No." Legolas said.
"Very well. You may return to your room. Do not go anywhere else." Ecthelion ordered.
"Elladan and Elrohir will be in shortly to keep you company." Elrond said and Legolas nodded. Then, he stood up, bowed, then exited the room.
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Legolas sat at the edge of his bed, handing his bow sadly. He had no idea what would happen to him. Why would anything happen to him? He had done nothing wrong.
"I have done nothing wrong." Legolas voice, a single tear running down his face. He had removed the headdress and threw it on the floor in anger where it now lay, bent at the impact landing. His hair was now in a long single braid, running down the back of his head. He had changed his clothes and he now wore long robes which he only wore for special occasions. It was one of the only other things he had packed, because all of his other clothes had not come back from washing yet. They were of a dark purple for the outer robe and black for the under robe. Silver thread coiled elegantly around the purple, looking like fine vines were shaping the negligee perfectly. He still wore the same boots, a dagger still tucked into one.
Suddenly, the door knocked, bringing Legolas out of his thoughts.
"Yes?" He called, his voice croaky, so he cleared it. The twins entered, looking very serious. They sat down beside Legolas, one on each side of the Prince. He didn't look at either of them as they stared at him. He just gazed at the bow in his lap.
"Legolas, are you alright?" Elladan asked. Legolas did not trust himself to speak, so he only nodded.
"What is going on?" Elrohir asked. "Ada told us to come here and keep you company, but he did not say why."
"I don't know either." Legolas whispered, another tear rolling down his face and he wiped it away quickly. The elves stared at the Prince intently. "I was told to wait here, but I don't know for what. I am so confused. I did nothing! I would never do anything to harm Arwen!"
"What are you saying?" Elrohir asked. Elladan remained quiet, for neither he nor Elrond had told Elrohir about the knife.
"I was framed, I know it. You two believe me, don't you?" Legolas stared at each of them in turn.
"Believe what?" Elrohir asked, still nonplussed.
"The knife that hurt Arwen was mine. But I swear I did nothing! I have never, in my life, raised a hand at her. I never will!"
"Hush, Legolas." Elladan said as the elf leaned to him and buried his face in the slightly older elf's shoulder, his shoulders shaking with his sobs. Elladan patted his back, not knowing what else to do for Legolas. He had never seen Legolas in this state before. The elf was scared, confused, angry, sad, hurt, and felt betrayed. It was all becoming too much for the elf to stand. Elladan glanced at his brother, who shrugged, then leaned in and rubbed Legolas's back.
"I am so confused! Why me? Why? I have done nothing wrong, yet I must pay the punishments for those who are the wrongdoers! Why? Is no one brave enough to take their own penalty, for the crime they committed, than to let an innocent suffer for them?"
"I know it's been hard, Legolas, but you must be strong. Good times will come, I know it."
"But I wonder if I will still be alive when good does finally happen to the world." Legolas whispered, his voice sounding alien to his ears.
"Do not give up on us, Legolas. You will survive and we will see to it. You shall not suffer." Elladan said. Suddenly, they all jumped as the door was kicked open and at least a dozen soldiers ran inside and surrounded the three elves. They stood up and Legolas quickly wiped his face. Ecthelion, Elrond and Thranduil walked inside as well. Elrond and Thranduil were both pale and looked as though they were one second from strangling Ecthelion, who was smiling gloatingly.
"What is this?" Legolas asked as two guards walked over, pushed the twins aside and each grabbed one of the elf's arms.
"Legolas Greenleaf, Thranduilion," One of the guards recited, "You are under arrest for attempted murder of one, Arwen Undó miel, Elrondiel."
"What?" Legolas asked, disbelief crossing his face. He looked at his father. Thranduil only looked away, too ashamed to stare at his one pride in the world, which he was unable to keep from harm this time.
"We will carry out the rest of your sentence when time calls for it." Ecthelion addressed Legolas. "But for now, let's see what life behind bars will do to our little murderer, here. Take him away."
The guards wrestled Legolas to the door.
"Ada! Ada, don't let them take me! Ada, help! Ada! Ada!" Legolas yelled helplessly. Thranduil closed his eyes. It was painful for him to hear his son yell like that. He flinched as one of Legolas's fingers brushed his arm as he was fought out the door and into the hallway. They could hear Legolas yelling for help all the way down the hall until they heard a door slam in the hallway and Legolas was taken to the bottom level of Minas Tirith, to the dungeons. Elladan and Elrohir ran to the door, but were held back by several of the guards who had remained.
"Let Legolas go! He is innocent!" The twins shouted to Ecthelion and the Steward only smirked, an evil gleam in his eyes. Then, he left without another word.
Thranduil walked close to Legolas's bed and kneeled down. When he stood back up, in his fair fingers was clasped Legolas's bent headdress. Silently, he pressed it to his chest and bowed his head. Then, the King of Mirkwood let out a dry sob and fell to his knees. Elrond moved to him and put a hand on Thranduil's shoulder.
"You can do nothing. We have no say in the matters of who Ecthelion chooses to go into prison." The Elf-Lord said.
"He is my son, Elrond! I should have a say in it! And I know Legolas did nothing!"
"I know, Oropherion, I know."
"No. No, you don't know! You don't know what it's like to not be able to help your son in his time of need! You have no idea what it's like to have him carried past you, begging for help when you can give him none! You do not know, Elrond!"
There was an abrupt knock at the door and Estel's voice floated into the room. "Legolas? Can I come in?"
"Indeed, ion-nin, you may enter." Elrond said back to him. The door opened slowly and Estel poked his head in. He peered around.
"Legolas?" He asked, staring at the four elves populating the room, when none of them was the elf he wanted to speak to.
"He is not here." Elrond said, moving Thranduil from the floor to Legolas's bed and sitting down next to him.
"Is he walking again?" Estel asked, moving to the door, ready to walk to the garden to find Legolas singing in the tree again.
"No, ion-nin." Came the unexpected answer from his foster father.
"Well, where is he?"
"Must you know everything?" Elrohir snapped.
"In this case, I do!" Estel said.
"Be quiet you two! Estel… Legolas is--" Elrond started.
"He's been sent to the dungeons!" Elladan barked.
"What?" Estel gasped.
"I already said and you heard me!" Elladan yelled.
"Calm yourselves." Elrond said, but he was ignored.
"It's not my fault!" Estel retorted.
"That's enough." Elrond ordered, "Elladan, go to Arwen's room and keep her company. She should not be alone right now. Estel, leave. I do not care where. Elrohir, help me take Thranduil to his room." The three sons of Elrond nodded and went off to do as they were told.
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Estel halted at a door and knocked loudly. The door opened slowly and Denethor appeared from behind it. His shoulders dropped when he saw who it was that had knocked.
Estel had forgotten he was the underdog. At that moment, he forgot the fact that he was a foot shorter than Denethor and much weaker. The second the door had opened, he ran inside and slammed the door shut. When he had done that, he grabbed the front of Denethor's robes and slammed the older boy into the wall.
"What did you do?!" Estel roared.
"What?" Denethor asked, pulling an innocent face. But Estel just pushed him harder into the wall.
"I know you had something to do with this!" He snarled.
"Temper, temper." Denethor said, loosening Estel's grip on his robes. "I warned you not to say anything to anyone. I saw you talking to that Elf. I did nothing, you did. You and your loud mouth."
"I did nothing. You could have not done anything."
"But if someone hadn't hurt that stupid she-elf, you would have blabbed my secret to everyone."
"You-- you--" Estel stuttered, "You hurt Arwen. You framed Legolas… didn't you?"
"Correct." Denethor said. Estel suddenly yelled in anger and punched Denethor in the stomach numerous times. He didn't even notice the door opening. He continued to his Denethor wherever he could reach. He didn't even stop when someone attempted to pull him back with a yell. Finally, they put their arms around his chest and heaved him off Denethor. Estel remained kicking and flailing until he realized that the one who had grabbed him had been Ecthelion.
Quickly, he tried to say something, but instead, the Steward slapped him hard on each cheek.
"HOW DARE YOU HARM MY SON!" He raged, "HOW DARE YOU!"
"I didn't--"
"Come with me. Denethor, my son, I am so sorry. Please, stay here and I will send the healer. You, Aragorn, come with me, now." He grabbed Estel's upper arm tightly and pulled him out the door, leaving Denethor behind. But Denethor had no intention of staying. He wouldn't give up that easily. Slowly, he rose from his spot on the ground and made his way to the dungeons.
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Legolas sat in a cell. Some of his hair had come out of his braid and he didn't bother to redo it. Tears were pouring down his face. It was cold in the dungeons, even for an elf. Legolas shivered, covering himself with a small thin blanket that had been on the dirty cot in the corner of the room. Slowly, he rocked back and fourth.
He continued to shiver, but not out of cold, but because he was completely blocked from the view of the sky and trees. There were no windows in his cell. More tears fell from his crystal blue eyes and he closed them, the tears now forming droplets on his eyelashes. He let out a sob.
He was so confused… so confused… why him? Why was everything happening to him? Why? He thought to escape, but he had once again been searched for weapons and the guards, who had been smarter than the orcs, had found the dagger in his boot… his only defense. Legolas heard the door creak open and voices talking. Keeping his eyes staring at the ground, he rocked back and forth. He heard someone approach his cell but he dared not look up.
"Hey, Elf," He heard the not-yet-changed-to-a-deeper-pitch voice of Denethor. He glanced up to see the boy, with his hands grasping some of the bars, his face resting in the gap between two of the center bars. Then, Legolas glanced back down and started muttering to himself, words of comfort that no one had even thought to give him.
"You know why you're here?" Denethor sneered and Legolas stopped his muttering. "You're not loved. You're father does not care about you. Elrond and his children do not love you. You are not loved. No one has ever loved you. Never!"
Legolas chose to ignore this, but closed his eyes, trying to block the sound out of the child.
"Are you stupid or something? Talk!"
"Leave me." Legolas whispered dangerously, tears filling his eyes, and his voice shaking. The child had only come to stir up mischief and Legolas would not act upon it. It was what Denethor wanted.
"Why should I?" Denethor said, his voice softening now, into a greasy purr-like voice, "I just thought you'd like to know who actually hurt that she-Elf."
"Arwen? You--" Legolas said, looking up at Denethor again, a tear falling down his face.
"No. I didn't do it, but I'll tell you who did." Denethor said silkily.
"Who?"
"Aragorn."
"But-- Aragorn would rather die than hurt--"
"I saw him. When he walked into the palace, I asked him why he looked so mad. He said, 'I have matters to attend to.' and walked off! I followed him, afraid of what those matters were. I pursued him all the way to your room where he grabbed your dagger and ran to the she-Elf's room! Then, he ran to Arwen's, did you say, room. He slit her throat, then ran."
"No…"
"Yes."
"No, Estel wouldn't--"
"He did! He did and you know it! He's the one making you suffer! He's the one that got you in here, that framed you!"
"No…" Legolas whispered. "Leave me be! Leave me alone!"
Denethor rattled the bars loudly, making the Elf cover his ears at the deafening sound the bars made.
"Leave me be!" Legolas shrieked. Denethor continued to rattle the bars. This was getting to be too much for the poor elf. Too much pressure. Way too much. He couldn't take the sound, it was getting to him. Legolas yelled at Denethor to stop several more times, but the boy kept going, kept making a racket.
Finally, Legolas snapped.
The Elf jumped up and swiftly ran at the bars and Denethor, who saw him coming. The boy jumped back, out of Legolas's reach as Legolas groped the air, trying to reach Denethor. The bars were pressed against his face as he made to try and squeeze his way through, hoping they would give way. His eyes were built with determination as he tried to reach at Denethor, who laughed at the pathetic sight. Tears were now pouring down Legolas's face as he tried desperately to reach Denethor and make him pay for whatever he had done. Legolas knew there must have been some reason he was trying to attack an eleven-year-old boy, but he did not know why. He just wanted to expel the anger from his system. It had been building up for way too long.
"Give it up, Legolas Greenleaf!" Denethor yelled, laughing. "You can't catch me! You can't catch me! You can't catch me!" The boy chanted over and over again and Legolas started sobbing, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably and his face slid down the bars as he fell to his knees, one hand still extended before him, but no longer trying to reach Denethor. Then, as Denethor left, knowing his job was done, Legolas pressed both his hands over his eyes and cried. His howls of misery echoed all around the dungeons and the guards, that had just returned from breakfast, gave no notice of it, but only to say, "Shut it, you!"
Legolas curled into a tiny ball and cried into his knees. He wanted to die. He just wanted to die. No more pain and sorrow would be inflicted upon him and he could live forever in the Halls of Mandos, where only good could come of everything. Then, he realized, he had that power. He had the power to give up his life.
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What is Leggy gonna do? Is he going to give up his life or is he going to hold on? And what of Estel (leggylover03: getting REALLY close to Estel angst! Maybe a few more chappies!)? Please review! Please, please, please, please! Anywayz, I'd better go!
YAY! I'M WRITING LONGER CHAPTERS! I hope you guys don't mind longer chapters!
Author Note: Please, everyone, before you review, keep in mind that this is a fanfiction story and I'm not Tolkien, so I won't know everything that he knows about the book. I'm trying my best to make this as real as possible, but some things will be out of place or I just put them in the story to be creative. Still, there is noting wrong with constructive criticism, but don't be too harsh! Thanks!
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REVIEWS!
Leggylover03- Yeah, I hope they get away too! I can't say anything about that, though, so I don't give it away! Heh, heh! I love this! Anyway, getting pretty close to the Estel angst, so stay tuned!
Alariel- Four words; It is a fanfiction. I thank you for letting me know what you think, because I enjoy getting feedback, but please, keep in mind that this is a fanfiction and that there can be a few mistakes along the line. But thanks for letting me know your ideas, because I might need some of that information in later stories. Thanks for the compliment! I hope I'm not scaring you off!
Gilraen Felagund- I actually had to get off the computer when reading this and go check to see if you were right about whether Legolas and Denethor were on the same bookmark! I couldn't believe it! EVIL DENETHOR! And he was even worse in this chapter, wasn't he? Oh well. Talk to you later!
Lazia- Writing more! Yes, Denethor is really evil! You love it? Hmmm… that's interesting! Denethor is evil, but the guy that plays him in the movie did a really good job of portraying the evil and somewhat mental mind of Denethor, didn't he? I think his name was John Noble, or something…
Mistopurr- Hey! Thank you very much! Heh, heh! EVIL DENETHOR! He's hurting our Leggy-poo! Hmmm… Leggy-poo… where did THAT come from? Heh, heh… that's an odd name. I'll stick with Leggyolas and Orliando. Those are my nicknames for them! I can't do much for William (as in Will Turner), though. Willyillyam, maybe. HAHA!
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WOW! 109 REVIEWS! Thanks a bunch, you guys! That makes me very happy! YAY! I hope you all had a great Easter and are looking forward to summer vacation where it can be nothing but reading fanfiction stories ALL DAY! I sure am… but alas! I have a job, now… but I only work four hours, three days a week (includes Saturdays :( ) But, still, at least I won't have to worry about homework!
DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!!!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88