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((((Chapter 57))))

"Are you sure Legolas will agree to this?"  Malkor asked as he hurriedly followed Lady Maryn down the corridors to the elf's cell.  There was a rather large bundle of robes he was struggling to hold up as he walked.

Maryn didn't stop walking.  "All Legolas told me was to find some way to get him to Eressa, and then both of them out of the mansion."  She glaced over her shoulder.  "This was all I could think of."

"I don't think he will be happy with you."  Malkor grumbled as they reached the door.  Maryn quickly opened it for the guard and he stepped in, dropping the robes on the floor.

"What will I not be happy about?"  Came the elf's voice from beside them.  Maryn jumped.

"Legolas…"  She stuttered.  "I…I brought what you needed.

The elf stepped out from where he had been standing left of the door.  He nodded to the garments on the floor.  "So you plan to dress me as royalty and sneak me to where Eressa is?"

Malkor and Maryn exchanged glances.  "Yes."  Maryn finally answered.

Legolas dug through the piles of fabrics and linens.  Then he paused and stood up again, frowning.

"Maryn."  He said blankly.  "These are women's clothes."  The elf's head tilted up towards the Lady, a cold look in his eyes.

Maryn gulped.  "Well, what you told me was to find a way to get you to Eressa without looking suspicious."  She gestured to the clothing.  "If you wear those, no one will take a second glance at you."

Malkor let out an amused snort.  Maryn looked at him angerly, and Legolas's nostrils flared in disgust.

"If you think I will put on any such thing, you're sadly mistaken."  The elf said stubbornly. 

"It was all I could spare!"  Maryn said. 

"What about your husband's clothes?"

"Don't be silly."  Maryn said.  "If you wore those you would be recognized.  They wouldn't fit you, and besides, my husband would kill me if he caught me stealing from him."

"I am not a woman and will not dress like one."  The elf walked past the two humans and sat down on his bed with a huff.

Maryn quickly became angry.  "I thought you wanted me to help you escape!"  She said, raising her voice.  "I have!  I've tried!"

Malkor looked around fearfully.  "Lady Maryn, lower your voice.  We cannot alert others of our presence here."

Maryn looked insulted.  "I'll raise my voice if I wish to!"  She contorted.

Legolas glanced at the woman.  "Maryn, shut up."

Both human's mouth's dropped open.  They had never heard Legolas say anything that rude before.  And certainly not to a person of higher status.

Malkor blinked.  "You should know better than to say such a thing to the Lady of the House!"  He said, stepping forward.  "All she is trying to do is help you!  She saved your life and the life of your lover!  You should be grateful, not rude!"

Legolas didn't look at the man.  His right hand shot out, and connected solidly with Malkor's throat, gripping it tightly, choking him.  As soon as the manuver was begun, it was ended.  Legolas flung his hand back, appalled about what he had done…what he had wanted to do. 

Malkor staggered back, clasping his neck with both hands.  Maryn backed away from both of them, fear in her eyes.

Legolas looked at the hand that had betrayed him.  "Malkor…I'm sorry.  I should not have struck you."

Malkor coughed twice, then stood up straight, still gripping his throat.  "You could have killed me."  He said.

Legolas frowned, upset.  "I'm sorry.  I just…I can't take all of this at once…I'm…"  The realization finally dawned on the elf.  "…I've been a fighter too long…I'm starting to think the only way to solve things is by killing them."

Malkor's hands left his bruised throat.  He swallowed.  "You…you are forgiven, Legolas."

Legolas shook his head.  "You shouldn't forgive me."

"I already have.  That's the end of it." Malkor said, sighing.  "Now, let us end this mindless bickering and think of a way to free you like civil people."

The two men (actually, one man and one elf) turned to where Maryn was standing, one hand to her chest.  She was staring at them most strangely.

Legolas frowned.  "Maryn, what is it?"

The Lady blinked.  "You…you two…you look alike…you could be brothers."  She shook her head and laughed at herself.  "I never realized it until I saw both of you together."

Malkor and Legolas looked at each other.  What Maryn said was true.  Both of them had blond hair and blue eyes, and they were near the same height as well.  Legolas was only a bit taller than the man next to him.  And they both had the same chiseled, handsome features. 

"She's right."  Malkor whispered, astonished.  "We could be brothers."

Legolas frowned again.  "Yes, if we didn't come from different races."

"Maryn, are you thinking of something?"  Malkor asked.

Maryn grinned, and she began to pick up the women's clothes that were on the floor.  "Yes!  We won't be needing these anymore."

Legolas sighed with relief.

"Malkor, you must bring Legolas some of your clothes tomorrow, understand?"  The Lady said to the guard.  "And a cloak of yours too, if you have one."

"I do."  The guard answered.

"Good."  Maryn said.  "Meet me and bring them down here tomorrow.  Then we'll bring Legolas to see Eressa."

Legolas looked at the two, baffled.  "Malkor…Maryn…do you intend to get me to Eressa by passing me off as Malkor's brother?"

"No…Malkor himself."

The two males looked at each other in surprise.  "What?"  They both blurted at the same time.

"You look enough like him, Legolas!"  Maryn said.  "You just need to cut your hair to his length and…"

Legolas's eyes widened.  He looked over at Malkor.  It was true; his hair was about six inches longer than Malkor's and not as curly.  He promply frowned and firmly crossed his arms over his chest. 

"I am not cutting my hair." He declared.

"Would you rather where the dress then?"  Maryn said, looking down at the clothing in her arms.

"No."  The elf replied.  "I would prefer to do neither."

Maryn sighed through clenched teeth.  "Legolas, you cannot just go bounding about the mansion as you are!"

"Just give me a cloak with a hood and be done with it!"

"You've forgotten that I must lead you to Eressa, Legolas.  I think a hooded figure would look suspicious."  Maryn insisted.

Legolas narrowed his eyes at the woman, who glared right back at him.  This argument was not getting him any closer to escape or Eressa.  He looked up at Malkor, then back at Maryn.

"Well, I am most certainly not wearing women's garments."  He said slowly.

Maryn started to smile.  "You accept then?"

Legolas backed into this bed and sat down, not very happy.  "When are you going to cut my hair?"  He said miserably.

Maryn stepped forward.  "I could do it tomorrow, the same time Malkor will bring you his clothes."

The elf sighed in defeat.  "Alright."

Malkor looked at Maryn.  "Are you sure this will work, Milady?"

Maryn nodded.  "If we free him late at night when there's not many people about in the palace, no one should see us."

"Then why cut my hair?"  Legolas cut in.

Maryn ignored him and turned back to Malkor.  "But if someone does, they won't suspect a thing.  There's nothing suspicious about me walking with a palace guard, is there?"

"No, I would have to say not."  Malkor agreed.  "I'll have all that we need tomorrow." 

Maryn nodded and smiled.  She turned to the elf, who had laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling with a rather obvious frown on his face.

"Malkor, it is late."  She said, then turning to the elf.  "We will see you tomorrow night, Legolas." 

Legola's eyes rolled around to face her, then went back to the ceiling.  "Looking forward to it."  He said sarcastically. 

Maryn frowned, then looked at the guard. "Come, Malkor."

The Lady and the man walked out, shutting the door as they did.  They were careful not to let it slam.  Legolas glanced at the door, then at the ceiling once more, and decided that it was time to sleep.  So he did.

(((((((((

The next night Maryn and Malkor returned to Legolas.  Needless to say, the elf was not in the best of moods.

"Let's just get it over with, Legolas."  Maryn urged, the scissors in her hands.  She walked across the room and sat on the bed.  "There's no help in moping around."

Legolas sighed, running his hand through his long blonde locks.  Elven hair didn't grow back as quickly as human hair did.  Even if Maryn chopped off just a few inches, it would take years for it to grow back to it's normal length.

But I'd do anything to see Eressa again…I know that…Legolas thought. 

"Alright…let's get it over with then."  He said softly.  He wandered over to where Maryn was seated, and sat down with his back turned to her.  He looked at Malkor with an annoyed glance as he felt Maryn finger though his hair.  The guard leaned up against the wall, trying to hide a smile with his hand.

"Don't worry…I cut my own hair."  The Lady said.  "I'll make sure I do a good job."

Legolas muttered a half-hearted "thank you" and closed his eyes.  He felt the scissors slowly slip though his hair, slicing it off in clean sections.  He bit his lip as he felt a lock of hair float down and land on his left hand.

He kept his eyes shut until Maryn was finished.  He might even had napped a little.  All he knew was that when he finally opened his eyes, Malkor had gone from standing by the wall to sitting against it, his arms folded.  And there were golden threads of his hair all around him.

"I'm finished."  Maryn said, stating the obvious.  "You look fine."

Legolas immediately took a hand to his head, feeling his hair.  Before, it had grown down to his middle back.  Now it barely fell over his shoulders.

"You didn't happen to bring a mirror, did you Maryn?"  He asked sheepishly. 

"I did."  The woman answered.  "But I didn't know elves were so self conscious about their appearance."

"Not all are."  Legolas said as she handed him the mirror.  "I'm just vain."

Legolas looked down into the mirror, the glass gleaming in the candlelight.  Maryn was right…he didn't look so bad…but he did look even more like Malkor.

"That's amazing."  Malkor marveled, standing and approaching them.  "He looks just like I did ten years ago, Maryn."

Maryn smiled.  Legolas looked at Malkor and then at himself in the mirror again.  "Interesting."  He whispered to himself.  He and Malkor did look very much alike.

"You could definitely pass as a guard now."  Maryn said.  "Without that long hair to give you away.  Even more so when you put on Malkor's uniform."

Maryn got up off the bed and walked over to the door, where several pieces of clothing lay.  Among them, a metal chest plate, the signature of the mansion guards.  Legolas joined her and picked it up.

"When are we planning to do this?"  He asked. 

"What?"  Malkor inquired.

"The escape, of course."  The elf answered, a bit of an edge to his voice. 

Maryn clasped her hands over her large belly.  "Well, that's for you to decide, Legolas."

Legolas put down the chest plate and picked up a helmet.  "Tonight."  He said definitely.

Malkor and Maryn both blinked and looked at each other.  "Are you sure?  So soon?"  Malkor asked the elf.

Legolas looked at him and smiled.  "The sooner Eressa and I are out of here, the better."

"We'll have to wait a few hours."  Maryn said.  "It's barely past dinner time.  There will be people about."

"So be it."  Legolas replied firmly.  "Go.  Tell Eressa I'm coming for her.  I'll be ready."

Maryn frowned.  "Legolas…are you sure you want to do this?"  She asked.  "You know that if anything happened to you or Eressa, I'd blame myself."

Legolas put the helmet down on the floor neatly next to the rest of Malkor's clothing.  "Nothing will happen this time."  He said, hope clinging to the edge of his words.

Maryn exhaled.  "I'll come down in about four hours."  She said.  "I'll lead you to Eressa, and from there Malkor will lead you out of the palace."

"Thank you."  Legolas said to both of them.  "I cannot appreciate it more.  I know I haven't acted very much like it."

Malkor smiled.  "It's been an honor."

"I can assure you that when I return to my home your names will be among those my people remember."  Legolas told them.  "They'll write about you."

"That's an honor too great to accept, Legolas."  Maryn said. 

"I'm serious. You…"

"Legolas."  Maryn interrupted.  "We must be on our way.  My husband is expecting me."

Legolas closed his mouth.  He wanted to ask what he could do in return for Maryn and Malkor's kindness.  Without them, both he and Eressa would be dead.  But for now it seemed thanks were enough for the humans.

"See you in a few hours."  Malkor said as they both walked out the door.  Legolas listened to their footsteps fade away.

Tonight…he thought.  Tonight I will taste my first breath of free air in five months.  And tonight Eressa will breath her first breath of free air in her life.  And in four months, if all goes well, our child will breath it's first breath ever.

Legolas smiled briefly.  Valar…watch over us tonight.

(((((((((Personal thing))))))))))))

That was a longer chapter.  I hope that it wasn't sorta pointless like the last one was.  The Escape will take place in the next chapter!  It will probably be the last chapter of this installment of the story.  I'll have "Cheating Darkness: Part II" up in two weeks after this story is over at the most.  I hope.  Part II should be shorter than Part I.  Again, I hope.

You reviewers are the bomb!  You're the ones who keep this story alive, so keep your responses coming!  Thank you all so much!