Chapter 3
Already weary in body and now in mind, the Prince raced down the halls of his home to his father's chambers, eager to get to the bottom of this new disturbance immediately. There were so many questions running through his head at the moment. Absently, Legolas ran his long, slender fingers through his hair as he thought about what Raniean had told him.
How could there be something evil in Mirkwood's forest that the elves didn't know about it until after it had acted? Legolas' face was etched in worry and confusion. Why had Thranduil sent out a hunting party without him?
Little by little, the elf started piecing things together, until a thought occurred to him that he hoped was not true. His father knows about this new evil in Mirkwood, and he was trying to shield his son from it.
Legolas was so lost in his thoughts and this new discovery that he hadn't noticed he was already standing before the closed door of his father's chambers. Breathing in deeply to calm the anger that was slowly building in his heart, he placed his hands gently on his father's door, and pushed it open.
"Legolas, is that you?" Thranduil's voice floated over to him from where he was seated, in front of the fire.
The Prince closed the door before answering. "Yes Ada, it is I."
His father slowly got up from his chair and turned to face his son; his eyes showing no emotion. Patiently, the elf prince waited for his father to continuing speaking, but already a few minutes had passed and not a word was spoken.
"Ada, what is going on?" Legolas was frustrated at the silence between them and he could no longer hold the anger in his heart. "I know you know something about this, yet you do not tell me."
"Legolas, some things are not meant to be known by everyone," Thranduil replied, walking over to his son and placing an ageless hand comfortingly on his shoulder.
The Prince stared at his father, skeptical of his answer. "Why do you speak in riddles? Do you not know what is haunting our forests?"
Thranduil slowly removed his hand from Legolas' shoulder. He stared at his son, reading the anger in his eyes, before turning to face the dancing flames of the fire. "I am afraid, Legolas, that I do not know of that evil which haunts Mirkwood."
A pang of guilt passed through his heart as he spoke these words to his son. Thranduil knew all too well what this evil was, but to tell Legolas and have him fear what he himself feared was too painful for him.
"I know you, ion nin, and I must ask you not to go looking for it," Thranduil continued, slowly turning to face his son, "for it will only lead to ill ends."
"You ask of me that which I cannot do," Legolas replied, staring at his father in disbelief. "Do you not know already that three of our brethren have been gravely injured? How many more must be hurt or even killed, before we take action?"
"Legolas," Thranduil sighed, needing his son to understand. "I know who has been hurt. Do not let your impatience ber your folly!" Legolas knew something was wrong, or rather he felt it. His father was not telling him the whole truth, and he wanted to know why. If his father continues to refuse to tell him was happening in Mirkwood, then he would just have to figure it out for himself.
"Go, my son. I need to think." Thranduil quietly dismissed his son, slowly walking back to his chair and sitting down, gazing into the fire once more.
The way his father had dismissed him, he knew that he would get no more answers that night. Legolas balled his fists in frustration, looking at his father once more, before walking over to the closed door.
"Very well, Adar, but you know in your heart that I will not stay idle." Opening the door, he slipped out into the hall.
"I'm sorry Ada," Legolas whispered to himself as he continued walking down the hall back to his room. There were so many questions racing through his head that he needed answers for, and yet he did not know who to turn to; if his father had refused to tell him the truth, then who could he find that would?
There was so much pain and anger in his heart and it was too much to bear; he needed to find solitude. After minutes of walking through halls and up flights of stairs, he was glad to have finally reached his peace and quiet of his room.
He was grateful to see the soft radiance of the stars pouring in through his window, lighting up his room with a unique glow that soothed his soul. The stars had always helped ease the worries of his heart and mind.
He strolled over to his window, lightly jumping onto the ledge, and stared off into the night, the light of the stars catching in his silky white golden hair. The Prince searched for Earendil, the star of high hope, and upon seeing it, his troubles fled.
Legolas began to relax, and he leaned his head against the stone behind him as he began humming an elvish tune that floated through his room and into the night, finding a temporary release from his problems.
The night wore on, and Legolas had to finally give in to sleep. Jumping down soundlessly from the window ledge, he walked over to his bed, not bothering to change his clothes, and fell down onto the softness of his mattress. He thought back to his times with Estel, smiling slightly, before falling into a deep sleep.
Already weary in body and now in mind, the Prince raced down the halls of his home to his father's chambers, eager to get to the bottom of this new disturbance immediately. There were so many questions running through his head at the moment. Absently, Legolas ran his long, slender fingers through his hair as he thought about what Raniean had told him.
How could there be something evil in Mirkwood's forest that the elves didn't know about it until after it had acted? Legolas' face was etched in worry and confusion. Why had Thranduil sent out a hunting party without him?
Little by little, the elf started piecing things together, until a thought occurred to him that he hoped was not true. His father knows about this new evil in Mirkwood, and he was trying to shield his son from it.
Legolas was so lost in his thoughts and this new discovery that he hadn't noticed he was already standing before the closed door of his father's chambers. Breathing in deeply to calm the anger that was slowly building in his heart, he placed his hands gently on his father's door, and pushed it open.
"Legolas, is that you?" Thranduil's voice floated over to him from where he was seated, in front of the fire.
The Prince closed the door before answering. "Yes Ada, it is I."
His father slowly got up from his chair and turned to face his son; his eyes showing no emotion. Patiently, the elf prince waited for his father to continuing speaking, but already a few minutes had passed and not a word was spoken.
"Ada, what is going on?" Legolas was frustrated at the silence between them and he could no longer hold the anger in his heart. "I know you know something about this, yet you do not tell me."
"Legolas, some things are not meant to be known by everyone," Thranduil replied, walking over to his son and placing an ageless hand comfortingly on his shoulder.
The Prince stared at his father, skeptical of his answer. "Why do you speak in riddles? Do you not know what is haunting our forests?"
Thranduil slowly removed his hand from Legolas' shoulder. He stared at his son, reading the anger in his eyes, before turning to face the dancing flames of the fire. "I am afraid, Legolas, that I do not know of that evil which haunts Mirkwood."
A pang of guilt passed through his heart as he spoke these words to his son. Thranduil knew all too well what this evil was, but to tell Legolas and have him fear what he himself feared was too painful for him.
"I know you, ion nin, and I must ask you not to go looking for it," Thranduil continued, slowly turning to face his son, "for it will only lead to ill ends."
"You ask of me that which I cannot do," Legolas replied, staring at his father in disbelief. "Do you not know already that three of our brethren have been gravely injured? How many more must be hurt or even killed, before we take action?"
"Legolas," Thranduil sighed, needing his son to understand. "I know who has been hurt. Do not let your impatience ber your folly!" Legolas knew something was wrong, or rather he felt it. His father was not telling him the whole truth, and he wanted to know why. If his father continues to refuse to tell him was happening in Mirkwood, then he would just have to figure it out for himself.
"Go, my son. I need to think." Thranduil quietly dismissed his son, slowly walking back to his chair and sitting down, gazing into the fire once more.
The way his father had dismissed him, he knew that he would get no more answers that night. Legolas balled his fists in frustration, looking at his father once more, before walking over to the closed door.
"Very well, Adar, but you know in your heart that I will not stay idle." Opening the door, he slipped out into the hall.
"I'm sorry Ada," Legolas whispered to himself as he continued walking down the hall back to his room. There were so many questions racing through his head that he needed answers for, and yet he did not know who to turn to; if his father had refused to tell him the truth, then who could he find that would?
There was so much pain and anger in his heart and it was too much to bear; he needed to find solitude. After minutes of walking through halls and up flights of stairs, he was glad to have finally reached his peace and quiet of his room.
He was grateful to see the soft radiance of the stars pouring in through his window, lighting up his room with a unique glow that soothed his soul. The stars had always helped ease the worries of his heart and mind.
He strolled over to his window, lightly jumping onto the ledge, and stared off into the night, the light of the stars catching in his silky white golden hair. The Prince searched for Earendil, the star of high hope, and upon seeing it, his troubles fled.
Legolas began to relax, and he leaned his head against the stone behind him as he began humming an elvish tune that floated through his room and into the night, finding a temporary release from his problems.
The night wore on, and Legolas had to finally give in to sleep. Jumping down soundlessly from the window ledge, he walked over to his bed, not bothering to change his clothes, and fell down onto the softness of his mattress. He thought back to his times with Estel, smiling slightly, before falling into a deep sleep.