Fallen King: A Sequal to Fallen Bride
Disclaimer: I do not own LotR or anything else to do with Tolkien
WARNING: Contains slash references and character torture and death. Remember: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Chapter 1: Loss
Legolas lay sprawled on his huge bed staring at the canopy of green above him. But this was nothing new. That's what he had been doing for the entire week since he returned from Gondor. The Elf hadn't eaten in days, and he was noticeably thinner compared to the last time he'd shown his face outside his room. No one knew what was wrong with him, and it was likely no one would ever know.
Tears stung Legolas' eyes as he recalled the reason he was in the state: Aragorn, King of Gondor. Former King of Gondor now. Legolas shuddered as the image of his best friend's mangled, bloody form spread across the streets of Minas Tirith flashed vividly in his mind.
The worst part of it wasn't because Aragorn had killed himself because of a conviction his life wasn't worth living anymore. The worst part of it was that he never knew. He never found out anything. He didn't know about the love that burned so deeply and passionately in the Elf's heart. He didn't know about the countless nights Legolas had spent laying awake longing to be near the King. He didn't know anything.
All of a sudden, a flash caught the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw his dagger laying just within arm's reach, sunlilght glinting off the shiny blade. Legolas reached over and his fingers touched the cool handle of the knife. He sat up and turned it over in his hands. This tool could be the answer to all his suffering. He sliced a small, verticle cut down his left index finger. There would only be a few seconds of pain, he thought, watching the blood trickle down his hand, and then it would be all over. He was dying of grief anyway. All he was doing was "speeding up the process" as Aragorn had put it in his last moments of life. Legolas raised the dagger to his throat. . .
~~~~~~~
Lothien climbed the stairs that led to her younger brother's room. She hadn't talked to him in a week and was quite worried about his well-being. He hadn't been eating, but he was sleeping plenty, quite unusual for an Elf who did nothing but stare at the ceiling all day. It wasn't a peaceful sleep, either. Legolas would toss and turn, muttering incoherent phrases. It was unnerving to walk past her brother's room and see him acting the way he did. She figured today she'd try to convince him to go for a walk, go horseback riding, anything to get him out of the state he was in.
When she reached the door to Legolas' room, Lothien was shocked at what she saw. Her brother's quivering hand held a dagger ready to slice his own throat. His eyes met hers and what she saw was a whirlpool of emotion: grief, sorrow, and love. . .
~~~~~~~
So close! Just a bit closer, and it will all be over. He might not be with Aragorn, but he would be with his mother again. And the pain would stop. Legolas' hand quivered in anticipation as he moved the dagger closer. Still too far! A movement caught the corner of his eye, and he looked to his door to see Lothien.
His sister, like him, had their mother's golden hair, but she had so much more of the Queen's features that they could have been twins rather than mother and daughter. Perhaps this was why Legolas had so much comfort in telling her things. She was the only link left to his long-departed Naneth.
Right now, her expression held shock and fear as she watched her brother's suicide attempt. The two siblings stayed like that for agonizing moments. His knuckles white from clutching the dagger, her knuckles white from clutching the sides of the door.
Finally, Legolas dropped the dagger. Immediately, he saw the wave of relief wash over Lothien. He couldn't do it. That was the coward's way out, and if Legolas was anything, he wasn't a coward.
Hot tears began to stream down the Elf's face. It was the most he'd cried since Aragorn's death.
Maternal instinct and love for her brother took over and Lothien hurried into the room to comfort him.
"I loved him, Lothien!" Legolas sobbed, placing his head on her shoulder. "I went to Minas Tirith to tell him, but when Queen Arwen died, he just snapped! Then. . . then. . ." Legolas couldn't bring himself to say it, but Lothien knew.
News of the King's death had spread like wildfire through Middle-earth. The royal family of Mirkwood had gotten a special invitation to attend the funeral service in two weeks' time. No one had questioned the long delay, but all thought it to be quite odd.
Legolas liftd his head from his sister's shoulder. "I'm dying, Lothien," he said.
"No, Legolas! You are not dying!" Lothien's voice was filled with determination. "You will only die if you let the grief consume you! Now, I want you to get ready. We're going out to practice archery."
"But, Lothien, that doesn't seem fair to Aragorn."
Lothien sighed. "Legolas, Aragorn will always be in your heart. If he was alive, would he want you to die because of his foolish mistake?"
Legolas shook his head.
"Then let's get out there and practice!"
Legolas smiled. Lothien could be very stubborn when she wanted to. And she was right. He had to keep living after Aragorn had ceased. "All right. Just let me get changed first."
Lothien nodded, then got up to leave. She'd almost reached the door, when she turned around and snatched up the dagger still lying on the floor. "I'll be in the entrance hall when you're ready," she said, then strode out of the room.
~~~~~~~
Maybe it was a bit much taking the dagger, thought Lothien as she make her way to the entrance hall, but you can never be too careful. She made a stop at her own room to deposit the dagger in the wardrobe before continuing on.
When she reached the entrance hall, she was met with her second surprise that day. Two Men wearing the silver-tree insignia of Gondor stood conversing with her father.
"You can't do this!" Thranduil was arguing. "You have no proof!"
"A street full of peasents swear by Eru they saw him do it," one of the Humans replied.
"Peasents who no doubt thrive on gossip," Thranduil sneered.
"Ada?" Lothien asked coming up behind her father, "What's going on?"
"My lady," the second Gondorian guard bowed low, "We have a warrent signed by the court herald of Gondor out for Prince Legolas' arrest."
"Arrest?" Lothien asked in disbelief. "Under what charge?"
Both guards looked uneasy at this question.
"I want to know the reason you want my brother!"
"Haven't you heard, my lady? Your brother murdered the royal family of Gondor."
Naneth: Mother
Ada: Father
A/N: I think I'll leave it at that. So, do you like it? Do you hate it? Is it somewhere in the middle? I'd like to thank all the people who reviewed "Fallen Bride," this story's parent. I've taken all your ideas and wrapped them all up in this little package ^.^ I'd especially like to thank my anonymous reviewer who goes by the name "Insane" who's comments gave me the foundation for this story. Unfortunately, I haven't thought much about what will happen next, so reviews with feedback and ideas are welcome. Namarie for now-
~~Elendil
Disclaimer: I do not own LotR or anything else to do with Tolkien
WARNING: Contains slash references and character torture and death. Remember: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Chapter 1: Loss
Legolas lay sprawled on his huge bed staring at the canopy of green above him. But this was nothing new. That's what he had been doing for the entire week since he returned from Gondor. The Elf hadn't eaten in days, and he was noticeably thinner compared to the last time he'd shown his face outside his room. No one knew what was wrong with him, and it was likely no one would ever know.
Tears stung Legolas' eyes as he recalled the reason he was in the state: Aragorn, King of Gondor. Former King of Gondor now. Legolas shuddered as the image of his best friend's mangled, bloody form spread across the streets of Minas Tirith flashed vividly in his mind.
The worst part of it wasn't because Aragorn had killed himself because of a conviction his life wasn't worth living anymore. The worst part of it was that he never knew. He never found out anything. He didn't know about the love that burned so deeply and passionately in the Elf's heart. He didn't know about the countless nights Legolas had spent laying awake longing to be near the King. He didn't know anything.
All of a sudden, a flash caught the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw his dagger laying just within arm's reach, sunlilght glinting off the shiny blade. Legolas reached over and his fingers touched the cool handle of the knife. He sat up and turned it over in his hands. This tool could be the answer to all his suffering. He sliced a small, verticle cut down his left index finger. There would only be a few seconds of pain, he thought, watching the blood trickle down his hand, and then it would be all over. He was dying of grief anyway. All he was doing was "speeding up the process" as Aragorn had put it in his last moments of life. Legolas raised the dagger to his throat. . .
~~~~~~~
Lothien climbed the stairs that led to her younger brother's room. She hadn't talked to him in a week and was quite worried about his well-being. He hadn't been eating, but he was sleeping plenty, quite unusual for an Elf who did nothing but stare at the ceiling all day. It wasn't a peaceful sleep, either. Legolas would toss and turn, muttering incoherent phrases. It was unnerving to walk past her brother's room and see him acting the way he did. She figured today she'd try to convince him to go for a walk, go horseback riding, anything to get him out of the state he was in.
When she reached the door to Legolas' room, Lothien was shocked at what she saw. Her brother's quivering hand held a dagger ready to slice his own throat. His eyes met hers and what she saw was a whirlpool of emotion: grief, sorrow, and love. . .
~~~~~~~
So close! Just a bit closer, and it will all be over. He might not be with Aragorn, but he would be with his mother again. And the pain would stop. Legolas' hand quivered in anticipation as he moved the dagger closer. Still too far! A movement caught the corner of his eye, and he looked to his door to see Lothien.
His sister, like him, had their mother's golden hair, but she had so much more of the Queen's features that they could have been twins rather than mother and daughter. Perhaps this was why Legolas had so much comfort in telling her things. She was the only link left to his long-departed Naneth.
Right now, her expression held shock and fear as she watched her brother's suicide attempt. The two siblings stayed like that for agonizing moments. His knuckles white from clutching the dagger, her knuckles white from clutching the sides of the door.
Finally, Legolas dropped the dagger. Immediately, he saw the wave of relief wash over Lothien. He couldn't do it. That was the coward's way out, and if Legolas was anything, he wasn't a coward.
Hot tears began to stream down the Elf's face. It was the most he'd cried since Aragorn's death.
Maternal instinct and love for her brother took over and Lothien hurried into the room to comfort him.
"I loved him, Lothien!" Legolas sobbed, placing his head on her shoulder. "I went to Minas Tirith to tell him, but when Queen Arwen died, he just snapped! Then. . . then. . ." Legolas couldn't bring himself to say it, but Lothien knew.
News of the King's death had spread like wildfire through Middle-earth. The royal family of Mirkwood had gotten a special invitation to attend the funeral service in two weeks' time. No one had questioned the long delay, but all thought it to be quite odd.
Legolas liftd his head from his sister's shoulder. "I'm dying, Lothien," he said.
"No, Legolas! You are not dying!" Lothien's voice was filled with determination. "You will only die if you let the grief consume you! Now, I want you to get ready. We're going out to practice archery."
"But, Lothien, that doesn't seem fair to Aragorn."
Lothien sighed. "Legolas, Aragorn will always be in your heart. If he was alive, would he want you to die because of his foolish mistake?"
Legolas shook his head.
"Then let's get out there and practice!"
Legolas smiled. Lothien could be very stubborn when she wanted to. And she was right. He had to keep living after Aragorn had ceased. "All right. Just let me get changed first."
Lothien nodded, then got up to leave. She'd almost reached the door, when she turned around and snatched up the dagger still lying on the floor. "I'll be in the entrance hall when you're ready," she said, then strode out of the room.
~~~~~~~
Maybe it was a bit much taking the dagger, thought Lothien as she make her way to the entrance hall, but you can never be too careful. She made a stop at her own room to deposit the dagger in the wardrobe before continuing on.
When she reached the entrance hall, she was met with her second surprise that day. Two Men wearing the silver-tree insignia of Gondor stood conversing with her father.
"You can't do this!" Thranduil was arguing. "You have no proof!"
"A street full of peasents swear by Eru they saw him do it," one of the Humans replied.
"Peasents who no doubt thrive on gossip," Thranduil sneered.
"Ada?" Lothien asked coming up behind her father, "What's going on?"
"My lady," the second Gondorian guard bowed low, "We have a warrent signed by the court herald of Gondor out for Prince Legolas' arrest."
"Arrest?" Lothien asked in disbelief. "Under what charge?"
Both guards looked uneasy at this question.
"I want to know the reason you want my brother!"
"Haven't you heard, my lady? Your brother murdered the royal family of Gondor."
Naneth: Mother
Ada: Father
A/N: I think I'll leave it at that. So, do you like it? Do you hate it? Is it somewhere in the middle? I'd like to thank all the people who reviewed "Fallen Bride," this story's parent. I've taken all your ideas and wrapped them all up in this little package ^.^ I'd especially like to thank my anonymous reviewer who goes by the name "Insane" who's comments gave me the foundation for this story. Unfortunately, I haven't thought much about what will happen next, so reviews with feedback and ideas are welcome. Namarie for now-
~~Elendil