Legolas slowly opened his eyes, and as he looked around, he was filled with
an overwhelming sense of relief: either he was dead, or just in some
unfamiliar room in Rivendell, maybe even Mirkwood. Yes, that must be it.
Maybe he was so consumed by relief that those past few days had been a
nightmare, that he was temporarily unable to recognize his surroundings.
"It was a dream," murmured Legolas. "Calaen is not here, and I am still in Rivendell. It was nothing more than a dream, it..." He trailed off as he realised that his arm, wrist and ribs were screaming in agony.
Body trembling slightly, Legolas raised his head off the pillows and looked carefully around the room he was in. Black and stone-like were the walls and the only lights were candles hanging from the ceiling or in brackets on the miserable walls. A small table was in the corner of the room, and Legolas could just make out a pitcher of water, and a few jars of ointment. The bed he lay on was uncomfortable and hard, but not so bad that he would complain about it, or demand for a different one.
'But why am I not in my own room in Rivendell?' thought Legolas. 'This makes no sense.'
Just then, the door swung open and a tall figure came in. He was dark haired, and clothed in Elven raiment, but Legolas did not recognize him; at least not until he came closer and stood beside the bed. The Prince let out a sharp gasp, and his eyes widened slightly.
"No," he breathed. "Is it not enough that you haunt my dreams, without following me when I am awake? I can never be rid of you, and I would rather die than forever-
"Hush, you make no sense," said Calaen, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Leave me," whispered Legolas. "It was all a nightmare, I know. And, I am unable to control my dreams, but I *can* control my waking life. I do not have to see you, feel you, or sense you in any way."
Calaen reached down and caught Legolas' face in both hands as the younger Elf turned his head away. "I am here, and there is nothing you can say to get rid of me. You *are* awake, Legolas. I *am* here."
"No, I have not yet awakened properly," said the golden haired Elf quietly.
"Stop denying everything, and for the first time in your life, open your eyes to what is really in front of you," snapped Calaen, jerking his hands sharply away from Legolas' face, and turning to stare angrily at the wall.
Legolas sighed, and pushed himself into a sitting position. "I know that all of this is real; I was just trying in vain to convince myself that it wasn't. Why am I here, Calaen? Why am I lying in a bed, with all of my wounds tended to? How long have I been here? And what of the others?"
Calaen sighed, and pulled a chair across next to the bed. "I'm sorry, Legolas. It pains me that I have to be the one who tells you."
"What do you mean?" asked Legolas fearfully, making to move from the bed. Calaen held him still, however, whilst he pulled something from his pocket: the Ring.
"I took this, and the Fellowship all believe that you betrayed them," said the dark haired Elf. "In a way, you did, for you made sure that my real plans remained secret. Tolvanir informed me that Aragorn chose to fight, even though your life was at stake. You had a blade to your throat, am I right in saying? What does that tell you, Legolas? Surely if Aragorn really cared, he would've stayed still?"
Legolas swallowed, and quickly shook his head. "He cares, I know he does."
"It seems we have a different way of analysing things," laughed Calaen. "I would let you go and ask him what his true feelings about you are. But...I doubt he will be up to talking with anyone right now. Nor will the two Halflings. You remember I ordered Farath and his men to be locked away? Well, they have been growing hungry...for blood."
"Oh Valar! Please tell me you haven't," whispered Legolas.
"I'm afraid I have," said Calaen, feigning regret. "All three of them were taken to Farath, and I do believe that one of the Halflings, Frodo, is being taken there as we speak. But this was all your fault, Legolas. If only you had agreed to help me in the first place, none if this would've happened. That Halfling would probably even still be alive."
Legolas' head snapped painfully up at that. "You lie! No-one is-
"Aragorn and Pippin still live. As for Frodo, you can only pray," cut in Calaen. "But if you agree to help me, your friends will be spared from any more pain. Granted, they will not wish to know you any more, but at least you will have done them a favour by sparing their lives."
"Stop playing with my mind," hissed Legolas. "You have always been able to pick at people's weak spots, and you are using that to your advantage now."
"Now? I am doing no such thing," assured Calaen. "I see why you don't believe me, but it would be better if you did. You see, time is running out for your friends. One of them lies dead already, and I could easily kill another, just like that!"
Legolas flinched as Calaen slammed a hand down onto the table in the corner. The two locked eyes and the elder smiled inwardly as he saw just how close he was to breaking Legolas: the golden haired Elf as shaking with anger, fear, disbelief, his eyes fixed on the floor. His breathing was even, but Calaen could tell it was forced.
"You will not sway me," said Legolas eventually.
Calaen came across to sit on the edge of the bed, and took Legolas' face in his hands. Leaning close, he spoke in a chilling whisper. "Yes, I will. It is your friends who will pay for your foolishness."
Just then, the door slowly opened, and Tolvanir stepped into the room. He bowed before Calaen, shot Legolas a murderous look, and pulled something from behind his back. Smiling grimly, he stepped forward and handed it to Calaen, almost laughing out loud as Legolas cried out.
"He is dead then?" asked Calaen quietly.
"Yes sir," replied Tolvanir. "He was clubbed, and his death was very painful, I can assure you. It brings the total number of Fellowship members down to six."
"Thank you. Give me a moment alone with my brother, and then I will speak to you outside," said Calaen. Tolvanir bowed once more, but the Prince did not notice it, for he had already turned away.
"You killed him," whispered Legolas, tears of fury in his eyes.
"No, it is not me who is at fault. You are the one who killed him. If not for you, he would still be alive," corrected Calaen. "I will leave you now, to think about what you want."
Legolas' breath caught in his chest as a yellow waistcoat, drenched in sticky blood, was thrown down next to him. It could not be. The only Fellowship member who wore something like this...was Merry.
............................................................................................................
GollumGirl: Well, I'm not into slash, but I have no objection to people who are. If that's the sort of thing that they like, then ok. And poor you, being subjected to seeing Haldir doing....something to Legolas, and Boromir doing...something to Pippin!
Rachel13: Hee hee! That's a great plan. But those people from SÃriel aren't very intelligent!
CaryElweisHOT: Yeah, Elladan was angry at first, but then he realised that Elrohir only did it cos he cared. :)
TeacherTam: I don't know, there's just something very...satisfying about it! LOL
Lyn: Thanks a lot for taking the time to write such a long review! Your comments really were helpful, and I'll try to work on what you've pointed out.
Jennifer: Yeah, I like them too; they are probably two of my fave Elves. As for your first question, I don't know if they are identical or not. I picture them as being so, but I'm not sure. As for their names, Elladan is pronounced 'El-a-dan' (or at least, that's how I pronounce it, and that's how I've heard other people pronouncing it). As for Elrohir, I've heard some strange versions of that. But the way that I've always said it is 'El- ro-here'.
OK, first of all...do NOT flame me for killing Merry. If you wait a few chapters, you'll find out more. But all I'll say about that, is that nothing is ever as it seems, especially when there is someone as evil like Calaen around. And I'm sorry this took longer to post, I've just been caught up with schoolwork. I've also decided to start posting every other day instead of every day, cos I really don't have enough time. Sorry! So, the next chapter will be up on Saturday, not Friday. Luv Misto x-x
"It was a dream," murmured Legolas. "Calaen is not here, and I am still in Rivendell. It was nothing more than a dream, it..." He trailed off as he realised that his arm, wrist and ribs were screaming in agony.
Body trembling slightly, Legolas raised his head off the pillows and looked carefully around the room he was in. Black and stone-like were the walls and the only lights were candles hanging from the ceiling or in brackets on the miserable walls. A small table was in the corner of the room, and Legolas could just make out a pitcher of water, and a few jars of ointment. The bed he lay on was uncomfortable and hard, but not so bad that he would complain about it, or demand for a different one.
'But why am I not in my own room in Rivendell?' thought Legolas. 'This makes no sense.'
Just then, the door swung open and a tall figure came in. He was dark haired, and clothed in Elven raiment, but Legolas did not recognize him; at least not until he came closer and stood beside the bed. The Prince let out a sharp gasp, and his eyes widened slightly.
"No," he breathed. "Is it not enough that you haunt my dreams, without following me when I am awake? I can never be rid of you, and I would rather die than forever-
"Hush, you make no sense," said Calaen, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Leave me," whispered Legolas. "It was all a nightmare, I know. And, I am unable to control my dreams, but I *can* control my waking life. I do not have to see you, feel you, or sense you in any way."
Calaen reached down and caught Legolas' face in both hands as the younger Elf turned his head away. "I am here, and there is nothing you can say to get rid of me. You *are* awake, Legolas. I *am* here."
"No, I have not yet awakened properly," said the golden haired Elf quietly.
"Stop denying everything, and for the first time in your life, open your eyes to what is really in front of you," snapped Calaen, jerking his hands sharply away from Legolas' face, and turning to stare angrily at the wall.
Legolas sighed, and pushed himself into a sitting position. "I know that all of this is real; I was just trying in vain to convince myself that it wasn't. Why am I here, Calaen? Why am I lying in a bed, with all of my wounds tended to? How long have I been here? And what of the others?"
Calaen sighed, and pulled a chair across next to the bed. "I'm sorry, Legolas. It pains me that I have to be the one who tells you."
"What do you mean?" asked Legolas fearfully, making to move from the bed. Calaen held him still, however, whilst he pulled something from his pocket: the Ring.
"I took this, and the Fellowship all believe that you betrayed them," said the dark haired Elf. "In a way, you did, for you made sure that my real plans remained secret. Tolvanir informed me that Aragorn chose to fight, even though your life was at stake. You had a blade to your throat, am I right in saying? What does that tell you, Legolas? Surely if Aragorn really cared, he would've stayed still?"
Legolas swallowed, and quickly shook his head. "He cares, I know he does."
"It seems we have a different way of analysing things," laughed Calaen. "I would let you go and ask him what his true feelings about you are. But...I doubt he will be up to talking with anyone right now. Nor will the two Halflings. You remember I ordered Farath and his men to be locked away? Well, they have been growing hungry...for blood."
"Oh Valar! Please tell me you haven't," whispered Legolas.
"I'm afraid I have," said Calaen, feigning regret. "All three of them were taken to Farath, and I do believe that one of the Halflings, Frodo, is being taken there as we speak. But this was all your fault, Legolas. If only you had agreed to help me in the first place, none if this would've happened. That Halfling would probably even still be alive."
Legolas' head snapped painfully up at that. "You lie! No-one is-
"Aragorn and Pippin still live. As for Frodo, you can only pray," cut in Calaen. "But if you agree to help me, your friends will be spared from any more pain. Granted, they will not wish to know you any more, but at least you will have done them a favour by sparing their lives."
"Stop playing with my mind," hissed Legolas. "You have always been able to pick at people's weak spots, and you are using that to your advantage now."
"Now? I am doing no such thing," assured Calaen. "I see why you don't believe me, but it would be better if you did. You see, time is running out for your friends. One of them lies dead already, and I could easily kill another, just like that!"
Legolas flinched as Calaen slammed a hand down onto the table in the corner. The two locked eyes and the elder smiled inwardly as he saw just how close he was to breaking Legolas: the golden haired Elf as shaking with anger, fear, disbelief, his eyes fixed on the floor. His breathing was even, but Calaen could tell it was forced.
"You will not sway me," said Legolas eventually.
Calaen came across to sit on the edge of the bed, and took Legolas' face in his hands. Leaning close, he spoke in a chilling whisper. "Yes, I will. It is your friends who will pay for your foolishness."
Just then, the door slowly opened, and Tolvanir stepped into the room. He bowed before Calaen, shot Legolas a murderous look, and pulled something from behind his back. Smiling grimly, he stepped forward and handed it to Calaen, almost laughing out loud as Legolas cried out.
"He is dead then?" asked Calaen quietly.
"Yes sir," replied Tolvanir. "He was clubbed, and his death was very painful, I can assure you. It brings the total number of Fellowship members down to six."
"Thank you. Give me a moment alone with my brother, and then I will speak to you outside," said Calaen. Tolvanir bowed once more, but the Prince did not notice it, for he had already turned away.
"You killed him," whispered Legolas, tears of fury in his eyes.
"No, it is not me who is at fault. You are the one who killed him. If not for you, he would still be alive," corrected Calaen. "I will leave you now, to think about what you want."
Legolas' breath caught in his chest as a yellow waistcoat, drenched in sticky blood, was thrown down next to him. It could not be. The only Fellowship member who wore something like this...was Merry.
............................................................................................................
GollumGirl: Well, I'm not into slash, but I have no objection to people who are. If that's the sort of thing that they like, then ok. And poor you, being subjected to seeing Haldir doing....something to Legolas, and Boromir doing...something to Pippin!
Rachel13: Hee hee! That's a great plan. But those people from SÃriel aren't very intelligent!
CaryElweisHOT: Yeah, Elladan was angry at first, but then he realised that Elrohir only did it cos he cared. :)
TeacherTam: I don't know, there's just something very...satisfying about it! LOL
Lyn: Thanks a lot for taking the time to write such a long review! Your comments really were helpful, and I'll try to work on what you've pointed out.
Jennifer: Yeah, I like them too; they are probably two of my fave Elves. As for your first question, I don't know if they are identical or not. I picture them as being so, but I'm not sure. As for their names, Elladan is pronounced 'El-a-dan' (or at least, that's how I pronounce it, and that's how I've heard other people pronouncing it). As for Elrohir, I've heard some strange versions of that. But the way that I've always said it is 'El- ro-here'.
OK, first of all...do NOT flame me for killing Merry. If you wait a few chapters, you'll find out more. But all I'll say about that, is that nothing is ever as it seems, especially when there is someone as evil like Calaen around. And I'm sorry this took longer to post, I've just been caught up with schoolwork. I've also decided to start posting every other day instead of every day, cos I really don't have enough time. Sorry! So, the next chapter will be up on Saturday, not Friday. Luv Misto x-x