Legolas let his gaze linger on Aradan's lifeless form for a minute, before
looking up at Thranduil. The Elven-king was quiet, and stood with his head
respectfully bowed, whilst Airëlus was now staring straight ahead at the
opposite wall, almost unseeingly.
"What do we do now?" asked Legolas.
"I...I suppose we must inform Elrond that Aradan is....has passed on," Thranduil sighed. He paused then, and glanced out of the window. "We will bury him in Mirkwood. I am sure there will be no objections to that, for he wanted to go back there."
"Yes, it is what he would have wanted," said Airëlus quietly.
The door burst open then, and one of Rivendell's chief healers, Florian, ran in, looking uncharacteristically flustered. He pulled up sharply though, and stared in wonder at the silent Royal Family, and the still, lifeless form of Aradan. He touched his hand briefly to his heart, as a gesture of respect.
"Forgive me, I did not know," he said sadly. "Your Highnesses, I apologize for disrupting you at such a time, but Calaen has taken a turn for the worse."
"Good," muttered Thranduil.
"Ada," said Legolas reproving, tearing his gaze from Aradan to look at Florian. "What is the problem?"
"We stitched up his wounds upon his return here. We knew they were serious, but thought they could be treated without Prince Airëlus' help," replied Florian. "He is very sick, and his fever is high. He keeps calling for you, Prince Legolas, and also for Aradan."
Thranduil said nothing as all of this information was given, but he crossed his arms over his chest, and an almost triumphant smile was playing on his lips, as though he believed Calaen deserved all of the pain he was going through. What he heard next though, made him laugh scornfully.
"Calaen wants his family," Florian said quietly. "Will any of you go to him?"
Legolas threw a final glance down to Aradan, before nodding once. He brushed past his father and brother, not bothering to ask if they would also come. No doubt they would be discussing the way he had so willingly left to see Calaen, the one who had caused so much destruction in so many people's lives.
............................................................................................................
Calaen lay in bed in a dark room, at the very end of the healing wing. His chest rose and fell ever so slowly as he stared up at the ceiling, watching as shadows from the candles flickered around. 'Why did it happen to me?' he thought sadly. 'Why did I let myself change so much? I should have been able to fight away the jealousy and the rages. I was so strong, yet so weak.'
He closed his eyes as he felt them beginning to glisten. Memories both good and bad had been dancing in front of him, and he was being taken over by every single one of them. Now that he was able to watch and reflect on all that he had done in the past, it made him feel sick.
The healers who were standing quietly at the side of the room, keeping watch over him, thought they knew everything. They had said his fever and illness was all because of the pain from the stab wounds. No, he was sick for one reason only: he finally saw in himself what other people saw, and he hated it.
'No, hate is too small,' he thought. 'I despise who I am. I want to cut out this evil that possesses my soul, and burns deep within me. I want to-
The door opened then, interrupting his sinister thoughts. Calaen glanced across and made a soft noise of relief when he saw who it was. "Legolas, you came. I thought you would not wish to be near me."
"No, I am here," the Prince said distantly. He walked slowly to the side of the bed, and looked across to the healers. "Please, could you all leave us for a while? If my father and brother turn up, by all means let them in."
"Do you think it wise to be alone in the same room as him?" asked one of the healers, as they made their way out of the door.
"If I thought it unwise, I would not ask you to leave. Thank you for your concern, but there is no need for it," replied Legolas. "Wait outside if you are worried, though."
"Why did you do that?" Calaen murmured. "How can you trust that I will not attack you?"
"Well, not meaning any offence by this, but I think that if we were to fight right now, you would not come off too well," said Legolas.
Calaen smiled vaguely, and his eyes lingered on his brother's shoulder. "No, I suppose not. And what of you? How do you feel?"
"Me? Ah, I will live," Legolas replied, unconsciously reaching up to tug at the end of his bandage.
"You did not have to step in front of Farath's blade for Aradan," Calaen said quietly. "You could have just let him die, but you didn't. Thank you, Legolas. It is enough to know that I stabbed my own son, but another blade would have killed him. At least now he has a chance of survival."
Legolas breathed out deeply, and lowered his eyes down to the ground. "Calaen-
"I understand that maybe he will not wish to look at me again. I do not blame him," the dark haired Elf said quietly. "I have put Aradan through so much over the years, and this is the final straw. If he can find it in his heart to forgive me, I am blessed."
"Calaen, he-
"I love him. No matter what I have done to him in the past, I have always loved him, though I did not realise it. I only wish it had not taken something like this to make it clear to me," Calaen sighed. "And you, also. Even now I feel something for you. Even when I was still living in Mirkwood and I did what I did to you, I still felt something, but I could not see it because of the jealousy and the anger."
"Calaen, Aradan is dead!" said Legolas swiftly. He looked away then, and clenched his fists.
"What?" asked the dark haired Elf in a low voice. "No, Aradan is not...no. You did not say that. It is just my fever, making me-
"No, you are not imaging anything," Legolas cut in. He turned back to face his brother, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I am so sorry. Aradan is dead. He passed on maybe five or ten minutes back."
Calaen stared at Legolas in wonder for a moment, before looking down at the ground. He shook his head briefly, in disbelief. "He cannot be dead. Valar...I killed my own son. I killed him."
Legolas watched as the older Elf rested his head in hands, and tangled his fingers in his ebony hair. "Calaen, do not beat yourself up over this. There is nothing I can say to make you feel any better, but he died peacefully. The pain left even before his spirit did."
"But I caused his spirit to leave," breathed Calaen.
"It was unintentional. I know you would not have thrown the knife if you knew he was up in the tree," said Legolas gently. He sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed. "Calaen, look at me."
The dark haired Elf moved one hand away from his hair, and gazed at his brother. "He should not have been taken. Why is it that I linger here, whilst he has departed? I hurt him so much, and it is he who has paid the consequences for my actions."
Legolas blinked in surprise as Calaen's green eyes filled with silvery tears. They shimmered but did not fall, all save one, which rolled down his cheek. The Prince reached out hesitantly with one hand, and rested it on his brother's shoulder.
"Do not comfort me," said Calaen quietly, though his voice shook.
"I will not leave you to drown in your tears. I will not leave you to be consumed by grief," replied Legolas. He locked eyes with the dark haired Elf for a brief moment, before gently embracing him. It was strange. He felt no fear at all.
Calaen tried to resist at first. How was he worthy of this? Why should he let himself be treated so well by the brother whom he had hurt so much? However, when he was held still, he rested his head on Legolas' shoulder, and said quietly: "I'm sorry. I am so sorry, for everything."
"Don't-
"No, I want to," cut in Calaen. "If I do not, then things I want to say will be left unsaid, and I will never have a chance to tell you."
"But maybe some things are better left unsaid," Legolas sighed. "Do not trouble yourself."
Calaen pulled away from the embrace, and a shadow of pain crossed his face. "What if I die? This would be my last chance to at least try and make everything better. Can you not see that? I could die tonight, Legolas, and I have to...I have to try and correct some of my mistakes. I have to..."
"This isn't you speaking," Legolas breathed, gripping Calaen's shoulder. "Why do you give up hope? You are not defeated yet. What has changed you so much?"
The dark haired Elf locked eyes with his brother for a brief moment, though the contact was broken as the door was opened and Thranduil and Airëlus came in. The King narrowed his eyes at the sight of his youngest son sitting with Calaen, though he kept quiet. The healer just watched silently.
"How are you feeling?" asked Thranduil, his tone icy and jagged.
Calaen looked up and blinked, as though surprised he had been addressed. "I...I am in a little pain from my wounds, but it is my head which hurts, and...and my heart."
"Might I enquire as to why?" asked Thranduil, blue eyes flashing. "What tragedy has befallen you?"
"I have seen myself for who I really am," Calaen replied, and his voice was sorrowful.
Thranduil snapped his eyes up, and laughed quietly. "Oh yes? Tell me, did you like what you saw? Did you feel some form of sick pleasure when you thought of all the lives you destroyed? And did you laugh when you saw all the pain and destruction you caused?"
"No," Calaen whispered, and he bowed his head down.
Legolas looked at his brother for a moment, before turning flashing eyes upon Thranduil. "What do you know of it? Do not presume to accuse him of things you know nothing of. Maybe he has done awful deeds, but maybe he is sorry for all he has done. You know not of what you speak."
"I thought, ion-nin, that you had learned not to listen to what he says," Thranduil remarked coolly. "Obviously not."
"Ada, Calaen is sorry," Legolas said gently, "as am I, for speaking that way to you. But, will you not trust my judgement of him? Look into his eyes. What do you see?"
Thranduil gazed at the Prince for a brief moment, before stepping forwards and turning Calaen's face towards him. The dark haired Elf looked up at the King, and could feel his own body trembling slightly. He wondered why. Looking down into his eyes, Thranduil bit down on his lip: Calaen's green orbs were sad, and the malicious glint was gone. He looked like the child he had once been. There was no hardness of cruelty in them.
"Hmm." Thranduil pulled his hand from Calaen's cheek, and turned away. The truth: he was amazed. The Elven-king had always been a good judge of character, and the fact that Calaen honestly repented, was truly stunning. However, if he had let his fingers linger on the dark haired Elf's cheek for a moment longer, he would've felt and seen a single tear fall.
What happened next was anticipated by no-one. A surgical knife had been carelessly left on the bedside table, and it glinted in the moonlight, sinister and dangerous. Calaen lunged to the side and grabbed it, paying no attention as the stitches on his stab wounds were painfully re-opened.
Thranduil cursed as he realised what was happening, and with no regards for his own safety, he pushed Legolas back to where Airëlus stood, and he positioned himself in front of his two sons. It was not the Princes, though, whom Calaen wanted...
............................................................................................................
tHeBlOnDeInEveRkNew: I know, I feel so bad for Aradan! And its so typical that he dies as soon as he gets a family!
Deana: Oh dear, I didn't mean to make you cry!
Leeanne: I sympathize with your sister! I'd be lost if I couldn't write!
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Yeah, I'm kinda sad that I had to kill him as well. :(
GollumGirl: I'm so sorry for killing him, please stop stabbing Cield! He hasn't done anything! Well.... Anyway, yeah, I only found about that other Aradan like, a few weeks ago. And I was like :(
Lirenel: I'm so sorry for killing him, but thanks for the praise!
Jennifer: I'm sorry! Ok, breathe....breathe....nice thoughts....
Kathysidle: Ah, but of course you gotta have a bit of humour in there, right?!
Legolas-gurl88: Yes, it was very sad when I realised that I was gonna kill Aradan. I just felt like it was something I had to do. I also cried when I killed him though, if that's any consolation!
eleanor rigbey: I love writing cliffies, its fun to see you guys get worked up! As for the plot twists, they come into my head at really unexpected moments, so I'll be walking along the street, then I'll suddenly shout 'Yes!'
That Undomiel Chick: How did you know?! Yeah, Evanescence are my favourite band!
The Last Hope: Yeah, I like Calaen a lot more than Tain. Its weird, but despite all that Calaen's done, I really do like him. Hmm, how weird.
Halimanya: Sorry for making you cry! No, I don't think your story is a Mary- Sue. I read the review, and I don't agree with them at all. :)
Hiei-Rulez: You want Calaen dead also? Hmm...
Galadriel1010: I'm so sorry for making you cry as well! You're like, the fifth person or something! If its any consolation, I also cried!
Well, wasn't that a cliffhanger and a half! I bet a lot of you are thinking that Calaen wants to kill Thranduil, right? Hmm, guess you'll just have to wait til Monday to find out! By the way, in the next chapter, don't be surprised if you see the change in Calaen go on. Yeah, he was different in this chapter to all the other ones, but I hope you can all understand that now he's seen what he's like, and he's seen what other people see in him, he really does hate him. It may sound as though that couldn't invoke such a dramatic change in a person, but it can. I've seen and experienced it. Sorry, I'm rambling! Misto x-x
"What do we do now?" asked Legolas.
"I...I suppose we must inform Elrond that Aradan is....has passed on," Thranduil sighed. He paused then, and glanced out of the window. "We will bury him in Mirkwood. I am sure there will be no objections to that, for he wanted to go back there."
"Yes, it is what he would have wanted," said Airëlus quietly.
The door burst open then, and one of Rivendell's chief healers, Florian, ran in, looking uncharacteristically flustered. He pulled up sharply though, and stared in wonder at the silent Royal Family, and the still, lifeless form of Aradan. He touched his hand briefly to his heart, as a gesture of respect.
"Forgive me, I did not know," he said sadly. "Your Highnesses, I apologize for disrupting you at such a time, but Calaen has taken a turn for the worse."
"Good," muttered Thranduil.
"Ada," said Legolas reproving, tearing his gaze from Aradan to look at Florian. "What is the problem?"
"We stitched up his wounds upon his return here. We knew they were serious, but thought they could be treated without Prince Airëlus' help," replied Florian. "He is very sick, and his fever is high. He keeps calling for you, Prince Legolas, and also for Aradan."
Thranduil said nothing as all of this information was given, but he crossed his arms over his chest, and an almost triumphant smile was playing on his lips, as though he believed Calaen deserved all of the pain he was going through. What he heard next though, made him laugh scornfully.
"Calaen wants his family," Florian said quietly. "Will any of you go to him?"
Legolas threw a final glance down to Aradan, before nodding once. He brushed past his father and brother, not bothering to ask if they would also come. No doubt they would be discussing the way he had so willingly left to see Calaen, the one who had caused so much destruction in so many people's lives.
............................................................................................................
Calaen lay in bed in a dark room, at the very end of the healing wing. His chest rose and fell ever so slowly as he stared up at the ceiling, watching as shadows from the candles flickered around. 'Why did it happen to me?' he thought sadly. 'Why did I let myself change so much? I should have been able to fight away the jealousy and the rages. I was so strong, yet so weak.'
He closed his eyes as he felt them beginning to glisten. Memories both good and bad had been dancing in front of him, and he was being taken over by every single one of them. Now that he was able to watch and reflect on all that he had done in the past, it made him feel sick.
The healers who were standing quietly at the side of the room, keeping watch over him, thought they knew everything. They had said his fever and illness was all because of the pain from the stab wounds. No, he was sick for one reason only: he finally saw in himself what other people saw, and he hated it.
'No, hate is too small,' he thought. 'I despise who I am. I want to cut out this evil that possesses my soul, and burns deep within me. I want to-
The door opened then, interrupting his sinister thoughts. Calaen glanced across and made a soft noise of relief when he saw who it was. "Legolas, you came. I thought you would not wish to be near me."
"No, I am here," the Prince said distantly. He walked slowly to the side of the bed, and looked across to the healers. "Please, could you all leave us for a while? If my father and brother turn up, by all means let them in."
"Do you think it wise to be alone in the same room as him?" asked one of the healers, as they made their way out of the door.
"If I thought it unwise, I would not ask you to leave. Thank you for your concern, but there is no need for it," replied Legolas. "Wait outside if you are worried, though."
"Why did you do that?" Calaen murmured. "How can you trust that I will not attack you?"
"Well, not meaning any offence by this, but I think that if we were to fight right now, you would not come off too well," said Legolas.
Calaen smiled vaguely, and his eyes lingered on his brother's shoulder. "No, I suppose not. And what of you? How do you feel?"
"Me? Ah, I will live," Legolas replied, unconsciously reaching up to tug at the end of his bandage.
"You did not have to step in front of Farath's blade for Aradan," Calaen said quietly. "You could have just let him die, but you didn't. Thank you, Legolas. It is enough to know that I stabbed my own son, but another blade would have killed him. At least now he has a chance of survival."
Legolas breathed out deeply, and lowered his eyes down to the ground. "Calaen-
"I understand that maybe he will not wish to look at me again. I do not blame him," the dark haired Elf said quietly. "I have put Aradan through so much over the years, and this is the final straw. If he can find it in his heart to forgive me, I am blessed."
"Calaen, he-
"I love him. No matter what I have done to him in the past, I have always loved him, though I did not realise it. I only wish it had not taken something like this to make it clear to me," Calaen sighed. "And you, also. Even now I feel something for you. Even when I was still living in Mirkwood and I did what I did to you, I still felt something, but I could not see it because of the jealousy and the anger."
"Calaen, Aradan is dead!" said Legolas swiftly. He looked away then, and clenched his fists.
"What?" asked the dark haired Elf in a low voice. "No, Aradan is not...no. You did not say that. It is just my fever, making me-
"No, you are not imaging anything," Legolas cut in. He turned back to face his brother, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I am so sorry. Aradan is dead. He passed on maybe five or ten minutes back."
Calaen stared at Legolas in wonder for a moment, before looking down at the ground. He shook his head briefly, in disbelief. "He cannot be dead. Valar...I killed my own son. I killed him."
Legolas watched as the older Elf rested his head in hands, and tangled his fingers in his ebony hair. "Calaen, do not beat yourself up over this. There is nothing I can say to make you feel any better, but he died peacefully. The pain left even before his spirit did."
"But I caused his spirit to leave," breathed Calaen.
"It was unintentional. I know you would not have thrown the knife if you knew he was up in the tree," said Legolas gently. He sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed. "Calaen, look at me."
The dark haired Elf moved one hand away from his hair, and gazed at his brother. "He should not have been taken. Why is it that I linger here, whilst he has departed? I hurt him so much, and it is he who has paid the consequences for my actions."
Legolas blinked in surprise as Calaen's green eyes filled with silvery tears. They shimmered but did not fall, all save one, which rolled down his cheek. The Prince reached out hesitantly with one hand, and rested it on his brother's shoulder.
"Do not comfort me," said Calaen quietly, though his voice shook.
"I will not leave you to drown in your tears. I will not leave you to be consumed by grief," replied Legolas. He locked eyes with the dark haired Elf for a brief moment, before gently embracing him. It was strange. He felt no fear at all.
Calaen tried to resist at first. How was he worthy of this? Why should he let himself be treated so well by the brother whom he had hurt so much? However, when he was held still, he rested his head on Legolas' shoulder, and said quietly: "I'm sorry. I am so sorry, for everything."
"Don't-
"No, I want to," cut in Calaen. "If I do not, then things I want to say will be left unsaid, and I will never have a chance to tell you."
"But maybe some things are better left unsaid," Legolas sighed. "Do not trouble yourself."
Calaen pulled away from the embrace, and a shadow of pain crossed his face. "What if I die? This would be my last chance to at least try and make everything better. Can you not see that? I could die tonight, Legolas, and I have to...I have to try and correct some of my mistakes. I have to..."
"This isn't you speaking," Legolas breathed, gripping Calaen's shoulder. "Why do you give up hope? You are not defeated yet. What has changed you so much?"
The dark haired Elf locked eyes with his brother for a brief moment, though the contact was broken as the door was opened and Thranduil and Airëlus came in. The King narrowed his eyes at the sight of his youngest son sitting with Calaen, though he kept quiet. The healer just watched silently.
"How are you feeling?" asked Thranduil, his tone icy and jagged.
Calaen looked up and blinked, as though surprised he had been addressed. "I...I am in a little pain from my wounds, but it is my head which hurts, and...and my heart."
"Might I enquire as to why?" asked Thranduil, blue eyes flashing. "What tragedy has befallen you?"
"I have seen myself for who I really am," Calaen replied, and his voice was sorrowful.
Thranduil snapped his eyes up, and laughed quietly. "Oh yes? Tell me, did you like what you saw? Did you feel some form of sick pleasure when you thought of all the lives you destroyed? And did you laugh when you saw all the pain and destruction you caused?"
"No," Calaen whispered, and he bowed his head down.
Legolas looked at his brother for a moment, before turning flashing eyes upon Thranduil. "What do you know of it? Do not presume to accuse him of things you know nothing of. Maybe he has done awful deeds, but maybe he is sorry for all he has done. You know not of what you speak."
"I thought, ion-nin, that you had learned not to listen to what he says," Thranduil remarked coolly. "Obviously not."
"Ada, Calaen is sorry," Legolas said gently, "as am I, for speaking that way to you. But, will you not trust my judgement of him? Look into his eyes. What do you see?"
Thranduil gazed at the Prince for a brief moment, before stepping forwards and turning Calaen's face towards him. The dark haired Elf looked up at the King, and could feel his own body trembling slightly. He wondered why. Looking down into his eyes, Thranduil bit down on his lip: Calaen's green orbs were sad, and the malicious glint was gone. He looked like the child he had once been. There was no hardness of cruelty in them.
"Hmm." Thranduil pulled his hand from Calaen's cheek, and turned away. The truth: he was amazed. The Elven-king had always been a good judge of character, and the fact that Calaen honestly repented, was truly stunning. However, if he had let his fingers linger on the dark haired Elf's cheek for a moment longer, he would've felt and seen a single tear fall.
What happened next was anticipated by no-one. A surgical knife had been carelessly left on the bedside table, and it glinted in the moonlight, sinister and dangerous. Calaen lunged to the side and grabbed it, paying no attention as the stitches on his stab wounds were painfully re-opened.
Thranduil cursed as he realised what was happening, and with no regards for his own safety, he pushed Legolas back to where Airëlus stood, and he positioned himself in front of his two sons. It was not the Princes, though, whom Calaen wanted...
............................................................................................................
tHeBlOnDeInEveRkNew: I know, I feel so bad for Aradan! And its so typical that he dies as soon as he gets a family!
Deana: Oh dear, I didn't mean to make you cry!
Leeanne: I sympathize with your sister! I'd be lost if I couldn't write!
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Yeah, I'm kinda sad that I had to kill him as well. :(
GollumGirl: I'm so sorry for killing him, please stop stabbing Cield! He hasn't done anything! Well.... Anyway, yeah, I only found about that other Aradan like, a few weeks ago. And I was like :(
Lirenel: I'm so sorry for killing him, but thanks for the praise!
Jennifer: I'm sorry! Ok, breathe....breathe....nice thoughts....
Kathysidle: Ah, but of course you gotta have a bit of humour in there, right?!
Legolas-gurl88: Yes, it was very sad when I realised that I was gonna kill Aradan. I just felt like it was something I had to do. I also cried when I killed him though, if that's any consolation!
eleanor rigbey: I love writing cliffies, its fun to see you guys get worked up! As for the plot twists, they come into my head at really unexpected moments, so I'll be walking along the street, then I'll suddenly shout 'Yes!'
That Undomiel Chick: How did you know?! Yeah, Evanescence are my favourite band!
The Last Hope: Yeah, I like Calaen a lot more than Tain. Its weird, but despite all that Calaen's done, I really do like him. Hmm, how weird.
Halimanya: Sorry for making you cry! No, I don't think your story is a Mary- Sue. I read the review, and I don't agree with them at all. :)
Hiei-Rulez: You want Calaen dead also? Hmm...
Galadriel1010: I'm so sorry for making you cry as well! You're like, the fifth person or something! If its any consolation, I also cried!
Well, wasn't that a cliffhanger and a half! I bet a lot of you are thinking that Calaen wants to kill Thranduil, right? Hmm, guess you'll just have to wait til Monday to find out! By the way, in the next chapter, don't be surprised if you see the change in Calaen go on. Yeah, he was different in this chapter to all the other ones, but I hope you can all understand that now he's seen what he's like, and he's seen what other people see in him, he really does hate him. It may sound as though that couldn't invoke such a dramatic change in a person, but it can. I've seen and experienced it. Sorry, I'm rambling! Misto x-x