NOTE: Indeed, that was a short chapter, though it seemed longer to me. Oh well, the main thing is that you liked it. As you may have noticed, the title has changed to For the Love of a Half Elf as this is the tenth chapter. Once again, enjoy!
Chapter Ten: Síriel's Judgement
Legolas spent the remainder of the day with Síriel. They went outside to the riverside. Síriel lay down on the bank and closed her eyes, basking in the sunlight. She filled him in on the rest of her life, telling him more tales of people mocking her. Yet it was good for her.
"I have enjoyed myself, Legolas. By telling you everything inside of me, I have relieved myself. You must come more often." she told him.
Legolas smiled.
"I will, and you must come and visit me." he said.
"That I cannot promise to do. I am often busy helping my sire. And I have never been fond of remaining indoors. Ever since I was a small child, I have loved the outdoors, especially rivers. Something about them draws me to their side. At least out here, I know I will not be mocked by anyone. The trees and animals I befriend do not care if I am half-elven, if I have white skin, or green eyes. They will care and love you so long as you do the same to them. Here I am safe and at home. Therefore, if you wish to see me more often, you must come here." she told him.
Legolas squeezed her hands.
"I will do so, Síriel." he promised.
"Navaer, ernil." she said.
Once inside the palace, he immediately sought out his sire and informed him everything Síriel had told him.
"She has indeed suffered much. I am glad that you have found a way to know her. See, once she knows she can trust someone, she opens herself up completely." Thranduil commented.
"Have you punished the five yet?" Legolas asked.
"I have not. I have been waiting for you to return."
"Let us go, then."
They found the five Elves locked in a large prison cell in the dungeons, furious at the treatment they had received.
"I am quite disappointed in you." Thranduil told them sternly. "I did not expected such behavior from you, believing you to be honorable and dignified. But you have proved my faith and trust in you otherwise. And you know that once my faith and trust in someone is shaken, they pay dearly. And your punishment will not be especially light."
The prisoners hung their heads. They were done for.
"I have thought long about what I should do with you, and I have concluded that I will not kill you. However, here is what I will have you do. First, you will go to the maiden and apologize to her and beg her forgiveness. If she forgives you, you are free to go. If she does not forgive you, then you will be banished from the kingdom. Heniach nin?" he said.
They nodded glumly. A guard was ordered to open their cell, and they were led, hands and feet bound, outside. Legolas and Thranduil accompanied them. Elves looked at them questioningly as they passed.
They found Síriel in front of her cottage, tending to her flowerbed. Her face took on an expression of anger when she saw the prisoners.
"Ernil nín, aran nín." she said, bowing deeply to them.
"You have such beautiful flowers, Síriel." Thranduil said.
"Hannon le, hîr nín."
"Glassen."
Legolas went to her.
"We have come here on an errand. We give you the chance to judge these five nobles who attempted to violate you." he told her.
Síriel gave them a cold look.
"I do not wish to judge them. You must do that." she said.
"Síriel, I am ordering you to judge them. They will apologize and beg your forgiveness. If you forgive them, they are free to go. If you do not forgive them, then they will be banished from my kingdom." Thranduil said. "The choice lies with you. We will not interfere at all."
The prisoners were led before Síriel. They all apologized to her, except for Bargon, since his tongue was cut out.
"Will you forgive us, fair maiden? We did not mean for what we did. We were drunk and knew not what we were doing." they pleaded.
Síriel looked at them carefully.
"Five sons of advisors stand before me, a mere common maiden, asking me to forgive them. Five honorable and dignified sons of advisors are asking forgiveness from a half-breed!" she began. "And what do you think? Shall I forgive you? Should I forgive you?"
They did not answer. Legolas could not blame her if she did not forgive them. Secretly, he wished his sire would kill them. That way, they would be a lesson for anyone else.
"Truthfully, I should not forgive you. You were attempting to violate me, and you mocked me." she said to them.
They bowed their heads. They were expecting this.
"Yet," she continued, "I am above that. I wish this to be a lesson you shall never forget. I have the power not to forgive you and rejoice in your banishment from the kingdom. Then, wherever you will go, the memory of your misery will follow you. It may even go ahead of you. People will scorn you and look down upon you. You shall become all that people will ever talk about. You will wish you were dead, for your torture will be beyond anything you have ever, and will ever, endure.
"I will forgive you, but not out of the kindness of my heart, for deep down inside me I have nothing but complete hatred for you. I forgive you because I pity you. I pity you! I know very well the feeling of being mocked and all alone. I have struggled with it for many years, and still I am not at peace with it. I do not wish you to feel the same way." she said.
The prisoners lifted their heads.
"We owe you our lives, fair maiden." they said.
Thranduil ordered the guard to unbind their hands and feet.
Legolas looked at Síriel in admiration. She had proven to them, that she, a common maiden, was higher than they were, although she was not of the elite. Legolas knew then that he truly loved her.
"That was well said, Síriel." Thranduil told her, as they watched the five Elves make their way back to the palace. "I will be sending letters to their families, of course. They must be informed."
Síriel flushed.
"I did not want them to go off lightly. I had to let them understand how I felt, and how it feels to be a social outcast. I was never meant to be harsh on anyone. How can I, after all I have gone through? I only hope I was not too harsh with them." she said.
"You were not." Legolas told her approvingly.
Síriel blushed.
"I sincerely hope not." she told him.
The three Elves remained outside for some time talking. Thranduil noticed the way his son was looking at the maiden, and he knew that Legolas was deeply in love with her. He smiled. He could not wait until it was announced. He knew Legolas would make sure it was announced.
'They complement each other.' he thought.
"Legolas, come, it is time to return." he said.
Legolas did not move.
"Come." Thranduil repeated.
"You should go." Síriel told Legolas.
Already the King was walking back to his palace. Legolas hesitated. Then he leaned over quickly and kissed Síriel on her cheek. She was very grateful that he left after that, for she blushed like never before.
Sindarin Translation:
Navaer: farewell
Ernil nín: my prince
Heniach nin: do you understand me