Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is his. *Jerks thumb at Tolkien*
Author's Notes:
Wow! I am overwhelmed at the response. Thank you everyone! I warn you that the next chapter may take longer to upload cos it is in a complete mess as in chronological order and everything. It is NOT working out. In the next few chapters I plan to show Legolas going through a very long day and Herendil AS WELL so you won't have to wait chapter by chapter, you will see a bit of both. However, that is really hard to write and I've done part of the Legolas story but now I have to add Herendil in. It's not finished. Keep reviewing! I love you guys! For those who want to know what Herendil's name means, I know now thanks to Sirnonenath's research I found out myself that it means "fortune-friend" as in "friend of fortune." Thank you!
Elessar*Lover: Thank you. You were the first to review chapter three!
Sirnonenath, Lady Taliana, Cyprus Tree, Kyl and anyone else who actually researched: Thanks a heap!
Rose Carinna: I don't know about Legolas. You are right but I feel that Legolas is always a little old for his age. He is around the human equivalent of ten years old. I think that sometimes we underestimate how much children really know or understand. I think that because Legolas has barely been around children his age that he is, in a way, forced to grow up. Also his father's behaviour has made him think I guess. This is my best reply to your two cents worth.
Elvett: Estel is sitting this one out cos he doesn't fit in the timeframe. Legolas is about two thousand years older than Aragorn and this is his childhood so therefore Estel is nowhere near being born. His parents probably weren't born yet either.
Aly K: You said you'd give me a cookie for this chapter…
MidnightPrincess: I have no idea how it fits in…Elrond will found out…eventually (dunno how, I haven't thought about it)
Cherryfaerie: True. But you see in "Slave Prince" Herendil tells you that Githil was an orphan too. So he treated his brothers like his sons. He "adopted" Herendil so therefore making him more of a father than a brother. In reality Githil is probably age-wise more of Herendil's brother but Herendil considered him as a father cos he grew up with him like that. Githil treated Herendil like a son before all that scandal with Fenath (his younger brother). Does that kinda make sense?
Ryoko Lasgalen, RedHot721 and anyone that I have missed: Thank you for adding me to your favourites!
Back to Mirkwood…
Herendil leaned back against the wall. He felt devoid of feelings, he just didn't know what to do.
This was where Githil found him when the supervisor returned to his office. His eyes glinted with a cold fury but Herendil was too lost in his thoughts to see this. Only when Githil slammed the door was Herendil aware of his foster father's presence. Growing up with Githil taught Herendil one thing: when he slammed the door, he is in a bad mood. Don't bother him because it usually means that he is angry. Herendil did not understand. In his current state, he could not comprehend why his father would be angry.
"Githil? What is the matter, sir?" Herendil asked nervously, as he stood up to face Githil respectfully.
"Don't play with me. You know what is the matter," Githil spat.
Herendil was confused. "Is there anything wrong? Perhaps I should give you some time alone, I do not wish to offend you by prying in your matters sir."
"Oh, playing the ever so polite sub are we? Is there anything wrong," Githil imitated in a high-pitched tone. He gave Herendil a scathing look, "Of course nothing is wrong. My brother is dear, O Valar, what is wrong! What is WRONG! Why don't you ask me what isn't wrong? Don't you try to get out of this, Herendil, not this time…"
"Father. Ada," Herendil pleaded. He was trying to calm Githil down, Githil looked like Mount Doom about to erupt.
"No. No. NO. Don't try to get me to feel sorry for you. Don't even think about it. No more of this "Father" stuff. Never call me that. You aren't even my son," Githil said loathingly.
"I am sorry that Ruthiun is dead but why are you saying this?" Herendil said in distress. The sub-supervisor felt drained, he was not ready for another assault.
"Now, you confess. You killed Ruthiun didn't you, you pathetic liar!" Githil reached for a dagger on a shelf.
"No! I swear by Valar that I didn't!"
"You lie! Just like you did before! All those years…"
"I don't understand what you are talking about!"
Githil grabbed Herendil easily, who was weakened by fatigue and grief. Herendil was roughly thrown onto the tabletop, Githil's dagger pointing at his throat.
"Well, let me enlighten you, son," Githil mocked. "You killed Ruthiun didn't you? Just like you poisoned Fenath! YOU killed my only brother left when you had the chance…YOU wanted revenge for your punishment task I set you. So YOU in set him up and let him get killed. YOU probably cut his head off yourself!" Githil's knife inched closer with each accusation.
"No! No! That's not true! I wouldn't kill Fenath! I loved him too! He was my brother too! I loved him!" Herendil begged Githil to understand. Herendil seemed to dig himself deeper and deeper into a hole where he could not escape.
"No you don't! He was not your brother. He was MY brother and YOU…You took him away from me! Then you took Ruthiun away from me because you were jealous weren't you?"
"I didn't take either of your brothers away from you. I didn't kill them, please believe me. I was not jealous of Ruthiun, I wished him no harm," Herendil said.
"I don't believe you. I don't trust you. If you say you aren't lying, what could've possibly happened?" Githil ridiculed.
"Please trust me. I am saying the truth. I didn't poison Fenath, you have to believe me. It was only a rumour that it someone in Mirkwood. It was never proven. Please, I would not try to harm my own…family. Or someone I consider as one. You were the only family that I had, what would I gain?" Herendil paused for a breath. He was still lying on the table and he felt very vulnerable. "Despite what you think, I respected Ruthiun. He was a skilled warrior and hunter. He may not have liked me, but I did look up to him. Why would I kill him now? I have no ill feelings towards you, not even after all the things that have happened between us. I still believe that you can change. You have to believe me. I wouldn't lie to you."
Githil seemed to pause to think. He put his hand to his forehead. "No, you are trying to manipulate me. You are trying to make me feel sorry for you. I still don't believe you." With this he slammed Herendil into a cabinet for weapons. Herendil had his wind knocked out of him and he could only gasp. "You are lying to me, trying to use my grief against me. How could you do that to me?"
Herendil said slowly, "Githil…Please." He had not the breath to say anymore as Githil banged his head into the wall, sending black spots in Herendil's vision.
"Why should I believe you? You lied to me all those years, only to scheme for the exact moment so you could kill my other brother, Ruthiun. I bet you were fantasising about killing him, smiling as you wished that he were dead! You probably are planning to kill me too! I won't let you!" Githil said. He was becoming insanely driven by his grief and all the years of suppressed suspicions. To make matters worse, Githil reached for a bottle of wine inside the cabinet. The amber liquid was carefully concealed behind some weapons. He drank half the bottle in an enormous swig, tilting the bottle towards his mouth. Some of the liquor missed and ran down his chin, dribbling in his clothes. He looked like a raving lunatic.
"Githil…stop…please…don't…" Herendil said. He was leaning against the wall for support as Githil's grip slackened slightly.
"You won't stop me from dealing justice into you! You killed them both!" Githil said. He took another swig of his bottle, before smashing it on the ground. Githil reached for another bottle. The dagger twirled a dance in his fingers.
Herendil gathered all his strength and caught Githil's hand. "No more, please. Calm down Githil."
Githil was enraged and stabbed the dagger into Herendil's left forearm. Herendil gave a gasp of pain as the dagger pierced his arm. As the sub-supervisor was distracted, Githil took another drink.
"I never used to drink this disgusting stuff. Not until after…Fenath's death," Githil said his words slurring slightly. With a new rush of anger, he grabbed a dagger from his belt and hurled it at Herendil. It flew with deadly speed, tearing the material of Herendil's tunic as he just moved out of the way. Another dagger flew, landing beside the sub-supervisor's hand, which was resting on the table.
Herendil grabbed the dagger and held it out defensively in front of him. "Please don't throw anymore weapons. Put it down, Githil, please." Githil threw his now empty bottle onto the ground, littering the floor with glass.
"Please," Githil mimicked. He threw another dagger. Herendil ducked as it embedded into the bookcase. Another one whizzed passed his shoulder.
"I don't want to hurt you, Githil," Herendil said softly.
"But I do, Herendil, my son." Githil aimed. "This last one is for you." He aimed and even in his semi-drunken state, he was fairly accurate. Elves were not as affected by alcohol as the Edain. If they concentrated, it affected them less. He threw the dagger, it made a sickening sound as it slashed Herendil's thigh. Herendil leant on the desk, he dared not sit on the ground because of the broken glass. The dagger clattered to the ground, red with Herendil's blood. "I must have missed," Githil said purposefully as he grabbed a sword.
Herendil forced himself up and grabbed a sword from the cabinet just in time to parry the first blow. The glass crunched beneath their boots. Githil thrust again, driven by his insane grief. Herendil blocked the blow, the impact felt most at the hilt. He had cut his palm with the glass earlier and this did not help. Herendil fought the urge to drop the sword, his palm was stinging. The cut was obviously re-opened. The red was seeping through his bandages.
"You killed my brothers! I am avenging their deaths!" Githil attacked. His sword swept in an arc.
"I didn't kill them! Please believe me…I have no wish to duel." Herendil deflected. The swords met with a clash. Herendil looked towards the door, he did not want to fight.
"You deserve to die!" Githil spun in a circle, pushing Herendil towards the wall and away from the door. "You pathetic coward! You want to run away from something you created! This is of your own making!"
Herendil tried to evade the blows but his body was in much pain. He was limping and his other arm still had the dagger in it. Herendil tried to block out the words but he couldn't, he was tyring not to let it distract him but the words did hurt. Clash! Githil was putting all his strength in the blows. Herendil faltered slightly. Githil took this opportunity to trip him, sending him into the glass on the floor.
"You deserve to die! Tell me why I shouldn't kill you?" Githil taunted, disarming Herendil.
"Help! Somebody help me!" Herendil cried desperately.
Githil was enraged and slashed Herendil's cheek with the sword. "Yell again and I'll kill you. You deserve it anyway. I'll cut your tongue off and dissect you slowly. "
Herendil was in agony. His thigh was bleeding profusely. His left forearm was becoming numb. He needed to escape but he would need a diversion. A plan was starting to formulate in his mind.
"HELP!" Herendil yelled with all his strength. He prayed to Valar, please just send help. I don't want to die. Please let my plan work.
Githil lunged at Herendil, aiming for his heart. Herendil stood up as fast as he could. This made Githil miss, his own attack throwing himself off balance. Githil fell to the floor but he quickly jumped up and grabbed Herendil's injured leg. Herendil could not move, his leg ached. Githil thrust his sword but Herendil had anticipated his move and ducked. In the same instant, he yanked the dagger painfully out of his forearm. As a desperate move, he threw it straight into Githil's right shoulder. Herendil deliberately aimed so that he would not kill Githil. Herendil still believed that Githil was his foster father – no matter what happened, Githil was his family, he couldn't kill him. Herendil did not look back but limped as fast as possible towards the door and away from the office.
Herendil walked into Meleris, who had just finished his gate duty from earlier. Meleris was surprised to see Herendil. "Herendil? Sir! Oh Valar? What happened..."
"Told Githil that Ruthiun died. He was upset and angry. Drank two bottles. Tried to kill me. Was hurt in fight. Still in office. Dangerous." Herendil explained briefly in a hurried gasp.
Meleris understood. He whistled loudly and instantly several guards came.
"Detain Githil and have him arrested for attempted murder of a King's servant," Meleris commanded.
"He is the supreme supervisor…and you want to arrest him?" The guards protested. "Plus, you don't have the authority. You're just a guard. His rank is higher than yours."
"Herendil is the sub-supervisor! He is hurt can't you see!" Meleris exclaimed.
Suddenly Githil staggered around the corner. "Herendil should be dead!" he yelled insanely. Githil threw a bloodied dagger, aimed at Herendil. It missed him completely because Githil's shoulder injury was still fresh and it restricted his arm movement.
The guards tackled Githil and tied his hands behind his back. They took the knife as evidence.
"Thanks," Herendil said before he promptly collapsed in Meleris' arms.
Meleris was alarmed. Putting all his training in use, he easily lifted Herendil. He left a trail of blood behind him as he sprinted towards the Healing Rooms.
Please Review and if you are really nice please check out my other stories "The Best Gift" and "Questions of Love" (and hopefully review those too)! "Questions of Love" is a brand new fic! Thanks!