Disclaimer: I own nothing!
(((((((((((Chapter 11))))))))))))))))
Mithrendol rushed down the hall, a palm to his forehead, his blood nearing a dangerous boil. Why did this all have to happen on this day? It was as if as soon as he got a little bit ahead, the world just went against him.
Am I destined to have nothing? He wondered as he walked into the room he and Cefielle shared.
His white wedding robe was hanging off his closet door, fluttering in the slight breeze that washed in from his open window. Mithrendol quickly went to the window and shut it. He knew he had to do something, and fast.
Kill that weak human Aragorn…kill Legolas…then both Cefielle and Arwen will be mine and I can do whatever I wish with them. He told himself in haste.
Mithrendol blinked. Both Cefielle and Arwen? Was it true that he had fallen so quickly for the daughter of Lord Elrond? Mithrendol smiled bitterly. Yes…it was. She was so radiant, so beautiful…he had to have her.
But then what of Cefielle? He couldn't marry both of them…but if he wanted to be with Arwen he couldn't allow himself to marry the younger maiden today. Mithrendol growled softly in frustration and tore his wedding robe down from where it was hanging. What a bother it was to not have the Nazgul at his side any longer. If they had been following him this time around, Legolas, his foolish father, and Aragorn would be dead.
Then there would be nothing standing in his way.
Mithrendol started to put his wedding robe on, but then thought better of it. He had the body he wanted. He had the home he wanted. He had at least one of the women he wanted. But in order to destroy all that thought to oppose him, he had to make one last adjustment.
Mithrendol brought a hand up and touched his face. No…not his face…the face he had stolen. He had never thought he'd have to use his power to banish souls again after he had made his body his own.
"I looks as if I might have to. I'll make one last change." He said aloud, but barely audible.
With that being decided, Mithrendol walked out the door. He headed to the dungeon to visit Legolas one last time.
One last change.
((((((((((((((((
Legolas struck his head against the stone wall once more. His head ached and his vision blurred each time he did it, but with each impact he hoped that the metal surrounding his skull would crack and allow him a chance to shake the cruel device off.
He stopped suddenly when he heard footsteps on the stairway. The were quick and hurried, not like the swaggering, confident steps of Mithrendol. Could it be…someone was coming that could help him?
Mithrendol appeared from the staircase. Legolas's hopes fell back to where they belonged.
I should have known. He thought. He's come to gloat some more, has he?
Mithrendol did not hesitate to grasped the keys to the cell and open the iron door. He strode in and knelt in front of Legolas, a serious look on his face. His usual smirk was gone. A glimmer of hope appeared in Legolas's eyes.
What went wrong with his plan? He thought with joy. Something must have been done!
Mithrendol frowned when he saw the joyous look in the other elf's eyes. "It looks as if I will have to use you one more time, my friend." He said seriously. "You'll get your body back for a short time tonight."
Legolas's eyes widened. What for? Mithrendol saw the questions as if they hung in the air about the Prince's head.
"You idiot father decided it would be nice to invite a few guests and not inform me." He said. Mithrendol looked up into the other elf's eyes, his anger blazing in them. "Aragorn and his wife Arwen."
Legolas was taken aback. No…they were in danger…and they were also in Mithrendol's way…what was he planning to do to them?
This time Mithrendol didn't answer his question. Instead, he thrust one hand forward, catching Legolas's forehead in his palm, and cleanly bashing his head into the wall in back of him. Legolas cried out more out of surprise than pain, but he was dazed nonetheless.
He felt hands working on ripping the mask off his face. Mithrendol's hands. What was the elf doing?
The metal at the back of his skull had cracked with the impact and separated. Mithrendol gave a mighty yank and Legolas's face was painfully freed of it's prison. He cried out, louder this time, but not out of surprise. If anyone was near the cellar door, and if he yelled loudly enough, they could hear, and possibly come to his aid.
His shout was quickly silenced with the slap of a hand across his mouth, covering it.
"Don't you even think about it!" Mithrendol hissed, his face just inches away. "Or when I'm finally done here, it will take me weeks to kill you."
Legolas smiled underneath the evil elf's hand and shook his head viciously, trying to succeed in freeing himself again. Mithrendol had made a fatal mistake.
If he wanted to take back this body, he should have unchained me first. He thought. Because now he has to decide whether to take back the body now, when it is still in chains, and become trapped, or unchain me and let me scream.
Mithrendol realized his mistake the same time Legolas did. He growled and dug his fingernails into the soft flesh of Legolas's cheeks, trying to keep his hand over the fighting elf's mouth. Legolas struggled harder and screamed. Finally, Mithrendol's hand slipped…but he had to take a breath before he could shout again.
The blow came quicker than that. Mithrendol struck Legolas across the face harder than he had ever struck anyone before, and he felt a pinch of satisfaction as he watched the elf's head reel back again and crack agains't the hard wall, this time with no metal to protect it. The Prince's head dropped limply and he faded into darkness quickly.
"Foolish of you to think you could outsmart me, Legolas." Mithrendol rasped. He began to undo the locks to the shackles that hung off the elf's wrists. Then he paused.
What if Legolas is not unconscious? He thought with fear. He watched as a thin line of red formed on the Prince's forehead and ran down his cheek, dripping off onto his dirty shirt from his chin. What if he's just pretending?
Mithrendol could not take that chance. He held up his hand once more and struck the elf across the face again, as hard as he could. The other elf's head struck stone yet again, and the line of blood on his face grew thicker. He didn't react, he didn't scream or cry out. He must be unconscious, Mithrendol decided.
Carefully, he began to undo the chains from around the elf's arms. One lock at a time, he lowered the elf to the dirt floor gently. This body was weak with hunger and struggle, but until Mithrendol was able to kill Aragorn and hide the body, it would have to do.
Still…he thought…there was the trouble of figuring out how he was going to get around with a body as dirty and bloodied as this one and not be noticed. He looked down on himself. He was wearing a rather large robe today, made of the finest velvet. That should be enough to hide his battered face until he could get back to his room and clean up. After all, his door was only down the hall from the cellar entrance.
Mithrendol sighed, and leaned over the still body of Legolas. He cupped his face in his hands and prepared to leave the body he had worked so hard to get. He leaned in closer and opened his mouth.
Legolas's eyes popped open and he smiled. Mithrendol was so shocked he froze where he was, hovering above him like a statue.
"Surprise." Legolas said, before, thrusting his head forward, painfully…but effectively connecting it with Mithrendol's forehead.
The impact knocked the other elf away and his hands went to his head. Legolas didn't waste time in standing up. It was harder than he thought it would be. He'd been caught sitting for so long…his knees were weak.
Legolas watched as Mithrendol took his hand away from his eyes and looked up at him in surprise and hatred. He began to rise.
Legolas did the only thing he could have done. He reached down, grasped the dungeon keys, ran out of the cell, closed the door behind him…and locked it.
"NO!" Mithrendol cried, reached through the bars at him.
One of his hands caught Legolas's tattered sleeve. Legolas jumped away, ripping the sleeve off in the process. He backed up towards the opposite wall and watched in disbelief as his opponent screamed at him through the bars.
"DAMN YOU!!! DAMN YOU, YOU BASTARD!" Mithrendol screamed in rage that seemed to erupt with the fury of Mount Doom itself. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
"You've been saying that for a long time now." Legolas said. He felt his body collapse. He hadn't realized he was as weak as he was. Just running out and shutting the door seemed to take up all his energy. He sat on the dirt floor, panting…but a safe distance from Mithrendol.
Mithrendol let pour out his mouth just about ever elven curse he had ever learned. Legolas ignored them and allowed himself to gather enough energy to get back up again. He stood, using the wall for support, and began to approach the staircase to the palace.
"NO!" Mithrendol screamed again. "Legolas, if you go up there, I swear to the Valar I will destroy your body! I swear it!"
Legolas scoffed. "You are all words and no action, Mithrendol. To do that would cause you death, and I know that you are too cowardly to face that."
Mithrendol's eyes grew round with shock. "THAT IS UNTRUE!!" He screamed.
"We will see about that." Legolas said before turning his back on the other elf. He walked slowly up the stairs. Mithrendol was screaming the whole time.
Legolas reached the top and opened the door…there was no one outside. That surprised him. He had thought that Mithrendol's wailing would have attracted somebody's ears by now.
I suppose I was just lucky…He thought.
Legolas began to step outside when he realized what he must look like. He felt the placed where Mithrendol had cracked his head against the stone twice. He had a deep gash there, and blood was still oozing from it. His opposite cheek had also been split over the bone and was bleeding. The blood dripped over onto his already dirtied shirt and leggings.
"I look like something that just crawled out a grave." He said aloud.
Legolas frowned when he realized that he did almost end up in a grave. But now, if he was able to explain everything to his friends and kin before anything went wrong, it would be alright. They'd somehow force Mithrendol to give him his body back. And Halirod's…
There was a gasp and the sound of shattering glass from the end of the hall. Legolas's head shot up to see a servant girl standing in fear not far from him. She had just appeared out of corridor there, and had dropped the dishes she was holding when she saw him.
Legolas saw the girl's mouth open to scream and realized his hesitation could mean the end of the road for him. Quickly, using all his strength, he lunged for her and was able to cover her mouth before she could make a sound.
The girl struggled madly and shrieked into his hand…even tried to bite him, but Legolas was able to somehow find the energy to drag her into the bedroom he and Halirod had shared before Mithrendol had appeared.
Mithrendol had obviously done something to the place. All of Halirod's things were gone, and were replaced with Cefielle's things. A white wedding robe was crumpled on the floor.
Legolas grunted as he heaved the servant girl up onto the bed. She screamed again and struggled, but Legolas was able to use his weight to pin her down. Her eyes grew wide with primal fear. Legolas couldn't help but feel for her…he looked like a fright worse than death, and she probably was sure she was about to be raped or worse. Once he had her under control, he just sat and looked at her until she decided to stop screaming.
Eventually she did, and Legolas decided it was time to explain himself.
"Sorry I had to do that." He said softly. "But the entire palace is not ready to hear my story just yet."
The girl's eyes narrowed a bit and she understood him.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Legolas added just to be sure. "I just need to you listen for a bit and believe what I'm going to say to you. Do you promise not to call for help?"
The girl's eyes darted a bit and then she hastily nodded. Legolas felt that perhaps it was too fast of decision, but carefully lifted his hand away from her mouth, praying no sound would come from her lips.
It came, and the girl tried once again in vain to scream for help, but Legolas quickly slapped his hand over her mouth and muffled it again.
"Don't do that!" He whispered harshly. "I am not going to hurt you, and I'm aware I look frightful, but you have to listen to me!"
The girl whimpered and struggled under him one last time, but then grew still. Legolas waited a few more moments before allowing his hand to lift off her mouth again. Thankfully, this time the girl did not scream.
"Thank you." Legolas said as graciously as he could. He paused, wondering where to start. "Do you…do you know who I am?"
The girl's brow furrowed. "You know not who you are?"
"No, I'm asking if you know whose body this is." Legolas said. The girl made a face and it was clear she didn't understand anything he was saying. "What is your name?"
The girl hitched in a nervous breath. "Bethalyn."
Legolas looked at her seriously. "Bethalyn, I'm going to tell you something right now that is going to be very hard for you to believe, but you will have to believe it for me."
Bethalyn cringed. "What is it?"
Legolas took a deep breath. "This body…this form you see…belongs to Halirod, one of my…I mean Prince Legolas's best friends. Do you know him?"
Bethalyn looked at him like he was mad, but then nodded.
Legolas leaned in a little closer. "I am not he." He said with emphasis. "An intruder broke into this palace a few days ago and has been stealing the souls and bodies of our people. This intruders name is Mithrendol…do you recall that name?"
"No." The girl answered truthfully.
Legolas sighed. "I supposed not. If I had asked the Nimar who he was they would have known."
"What are you talking about? Are you mad?" Bethalyn asked, growing bolder.
"I am not mad." Legolas said. "The elf Mithrendol has the power to banish one's soul into another's body—in other words, he can switch bodies with people. He stole Halirod's body, and then used it to steal mine."
Bethalyn looked him over closely. "Who are you?"
Legolas paused, let go of her hands and hopped off the bed. Bethalyn gasped at the sudden freedom, sat up and looked at him questionably.
"I am your Prince. I'm Legolas." He said. "Mithrendol and I have…a past together. He wanted revenge and so he took my body. The one marrying Lady Cefielle today is him, not I."
Bethalyn stood and looked at him wide eyed. "You cannot be…"
"I can prove it. If you were to ask the one who calls himself Legolas today who Eomer of Rohan was, he would not know. I was there…I know everything." Legolas took a step nearer to Bethalyn and was surprised when she did not step back. "Do you believe me?"
Bethalyn looked at him quizzically. Then she said: "I have a little brother…named Bethalion. Many months ago, before the Great War began, you helped him when he fell out of a tree and broke his leg. Do you remember?"
Legolas looked down. That had been a long time ago…but he remembered. "Yes…he fell out of the tall maple tree that hangs over the river. In fact, he fell into the river. I remember he was all wet."
Bethalyn's mouth fell wide open. "Valar…it is you!" She exclaimed. "How…where have you been?"
Legolas's mood darkened. "That traitor Mithrendol stole my body, but not before making it look as if this one had tried to kill me…the Prince. I suspect he is also the one who stabbed the guard named Andavar."
"Yes…I remember."
"He imprisoned me in the dungeon, but today I was able to escape." Legolas said finally.
"Where is Mithrendol now…he's in your body?"
"Yes he is. He's in the same cell he held me in—I outsmarted him. We must…we must tell the wedding guests…Aragorn and Arwen…Cefielle what has happened. I need you to assure them that I am not a madman as everyone thought before. Aragorn and Cefielle will know what I'm talking about—they both were there."
Legolas sighed. "But Cefielle will find it hard to believe, I'm afraid."
"You were to marry her…does that mean you do not wish to?" Bethalyn asked timidly.
Legolas looked up and felt the sadness in his eyes. "No. She is my friend. But I do not love her as Mithrendol led her to believe."
Bethalyn sighed and crossed her arms. "What…what must I do?"
Legolas sat down on the bed for a moment and thought. "Find Lord Aragorn, explain to him what has happened. It should not take long. I will wait for you here."
Bethalyn blinked a few times as she absorbed all she'd been told. "Alright." She turned to the door. "I will not be long."
The girl opened the door and gasped. Legolas looked up.
"Hello." Mithrendol's rage blazed behind the face of the Prince. There were five palace guards behind him, brandishing all sorts of weapons.
"No." Legolas whispered. How had he gotten out? Someone must have heard his screaming and come to help after he had left.
"Hold your fire!" Mithrendol looked straight into the surprised servanted girl's eyes. "Step aside, milady. We do not want you to get hurt."
Bethalyn blinked and stared at what looked like the Prince for a moment. Then she slammed the door in his face and locked it before anyone could do anything.
"What are you doing?" Legolas yelled. There was a thump on the door as someone kicked it, trying to bring it down.
Bethalyn backed away from the door and stared at him. "I trust you." She said. "The Prince had a certain kindness in his voice…which you possess. But…not he." She pointed to the door.
Legolas couldn't help but smile. "Thank you Bethalyn. But we have to find a way to get out of here now."
Bethalyn nodded in grim understanding as another kick was aimed at the door. Legolas heard Mithrendol's cry: "Break it down! Do it!"
Legolas smiled. He could hear the desparation straining in his own voice. Mithrendol knew he was in trouble. But Legolas would also be in trouble if he didn't find a way out. He looked to the window. This room was carved out of the bare rock, as all the palace was, but beneath it was a deep ravine—a natural construction that often helped to stop intruders attacking from the outside in their tracks. But now the blessing was working against them.
"We'll have to jump." He decided aloud.
Bethalyn whirled around and met his eyes. "What?"
"We have to jump out of the window."
Bethalyn looked at him like he was crazy. "No—Lord Legolas—that must be more than 50 feet down!"
"I know this." Legolas walked over to the window and leaned out. The summer breeze felt good—much better than the musty, stinky air he'd been trapped in for days. "But we have no choice."
He turned back to the girl, then leaned to the side and grabbed some sheets off the bed and tied one securely to the bedpost. "I'll go out first, and then you can jump and I'll catch you."
Bethalyn blinked as she stared at him. "But Lord Legolas…I'm not in danger here."
Legolas paused as he let her words sink in. It was true. Mithrendol could attack him without being questioned—but not an innocent maiden. She would be checked for wounds by the guards and then be set free once they had caught him. But no doubt Mithrendol would try to kill her in private before she could run and tell her tale.
"No." He decided. "Mithrendol will try and kill you. You must come with me."
"But if the doors are closed we'll never get back into the palace."
"The doors will not be closed!" Legolas said impatiently. It surprised him—he rarely ever became impatient. But with the door barely hanging on it's hinges and a seething enemy just beyond it, it didn't seem all that important. "It's my wedding day, and all of Mirkwood will have to come in and attend."
Bethalyn sighed after a moment and looked to the ground. "Oh."
"Come on then!" Legolas shouted.
Bethalyn frowned and stepped forward. "I'm coming."
Legolas nodded. "Good."
With that being said and done, he grasped the end of the bed sheet in his hands and swung out the window. If he was lucky, the sheet would allow him to fall ten less feet to the ground than he would have if he just jumped out the window.
Legolas grinned. He was lucky. The ground was only thirty feet away now, a survivable fall. He let go.
(((((((((((((Personal thing)))))))))))))))
Sorry, it's such a dumb place to end. But this chapter was going on and on and on…it needed to end somewhere, and I'm still trying to figure out how the hell I'm gonna end this story. Oh, and sorry for the late update. I've had zip time to do anything. Hope the next chapter will come sooner! Thanks you guys! Please review!