Chapter 2
Estel woke the next morning to the sound of a door swinging open and slamming against a wall. Sitting up he saw Legolas also doing the same. Glancing at the doorway, he saw the imposing form of King Thranduil.
"Good morning, Adar" Legolas greeted him nervously, stealing a glance at Estel
"So," began the king "How did you get shot yesterday?"
"In battle"
"Tirinvo tells a different story, he says you told the orcs your identity. Legolas have you no sense" Thranduil almost yelled, infuriated
"I knew what I was doing!" Legolas protested
Thranduil ran his hands through his hair "But it could have gone wrong! Legolas, you could have been taken to Dol Guldur! Your actions were not only stupid they were selfish! You did not think of what would happen if you were to be caught! They would have demanded me to hand over the kingdom for your life. You are the Prince, Legolas. You cannot act so rashly!"
Legolas stood, "Adar, I knew what I was doing. I was letting the other warriors escape."
The elf king shook his head "Legolas, you put your own life and the kingdom in danger. Didn't you think you plan could have gone wrong?"
Legolas glared back at his Father "Adar…"
"I don't want to hear it Legolas." Snapped Thranduil angrily, sweeping out of the room "I have business to attend to" the king stalked away slamming the door behind him
"I suppose I acted rashly" admitted Legolas, grinning at Estel sheepishly.
Estel grinned back at his friend. "That is very unlike you!" he quipped, quickly dodging the cushion aimed at his head. Snatching it from the floor he threw it back at the Elf Prince.
Legolas dodged it a grin on his face "Please, Estel. You should learn to act your age!" he protested
Estel groaned "Now you sound like your Father when he's reprimanding you!" he laughed aloud.
Legolas shot him a glare "Ai, he worries far too much!"
"Surely that is a good thing?" Estel asked "After all, he has reason to worry". He glanced at the look on Legolas' face.
The elf looked back at him, a frown on his face, he wandered to the balcony, gazing out across the gardens, "He's right, I was stupid. My plan could have gone wrong, and it would have been my fault." The prince let out a sigh "I don't want to consider the consequences…" the mortal stepped beside him, and glanced at his close friend. He marvelled at how different they looked, the elf, tall, golden haired and lithe, with sparkling silver eyes, and he, a mortal, dark hair and blue eyes. They stood together, one dark one light, one an archer, the other a swordsman, to the untrained eye, they looked of similar ages, but the mortal knew the elf prince was millennia older than he could ever hope to be. He reached up and placed a hand on his friends shoulder, Legolas looked across at him and smiled, Estel smiled back at his friend; maybe we were fated to be friends.
"Maybe I should speak with him" Legolas said, breaking away and heading to the door
"Do you want me to come?"
Legolas shook his head "I will return soon" he said leaving the mortal and heading towards his Fathers study. On reaching the door, he knocked sharply "Adar?" he called. When there was no answer, he knocked again "Adar, I'm sorry, I didn't think"
Still no answer
Legolas sighed and pushed open the door, the door swung open, knocking a pile of his Father's old journals over, they scattered across the floor. Legolas groaned and reached to pile them up. As he reached for he last one, which lay open, an entry caught his eyes. Knowing he shouldn't he scanned his eyes across the page, reading about occurrences with trade and other statistics, but it was the passage at the bottom that made his blood run cold
It is a disaster; my lady wife is expecting a child. I do not know what happened. She informed me this morning and I was not pleased. Most Fathers are pleased when hearing news. But I, I am not.
We did not want children,
Legolas read no more, the book fell from his hand. Father did not want me? He never wanted a child the realisation felt like somebody had stabbed him through the heart, but he has always treated me with love, so did Mother…but neither wanted me?
Legolas staggered backwards out of the room, tears clouding his vision. Maybe things changed? He tried to console himself, but it did not work. His heart was in too much pain. He staggered back into his own study, and sank into one of the arm chairs, not noticing when Estel came up behind him
"Legolas?"
The elf Prince did not answer, he just continued to sit staring at the flickering flames in the fire, his eyes misted by tears, he did not flinch when Estel laid a hand on his arm
"Legolas, what is wrong?"
Legolas met his gaze and shook his head, wiping his eyes "It's nothing" he said, clearly distressed. "I want to get out of here, are you ready for another adventure?"
Estel nodded, knowing the elf Prince would speak when he was ready. However he was doubtful that the Prince should leave in such a state
The elf stood and walked towards the balcony when a voice removed him from his daze, he turned to face his Father
"You are not leaving this Palace, in that state" the king ordered
"I am"
The king's frown deepened, he was still annoyed at his son from earlier, and did not want another argument with his son, especially not today. Not when his heart was aching for reasons Legolas could not understand. "You will stay here" he commanded
Legolas glared at his Father, "I am not a servant, or a commander in your army that you can order about. I am your son! I intend to leave today, and I will"
Thranduil's fury deepened, Legolas could see his eyes glinting furiously, and his face turning slowly red with surpassed anger, "Do not dare be so obstinate boy! You will not leave to go gallivanting around!"
"Why not? I only intend to get myself taken to Dol Guldur" Legolas said sarcastically
This simple phrase infuriated Thranduil all the more, "Fine!" he yelled "Go and get yourself killed, Mirkwood does not need a Prince, and I certainly do not need a son" the words were born from fury and bitterness, the king had not meant them, and at any other time Legolas' would have seen this, but after seeing the diary, the Prince was in turmoil. At hearing these words, he ran through the adjoining door into his own chamber, not stopping to see the horrified look on his Father's face
Almost as he said those words, Thranduil had wished to stop himself, but he could not, before he knew it has son had run from him, the king tried to follow him, but was stopped by Estel, "I did not mean that…" he whispered, horrified
The mortal shook his head "Leave him, let me speak with him" the mortal had known the king had not meant those words; he also knew Legolas would not wish to see his Father immediately. "I swear, I'll calm him down" the king nodded weakly, and moved from the room. Estel watched him go, before turning and rapping on Legolas' door "Legolas?" he called "It is me, Estel" a mumble that sounded like 'is he still there' slipped back to his ears, the mortal replied truthfully, and the door opened. Estel took one glance at the prince's tear streaked face and pulled his friend into an embrace "he didn't mean it, mellon-nin" he whispered.
Legolas shook his head and pulled away "He didn't want me…he's never wanted me" his fathers words echoed in his mind, and he could see the diary passage once more swimming in front of his eyes, Estel noticed then that the Prince had thrown supplies into a pack and had buckled his weapons to his back.
"Where are…" he began
"I don't know." He whispered, "but I cannot remain here…" his voice drifted off. Estel nodded "Wait, I am coming with you" he told his friend. The mortal knew he could not allow Legolas to leave alone. The Prince was not thinking straight, and would be killed.
Further down the corridor, Thranduil wearily pushed his study door open, and closed it, leaning against it with a sigh. Glancing down, he saw the journal on the floor and picked it up, meaning to place it on the pile, but then, he realised what the entry the page lay open on was "Valar…no…" he whispered as he hurriedly read through it "He must have seen this" the king sank to the floor, unable to believe what had happened, unable to believe what he had said. His head fell forward into his outstretched palms, and he felt them grow wet with tears. That was where he remained for many an hour.
Much later he looked up and outside his window, all was dark. Climbing to his feet, he glanced around, all was quiet. He wondered whether Legolas was asleep, or whether, he too was wide awake. Shaking his head, he left his study, in search of his son so he could beg forgiveness from his only child.
He walked down the darkened corridor, towards his son's room and pushed open the door.
Unsurprisingly his son was not there, Thranduil walked to the open balcony doors and leant against the rail. I should not be so surprised. I should have guessed he would have left…
The king turned and returned, closing the doors behind him. It was then he saw the note pinned to the wardrobe door, reaching over he took it and scanned it
My Lord
Do not expect to see me grace your halls again, I have left Mirkwood and do not expect to return.
Legolas
Its briefness pained Thranduil, as did the declaration his son would not return. But what hurt him more was that the letter did not begin with the familiar Adar, instead the prince had addressed him as any other elf would. Thranduil sank down onto his son's bed, feeling guiltier than he ever had. He had driven his own son away from him, and now he did not know if he would be able to repair their bond, Or if he would ever have chance to…
TBC…