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Chapter II: The New Prisoner

Legolas laughed silently as Aragorn stumbled out of Thranduil's private study, looking as though he had narrowly escaped a spider's poisoned net. The Man trudged off in the direction of his chamber, not noticing the Elf who stood not an arm's length away.  Legolas cast an amused glance after him before slipping into the Elven-king's study.

"You sent for me, my lord?"

 Thranduil had been staring down at his desk absently and started at the unexpected sound.

"Be seated, my son," he said. Legolas obeyed, wondering at the grave look on his father's face. Thranduil remained oddly silent for some time, his long white fingers playing with a jewel-handled knife that lay on his desk.

Finally he spoke.

"Did Mithrandir speak to the creature?" he asked. The Istar had arrived very shortly before Aragorn did, and had expressed a desire to talk with Mirkwood's new prisoner. 

"Yes," said Legolas. "He had long speech with the poor wretch, though I do not know if he learned aught. Sméagol was defiant, and unwilling to speak with him."

"Sméagol? Is that its name? Mithrandir called it Gollum."

"Sméagol was his true name," said Legolas. "Gollum is the name he is called now, because of the sound he makes with his throat. But he prefers Sméagol, I think." He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I cannot think why he should be such a threat, or indeed what use Sauron would have of him. He seems so wretched, so miserable."

"So he seemed to me," said Thranduil. "But…" The Elven-king glanced at the door to make sure it was shut before continuing. "But he is dangerous, or so Mithrandir said. I insisted on hearing at least part of the story before agreeing to hold Gollum here, although I would be surprised indeed if Mithrandir has not still kept something back." Legolas smiled; the wizard's close-mouthed nature had greatly annoyed Thranduil in the past. "It sounded fantastic to my own ears, but Gollum…" Thranduil lowered his voice to a near-whisper, and abruptly changed the tongue in which he spoke to pure Sindarin. "Gollum was once in possession of Sauron's One Ring."

The younger Elf's eyes widened.

"Is Mithrandir sure of this?" he asked, his voice hushed.

"As sure as I have ever seen him of anything. And that, knowing Mithrandir as I do, is saying quite a lot," said Thranduil dryly.

Legolas chuckled.

"Yet Mithrandir agreed that we should be kind to him, and perhaps take him out of his dark prison once in a while," he said.

"Yes, of course," said Thranduil. "I would not torment the poor creature. But you must guard him well, Legolas. I called you in here to tell you that. This task is more important to the realm than it seems, perhaps even more important than Mithrandir has hinted to me."

Legolas frowned.

"I will make sure his guards are especially reliable, although I do not think we should place the most skilled warriors in such a role," he said. Legolas had spent many years fighting on the realm's borders. He had only recently returned to Mirkwood's stronghold to captain the Home Guard, as many of the border captains had been called home to deal with increased threats to the realm's previously safe center. "But it seems…forgive me, my lord," Legolas said, uncertain of whether to speak his mind or keep silent.

Thranduil's brow furrowed and he looked curiously at his son.

"If you have a question, feel free to voice it."

Legolas drew in a deep breath before speaking. 

"Why is this so important to the realm? We have often helped others in their need, it is true, but you spoke of this as being important to our realm, not an act of friendship towards others. And it seems that no great need is served by our holding this prisoner. If Sméagol once held that which you spoke of, he does not hold it any longer. I suppose if Sméagol escaped, and returned to Sauron, there could be dire results. But that seems quite unlikely, as he is such a useless thing. And…forgive me, but you are not usually so willing to remove warriors from the defense of the realm to serve Mithrandir's purposes." The Elf paused, searching his father's face for an answer. "And yet you speak of the holding of this prisoner as if it were necessary for the safety of the Wood."

Thranduil smiled.

"You speak frankly, my son," he said.

Legolas colored slightly and lowered his eyes.

"I beg your pardon if my words were disrespectful, my lord," he began, but Thranduil waved a hand and laughed softly.

"Nay, you were right to speak. And you are right when you say that this is an unusual situation. It is true that I have no wish to be Mithrandir's tool, or anyone else's," said the Elven-king, a stern and proud look coming onto his face. "And I will never wish to be so. But from what Mithrandir said, and from what we can observe here in our realm, I sense that times are changing." Thranduil sighed and fingered the knife on his desk again. "The power of Dol Guldur grows, and the threat of Sauron with it. Mithrandir knows much of this, as does Elrond. If they learn aught of this that I cannot learn myself, I wish to know of it. I need to know of it, for the defense of the Wood. And I fear involvement with them may be the price of knowledge."

Understanding and some indignation appeared on Legolas's face.

"Yet I am sure they would tell you if they knew aught that concerned the Wood, my lord, even were you not involved in their affairs," he protested.

"I cannot take that risk," said the Elven-king. "Aside from that, they may not realize that what they learn concerns the Wood, if it does. Or they may simply forget to involve me in their plans, not through malice but through mere habit, as I have not traditionally taken council with them. I have not needed to in the past," Thranduil said heavily. "But now a new menace threatens all of Ennor, and trouble in Imladris or Lorien or the kingdoms of Men may soon become a danger in our realm. I would not be left out of the plans of Elrond and Mithrandir or even my Lorien kinsman and his wife, not if there is information to be gained from them that may help my people."

"I see," said Legolas. "The prisoner shall be guarded well, naturally, though it is just as well that Mithrandir wishes us to be kind. I do not think any of our guards would have the heart to be too harsh with Sméagol."

"And it is well that you are not one of the guards, for you would certainly melt at the first plea from the wretch," Thranduil said with a smile. Legolas was often teased for his soft and over-gentle nature, extremely strange in a warrior of the besieged realm; what kept the teasing affectionate rather than contemptuous was his obvious skill. He grinned ruefully at his father's remark. "You may go now, if you wish, for I know you must be weary," said Thranduil. Legolas rose, bowed and stepped lightly out of the Elven-king's study. 

He wandered down the gem-studded corridors until he reached one of the royal bathing rooms, a private one where the heat was as thick and soft as moss and the steam rose from the pool to caress the stone walls and ceiling. Sighing with a comfortable sleepiness, he pulled off his clothes, undid the braids in his hair and slid into the water's warm embrace. He examined the bruises Bardil had left on his arm during their practice session; they were lasting an unusually long time, though that was unsurprising considering Bardil's strength.

"How did you get those marks?" said a voice that was low, mocking and distinctly feminine.

Legolas groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Where are you hiding now, Nimwen? And have you nothing better to do than spying on helpless neri?"

"Better, perhaps, but not nearly so amusing." Nimwen appeared from behind a pillar.

"This is supposed to be a private bathing room," he informed the elleth sternly. 

"Yes. Your private bathing room. Therefore, if one wished to surprise you, one would only have to hide here and wait, is that not right?"

Legolas abandoned his pretense at severity and flicked water at Nimwen. She dodged the droplets, but Legolas lunged at her. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the pool, clothes and all, despite her mock-squeals.

Once in the water, Nimwen pretended to look Legolas up and down appraisingly.

"You are growing soft, my friend," she said, pursing her lips and shaking her head.

"Indeed?" asked Legolas, splashing at her once more. "I think you should look to yourself, Nimwen. We shall never get you married off." The two Elves had been together often as children, as Nimwen was a distant cousin of the house of Oropher, and such teasing was commonplace for them. There had been some gossip of a match between them long ago. Legolas and Nimwen, however, had both threatened to flee the realm and go to live in Mordor if anyone dared speak of such an idea ever again.

She grinned back at him and swept a wave of water over him with one swift stroke of her hand. They gave up the water fight soon, collapsing against the walls of the pool.

"How was your day?" asked Nimwen, her voice slow and lazy.

"Ordinary," said Legolas. "It is good to be back at home, though. I have not yet grown accustomed to it."

Nimwen smiled at him.

"It is pleasant to have you here once more," she said. He smiled back at her, and then her face grew teasing again. "I suffered while you were away, for there is nobody to torment while you are gone."

"Can you not torment Nendur?" asked Legolas, referring to Nimwen's lover.

"Oh, I do," she grinned, "but he is too easy to tease. It is like fighting with a rabbit. I have not the heart for it."

"I am glad I serve a purpose, then," said Legolas wryly. They splashed around for a while longer.

"Well, I must be off," said Nimwen finally, rising from the pool. "But before I go…" And with startling speed she snatched Legolas's clothes and ran, leaving a trail of mocking laughter behind her. Legolas jumped from the pool and darted after her. He managed to tear his leggings from her grasp, but he could not get the tunic without causing her pain, and she wriggled out of his grip and out the door where he could not follow unclothed. 

"I shall be revenged for this, you know," he said smoothly. Nimwen saw his wicked expression and fled.

Shaking his head, Legolas shut the door and pulled on his leggings. Through sheer luck, he reached his chambers without anyone seeing him wandering around half-clothed like a lunatic. Tomorrow he would have to choose guards for the new prisoner, and decide exactly what comforts Sméagol would be allowed. And in the back of his mind the conversation with his father still worried at him. But he could think of that later. For now, he would sleep.

TBC

A/N: Nimwen is Legolas's PLATONIC friend and is involved with another Elf. There will be no Legomancing here. Nimwen herself won't be involved in the real storyline at all. They're a bit flirty, but Legolas is allowed to flirt so long as it's harmless, isn't he? 

Neri- elf-men