Between the Lines
By Penpunk
Disclaimer: Some of it is mine…most belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.
Chapter 10: Aelin-Brethil
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As Kat and Legolas rode on, they came to the Gap of Rohan, where trees were replaced by open plains. Open land meant faster travel and on the eighth day of their journey, they had reached the outlying lands of Aelin-Brethil.
Aelin-Brethil rested inside Fangorn forest. It was named for the lake the elf city was built beside, a small body of water surrounded by ancient silver birches. In its prime, Aelin-Brethil was one of the great elf cities, rivaling Lorien and Rivendell for their beauty, but in recent years, a shadow started to lie over the land, causing the once renowned beauty of the city to fade.
Legolas and Kat entered the forest of Fangorn midday. Once they were under the canopy of the trees, the sun was almost blotted out by the dense forest. The horses walked through the woods carefully, but the forest made them slightly uneasy. Finally, a path opened up to lead them to the city, freeing them from dodging the ancient trees of the forest.
"How long is it from here?" asked Legolas as they both started to ride down the path.
Kat searched the other for an answer but came up empty.
"I'm not sure," she replied. Legolas looked at her for a moment before looking ahead down the path. Even though it seemed impossible, the forest got darker, as if the already blotted sun had been covered again.
Kat looked over at Legolas as the small amount of light started to fade even more. His face was slightly scrunched and he looked troubled.
"Is something the matter?" asked Kat. Legolas looked around the trees before answering.
"The air is so close," he replied. "The air seems choked. The trees are lifeless and those that still feel are angry. Can you not feel the anger in the air?"
Kat looked blankly at Legolas. She could feel nothing from the trees themselves. The air was close but she did not possess the ability to sense the feelings of the living things around her. That was one Elven trait she lacked.
"Although, you do live here," said Legolas. "Of course you wouldn't feel anything out of the ordinary."
Legolas' words nudged Elenril's memory bank. Kat was given a few images of Elenril's home. It was bright. There were many buildings built in and around the trees. A lake glistened as the sun hit its waters, reflecting off the silver hues of the structures around it. Many fair-headed elves roamed around the water, singing merrily and talking with each other.
As the image faded, Kat felt a cool breeze blow through the trees. Loud creaks and low hums followed as the dark and almost dead looking trees moved with the wind. She got a distinct feeling things were not as they should be.
"No," she said after a while. "Things are different here. Something is not right."
Legolas looked over at her but said nothing as both rounded a bend. The forest opened up slightly, but the darkness remained.
"I am going to ride ahead a little," said Legolas as he stopped his horse. "I may just be overacting, but I do not want us to be trapped like we were in Mirkwood. I will ride back and get you in a moment. Stay here and be on your guard."
Kat nodded as Legolas left. She gripped hard to her bow, not sure what to expect from this forest. She nudged the other for answers, but lately, the lexicon she had been provided was slowly fading as she became more integrated with this new world. Some facts came as if they had been in her memory bank for years. Others completely baffled her. Elenril's emotional memories were almost completely absent. How she was supposed to pull off meeting her "family" was completely beyond her. She felt like turning her horse around right then and escaping,
A few minutes passed and Legolas still had not returned. She began to wonder if he had abandoned her. A week ago, that would have seemed plausible, but they had gotten along great since his injury, if getting along meant they had more pleasant conversations than arguments.
Sitha began to pull at her reigns as a clump of grass caught her attention. Kat let go and let her mount feed as she waited for her blonde escort's return. He said he would only be a few moments. Kat grew worried. A few minutes had passed multiple times and still he had not returned.
Kat pulled up on Sitha's reigns and urged her down the road. If something had happened to Legolas, she would find out as she continued toward Elenril's home. The road, however, only got darker as she went down it. Sitha didn't like it at all, and Kat was beginning to second guess her decision to bypass waiting for Legolas.
When she couldn't imagine another ounce of darkness, Kat felt the air lighten slightly. A small ray of sun fought through the canopy of the trees. Beyond it was a gate.
"Must be the entrance," said Kat aloud. A bad idea, she thought to herself. As she spoke, she was grabbed from the side and pulled off her horse. A pair of strong arms pinned her to the ground. She covered her face as the single ray of light began to blind her.
"We've been busy today," said a voice behind her. She could hear his footsteps as he walked up to her. The one holding her down laughed a little. Kat could hear the rustle of clothing as the first one bend next to her. He grabbed her hands and pulled them off her face. Kat heard a loud gasp.
"Princess! I apologize. We did not realize it was you!"
Kat got a good look at her attackers. They were both elves, each with black hair and matching eyes. There clothing was black as well, giving them a rather spooky appearance. Only their fear-ridden voices made them seem less intimidating. The one who had spoken was the one who had pulled her hands away. The other, who had her pinned down, looked as if he had just seen death before him. He took his hands away from her quickly, as if they had been burned.
The shock of the ambush kept her from immediately defending herself, but as she regained her senses, she looked up at the elves with as much venom as she could muster.
"Of course you didn't," she hissed, trying to conjure as much of Elenril as possible. "A thought process like that is too complicated for the both of you combined."
Kat stood up and brushed herself off.
"Yes your Highness, yes it is. Please, forgive us. It was a mistake," said the elf who had pinned her.
"What are you names?" asked Kat of the elf who had just spoken.
"I am Golhir and this is Tondring."
"Please do not report us to the Queen. We will do whatever you ask of us…please," said the one called Tondring.
Kat could see the fear in both elves' eyes. Being reported to Elenril's mother seemed to be a very bad thing.
"You can begin by telling me what happened to my companion," said Kat, trying to sound as royal as possible. She just thought back to her parent's wealthy friends and tried to ooze arrogance as she spoke.
"Your companion?" both elves looked perplexed.
"Yes, Prince Legolas. He was escorting me from Mirkwood."
"Prince Legolas?" they said in unison. "The Silvan elf?"
Kat nodded.
"He was apprehended," said Tondring. "Golhir caught him snooping around the gate. He was taken by another to the Queen."
"What? What for?"
"Your Highness," said Golhir, "I am certain you are familiar with the rules of our city."
"I mean, you did write some of them yourself," said Tondring.
"Refresh me," said Kat.
"He is not of our people," said Tondring. "It is illegal for anyone but our people to set foot in Aelin-Brethil."
"But he was escorting me," said Kat.
"If so, he would have left you at the gate, your Highness."
"Take me to him," demanded Kat.
Both Elves looked at each other with uneasiness.
"This instant!"
Both elves jumped and bowed to her immediately before helping her remount her horse.
Golhir stayed at the gate while Tondring escorted her. It was a short ride from the gate to the outskirts of the city. She could see the edge of the lake through the trees, but it was nothing like the memory the other had given her. The trees around it looked no different than the dead and gloomy trees that filled the rest of the forest. The sun did not shine in this place. The buildings had lost their beauty and now looked old and dilapidated.
Soon they were in the heart of the town. The people were coming out of their houses to see that their princess had returned. They looked dark and dreary for being elves and showed little emotion on their stony faces.
Tondring stopped Kat's horse and helped her dismount. He bowed and led her horse off to one of the stables near by. Kat stood in the center of her "home," but had no idea where she was. All around her were gray buildings, each looking into an oval like courtyard. In the center was a great tree, barren of leaves and looking quite ominous as it shadowed Kat. She looked around, trying to get some idea to where Legolas would be. She had to find him.
"Is that my daughter standing there?"
Kat turned around as a silky feminine voice spoke from behind her. A female elf, with long black hair and deep green eyes stood behind her. She was dressed in a very fine gown of black silk with silver detailing. The other immediately recognized this elf as Elenril's mother, Luinuial, queen of Aelin-Brethil.
Kat forced a smile onto her face as she faced Elenril's mother. The elf looked very much like she did, or at least like Elenril should. Luinuial brought Kat into an embrace. Kat hugged back before pulling away.
"It is so good to see you my daughter. It has been too long since we have seen each other," said Luinuial. "Your brother told me of your unfortunate accident. I assume you are well?"
Kat nodded.
"That is good," said the Queen. "Let's hope that your eyes change back soon. They look so much like eyes of a Silvan. Dreadful."
"Where is Prince Legolas?" asked Kat abruptly.
"Who?"
"The elf who escorted me here," said Kat.
"The Silvan elf you mean? The one that was caught at the gate?"
"Yes."
"He is being held in the palace until we decide what to do with him," said Luinuial nonchalantly. She linked arms with Kat and started to walk.
"What do you mean?" said Kat, starting to sound a little angry. She was getting the distinct feeling that Elenril took greatly after her mother.
"You know our rules Elenril," said Luinuial. "He is not one of our people. He is not allowed here."
"But he escorted me here," said Kat. "Shouldn't we let him go home?"
Kat was surprised when Luinuial started to laugh.
"What?" asked Kat. She was getting a little frustrated.
"Oh dear, are you sure you are alright?" asked Luinuial as she stopped walking. "You know we can't just let him go. You should know by now how things work."
"But he's a prince, Mother," said Kat. "His father won't stand for it."
"All the better my dear," said the Queen. "Well get more from Thranduil when he comes to bail out his son."
"Bail him out?"
"Of course dear. And the greater the charges we bring against him, the more we can ask for. I was thinking attempted Kinslaying. We can get Thranduil to give us as much as we want with charges like that."
"You're going to falsely accuse him of a crime to get goods from his father?"
"Stop being naïve Elenril. That is how we have always done things around here."
"But it's wrong!"
Luinuial looked intently at Kat. Her eyes were full of scrutiny.
"Something is different about you. I don't know what it is but I don't like it."
Kat decided that her care for Legolas brought her out of character. Luinuial stared at her for a moment more before walking once again.
"I knew it was a bad idea to let you leave," said the Queen. "Letting you spend time with elves from Rivendell. What was I thinking?"
"It's good to be home," said Kat through her teeth. If Elenril was anything like Luinuial, then Kat did not blame everyone for hating her.
"Come Elenril, you must be tired. You can go rest in your room and I'll send some food up for you."
"Thank you, that sounds nice," said Kat.
"Maybe I can send something else up for you as well," said Luinuial with a sly smile and a wink.
Kat smiled back but had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
"Good girl," said Luinuial. She led Kat up a pair of steps and to a door. "I'll talk to you later, my darling."
Luinuial walked back down the steps and into another building. Kat looked up at the building she was left next.
"Great, now where do I go?" she said as she walked into the doors. The entrance hall of what she guessed to be the palace was vast but empty and bleak, much different from the ones in Rivendell and Mirkwood. It looked as if it was once beautiful, but much of Aelin-Brethil seemed the same way. The room was a large oval with a giant silver staircase in the middle. There were several hallways branching out but Kat decided to take the stairs.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she realized that if this was the palace, then Legolas was being held something within. She turned around and bounded down the stairs. She took a left and followed down one of the hallways, hoping she would either find Legolas or someone who could tell her where he was. After a few minutes of browsing around, she came across a room with a few elves.
"Excuse me," said Kat as she poked her head in. The elves, which looked to be working on something involving paperwork, looked up from their work and upon realizing who it was, jumped up and bowed low to Kat.
"Do any of you know where the Silvan elf is being held?"
The elves looked at each other and back at her. The shook their heads and each muttered apologies for not knowing.
"Do you know who would know?" asked Kat.
"A guard would know your Highness," answered one elf.
Kat nodded to them all before leaving and traveling back down the hall. She decided to try a different corridor. She walked down several before finding one that led her to a single door at the end. She opened it cautiously and looked inside. It ended up being a stairwell.
"Well, basements are popular places for storing prisoners," said Kat to herself as she walked down the stairs. Sure enough, it led to a small room. In the room sat a dark elf, sitting beside a heavy wooden door with a barred window.
The elf looked up as Kat entered and stood quickly.
"Your Highness, you have returned! What are you doing down here?"
"Are you holding a Silvan elf in that cell?" asked Kat as she walked toward him.
"Yes, he was caught earlier today," replied the elf. Kat looked in the barred window and could see Legolas' huddled figure in the corner of the small cell.
"I would like to speak with him," said Kat in an authoritative tone.
"Your Highness? Are you sure that is wise?"
"Are you questioning my authority?" asked Kat harshly. The guard shook his head quickly and avoided her gaze. "Good. Now I would like you to let me into the cell. Leave your keys and keep guard at the door at the top of the stairs. I wish to have a private conversation with the elf. Is that understood?"
The guard nodded quickly as he unlocked the cell. He handed Kat the keys and left up the stairs. Kat waited until she heard the door shut above before running into the cell.
"Legolas?" said Kat as she ran and dropped to his side. "Are you alright?"
Legolas looked up at her but did not answer. He simply stared at her.
"Legolas?"
"You set me up," said Legolas quietly but with much venom.
"No Legolas. I didn't know. I'm so sorry this happened," said Kat.
"You knew I would be taken captive. You know I am Silvan and that I'm not allowed here."
"No Legolas. Please, you have to believe me."
"Your word means nothing to me, Elenril," hissed Legolas. "Now stop wasting both our time and leave me."
"No."
Legolas looked at her and shook his head before dropping it on his knees.
"Just go Elenril."
"I'm not leaving until you believe me."
Legolas brought his head back up to say something but stopped.
"I am going to do all I can to get you out of here, I promise."
"My father won't stand for this, you know," said Legolas after a few moments of silence. "He'll send someone for me; declare war on Aelin-Brethil if necessary."
"My mother is sending for your father," said Kat sadly. "She is saying that you attempted a Kinslaying. She is going to try and get your father to buy your freedom Legolas."
"Kinslaying? I was the one who was ambushed. I didn't lay a hand on anyone!" cried Legolas, the shock of the charges making him angry.
"I know, Legolas. I know you didn't do anything," said Kat as she laid a hand on his arm. "I will help you escape. We could escape right now if you want. I have the keys to the cell."
"Where is the guard?"
"At the top of the stairs," replied Kat. "I can knock him out and you can make a run for it."
Legolas thought about it for a moment before shaking his head.
"No, then the charges of attempted Kinslaying would be real. Plus, the town seemed to be full of people and then there will be guards at the gate on the way out. It's too risky."
Kat realized he was right and nodded.
"I'll think of something Legolas. I will get you out of here."
Legolas eyed her for a moment, unable to decide if she was trustworthy.
"You can trust me. I'll speak with my mother and see what I can do. I'll at least try and get you some better accommodations."
Legolas looked at her for a moment before smiling slightly.
"That would be great."
"So does this mean I am forgiven?" asked Kat.
Legolas nodded slightly and smiled.
"I am so sorry this happened Legolas. I will do everything I can to get you out," said Kat as she stood up. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"Some water would be nice."
"Are you hungry?"
Legolas shook his head as he stood up as well.
"I'll get some water sent to you right away," said Kat. She looked into Legolas' eyes and saw how troubled he was. She had to get him out of here soon. "Goodnight."
Kat looked at him for a moment before doing something very bold. She faced Legolas before slowly planting a tiny kiss on his right cheek. She looked at him for a moment before turning around and exiting the cell. She locked it as she sent another apologetic look his way. Her last look at Legolas was him holding his cheek in wonder.
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