I own Notilan, Corriduil and Danuinel, as well as the plot for this story. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and also to those who read this story without reviewing. Enjoy the second-last chapter!
Chapter 25The company woke early that morning. The Sun was not even fully up before all the companions had begun making breakfast. The sky was clouded slightly, though not thickly enough to shield the earth from the determined Sun.
None of the friends spoke much. Everyone's mind lingered on the events still to take place later in the day. Elrond sat beside the fire with his sons and their friends, his eyes stayed upon the fire, contemplating.
Elladan and Elrohir had tried playing silly games to lighten the mood, but after a while even the notorious Rivendell twins had resorted to silence. Notilan sat quietly sharpening his arrows, thinking. Danuinel, normally full of life and a certain rival to the twins, remained silent and still, his eyes lingering on the blonde prince.
Estel sat on the other side of the fire from his father, slowly moving the bread in the frying pan around from side to side. He laid his chin on one hand and stared into the fire, not really seeing it.
Legolas, very quiet this morning, sat against the trunk of a nearby tree. He did not wish to sit with the others, plus the fact that the pain had returned and he did not feel that moving would help anything. The prince stared at the ground, playing with a pinecone. The archer's mind was full of thoughts. When would he finally begin to heal? When would the pain dissipate? When would they reach Mirkwood? What after that? What would Corriduil say when they arrived?
The answers to the questions all lay in Mirkwood. The one place that Legolas was desperate to get to and desperate to stay away from. It held his future, but it also held memories that he did not wish to be resurfaced.
Before long, breakfast was finished, the prince having eaten nothing. A hand appeared in front of Legolas' face, and he looked up to see Estel standing above him.
"It is time." Estel said. The time to leave the camp had come too soon, and yet not soon enough.
MirkwoodThe coach rumbled unbearably as it hit the cobblestones in the courtyard of the royal Palace. The prince gasped, more than once, and held his chest. Elrond ordered the carriage to a halt and he took Legolas outside.
"I think it would be better for us to walk. Estel can take care of the coach." The Elven Lord told the archer, who nodded in turn. "Do you need something for the pain before we go in?"
"Nay, I can manage this." Legolas said, determinedly. Elrond held out an arm towards the prince, and Legolas took it, although somewhat hesitantly. He found that he could lean slightly on the older Elf, and the pain subsided a bit.
Estel stopped the coach beside the stables and returned to his friend and father. The companions were all together now, and Legolas took a deep breath before leading the way into the Palace.
The Ranger had visited Mirkwood many times before, but never had it seemed this … evil. There was something about the air, the atmosphere, everything, that seemed to leak wickedness. It almost seemed to be a solid feeling and Estel shivered.
"We are all with you, mellon-nin. You are not alone in this." Estel said, placing a hand on Legolas' shoulder when the Elf stopped outside the Throne Room. The Elf smiled, and turned the door handle.
Stepping inside, a rush of memories and emotions hit the prince, and he gasped slightly. Elrond pushed him forward a bit more, and everything returned to normal. Legolas approached the Throne, where the hateful Corriduil sat, looking very smug.
I will wipe that smirk from his face before this day is done. Legolas thought. The Advisor had his head turned to the side, reading something held by another Elf. Corriduil nodded and waved the servant away with a small movement of his hand. This tiny action made the anger in the prince flare. There was no respect.
"You will never make a good King dismissing Elves like that. Oh, I'm sorry, my mistake, you will never make a good King at all." Legolas announced. Corriduil's head turned sharply and he stood quickly. The Advisor's eyes widened at the sight of the prince standing before him.
"You are supposed to be dead." Corriduil exclaimed.
"Yes, I was never very good at that bit." Legolas said, looking down in mock admission. The other Elves in the court had stopped whatever they were doing in hearing the prince's voice once more.
A loud snap filled the air as the Advisor backhanded the prince, throwing the young Elf's head to the side. Legolas was not going to stand for any more abuse, and flew forward before anyone could stop him. His hands tightened around Corriduil's neck as he squeezed the air from the Advisor's throat.
"I have come back, to reclaim what is rightly mine. My father's throne." Legolas said down to the Elf squirming below him. Corriduil extracted a small knife from his boot and jammed it into the prince's arm before the archer could dodge. The Elf cried out, and his grip on Corriduil faltered, providing the Advisor with the opportunity he needed.
Hands grabbed the prince from behind and he was dragged upright, away from the angry Elf. Estel pulled his friend off the writhing Elf and held him still.
"Guards! Arrest this Elf, he has attacked the King of Mirkwood!" Corriduil shouted. The two guards, stationed at the doorway to the Throne Room rushed forward and grabbed Corriduil by the upper arms. He was marched away, screaming and thrashing. "No, not me! I am the King, arrest him!"
"My lord, please, let me attend your wound." A healer asked, bowing his head slightly. Legolas looked around a bit before releasing his arm and allowing the Elf to clean and bandage it.
"Come, Legolas, sit down before you fall." Elrond helped the Elf to the floor, fearing that any more emotion from the archer might bring on a seizure.
TBCReplies:
Nomad6: Lol, it was no shorter than the other chapters! Hope everything went well in the race, and I'm very glad it has stopped raining. It rained most of the day here, which wasn't very nice. I quite like rain, but it can be very restricting. Thanks again for reviewing!
HarryEstel: I would hate that too. But since this is the second last chapter, what's going to be in the last one? Thanks for reviewing!
BitterLee: Well, now I know that when you don't review, you're at work. Easy enough. Thanks for that. And yes, his name is Corriduil and he's here! Thanks for the review!
Wren Birgitte: I wrote fast, and the update is here! Enjoy, and please note the disclaimer!
ashlyns: Ok, here is the update, the second last in this story. So enjoy while you can! I thought that Legolas seeing his dad in the trees might be a cool idea, so I added it to the chapter. Thanks again for reviewing!
Moonyasha: Leggy and company send their thanks for the cake. Elrond says thanks because it stops him worrying about the prince not eating for a while. Your guys are doing fine and have been eating their share of the cake too. I will be keeping them for a little while if you don't mind, there were signs of Orcs nearby. Thanks again for reviewing!