Chapter Sixteen: The Board is Set
Legolas raced back to his room, his heart pounding so hard he thought it would burst. What he'd done, what he revealed to Haldir was impulsive, fueled by fear. And yet, Legolas somehow knew his trust was well placed. Haldir would help him if the prince let him but Legolas wasn't sure if he could now.
Flinging open the door to his room, he froze as he passed the threshold, his stomach leaping with fear. Ainan stood in the middle of the room, facing the door, looking directly into his nephew's terrified eyes. The terrorized child trembled under that gaze.
"Where have you been, Legolas?"
"I-I-" Legolas stammered, not a single thought coming to his mind as he looked up into those silver-blue eyes, caught in that hypnotic gaze.
Ainan crossed the room in two strides and seized his nephew by the hair, wrenching his head back to look up into his eyes.
"You answer me, boy, when I ask you a question! Where were you?"
Legolas winced at the sharp pain that prickled through his scalp. "I-I was in the gardens, Vedhir…" It wasn't a lie exactly, but neither was it the entire truth.
Ainan stared at him for a long, torturous moment, his eyes narrowed in menace. Legolas managed to meet and hold his gazeas the older elf released his hold and stepped back.
"You are hiding something," Ainan said slowly, as though he himself were unsure.
Legolas shook his head dutifully. "Never, Vedhir. I would not lie to you."
Savagely, he felt a small bubble of triumph grow inside of him. Ainan didn't know about Haldir! He was safe… for now… and yet, as one who has managed to calm a cobra, he was wary and every muscle in his body tensed as he waited for his uncle's next move.
"What have I told you about lying, tithen (little one)? When will you learn thatyou cannot hide anything from me," Ainan growled dangerously.
Despite himself, Legolas blanched, unknowingly betraying himself to his uncle's devious mind. Ainan suddenly smiled, a wicked idea forming in his mind as he guessed the turmoil of his frightened nephew's thoughts.
"I know you spoke to someone, Legolas," he said quietly, supremely satisfied when the young elf's head jerked up, his blue eyes wide with fear. "Yes, I thought so." Ainan leaned forward, towering over the elf-child who shrank back in sudden fear, his courage gone.
"Who was it?"
When Legolas stubbornly returned no answer, an evil smile spread slowly across Ainan's narrow face and he took a step back from the prince.
"Perhaps it would quicken your tongue to know that one of your friends did not reach his home last night?"
Legolas bit his tongue to keep an outraged cry from breaking past his lips but worry and sudden anxiety spiked through him- who? Surely Rinniad and Lóthmir had both left when he had commanded…? But what if they hadn't? Legolas inwardly shook his head and looked his uncle straight in the eye.
"You lie."
Ainan laughed- genuine, amused laughter with a cruel edge as sharp as a sword blade as he turned his back on the boy for a moment and lifted something from one of the armchairs. The prince felt despair grip him as Ainan tossed the green linen cloak at him. Pinned to it, was a golden brooch- the King's seal. One worn by all those who guarded the monarch's family or the palace. Like the Captain of the Royal Guard.
Like his son.
Legolas felt something burst inside of him as he threaded his friend's cloak through his fingers and felt it drop numbly to the floor. A reckless rage overtook him. He didn't know what he was doing. The only thing he knew next was that he was grappling with his uncleHe wanted to strike him. To hurt him. As his uncle had hurt him.
It was not courage that aided him but blind fury.
But Ainan was too strong and Legolas' sudden burst of energy was quickly spent.
With a vicious cuff, Ainan struck his nephew squarely across the face with the back of his hand, causing him to topple over backwards, landing on the floor with a painful thud. Legolas looked up, tears of rage and helplessness in his eyes but his fiery anger had been washed away as though knocked from him by the blow and his terrible, paralyzing fear returned as he wiped the blood from his nose. He was in terrible trouble now; he knew by the dangerous look in his uncle's nearly black eyes.
He gathered himself to his knees and collapsed breathless and in pain, beside his uncle, horror and anguish weakening him.
"I'm sorry," he gasped brokenly, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. He tried to hold them back but that only made him sob harder. He clutched at Ainan's robes, burying his face in the soft fabric. He knew he was in deep trouble now and could only hope to perhaps placate his uncle- keep him from killing him.
"Please, Vedhir. I'm really, really sorry. Please…" he begged. He hated himself for it. He felt lower than a dog, groveling here at his uncle's feet, whimpering like a kicked puppy. His voice broke and his words shuddered into uncontrollable sobbing.
Through it all, Ainan stood silent, impassive, an indomitable statue of ice. Only his dark eyes glittered with any kind of life.
"I think I have the perfect punishment in mind for you, Legolas," he said calmly. The young elf's sobs redoubled and he shook like a leaf in a strong wind on the carpet. Ainan looked down at his nephew's tearstained facewith an icy stare… and smiled.
"The children's games we have played until now are ended, Legolas," Ainan said quietly as he took his nephew's chin in a long, pale hand. Simultaneously, he reached back to his belt and withdrew a wicked something from it.
Legolas felt himself break into a cold sweat as the snakelike thing in his uncle's hand lashed the floor. His uncle had never whipped him before.
Ainan smiled slightly as he peered down at the thin form huddled on the floor like a small, frightened animal as he twirled the whip idly between his fingers, the small braided thongs at the end dancing threateningly.
"You are no longer a child. And therefore, you will not be punished like a child. Do you know what adult betrayers of secrets receive as punishment, Legolas?" Ainan asked softly, dangerously, a wild light in his eyes. Legolas quailed under that gaze.
He knew.
The braided thong drew an anguished cry from his lips as Ainan laid into him. He did not even bother to remove the boy's tunic but allowed it to be slowly shredded under the fury of blows he rained onto the elf-child's back.
"You never, ever raise your hand against me! Ever!" He punctuated each word with a stinging cut with the lash. He suddenly seized the young elf by the hair and dragged him upright, the whip lashing around his ankles like a bloodstained snake. "I will not hesitate to end his life as easily as I could yours. Do you understand me?"
Legolas could barely nod, fear mercilessly gripping his vocal chords. Satisfied, Ainan shoved him to the floor again, the metal-tipped whip rose again and fell. This kind of pain Legolas had never felt before and it frightened him. A mad, swirling darkness momentarily obscured his eyes and his vision narrowed as he stared determinedly at the carpet beneath him trying to count, to think, to do anything to take his mind off the pain. But he could not focus.
The terrible pain wrenched him back again and again; it felt as though his very flesh were being stripped from his back and he cried out, screaming wordlessly, begging helplessly for his uncle to stop hurting him, tears pouring unchecked down his face as broken sobs ripped themselves from his lips. He tried to wriggle away from under the lash but Ainan simply followed him until he had nowhere left to crawl. He could feel the warm blood sliding down his back. He pressed his face to the cold wooden floor, shuddering and gasping, his voice hoarse, too weak to cry anymore.
At last, the prince's tired, overwhelmed body shut down and he was thrown into blessed oblivion.
It was very late now- so late as to be almost early. But still, the stars shone coldly in the black velvet sky and the sun still slept in a dark haze.
Haldir paused outside the door. He thought this was the Sindarin prince's room for Legolas and he had walked past it many a time in their routinely strolls around the palace. He knew he was probably being a fool but he wanted to make sure Legolas was all right- after he had run off, Haldir hadn't been able to talk to him and he wanted to make sure the prince didn't do anything rash
Still, he hesitated for a mere moment before he stretched out his hand for the doorknob.
Locked.
That in itself was not unusual. Royalty would keep their doors locked at night as a simple precaution although, granted, he would not have expected that here in peaceful Mirkwood. Haldir knocked and waited a moment. When there came no answer, he knocked more firmly.
Still nothing. Maybe the Mirkwood prince had gone to sleep already… He paused again, wondering if he was simply being foolish now and should save himself the embarrassment and walk away. He half-turned, thinking he would simply talk to Legolas tomorrow when he got the chance. . But there was something in the air. Something was very wrong and Haldir felt it in the marrow of his bones. He steeled himself and prayed he wasn't accidentally walking into some elf maid's chambers. Haldir drew his knife from within his belt and carefully slid it between the door and the frame. After a few endless moments, the lock clicked open and the door swung inward.
Nothing.
The room was empty. But it was certainly Legolas' room- his bow and quiver lay discarded on their sides in a corner. Some of the books were scattered from their shelves but otherwise the room was in perfect order.
But then he heard it.
Muffled sobbing. Haldir looked around and quickly spotted another door at the far side of the room. He crossed to it and discovered that this door too was locked. He broke it with no qualms now and burst into the room.
What he saw almost made his heart stop beating.
Legolas lay on an unkempt bare mattress with his face buried in a filthy pillow. But it was not that that broke the heart of the elven soldier. Long, raking red marks lacerated the poor child's back through the remnants of his slashed tunic. Some of the cuts were still bleeding freely and it was painfully obvious that he had been beaten- badly.
He crossed the room in two strides and knelt beside the bed, hesitatingly placing a hand on the young one's matted hair. Legolas flinched away but his sobs immediately silenced.
"Legolas," Haldir called softly. "It's me."
The fair elf's head snapped up and Haldir had a mere glimpse of a red, tear-stained face before Legolas threw himself on the elf, despite his wounds, sobbing brokenly into the older elf's arms. Haldir stayed still as the prince cried into his shoulder, uncertain what he could do and unwilling to look at the mutilated young back. He touched the boy's shoulder and stroked his hair soothingly, whispering soft, nonsensical sounds until the young one's sobs subsided to hiccups and sniffles.
Haldir lifted the young one in his arms easily and sat him in the armchair by the fire, wrapping him in a warm blanket. Haldir knelt next to the brave boy and grasped him by the upper arms firmly.
"I will never let this happen again. I will protect you, Legolas- I swear it," he vowed quietly and Legolas saw in his eyes that he would do anything to keep that promise.
The prince blamed himself for tonight; he should have known better than to go back to his room. But he looked at Haldir with stricken eyes; he wanted to be protected, to be cared for, to be told he was worth something so badly!
But he also knew he had already let Haldir get far too close. And he feared for his friend's life.
The firegrate was ice cold but Haldir knelt busily next to it, quickly piling it high with logs and setting it ablaze.
"You shouldn't be here," Legolas protested weakly. He knew Haldir would get into terrible trouble if Ainan found him here; but the young elf didn't want him to leave. He was so afraid of being alone right now. He didn't think he could stand it if Haldir left. But the older elf had no mind to go and told him so.
With a twinge of worry that was overridden by relief, the younger elf leaned back in his chair, flinching slightly. He watched as Haldir disappeared momentarily into the other room and returned with the rod in hand. Legolas shrank back, his eyes wide and aghast with fear. Haldir saw the look on his face and immediately bent down and threw the cruel implement into the fire.
Haldir would settle this tonight- with his bare fists if he had to. He would not allow the little prince to suffer another night of this torment. Legolas looked up at the tall elf and saw a steely glint in his eyes that he had seen there only once before. The Mirkwood elfling clutched the blanket closer to him, feeling the back of the chair scrape his mutilated back and he winced, his fears pressing down upon him once more.
"I-I don't want to be alone," Legolas whispered, staring carefully at the carpet. Haldir looked down at the young elf, his heart clenching in his chest. He touched his friend's shoulder, pulling away as Legolas grimaced.
"You'll stay in my room tonight."
Carefully, Haldir tended to the young elf's wounds, washing his bloodied back and slipping a fresh tunic on him. Legolas could scarcely stand-his legs still shook with fear and exhaustion and his back burned so badly he could hardly think. Haldir gently helped the young prince from the armchair and supported him as they walked out into the hall, glancing up and down the moonlit corridor as he led Legolas after him.
Legolas' heart beat a frantic jump in his chest as he expected to round every corner and see his uncle's evil face peering out of the gloom. But they arrived without mishap and Legolas breathed a sigh of relief in the familiar room. Haldir gestured towards the bed.
"Please, rest while you can, Legolas."
The prince paused. "Oh… I-I couldn't…" he protested but Haldir was firm. Reluctantly, Legolas eased under the now-cool sheets and huddled beneath, sighing in exhausted relief. A real, comfortable bed… the first in- he couldn't remember how long.
Haldir folded himself in the armchair beside him, draping his robe over his body as a blanket while he stared at the sleeping form of his young friend. His grey eyes slowly drifted to the floor in thought. How could he have allowed this to happen? He had promised Legolas that he would protect him and that had caused the little prince even more pain. The hilt of his sword poked him between the ribs and jerked him out of his reverie but he would not release it.
A soft rapping on the door startled the elf from his sleep for the second time that night. Haldir rose quickly, his hand gripping the hilt of his saber tightly, not caring that his robe slid to the floor.
"Who is it?" he hissed roughly.
"Commander, it is I. Please open the door," came Rameil's urgent voice through the wood. Haldir released the hilt of his sword and glanced back at the young elf with his golden hair tumbled over the pillow as he slept on.
He opened the door a crack and peered out at his subordinate's white face.
"What is it?" Haldir asked.
"Sir, I need to- what's he doing in here with you?" Rameil countered in surprise, frowning at the sleeping form of the prince over his commander's shoulder. Haldir glanced back into the darkened room and quickly edged out into the hall, shutting the door behind him.
"Rameil, you must listen to me," he said quietly, speaking quickly, terribly conscious of the fact that theirs may not be the only listening ears. "The King is in danger. There is treachery here."
"I know it," Rameil entered quietly. "You must come with me."
Curiosity and sudden anxiety spiked through the other elf at those words. Haldir hesitated a long moment, glancing back into the night-shrouded room. Slowly, he shook his head.
"I can't- I can't leave him."
"Sir," Rameil said firmly. "With all due respect, you must. More lives may be lost if you do not- the young prince will be safe. No one knows that he is here do they?"
"No."
"Then he will be all right," the raven-haired elf insisted, his eyes alight with urgency. "Come. The sooner we leave, the sooner you can return."
"Give me a moment."
Haldir slid back inside the room, turning as he did so to meet Legolas' wide, frightened eyes. The older elf walked towards the bed and slid his robe over his broad shoulders one-handed as he gripped his saber tightly in the other.
"Where are you going?" That soft voice made him look up. Legolas looked at him with blue eyes wide in the moonlight filtering through the curtained windows. "You can't leave me," Legolas near-sobbed, fear wrenching at his heart again. Haldir knelt beside the bed, his eyes staring earnestly up into the young one's.
"Legolas, I can't take you with me- it'll be far more dangerous. You will be safe here- no one knows you are with me. Just stay here, and please try to go back to sleep."
Legolas suddenly had a horrible thought and sat up abruptly.
"Lóthmir! Haldir, Lóthmir- my friend- my uncle… he…" Legolas choked on his words, feeling wretchedly guilty that he had not thought of his friend earlier. Here he was, falling asleep while his friend might be suffering under his uncle's hands right now!
Haldir laid a gentle hand on his distrait friend's shoulder, pressing him back down amongst the pillows. "That's what we're trying to find out, Legolas. Don't worry. We'll find him." Legolas shook his head miserably, his eyes welling with tears.
"He said he'd kill him if I told- and I did." Legolas closed his eyes in silent torment. Haldir glanced towards the door where Rameil waited patiently, his inscrutable mask shattered by the sight of the young elf-child in such pain.
"I want to go with you," Legolas said, half-pleading. "Please. I have to find him."
But Haldir shook his head firmly.
"I cannot, Legolas. You're safe here-"
"I'm not safe anywhere," the prince burst out. "My uncle will find me! He knows everything! And he will kill my best friend if we don't do something!"
"Keep your voice down," Haldir commanded, chancing a hurried, anxious glance out at the doorway where Rameil still stood, his brow furrowed. The elf captain of Lórien took the young prince firmly by the shoulders, staring into his eyes.
"Legolas, obey me in this. As your friend, I insist you stay here, for the safety and for the lives of you and your friend. We will find him, I promise you."
Not giving the young elf the time to press his argument, Haldir rose fluidly and took up his sword once more. Legolas mutely watched the tall elf stand and secure his sword to his side, walking towards the door.
"You- you will come back, right?" Legolas asked softly at last though the helpless, angry defiance had not yet left his eyes. Haldir felt his heart melt though he recognized that look and he gave his young friend a reassuring smile as he paused with a hand on the door lintel.
"You can count on it."
