Disclaimer: I don't own any of Tolkien's creations.

Chapter 34

Justice

It had been four days since she had been kidnapped. Tigerlily lay on the cold hard floor of her cell. Oropher lay close next to her as she tried to keep him warm. Tigerlily was weak and getting weaker and if Oropher didn't get something good to eat and warm soon, he'd get sick. The food she had been given was pitiful. It was barely enough to sustain her but she mashed most of it up and gave it to Oropher instead. The poor little boy was always hungry but didn't cry. Tigerlily wanted to cry. She was starving and so was her son. She had overheard the rebels talking. Tomorrow she was to be killed all because Legolas had not met their demands. Tigerlily felt torn. Part of her wanted Legolas to refuse the demands, to not give in, but another part of her wanted for him to abdicate and come save her. Tigerlily was afraid of dying. She knew that her son wouldn't survive five days on his own. She heard her cell door being opened. She sat up and held Oropher close to her. He began to whimper; sensing something bad was going to happen. "Your good for nothing husband clearly doesn't love you that much," snarled a voice, "He hasn't abdicated yet…he wants you to die!"

"No," replied Tigerlily, knowing she was going to regret it, "He does love me, my son is proof of that, and he also loves his people and would never leave them to be ruled by bastards like you!" She heard someone move towards her and pull Oropher away.

"No!" she cried, "You gave him five days…there is still one left!" A second guard came forward and pulled her up so she was standing. Tigerlily heard something being unsheathed. She hissed in pain as the tip of a dagger was drawn across her belly. She felt the warm blood trickle down. She then felt the dagger be plunged into her stomach. "Arghh!" she cried.

Legolas fell to his knees not far from where the rebel hideout. "Legolas," said Gelmir, "What's wrong?"

"It's Tigerlily!" said Legolas, "I can sense her…she's in pain! They've hurt her!"

"Calm down, my friend, we are almost there," said Turin, "Soon your wife will be back where she belongs." Legolas looked ahead to the place the rebel hid was.

'Tigerlily?' he thought, 'Are you there my love?'

Legolas?

'Yes, my love, I am here,' he thought, feeling Tigerlily's elation at hearing him, 'we are not far away, turns out one of the rebels was actually spying for us. We're coming to rescue you!'

Legolas, please hurry, I've been stabbed, I think I'm going to…

'Tigerlily?' thought Legolas.

"Legolas?" asked Turin, "What's wrong?"

"It's Tigerlily, she's been hurt, I can't hear her!" said Legolas.

"Put your backs into it!" yelled Gelmir to the soldiers, "Move double speed! Now!"

Tigerlily could barely see she was so weak. If Legolas didn't come soon, she was sure she was going to die. Oropher could see and hear everything. He rolled away from his mother's limp body and set himself on all fours. So far he had only ever crawled backwards. He lifted up one dirty hand and placed it in front of him. Then he moved his leg, then his other hand and leg. Slowly, he began to crawl across the dirty floor to the side of the cell. He laughed as he went. He came to the bars and looked out. He saw a guard stood not far away. An arrow flew out of nowhere and killed the guard. Oropher began to scream. He heard yelling and fighting. He saw rebel guards running past the cell but they ignored him. He looked over at his mother. He crawled slowly over to her. But when he got to her, she didn't move and he didn't know what to do. Then he heard a voice he recognized. His father's. He was yelling. "Open this door!" Legolas yelled and threw the rebel at the floor. The rebel fumbled with his keys and unlocked Tigerlily's cell. Legolas and Gelmir marched in. Oropher began to cry to get his father's attention. Legolas lifted his son up. "Shh, that's my brave boy," said Legolas, "You go to Gelmir because Ada has to take care of mama." He handed the baby over to Gelmir and looked down at Tigerlily. The front of her dress was soaked in blood. "We have to get her back and fast," said Legolas, "We'll send Andaer on our fastest horse, get her to the Healers."

Gelmir nodded and stood up. Legolas lifted Tigerlily up. One of her hands held on to his tunic.

The soldiers grew restless. They had rounded up all the living rebels and were awaiting the Prince and Gelmir. Gelmir was the first to emerge. He came running out carrying a small child. "Andaer!" he cried, "Legolas says you have to take her to the Healers fast! She is very weak!" Then Legolas emerged carrying a woman. Mutters began to fly around the soldiers. So it was true. The prince had married and the rebels had taken prisoner his wife. Andaer rushed forward with Thalion, the fastest horse in the army. He took the woman from Legolas and dashed off into the distance. Legolas then took the child from Gelmir and stood before the soldiers. "Loyal elves of Eryn Lasgalen!" he cried, "I present to you, my son, Oropher, born to me by my wife, Tigerlily Solaris of Enedwaith, a human, blessed with immortality. These elves we have captured would have killed him because of his heritage, because he is my son! They would have first killed his mother. Today, we have won a great victory against those that oppose us, those who want power only for themselves. We have won it, for ones like my son, like your sons and your daughters! We won this fight so our children will not have to live in the fear of rebels!"

A cheer came from the soldiers. Many of them were indeed parents. Legolas looked down at Oropher. "Let's go home, little one," he said softly.

Tigerlily didn't awake until the next day. The Healers had sorted her out. Her wound had needed stitches and was very sore. The first thing she saw when she woke up was Oropher's hazel eyes and his hand reaching our to her. "Oropher?" she said groggily, "Milo?"

"Good morning my love," said Legolas, "Or should I say afternoon?" Tigerlily blinked and her vision cleared. "Legolas?" she said, "Where am I?"

"You're safe," said Legolas. He moved forward and kissed her forehead.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he said, "You were so weak when we found you!"

"I thought I was going to die," said Tigerlily as Oropher took hold of one of her fingers.

"You nearly did," said Legolas, "I will never put you and our son in such danger again, I promise!" He bent down and kissed her.

Six days later, Tigerlily was out of bed and almost back to her normal self. There was just one thing left to do. She grasped Legolas' hand tightly as Ainion was escorted in. He was stood before Thranduil and his advisors. "Ainion," said Thranduil gravely, "You are brought to trial by your fellow elves, do you have anything to say about the charges against you?"

"Yes," said Ainion, "I have done nothing wrong! You have no proof!"

"We do," said Legolas, "We have statements from Tari Oakenvale and your own son, Alyan. We also have an eyewitness confirmation by my wife that you were at the rebel hideout during her imprisonment."

"Having reviewed all evidence before this trial, can the jury reach a verdict?" asked Thranduil to the panel of advisors. The eldest one stepped forward and nodded.

"We find Lord Ainion, guilty of high treason and plotting to usurp those in power," he said. Legolas smiled.

"Ainion," said Thranduil, "You and the rest of your traitorous friends are sentenced to death by firing squad in three weeks time!"

Legolas didn't volunteer to be part of the execution squad. Tigerlily was far too upset for him to leave her alone. She constantly clung to him and was afraid of being left alone. On the day of the execution, Oropher was left with Tari as Tigerlily wished to attend the execution. It seemed brutal and savage for the elves to do this but it sent a clear message to all others, a warning. Tigerlily stood close to Legolas as Gelmir ordered the soldiers to ready their arrows. There was a tense moment as the rebels, both men and women were aimed at by the firing squad. "Fire!" shouted Gelmir. Tigerlily turned away from the sight as each arrow delivered a deadly kiss to a rebel's heart. Legolas put his arms around her as she began to sob. This may have seemed like the end of the trouble but it wasn't. Tigerlily was still going to have to face something…something that the rebels had done to her.