Disclaimer: Still having no luck in owning anything you recognise, unfortunately I have to share Legolas with others, well, the Tolkien family anyway.
Chapter 18: A darkening soul
Aranel knew exactly what had woken her this time; she automatically curled herself into a ball as stabbing pains tore at her stomach. She briefly wondered why Orenar had not been effected after drinking from the same cup as her, wondering if he had taken an antidote before hand, though she didn't really care at the moment, in no state to focus on anything past her own pain.
She groaned and tried not to cry out as a wave of pain hit her, tears streaming down her cheeks. She remembered getting food poisoning from off milk once, she had thought she was dieing then, now she thought she new exactly what hell was.
Aranel had her eyes shut tight, begging for her torture to end in muffled whimpers, the only thing that alerted her to his presence was the gentle footfalls on the stone floor. She opened her eyes and looked at him. His face was shrouded in shadow and the black material of his robe seemed to billow out behind him in it's own private breeze that only he could feel. She wondered for a moment, as she looked up into the shadows of his face, if she was looking Death in the eyes, if he had finally come for her. It was only when he knelt down in his familiar fashion and the light hit his face that she realised it was Orenar; he was smirking, as always, at her pain.
Aranel wanted to strangle him, throw insult after insult at him as if her words could physically harm him, but as another wave of pian overcame her all she managed was a whimper.
He smiled to himself as he sat down more comfortably, crossing his legs in front of him as if he was getting comfortable for a show. Once the wave of pain had receded slightly and her tightly curled body had relaxed a little he spoke in his mockingly cheerful voice.
"So how are you feeling today?"
Aranel ignored him completely, intent on not giving him any further satisfaction from her pain.
"Well, since you're not in much of a talkative mood, you wont mind if I have a chat will you." He continued, Aranel glaring hatred at him.
"Good then. As you may have guessed, you are in fact slowly being poisoned. And it is a mighty fight you are putting up there I must say." He smiled at her as if congratulating her on this amazing feet.
'Why? If I die my powers are lots to you." Aranel murmured quietly.
"Very good observation Aranel. You see, the poison working its way through that little body of yours is not designed to kill you; it is designed to make you more compliant to my wishes. You see, I never had any intentions to kill you my dear, that would be a waste. I plan for you to rule beside me, your powers mine to control; you mine to control." He smiled again, his black eyes locking with her blue, as what he was saying sunk into her strained mind. She would be his, unable to refuse any command he gave her, helpless to his every whim. A single tear rolled down her cheek as his eyes continued to bore into her and his smile broadened as he watched her time as this pure entity of light slip quickly away from her.
"You're a monster." Aranel whispered as what little strength she had left in her body slowly gave way.
"Yes, and soon you will join me, and together we shall be unstoppable. Once the poison has run its course I will seel it with a blood to blood bond and you will be mine forever, and our first act shall be to bring down your fathers sorry excuse for kingdom, followed by the elves that have so foolishly offered you sanctuary." His words had lost the cheerful, mocking manner in which he usually addressed her, his true sinister self-revealing itself to her and she shivered as his black eyes seemed to absorb the light, no reflection coming off them, his greed evident in his face.
As quickly as this transformation had taken place he reverted back to his usual self, standing and looking down at her.
"I will be back to complete your bondage to me later, until then, enjoy your last hours as a Lady of light."
He turned quickly on his heels, his robes billowing out once again, leaving her to her imagination, playing image after torturous image of herself bringing down all her father had worked to build, and Legolas's betrayed face as she destroyed him completely.
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Legolas stood in an awkward silence with Evandar as they waited for Illindor to join them in the courtyard in front of the Elven strong hold. He was aware of Evandar's gaze watching him but he refused to acknowledge the man who he saw as having stolen Aranel away from him. He felt his muscles clench in a painful knot at the thought, little could he know Aranel lay curled on the cold stone floor echoing his pain, her time fast running out.
Illindor finally made his appearance, literally, seeming to appear out of thin air on the steps, never faltering in his pace as he hurried down them. He reached them and was just opening his mouth to say something when Legolas's father came bursting out of the doors, following Illindor's hurried steps. Legolas, not at all surprised to see the anger etched across his fathers face turned to Illindor who was scowling, apparently his plans to get away unobserved had been foiled.
"Where in the name of Valor do you think you are going!" Thranduil demanded of his son, coming to a halt just in front of him, their heights almost exact, bring his face only inches away from Legolas's. The sight would have been quite comical had the stakes not been so high.
"I thought you didn't care Ardar." Legolas murmured starting to turn, addressing his father informally, perhaps a son's last attempt to reach his father.
"You are my only heir!" Thranduil shot back, grasping Legolas's arm tightly stopping him from turning his back.
Legolas looked at him, their eyes locking and strengths clashing.
"Is that all you care about?" Legolas asked incredulously. "That you risk an heir? What about loosing a son?"
Their eyes remained lock for a moment longer, Thranduil finally uttering, "You know where I stand on this. If you risk your life for a Fay you risk your place within these walls. This is your last chance to stand by your kingdom. "
Legolas nodded slowly after a moment and turned to the others. "Shall we go?" he asked, his mind made up.
A look of shock crossed Thranduil face at his son's defiance, even with the threat to loose his place among his people.
Illindor came to stand between Evandar and Legolas, seeing the determination in Legolas face he decided not to question his decision, instead turning to Thranduil.
"I will see his return." He tried to reassure the King, feeling a little guilty for placing them in this situation.
Thranduil didn't answer only scowled at all three of them before storming back into the palace, the door closing with a resounding thud.
The three remained in silence for a moment before Illindor spoke up. "Since this is new to you Legolas I want you to drink this first." he handed Legolas a small bottle, a thick clear liquid gluging inside it. They had decided to travel quickly, using magic rather then taking horses. When Legolas gave him a questioning look Illindor explained further. "Its mainly highly concentrated sugar so your body has something to draw energy from while we travel."
Legolas downed the bottle in one gulp, the sweetness making his eyes water Illindor giving him a knowing smile.
"Now place a hand on my shoulders Legolas, this wont hurt a bit." Illindor said reassuringly, Legolas looking less confident but doing as he was instructed.
"Ready?"
Legolas nodded and Illindor turned to Evandar. I'm heading for the wall surrounding the palace, just off from the gates." Evandar nodded his understanding.
"Right, off we go." And with that all three disappeared into the dieing day.
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There was a slight glow in the shadows of the wall, fading quickly to the darkness it had been moments before. It was pure luck the sentinel was not looking in their direction and, for the moment, the three figures went unnoticed.
Legolas sat quickly to prevent himself from losing balance, his head spinning slightly.
Illindor handed him another small bottle without a word, Legolas draining it quickly and leaning against the stone. After a few minutes he stood again.
"Ready?" Illindor whispered.
Legolas nodded in the gloom taking in his surroundings. He had been in old, tainted forests most of his life, parts of Mirkwood reflecting its name so closely during the war of the ring it was only entered under necessity. But this forest was beyond anything he could comprehend. He looked into the trees that hugged the wall they were now pressed against, and for the first time in his life he actually feared the forest before him.
They edged along the wall finally reaching the gate; the sun had set early in this land, affording them deeper shadows to conceal themselves in.
Sentinels were posted above them, looking out at the forest beyond, Legolas's sharp eyes picking up their bored expressions. Clearly no one every dared come close to this place with ill intention, Legolas deciding this to be both a curse and a blessing, if no one came near the place their guard would be down but it also meant whatever lived within these walls was an evil beyond his imagining.
Illindor was gesturing his way, breaking his concentration. The two Fay were hidden in shadow behind a pillar that joined to the gate, they were peering through to the stronghold beyond, Legolas joined them and looked for the first time at the immense structure that held Aranel. It was a devastating sight. The land around it was baron, dead and forbidding, offering little cover for them. The castle itself was made of black stone and towered above them, any windows were mere slits and the massive door was sealed tight. Legolas shuddered as he thought of Aranel trapped in such a place and an over whelming sense of despair over came all three at ever finding he in such an immense place.
"Can't we just use magic?" Legolas queried, already knowing the answer.
"No, it's guarded against such things. We would be detected immediately. We will have to rely on stealth now." Evandar answered, it was the first time he had spoken to Legolas for a long time.
The three watched Orenar's stronghold, desperately trying to think of plan, more alone than ever, while Orenar prepared himself for Aranel's finally stage in her imprisonment, and Aranel wept for the loss of a life she had just found as her soul slowly darkened.
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Another chapter! Quite dark I know, but sometimes these things happen. And if you have ever got food poisoning off milk you know what I was on about. Not a fun experience. Anyway, you know the drill!