Wild Justice

Chapter 11: Electrical Calm

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His feet were light as he walked through the steadily lighting corridors of Imladris on his way to Lord Elrond's study. Once more he wore his cloak, hood pulled up to hide his head even in this early morning when many would only just be rising and breakfasting as opposed to wondering the long halls. But there were always the servants scurrying to and fro from rooms going about the start of their day's routines.

Reaching a large set of mahogany doors, beautifully carved along the boarder with scenes of growing ivy vines and leaves, Legolas Greenleaf paused in his apprehension, doubts once again swarming before his mind.

What if the Lord of Imladris knew? What if his sanctuary was denied? What would he do? What was he going to say?

Hesitantly he raised a slightly shaking hand, chapping it lightly against the door, the sound loud and foreboding to his Elvish ears, as if it were the ringing bells of sure doom. A voice from behind the door called a brief 'one moment' followed then by silence. The Elven prince shifted his slight weight unconsciously from foot to foot, deigning to sit upon the cushioned, dark wood benches that littered the wall directly before the double doors.

After a short moment that seemed to stretch on for an eternity, the double doors finally opened and a tall Elf exited, powerfully built, long blond hair expertly braided into intricate knots. He called a few words over his shoulder, a grin illuminating his handsome face. He turned and saw the hooded stranger, his smile somewhat wavering, eyes narrowing as he peered at Legolas as if trying to discern whether he was known or not.

And he was, for Legolas had met this Elf many years ago upon his first journey into these realms with his father.

He had been slightly intimidated by the sheer beauty of the Imladrarian realm and the few different races he had seen, wherefore the most part had consisted of Elves he had born witness to a few travelling men and laid eyes even upon a dwarf! Of all things. It had been such a curious thing to see for never before had he met such a being.

He remembered walking up to the stout individual and greeting him, the dwarf had looked at him in amazement and shock, and not a little suspicion, but Legolas had been sincere enough and the individual had spoken brief but polite words to him. Thranduil had been so cross with him after such an escapade, scorning him and telling that Elves and dwarves were not to be acquainted.

Legolas smiled fondly at the memory before sadness touched his heart and he remembered that such moments were all in the past and that he were no longer a youth, far from home and far from his father and friends. Legolas dropped his head, half from woe and half in respect to the blond-haired Elven lord before him.

Lord Elrond stepped into the doorway and offered a reassuring smile to what he could see of the hooded Elf. Glorfindel bid his lord farewell and gave a brief nod towards Legolas before retreating. The Mirkwood prince fancied he could smell sunflowers off the departing elder.

"Good morning," greeted Lord Elrond, indicating for Legolas to follow him into the room. This he did so without spoken word, his stomach contracting unhealthily as he closed the doors behind himself, imagining that he were locking himself in a room of which he may never escape.

Shaking himself from such immature thoughts, Legolas turned his back to the closed door, his eyes scanning over the large room. There were many shelves lining one side of the four walls, the opposite devoted to a grand fireplace encircled by a couple of large and secure looking chairs. The far wall sited a well-built and sizable desk of some thick and indefinable timber, behind it a large window watched over by a pair of heavy wine-red drapes.

The Mirkwood Elf tried to distract himself in the sights about him for the room was much changed since last he were in it. It was certainly more lived in and cluttered than before. He chanced a look at the Elven lord, pleased to find that there was no pressure for him to begin speaking yet, for Elrond was sifting through a few parchment scrolls on his desk, taking a moment to fret over them before rolling and transferring them to one of the many shelves for later reference.

Relaxing slightly at the unhurried mood, Legolas removed his hood and cloak, stepping further into the room. He hovered just before the Elven lord's desk, his eyes turning to gaze longingly out of the large window behind: freedom. It seemed to say, beckoning to him...

"Please do take a seat, my prince." Spoke Elrond's deepened voice.

...Freedom being denied.

His anxiety returned twice fold to him as he reluctantly seated himself down. Elrond moved over to a clear decanter half filled with a deep red liquid.

"May I offer you a drink?" he asked amicably.

Legolas shook his head, "No, thank you." His stomach clenching even as he spoke the words, his hand moving to land upon his belly as if to loosen the tension knotted within. If only tension were all it was.

Elrond offered him a reassuring smile before seating himself down. "I dislike the stuff myself in the mornings," he confided. "How do you fare, my prince? You look tired, did you not sleep well?"

A faint blush tinged Legolas' cheeks and he focussed his eyes elsewhere rather than upon the lord of Imladris. "I am well, my lord, my night was restless is all."

"Indeed?" a delicate eyebrow raised itself as Elrond observed his pallid features with the eyes of a healer. "Perhaps tonight you will sleep better?"

"Perhaps." Replied Legolas slowly.

"Well let us see if we can ease your mind this day so that this night you may have your much needed slumber?"

Legolas coloured a little once again before nodding his head and permitting the Elven lord to begin.

There was a short moments silence before the Elven lord finally came to the point of this meeting, "Then let us not elude to the subject," his dark eyes watched the younger Elf before him. "Why have you sought the sanctuary of Imladris, Legolas Greenleaf?"

It was as if any of his earlier efforts of small talk made in the hopes of settling the prince of Mirkwood were in vein, for as soon as the topic was brought up, Legolas tensed. It was not usually like himself to become so apprehensive about things, but then, this was no thing, it was a decision that could very well determine his next course of action.

The blond-haired Elf's hands folded and unfolded upon his lap for a moment as he mentally formed his answer, "I, needed to remove myself from the- pressures, many were subjecting me to." He met Elrond's gaze and waited the older Elf's words, a brief frown danced across the lord's face.

"These, 'pressures' as you say, they are not matters that need addressing to? As in, you are not guilty of any crimes and such that I should be aware of?"

"Nothing that deserves to be punished." He answered.

Lord Elrond frowned even deeper, sitting further up in his chair. "Would you care to explain that comment?" he asked calmly.

Legolas' heartbeat took on an almost formidable pace, thumping against his chest so fast and hard that he were sure it would burst through at any given moment.

"There is nothing to explain my lord, I have committed no crime that needs be punished. I seek sanctuary more on the basis of..." he licked his lips, stilling his hands on his lap, "On the basis of a feud."

"A feud? That is no basis for sanctuary, Legolas! Surely you know-"

"Not just a mere feud!" he interrupted, panicked that Elrond would immediately deny him his request.

"No? Then why sanctuary? Why must no one know where it is you are? It is obvious that much effort has been made in search for you, Lord Ahearn has informed me even of your father's distress at your most sudden and unexpected departure."

Legolas gave a slight jump at the mentioning of Ahearn's name. A move that did not go unnoticed by the Elven lord. "Lord Ahearn also mentioned his own distress at your departure."

Legolas inwardly seethed, how manipulative could such a person be? As if Ahearn cared anything for him! Never mind his father, surely his disappearance was not that unexpected!

"Lord Ahearn, I doubt was very much distressed over me." Only what I carry inside me.

"You know this young lord well then, a friend of yours?"

"We were... acquainted." Admitted Legolas. Something in the way he pronounced the last word suggested to Elrond something far deeper that a mere associate.

"Perhaps the reason you seek sanctuary, is that you are running away from your problems?" his tone became that of one trying to teach a young child, attempting to make him see sense.

Legolas shook his head. "Nay, Lord Elrond, I am solving them." the Elf cryptically replied.

Elrond rubbed at his temples, trying to decipher the wood Elf before him. He sat so tense and guarded, his words spiked with elusion so that he says one thing but hints at another. Elrond's eyes swept over the Elf, taking in his haggard appearance and his almost unconscious showings of fear and nervousness. It is as if this sanctuary is a burden upon him. Why should one such as himself, a prince of Elves, need the protection of another realm? A feud he calls it? Could such a thing be so bad as to drive him hastily from his home and into my lands?

Elrond had not forgotten the travel worn figure he had met but a week ago, he had been like the walking dead, fatigued and hungry, requesting immediate sanctuary. When he had granted such a request even for a week, the tension held in his lithe body had visibly melted away, his shoulders sagging, eyes shining as one less worry was taken from him and the promise of safety, food and rest were allowed to him. What kind of feud could be so dire as to drive one to another realm seeking sanctuary?

"You do realise that granting you a fixed sanctuary would put me into political difficulty with Mirkwood, if your father discovers that you are here?" Elrond's words were serious.

Legolas nodded carefully. "If he discovers that I am here, but King Thranduil has no control over me if I am not within his realm."

"That is true enough for one of your age, but you are still young, my prince, and you are his son."

"Forgive me, my lord, but I am no longer a mere youth. Young I may be but I have fought in battles and I have guarded my home and people from the attacks of Dol Guldur and the evils within, I am a warrior not a babe."

Elrond noted that he made no reference to being the son of Thranduil. Most curious, He thought to himself. "Of course, my prince, yet sanctuary is no light matter and cannot be granted undeservingly. I need a valid reason to thus grant it, Legolas Greenleaf, your enigmatic replies offer me no grounds."

Their eyes met and for a fraction, Elrond fancied he saw the fearful eyes of a child staring back at him, the look was fleeting and soon the determined eyes of one who has seen much were staring at him.

"Then I know not what I can say that will enable you to allow me to stay." Legolas' heart was pounding heavily in his chest: does he know? Have they told him? His worries flew across his mind.

Elrond sat silently a long moment, watching as the wood Elf began once more to worry his hands, patiently waiting for him to speak the truth to him, such was the curse of the youthful.

"I fear for my life, my lord." Legolas eventually spoke, his voice soft as he ducked his head, pressing his eyes shut as he thought about the second life he also feared for, but would not yet mention.

"Surely none would dare to threaten the life of the prince? And a warrior? Would not thy father protect you?"

The Mirkwood Elf could feel the Elven lord's gaze boring into him. Their eyes met once again, "Please do not ask me to explain it my lord, for I fear that I cannot."

Lord Elrond released a small sigh, "How long do you wish for your sanctuary to be granted?"

Legolas hesitated, "I do not know, my lord."

The Elven lord's sharp eyes seemed to pierce through his own and Legolas felt himself reluctantly having to drop his gaze least Elrond read his true motives through his eyes. "Legolas," came the deep rumbling voice of the Lord of Imladris.

Slowly the young prince raised his eyes to once more meet that of Elrond's. "I know you tell me not your true reasons, or at least, not enough of the truth. Yet against my better judgment I know you not to be the kind to simply just elope your home and turn your back upon those you love, so therefore I will grant you a short-term sanctuary in which time I expect you to resolve whatever internal conflicts you face and sooner rather than later, tell me the true motives you harbour for taking such a course of action."

Legolas' mouth was suddenly very dry, and he wished that he had indeed taken the proffered drink of wine, no matter how strong it would have been. His tongue felt glued to his mouth, seeming like a dead weight.

I know you tell me not your true reasons...

They watched each other a moment, Legolas shifting his hands about uneasily. It seemed that Elrond wished for him to tell now why it was he had left Mirkwood and its people. But Legolas found that it was impossibly for his mouth to form any words. Finally, with an almost inaudible sigh of disappointment, the Elven lord spoke again:

"You are hereby granted sanctuary within the boarders of Imladris for no longer than one year only. I maintain the rights to revoke and or alter this decision as I see fit, whether or not there seems valid reason for me to do so. Also, if it is brought to my attention that you have come here on false basis, in the example that you lie when you say you are not guilty of any crimes, et cetera, such clemency will automatically be forfeited and you will be handed back over to your father, King Thranduil of Mirkwood, willing or not. Are these terms clear?"

"Perfectly." His voice was meek, but he didn't care, he had just been granted sanctuary for a year! All was well, was it not?

And when he finds out about your pregnancy? Legolas pushed the voice away relishing in the sudden weightlessness he felt. A small yet genuine smile lit his face, chasing away the shadows that had before occupied him. "I thank you, my lord."

Elrond nodded. "All is sorted then." He made a brief note on a piece of parchment before speaking again. "Lord Ahearn mentioned that more messengers may arrive in Imladris over the next few days on orders issued before his arrival, I insist you be careful if you intend to keep your stay here secret."

Legolas stood, fastening his cloak on once again as he prepared to leave. "One thing before you go," Elrond's dark eyes observed him momentarily, "I should mention that you are welcomed to roam the forests about my lands as you choose, the deeper parts are usually free from those living in or travelling through Imladris." He smiled a little, "I say usually because sometimes you may be approached by two like-looking Elves. Perhaps you know of them? They go by the names of Elladan and Elrohir?"

His lips twitched amusedly but Legolas found nothing at all funny about the words, his left hand immediately flying towards his stomach as if it pained him.

"Is something the matter, Legolas?" Elrond stepped hurriedly over to him, noticing as to how all colour had fled from his face.

"Th- they have mentioned our meeting?"

"They did," said Elrond uncertain as to why the young prince should find this so upsetting.

"And what did they say?" he persisted.

"Only that they met you and wondered as to why you were here seeking sanctuary. What is it that bothers you about this?"

Legolas calmed a little. "'Tis nothing, I thought that..." he hurried to think of words to hide his telltale fears, "Well you have just spoken to me of not revealing my identity and here you find that already your two sons have found out."

Elrond looked at him sceptically. "My words were just for caution, it is up to you alone whether or not you decide to heed them. I would not have you being in isolation for your time here, Legolas." He placed his hand comfortingly upon the younger Elf's shoulder.

Legolas smiled a little, once more giving his thanks before he left Lord Elrond's study, hood pulled up over his head as he hurried back towards his room.

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To Be Continued...?

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Peace,

CS WhiteWolf

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