MORE THAN LIFE
CHAPTER 1
"Your mother loved you. More than anyone. More than life!" Legolas felt his heart swell at those words.
The thought of the one he could not remember was always painful, and the one who could have let him know her better did not speak.
Knowing even this took a great weight off the young prince's heart.
He turned, greeting his father, wondering how long it would be until he felt the strength to return.
He walked away with his head held high.
Perhaps having a specific purpose made everything less chaotic. Because confusion reigned in Legolas' head.
Those long-hidden and now betrayed feelings burned more than an orc's blade, the regret of having waited long enough to lose it was something else unbearable! He drew back as an orc took him by surprise.
He had to go in front of him to make him aware of his presence.
The filthy creature took advantage of that tiny crack that he could never find in an elf and was able to open a large gash on the prince's thigh who managed to disarm him before the enemy used his bulk to make him collapse on his back against the ice.
The ogre wasted no time and unsheathed another sword pouncing on the Prince. Legolas saw death coming, without him being able to do anything.
The enemy's blade was too strong to be blocked by the only dagger left.
But why did he keep fighting in a world where he could no longer find any reason to exist?
He closed his eyes, praying to the Valar for it to be quick and painless.
The clash of the sword made him stiffen, but he felt no agonizing pain ... He opened his eyes and saw his father fighting as if he were possessed.
The orc retreated at every blow of the King and was unable to protect himself when the elven ruler aimed for the legs, eager to inflict more pain on him than his son was enduring.
Thranduil felt a cold fury gripping his bowels and he forgot every lesson about how emotions could destabilize him to the point of benefiting the enemy.
He accepted to lose Legolas for having been an absent and cold father, but not to see him fall like his beloved, killed by the evil from which he had worked so hard in an attempt to preserve his youth!
His body felt stiff and weak from the effort he had just made in the battle, but he forced himself to ignore it, having only one goal in mind: to protect his son!
Legolas started to get up and go to his aid, but the injured leg barely held him.
But he could not remain aloof, he would not have shown fragility in front of his father! He looked around in concern, cursing himself for running out of arrows.
It was in an advantageous spot, having a good view of the surrounding perimeter and it would have been easy to take down any approaching dangers.
His King had just finished a great battle and perhaps there were other orcs nearby who could be attracted by the noise of the fight. He took a step and a sound of pain crossed his lips.
As if he had been awakened from the trance, Thranduil turned abruptly to his son, fearing that he had been attacked by another filthy creature and a small smile lit up his face seeing that although wounded, he was fine.
Their eyes met and Legolas thanked him through the gaze.
He had to know, that if he could, his father would always be close to him.
Why had he doubted the one person who would never abandon him? Why was it only in battle that he had been able to achieve such awareness?
Legolas widened his eyes as soon as he realized, that even if it was only a matter of seconds, the King had momentarily let his guard down "Ada!" He screamed, seeing the enemy attack.
Having wounded the ogre, the king probably did not expect such an immediate response.
Thranduil turned in time, for the orc's blade to sink into his side making him moan in pain.
He stepped back so as not to allow the weapon to sink further and with a well-aimed blow, he managed to cut the throat of the euphoric orc who believed he had won.
A further groan came from the King as the blade slipped from his body, but he managed to remain standing.
Legolas let out a sigh that he had not realized he had been holding, before feeling his heart stop as he saw the parent totter on his own legs and throw himself backwards. Legolas ran, leaning on the ruins with his arms, trying to support the weight of his injured leg, when he realized that behind his father there was nothing, apart from a cliff who knows how high.
But it wasn't fast enough ... strong enough, realizing the gravity of the situation when it was too late.
Thranduil disappeared over the edge in absolute silence! Legolas froze, as if he didn't want to accept it.
He listened, hoping to hear the sound of his father's body collapsing to the ground as soon as possible, indicating that the fall had been short among those ruins where the battle had just taken place.
It seemed that an interminable time had passed, before hearing a thud muffled by the impetuous wind that struck everything in its path.
Legolas felt his eyes burn, but he forced himself to stay strong.
The Prince did not know how long it took, to him it seemed an eternity, before he managed, with hesitation and a piercing fear, to peep out to look for his beloved parent.
The height was remarkable.
The rock descended for several meters, ending in an expanse of white snow that could have concealed boulders or sharp stones.
The King lay motionless, supine, on an immense expanse of ice and snow.
A red halo, on the side, stood out in that expanse so white and a stain of blood was spreading near the wound inflicted before the fall.
The hair was untidily parted around the head but the diadem shone on the forehead of the king, as if he feared the King's wrath if he moved even a little.
The two swords had been pushed away from the impact and the arms were stretched out on the cold snow looking like he had tried to stop the fall, or it was simply instinct that made him spread them ... Legolas watched him for a long time, hoping to see him move, to hear him moan in pain, but nothing happened.
Only the wind made noise in that valley where a deathly silence had fallen.
Yes, I'm a drama queen!
As I continue to write the other story, a flash scene came to mind that I couldn't resist writing!
The farewell between father and son in Tolkien's adaptation has always saddened me and I fear it will always be!
I have long wished that Legolas would stay, realizing that he was not the only one to suffer and being a lover of the drama I made sure to put a strain on the father-son bond.
This story will be short, but I have to give vent to my ideas so that I can return to focus on the central story of my daily work!
Let me know what you think and your possible ideas on a possible second chapter, because the flash idea has stopped here...for now!
So, please, please, please review! I love all of your comments, they really help me to know what you want and what you think I should improve on. I would especially like to hear your thoughts on this particular chapter.
Talk to you soon,
X-98