Moving Forward

"Get off of me filthy beast!" The elf rolled the dead carcass that fell on him to his side. He stood and dusted himself off. "Thank you, Prince Legolas."

Legolas gave a curt nod and ran off to kill more Orcs with his arrow. Swiftly and quickly, he moved from one to the next without hesitation, without...mercy. He killed more Orcs that day than any of his comrades, but yet…he still wasn't satisfied.

"Go scout the rest of the area," Keldir instructed a few of his guards. They obeyed and dispersed in different directions. The prince stared at his last kill. Keldir walked over to him. "Legolas...he is dead."

The prince turned to him with a dull look in his eyes. "I know..." He gave the lifeless Orc another glance and walked silently back to the underground fortress. Keldir watched him with a heavy heart. He let out a long sigh and followed behind with the rest of the remaining guards.

The Woodland Elves cheered when they saw their warriors return victoriously. The guards basked in the glory—except for Keldir and Legolas. Keldir wasn't in the mood for celebrating due to the mood his friend carried around him.

Legolas had other things on his mind as he usually did. The captain noticed the king staring at them through his window with much concern on his face. Keldir met his gaze and slightly nodded. Thranduil's eyes switched to Legolas then disappeared away from the window.

The cheering from the crowd barely reached the ears of the prince. They faded into the background as if they weren't really there. No one noticed that Legolas wasn't a part of the celebration until he was already inside the palace. His head held low, he went to his room.

"Legolas..." Thranduil came from around the corner and was glad he caught his son.

The prince stopped and turned toward him. "Yes, sire?"

"How did it go?" The king asked with a concerned look still on his face.

"As you can probably hear from the crowd outside, we overran the Orcs like we always do," he replied in a dry, monotone voice. "I am tired, father, and wish to rest."

"Yes...yes, of course. Well done, son." He gave him a half-smile. Legolas nodded and continued up the stairs in silence. "Legolas, wait..." The king held his hand out to stop him.

"Yes, father?"

"Legolas..." The king walked over to him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I know you and I have never been as close as you and your mother but...seeing you like this, son...well...it is difficult to witness, even for your mother. Legolas, she has been gone for nearly two decades—"

"Father, please..." Legolas quickly stopped him with his hand. "I do not want to have this discussion." He slowly removed his father's hand away and continued up the stairs.

Thranduil sighed. "You need to find a bride soon, Legolas."

"Just be glad that I am still alive, father—fulfilling my duties." he said without turning around. Thranduil shook his head and let him be…for now.

Legolas entered his room and quietly closed the door behind him. He took the quiver off his back and placed it against the wall with his bow. He undressed out of his archer attire and into something a little more casual than his princely tunic, undoing the braids in his hair and letting it flow freely.

The prince opened a dark, green velvet pouch and took out his small carving knives. He sat at his study table, sweeping away some of the old wood chips from his previous carvings and stared at the new creation he hadn't yet finish. He already knew what it was going to be even if he convinced himself otherwise that it was going to be something different. The rest of his carvings sat on his windowsill.

Some were carvings of birds, trees, sailboats, and other miscellaneous creatures and objects. He accumulated thousands of designs, most of them thrown into his fireplace after they were finished. He only kept a few around, but some of those, too, ended up as firewood.

Whenever Legolas wanted to be alone, he would lock himself in his room for hours with his carvings, not eating or speaking to anyone. When he couldn't stand his thoughts, he kept himself busy by patrolling the borders, teaching the elven-children archery, or sometimes spent the whole day in the forest, speeding through the trees with his horse—anything to distract him.

He still beat himself over the fact that he didn't stop Le'ariel from leaving—that he gave her what she wanted. He would have gladly given her Middle-earth if he could, anything she desired, except for that. But, he gave it to her anyway.

If he could go back in time, he would have stopped her, forced her to stay by any means necessary. However, those thoughts were also clouded in anger and he knew it wasn't an effective way to handle the situation. Le'ariel was just as stubborn as he was.

His love for her since that day had never faltered. Legolas gave so much of himself to her—nothing he had ever done with any maiden before—and now, it was eating him alive. His once glowing features lost its radiance and his blue eyes that sparkled like the sea were now murky and dull, full of misery.

His lively personality, gone. Legolas felt worse than grieving over a lost loved one, if that were possible. Honor, duty, and protecting their people were the only things that kept him going, the only thing that kept him strong enough to survive.

It was close to two decades since he last saw the chambermaid. And, no word came to him of how she was doing or if she even still loved him. It was her choice to leave and he knew he had to accept it and move on...for his own sake. A part of him secretly wished that an arrow or enemy weapon would strike him down in battle for a clean escape from the Outer Lands. A quick death for an excuse. But, he wasn't ready to be reincarnated into the Halls of Mandos. Not just yet.

Legolas couldn't think of himself and his selfish wishes as many others depended on him. He didn't want to think of what his actions would to do this father and mother. No. He wouldn't allow them to suffer the same fate as him for grieving over their only son. Not when he still had potential to be a good king someday. And that' was where his other thoughts lingered.

King Thranduil couldn't stay in Middle-earth forever. No one could resist the calling of the Sea and it would only be a matter of time until his father sailed West. Legolas wasn't even sure if the Sea already called to his parents. He wondered if they only stayed for him—stayed for him until he found...a bride. Thranduil was more persistent about him claiming the throne than he had been in previous decades.

The prince, however, did understand the urgency in his father's voice. Ill tidings they discussed in their Woodland Realm concerned all the races of Middle-earth. It had them cautious and over-protective of their lands. As the Prince of Mirkwood, it was his duty to protect his people, just as much as it was the king's. And, that was what it all really came down to—duty and responsibility. It was inescapable.

He stayed strong for them even though Legolas had little strength for himself. And right now...he couldn't bring himself to think on the idea of finding a bride. Not yet. He would still hold off on the thought for as long as he could manage.

The elves also noticed the change in their prince. He hardly smiled anymore and conversed only when spoken to. But, even then, he didn't offer much more than a few sentences. Legolas went through the motions of the day but his mind and spirit were in another place.

It saddened his people to see him in such a state but there wasn't much they could do. The main speculation they had was that the servant really loved Adanion so Legolas banished her. Another gossip was that Legolas cheated on her—which was why she left—or vice versa. There were many stories and versions floating around the kingdom but no one could really provide a definite explanation.

Servants around the palace also knew better than to speak of such things around Dalorien. Even Minar kept her mouth shut. Although Dalorien didn't know Le'ariel's true reason for leaving, she still defended her daughter. In her heart, she knew her daughter had a good reason. Everyone remained quiet to avoid her foul mood for she was almost as bad as Minar. The whispers eventually began to fade over time, but not forgotten.

Sirawen and Velhar also tried to go about their daily routine as if nothing happened. But a disheartening cloud hovered over them. It was harder on Sirawen than Velhar. She missed her best friend dearly. After Le'ariel left, she finally told Velhar what she knew, which was the same thing Le'ariel told Legolas.

Velhar mustered enough courage to tell Keldir that he was no longer going to spy for him, no matter what he did to him. Keldir accepted his wishes and apologized for having him do it in the first place. To right his wrong, the captain gave Velhar a quiver full of arrows and a bow, all made especially for him.

To make amends with Sirawen, Velhar took Le'ariel's place and helped her with the washing and any other chores she needed help with. The time they spent together made them become even better friends than they were before. They also promised to tell each other everything to avoid further secrets. To fill Le'ariel's chambermaid position, Minar appointed another servant to take care of the Eastern corridor. Her name was Halien, a shy and timid elf. A female elf the head-servant thought would not catch the attention of the prince. She couldn't afford to lose another servant. Halien did her job well, but Le'ariel was better.

I I I

The prince heard something clinking by his window and saw streaks of rain grace the windowpane. It was raining again in Eryn Lasgalen. The weather only added to the way he already felt. However, he somewhat found comfort in it. Not every day can be sunny and pleasant. Change was always good, he said to himself.

A knock came to his door disrupting his thoughts. "Come in."

"Legolas?"

"Yes, mother, come in."

Queen Terulien peered inside and scanned the room to find him before she entered. He was still at his study table, carving away. "Do you have a moment?" she asked.

"Of course." Legolas grabs another chair and places it adjacent to him so his mother can sit.

"Thank you." She sat down and smiled softly at him. "May I ask how you are doing?"

"I am fine, mother. Father already tried talking to me earlier today." He thought it was another ploy for something he didn't want to do or discuss.

"Yes, I know..." She had an apologetic look on her face. "That is why I am here."

Legolas merely nodded silently and sighed quietly. "So, what can I do for you, mother?"

"There are plenty of things you could for me." She gently placed her hand on his arm. "But, we—your father and I—want to do something for you. You have done a wonderful service in protecting our kingdom and I know it came with many sacrifices." Legolas clenched his jaw but said nothing. "We only want your happiness, Legolas. And, I know that sometimes your father can be a little...abrasive. But, he means well."

"Yes, I know," he sighed again.

"Legolas, I want you smiling again." Terulien touched his cheek so she could see his face. "It pains me greatly to see you like this," she whispered.

"And did you think this is how I want to be?" Frustration started to build inside of him. Legolas stood, leaving his mother's hand in the air, and walked over to the window. She retreated her hand and placed it on her lap. "I am trying, mother...I truly am." The prince tried to contain his emotions as he looked blankly at the market place. "But, I still cannot ignore my heart for she has made such an imprint on it."

Pain washed over the queen. It hurt her for what she and the king decided to do. But she reminded herself that it was for the best and that not all of it was going to be by force. "Legolas. I came to tell you something else."

Her words began to worry him. "What else is there, mother?" His head finally turned toward her, not pleased.

His mother reached over and patted his seat. "Will you please come sit next to your mother?" she asked politely. His heart raced. The queen always had him sit down next to her whenever she had something important to say, something that would affect him. He breathed through his nose and obeyed, preparing himself for the news...whatever it was.