Slave to Hope
Chapter One: Learning to Breathe Again
Hello, good morning, how you do?
What makes your risin' sun so new?
I could use a fresh beginning too
All of my regrets are nothing new
So this is a way, that I say I need You
This is a way
This is a way
That I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that you and you alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies (Switchfoot: Learning to Breathe)
A tousled mane of curly black hair stirred at the clanking sound of a key turning in a lock and a door slowly scraping acrossed a stone floor as it opened.
"Wake up you lazy edain" You've work to do." A voice called from the single glow of light in the room that also happened to be coming from the open doorway.
The tousled curls stirred again this time revealing two glowing silver eyes hidden beneath the tangled foliage of hair.
The eyes continued to stare unblinkingly back at the distant voice.
"What are you waiting for boy? Get up. I don't have all day." The voice called out impatiently.
The only response was the clinking of chains emanating somewhere within the dark interior of the room.
"Tried to escape again did you? Should of known that was why they threw you back in here last night. Stubborn one, you are, but I suppose you'll learn soon enough." The voice sighed in agitation.
The silver eyes blinked once, silence filling the emptiness. A shadow fell across the tangled heap of hair and eyes blocking out the scant ray of light provided by the doorway, causing the black curls to stir slightly.
A lithe glowing form lowered itself gracefully till it was level with the silver beacons that stared unwaveringly, but guardedly back.
The ethereal being shook its head sternly at the defiance in those sparking silver orbs, meeting him stare for stare like an equal.
"Stop your fidgeting and let me unlock it." The glowing form responded his voice full of barely restrained contempt and exasperation.
The sound of rattling chains was heard as the slim flitter of light revealed a small bare leg with a cold metal clamp encompassing its slim ankle.
Two long delicate hands reached out towards the exposed leg. One grabbing tightly at the leg holding it steady while the other produced a key from the pocket of its white robe. The key was placed in the irregularly shaped hole ingrained in the metal cuff.
The clicking sound of a key again turning in a lock was followed by the cuff falling unceremoniously against the hard stone floor, exposing a red tender area upon the leg where the cuff had once resided.
"Look at your leg. You'll be limping for days now. You weak humans take so long to heal. You're completely useless to me now. Maybe I should give you to firithgalad (fading light) for the day. Perhaps he can knock some sense into you." The creature of light groused angrily.
The soar leg trembled visibly along with its owner. The sound of scuffling broke the resounding silence that followed as the trembling figure pushed itself further back into the darkness till only two wide frightened eyes were all that was visible.
"No...please." A timid voice whispered.
"So you do still have a tongue." The white robed form chided. "I thought perhaps you'd had it cut out. Your smart mouth finally getting the better of you."
"Please...please don't." the voice pleaded again unperturbed by his captor's jaunts.
"Please what...?" the golden haired creature taunted.
"Please don't let him have me." The voice croaked out tearfully as its owner cowered in the corner of the room.
"Please what...?" The glowing being repeated unbothered by the others fear wracked body. "You know what I want to hear boy. Show me you've learned your place and I'll let you get to your chores."
"Please....master." the voice hesitated before choking out the binding word as though parting with his very soul in the process.
A glint of light revealed a single tear falling from the silver eyes, dampening a pale white cheek.
The golden-haired entity gracefully walked across the room approaching the huddled form in the corner, its head bowed in shame.
Smiling triumphantly the elf, for that was what he was, petted his cowering human slave gently on its dark curly head like a loyal dog.
"Good edain. Now go wash up. No one ones a dirty human traipsing about the halls of Mirkwood. You've already wasted enough time this morning so no breakfast. You have five minutes to get ready and then I send Firithgalad to come and find you and I don't think he'll be nearly as understanding as I am, understand?"
The human child nodded its head silently dropping its eyes submissively, at the mention of Firithgalad's name, before scurrying from the room.
Rovan (rough bark) watched the retreating child coldly his eyes holding complete disdain. He would break that one soon enough. It was but a matter of time. Yes only a matter of time...
Time he just didn't have! The human slave hurried quickly to the slave's wash room. The room was empty now, most of the slaves already set to their tasks for the day.
The boy quickly splashed his face with cold dirty water, having been previously used by all the other slaves before him.
He quickly discarded his dirty clothes in a corner and grabbed an identical outfit from a stack of clean clothes. He pulled the drab gray slave garment over his head. Upon taking the accompanying pants, the child pulled them up carefully trying to avoid scraping his injured ankle.
The human hissed in pain as the cloth material inevitably brushed against his gashed ankle anyway, but he quickly ignored the pain knowing he didn't have time to properly clean the wound it he hoped to be on time and thus avoid Firithgalad's wraith.
Limping slightly, fiery pain pulsed from the boy's ankle, his pants rubbing his raw skin as he walked down the corridor.
He stopped first in the common room to retrieve a few logs to add to the dying fire. The room immediately brightened as a warm glow sparkled merrily from the fireplace.
It was true that elves did not experience the normal feelings of coldness that was common to the other races, especially humans. Yet the elves were very insistent upon keeping the fires lit. Perhaps to fight off the ever encroaching darkness of Mordor. And it was always this slave boy's particular task to ensure all the fires were well lit before the elves rose with the dawn.
The human boy continued his way down the corridor silently entering the room of each resident and dutifully ensuring each fireplace was glowing warmly as he left. He worked as quickly as he could knowing he was already running behind. He did not wish to walk in on an elf once they'd woken.
Elves did not often take kindly to being disturbed.
The curly harried child finally reached the end of the corridor, only two rooms remained, the prince's and the king's.
The boy leaned tiredly against the prince's door trying to even out his breathing.
Rushing through the hallway carrying out his early morning chores had quickly worn away the boy's already waning energy.
He hadn't eaten in two days and was starting to feel lightheaded with hunger.
Not to mention spending the past two days in darkness chained to the floor did nothing to improve his health. He may not have been an elf and thus quite as adverse to darkness, but it could still eat at the soul, especially of one with numorean blood. His ankle still stung painfully, throbbing uncontrollable in tune with his rapid heart rate and heavy breathing. The boy glanced quickly at his sore leg and was slightly aghast to discover a small red stain growing on his pant's leg.
The boy stifled a small cry, fear overtaking him. He would be in trouble. He'd ruined a piece of clothing.
The human slave slunk despairingly against the door as tears threatened to overflood his eyes.
Rovan would let Firithgalad have him now as punishment.
The boy couldn't stop the chills of fear from wracking his ackward frame as he thought of past horrors, and created new ones.
But just as quickly as the despair had set in it was gone as a wave of hope stilled the shaking child. The boy pushed himself firmly back up, his shoulders straight, head high, and eyes determinedly set.
He would run away.
He had tried countless times before throughout his young life, ending him in his most recent predicament as well. But he was resolute that this time he would succeed, as only a hope-bearer could be. He had to. He couldn't face Firithgalad again. Not again...
Once he finished his morning tasks he would sneak outside and run into the forest when no one was looking.
Simple, Right?
The boy had never been out of the palace grounds, except once a long time ago...
He did not know the forests. Nor where he would go if he even got past the palace gates that is. Not even how he expected to survive on his own. But in the mind of an eight-year-old boy such things were not important. He would face what came when the need arose. Until then out of thought, out of mind. So long as hope sustained him all was possible. A plan now firmly entrenched in the young slave's mind he quietly entered the prince's room immediately setting about the tasks of lighting the fire in the prince's fireplace. He was oblivious to his surroundings, as he dreamed of all the wonderful things that must lie outside the palace gates, a world waiting to be uncovered.
"You move quite silently for an edain." A voice drifted on the air coming from the further reaches of the room. "I didn't even realize you were in here until I heard you spark the flint." The voice continued appraisingly.
The human child looked up quickly from his task a look of startled surprise on his face. He turned towards the voice caught paralyzed as he made eye contact with the prince. The elven ruler was standing out on his balcony turned to look at the slave with mild interest as the boy held his gaze a few moments too long.
Realizing his error the human trembled slightly as he kneeled awkwardly like one unaccustomed to such behavior. He gritted his teeth holding in a hiss of pain as he jarred his ankle reminded once more of his injury.
Realizing he still held the prince's gaze the boy quickly dropped his eyes to the floor prepared to receive a blow for his disobedience. After all that was what Firithgalad and Rovan would have done.
"I...I'm sorry, Prince Legolas." The slave boy stammered out quickly. "I did not me...mean to disturb you. I did not realize you were awake. I would have knocked had I known. Please forgive me. I will return to ma...Lord Rovan for pu...punishment for my impu...impudence."
Legolas smiled slightly as he caught the boy's omission of the word master. This one was indeed a defiant one. He must be quite a handful for Lord Rovan.
"Neigh." Legolas replied reassuringly. "Punishment is not necessary. No harm is done. No ills committed. You did not disturb me for I did not sleep last night. My mind was troubled..." Legolas petered off as he glanced distractedly outside the window for a minute, worry creasing his forehead.
Then he abruptly turned back to the slave again asking rather bluntly, "What is your name boy?" The prince scanned over the boy inquiringly. The boy visibly relaxed as the threat of punishment seemed diminished and even raised his head from the ground, but did not lock eyes this time. The elves piercing eyes seemed able to look into his soul and he feared for what the elf might find.
"They call me Estelless, my lord"
"Ah..." Legolas nodded neutrally, offering no further comment. No doubt a cruel joke on Rovan's part.
He always did have a malicious sense of humor. Legolas thought sourly.
A brief silence ensued causing Estelless to squirm uncomfortably.
"Why are you troubled?" The boy blurted out hoping to end the ackward silence until sudden realization hit him full force. He had dared ask a question of one of the masters. A personal one at that and worse yet to a member of the royal family. The prince would not be so merciful this time.
It was viewed by many elves as an unforgivable indiscretion for a slave to dare and pry into their personal thoughts. He would be flogged for sure.
Estelless closed his eyes and bowed his head tensing as he waited for Prince Legolas to call for the guards.
"I'm sorry you highness. I should not have asked. It is not my place. Please don't call the guards. I will leave if you wish it."
Legolas found himself once more smiling at the child's innocent inquiry. Few would have dared ask him such a question much less a slave. The boy intrigued the elf prince immensely. He held a courage and insightful nature that was little seen in man or elf alike. And for an elf who was known to seldom ever smile it seemed this child had already elicited several acts of happiness from the prince in but a few minutes time.
Legolas walked smoothly across the room and gently laid his hand upon the human's head feeling long dark curls flutter against his fingertips.
The boy immediately tensed at the elf prince's touch shivers overtaking his small frame. Such a touch from an elf had always meant one of two things were to follow.
Either physical or sexual in nature.
Why couldn't he just learn to keep his mouth shut? Why couldn't he behave? Estelless berated himself as he felt tears stinging his eyes, but resolutely refused to allow them escape.
"All is well young one. You will not be harmed. You have done nothing wrong. Being forthright is an admirable quality. Do not lose it." Legolas replied with a soothing tenderness he had seldom expressed in his life. He couldn't quite explain what had come over him. Quickly replacing his stoic mask lest he reveal anything too personal Legolas turned from the boy quickly.
"Now come with me to the window I wish to look outside and perhaps I can explain a prince's troubled mind, if you still wish to know." Legolas called quietly over his shoulder lest the boy believe the prince was angry with him.
The elf walked back to stand of the balcony not offering the boy a backward glance, thoroughly expecting the boy to follow in his own time.
Legolas knew how important it was to have a few moments to collect one's self after having such an emotional break down and felt this child would appreciate the small consideration. So Legolas gazed peacefully out at the forest collecting his own troubled thoughts as well.
Estelless lifted his head hesitantly relieved the prince was no longer staring at him with those piercing blue eyes.
The prince was a curious oddity indeed. Estelless knew he had behaved inappropriately several times and thus far the prince had yet to reprimand him even once.
Estelless had never spoken to the prince before, but he had always seemed so cold and aloof, a slave far beneath his notice. The prince seldom even associated with his own kind and preferred solid in most instances. And yet now that Estelless had truly met the elf prince he wondered if perhaps this cold shoulder was all an act. Perhaps there was a compassionate gentle hearted creature beneath this hard outer exterior.
Estelless, a child far wiser than his age would predict, pondered this strange conundrum of an elf trying to puzzle out the curiosity that was prince Legolas.
Rising slowly the human child followed after the prince hiding his still evident limp as best he could as well as the accompanying winces of pain the shot up his leg and registered upon his face. He had no wish to appear weak before the prince, a great warrior in his own right.
Legolas cast a quick glance at the edain as he finally made his way to the prince's side. He caught a quick glance of pain? On the child's face. But before it could be identified the expression was lost, replaced by a look of curiosity and awe.
Legolas followed the human's gaze and let a small smile fall easily upon his face, as it seemed inclined to at the moment.
The forests of Mirkwood were indeed an impressive sight even with the ever- encroaching darkness. And for one who had never seen such before it could be positively breathtaking.
The view from this room was perhaps the best in the entire palace and that is why Legolas often stayed here in his moments of solitude. He would spend hours just gazing out his bedroom window swept away in the unsurpassed beauty of nature.
"Tell me what do you see?" Legolas questioned the awe struck boy.
"Freedom." The boy whispered back without thought or hesitation.
The prince's eyes widened slightly at the comment. To say the least it was most certainly not the answer he had been expecting. And yet as the prince gazed longing at the green expanse of nature he knew in his own heart how very true Estelless answer was.
For a prince and a slave both chained, one with metal cuffs and the other with cuffs of royal obligation, the wild free growing forest offered an irrevocable promise of escape. Both had lived most of their lives locked tightly within the confines of these palace walls one by force the other duty and yet both inescapably bound....
"Yes freedom." The elf prince sighed dreamily wishing he could walk amongst the trees once more. "However I was looking for a more tangible answer." Legolas rebutted seeking to return back to the original topic before the longing for flight became too great.
The boy expressed an identical gaze of dreamy longing as he too looked upon the green expanse before him as he pondered thoughtfully upon the prince's question.
After a moment Estelless began to list the most obvious answers.
"Trees...birds...flowers...a small hunting party of elves...a deer with her young..."
"Yes...yes those are all very true." Legolas answered as he gazed upon each item listed.
"And a terrible sense of darkness around it all." Estelless shuddered involuntary as though icy fingers ran down his spine and his eyes turned slightly dark and troubled.
Legolas again found himself quite surprised by the child's intuitive abilities. It seemed the child could sense the evil attacking these lands, an evil that ate at the prince's soul as the darkness grew.
"My you are indeed perceptive. And quite correct, but it is the latter that concerns me the most as you can already guess. There was a time when the forest did not hold such evil. My home was once known as Greenwood many years ago before the darkness came. Once we lived among the trees instead of hiding in these caves like...like dwarves." Legolas spat out bitterly lost in his own emotions.
Estelless took a small step back as the prince erupted into an angry tirade, sure any moment the elf royal would take his anger out upon the defenseless slave boy before him.
Such had happened often enough in Estelless' life that he had grown leery of elves when they were angered.
Legolas snapped back to reality as he caught movement from the corner of his eye. He turned towards the motion startled slightly as he remembered the small servant boy was still there.
The child had seen his angry ranting. Legolas felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment The prince prided himself on being able to control his emotions and did not often share such personal displays. Yet he seemed almost comfortable sharing these things with the boy. He could not explain why this was so. Even though it slightly wounded his pride he has found it rather therapeutic almost relieving to share this burden with another.
When the prince locked eyes with the retreating boy, Estelless immediately stopped his backwards advance fervently praying he could blend in with the scenery unnoticed.
Legolas walked towards the paralyzed youth placing a comforting hand on the boy's trembling shoulder causing the boy to twitch as though he'd been burned.
"Please don't hit me." The boy whimpered softly.
Legolas couldn't help a sigh escaping from his lips. It seemed all he could do was frighten the child. He just couldn't seem to control his emotions at all today. Sometimes his temper could be just as bad as his father's, king Thranduil, when he let his frustrations get the best of him.
"I'm sorry child." Legolas replied wearily. "I did not mean to scare you. Please no I would never harm you. I have let my despair get the best of me it seems. I feel the darkness growing closer day after day and I can not stop it. It weighs down my heart and clouds my mind stealing away all that is good until I am consumed with my hatred. It is utterly hopeless. We will never stop the dark lord from taking Mirkwood. We do not have the strength to oppose him. The elves are divided and weakened at the mercy of Sauron's whims. And I can do nothing to stop it. I must sit idly by and watch my home slowly destroyed." Legolas shook his head with despairing resignation and turned back to the balcony to think and mourn. "I should not burden you with such thoughts. You are still young. Appreciate the carefree days of childhood Estelless, for I hear they are too quickly gone in these dark days. Thank you for listening to my troubled mind. You are free to leave if you wish." The prince called over his shoulder dismissivly returning once more to his dark thoughts.
Estelless watched the prince return to his window paradise watching the prince seemingly drag his lithe body across the room as though his burdens were too great to bear. The boy felt saddened at the dark shadows the haunted eyes that should sparkle with mischief and life. The prince was perhaps a thousand years old now if not more and yet by elven standards still a child in his own rights as well, far too young to have to worry over the troubles of the world. Too young to watch the growing darkness when he should be playing pranks with his friends. Such a proud creature should not have shoulders stooped so in defeat. Estelless thought mournfully.
Estelless was relieved as the prince dismissed him, freeing the boy from this ackward situation. He could just leave and he would no longer have to look upon this sadly defeated young prince. He could just run from here and forget about those haunted eyes, forget about the frightening premonitions the prince had predicted.
And yet something kept the young slave boy rooted to the spot. As much as his head may have screamed for him to just leave this dark place with its dark thoughts and its dark prince his heart adamantly refused such action. Estelless could not bare to allow the prince nor any creature to suffer so while he did nothing to aid them. And this elf before him did not deserve such a fate.
Though Estelless had known the prince only for a short time he had come to see beneath this dark exterior there was a compassionate soul, a creature truly of the valar's grace. Prince Legolas held a greatness about him that could not be denied and a purity that seemed to call the very sun to his beck and call.
Estelless was resolute to help this tormented creature no matter the cost even if it meant sharing the prince's dark burdens. "There is always hope." Estelless called out steeling his courage as he addressed the prince.
Legolas turned around surprised to find the slave boy was still there. He blinked his eyes a few times unsure if the boy that stood before him really was the slave boy he had spoken to moments before.
This human stood with straight proud shoulders. His head was held high, and his eyes burned brightly with some inner power that seemed to spark their silver depths into an aura of light.
Legolas felt himself caught in the boys unerring gaze unable to see anything beyond those two silver balls of power and might. He felt himself tremble ever so slightly as a wave of warmth washed over the prince beating back the despair, fear, and anger posed to over come him.
Estelless walked determinedly towards the prince placing his hand gently but firmly upon the prince's arm allowing his energy to flow from himself into the elf prince's creating a blinding aura of light between himself and the elf royal.
Estelless could not explain what was happening he merely "felt" it was right. The young slave boy had learned at an early age he possessed a power he could not explain, merely that it seemed to heal things, to take away the darkness. It always left him feeling weak when he did it, but he was intent upon giving all he had if he could perhaps free the prince from the darkness gripping him.
As the boy's hand touched him Legolas was flooded with feelings of goodness and truth, but above all a sense of indestructible hope.
And in that moment the prince's natural glow pulsed into a blazing inferno of light that blinded all in its path. Burned as bright as the certainty he now felt that he had the strength to with stand any darkness, any evil. He was not so powerless as he imagined, Mirkwood was not so powerless. They would overcome Sauron's dominion, it was but a matter of time, a certainty not yet written in the history books.
The prince was overwhelmed with a mental freedom he had not felt in centuries, perhaps truly never felt at all. After what seemed like an eternity, but was only moments the light faded, but the hope remained.
Legolas felt weak and dazed yet contradictingly full of energy and life as never before.
"Who...what." Legolas slurred out shaking his groggy head as he slowly pulled out of his daze. "Wh...what happened?"
"I've never done a person before...I didn't think it would work." Estelless whispered.
"What...what did you do to me." Legolas demanded feeling confused and somewhat frightened of this unknown power.
Estelless looked at the prince with uncertainty. He didn't look angry, but how could the boy explain. Even he did not understand the power he had unleashed upon the prince. He started to back away hoping to make it to the door and escape. He was not sure what the prince's reaction would be and wished to be as far away from here as possible.
"No don't go...please." Legolas called to the retreating boy making no attempts to chase after the obviously distraught child. "Please I don't understand what has happened. I suddenly feel so ...free. What was it you said to me something about hope..."
"There is always hope." Estelless repeated himself hoping to appease the elf and be permitted to leave. He should have left well enough alone when he had the chance, but the prince had seemed so ...lost. "To deny hope only gives free reign to the darkness." The child added solemnly. "I merely helped you find it again."
"And how would a mere boy know so much about hope?" Legolas questioned in confusion.
"Because hope is all I have." Estelless replied simply dropping his gaze to the floor.
The prince could feel the young boy's sadness and wondered how one so young could seem so old. His shoulders seemed slumped as though bearing too many burdens. His striking silver eyes bore a wisdom from hard learned lessons. Should not children be carefree? Their lives should be filled with merriment and mischief, not fear, sadness, and loss, even if they were human. Legolas added as an after thought.
In that moment, Legolas, the prince of Mirkwood, began to question all he ever known. The seed of doubt had been planted.
Legolas had learned since he was an elfling that humans were weak and needed guidance and protection. They were a greedy violent race, uncivilized and self-destructive. But this boy, this human child, did not seem so terribly weak.
It was by this human slave's power alone that Legolas had found himself again where he was once lost in the shadows of his grief.
It was obvious humans did not have the physical strengths of the elves. They could not see as far, run as fast, move as stealthy, nor live as long, but was their blood not as red as any elves?
And perhaps what they lacked in strength they made up for it heart? If this mere eight-year-old boy was any indication of the human race. He had held off the darkness when a trained warrior hundreds of years his senior could not.
But no! Legolas' mind protested stubbornly. Remember Isuldur. His blood had been weak, his own heart easily swayed by the darkness thus inflicting evil on generations to come.
The elves had enslaved humans for good reason. They needed guidance...direction...supervision.
So why was it when he looked at this suffering child he felt as evil as an orc for forcing him into this life, a life he did not want. He could almost see the invisible chains binding the boy to a world he wished no part of. He was not happy here. He bore scars not completely faded and it did not take much thought to guess who had caused them. The child limped and Legolas sensed it was not a defect of birth seeing as blood stained the boy's pants leg.
And it was not this boy alone.
How many times had he walked through the palace and seen similar marks on other humans? How often had he ignored a slave being whipped and never even asked why? And what of the ones that mysteriously disappeared into the forest after being taken there by Firithgalad?
Who was truly the uncivilized monster?
The slave or the master?
Legolas' shoulders uncharacteristically stooped in shame, uncertainty clouding his eyes.
What was right? He just didn't know anymore.
Was he a monster?
Is that what he had become, that which he most despised?
Estelless seemed to know exactly what the prince was thinking. The boy laid a hand reassuringly on his arm smiling weakly.
"Do not fret...so long as there is hope there is still goodness in the world to be found and had. You are not to blame for the darkness in the world only for your unwillingness to share the light if you so choose."
"It seems young one your namesake is all wrong Estelless. No it doesn't suit such a hopeful boy like you at all." Legolas smiled placing his hand upon the boy's shoulder in a brotherly act of affection. "I think, if you'd allow, young one that I will call you Estel instead.
"I'd like that my lord." Estel offered the prince a rare smile, merriment dancing in his eyes.
"You may call me Legolas, if you wish. Formality is not necessary." The prince offered returning the boy's smile, joining in his happiness.
"Thank you Leg...Legolas." Estel replied with slight hesitation as he tested the name upon his lips, unused to it without its precursing title.
"Now that wasn't so hard to say, was it?" Legolas teased.
Before Estel could offer a friendly jest of his own a loud incessant knocking disrupted the comfortable feeling that had fallen over the room.
"Enter." Legolas called somewhat annoyed at the disturbance. It seemed duty never waited.
An elf entered the room bowing respectfully to the prince.
As the elf rose he locked eyes with Estel, a dark look coming over his face.
The young boy felt a shiver run up his spine and positioned himself slightly so the prince stood between him and the intruder.
"I'm sorry to disturb you prince Legolas. I just checked in with your father and found him quite distraught that his fire had not been set this morning. He awoke sure some evil had befallen Mirkwood and nearly ended up in the hall of Mandos. I tried to calm him as best I could, but I'm afraid he's still quite jumpy from the ordeal. It seems the worthless slave boy sent to do the task was shirking his duties. I assured the king the little miscreant would be punished to within an inch of his life."
Estel gulped fearfully as he realized the king's fire had completely slipped his mind and now the king's wraith would be upon him. He'd seen the king angry and paled as he imagined it directed at him.
And now Firithgalad had come for him.
Legolas was a bit disturbed by the look on Estel's face. If he's been frightened around Legolas he was utterly petrified now. What had Firithgalad done to the boy to elicit such fear the prince couldn't help but wonder.
"And now it seems the little trouble maker is in here disturbing the prince. Come here boy. I'm going to relieve you of that defiant streak of yours once and for all. You will learn your place and start respecting your betters." Firithgalad threatened impatiently, his voice demanding complete obedience.
Estel waveringly came foreword his eyes wide with terror.
"I...I'm sorry Firithgalad. I forgot. I...I didn't mean to." The young human quivered.
"You'll be sorry soon enough you lazy edain." The elf soldier spit out in disgust. "And it's master Firithgalad to you...slave."
Legolas halted Estel's forward progress with a stilling arm before the boy could walk past him. He couldn't let Firithgalad take the boy. Legolas had a disquieting feeling in the pit of his stomach that warned against such action. He felt an unquenchable need to protect the boy from one of his own guards and he couldn't quite explain why. He just knew things would not bode well for the boy if he allowed Firithgalad to have him.
"Come Firithgalad. I'm sure my father can live without his precious fire for one day." Legolas answered conversationally distracting the elf guard from Estel, his current quarry. "Surely your not telling me king Thranduil, a great king and warrior, was whimpering like an elfling just because he woke without his fire once in a century. I'm sure he can survive the day without having his precious fire without suffering any ill effects don't you think Firithgalad?"
"Y...yes of course my lord. I did not mean to imply..." Firithgalad stuttered out uncertainly.
Legolas had never questioned his actions before and the warning look in Legolas' eyes frightened him.
"And besides it was not the boy's fault. I had need of him." Legolas interrupted. "So if anyone was to blame it is I."
"Y...yes. I mean n...no... of course my Lord" Firithgalad stuttered unsure how to respond. "Allow me to remove this filthy human for your sight my lord if you have no other need of him. I will see to it personally that he gets back to his chores and disturbs you no further." The elf soldier replied seeking to remove himself from the prince's intense and quite discomforting gaze.
Firithgalad reached forward and grabbed Estel tightly by the wrist and began forcibly dragging the slave boy from the elf prince's chamber.
The boy paralyzed with fright could merely watch with a detached kind of horror as he was pulled from the safety of the prince's chambers.
Estel was certain that regardless of the prince's defense he would still be punished and with horrifying clarity the human boy knew he was powerless to stop it.
"Halt right there Firithgalad." Legolas commanded.
Firithgalad stopped immediately his back going rigid at the prince's command. He turned back around to face him liege pulling the boy possessively close to him.
"Yes prince Legolas?"
"I still have need of the boy. Leave him."
"Are you sure my lord?" Firithgalad blurted out hastily reluctant to release his charge. "Are you questioning me Firithgalad?" Legolas asked his eyes burning dangerously as the act of insubordination.
"N...no of course not." Firithgalad fumbled taken aback by the prince's powerful countenance.
"Good then you are dismissed."
"Thank you my lord." Firithgalad bent awkwardly relinquishing his hold on the human boy. As he turned the doorknob preparing to exit the elf prince called him back again.
"Oh and Firithgalad."
"Yes your highness was there something else?" The elf guard turned to face the prince once more an expression of curiosity on his face.
"Don't you think you owe an apology?"
"Of course. Do forgive me Prince Legolas. I grievously apologize for disrupting you."
"No not me...Estel."
"Estel...my lord?" Firithgalad exclaimed in confusion. "Who is Est..."
"The boy. I have altered his name, but slightly. Surely you can still recognize it easily enough. The other one, Estelless was really quite unbecoming. Really hardly a name you would give anyone, don't you agree? I don't know what fool of an elf came up with such a name even an orc could be more creative, but you will let the staff know of the change, wont you?"
"Certainly my lord." Firithgalad bristled at the insult for it had been his older brother Rovan and himself who had came up with the name deciding it quite funny. "I will inform them immediately."
"After you've apologized of course." Legolas interjected persistently pleased his insult had had its intended effect.
"But why?" Firithgalad complained begrudgingly.
"Because you have accused him of a misdeed he did not commit, slandering his character in the process." Legolas replied as though speaking to a small child. "The boy as you can clearly see did nothing wrong as you have falsely accused him."
"But lord he is edain." Firithgalad spit out bitterly. "A mere slave, hardly above notice."
"You forget who you speak to. Just because he is a slave and an edain doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings. And it does not mean he does not deserve respect. It certainly judges the content of one's character when one does not admit their faults. A fault of character unbecoming a warrior of Mirkwood I would think and no doubt King Thranduil would as well." "Prince Legolas. I beg your forgiveness for my indiscretion. I did not mean to offend you with my disrespect."
"Oh I know what you meant Firithgalad." Legolas narrowed his eyes accusingly. "Now give your apology and you may be on your way."
Firithgalad turned furious eyes on the young slave boy. It was this filthy edain's fault. He'd shamed him in the prince's eyes and it was the human's blood he would take in payment. The boy would learn his place and how very insignificant he was before his heart stilled. This inferior edain would know more pain than he'd ever imagined, begging for mercy before Firithgalad sent him to his death.
It was these thoughts only that kept the elf guard in check as he muttered out an insincere apology.
"Sorry slave." He muttered making a hasty retreat before the prince could reprimand him further.
Estel stood on quavering legs unable to stop the uncontrollable shivers that still wracked his scrawny frame even though Firithgalad was gone.
As he'd made eye contact with the elf guard he'd been blown away with the raw hate in the elf's eyes. Estel had not imagined Firithgalad could possibly hate him more than he already did and was appalled to learn how very wrong he was.
The young slave was certain the prince had only given him a small reprieve from the elf warrior's wraith.
The boy had seen his own doom reflected in those cold gray slated eyes promising him torment beyond any he could yet imagine. Estel shivered as he felt a wave of impending doom wash over him.
"Are you all right young one?" Legolas asked in concern, as the boy's shivers seemed to only have gotten worse since Firithgalad departed.
Estel visibly forced himself to cease his trembles and after a few deep meditative breaths returned to the calm relaxed state he had grown accustomed to while in the prince's presence.
Legolas was one of the few people he felt he could trust explicitly, a reasoning he could not quite explain so much as sense to be true.
"Yes I am well Legolas, Thank you." Estel replied as Legolas continued to stare at him expectantly as though awaiting a response.
"Thank me for what?" The prince asked in confusion.
"For defending me. Most elves would not stand up for a lowly slave as you have done." Estel replied with overwhelming gratitude in his eyes. "I am not worthy of such effort. I am but a worthless slave. If I had been paying attention I would have remembered, but I was just being a stupid edain again. Now the king is angry with me and I will surely incur his wraith. You should have let Firithgalad have me. I deserve to be punished for my thoughtlessness. I pray your father will not be angry with you for coming to my aid. I would not see you blamed for my inattention."
"I can assure you young one my father's "wraith" as you so elegantly put it is reserved for orcs, addle minded advisors, and wayward young princes, not young human children who make mistakes. I am sure Estel he has forgotten all about it, Firithgalad was merely being melodramatic. I imagine father probably hardly even noticed." Legolas smiled reassuringly at the boy patting him on the shoulder affectionately. "And what is this about you being a worthless slave. Where have you gotten that idea?" The prince demanded sternly.
"Because that is what I am." The boy replied solemnly. "A slave. Nothing of any importance. Merely a tool to be used. Firithgalad and Rovan have both said as much." Estel turned his head down in shame unable to face the prince's searching gaze.
Legolas placed his hand gently under the boy's chin forcing him to meet the prince's unwavering gaze.
"Well their both wrong. You are not worthless. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You have a powerful heart and I sense great things in your destiny. You may be many things, but I am certain worthless shall never be among them."
As Legolas finished his diatribe he realized he meant every word of it.
This boy had a grand destiny yet unrevealed that was woven to him like a blanket. The child contained a power, a light that had yet to be fully revealed, but once done Legolas knew would rival the very power of the Valar.
Estel smiled shyly back at the prince his cheeks red with modesty at the seldom unheard of words of praise.
"And it is I that should be thanking you." Legolas added. "I have been caught up for so long in my own despair that I had lost my reason to live. I had forgotten about goodness in the world, lost in misery and darkness. I could not feel or love or dream. I could not longer hear the song of life that flows throughout the earth filling elven ears with joy and laughter. But you have given me hope again. I can finally breathe again." Legolas took in a deep breath filling his lungs with the scent of life. "Thank you my young friend for setting me free."
Estel was left speechless by the impassioned speech. To be given the credit of redeeming a soul was nearly overwhelming.
And to be called friend by an elf, a prince at that was simple unthinkable.
"I did not give you hope Legolas. You had it locked way in here the whole time." Estel replied thoughtfully as he laid his hand briefly over the prince's heart. "I only helped you find it and unlock it again, is all."
"Your help was invaluable all the same." Legolas insisted in the face of the human's modesty.
The boy's face reddened more as he looked with bizarre interest at his feet which he shuffled about nervously unsure what to say in the face of such praise.
Legolas glanced at the window and was astonished to discover the sun was already quite high up in the sky. He had not realized how long they had been talking. His father would come looking for his soon.
King Thranduil was very strict about Legolas coming to counsel every day and would not be pleased if Legolas should miss without good excuse.
"I suppose I've kept you here long enough." Legolas replied uncertainly breaking the ackward silence.
Estel's head jerked up, fear evident in his wide eyes.
He had almost thought he could stay here in the prince's chambers forever. Completely safe from the lonely despair that tried to steal away his hope, a candle in a sea of darkness.
He would finally be free of the constant fear of punishment and humiliation. Free from the life of a slave at last.
But alas it was a childish fantasy.
Eventually he would have to face harsh reality once more, face Firithgalad.
The boy barred himself with resolve. He would face whatever waited for him outside these doors with his head held high. He was not worthless, the prince had told him so himself. He may have been a slave, but he still had purpose in this world. He still had hope of being more and so he could face anything.
Legolas saw the distress on the young human's face when he'd even suggested at the boy leaving. The prince found himself regretting his previous statement and wished he could just let the boy hideout until he was ready. But Legolas knew he could not shirk his duties no matter how much he sought to ease the boy's fear.
"I'm sorry young one." Legolas replied softly feeling a need to apologize.
Apologize not just for making the boy leave, but for being unable to change a society that could not except all of the valar's creatures as equal worthy beings. Apologize because such prejudice of the races would take the innocence of a boy and leave him a shadow of the child he deserved to be.
Apologize because the duties of a prince forced him to put his own people above the needs of this human boy who needed him so desperately.
"Neigh Legolas. You have nothing to apologize for. I can not hide away forever. What kind of man will I someday make if I am unable to face my own fears? Neigh Legolas if I am to have this great destiny you promise me then I shall have to accept what is and merely work to make it what It should be."
"You are very wise young one. I believe someday you shall indeed bring much needed change to this world and when that day comes I shall help you all I can." Legolas solemnly pledged.
"And I shall hold you to it prince." Estel teased giving Legolas a mock bow.
"Then I shall hold you to become a great man someday and heralding in a reign of peace and equality among the races of middle earth." Legolas countered easily a smile falling to his face.
"I don't know if that's a fair trade at all." Estel pretended to be deeply perplexed, but the merriment in his eyes made his act unsuccessful. "After all you only have to help, but I on the other hand must save all of middle earth. Now does that sound fair to you?"
Legolas looked thoughtful at the boy's predicament and rubbed his chin as though in deep thought on the issue.
"Well how about just Mirkwood first and we can work out from there." Legolas suggested helpfully. "If we work one land at a time I think we could obtain world peace in my lifetime."
"But you're immortal. You have an endless lifetime. I on the other hand have a much more mortal life span to consider." Estel pretend pouted stamping his foot like a disgruntled horse. "I want to live to see world peace too you know."
"Oh very well I suppose if we worked overtime and weekends we should perhaps have united all of middle earth by then." Legolas bantered. "Is that acceptable to his majesty Lord Estel hero of the free world." Legolas teased returning a mock bow to his young friend.
"Yes I suppose that will do." Estel smiled back cheekily.
"This whole mortality thing really is quite an inconvenience. Makes saving the world twice as hard." Legolas muttered under his lips knowing full well Estel heard every word of it.
"I beg your pardon prince Legolas for my mortal coil. When next I see the Valar I shall be sure to take it up with him. Perhaps while I am there he will explain to me why it is elves are so darn arrogant and why they are so obsessed with their hair. You would think that beings who have lived for thousands of years seeing all the great wonders of the world could find something more interesting than themselves." Estel laughed at his own jest.
"Yes well perhaps when next I see the Valar I shall ask him why humans seem to attract dirt to them like bees to honey."
"That is because we have not the time nor patience to partake in such foolish grazing."
"Grazing!" Legolas replied in shock sending Estel into a fit of laughter at the prince's gawk-eyed appearance. "Elves do not graze human! We're not oliphants."
"Could have fooled me." Estel taunted back.
"Why you." Legolas lightly threatened as he pretended to chase after the boy keeping a glint of play into his eyes and movements lest the boy get the wrong impression and become frightened once more.
"Off with you now." Legolas smiled shooing the boy along gently. "And get some food in you before you do anything if anyone tries to stop you tell them to take it up with me. You look like you haven't eaten in days. Your so pale looking. I'm amazed you've managed to stay upright this long."
Estel blushed but quickly averted his face lest the prince realize how true his words were.
Estel wished to cause the prince no more worries about his mistreatment.
Estel appreciated Legolas' concern for his well being, but the boy knew the prince's interference would only make things worse for him with Firithgalad and Rovan and he knew it was bad enough already.
So Estel hastily started to make his way down the hall lest his secret be revealed and started to make his way to the kitchens.
"And Estel." Legolas called down the hallway. "When your done eating have the healing ward take a look at that leg." The prince called out before turning back into his chambers to prepare for the day.
Estel smiled inwardly realizing the prince had realized he was injured all along. You couldn't get anything by an elf it seemed.
Hello, good morning, how you been?
Yesterday left my head kicked in
I never, never thought that
I would fall like that
Never knew that I could hurt this bad
I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that you and you alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies
These abundant skies
Yeah, abundant skies, yeah (Switchfoot: Learning to Breathe)
Legolas dropped his smile as he turned back into his chambers away from the prying eyes of his new human companion.
He feared for the boy's safety.
Estel had tried to hide his face when Legolas joked that he looked like he hadn't eaten in days, but Legolas had seen the hungry longing in those two silver orbs. Estel truly hadn't eaten in days.
Who could deprive a child of food? Who could let anyone starve that way?
The boy had been so pale, so weak looking as though every step he took was an effort in and of itself.
And what of the boy's strange injury? The red marker on the child's pant's leg easily pointed out all was not right if the limp itself did not give the grievous injury away. What could have caused such an injury?
Legolas hadn't seen the actually injury, but he had his suspicions as to its instigator. Yet he feared to tread such ground. Had the boy been chained? Like an animal? It made Legolas sick to even think anyone could treat another living creature that way. Who could be so cold heart, so cruel?
Legolas stared resolutely out the window making a silent promise he would help this young human slave boy in anyway he could, but he couldn't help but wonder....
Would it be enough?
Chapter One: Learning to Breathe Again
Hello, good morning, how you do?
What makes your risin' sun so new?
I could use a fresh beginning too
All of my regrets are nothing new
So this is a way, that I say I need You
This is a way
This is a way
That I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that you and you alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies (Switchfoot: Learning to Breathe)
A tousled mane of curly black hair stirred at the clanking sound of a key turning in a lock and a door slowly scraping acrossed a stone floor as it opened.
"Wake up you lazy edain" You've work to do." A voice called from the single glow of light in the room that also happened to be coming from the open doorway.
The tousled curls stirred again this time revealing two glowing silver eyes hidden beneath the tangled foliage of hair.
The eyes continued to stare unblinkingly back at the distant voice.
"What are you waiting for boy? Get up. I don't have all day." The voice called out impatiently.
The only response was the clinking of chains emanating somewhere within the dark interior of the room.
"Tried to escape again did you? Should of known that was why they threw you back in here last night. Stubborn one, you are, but I suppose you'll learn soon enough." The voice sighed in agitation.
The silver eyes blinked once, silence filling the emptiness. A shadow fell across the tangled heap of hair and eyes blocking out the scant ray of light provided by the doorway, causing the black curls to stir slightly.
A lithe glowing form lowered itself gracefully till it was level with the silver beacons that stared unwaveringly, but guardedly back.
The ethereal being shook its head sternly at the defiance in those sparking silver orbs, meeting him stare for stare like an equal.
"Stop your fidgeting and let me unlock it." The glowing form responded his voice full of barely restrained contempt and exasperation.
The sound of rattling chains was heard as the slim flitter of light revealed a small bare leg with a cold metal clamp encompassing its slim ankle.
Two long delicate hands reached out towards the exposed leg. One grabbing tightly at the leg holding it steady while the other produced a key from the pocket of its white robe. The key was placed in the irregularly shaped hole ingrained in the metal cuff.
The clicking sound of a key again turning in a lock was followed by the cuff falling unceremoniously against the hard stone floor, exposing a red tender area upon the leg where the cuff had once resided.
"Look at your leg. You'll be limping for days now. You weak humans take so long to heal. You're completely useless to me now. Maybe I should give you to firithgalad (fading light) for the day. Perhaps he can knock some sense into you." The creature of light groused angrily.
The soar leg trembled visibly along with its owner. The sound of scuffling broke the resounding silence that followed as the trembling figure pushed itself further back into the darkness till only two wide frightened eyes were all that was visible.
"No...please." A timid voice whispered.
"So you do still have a tongue." The white robed form chided. "I thought perhaps you'd had it cut out. Your smart mouth finally getting the better of you."
"Please...please don't." the voice pleaded again unperturbed by his captor's jaunts.
"Please what...?" the golden haired creature taunted.
"Please don't let him have me." The voice croaked out tearfully as its owner cowered in the corner of the room.
"Please what...?" The glowing being repeated unbothered by the others fear wracked body. "You know what I want to hear boy. Show me you've learned your place and I'll let you get to your chores."
"Please....master." the voice hesitated before choking out the binding word as though parting with his very soul in the process.
A glint of light revealed a single tear falling from the silver eyes, dampening a pale white cheek.
The golden-haired entity gracefully walked across the room approaching the huddled form in the corner, its head bowed in shame.
Smiling triumphantly the elf, for that was what he was, petted his cowering human slave gently on its dark curly head like a loyal dog.
"Good edain. Now go wash up. No one ones a dirty human traipsing about the halls of Mirkwood. You've already wasted enough time this morning so no breakfast. You have five minutes to get ready and then I send Firithgalad to come and find you and I don't think he'll be nearly as understanding as I am, understand?"
The human child nodded its head silently dropping its eyes submissively, at the mention of Firithgalad's name, before scurrying from the room.
Rovan (rough bark) watched the retreating child coldly his eyes holding complete disdain. He would break that one soon enough. It was but a matter of time. Yes only a matter of time...
Time he just didn't have! The human slave hurried quickly to the slave's wash room. The room was empty now, most of the slaves already set to their tasks for the day.
The boy quickly splashed his face with cold dirty water, having been previously used by all the other slaves before him.
He quickly discarded his dirty clothes in a corner and grabbed an identical outfit from a stack of clean clothes. He pulled the drab gray slave garment over his head. Upon taking the accompanying pants, the child pulled them up carefully trying to avoid scraping his injured ankle.
The human hissed in pain as the cloth material inevitably brushed against his gashed ankle anyway, but he quickly ignored the pain knowing he didn't have time to properly clean the wound it he hoped to be on time and thus avoid Firithgalad's wraith.
Limping slightly, fiery pain pulsed from the boy's ankle, his pants rubbing his raw skin as he walked down the corridor.
He stopped first in the common room to retrieve a few logs to add to the dying fire. The room immediately brightened as a warm glow sparkled merrily from the fireplace.
It was true that elves did not experience the normal feelings of coldness that was common to the other races, especially humans. Yet the elves were very insistent upon keeping the fires lit. Perhaps to fight off the ever encroaching darkness of Mordor. And it was always this slave boy's particular task to ensure all the fires were well lit before the elves rose with the dawn.
The human boy continued his way down the corridor silently entering the room of each resident and dutifully ensuring each fireplace was glowing warmly as he left. He worked as quickly as he could knowing he was already running behind. He did not wish to walk in on an elf once they'd woken.
Elves did not often take kindly to being disturbed.
The curly harried child finally reached the end of the corridor, only two rooms remained, the prince's and the king's.
The boy leaned tiredly against the prince's door trying to even out his breathing.
Rushing through the hallway carrying out his early morning chores had quickly worn away the boy's already waning energy.
He hadn't eaten in two days and was starting to feel lightheaded with hunger.
Not to mention spending the past two days in darkness chained to the floor did nothing to improve his health. He may not have been an elf and thus quite as adverse to darkness, but it could still eat at the soul, especially of one with numorean blood. His ankle still stung painfully, throbbing uncontrollable in tune with his rapid heart rate and heavy breathing. The boy glanced quickly at his sore leg and was slightly aghast to discover a small red stain growing on his pant's leg.
The boy stifled a small cry, fear overtaking him. He would be in trouble. He'd ruined a piece of clothing.
The human slave slunk despairingly against the door as tears threatened to overflood his eyes.
Rovan would let Firithgalad have him now as punishment.
The boy couldn't stop the chills of fear from wracking his ackward frame as he thought of past horrors, and created new ones.
But just as quickly as the despair had set in it was gone as a wave of hope stilled the shaking child. The boy pushed himself firmly back up, his shoulders straight, head high, and eyes determinedly set.
He would run away.
He had tried countless times before throughout his young life, ending him in his most recent predicament as well. But he was resolute that this time he would succeed, as only a hope-bearer could be. He had to. He couldn't face Firithgalad again. Not again...
Once he finished his morning tasks he would sneak outside and run into the forest when no one was looking.
Simple, Right?
The boy had never been out of the palace grounds, except once a long time ago...
He did not know the forests. Nor where he would go if he even got past the palace gates that is. Not even how he expected to survive on his own. But in the mind of an eight-year-old boy such things were not important. He would face what came when the need arose. Until then out of thought, out of mind. So long as hope sustained him all was possible. A plan now firmly entrenched in the young slave's mind he quietly entered the prince's room immediately setting about the tasks of lighting the fire in the prince's fireplace. He was oblivious to his surroundings, as he dreamed of all the wonderful things that must lie outside the palace gates, a world waiting to be uncovered.
"You move quite silently for an edain." A voice drifted on the air coming from the further reaches of the room. "I didn't even realize you were in here until I heard you spark the flint." The voice continued appraisingly.
The human child looked up quickly from his task a look of startled surprise on his face. He turned towards the voice caught paralyzed as he made eye contact with the prince. The elven ruler was standing out on his balcony turned to look at the slave with mild interest as the boy held his gaze a few moments too long.
Realizing his error the human trembled slightly as he kneeled awkwardly like one unaccustomed to such behavior. He gritted his teeth holding in a hiss of pain as he jarred his ankle reminded once more of his injury.
Realizing he still held the prince's gaze the boy quickly dropped his eyes to the floor prepared to receive a blow for his disobedience. After all that was what Firithgalad and Rovan would have done.
"I...I'm sorry, Prince Legolas." The slave boy stammered out quickly. "I did not me...mean to disturb you. I did not realize you were awake. I would have knocked had I known. Please forgive me. I will return to ma...Lord Rovan for pu...punishment for my impu...impudence."
Legolas smiled slightly as he caught the boy's omission of the word master. This one was indeed a defiant one. He must be quite a handful for Lord Rovan.
"Neigh." Legolas replied reassuringly. "Punishment is not necessary. No harm is done. No ills committed. You did not disturb me for I did not sleep last night. My mind was troubled..." Legolas petered off as he glanced distractedly outside the window for a minute, worry creasing his forehead.
Then he abruptly turned back to the slave again asking rather bluntly, "What is your name boy?" The prince scanned over the boy inquiringly. The boy visibly relaxed as the threat of punishment seemed diminished and even raised his head from the ground, but did not lock eyes this time. The elves piercing eyes seemed able to look into his soul and he feared for what the elf might find.
"They call me Estelless, my lord"
"Ah..." Legolas nodded neutrally, offering no further comment. No doubt a cruel joke on Rovan's part.
He always did have a malicious sense of humor. Legolas thought sourly.
A brief silence ensued causing Estelless to squirm uncomfortably.
"Why are you troubled?" The boy blurted out hoping to end the ackward silence until sudden realization hit him full force. He had dared ask a question of one of the masters. A personal one at that and worse yet to a member of the royal family. The prince would not be so merciful this time.
It was viewed by many elves as an unforgivable indiscretion for a slave to dare and pry into their personal thoughts. He would be flogged for sure.
Estelless closed his eyes and bowed his head tensing as he waited for Prince Legolas to call for the guards.
"I'm sorry you highness. I should not have asked. It is not my place. Please don't call the guards. I will leave if you wish it."
Legolas found himself once more smiling at the child's innocent inquiry. Few would have dared ask him such a question much less a slave. The boy intrigued the elf prince immensely. He held a courage and insightful nature that was little seen in man or elf alike. And for an elf who was known to seldom ever smile it seemed this child had already elicited several acts of happiness from the prince in but a few minutes time.
Legolas walked smoothly across the room and gently laid his hand upon the human's head feeling long dark curls flutter against his fingertips.
The boy immediately tensed at the elf prince's touch shivers overtaking his small frame. Such a touch from an elf had always meant one of two things were to follow.
Either physical or sexual in nature.
Why couldn't he just learn to keep his mouth shut? Why couldn't he behave? Estelless berated himself as he felt tears stinging his eyes, but resolutely refused to allow them escape.
"All is well young one. You will not be harmed. You have done nothing wrong. Being forthright is an admirable quality. Do not lose it." Legolas replied with a soothing tenderness he had seldom expressed in his life. He couldn't quite explain what had come over him. Quickly replacing his stoic mask lest he reveal anything too personal Legolas turned from the boy quickly.
"Now come with me to the window I wish to look outside and perhaps I can explain a prince's troubled mind, if you still wish to know." Legolas called quietly over his shoulder lest the boy believe the prince was angry with him.
The elf walked back to stand of the balcony not offering the boy a backward glance, thoroughly expecting the boy to follow in his own time.
Legolas knew how important it was to have a few moments to collect one's self after having such an emotional break down and felt this child would appreciate the small consideration. So Legolas gazed peacefully out at the forest collecting his own troubled thoughts as well.
Estelless lifted his head hesitantly relieved the prince was no longer staring at him with those piercing blue eyes.
The prince was a curious oddity indeed. Estelless knew he had behaved inappropriately several times and thus far the prince had yet to reprimand him even once.
Estelless had never spoken to the prince before, but he had always seemed so cold and aloof, a slave far beneath his notice. The prince seldom even associated with his own kind and preferred solid in most instances. And yet now that Estelless had truly met the elf prince he wondered if perhaps this cold shoulder was all an act. Perhaps there was a compassionate gentle hearted creature beneath this hard outer exterior.
Estelless, a child far wiser than his age would predict, pondered this strange conundrum of an elf trying to puzzle out the curiosity that was prince Legolas.
Rising slowly the human child followed after the prince hiding his still evident limp as best he could as well as the accompanying winces of pain the shot up his leg and registered upon his face. He had no wish to appear weak before the prince, a great warrior in his own right.
Legolas cast a quick glance at the edain as he finally made his way to the prince's side. He caught a quick glance of pain? On the child's face. But before it could be identified the expression was lost, replaced by a look of curiosity and awe.
Legolas followed the human's gaze and let a small smile fall easily upon his face, as it seemed inclined to at the moment.
The forests of Mirkwood were indeed an impressive sight even with the ever- encroaching darkness. And for one who had never seen such before it could be positively breathtaking.
The view from this room was perhaps the best in the entire palace and that is why Legolas often stayed here in his moments of solitude. He would spend hours just gazing out his bedroom window swept away in the unsurpassed beauty of nature.
"Tell me what do you see?" Legolas questioned the awe struck boy.
"Freedom." The boy whispered back without thought or hesitation.
The prince's eyes widened slightly at the comment. To say the least it was most certainly not the answer he had been expecting. And yet as the prince gazed longing at the green expanse of nature he knew in his own heart how very true Estelless answer was.
For a prince and a slave both chained, one with metal cuffs and the other with cuffs of royal obligation, the wild free growing forest offered an irrevocable promise of escape. Both had lived most of their lives locked tightly within the confines of these palace walls one by force the other duty and yet both inescapably bound....
"Yes freedom." The elf prince sighed dreamily wishing he could walk amongst the trees once more. "However I was looking for a more tangible answer." Legolas rebutted seeking to return back to the original topic before the longing for flight became too great.
The boy expressed an identical gaze of dreamy longing as he too looked upon the green expanse before him as he pondered thoughtfully upon the prince's question.
After a moment Estelless began to list the most obvious answers.
"Trees...birds...flowers...a small hunting party of elves...a deer with her young..."
"Yes...yes those are all very true." Legolas answered as he gazed upon each item listed.
"And a terrible sense of darkness around it all." Estelless shuddered involuntary as though icy fingers ran down his spine and his eyes turned slightly dark and troubled.
Legolas again found himself quite surprised by the child's intuitive abilities. It seemed the child could sense the evil attacking these lands, an evil that ate at the prince's soul as the darkness grew.
"My you are indeed perceptive. And quite correct, but it is the latter that concerns me the most as you can already guess. There was a time when the forest did not hold such evil. My home was once known as Greenwood many years ago before the darkness came. Once we lived among the trees instead of hiding in these caves like...like dwarves." Legolas spat out bitterly lost in his own emotions.
Estelless took a small step back as the prince erupted into an angry tirade, sure any moment the elf royal would take his anger out upon the defenseless slave boy before him.
Such had happened often enough in Estelless' life that he had grown leery of elves when they were angered.
Legolas snapped back to reality as he caught movement from the corner of his eye. He turned towards the motion startled slightly as he remembered the small servant boy was still there.
The child had seen his angry ranting. Legolas felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment The prince prided himself on being able to control his emotions and did not often share such personal displays. Yet he seemed almost comfortable sharing these things with the boy. He could not explain why this was so. Even though it slightly wounded his pride he has found it rather therapeutic almost relieving to share this burden with another.
When the prince locked eyes with the retreating boy, Estelless immediately stopped his backwards advance fervently praying he could blend in with the scenery unnoticed.
Legolas walked towards the paralyzed youth placing a comforting hand on the boy's trembling shoulder causing the boy to twitch as though he'd been burned.
"Please don't hit me." The boy whimpered softly.
Legolas couldn't help a sigh escaping from his lips. It seemed all he could do was frighten the child. He just couldn't seem to control his emotions at all today. Sometimes his temper could be just as bad as his father's, king Thranduil, when he let his frustrations get the best of him.
"I'm sorry child." Legolas replied wearily. "I did not mean to scare you. Please no I would never harm you. I have let my despair get the best of me it seems. I feel the darkness growing closer day after day and I can not stop it. It weighs down my heart and clouds my mind stealing away all that is good until I am consumed with my hatred. It is utterly hopeless. We will never stop the dark lord from taking Mirkwood. We do not have the strength to oppose him. The elves are divided and weakened at the mercy of Sauron's whims. And I can do nothing to stop it. I must sit idly by and watch my home slowly destroyed." Legolas shook his head with despairing resignation and turned back to the balcony to think and mourn. "I should not burden you with such thoughts. You are still young. Appreciate the carefree days of childhood Estelless, for I hear they are too quickly gone in these dark days. Thank you for listening to my troubled mind. You are free to leave if you wish." The prince called over his shoulder dismissivly returning once more to his dark thoughts.
Estelless watched the prince return to his window paradise watching the prince seemingly drag his lithe body across the room as though his burdens were too great to bear. The boy felt saddened at the dark shadows the haunted eyes that should sparkle with mischief and life. The prince was perhaps a thousand years old now if not more and yet by elven standards still a child in his own rights as well, far too young to have to worry over the troubles of the world. Too young to watch the growing darkness when he should be playing pranks with his friends. Such a proud creature should not have shoulders stooped so in defeat. Estelless thought mournfully.
Estelless was relieved as the prince dismissed him, freeing the boy from this ackward situation. He could just leave and he would no longer have to look upon this sadly defeated young prince. He could just run from here and forget about those haunted eyes, forget about the frightening premonitions the prince had predicted.
And yet something kept the young slave boy rooted to the spot. As much as his head may have screamed for him to just leave this dark place with its dark thoughts and its dark prince his heart adamantly refused such action. Estelless could not bare to allow the prince nor any creature to suffer so while he did nothing to aid them. And this elf before him did not deserve such a fate.
Though Estelless had known the prince only for a short time he had come to see beneath this dark exterior there was a compassionate soul, a creature truly of the valar's grace. Prince Legolas held a greatness about him that could not be denied and a purity that seemed to call the very sun to his beck and call.
Estelless was resolute to help this tormented creature no matter the cost even if it meant sharing the prince's dark burdens. "There is always hope." Estelless called out steeling his courage as he addressed the prince.
Legolas turned around surprised to find the slave boy was still there. He blinked his eyes a few times unsure if the boy that stood before him really was the slave boy he had spoken to moments before.
This human stood with straight proud shoulders. His head was held high, and his eyes burned brightly with some inner power that seemed to spark their silver depths into an aura of light.
Legolas felt himself caught in the boys unerring gaze unable to see anything beyond those two silver balls of power and might. He felt himself tremble ever so slightly as a wave of warmth washed over the prince beating back the despair, fear, and anger posed to over come him.
Estelless walked determinedly towards the prince placing his hand gently but firmly upon the prince's arm allowing his energy to flow from himself into the elf prince's creating a blinding aura of light between himself and the elf royal.
Estelless could not explain what was happening he merely "felt" it was right. The young slave boy had learned at an early age he possessed a power he could not explain, merely that it seemed to heal things, to take away the darkness. It always left him feeling weak when he did it, but he was intent upon giving all he had if he could perhaps free the prince from the darkness gripping him.
As the boy's hand touched him Legolas was flooded with feelings of goodness and truth, but above all a sense of indestructible hope.
And in that moment the prince's natural glow pulsed into a blazing inferno of light that blinded all in its path. Burned as bright as the certainty he now felt that he had the strength to with stand any darkness, any evil. He was not so powerless as he imagined, Mirkwood was not so powerless. They would overcome Sauron's dominion, it was but a matter of time, a certainty not yet written in the history books.
The prince was overwhelmed with a mental freedom he had not felt in centuries, perhaps truly never felt at all. After what seemed like an eternity, but was only moments the light faded, but the hope remained.
Legolas felt weak and dazed yet contradictingly full of energy and life as never before.
"Who...what." Legolas slurred out shaking his groggy head as he slowly pulled out of his daze. "Wh...what happened?"
"I've never done a person before...I didn't think it would work." Estelless whispered.
"What...what did you do to me." Legolas demanded feeling confused and somewhat frightened of this unknown power.
Estelless looked at the prince with uncertainty. He didn't look angry, but how could the boy explain. Even he did not understand the power he had unleashed upon the prince. He started to back away hoping to make it to the door and escape. He was not sure what the prince's reaction would be and wished to be as far away from here as possible.
"No don't go...please." Legolas called to the retreating boy making no attempts to chase after the obviously distraught child. "Please I don't understand what has happened. I suddenly feel so ...free. What was it you said to me something about hope..."
"There is always hope." Estelless repeated himself hoping to appease the elf and be permitted to leave. He should have left well enough alone when he had the chance, but the prince had seemed so ...lost. "To deny hope only gives free reign to the darkness." The child added solemnly. "I merely helped you find it again."
"And how would a mere boy know so much about hope?" Legolas questioned in confusion.
"Because hope is all I have." Estelless replied simply dropping his gaze to the floor.
The prince could feel the young boy's sadness and wondered how one so young could seem so old. His shoulders seemed slumped as though bearing too many burdens. His striking silver eyes bore a wisdom from hard learned lessons. Should not children be carefree? Their lives should be filled with merriment and mischief, not fear, sadness, and loss, even if they were human. Legolas added as an after thought.
In that moment, Legolas, the prince of Mirkwood, began to question all he ever known. The seed of doubt had been planted.
Legolas had learned since he was an elfling that humans were weak and needed guidance and protection. They were a greedy violent race, uncivilized and self-destructive. But this boy, this human child, did not seem so terribly weak.
It was by this human slave's power alone that Legolas had found himself again where he was once lost in the shadows of his grief.
It was obvious humans did not have the physical strengths of the elves. They could not see as far, run as fast, move as stealthy, nor live as long, but was their blood not as red as any elves?
And perhaps what they lacked in strength they made up for it heart? If this mere eight-year-old boy was any indication of the human race. He had held off the darkness when a trained warrior hundreds of years his senior could not.
But no! Legolas' mind protested stubbornly. Remember Isuldur. His blood had been weak, his own heart easily swayed by the darkness thus inflicting evil on generations to come.
The elves had enslaved humans for good reason. They needed guidance...direction...supervision.
So why was it when he looked at this suffering child he felt as evil as an orc for forcing him into this life, a life he did not want. He could almost see the invisible chains binding the boy to a world he wished no part of. He was not happy here. He bore scars not completely faded and it did not take much thought to guess who had caused them. The child limped and Legolas sensed it was not a defect of birth seeing as blood stained the boy's pants leg.
And it was not this boy alone.
How many times had he walked through the palace and seen similar marks on other humans? How often had he ignored a slave being whipped and never even asked why? And what of the ones that mysteriously disappeared into the forest after being taken there by Firithgalad?
Who was truly the uncivilized monster?
The slave or the master?
Legolas' shoulders uncharacteristically stooped in shame, uncertainty clouding his eyes.
What was right? He just didn't know anymore.
Was he a monster?
Is that what he had become, that which he most despised?
Estelless seemed to know exactly what the prince was thinking. The boy laid a hand reassuringly on his arm smiling weakly.
"Do not fret...so long as there is hope there is still goodness in the world to be found and had. You are not to blame for the darkness in the world only for your unwillingness to share the light if you so choose."
"It seems young one your namesake is all wrong Estelless. No it doesn't suit such a hopeful boy like you at all." Legolas smiled placing his hand upon the boy's shoulder in a brotherly act of affection. "I think, if you'd allow, young one that I will call you Estel instead.
"I'd like that my lord." Estel offered the prince a rare smile, merriment dancing in his eyes.
"You may call me Legolas, if you wish. Formality is not necessary." The prince offered returning the boy's smile, joining in his happiness.
"Thank you Leg...Legolas." Estel replied with slight hesitation as he tested the name upon his lips, unused to it without its precursing title.
"Now that wasn't so hard to say, was it?" Legolas teased.
Before Estel could offer a friendly jest of his own a loud incessant knocking disrupted the comfortable feeling that had fallen over the room.
"Enter." Legolas called somewhat annoyed at the disturbance. It seemed duty never waited.
An elf entered the room bowing respectfully to the prince.
As the elf rose he locked eyes with Estel, a dark look coming over his face.
The young boy felt a shiver run up his spine and positioned himself slightly so the prince stood between him and the intruder.
"I'm sorry to disturb you prince Legolas. I just checked in with your father and found him quite distraught that his fire had not been set this morning. He awoke sure some evil had befallen Mirkwood and nearly ended up in the hall of Mandos. I tried to calm him as best I could, but I'm afraid he's still quite jumpy from the ordeal. It seems the worthless slave boy sent to do the task was shirking his duties. I assured the king the little miscreant would be punished to within an inch of his life."
Estel gulped fearfully as he realized the king's fire had completely slipped his mind and now the king's wraith would be upon him. He'd seen the king angry and paled as he imagined it directed at him.
And now Firithgalad had come for him.
Legolas was a bit disturbed by the look on Estel's face. If he's been frightened around Legolas he was utterly petrified now. What had Firithgalad done to the boy to elicit such fear the prince couldn't help but wonder.
"And now it seems the little trouble maker is in here disturbing the prince. Come here boy. I'm going to relieve you of that defiant streak of yours once and for all. You will learn your place and start respecting your betters." Firithgalad threatened impatiently, his voice demanding complete obedience.
Estel waveringly came foreword his eyes wide with terror.
"I...I'm sorry Firithgalad. I forgot. I...I didn't mean to." The young human quivered.
"You'll be sorry soon enough you lazy edain." The elf soldier spit out in disgust. "And it's master Firithgalad to you...slave."
Legolas halted Estel's forward progress with a stilling arm before the boy could walk past him. He couldn't let Firithgalad take the boy. Legolas had a disquieting feeling in the pit of his stomach that warned against such action. He felt an unquenchable need to protect the boy from one of his own guards and he couldn't quite explain why. He just knew things would not bode well for the boy if he allowed Firithgalad to have him.
"Come Firithgalad. I'm sure my father can live without his precious fire for one day." Legolas answered conversationally distracting the elf guard from Estel, his current quarry. "Surely your not telling me king Thranduil, a great king and warrior, was whimpering like an elfling just because he woke without his fire once in a century. I'm sure he can survive the day without having his precious fire without suffering any ill effects don't you think Firithgalad?"
"Y...yes of course my lord. I did not mean to imply..." Firithgalad stuttered out uncertainly.
Legolas had never questioned his actions before and the warning look in Legolas' eyes frightened him.
"And besides it was not the boy's fault. I had need of him." Legolas interrupted. "So if anyone was to blame it is I."
"Y...yes. I mean n...no... of course my Lord" Firithgalad stuttered unsure how to respond. "Allow me to remove this filthy human for your sight my lord if you have no other need of him. I will see to it personally that he gets back to his chores and disturbs you no further." The elf soldier replied seeking to remove himself from the prince's intense and quite discomforting gaze.
Firithgalad reached forward and grabbed Estel tightly by the wrist and began forcibly dragging the slave boy from the elf prince's chamber.
The boy paralyzed with fright could merely watch with a detached kind of horror as he was pulled from the safety of the prince's chambers.
Estel was certain that regardless of the prince's defense he would still be punished and with horrifying clarity the human boy knew he was powerless to stop it.
"Halt right there Firithgalad." Legolas commanded.
Firithgalad stopped immediately his back going rigid at the prince's command. He turned back around to face him liege pulling the boy possessively close to him.
"Yes prince Legolas?"
"I still have need of the boy. Leave him."
"Are you sure my lord?" Firithgalad blurted out hastily reluctant to release his charge. "Are you questioning me Firithgalad?" Legolas asked his eyes burning dangerously as the act of insubordination.
"N...no of course not." Firithgalad fumbled taken aback by the prince's powerful countenance.
"Good then you are dismissed."
"Thank you my lord." Firithgalad bent awkwardly relinquishing his hold on the human boy. As he turned the doorknob preparing to exit the elf prince called him back again.
"Oh and Firithgalad."
"Yes your highness was there something else?" The elf guard turned to face the prince once more an expression of curiosity on his face.
"Don't you think you owe an apology?"
"Of course. Do forgive me Prince Legolas. I grievously apologize for disrupting you."
"No not me...Estel."
"Estel...my lord?" Firithgalad exclaimed in confusion. "Who is Est..."
"The boy. I have altered his name, but slightly. Surely you can still recognize it easily enough. The other one, Estelless was really quite unbecoming. Really hardly a name you would give anyone, don't you agree? I don't know what fool of an elf came up with such a name even an orc could be more creative, but you will let the staff know of the change, wont you?"
"Certainly my lord." Firithgalad bristled at the insult for it had been his older brother Rovan and himself who had came up with the name deciding it quite funny. "I will inform them immediately."
"After you've apologized of course." Legolas interjected persistently pleased his insult had had its intended effect.
"But why?" Firithgalad complained begrudgingly.
"Because you have accused him of a misdeed he did not commit, slandering his character in the process." Legolas replied as though speaking to a small child. "The boy as you can clearly see did nothing wrong as you have falsely accused him."
"But lord he is edain." Firithgalad spit out bitterly. "A mere slave, hardly above notice."
"You forget who you speak to. Just because he is a slave and an edain doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings. And it does not mean he does not deserve respect. It certainly judges the content of one's character when one does not admit their faults. A fault of character unbecoming a warrior of Mirkwood I would think and no doubt King Thranduil would as well." "Prince Legolas. I beg your forgiveness for my indiscretion. I did not mean to offend you with my disrespect."
"Oh I know what you meant Firithgalad." Legolas narrowed his eyes accusingly. "Now give your apology and you may be on your way."
Firithgalad turned furious eyes on the young slave boy. It was this filthy edain's fault. He'd shamed him in the prince's eyes and it was the human's blood he would take in payment. The boy would learn his place and how very insignificant he was before his heart stilled. This inferior edain would know more pain than he'd ever imagined, begging for mercy before Firithgalad sent him to his death.
It was these thoughts only that kept the elf guard in check as he muttered out an insincere apology.
"Sorry slave." He muttered making a hasty retreat before the prince could reprimand him further.
Estel stood on quavering legs unable to stop the uncontrollable shivers that still wracked his scrawny frame even though Firithgalad was gone.
As he'd made eye contact with the elf guard he'd been blown away with the raw hate in the elf's eyes. Estel had not imagined Firithgalad could possibly hate him more than he already did and was appalled to learn how very wrong he was.
The young slave was certain the prince had only given him a small reprieve from the elf warrior's wraith.
The boy had seen his own doom reflected in those cold gray slated eyes promising him torment beyond any he could yet imagine. Estel shivered as he felt a wave of impending doom wash over him.
"Are you all right young one?" Legolas asked in concern, as the boy's shivers seemed to only have gotten worse since Firithgalad departed.
Estel visibly forced himself to cease his trembles and after a few deep meditative breaths returned to the calm relaxed state he had grown accustomed to while in the prince's presence.
Legolas was one of the few people he felt he could trust explicitly, a reasoning he could not quite explain so much as sense to be true.
"Yes I am well Legolas, Thank you." Estel replied as Legolas continued to stare at him expectantly as though awaiting a response.
"Thank me for what?" The prince asked in confusion.
"For defending me. Most elves would not stand up for a lowly slave as you have done." Estel replied with overwhelming gratitude in his eyes. "I am not worthy of such effort. I am but a worthless slave. If I had been paying attention I would have remembered, but I was just being a stupid edain again. Now the king is angry with me and I will surely incur his wraith. You should have let Firithgalad have me. I deserve to be punished for my thoughtlessness. I pray your father will not be angry with you for coming to my aid. I would not see you blamed for my inattention."
"I can assure you young one my father's "wraith" as you so elegantly put it is reserved for orcs, addle minded advisors, and wayward young princes, not young human children who make mistakes. I am sure Estel he has forgotten all about it, Firithgalad was merely being melodramatic. I imagine father probably hardly even noticed." Legolas smiled reassuringly at the boy patting him on the shoulder affectionately. "And what is this about you being a worthless slave. Where have you gotten that idea?" The prince demanded sternly.
"Because that is what I am." The boy replied solemnly. "A slave. Nothing of any importance. Merely a tool to be used. Firithgalad and Rovan have both said as much." Estel turned his head down in shame unable to face the prince's searching gaze.
Legolas placed his hand gently under the boy's chin forcing him to meet the prince's unwavering gaze.
"Well their both wrong. You are not worthless. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You have a powerful heart and I sense great things in your destiny. You may be many things, but I am certain worthless shall never be among them."
As Legolas finished his diatribe he realized he meant every word of it.
This boy had a grand destiny yet unrevealed that was woven to him like a blanket. The child contained a power, a light that had yet to be fully revealed, but once done Legolas knew would rival the very power of the Valar.
Estel smiled shyly back at the prince his cheeks red with modesty at the seldom unheard of words of praise.
"And it is I that should be thanking you." Legolas added. "I have been caught up for so long in my own despair that I had lost my reason to live. I had forgotten about goodness in the world, lost in misery and darkness. I could not feel or love or dream. I could not longer hear the song of life that flows throughout the earth filling elven ears with joy and laughter. But you have given me hope again. I can finally breathe again." Legolas took in a deep breath filling his lungs with the scent of life. "Thank you my young friend for setting me free."
Estel was left speechless by the impassioned speech. To be given the credit of redeeming a soul was nearly overwhelming.
And to be called friend by an elf, a prince at that was simple unthinkable.
"I did not give you hope Legolas. You had it locked way in here the whole time." Estel replied thoughtfully as he laid his hand briefly over the prince's heart. "I only helped you find it and unlock it again, is all."
"Your help was invaluable all the same." Legolas insisted in the face of the human's modesty.
The boy's face reddened more as he looked with bizarre interest at his feet which he shuffled about nervously unsure what to say in the face of such praise.
Legolas glanced at the window and was astonished to discover the sun was already quite high up in the sky. He had not realized how long they had been talking. His father would come looking for his soon.
King Thranduil was very strict about Legolas coming to counsel every day and would not be pleased if Legolas should miss without good excuse.
"I suppose I've kept you here long enough." Legolas replied uncertainly breaking the ackward silence.
Estel's head jerked up, fear evident in his wide eyes.
He had almost thought he could stay here in the prince's chambers forever. Completely safe from the lonely despair that tried to steal away his hope, a candle in a sea of darkness.
He would finally be free of the constant fear of punishment and humiliation. Free from the life of a slave at last.
But alas it was a childish fantasy.
Eventually he would have to face harsh reality once more, face Firithgalad.
The boy barred himself with resolve. He would face whatever waited for him outside these doors with his head held high. He was not worthless, the prince had told him so himself. He may have been a slave, but he still had purpose in this world. He still had hope of being more and so he could face anything.
Legolas saw the distress on the young human's face when he'd even suggested at the boy leaving. The prince found himself regretting his previous statement and wished he could just let the boy hideout until he was ready. But Legolas knew he could not shirk his duties no matter how much he sought to ease the boy's fear.
"I'm sorry young one." Legolas replied softly feeling a need to apologize.
Apologize not just for making the boy leave, but for being unable to change a society that could not except all of the valar's creatures as equal worthy beings. Apologize because such prejudice of the races would take the innocence of a boy and leave him a shadow of the child he deserved to be.
Apologize because the duties of a prince forced him to put his own people above the needs of this human boy who needed him so desperately.
"Neigh Legolas. You have nothing to apologize for. I can not hide away forever. What kind of man will I someday make if I am unable to face my own fears? Neigh Legolas if I am to have this great destiny you promise me then I shall have to accept what is and merely work to make it what It should be."
"You are very wise young one. I believe someday you shall indeed bring much needed change to this world and when that day comes I shall help you all I can." Legolas solemnly pledged.
"And I shall hold you to it prince." Estel teased giving Legolas a mock bow.
"Then I shall hold you to become a great man someday and heralding in a reign of peace and equality among the races of middle earth." Legolas countered easily a smile falling to his face.
"I don't know if that's a fair trade at all." Estel pretended to be deeply perplexed, but the merriment in his eyes made his act unsuccessful. "After all you only have to help, but I on the other hand must save all of middle earth. Now does that sound fair to you?"
Legolas looked thoughtful at the boy's predicament and rubbed his chin as though in deep thought on the issue.
"Well how about just Mirkwood first and we can work out from there." Legolas suggested helpfully. "If we work one land at a time I think we could obtain world peace in my lifetime."
"But you're immortal. You have an endless lifetime. I on the other hand have a much more mortal life span to consider." Estel pretend pouted stamping his foot like a disgruntled horse. "I want to live to see world peace too you know."
"Oh very well I suppose if we worked overtime and weekends we should perhaps have united all of middle earth by then." Legolas bantered. "Is that acceptable to his majesty Lord Estel hero of the free world." Legolas teased returning a mock bow to his young friend.
"Yes I suppose that will do." Estel smiled back cheekily.
"This whole mortality thing really is quite an inconvenience. Makes saving the world twice as hard." Legolas muttered under his lips knowing full well Estel heard every word of it.
"I beg your pardon prince Legolas for my mortal coil. When next I see the Valar I shall be sure to take it up with him. Perhaps while I am there he will explain to me why it is elves are so darn arrogant and why they are so obsessed with their hair. You would think that beings who have lived for thousands of years seeing all the great wonders of the world could find something more interesting than themselves." Estel laughed at his own jest.
"Yes well perhaps when next I see the Valar I shall ask him why humans seem to attract dirt to them like bees to honey."
"That is because we have not the time nor patience to partake in such foolish grazing."
"Grazing!" Legolas replied in shock sending Estel into a fit of laughter at the prince's gawk-eyed appearance. "Elves do not graze human! We're not oliphants."
"Could have fooled me." Estel taunted back.
"Why you." Legolas lightly threatened as he pretended to chase after the boy keeping a glint of play into his eyes and movements lest the boy get the wrong impression and become frightened once more.
"Off with you now." Legolas smiled shooing the boy along gently. "And get some food in you before you do anything if anyone tries to stop you tell them to take it up with me. You look like you haven't eaten in days. Your so pale looking. I'm amazed you've managed to stay upright this long."
Estel blushed but quickly averted his face lest the prince realize how true his words were.
Estel wished to cause the prince no more worries about his mistreatment.
Estel appreciated Legolas' concern for his well being, but the boy knew the prince's interference would only make things worse for him with Firithgalad and Rovan and he knew it was bad enough already.
So Estel hastily started to make his way down the hall lest his secret be revealed and started to make his way to the kitchens.
"And Estel." Legolas called down the hallway. "When your done eating have the healing ward take a look at that leg." The prince called out before turning back into his chambers to prepare for the day.
Estel smiled inwardly realizing the prince had realized he was injured all along. You couldn't get anything by an elf it seemed.
Hello, good morning, how you been?
Yesterday left my head kicked in
I never, never thought that
I would fall like that
Never knew that I could hurt this bad
I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that you and you alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies
These abundant skies
Yeah, abundant skies, yeah (Switchfoot: Learning to Breathe)
Legolas dropped his smile as he turned back into his chambers away from the prying eyes of his new human companion.
He feared for the boy's safety.
Estel had tried to hide his face when Legolas joked that he looked like he hadn't eaten in days, but Legolas had seen the hungry longing in those two silver orbs. Estel truly hadn't eaten in days.
Who could deprive a child of food? Who could let anyone starve that way?
The boy had been so pale, so weak looking as though every step he took was an effort in and of itself.
And what of the boy's strange injury? The red marker on the child's pant's leg easily pointed out all was not right if the limp itself did not give the grievous injury away. What could have caused such an injury?
Legolas hadn't seen the actually injury, but he had his suspicions as to its instigator. Yet he feared to tread such ground. Had the boy been chained? Like an animal? It made Legolas sick to even think anyone could treat another living creature that way. Who could be so cold heart, so cruel?
Legolas stared resolutely out the window making a silent promise he would help this young human slave boy in anyway he could, but he couldn't help but wonder....
Would it be enough?