Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the Professor.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry, there's not even an excuse for this being so late. I think I can at least promise the next one will be quicker.

Enjoy!


One Month Later: Thorontur

Thorontur gets help from an unexpected source.

For the past month he has spent the better part of every day trying to obtain an audience with the prince. He feels like he has never before appreciated the advantage of being – having been – one of the King's closest friends. Being turned away from the royal quarters because the King is occupied is a new experience, as is having the guard on duty politely but firmly refuse him Legolas' door.

He knows he has been neglecting his duties – but, in truth, he thinks it is best for everybody that he should stay away from the practice ranges now. When an Elf as soft-hearted as Legolas has been moved to implacable anger, what can he expect from the archers who are fiercely loyal to their commander and far less forgiving than he is? If they do not openly ignore Thorontur, that is the extent of their courtesy. Legolas himself, on the rare occasions they have been on the ranges together, treats him with cool civility that Thorontur finds far more unbearable than open anger would be.

Surprisingly, it is Saeldur who is politest to him. Saeldur, whose fierce loyalty to Legolas is frequently stronger than his wisdom, is the only one of the archers to treat Thorontur with something approaching friendliness.

And when Thorontur, for what feels like the thousandth time, has been told that Legolas is not receiving visitors, it is Saeldur who hurries out of the prince's study to catch up with the Archery Master as he walks dejectedly away.

"Perhaps I should resign," Thorontur says, more to himself than to Saeldur. "I cannot in all conscience claim to be training the archers."

"You cannot resign, my lord. Who could possibly take your place? Legolas will forgive you. I know he will. He only needs time."

Thorontur glances at the young archer. If a part of him wonders why Saeldur, of all Elves, is trying to provide him solace, he is enough in need of that solace to dismiss the thought. Later, much, much later, he will remember this moment and wish he had pursued the matter.

"I have never known Legolas this implacable," says Thorontur. "I confess I cannot blame him. If it had been anybody else… And yet…" Thorontur sighs. "I should have told him. I know that now. I knew it then, but I could not bring myself to do it. Legolas would have persuaded Thranduil against executing Melda – or Calathiel, if it had been her doing. Banishment is a small price to pay."

"Do you truly believe that, my lord?"

"Of course. I will see her again, and… It is not only Legolas who needs time. When I think that Legolas could have died… Melda is my daughter, and she always will be, but her actions are repugnant. To try to kill an Elf, and one who has done her no harm – to try to kill Legolas… Perhaps, by the time we meet again in the Blessed Realm, she will have repented of her actions. She is my daughter. I love her. But until she shows true remorse, I cannot forgive her."

"You should have told Legolas," Saeldur says quietly. Then he goes on, "But I understand, my lord. You were frightened."

"Frightened," Thorontur scoffs. "No. I was a fool. I thought my daughter would be put to death because I knew I could not forgive anybody who harmed Legolas. I forgot that Legolas is far more forgiving than I am." He laughs bitterly. "But even he, it appears, is not forgiving enough to want to see me."

"Legolas trusted you."

"I know he did." A pause, a deep breath, and then, "Is there anything I can do?" Saeldur studies him for a moment, brow furrowed. Thorontur sees the conflict on his face. "Tell me," he urges. "It is no disloyalty to Legolas to tell me how I can make him amends."

"Only Legolas can tell you that, my lord. But…" Saeldur bites his lip. "Legolas will not be pleased with me. Meet me on the ranges just before night training begins. I will persuade him to speak to you." Before Thorontur can say a word of thanks, Saeldur goes on, a sudden hard edge in his voice, "If you betray Legolas again, my lord, Elbereth help me, I will not wait for the King to pass judgement."

That sounds more like Saeldur.

Thorontur thinks of nothing else all day. He is at the practice ranges well before the appointed hour. He pretends to be supervising the archers, but he is giving no attention to them. They are giving none to him, either, so he supposes this is best for all concerned.

Saeldur arrives, catches Thorontur's eye, and jerks his head in the direction of the archers' hall.

Thorontur follows him into it, trying not to show a reaction to the dark looks cast his way from young Elves who are sitting in small groups talking or fletching arrows. Saeldur makes straight for the door leading to the small council chamber Legolas and his captains use to sort out duty lists.

Legolas is there. Alone.

From the way his eyes widen, flickering between Saeldur and Thorontur, he was not expecting them.

"This cannot go on," Saeldur says shortly, as he shuts the door. "The archers look to you for guidance, Legolas. You cannot expect them to learn from an Archery Master whom they cannot respect, and you cannot expect them to respect someone whose existence you will barely acknowledge."

There is something very like betrayal in Legolas' eyes as they meet Saeldur's. Not because of Saeldur's words, Thorontur knows, but because this has been sprung on Legolas without warning. Saeldur meets his gaze calmly, although with a slight flush of embarrassment. Whatever argument they have about this will be later, in the privacy of Legolas' study. Thorontur would feel bad about being the cause of it, but he does not have room for more guilt in his mind. Besides, it will hardly be the first time Legolas and Saeldur have argued.

"Saeldur," Thorontur murmurs, "it would be better if I could speak to Legolas in private."

Saeldur does not move until a slight inclination of Legolas' head gives him permission. Then he hurries out, shutting the door firmly behind him.

"I apologize," Thorontur says quietly. "I had no idea Saeldur intended to surprise you with… this."

"Please sit. How may I help you, my lord?"

Thorontur drops into one of the chairs around the table. Legolas puts aside the papers he was studying and turns on Thorontur a gaze of polite attentiveness that does not deceive him in the slightest.

"I have greater cause to apologize than bursting on you announced. You do not know – I think I am not wrong in saying you would not credit – how relieved I am to see you restored to health. But I am not here to force anything on you, Legolas."

"I do not know what you expect from me."

"Nothing. I am not here to make excuses, and if you cannot trust me again I will understand. If that is your decision I will, of course, step down, as soon as the King can find someone to take my place. I only ask that you hear me out."

Legolas makes no objection. Thorontur does not hope for more than that.

"I know I am not your father," he begins, "but I have always cared for you as if –" He stops himself short at the sudden darkening of Legolas' eyes. After a moment to gather his courage, he goes on. "That is true, little though you may believe me. It was… difficult." He draws a breath. "I suspected nothing at first – how should I? Worry for you took up all my thoughts. Then Melda hinted to us – to Celebwen, and to me – that she thought Calathiel might be poisoning you."

"I believe I know the rest of the story," Legolas says coolly.

"I could not credit it," Thorontur goes on doggedly. "I do not say Calathiel does not have her faults, but she has always been as fond of you as she is of Feredir. But… you were not healing as you ought, and I began to doubt. That is when I should have said something. I did not dare."

"My lord, if there is nothing further –"

"I did not dare because I knew what I would do, if someone other than my daughter had done you harm. There would have been no mercy in my mind. I could not imagine that there would be any in Thranduil's, even with your intervention… And I thought…"

Thorontur pauses, considering. He knows Legolas is not angry because he tried to spare his daughter. Nor is he angry because Thorontur put his life in danger… or if he is, that is anger that Thorontur can persuade away. Legolas is angry because Thorontur did not have enough faith in Legolas to tell him the truth. Everything stemmed from that. All that Legolas suffered, Thranduil's anger… even, perhaps, Míron's death. If Legolas had not been weakened as much as he was, Míron would never have dreamed of taking him on – and even if he had, Legolas would have incapacitated him easily.

"I should have told you the truth then," Thorontur says at last. "I did not. For that there is no excuse. I will not insult you by attempting one. I will tell you the truth now… everything."

"I do not know that there is anything left to tell, Lord Thorontur."

"You know very little of what happened after Rochendilwen brought you back to the stronghold, save what your friends told you – I do not impugn them, Legolas. They were acting for the best. Perhaps that is more than I can say of myself; all the same, they cannot have told you everything. Rochendilwen brought you back. That much you do know. Celebwen sent for me at once – and I was horrified. The wound was serious. It was poisoned. She could give me no assurance that you would live. Losing you – the idea of losing you – I could not stand to think of it. I have always felt…"

Thorontur pauses. He does not know if what he is about to say will be well received, but what choice does he have?

"I have been accused of not being as concerned about your safety as I was for Feredir's in his days as a warrior. That is true, although not in the way most people think. Feredir is my son and I love him, but he was an incompetent warrior. I will not say he lacked courage, but he did not have the instincts, or the spirit. You, on the other hand…" Thorontur shrugs. "I have always worried about you far less than about Feredir because I knew you could take care of yourself if anybody could. Never, not at the worst of times, did I ever really believe we might lose you. And so, when Celebwen told me that she could not promise that she could save you… I could barely think clearly."

Legolas' expression is inscrutable.

"At that time," Thorontur goes on, "I wished desperately that Barancrist had stayed behind. Anything that might help you… Well, we were fortunate. You began to heal. It was not as quick as I would have liked, but you were getting better. I thought it was simply that you were trying to do too much too soon. Celebwen could not conceal her worry from me, though – and she was still worried about you." He pauses. "Melda told us she thought Calathiel might be poisoning you."

"And you believed her?" Legolas asks incredulously. "Calathiel?"

"Legolas, you were dying. If such a thing was happening, I could not believe anything was impossible. And it never occurred to me that Melda would accuse her sister – her own sister – without being completely certain. I had fallen in with your wishes not to say anything to Thranduil until then. I had hoped, despite everything, that there would be nothing to tell. As soon as Melda told us what she suspected – what she claimed to suspect – my first instinct was to summon Thranduil back. Melda and Celebwen begged me not to – and Celebwen swore she would ensure no harm came to you."

Thorontur waits to see if Legolas has anything to say. When there is no response, he leans back in his chair.

"I promised you honesty, and you will have it. When I think of what happened, that is what I reproach myself with the most. Celebwen is fond of you, of course, but I should not have put my faith in her. Not when it became so complicated. She was willing to risk your life to save Calathiel."

"So were you, my lord," Legolas points out.

"I am willing to risk your life," Thorontur agrees. "But not like that. I risk your life every time I send you out to fight. So does your father. As painful as it is, that is a risk warriors must take. But this – I believed she could keep you safe, Legolas. I did. Perhaps I believed it because I wanted to, and my judgement was clouded."

"Perhaps it was," is all Legolas will vouchsafe.

"Then Saeldur returned. You do not know how many times I have given thanks to Elbereth that he came back when he did. I might not have realized that Celebwen's efforts to save you were failing. It would not have occurred to me to doubt her. I would not have wanted to doubt her. But Saeldur did, and he did what I would never have been able to bring myself to do. More than once I came close to telling you, but always Celebwen persuaded me against it, and promised me you would suffer no lasting damage. She said she would tell me if it came to that, and then I could tell the Royal Guard everything. Saeldur was not blinded by his faith in the healers. He knew what had to be done."

"Why did you not say anything then?"

"Whom could I have told? Even if your friends had permitted me to be alone with you, I would not have burdened you when I knew how close you were to death. No further damage could be done to you while all the healers were barred."

"Is that all?"

"No," Thorontur admits. "I was ashamed to face you. There. I have said it. I was ashamed to face you then. I am ashamed to face you now. My daughter has brought shame on herself and all her family. My wife – I love Celebwen. Nothing can ever change that. Yet… She persuaded me to do what I knew was wrong. I cannot hold it against her, but I cannot deny that it happened."

"I do not know what you expect me to say, Lord Thorontur."

"I do not expect anything. I should have told you the truth in the beginning. I allowed myself to be convinced otherwise, against my own better judgement. I have done my best to remedy my oversight now, though you may quite naturally consider the attempt inadequate." He pauses. "You know I would not have spoken so freely to anybody else, particularly of Celebwen."

"I know," Legolas says. "But you have told me nothing that allows me to believe I can trust you again. To tell me the truth when it cannot change the course of events is no virtue."

Thorontur cannot hold back a bitter laugh. "I do not claim to have become any more virtuous than I was. But you nearly died. You nearly died because I allowed myself to be persuaded to take a risk that I should never have considered – a risk that I should have known was completely unnecessary. I should have known you would persuade your father to be merciful. I was not thinking clearly, afraid you would die, afraid my daughter was guilty of treason, but that is no excuse. If you do not believe a single thing I have said so far, believe this: the only incentive I need to tell you the truth in future is the knowledge that lying to you very nearly caused your death. Whether or not you forgive me, I can never forgive myself for that."

Legolas says nothing. Considering that it is best to trust to time and Legolas' inability to hold a grudge, Thorontur gets to his feet, inclines his head formally to the Elf-prince, and leaves the room.


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