For Disclaimer please view chapter 1.
Author's note: It has been a while, but I have not given up on the story, glad you haven't either....life has sort of taken over, but I'm back and determined to finish. Read and Enjoy. Kersi.
Chapter 15: Welcomed Challenges
He hit his fists against the ancient book in frustration, her sudden emotion overwhelmed him. Whatever little patience he had moments before was very quickly beginning to fade away. He wanted to be out of the dark library, he wanted to be out of the stone palace, but most of all he wanted to be able to see Aurel, whose fear he could feel as if it were his very own. He stood and began to pace, hearing the echoes of his own footsteps against the marbled ground. He pinched the bridge of his nose while he tried to send Aurel feelings of calm, but he did not receive anything but fear in return, the feeling was nearly suffocating him. Then as quickly as it had come it disappeared, he almost wished the he could still feel her fear, for now he could not feel anything and it was his own fear that gripped his heart.
He went to the large wooden doors that marked the entrance to the library as he heard footsteps nearing. The doors quickly opened to reveal a pack of guards, they walked in, barely looked at him and bound his hands while leading him out, not one word was said and Ene was no where in sight. He wondered where they were taking him for only a few moments as he realized they were headed towards the houses of healing. As the guards pushed him through the decoratively engraved glass doors Legolas spoke, "Why have you brought me here?" He did not expect an answer as they retreated, closing the door behind him and leaving his hands bound.
Legolas looked around him, the houses of healing where the exact opposite of the library, which had been shrouded in darkness. He felt the sunlight on his face and noticed the stillness and emptiness of where he stood. Usually there would be people inside, there would be smells of potions, ointments and herbs. All it smelled like now was stale. It was too empty, everything had been cleared out. He realized that he could most likely free himself from his bindings if he only used a little force, and he was right, the rope that was used on him was human and weak, and completely unnecessary. He would not do anything that could potentially harm Aurel. As the rope fell to the ground he shook his hands lightly, his back facing the glass doors he had been roughly pushed through. He did not turn around when he heard them open, he waited.
"Well met Prince Legolas." an ancient voice spoke.
Legolas slowly turned around and he stilled when he laid eyes upon the stranger. He was tall and lean, golden hair longer than his own spread across his shoulders, ears that pointed up and marked him as an Elf, the only thing that betrayed his guise were his eyes. His eyes were very much human and dark, and poisonous. He could not deny that this stranger was probably the one that Ene had mentioned earlier, his uncle, Lachnen.
"You are mistaken." said Legolas.
"Oh?" replied Lachnen.
"This is no longer my kingdom, and therefore I am no longer its prince."
Lachnen smiled with the corner of his mouth. "Have you surrendered so quickly?"
"Are you here for any purpose?"
"It depends what you mean by that. Right this very moment, I am here in the houses of healing, to meet my nephew, and that is all."
Legolas crossed his arms. "But that is not all, you wish something else."
Lachnen circled around him as he spoke. "I am curious. I expected different. Especially after meeting your wife."
Anger flared in Legolas's eyes.
Lachnen continued. "I can see that you do not approve, but I assure you, she was not harmed. We merely had words with one another."
"There is nothing for you to discuss with her."
"I am surprised at your hostility towards me, but then that is why I suppose you are here."
Legolas uncrossed his arms and took a step towards Lachnen. "You are surprised? I very much doubt so. You of all people should understand why I would be angered that you were ever near her, much less speaking to her."
"This is unbecoming of you."
He himself noted he had not fully let himself get this unravelled in front of a stranger before, but he had no time for restraint, or games for that matter. "I wish you to stay away from her."
"Hmmm. You are too rash to speak with, I was hoping that---"
Legolas cut him off. "You were the one in the shadows, speaking poison in Ene and Ethaen's ears, there is no reason for me to believe anything you say to me. You came to look and now you have seen."
Lachnen nodded. "Yes I have seen that you are just as stubborn as your mother and father were."
"You know not of them." He quickly threw back at him.
"Oh I knew them Legolas, and they knew me."
Legolas was confused.
"I knew them very well, I was all too sorry to find out that your father has sailed west, this is something I would have liked him to see." Now it was Lachnen who took a step closer. "You are nothing compared to him, at least he did not surrender so easily, you made this a bitter victory for me, he would have made it a challenge,something worth taking." Lachnen laughed. "You will do though." And before Legolas could even catch the glint of it, there was a sword at his throat. "You would do better if you realized with whom you are speaking to with such disdain." He pressed the tip ever so lightly against Legolas's neck.
Legolas remained still and unafraid.
He lowered his sword. "I will not shed your blood, not this time. I want you to be prepared for it. This way would be no fun at all." Lachnen began to turn around.
Legolas put his hand to his throat, surprised that Lachnen had truly not cut through. Anger filled his mind. "Of course it is easy for you to make such threatening moves when only one of us is armed."
He paused for a moment. "A rash response." replied Lachnen, turning back around to face Legolas.
"A rash move on your part." With that said, Legolas ran towards Lachnen so quickly that he had no time to respond, no time to unsheathe his pristine sword. The sound was that of thunder as Legolas crashed into Lachnen and pinned him onto a marbled column. "I hope this makes it more entertaining for you." said Legolas in a mocking tone.
A low growl escaped Lachnen's throat as he tried to free himself, but he had greatly underestimated Legolas's strength.
As the guards began to run towards them, Legolas spoke. "I realize that I cannot hold you here forever, but it is long enough for you to listen to what I have to say to you." He pressed his hands into Lachnen even harder. "I ask that you do not go anywhere near my wife again, my reasons are private as you may very well understand." He pressed a little harder. "As for my parents, you are not to blaspheme their memories with your own. What has happened here now is all I will ever speak to you about, it is all that matters. I do not care for your history, I do not care for your vengeance and that is simply because I do not care about you. Yours is a face I have seen a thousand times amongst others, do not think yourself special just because we share the same blood." He gripped the front part of Lachnen's long black and silver tunic and with a quick flick pushed him aside with such a force it made Lachnen stumble sideways.
Lachnen quickly gained his composure. "You have made a grave mistake." He threw his arm to his side to stop the guards from charging.
"I am sure I have. I meant what I said to you, I expect you to respect my wishes." Legolas clenched his fists.
"Oh, do you?" He said as he straightened his tunic and smirked.
"Or do not and suffer the consequences."
His response made Lachnen laugh, his laugh was crisp and clear and echoed in the large glass house.
"This is no laughing matter."
Only the echoes remained as Lachnen's smirk disappeared. "Your threats mean nothing to me Legolas. I could have you killed this very instant if I wished."
"And I would take you with me to the hall of Mandos."
That is when Lachnen realized his threats meant nothing to Legolas either, not when they involved only him. "Hmmm." He understood that there would be no point in dragging Aurel into the situation, especially as Legolas was stronger than him, and more accepting of death, and because of that, Legolas was unpredictable.
Despite his thoughts, Lachnen's vanity and pride were hurt. Legolas had too easily pinned him into a compromising position, one that could have cost him his life, and he was not as prepared for that. Lachnen needed to show Legolas that he was the one that had the control. He clapped his hands and a guard made his way quickly toward him, he spoke to him for a moment in a language Legolas could not understand.
Legolas's eyes squinted as he tried to understand what Lachnen was telling the guard, but it happened all too quickly and the guard had already slipped through the glass doors again. "More games?" He asked.
"I have a gift for you." said Lachnen.
"Keep it." replied Legolas.
"I really think that you should have it." And Lachnen crouched slightly to skid something across the distance between them.
When the green stone landed at his feet Legolas's cold exterior disappeared. His hands closed and opened as if trying to decide whether or not to pick it up.
"You recognize it." said Lachnen, satisfied with Legolas's reaction.
Legolas picked up the stone and stared at it. He opened his mouth to say something, but just then the doors opened, and Ene's voice could be heard. "What is the matter with you?!" She exclaimed as she approached Lachnen in a huff.
Legolas's eyes scanned those entering. Guards, Ene...and what he had feared, Aurel. Though her reaction was a more positive one.
"Legolas!" She exclaimed as full happiness washed over them both and she made to walk towards him, but was stopped by one of the guards. "Unhand me." She easily slipped away from the guard's grip, but as the guard went for her once again he was stopped by Lachnen.
"Let her be."
Legolas made quick step and opened his arms to wrap them around her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and nuzzled her head in between his shoulder and neck. He felt the now usual tingling feeling begin to lull him in as he held Aurel, it was hard to get accustomed to not having his wife to himself any longer. His son was sending him feelings, feelings he was not prepared for; he was telling him that Aurel was scared, but not for herself, for Legolas. The tingling feeling became too much for Legolas to bear and he tried to push it away.
She poured all of her hidden feelings into him, especially her distress, knowing that Lachnen was only a few feet away from them. She held onto him even tighter, and she tried to ignore Ene's shrieks of disapproval.
"This is intolerable!" cried Ene sounding like a spoiled child.
"Quiet child!" Lachnen ordered as he continued to watch the exchange of emotions between Legolas and Aurel.
Aurel closed her eyes and shifted her head to nuzzle even closer to Legolas's neck. "He wants to kill you." She whispered to him softly.
"Yes I know. But he will not. Not yet." He stroked the small of her back with one hand while the other squeezed the green stone he had picked up.
At that point Lachnen found the opportunity to unsheathe his sword, but this time Legolas was able to see him and to hear him. He quickly pushed Aurel behind him as Lachnen approached them both.
"I warned you earlier but you did not listen to me..." said Lachnen with an aching hunger in his eyes.
"What do you do?!" Shrieked Ene, fearing he would ruin everything.
"A lesson in manners." hissed Lachnen.
Legolas protectively held his arms behind him. "Stay away from her Lachnen." He warned, in his crouched position he looked as if he was going to pounce on Lachnen.
"It's not her that I want." He swung his sword and the very tip of it tore through fabric on Legolas's left side exposing his now wounded skin.
Aurel let out a whimper as Legolas momentarily crumpled, placing a hand over his wound. She went to reach for him but Lachnen pointed his sword at her. "Leave him." He ordered.
Legolas jumped up and placed himself in front of the sword. Only a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth gave away that he was in any pain at all.
Lachnen swung his sword again, this time grazing Legolas's other side.
Legolas stood firm.
"Please stop!" cried Aurel.
Lachnen smiled and stared at Legolas. "I would do so that she watches your blood spill slowly."
Only then did Legolas understand what Lachnen was doing.
"No Lachnen. Stop." said Aurel, except this time her voice had changed, no longer was she crying out in fright. Her eyes were dark, and commanding. She trembled as she clenched her fists. "I do not care to watch this."
"You do not care for your husband's well being?" He mocked.
"Take me away from here!" She ordered as she stepped away from behind Legolas and began to walk towards the doors.
Once again Lachnen threatened her with the sword.
"Touch me and he will kill you." Aurel stated simply
"You misunderstand me then." said Lachnen as he lifted his sword towards her.
Defenceless, Legolas once more put himself in between the sword and Aurel, taking another blow. This time the blow sent Legolas tumbling onto his hand and knees.
"Now you apologize." said Lachnen, satisfied with the state he had put Legolas in.
Legolas's breaths were shallow and he could feel his strength waning. He could feel Aurel's fear as she knelt down beside him with trembling hands. She whispered words incoherently that were meant for healing. He nodded as he looked up at Lachnen, then let his head fall as he felt the warmth of his own blood trickle down his arm. He felt the glow and warmth of Aurel's healing, but he knew it would cost her and drain her own strength. "Melethril..." He tried to compose himself, to not sound so weak. "That's enough." He tried pushing her hands away, but she ignored him.
Already darkness had sprung under her eyes.
"Your healing skills are extraordinary!" exclaimed Lachnen in genuine surprise.
She continued to chant words even as Legolas picked himself up.
"No more."
She stopped her whispering and frowned. "But you still bleed." She placed her fingers around the the most grave wound, and closed her eyes, whispering quickly.
He placed his hands underneath her arms to help her to stand up and give himself some balance. "Enough." He said again.
"Yes. Quite." said Ene who had come closer. "Is your game over now?" She asked Lachnen.
Legolas knew that Aurel was still attempting to heal him, though she had done wonders in mere moments. The stings from his wounds had lessened, the blood trickled more slowly, he could feel his strength returning and hers beginning to fade. "If you do not stop you will have no strength for yourself."
"Just a while longer." she pleaded.
"You both need it more than I do." Legolas gently reminded her.
She stopped and frowned once again. He fully stood and held his hands out for her. She had not realized that she had used so much energy, trying to stand had become cumbersome.
It was Ene who came to Aurel's aid. "Naneth. Let me help you." And indeed she did help Aurel stand, possessively pulling her away from Legolas. Ene glared at him. Aurel had little strength to fight her off.
Legolas knew that look, he had grown accustomed to it, it was a look that told him that Aurel was hers, not his.
"Apologize." said Lachnen again.
Legolas looked away from Ene and towards Lachnen. He clenched his jaw. Then he looked towards Aurel, he needed to keep her safe, he looked at her as he apologized to Lachnen. "I apologize."
"Why do you look at her?" asked Lachnen, obviously annoyed. He pulled Aurel towards him.
"Lachnen." Legolas growled.
Aurel was growing tired of being pulled from side to side. She tried to pull her arm away but he grasped it even tighter. She bit her tongue to prevent her from making any sound.
"Apologize or I will snap her arm."
"If you..." began Legolas.
A crack was heard and Aurel screamed out in pain. Legolas's eyes widened as he made to lunge towards Lachnen, but Lachnen's sword stopped him.
"Lachnen stop this!" screamed Ene as she went to Aurel who was trying not to cry out from the pain any more than she already had. But Lachnen's grip on Aurel's broken arm continued to tighten.
"I will break her other arm." He warned.
Legolas took no time, there was no hesitation. "I apologize."
"Good." said Lachnen releasing Aurel, and she would have collapsed if Ene had not been there to catch her. "Now you know your place." He still held his sword at Legolas's throat. "Now you know you can just stand there and watch her suffer. Now you know that I do not care for your threats and that I will do as I please."
Legolas looked over to Aurel who was trying to so hard not to cry out in pain, he could tell by the squint in her eyes and the redness in her face that she was in pain, she was still strong enough to block those emotions from him. He could not protect her and that made him feel useless. He watched as Ene took her away against her will, he heard her call out for him absent-mindedly, as if he could just go to her. He wished he could. He wished for many things. Before she crossed the glass doors once more she turned her head to look at him, it was a defiant look, one that told him never to give in, but Legolas would, because Aurel was everything, and even if that made him weak, it did not matter any longer. He would accept it, he would accept that he was weak, that even though he had tried, that he could not sacrifice his wife for his kingdom, even if she asked him to. Now he realized he would do anything they asked, anything to keep her alive, and now Lachnen knew exactly what his limitations were.
"I know you want to kill me Legolas. Perhaps you will get your chance, but it is not this day, this day if for you to remember that for every mistake you make, you will live to regret it....as your father did."
Legolas still held the green stone in his hand. He remembered that it was his mother's, though she had worn it as a pendant. It took a few moments for Legolas to understand and piece together what Lachnen was trying to tell him. Sadness filled him as he remembered his mother's last moments. He looked at the stone, then looked at Lachnen, anger mingling with sadness as he understood, but he would not do anything but stand there, he had been defeated.
"Yes. Now you know what I am capable of." He dropped his sword to his side and smiled. "Perhaps you will be wiser than your father and not trifle with me again. Next time we meet we will speak of other things." He sheathed his sword and ordered the guards to bind Legolas's hands once more.
As the guards roughly tied him, he only stared at Lachnen, swearing to himself that one day, yes, he would kill him, and that thought kept him at bay, it was satisfying enough imagining him dead for the moment, he would find a way.
Lachnen did not say another word to him as he walked away from the houses of healing, but he felt Legolas's wrath as he passed him. He did not let himself show that it had moved him until he was away and alone, he knew he had signed his own death warrant, and he welcomed the challenge ahead.