Home Sweet Home

Thank you Gabi1994, Manwaithiel Melda and FemaleSpock for reviewing last chapter!

Part Six

"You did what?"

Maegóre winced. "It really wasn't that bad, Adar, I was barely in their mountain for even an hour."

Incredulous, Thranduil leaned back in his chair and stared at his eldest from there. "I sent you to stop your brother from going up to that mound of stone. What do you do? You go up to it instead!"

"I did stop Legolas, though, Adar. See, he came home. You never said anything about me going there." Maegóre could only hope that he would be allowed to his rooms soon. After leaving the mountain, he had ridden home at a relative pace. He hadn't hurried, but he had hardly dwindled either. It was now two days after his meeting with Gimli's father, and Maegóre wanted to talk to Legolas before he returned to bathe in his rooms.

"I thought you had more sense."

"It was not as bad as you'd think, you know. The mountain. It was quite nice, actually. Very..." As Maegóre searched for a word to describe the entrace hall that he had seen, he noticed the icy look on his father's face, a look that surely meant nothing good. "It was very dirty." He amended lamely, although he was relived when Thranduil's expression melted into a more accepting one.

"I see. If it is as you have told me, then there is simply one thing I need to know." Although Thranduil's voice was relaxed and calm, his tone was misleading to his actual feelings. He was having trouble comprehending that his son had actually gone up to the mountain. More surprising was the fact that said son had been Maegóre, not Legolas. "Where is Legolas?"

Maegóre started. "You mean - he isn't here?"

"No, he isn't. And yet, surely he should have arrived home before you if he returned home whilst you traveled to that...mountain?"

Blinking, Maegóre searched for a reason, anything, why his brother had not arrived home yet. He had assumed that Legolas had, as Maegóre had seen no sign of his brother on his journey to the palace. "I had no idea, Adar. I don't know..."

Thranduil looked grim. "I'm sure that it's nothing to worry about. He does have a tendency to disappear. Although his friends - Hathel, Kemen, Aelin and the other one - should all be arriving back from their patrol about now and would have been looking forward to seeing him. You should go to your room - when you are done, though, there is a rather large pile of paper here to go through, which I'm sure you are very excited about, so I'll be certain to leave some for you."

"How very generous." Maegóre replied sarcastically, before getting to his feet and making his way over to the door.

He smirked as he opened the door to the dark room and entered it, as quiet as he could. There was no light in the room at this point, but he could just pick out the shape and form of the Dwarf's body, week and pathetic after so many day's of starvation and dehydration. The sight - and thought - of this made him feel oddly satisfied and pleased. The door shut behind him with only a soft click to betray his presence, but he knew it didn't matter. The Dwarf was a mortal, and wouldn't be able to see him even if he danced in right in front of the Dwarf's eyes, especially when the mortal was in such...pressing conditions.

A few steps into the room was all it took to be standing right by the Dwarf, who had drifted into a kind of half-sleep. He knew well that Dwarves were not like humans, were marginally stronger in some aspects, but neither came close to an Elf. Gimli was week and pained and hungry, yes, but could survive for a while longer still.

He kicked the Dwarf. Not hard enough to cause pain - much pain - but hard enough to wake him. It took a handful of minutes for the Dwarf to wake completely, but he granted the being this small gift.

"I suppose you missed me." He said mildly once he had Gimli's full attention. He didn't wait for an answer. "I won't be leaving for quite a while, you'll be glad to hear, so we have lots of time to catch up." Smiling slightly manically, he settled on the floor, about a foot from Gimli. "I thought to tell you a bit about this room. You've spent a while in here, so I think you'll be interested."

The Dwarf still was not responding to his words. So the Dwarf had not cracked yet. That was fine. They still had plenty of time to go.

"It belongs to Legolas, actually." The Elf began. "Although it has been a long time since it was last used. When he was a child, he had a different room to the one he has now. A room for a young child, leading out of his parent's room. Attached bathroom, walk in closet and an additional room, for storage. He used the storage room for his toys." He could tell that he had the Dwarf's undivided attention now. The feeling of power that he felt was exhilarating, uncontrollable. Being in charge - having control - giving the orders - was giving him a rush of adrenaline. He had never felt it as strong as this before in his life. It felt good.

He paused for suspense. Gimli's breathing was loud, ragged and rough, not the barely audible whisper from when the Elf had first come in. What the captor really wanted to know now was what the Dwarf was feeling, thinking, wishing. Did he feel scared? Did he feel vulnerable? Did he feel pathetic, useless, a coward? Did he respect the captor now? Was he thinking about who his captor was, and why it had happened? Was he looking back on his time with Legolas and wondering, wondering about it all, their 'friendship', everything? Did he think about Legolas and wonder what the Prince was doing, thinking, feeling? Did he feel betrayed? Wish he had never come to the forest, made friends with Legolas, even be born? But the most important question - the one he wanted to know the answer to most - was; did Gimli hate Legolas for what the Prince had put him through?

"So you can imagine how hard it was to smuggle you in here. Although, of course, it was early morning and very few people were about. I hope you appreciate my efforts. Good job it's all stone wall around here, hmm? There is no way anyone could hear you cry out or yell. How do you feel about stone now, Dwarf?"

He waited, but no answer came. A sharp kick - the Elf didn't know where - got his point across.

"Just....as I always did." Gimli hissed, pain shooting through he side like a star shoots across the sky.

"I see. Well, in that case, I have another question for you. How do you feel about your dear friend Legolas? After all this, all he's done to you?" The Elf leaned forward slightly. He truly was interested in hearing the Dwarf's answer.

"Legolas..." Gimli stopped. Nothing could make him talk about the Elf. It hurt too much. This crazy Elf could do what he liked to him, for it could never amount to the pain he felt in his chest when he thought about his friend. Or maybe...not his friend. Perhaps Legolas really had been the one who had ordered this to be done to him, and it had all been pretend. Maybe Gimli should have followed his gut instincts on the Elf and run like the wind as soon as he could. Maybe.

"I said-" The captor hissed furiously.

"I will not talk...of...about him." Gimli whispered. He couldn't speak louder than a whisper, or else his voice would break.

The Elf was smug. It radiated around him, through the room. Satisfied with this reply, he stood. "Why don't you have a think about that, then? I will be back tonight, and I want an answer. I will not be as lenient as I have been so far." He turned, not waiting for a response, and strode confidently from the room.

Legolas ignored the whispered voices and blunt stares that followed him as he strode along the main path to the palace doors. Although he was well aware that he was the center of attention right then, he had other, more important, things on his mind.

People had been watching him since he came through the gate, all the way to the stables, where people had hurriedly cleared a straight line down the centre of the stable for him and his horse. He hadn't spoken to anyone since arriving, and surprisingly, no-one had spoken to him. As well as this, Legolas had not met anyone on the way, because he had been careful to keep out of the path of the various patrols. It seemed he had done a good job.

It was late afternoon, the same day that his brother had arrived home. Legolas was headed to speak to said brother right then, followed by speaking to his father. On his journey home from Esgaroth and his search through the forest, he had convinced himself that Gimli must surely have reached the mountain. He was almost at the point of believing - but not quite.

Once he was through the palace doors, he stopped for a moment. He was, after, standing in his home. But, strangely, it felt nothing like home. It was different to how it had been when he'd left. Now it felt colder. Almost cruel, as though unknown evils were going on benieth his very nose. Shaking himself, he continued to hurry through the palace to his brother's room.

Knocking on the door, he waited patiently until the door cracked open to reveal Maegóre's face and then body.

"Legolas!" He exclaimed. "What are - where were you?" He stepped back, allowing Legolas to enter the room.

"I rode slowly." Legolas explained. It was a lie and they both knew it, but thankfully Maegóre didn't question him more, at least on that subject. It was a good thing too, because Legolas already felt nervous about his brother's answer. "Did you go to the...to Erebor?"

Maegóre nodded uncomfortably. This was the part he had been dreading; telling his brother what he had learned. "I did. I spoke to his father. Glóin. In the entrance hall, and not for long. And he told me that Gimli has not returned home yet. I'm sorry, Legolas. I'm just as perplexed by this as you are, but-"

"You are lying."

"What?"

Legolas narrowed his eyes. As Maegóre had spoken he had felt anger bubbling up inside himself. He knew that Maegóre hadn't visited the mountain, and he had been a fool to believe his brother would do such a thing. Now he was being lied to and he refused to accept it.

"You heard me, Maegóre. You have not been to the mountain. I'm sure you were laughing at me as I trustingly rode home, but there is no need to pretend. I'm only going to have to return there now, and-"

"Wait. What are you talking about? Of course I went to the mountain. Do you really think I would do that to you, Legolas?" Maegóre truly was hurt by the assumption his brother had made.

"Don't use that tone of voice. It won't work! You and I both know what a good actor you are. But I know Gimli is there. Where else could he be?"

Maegóre would have retorted angrily, had he not heard the note of desperation in Legolas's voice, searching for an answer to the missing Dwarf. Instead, he took a few moments to collect himself before replying almost gently.

"Legolas, listen. I know that you are angry and upset right now-"

"I am not angry or upset!"

"Be quiet and listen!" Maegóre snapped, then winced. He hadn't meant to loose his temper so quickly. "I have done nothing to your little friend. Believe me in that, at least. I told you I would go up to the mountain, and I did. It is up to you to decide if that is the truth, but if you are telling me that we have now become so distant that you cannot trust me to do a simple thing like that, then things have become worse than I thought."

Legolas paused. He regarded Maegóre coolly for a minute. Not quite ready to let his brother off the hook just yet, he said curtly, "I need to go and speak to Ada. I will see you later."

This was enough for Maegóre. He knew that he had persuaded Legolas, even if the younger Elf didn't want to admit to it just yet. He watched Legolas walk from the room without a word, before moving over to the window. Outside, it was raining.

"Legolas! You're back! What happened?"

Legolas jumped slightly and shook himself out of his thoughts. "Kemen-"

"Did you find the Dwarf?" Kemen persisted. He had come right up to Legolas, until there was less than two feet between them.

"No." Legolas replied forlornly.

"Did you go to Erebor, then?"

"No. I didn't." There was more than a trace of regret to be found in Legolas's voice.

Kemen blinked. "That's where people were saying you had gone. Rumours, I suppose. Should know better than to listen to them."

Legolas shrugged. "They were almost right. I intended to go to Erebor. Maegóre came after me, though...and went himself."

There wasn't a sound in the corridor the pair had met on. Niether spoke. Kemen looked dumbfounded.

"Maegóre- as in your brother? Went to Erebor? The Dwarf's mountain?"

Legolas cracked a smile. "Yes, Kemen. My brother went to Erebor. I can't quite believe it, either."He paused. "Haven't you just returned from patrol?"

Kemen nodded. "Yes, but it doesn't matter. It was quite boring, in any case. Actually, I was just going own to the archery range to meet with Hathel and Linnod. Do you want to come?"

Shaking his head, Legolas moved as though to carry on walking. "No. Well, yes, I would like to, but I need to go and speak to Adar now. Maybe later."

"Alright - but Legolas - it's not your fault about the Dwarf. You couldn't have done anything to change it. Things will work themselves out in the end." Kemen assured his friend, before they went their separate ways.

The captor sank into the chair. He had a lot to think about. Thing were becoming confusing, and although he had expected this, he hadn't expected this so soon. It was disconcertiong. He was gaining power, but at the same time he was rapidly loosing it.

The Dwarf was not truly damaged yet - but after tonight he would be. The captor's main focus was not in physical pain but psychological torment, although that didn't mean that he couldn't hurt the Dwarf physically. But that wasn't all. He hadn't expected Legolas to return so soon - in fact, he had expected Legolas to remain in the forest searching for much longer that this. But that was a small matter, and easilly overcome. It was clear that Legolas had no idea about anything that was going on. With a little concentration, it would stay that way.

The captor smiled. In a few hours, he would be visiting the Dwarf again. There was that to look forward to after all, if nothing else.

Thank-you for reading! Reviews are very appreciated, as is constructive criticism! (Go on, you know you want to... :P)

I meant to have Legolas find Gimli and find out what had happened in this chapter, but it just wasn't working out. Maybe next chapter, I suppose ;P