The Wisdom and Folly of Chaos and Confusion

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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Escape from Mirkwood chapter 3

"Come in please," King Thranduil stated pleasantly. Legolas and Estel both hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and quickly walked in. Legolas shut the door behind them. King Thranduil sat behind his desk, and Estel looked around, noting the state of the room. It was a mess. None of the books were on the shelf behind the King. They were strewn all over the desk and floor, along with lots of parchment here and there among them, also all over the desk and floor. The King noticed the somewhat surprised look on Estel's face as he was looking around the room, and Thranduil smiled and quickly asserted, "I have had a very busy evening."

"So, Estel, it is good to see you again,' Lord Thranduil graciously remarked, as he looked Estel up and down. Estel just stood there, feeling nervous and awkward; wishing he could just run out of there and hide somewhere; or at least hide in a corner behind one of those stacks of books on the floor.

"It is good to see you too, my Lord," Aragorn managed.

"Well what have you two been up to? No good, I suppose, as usual?" Thranduil grinned.

"Well, father…" Legolas began.

"Legolas," the king interrupted. "We are having a large, very important council meeting tomorrow morning quite early and I need you to be there."

Legolas quickly glanced at Estel, who smiled back at him with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you need me to be there, Sir?" Legolas whined, looking at his father apprehensively.

"You know very well why. You are my son. The heir to my throne. So your presence is required. There is no getting out of it, Legolas, you know that. I realize you have been attending these for years, but you can always learn more, "Thranduil stated in a forthright manner. "And Legolas, please do not whine."

"Father, I really do not…" Legolas began again.

"Legolas, I need you to be there," Thranduil interrupted again.

"Yes, but they are so long and bor…" Legolas began and was once more interrupted by the king. Legolas was getting. The prince was getting extremely frustrated. His father could be so persistent and obnoxious.

"Legolas, I am very serious about this!" Thranduil thundered.

"All right," Legolas sighed in defeat. "You win. I will be there. What time does it begin?"

"7:00 am, sharp," Thranduil stated curtly.

"Oh, so early," Legolas complained

"I would like you to be there a little early, son, so we can get started right away, if that works for you. Say about 6:30 a.m., all right? I will see you then, Legolas. Goodbye, then, and goodnight." Thranduil was very determined.

"Same to you, Adar," Legolas quietly replied.

Thranduil then turned to Estel and smiled in a very pleasant and friendly manner. "Oh, and Estel, have a good evening and a good stay in Mirkwood. You are always welcome here any time."

"Thank you, my Lord," Estel replied, confused by such a friendly gesture from Thranduil. But he was very pleased, nonetheless.

Legolas shut the door behind them as they walked out, leaning heavily against it with a sigh. "I am glad that is over with," he whispered to his friend so his father would not hear inside.

"Are you all right, Legolas?" Estel asked with concern for his friend. He seemed quite distraught. "He really has quite an effect on you, doesn't he."

"Yes, he does. I love him, but sometimes he makes me absolutely insane. And he can talk me into anything. It is like a form of mind control," Legolas quipped.

"Well," Estel said with a smile on his face, as he grabbed Legolas by the arm and led him back down the corridor to his room, "I thought that went very well, tonight."

"No, you are wrong, Estel. He was a bear, believe me. It would have been a lot worse if you had not been there, though. As I told you. Thank you for going with me, I think you softened the blow." Legolas felt very down-hearted.

"Really, do you think so?" Estel asked. He seemed very kind to me."

Legolas smiled at Estel. "I know. And yes, he was very kind to you, just not to me," he sighed. "Estel, those meetings really are terribly long and boring, and I know Ada feels the same way about them as I do. He probably just wants me to be there so he does not have to be so bored and miserable all alone. And it is not required that I be there tomorrow. He is just being pompous and throwing his weight around. I am more than 500 years old. It is not like I have not learned about as much as I am going to learn from these stupid council meetings. It is not like I am ever going to be king, anyway. My father will live forever as will I. With any luck I will never have to be king. Legolas sighed deeply again as they reached the door to his chambers. Oh, help me Estel."

"I have an idea. How would you like to go on that hunting trip right now?" inquired Estel excitedly.

"That sounds great, Estel, but I have already promised my father."

"Haven't you ever lied to your Adar before?" The ranger had a sly grin on his face.

"Well yes, of course. Many times over the years, actually, but I hate facing his wrath afterwards. You know what he is like." Legolas had a very guilty look on his face, like a child who just got caught doing something naughty.

"Legolas," Estel commanded as he grabbed his friend by the arms and steered him into the room, then put his arm around him. I am going on a trip and you are coming with me. Ok? Got that?"

Legolas looked hesitantly at his friend. "Ok, you talked me into it. Let's go," he quickly answered his friend.

"Oh, I thought that would take more convincing." Estel looked amazed.

"No," Legolas replied urgently. "Let's get ready. I need to escaped this place as soon as possible. Ada is going to be so angry with me, when he finds out, though."

"Well," Estel smiled, "that is then, this is now. Grab your gear and let's go." He went to his room and packed up his belongings very quickly. Then he met his friend back at Legolas' room about fifteen minutes later.

"Athelas, herbs and bandages?" Legolas asked.

"Do you take me for a fool? They are the most basic of basic necessities, my dear friend. With the penchant we have for getting into dire trouble? Forget them? I think not."

They shouldered their packs, grabbed their weapons and walked over to the open balcony. Estel looked uneasily at the ground down below. "It is a long way down," he commented.

"Legolas just snickered. "Come on, Estel."

They started climbing down a very old, very tall oak tree, which was right next to Legolas' balcony. Legolas went first; and apprehensively, Estel followed, repeatedly looking down at the ground as he descended. It did not help matters that there was now a light rain falling.

Legolas was already on the ground, looking up at Estel with a smirk on his face. "Do you need some help down, Estel? I could come up there and lend you a hand." He was enjoying this. He knew Estel had a fear of heights.

"No, Legolas! I think I can handle something as simple as climbing down a tree." Just then, Estel's foot slipped on a wet branch and he barely caught a leafy limb in time to keep himself from falling to the ground. He clung to the branch as if his life depended on it, which at the moment it did.

Legolas looked up at him, grinning. "Do not fall, Estel. If you do then I will have to catch you, or patch you up if I miss; and we are not even out of the gardens, yet; much less away from the palace. You know, if my Adar catches me trying this, he may just lock me up in the dungeon until the Council Meeting tomorrow. So hurry up!"

The ranger looked down at Legolas with a very puzzled expression. He was very curious and intrigued by what Legolas had just said. "He would not really do that, would he?" the ranger asked.

"Well…" Legolas slowly began.

"Never mind, it is none of my business." Estel paused for a moment. "All right, I do want to know. Has your Adar ever done that to you, before?"

"Estel, I am coming up. You are taking too long and you are going to kill yourself." Legolas was getting frustrated and very concerned about his friend.

"Legolas, I told you I do not need help!" the ranger yelled as he still clung to the limb and looked down at the ground with a mix of horror and uncertainty on his face. But he was still trying to hang on to the last remnant of pride that he had left concerning this tree. Legolas was there in a moment and helped him to the ground. "You know I could have gotten down myself."

"I know," Legolas replied with a sly grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"No, really, Legolas. I usually do not have all that much trouble climbing up and down trees."

"I know, Estel. I could tell by the way you were clinging to that limb like he was your dearest friend," Legolas chuckled.

"Legolas!" Estel scolded, his pride a little bruised. Then he paused and his curiosity got the better of him. "Um… Legolas?"

"Yes, Estel, he has done it before; and no, I do not want to discuss it any further. It is a father-son thing. He and I can both be very stubborn…" Legolas mumbled.

"Alright." The ranger shrugged his shoulders, looking confused.

Legolas gazed at the tree with nostalgia. "I have been climbing down this tree as my escape route for years," he smiled. "Somehow it always makes me feel young again." Legolas just stood there for a moment, still smiling, obviously thinking of some good memories from his past.

"Legolas, you are not that old."

"When I was younger," Legolas corrected himself, squinting at his friend.

"If this has been an escape route for you, then I am surprised your Adar did not cut the tree down when you were younger," Estel reasoned.

"Estel, he knows I would always have found a way down, anyway, if I was determine…an elf, remember? And you know how we feel about trees."

"I know how I feel about this tree. I would cut it down in a minute if I were Thranduil," Estel grumbled.

"We are on the ground, my friend, and we are safe. So let's go."

They quickly, but very quietly, made their way through the flower gardens, over the bushes and shrubbery surrounding it; and then around the side of the palace, and through a large grove of trees to the stables. There they readied their horses as fast as they could and walked them quietly to the main gates; where they were stopped by the guards and the night watchman there.

At the sound of horses approaching, the guards turned quickly to see who was there, weapons at the ready. "Hello! It is only I, Geliron. How are you, tonight?"

"I am doing well this evening, Your Grace, but this rain could dampen my spirits I am afraid. I fear it may settle in for the night."

"Yes, perhaps, but hopefully not," Legolas replied nervously."

"Geliron smiled at Legolas. "And how is your Lordship faring tonight?"

"I am well. At this point Legolas felt an urgent need to leave. "Geliron, I do not mean to rush you, but if you will excuse me, my friend and I would like to go out riding for a while."

"Yes, of course, Your Highness. But is it not a little late and wet for a ride?" He looked at Legolas and Estel questioningly.

"Yes, it is, but my friend and I just want to go out for a short ride and some fresh air. We will not be gone long for it is raining a little. But my friend is leaving tomorrow so a short ride is in order."

Geliron was feeling hesitant about this situation. He really did not want the prince going out with just a friend at night and in this weather. He knew the king would not approve, and he cared about Legolas and his well-being himself. However, Legolas was an adult and his own person. "Shall I send the guards with you for your protection, Sir?"

"That is very kind of you, but no thank you. We will be fine. There is no need to worry." Legolas' apprehension was growing. "As I said before, we will not be long. There is a council meeting in the morning which I cannot miss."

"Oh, yes Sir. I am sorry for holding you up. Please forgive me."

"It is fine, Geliron. It is good to see you. Have a nice evening." Legolas was ready to burst if he did not get out of there soon. But he was hiding it very well.

"Same to you, Your Lordship," Geliron answered as he opened the gates to let the two friends pass.

Legolas and Estel mounted their horses and walked them out slowly, trying very hard not to show the urgency in their departure. When they were out of earshot of the guards, Legolas looked at Estel with a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Oh, Estel, I have now lied several more times. When my father finds out I am gone he is going to murder me. He is going to publicly execute me and still drag my lifeless body to that council meeting."

"Legolas, don't you think you are over-exaggerating just a little. I thought you said that he would just throw you in the dungeon if he is that angry with you," Estel grinned.

Legolas looked thoughtfully at Estel. "That will probably come first," he muttered. "I know that thought will cross his mind. We should probably move a little faster at this point, do you not think?" Legolas nudged his horse into a canter, as did Estel. After they knew they were out. After they knew they could not be seen or heard by anyone at the palace, they both raced their mounts as fast as they could, down the main Elf-Path.

As they slowed their steeds after a few miles, Aragorn knew they were far enough away for 'safety's sake'. "Legolas, I believe we have made it out of there, and quit pouting, your father will not find out we are gone until tomorrow morning. By then we will be deep into Mirkwood."

"I know, Estel, but that does not make me feel any better. I am acting as a child, not as a grown elf should. Therefore, my father has every right to be angry with me." Legolas looked sadly at Estel. "Perhaps we should return."

"No, Legolas, you need a break from that place, and I am sure your father knows that. So we are going on, not back." Estel was adamant.

"You know, Estel, you are acting as a child also."

"I know, Legolas. But compared to an elf I am a child. And in elven years so are you. So why can't we behave that way? We are just going to have some potentially dangerous fun!"

"Well, I guess so." Legolas was aware that Estel knew him better than anyone, possibly even himself. And that in itself could be very annoying. Legolas longed to be anywhere; outside hunting, scouting, fighting orcs; absolutely anywhere except cooped up at the palace anymore where he had spent so much time in recent months. He ached to be out in the fresh air among the trees, the stars, the warm sunshine, freedom. He desperately needed. It. And not just the short amount of time he had outside around his duties.

To be continued…