Seas: Chapter 7
Hello again! I feel bad because I'm technically posting this on Saturday (it's 1:40 AM right now xD), but I had a ton of school stuff this week so I didn't have time to work on it throughout the week. Also, the fact that it's so late may affect my writing a little, so if it sounds different, don't freak out. Thank you CuciBurga for your follow, and of course, my idol, Adaneth Dinen for your review! Everything except Olórëdes and her father and the events are Professor Tolkien and Peter Jackson. Ok, get reading, it's a long one!
I felt my hands trembling as I walked quickly behind a tall brunette Elf. I had just been taken from my room by a stern-looking royal servant for a meeting with whom I assumed was only one possibility: King Thranduil. What will he say to me? Will he have me banished? Killed? No...my father would never forgive him if he did. My heart had begun to beat faster when I first left my room, and by now it had risen to a deep thrumming, like a horse's hooves as it gallops.
Suddenly we exited a hall and came into the massive, cavernous space that dominated the center of the kingdom. Walkways, gazebos, and arches crisscrossed in a hundred different directions, all carved from stone and wood. It was the King's throne room. I had walked here before, a few times when I was younger, but I had always been accompanied by my father, and I never felt any need for caution or awareness. But now, I continued to look over my shoulder, as if something would attack me from behind, and my breathing became slightly quickened.
The servant clearly knew his way, though I certainly did not. We winded over many walkways and finally I saw King Thranduil's throne. It was led up to by a staircase, and was grandly decorated with elk antlers. Usually, this would have a marvelous affect, but it felt to me like the antlers were hands, slowly closing in upon me as I came closer. And, no less, as I did so, I was able to see the King sitting in his thrown with my father standing to the right of his seat. There was another blond figure standing in the center of the clearing below the thrown. The only Elf it could be was Legolas.
The servant led us swiftly into the clearing, and I took a deep breath. I was given no indication of where to stand, so I simply came to a stop to Legolas's right. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him turn slightly to look at me, but I did not meet his gaze. I stared at a spot on the landing before King Thranduil's throne instead.
We all sat and stood in silence for what seemed like ages. I was sure every one of them could hear my heart attempting to pound its way through my ribs. Finally, the King himself spoke, his voice unusually smooth an calming. Yet I expected this; it was a facade to try and guide answers out of me. But I will not let this happen. I will not betray Legolas once again.
"Olórëdes," the King addressed me directly. I swiftly looked up to his face out of pure manners and uncountable years of learning proper manners, then dropped my eyes back down to where they were before. "I know you must be incredibly nervous, but there is hardly a need to be," he continued. I could not help but hear the voice of a deceiving snake, though I did not want to. My King, without a doubt, was not a villain. He was a very great King, who cared for the lives of his people. Even through this knowledge, I heard lies in his voice.
"I only have a few questions for you to answer. I believe you are able to do at least that..? Of course, Legolas has already answered most of them," King Thranduil said, and I could almost hear the disgusting smirk appear on his face. I short burst of air left my nose and my teeth clenched. What? Legolas had willingly told them about our relationship? He..he would never do such a thing. We promised secrecy. I had to work to keep myself from reacting; I knew that both my father and King Thranduil, especially him, were gauging my facial expressions.
I peered out of my eyes once again at Legolas, for I had seen him slightly jump at his father's words. His eyes widened. Was this an expression of total surprise that his own father would lie about him saying what he never did? Or was it a face of anger towards betrayal; that King Thranduil had flatly stated that Legolas had told them everything. I did not want it to be the latter.
"Now, my dear, please answer these questions as truthfully as your heart can," the King began again, his voice becoming velvet. "Hypothetically, of course, would you ever have the want or desire to become...involved in a relationship with my son?" he asked. I did not gulp, or take a deep breath. The answer was instant: "No, your majesty," I responded flatly, my eyes shifting to watch one of the King's feet. It was a true answer. I had no intention of falling in love with Legolas; I had never desired it beforehand. Indeed, he is handsome, but I would never imagine us spending the rest of eternity together.
My answer seemed expected, and King Thranduil continued. "If you did come into a relationship with the Prince, would you strive for it to succeed?" he asked. It seemed as if my father had written out the questions and given them to the King. "No, your majesty," once again was my answer. I honestly had not tried. If anything, I had been attempting to make Legolas see sense in the fact that we are not allowed to be together. And as I have told myself so many times, here we stand, both of our hearts being slowly chipped away.
There had been a pause for many moments after my answer, causing me to look up. My eyes came to King Thranduil's face, and he was opening his mouth when Legolas suddenly spoke.
"Father, this is unacceptable. Absolutely irrational. None of this is her fault; I was the one who tried to persuade her. Questioning her like she is some sort of criminal is horrifying. Let her leave," he demanded, a tone in his voice that I guessed he only used with his father. "Hush, Legolas. I will come to you when I do. Now, Olórëdes," the King swiftly carried over Legolas's statement, moving on to question me more. "Going back to the hypothetical tense, if you did so happen to involve yourself with Legolas, you would understand that punishments would be given, correct?"
"Yes, your majesty," I said weakly. This, if anything, was the only thing I truly dreaded. I hope that I would receive the bulk of whatever the King had planned for us. Legolas does not deserve any punishment. I should have tried harder to keep him away, maybe denied that I loved him. "Father!" Legolas's voice rang out again, louder this time.
"She deserves no punishment! I demand you let her go with no burden! Give it to me if you must!" Legolas said angrily towards King Thranduil. "It is interesting how you become so very defensive in light of her innocence or guilt. Anyway, son, you must already know that both you and I are unbelievably popular rulers in this kingdom, and if I inflict an obvious or extravagant punishment upon you, my reputation would be ruined. But Olórëdes, though..," King Thranduil slightly trailed off before starting again. "The kingdom hardly knows she exists. If I give her a punishment, it would only be her loss," the King announced.
I was shocked. He sounded so..so..just evil! Greedy, selfish, and..so much like a dwarf or a man. This was hardly the king that I had come to adore and admire as an Elfling and long after. According to his expression of true horror, Legolas was as well astonished. His eyes were massive and his mouth hung slightly open. Then he blinked and I saw his eyes flash, and he clenched his teeth, but before he could speak, King Thranduil spoke yet again. His voice sounded slightly bored.
"Olórëdes, you are no longer permitted to go outside of the kingdom walls until I have given direct permission to you. You are never to enter the Greenwood unless by my word," he commanded. I gasped and a hand shot to my mouth. But I hardly had time to contemplate his words fully, for King Thranduil continued. "And Legolas, you are never to walk alone without at least one guard nearby. He does not have to be with you, but able to follow you and reach you easily. And furthermore, both of you are never, for the rest of your existence, allowed to speak to each other again. Am I understood?" he finished, and by now he had risen.
I nodded feebly, but saw nothing from Legolas until his lips began to move.
"You are not my father. You do not understand that love does not abide to rules of class. Maybe that is why you could not keep Mother," Legolas snarled out. I could not bear to hear him speak to the King, his own father, this way, so I ran.
But the worst part of it, I had felt and thought every single word he had said towards my own father.
BOOM. *explosions* What'd you all think?! I hoped no one seemed out of character... especially Thranduil. IF YOU THINK I MADE HIM TOO EVIL WAIT UNTIL CHAPTER 8 PLEASE! If it's anything other than that, review, review, review! BY THE WAY: the next time I will post a chapter (most likely next Friday) I would have seen the Battle of the Five Armies *cries*, so if you have seen it by then as well, I would ADORE to discuss it with you through PM! One last thing: if you like the chapters this long, you NEED to review because that's the only thing I check regularly and will know to do so in the next chapter. Thank you all so much for reading! I love you guys!