Seas: Chapter 10

Hey...*hides* I'm SO SO SO SO sorry for not updating in so long! PLEASE DON';T LEAVE ME MY LITTLE READERS! Christmas happened and I got the Silmarillion so I've been reading that instead of writing, school has been trying to kill me since then, I started watching a bunch of random TV shows, and on the topic of TV shows I also FELL IN LOVE with Pushing Daisies (rights to Bryan Fuller), and even though it ended I don't care it's a beautiful show and all of you need to watch it, there's like, amazing stuff in there, AND NO LESS, LIKE, COME ON IT'S LEE PACE! And...I hit a writer's block. I had no idea how to connect the last chapter to upcoming chapter 11 and so I died... again, I'm so sorry! If this chapter seems crappy apologies again, there's like, a bunch of stuff. Pushing Daisies sort of made me lose my mind ^-^. Don't watch it if you have important stuff you need to do recently after. Okay...hopefully this chapter is okay, it's kind of a filler with a bunch of internal conflicts but it leads into the next so...yeah. :) Everything recognizable is PJ and Tolkien. Read on my remaining babies! xD

Legolas POV

I strolled slowly down the hall to my quarters, my hands together behind my back. My thoughts wandered to my meeting with Olórëdes in the forest the previous night. The feeling of her soft hair resinated in my fingertips, and the gentle ringing of her voice, so much like bells, echoed in my mind. I sighed, imagining her delicate body in my arms again...so incredibly fragile.

I was taken out of my thoughts by a servant. "My Lord Legolas," he slightly called, as if he had said the same multiple times already. I looked at him. "The King requests your presence in his quarters," he informed me, bowing. "Thank you," I dismissed, and the servant turned and walked away. I sighed. I honestly did not want to speak to Father right now, but he would seek me out himself if I did not go to him.

So I turned to my right into another hallway and walked through the guarded doors into Father's quarters. I closed the doors purposefully loudly. "Legolas, is that you?" I heard his voice echo through the hall. "Yes, Father. You wanted to see me..?" I called back, hearing my own voice sound stiffly respectful.

Father came around the corner, wrapped in his crimson bathing robe and patting his hair with a towel. "Indeed. I would like to talk with you. Come," he said, striding off to his study. I followed behind him. He sat down in one of the cushioned chairs in front of the massive hearth in the large room, filled to the top with books. He comfortably crossed one leg over the other, leaning back as I sat rigidly in the opposite chair.

I waited for him to speak. After a long while of staring into the fire, Father finally began. "I do not like this tension between us, Legolas. It has not even been a complete day yet, but I already cannot deal with this...ongoing argument," he murmured. "Father, I really am not willing to talk about-"

"I know you think you are not, but I know you truly do want to resolve this," he interupted. I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning back slightly in the chair. "I know you have already told me your conditions, and I mine, but one or both of us may be willing to negotiate," he said. His words sickened me. He spoke as if this was some sort of bargain, as if my love was an object to be traded at a market. "We are not negotiating anything, Father. This is not a deal between two peoples," I muttered.

Father did not flinch. "Son, please. Can you at least attempt to see my point of view?" he asked. I apparently said yes, for he continued. "I am only trying to help you see what is best for you. What is best for our kingdom, our people-" "

"And me marrying a noble does that?" I demanded. "How does that better our kingdom in any way other than pleasing you? I do not like this dispute either, but it will never end if you do not stop being...self-centered," I growled, standing and storming out of the room.

I had my hand on the doorknob when Father called to me again. "I am sorry melin," he said quietly. I sighed. "Amin mela lle beika, Ada," I responded, exiting the room to go again into the forest.

Olórëdes POV

"Thank you," I murmured to the cook as I stood and left the dining hall after finishing a well-cooked dinner of vegetable stew with bread. I walked through the halls to the kingdom's library. It was a massive room filled with shelves of books. Walkways crisscrossed over each other, connecting the multiple levels of the tall area to the walls so one can reach any book they need.

I had read almost half of the books in the library in my time. Dividing them into time periods and sections in those periods, I worked my way through them diligently. I was now about halfway through the Second Age, reading on the departure of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn into Belfalas.

I walked up one of the staircases to the level containing Second Age books, scanning until I found the last book I had finished. I swiftly pulled out the one next to it, carrying the book to one of the many padded seats the library provided. I sat and began reading.

However, only a chapter or two into the book, my thoughts began drifting away from the depiction of the tale. Even though I attempted to bring my mind back to the book, I started wondering about Legolas; his teary blue eyes as he spoke to me, the soft sound of his voice, his strong arms as he wound me into an embrace, the feeling of his smooth hair, his scent, all of him.

I slammed my book shut, angrily standing. What was I thinking?! Fantasizing about the Prince of the Woodland Realm. Foolish. I shoved the novel into to crevice I had taken it from, storming from the library. I swept down the halls in an ashamed rage, unsure now of what to do with myself. My feet carried me to my room, and I locked myself inside.

I stood in the center of my room, staring at the fire in the hearth in frustration. What was wrong with me? I was not allowed to love Legolas. I simply was not permitted to do so. And yet...I love him. I could not deny this fact.

With a short gasp, I realized the war inside me. My mind was battling my heart; my mind telling me the social boundaries that I must abide by, and my heart telling me that I belong with Legolas and cannot change that. But which was correct?

What do I do? I asked my self over and over again. The whole time I stood on the rug before the hearth, I could not create an answer, a decision. I decided that I needed to clear my mind, and I could not do so in the confinments of my room.

I shed my dress and dressed in my outdoor clothing once more. Stepping back out into the halls, I quickly strolled to the gates. I immediately felt slightly soothed by the nighttime air as I approached the exit. I began wandering along the path, looking up through the trees at the stars, slightly covered by thin clouds.

I imagined how Father would react if I told him I choose not let Legolas go. He would be happy, and most likely thank me for seeing sense. But...I would break Legolas's heart if I did so. I could not even think of doing that to him. However, Father would finally no longer have to choose between his daughter and his King. I knew that Legolas had already made that decision. He had chosen me, as irrational as it may seem. Legolas's relationship with King Thranduil would be restored to amicable terms. He would no longer have to choose between his heart and his father.

I had made no progress. I myself could not bring myself to choose between Father and Legolas. Though, I discovered that it was truly a decision of who I did and did not want to hurt. Truly, I wanted to hurt neither Father nor Legolas. Yet not deciding did not make the situation better. I sighed.

I was about to turn around to go back to the kingdom, seeing that I had strayed quite a long distance from the entrance while lost in my internal debates, but I froze when I heard the sound of a large stick snap. I did not turn to see what or who was behind me.

An Elf? No, he or she would not have made a misstep and broken the twig in the first place. It could not be the large and terrifying spiders that used to haunt the forest, King Thranduil had managed to kill them all or drive the rest off. No animal would make such a noise. A human? Why would any man come into Mirkwood? All of these thoughts raced through my head immediately after I heard the sound. I felt my heart quickly beating with fear and anxiety.

Then watched in horror as a large grotesque hand reached around my head and clasped over my mouth, muffling my screams. Strong arms and a large body won out over my attempts to struggle out of the grasp. I did not know how to fight, it had never been in my intrest to join the guard. My eyes widened as a large, hunched figure came into my vision. It was clothed in leather rags and armor made of strangely wrought metal and bones. I recognized the disgusting and multilated facial features as only one creature before he raised his arm and knocked me into unconsiousness with the end of his weapon. Orcs.

GASP! Whaaaatttt?! Impossible! Nope. Denied. ^-^ I feel so evil now. Again, I apologize hugely for the massive delay with this chapter, but don't worry! The next chapter will be up REALLY soon since I now have a direct connection from this one to 11. :) I'm so happy now. There are too many people who have favorited and followed and such that I can't put all of your names down, but a MASSIVE thank you to you all! I love you guys so much! Please follow, fave, and review to those of you who haven't!