The only thing that pierced through the smothering blanket on unconsciousness was an uncomfortable dull throb. Legolas did not wish to open his eyes. He was all too familiar with the throbbing that he knew would turn into a wash of pain were he to wake. Yet he had no choice. Warriors did not flee before a foe nor from pain. Forcing himself to focus on his surrounding the protective blackness faded away and the throb grew, concentrating into a white hot pain in his left arm and a furiously pounding headache. The prince groaned as his entire body screamed in protest. It felt as if he had been wrestling an oliphant.
He blinked open bleary eyes taking in his predicament. Vague grey blobs solidified into dirty stone tiles. A heavy steel door that opened from the outside was the sole entrance or exit. The only source of light was from the barred windows set high above the cell casting a bright square patch of sunlight a few paces in front of the imprisoned elf.
Legolas looked down at his own battered body. The once pristine tunic was now dirtied and torn. In places where the fabric had yielded to the harsh blows he could see dark bruises already beginning to form. Heavy iron shackles secured both of his feet the chains leading to a bolt in the stone floor. His arms were likewise bound in chains above his head mercilessly straining his injured arm. A couple chains were crisscrossed across the elf's chest and secured into the wall behind his back for good measure. The chill of the cell contrasted with the fiery pain burning up and down Legolas's broken arm. The fact that his resistant elven body could feel the cold alerted Legolas to just how harsh the beating was.
The elf took in a deep breath, the air tasted dusty and stale, he leaned his head against the frozen walls hoping to deaden the pounding in his skull. Judging by the position of the patch of light just out of reach the sun had long passed her zenith. Legolas closed his eyes, concentrating on taking slow breaths and stilling his body to reduce the pain in his arm.
Long hours passed with only the shifting shadows and the sounds of his own hitched breaths to keep Legolas company. No one came to visit. None came to offer food, water, or explanation. He vaguely remembered a man by the name of Lastor making allegations of pig theft. Pig theft? Legolas thought disbelievingly. Of all things to be accused and beaten for.
Over the millennia he had walked Middle-Earth the elf prince had managed to get involved with all sorts of trouble, especially when he was with Elrond's spawn, but never in his life had he ever been arrested of something as seemingly inane as swine theft. Yet examining his situation now it didn't seem nearly as comical as it should have been to the elf.
Aragorn his going to laugh himself silly then murder me if he finds out about this. Legolas thought glumly.
"This is ridiculous Runen." Lastor cried as he kept pace with the sheriff of the town as they marched in tandem towards the jails. "You can't possibly be thinking about giving that…that thing a proper trial. He's not even human." Runen tilted his head back slightly to glare lightly at his companion. The torchlight illuminated only half his face casting the other into dark shadows making the man look more intimidating than normal.
"It doesn't matter if he's not human Lastor. The new decrees from the king are absolute. Any creature, except for those filthy goblins and orcs, charged with a criminal offence must face trial according to town laws overseen by an appointed official from the capital. It is my duty as the sheriff of this town to uphold the word of the law even when I don't agree with it. I've already sent off young Melbryn as our messenger."
"So you do think its guilty." Lastor prodded.
"Of course I do. There ain't nothing trustworthy about them elven folk. I don't care what people say in the main city about elves helping fight in the Great War. They weren't here to help for the decades we've had to fight off them filthy creatures coming down from the mountain to killed our men, women, and children." Runen said as he slid a silver key into the jail doors entering the small underground facility where they kept their criminals.
Most of the cells lining either side of the hallway were empty with a couple housing frequent drunken visitors that regularly stayed the night at the jails for starting bar fights. Two men playing cards stood at attention as Runen passed them.
"At ease." He said instinctively passing the guards without a second thought Lastor still muttering complaints behind him.
"In em goo'ol days we woulda just beat im senseless and locked him down e're forever. Everyone agrees he's scum."
"Well we don't live in the dark days anymore. Things have changed since King Elessar retook the throne of Gondor. He's been good and just and restored peace. We should be grateful and uphold what he's asked of us." He returned exasperatedly. Lastor shook his burly head.
"I ain't sa'in I'm not grateful, but what if he enchants em law men and wiggles out of stealing me pigs?" He continued to argue angrily as they pair drew closer to the heavy metal doors at the end of the corridor. It was heavily fortified cell designed only for the most dangerous criminals accused of the most heinous crimes.
"Look Lastor." Runen said trying to the conversation to a halt. "Don't worry about the trial." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "All the townsfolk know he's guilty and he won't get away with it. I'll make sure of it. No matter what happens this elf will be found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment. The world is better off with less of his kind." The two men locked eyes reaching a silent agreement.
Lastor nodded in acceptance. Runen smiled inserting a rusty key into the heavy door turning until a satisfying click broke the silent jail. He raised his torch high, fingering the piece of parchment beneath his fingers. Dangerous chips of ice shined unnaturally bright from the darkness of the cell. The creature raised its head meeting the sheriff's gaze unflinchingly. This retch did not scare him. His fate would be sealed by his hands soon.
Time slowly trickled away like water droplets falling of leaves. The square patch of sunlight drifted further and further away from the elf's feet, bending and stretching as the sun made her final decent for the day. Soon the wavering orange light faded completely to be replaced by the silver flickering illumination of the stars and moon.
Legolas had almost allowed himself to drift off in a restless sleep when faint sounds could be detected from behind the heavy jail door. It sounded like footsteps and muffled voices. Two people if his ears did not deceive him. They seemed to be in the middle of a hushed but heated argument but the sounds of protest ceased abruptly as the steps came to a stop directly outside the door.
Legolas straightened, sitting ramrod straight. He composed his features letting the fatigue, pain, and uncertainly slide off leaving only a cool steely mask. The elf was forced to squint as bright torchlight filled the dim cell. When his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness Legolas recognized the silhouette of two humans, one with an unpleasantly familiar face. He leveled his icy blue eyes at them assessing the two townsfolk with a mask of disinterest.
"Wipe at' smug look off yar arrogant face before I wipe it off for yer." The man Legolas identified as Lastor snarled even as he stood slightly behind the other unknown man. The archer had to hold back a small smile of self-satisfaction as he realized the man was afraid. Despite his broken arm and the numerous chains inhibiting almost all of his mobility the coward was still afraid of the lone elf.
"Not so brave without half the town screaming for innocent blood behind you are you." He said evenly. Perhaps not the most tactful thing to say but Estel always did complain that Legolas had a streak of pride that manifested itself at the most inconvenient times.
"Why ya little…" Lastor growled taking a threatening step forward.
"Enough Lastor. Don't waste your efforts on this nefarious creature. He'll just take the chance to put you under one of them elvish spells or turn you into something unnatural." The man who spoke was more well-kept than Lastor. He wore a smart grey undershirt and a formal black jacket, other than his dress the new man was also more well-spoken than his rough counterpart. His short black hair was neatly brushed and his brown eyes, while also alight with mistrust and anger, also held calculating intelligence. Legolas mentally laughed at their ridiculous superstitions.
If he had such powers did the two humans think him likely to be sitting in their cell entertaining their misplaced animosity.
"Elf." He began formally, holding a piece of parchment before him as if he were a high lord announcing a new decree. "You have been imprisoned on suspicion of theft and for resisting arrest." Legolas raised an elegant eyebrow. No civilized nation would ever label the confrontation in the glade an 'arrest'. "Per decree of the new High King of Gondor, Lord Elessar, a court appointed official will be provided from the capitol city of Minas Tirith in light of a town or city not having a judge themselves for serious criminal proceedings. Once this judge has arrived a trial shall be held in open court where your fate shall be decided by a jury of your peers."
The law man glanced up from his document to meet unwavering blue orbs. The man's gaze faltered.
"These are just formalities creature, do not expect allowances to be made for your treacherous acts." He barked, quickly rolling up his parchment and backing out of the cell carrying the torch with him. Lastor lingered for a split second, just long enough to shoot Legolas a look that made the elf not entirely comfortable before scurrying behind his companion closing the cell door with a resounding clang.
Legolas let his mask drop as a frown pulled at his normally smooth features. Guaranteeing a trial overseen by a judge form Minas Tirith certainly was comforting but the jury that would decide his fate would most definitely consist of men from the town. If the loathing and distrust for elves ran as deep in this town as it ran in the law man Legolas just encountered and Lastor the trial would be a nothing more than a farce. He had already been sentenced guilty.
While the prince had no idea what the penalty was for pig theft it was not something he was eager to find out nor a penalty he was willing to carry out when he was guilty of nothing more than falling asleep in a grove of trees.
As the moon reached his peak, casting a comforting steady glow, Legolas's sharp ears picked up a sound that made his heart flutter with joy. The steady clop clop clop of hooves on cobblestone. These rhythmic beats were familiar to him for they belong to his own steed. A snort followed by a huff of air signaled the horse's arrival by the cell window. Legolas craned his neck to look up ignoring the spike of pain that action caused to shoot down his spine.
"Arod." He whispered ecstatically. "I do believe I have never been so glad to see you my friend." The horse snorted once more lowering his intelligent dark eyes to the bars. Legolas could have sworn the horse looked like he was admonishing his masters for landing himself in trouble once more.
"I promise it wasn't my fault this time." The elf pleaded his case. Arod ruffled his silvery mane. "Never mind how we got into this mess. I need your help mellon." Arod stilled tilting his great white head. "Run home. Go to Minas Tirith and find Estel. Aragorn." He emphasized. Arod blinked at his rider. Legolas knew is faithful steed would be reluctant to leave him in the human settlement, especially when his horse could tell the elf was in trouble.
"You must go. Noro lim Arod. Run for Minas Tirith!" Sensing the urgency in his master's voice the white war horse reared his head letting out a whinny that shattered the still night before the sound of pounding hooves signaled his gallop away from the cell.
Legolas leaned against the cold stone once more letting out a sigh of relief. He opened his eyes looking at the shaft of milky light, swirling calmingly with particles of dust. Help was on the way.
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