Chapter 23
Never had anybody felt such great defeat and Arri truly felt more naked than before. She still bore the cloak they had given her but to be pushed about so after all they had done for Loredell left its own wound. Looking at the small stone room she was placed in made her dismal mood worsen. Small with no windows and a big solid wood door. The stench of urine and old blood was strong and with her nausea mixing and with the sensation of the room she was sure she would be ill. She bit her tongue and swallowed hard as she sank into the hay that was in the room when she heard the door open. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and looked to see Jared's worried face.
"I will get you out of here and so will the others," Jared swore as he handed her a small parchment. "The people will it, Arri." He smiled.
Arri wrinkled her head in wonder as she took the small paper slowly translating the written words until she understood. Speaking their tongue and reading it in depth was quite another thing and she was sure she misunderstood because when she was done reading she was more confused. "The people show support for only myself to bear the crown?"
"Yes, they threatened to revolt if you did not receive it and if Giles did," Jared smiled keeping his voice lower from the other guards.
Arri shook her head as if to deny the crown itself now.
Jared knew her despair, "this is the last act of a desperate man, Arri." He sighed to her, "You are not alone," he let his eyes travel to the floor as his foot tapped a stone. "Legolas is on the other side of this stone."
She looked hopeful for the first time and he smiled at her, "I have been prisoner here before." He told her with a rueful grin.
She sighed lightly and looked to him with slight hope.
He squeezed her shoulder and smiled hoping she was feeling better. They both could hear flat pounding noises from the cell that Jared had told her contained Legolas. She lowered her eyes wondering what cloud had chased them this time as Jared stood to investigate on his on.
Giles smiled to himself seeing Legolas's angry look and bound hands as he entered the room.
"Can elves do many things without their hands?" Giles cooed and Legolas kept his unfaltering gaze on him.
Giles came closer but Legolas remained unmoving, "If you try to escape you will be killed before you get far." He challenged almost hoping Legolas would try to escape or fight him.
Giles's expression grew angry and he thrust his elbow in Legolas's face striking him on the nose. He grabbed the elf tossing him against the wall and letting his frustration go. Giles moved to kick him as Legolas gathered his breath against the wall but Legolas moved regaining some of his fight. Giles ended up hitting the bare wall and he grew angrier as he moved on Legolas. Giles reached a flat hand out catching Legolas off guard as he faked him with another hit. He smiled leaving a red mark of his face but Legolas seemed to allow it without fighting back much and Legolas's moves seemed in defense only. Giles did not like this much and wanted the elf to fight him so he could call the guards.
"You won't fight?" Giles tilted his head but Legolas would not give him a verbal response or a gesture. "I will get to you, elf." He smiled remembering Arri before he left her and Giles moved on Legolas and Legolas countered by moving back until he was against another wall. Giles simply raised his hand to Legolas's face and watched as Legolas began to register the smell still on Giles's fingers. "That's right." Giles set his jaw ready for anything. "You smell her on my hands." He could see he was getting to him, "I knew you had her, prince'," He sneered as Legolas's breathing began to come more quickly, "Don't think it was special to you? I am sure the guards will think so too. She is under arrest as well and they will do want they want now." Giles stepped back but was not prepared for the speed of the blonde male who tossed himself at him. Before he knew it Legolas had planted his elbow into Giles's throat leaving Giles looking for air and moving to the door. Giles found Legolas's assault continue as he heard him muttering in Elvish and found Legolas' confined hands against his cheek.
Jared opened the door in time to catch Giles as he fell and he looked to Legolas disappointed but held his hand up with a warning look at the elf. Legolas backed off slightly knowing Jared had gotten the better of him and stood there regaining his composure but now he was greatly worried for Arri.
Giles caught his breath and looked at Legolas with venom, "your death shall not be postponed elf."
Thranduil and Elrond spoke quietly within the confines of Elrond's room and as usual they did not share the same opinion. A door burst open and pale Mirkwood elf stood there but soon he was remiss realizing which room he had choose. Looking at them both he gave a bow, "Excuse my haste, my lords." He stood up meeting their eyes, "It would seem Legolas has been taken to the dungeons."
Thranduil's temper now a mere string looking at the elf angrily, "by who's orders?"
"I know not, my king," he shook his head, "we only could see him and Arri being taken away."
Thranduil turned to Elrond angrily, "Men?" He challenged him and looked angrily at the tapestries that told of a lineage, "we should bring peace to people that want to kill our kin?"
Elrond walked to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "we do as we must in dark times, Thranduil." He sighed deeply, "they will not harm them."
"Shall they try to harm my son I will bring a war upon them until they paint their own streets with blood," Thranduil shook his hand off and began out the door.
Elrond gestured for the other elf to follow them and followed Thranduil.
Both Elvish lords moved quickly into the room Legolas had inhabited with Arri as Arwen stood there gathering things for the two captives.
Aragorn sighed seeing both lords and bowed but neither seemed to notice he gesture as they took the room in.
"Where is this Giles now?" Thranduil said hotly looking at he messy bed. Then he saw his son's bow in the corner and his son's quiver of arrows. Yet it was unlike any elf to leave their things splayed across the floor and he knew something foul was afoot.
Arwen looked dismal but kept her composure. "The guards told us that Legolas and Arri killed one of the head guards. They have been arrested."
Thranduil merely nodded but his eyes did not hide his contempt, "For what reason would my son kill a guard?"
"We do not know everything," Aragorn interrupted, "they said it was the guard named Xander and three others also that they tried to hide the bodies."
Arwen looked to the bow Thranduil had seen, "they matched the arrows with Legolas'" She wondered what the elves could do under human laws, "they are both to be put to death."
"Not if I may help it," Aine said from behind them and all turned to see her in the doorway.
"Aine," Thranduil lowered his brow at her accusingly, "is this how you care for others?" He moved to the female upset glaring at her and coming nose to nose. Most women would be taken with such a close proximity to the Elvish king but not Aine. She gave him no sign of emotion in turn but raised a brow at him.
Gathering the satchel she nodded, "they will not die." Reaching in she withdrew she handed Thranduil a paper. "The people will not see them killed."
Thranduil nodded reading it slowly, "They ask that Arri take the crown at once."
Arwen and Aragorn nodded looking at the others with hopeful eyes.
"There is no proof of Arri's involvement with these deaths," Aine sighed. "After the orc's attack the people trust us but not Legolas since it was his arrow that slew Xander."
"What do they want then?" Arwen moved closer to her father with her eyes full of wonder.
"They will not kill Legolas or ask him punished if he leaves and Arri stays," Aine exhaled. "If she refuses the crown they will ask Legolas to be put death."
"She must send him away for him to live?" Arwen looked horror struck and traded a look with Aragorn. He was beside her with his hand holding hers as if it were their own fate.
"Then it is done," Thranduil eyes grew stormy, "We depart this evening."
"She must agree to this?" Elrond asked Aine coolly.
Aine nodded solemnly obviously unhappy with that part, "but they will both live."
Arwen and Aragorn exchanged a glance neither sure of what the other two would do.
"Do not make haste over this," Elrond spoke politely to Thranduil.
"Haste? No Elrond I leave these men to their own ruin." He leered at the dark haired lord. "I will take those we have sent and leave."
Aine's eyes open wider, "you would leave Arri?"
"She is safe enough," He seemed to have only measured patience at his point, "She would rule this land then she has brought this upon herself."
"They were bound," Arwen argued for them.
"Then we shall see that Legolas does not die of a broken heart when he returns home," Thranduil said angrily and left the room.
Legolas felt the blood Giles had drew from him by letting Giles strike him in the face and he cursed himself for letting Giles get to him but he soon heard a scratching noise from the wall and looked to see the stone moving slowly into his small room.
He moved to it watching it until the stone quietly until it fell into the room and he could see feminine hands. 'Arri,' was all he could think as he knelt to take her hand eagerly.
He felt a smile but it faded, "are you well?" He whispered.
"Nothing ails me but my pride and soul," she said sadly.
He squeezed her hand and she pulled his hand halfway through the wall so she would see his hands as well.
"Jared visited me," she said solemnly, "he brought news that the people will not see us put to death but they request our presence in a few minutes."
Legolas sighed, "good news. We might have our voices heard then."
"I am doubtful," she whispered sadly still feeling the dread that had been there from the start.
"I feel it too but I can feel it will end soon," He was hopeful but he knew the dread she felt too.
Jared was moving to the courtyard as the people gathered to help decide Loredell's and the couple's fate. The arch was gone as well as any sign there had been a celebration.
Jared felt a tug on his hand and turned to see Eliza looking at him with big eyes. He knelt down to her with a small smile, "yes, little one?"
"Will they kill Arri and Legolas?" She was near tears and gripped her doll tightly as she watched the man for a response.
"We will not let them," a voice rang behind Jared as Aine approached.
Jare looked guardedly at Aine wondering what she had in mind.
"Really?" Eliza said quickly watching Aine carefully. "Mom and dad were talking 'bout it and I thought I could help them 'scape."
Jared chuckled, "really?" He watched her nod enthusiastically. "Don't worry, child. Your friends will be safe."
Aine watched Eliza as she seemed appeased for a moment and finally wandered off.
Aine was by him in a second and met Jared's eyes. "You will allow this?"
"What can I do?" He narrowed his eyes at Aine.
"Tell them who you are," Aine said quickly. "Let the people decide, Jareth."
He bent his head down almost ashamed, "I am doing both elves more here and not in chains, Aine." He raised his head to meet her eye, "that is where I will be if I tell them."
Aine sighed lightly as she watched the castle and felt the doom that lingered over it. She knew Jareth had his mind set and she wouldn't be able to change it but perhaps somebody else could. "You are to bring the prisoners here to be seen."
He nodded and moved away but Aine stopped him, "clothing would help them make a human appearance to the residents here."
"I will get it," Jared/Jareth mumbled moving away slowly.
Frodo and Sam had been pushed about since the wedding. First they had been shoved aside with the children during the attack and reprimanded for having swords by a parent. Then people realized they were not men or children and let them free. Such a time of it to find out your friend and his new wife were to be put to death.
"I cannot understand this, Mister Frodo," Sam said softly as they moved along the halls that became more glum as they went lower into the castle.
"Me either Sam," Frodo sighed. "But maybe we can make a difference if we ask."
"Remind them that Legolas was the elf from the fellowship?" Sam wondered aloud. "We surely wouldn't made it as far as we had if he hadn't been with us."
"He pulled Gandalf to safety before that snow avalance," Frodo said slowly, "Now Gandalf's missing again." Frodo sighed, "He saved Boromir from falling in Moira too."
Sam nodded, "remember how he saved Gimli by grabbing his beard to keep him from falling into the mines of Moira?"
"All to well," replied a gruff voice behind them and they turned to see Gimli with a slightly amused expression. Both smiled at him happily. "Now, if we geld Giles that would be an idea."
Both chuckled at Gimli's suggestion and they found the dungeon easily. Two guards eyed them warily.
"What is your business here?" The first asked.
"We wish to visit our friend," Frodo said calmly.
The guard raised an eyebrow, "they can see the female but the male was called the killer."
"We wish to see both," Gimli said pointedly.
"Just the female," the guards repeated.
The three exchanged a glance and agreed for they had no choice in the matter. They led them to the second door and opened it to find Arri laying among the hay face down. " Careful she is feisty," the guard laughed as the trio approached the unmoving figure slowly. The guard winked before he shut them in with her.
"The scoundrels," Gimli huffed as he touched her shoulder, "have they hurt you?" he asked Arri.
She slowly lifted her head and looked to them and they realized the guards comment now. She had an eye that was now swollen and black and her lip was split and bleeding. Scattered bruises now adorned her body and she looked at them sleepily as she pushed to a sitting position.
"Have they had their way with you, Lass?" Gimli asked angrily.
Arri refused to meet his eyes still embarrassed of Giles' touch, "we leave soon to be found accountable or not."
Gimli looked at the hobbits solemnly feeling his fear confirmed mumbling as he helped her to her feet. He began to utter curses directed at the guards.
"Do not cloud Legolas' mind with this," her eyes were pleading to them.
Frodo's eyes held the sympathy for the elf and Sam looked angry as he looked back at the door.
Sam cleared his throat as Frodo found his handkerchief and began to attempt to comfort Arri by cleaning her up a little. "Does it hurt much?" Frodo asked and Arri shook her head. "They wouldn't let us see the elf," Gimli exhaled loudly.
Arri smiled again and moved to the wall slowly pulling at one of the bottom stones on the wall letting the stone fall into the room. The other three could hear the distant sound of a voice to low for them to understand but Arri replied in elfin.
"Arri," Legolas's voice said a little more clearly now, "I thought they had taken you." They heard the pause in his voice and wondered if it was relief or trying to hide worry, "Are you well?"
She was about to answer him but a voice boomed behind her as all squatted to the floor, "She's fine, elf." Gimli said lowly, "you're not allowed visitors."
"Frodo and Sam are with me too," Arri whispered.
Greetings were exchanged as the small group and they passed Frodo's handkerchief to Legolas next but he passed it back to Arri quickly.
The hobbits did not understand but Arri began to shove the stone back as his hand disappeared. Then the door was tossed open and they understood they elves' hearing had warned them. The guard looked to them with sword in hand, "visit is over for now."
Legolas couldn't believe Frodo and Sam were trying to act on behalf and shook his head with a smile. He heard somebody approach and shoved hay in front of the whole before the door was opened. He felt a relieved sigh when he saw it was just Jared.
Jared looked solemn as he held out the clothing for him to take, "they want you both now." He looked to the piled hay by the hole, "Arwen will care for Arri."
Legolas took the offered clothing impressed with what Jared had choose. It was fine for what they were about to face.
"Arwen chose the clothing for you both," Jared sighed looking defeated. "I wish this was easier."
"You give us more help on that side of the dungeon," Legolas nodded.
Jared sighed as he backed from the room thinking to himself, 'if so then why do I feel like a traitor?'