"Before I knew you, I thought brave was not being afraid. You've taught me that bravery is being terrified and doing it anyway." ― Laurell K. Hamilton
It was cold and dark. He had awoken several times but had lost his consciousness just as quickly. His mind was disoriented and he suspected he might have suffered a concussion. He attempted to rise but something held him firmly in place preventing him from moving more than a few inches. Curse it all manacles. He tugged at them but the only result he yielded were sore wrists.
He heard a moan in the corner. It was too dark to make out more than a shape but the shape was slender, elven. Dark hair came just below the shoulder a small portion plaited back in a single thin braid with the rest of it spilling out now somewhat disheveled. "Who is it?" The voice was weak and hoarse but he recognized it immediately as Lhinnor's younger cousin.
"Orestor?"
"My pri- Legolas?" Remembering himself the dark haired elf switched to the princes name. Titles would only cause the prince more harm.
"It's me." Legolas winced. Had he broken a rib?
"Legolas? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. Do you know who that is?"
Orestor squinted in the darkness. "It's, it's not Lhinnor!" The elf paled the loss of his kin registering painfully in his heart. "I'm not sure but he is wounded heavily."
"I… I'm sorry." Legolas could not see the grieving elf shrouded in the darkness as he was but he could tell the elf was silently weeping.
"He was brave. He went against the accursed orcs when I fell. He saved my life. I am sorry." There was silence for a long while as Legolas allowed tears of his own to flow for his fallen comrades.
The silence was broken by the elf only a few centuries older than Legolas raised his head from his chest. "The fault was not your own. He is at peace now."
"Orestor?"
"He was to be wed."
"What happen-"
"She died." Orestor cut him off sharply.
"I, I am sorry." Legolas's mournful voice echoed in the spacious cell.
Orestor sighed allowing his head to fall forward to his chest from exhaustion tugging at his own chains which were far looser than those on his fair haired friend. "Things like this happen my prince. The orcs spare no one in their wake."
Fear suddenly clenched in Legolas's heart. "Then why did they take us alive?"
Orestor shook his head weakly. "I don't wish to know."
Hearing movement in the halls Legolas shifted as he attempted to peer through the small window above the cell door. Nothing. "Orestor?"
A sigh escaped Orestor. "What is your wish?"
Legolas grimaced at the response. "Do not sacrifice yourself needlessly for me."
"That is not a choice. Your worth is far more than mine will ever be."
"Orestor! I am begging you!"
"No," A wan smile graced the features of the older elf. "Orestor!"
"I am sorry my prince." The smile widened and Legolas felt two fingers on his neck. No melon nin no! The prince flailed but gave way to the darkness. The prince slumped forward manacles restricting much movement. Orestor frowned as he braced himself for whatever was to come. I am sorry my prince but your life is indeed worth far more than my own.
He slept like the dead. It was dark, twisted wrong. His whole body felt heavy. Like it wasn't his own. He could feel their stench on the nape of his neck. Their guttural growls as they brought their blades to his flesh. The marks on his shoulder as they carved at him. He could hear blood curdling yells they were his own. It was hot too hot. A knife was brought to his neck. They were screaming, yelling in pleasure as they danced around the bonfire remains of what poor creatures had been subject to their sick entertainment peaked out from the flames white bones and a stench he would never forget. He could understand it suddenly their foul speech as he yelled in their tongue not understanding himself how he had done it or what it was he said only that the blade was pulled away and he was shuddering in relief. Then darkness as they poured their blood, hot fire over his own. He yelled as their blood tore through his veins. Saes someone save me. Elladan, Elrohir! Lord Glorfindel? Ada! Adar could make this right saes! Adar! No more pain. SAES! No!
He started awake gasping for air his whole body drenched in cold sweat tunic plastered to his skin. He was safe, safe, he whimpered but then realizing where he was he forced himself to shudder silently. It was a good few minutes before his body stopped shaking himself having no control over it as the images replayed themselves. He needed out, the walls of his room felt constricting. It was dark. The only light came from the moon pouring through the doors leading onto a balcony. He stumbled out parting the doors and padded onto the balcony entwined with vines covered in white blossoms leaning on it. He sagged against it his hands gripping it tightly silently thanking Valar that no one else was up at this unseemly hour.
He would die then admit his fears admit that they visited him in nightmare. Afraid that even as he fought them he felt sick. Mirkwood was darker. He could sense it. Like a shadow crawling up his spine. Prince, a prince with no kingdom that was all he ever should have been. And now? Now they wanted him to be their king. He had accepted. What else could he have done? The elves had little else left.
What had he gotten himself into? He knew nothing about ruling. Glorfindel and Elrond had taught him much but even he realized that learning and actually doing something were two different things. The elves were ready to accept him, but for how long? He had never been one of them. If anything Galion should have taken the rule. Why they brought him was beyond his reasoning. He wanted to curse himself for the slip. Lady Ingwe's son? The son of the cursed orcs? He hated them but their blood ran in his veins. His dream assailed him once more and felt the urge to wretch but he had had nothing but lembas and thankfully the nutrients had already been absorbed by his body. He clutched at the railing allowing his forehead to rest against the cold surface of the marble willing the images away. Valar he wasn't ready for this.
When Galion entered the prince's chambers the younger elf was already up and dressed in dark blues and blacks, clothes he did not recognize from prince Legolas's wardrobe so he assumed it was those Arrai had brought with him. He made his way through the door ajar to the balcony. He was paler in the sunlight and appeared as if he had slept little.
"I see you have learned your way around rather quickly, I trust you slept well?" Galion said noting the prince's still moist hair implying a bath.
The prince smiled and motioned at the white flower with thin yellow stalks in there center. "I have never seen this sort before."
Galion chuckled. "It is doubtful you will these are a subspecies of the Everwhite. Though their scent is invigorating they grow toward the sun and not many structures can handle their weight just as surely as the rocks of these halls can. This is a mountain after all."
"I forget we are inside one." Arrai replied wistfully.
"Yes it is hard at first." To one who had lived in Rivendell a palace inside a mountain would be a surprise and the designs of it to appear no different than a forest could easily have one mistaken it for one. "If you may follow me to the council room we have much to discuss."
"Of course Captain."
"Just Galion"
"Captain Galion."
"Captain Galion it is then." He chuckled. Elrond had brought up Thranduil's son well. They passed many staircases and Galion couldn't suppress a chuckle when his younger companion began shooting hesitant glances back trying to take everything in at once while trying to remember which path led where. At length they emerged in the hall which on festive occasions served as the banquet hall. Captain Tauriel and Tulien were standing at attention. With a few lieutenants scattered here and there.
"This is captain Tauriel." Galion introduced the elleth who bowed her head briefly. "I live to serve." Her keen eyes studied the younger prince trying to gauge his influence over the rest of the hall.
"And this is Captain Tulien." The prince's eyes took in the similarities between the two and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you. Tulien gave a curt nod in the direction of the prince as Galion walked to the map.
"Are these all the captains?" Arrai asked frowning at the number.
"Many are out on patrols."
"I see. To business then, how do you suggest we proceed?"
Galion bent over the map relieved at the familiarity of the exchange. It appeared the prince though young had some experience at least. He shifted a few of the pieces in accord to the movement of the various patrols current statuses.
"The orcs have retreated somewhat since our last encounter. It is the Umai who harass us now. The accursed spiders have grown bolder in the past two days. Captain Tauriel has returned with these news just yesterday."
Arria's eyes flickered to Tauriel face impassive as he leaned over the table pondering over the map. "Captain report, leave nothing out."
"I left with a small sortie to the North. There were five when we attacked. Two more joined in at a call. There were three casualties. None survived of the accursed creatures but we were forced to regroup as our numbers were too few and the archers too tired to proceed with another attack."
Galion traced a path on the map with his finger. "I suggest we follow the river's course than head North when we hit the great elder tree."
"That seems to give us the element of surprise."
Galion smiled thinly at the prince's catch. "Yes, that would allow us to surround the nest we wish to eliminate but it could also prove fatal if we do not bide our time."
"Captain Tulien take a score of men and go." There was a pause and at length Arrai looked up at the Captain. Tulien did not move. Emerald eyes narrowed bearing holes through the younger elf. Galion was about to reprimand the elf but Arrai intervened before he could protest.
"Is there a problem Captain?"
Tulien laughed. "How noble of you my King. Sending us warriors to fight while you stay behind in the safety of the palace." The voice was high and mocking.
"Muindor how dare you-"
But she was interrupted by her brother. "How dare I?" He raged. He swung his sword pointing it at the prince. "Are you saying this orc is too command us? You're no better than the whole cursed lot of them you filth!"
"Stop this foolishness!" Galion frowned in disgust relinquish your post Captain. He motioned a demand for Tulien's sword as two elves held him on each side
"No, he is right." Arrai cut in, passive eyes meeting ones full of loathing.
"I will lead the charge. Tulien will be my second."
Shock was evident on the faces of all the lieutenants and many began to protest while others seemed to like the idea. "You are the last of Orpherion's line. If you fall we have no King." Galion interrupted the hall now in uproar.
"Silence!" Arrai slammed a hand sharply on the table plunging the room into stark silence. "If I can't handle a few insects do you think I am fit to rule?"
"And if you die?" Galion yelled. "What then? Are you out of your mind?" The loss of the prince and the King was still too fresh to lose another in such a short time?
"If I die. Which I will not." Hard eyes met Galion's. "If I die you will be regent."
Galion wanted to argue but doing so would only make the prince look like an extension of his own will. Besides he doubted he could convince the younger elf otherwise. If ever he had any doubts of the stubbornness running in Orpherion's linage he had none now.
"May Valar protect you."
"I will return." Hard eyes met his own. And for the first time in many days Galion felt sure of a victory.
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