Part 1: Flee of the Fallen
Chapter 10: When Keys are Found
Legolas drew his bowstring taut, the tips of his fingers steady despite the tension. As he released the arrow, it soared through the air, striking the target dead center. His new recruits, lined up in disciplined rows, watched in awe. This cursed forest realm needed guards to protect the safety of the folks.
"Precision and patience," Legolas advised, turning to face them. "These are your most valuable weapons when facing a spider."
Just like the other novices he had recruited over the past thousand years, they nodded eagerly, desperate to get their hands on the weapon. And they were going to fail, fail miserably at their first hundreds of attempts, Legolas thought as he rolled his eyes in boredom. He watched them practice for a while, some too forceful, others lacking strength. And just like the last thousand years, they would master the art of archery and eventually patrol along the forest grounds.
A sudden shriek of pain pierced the air, followed by the stomping of leather boots. Why do these elves have to behave like dwarves? Legolas inwardly clenched his jaw.
A door slammed in the palace behind him, making everyone jump: "Quick, report to the prince!"
"Ai!"
"Boe i'waen (curse the wall)!" Then the sound of a helmet crashing into a wall.
"Daro vae (Stop, fool)!" Legolas heard his second-in-command yell.
The door to the archery field flew open, and a young guard came stumbling in: "Milord, I have no intention of interrupting—"
"Speak," Legolas ordered.
"The guards of the dungeon were attacked, and the prisoners have escaped," the poor ellon fumbled with words.
"Both?"
"Aye, Gollum and the blue one."
Blue one, Legolas almost slapped the ellon if he had less control.
"Send word to the king." The young guard bowed and stumbled out.
A second guard came hurrying forward: "Milord, the dungeon guards are unconscious, shall—"
"Take them to the healing ward." Legolas turned sharply towards the new recruits: "You're dismissed for the day."
His first stop was not the study of his father. One, he knew his father would not be in the mood to speak after such news. Two, his father hated it when someone could not report something in one sitting.
Faelon, his second-in-command, was already waiting at the dungeon door by the time he arrived: "Milord, we have not found any hidden weapons or evidence of tools that could be used to escape."
Ignoring his report, Legolas descended the spiral staircase and inspected the cells himself. Indeed, there was no evidence, nothing that could be used to attack or open the cell door. Then something caught his eye.
A twig.
The form of a key.
Legolas considered whether to punish his guards for such carelessness but instead pocketed the twig and commanded, "Secure the perimeter and tell the blacksmith to craft another set of doors for each cell."
"Milord!" The young guard had returned: "The guards are awake."
Legolas sighed, "Take them to the grand hall."
King Thranduil was already waiting on his throne by the time both the guards, freshly awakened from the healing ward, and Legolas entered the grand hall. The Elven King's piercing eyes roamed the room, casting a shadow of silent command, forcing all to straighten their backs and bow their heads in reverence.
"Report," he commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade, leaving no room for hesitation or error.
Legolas stepped forward, his posture rigid with respect. "Your Majesty, both prisoners have escaped the dungeon, rendering the guards unconscious in the process. We have found this." He held out the key, a simple twig that had been meticulously fashioned to unlock their captivity. The hall fell silent as the Elven King scrutinized the makeshift key, his expression darkening with each passing moment.
King Thranduil's eyes narrowed dangerously, his voice a low, menacing growl. "Which pathetic excuse of an elf left the dungeon key lying around?" he demanded, his gaze sharp enough to make even the bravest warriors cower. The intensity of his stare sent a shiver down the spine of every guard present.
Faelon bowed deeply, his voice steady despite the King's wrath. "Milord, according to the unconscious guards—"
The King's interruption was swift and cold, his patience hanging by a thread. "I see these 'unconscious' guards are currently standing in my hall," he snapped, his tone dripping with impatience. The slight tremor in his voice betrayed his simmering anger.
"Of course, Milord." Faelon stepped back, gesturing for one of the other guards to speak up.
"Milord, we were standing in front of Gollum's cage when we heard the bar to the other blue creature's cell open. I swear, we had the keys well-hidden from the prisoners' view at all times," the guard stammered, still groggy from his ordeal, fear evident in his eyes.
King Thranduil's sneer was cold and unforgiving, his voice icy and cutting. "What were you doing standing in front of Gollum's cage?"
The guard swallowed audibly, his voice faltering as he struggled to find the right words. "Nothing, Milord—"
The King's fury erupted, his voice a thunderclap in the grand hall. "Do you think I'mthat ignorant? That you should be able to receive sound, you fool of an elf?" The hall trembled with the weight of his anger, causing everyone to tense, their nerves fraying under the pressure.
"Of course not, Milord." The guard blanched, then continued, his words tumbling out in a desperate rush. "We were playing a game, and after the door clicked, the mad blue creature came at us, knocking us all unconscious. We did not wake up until being carried to the healing ward and were informed of Gollum's escape."
Mad blue creature. Legolas clenched his jaw in anger.
"The blue creature bested all ten of you at once?" The King's surprise was evident, his voice quieter but no less intense, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face.
"Yes, that creature was too fast and too tall for—" The guard's explanation was cut short once more, the tension in the room palpable.
"I've heard enough." King Thranduil's voice sliced through the guard's words like a blade. "Legolas, double the current search party in the forest. I want every inch of this land combed. We cannot let either of them elude us."