Broken Hearts

Broken Hearts

Chapter 10
Author: Frosty the Kingpin
Codes: Legolas, Haldir, Elrond, Thranduil, OC, AU, N/C, INC
Rated: NC-17
Summary: During talks of combining Mirkwood amladmladris into one force, a relationship takes a downward spiral.
Translations are at the end of the chapter.

*

Legolas paced his cell like a caged animal, glaring at the guards who stood watchiim. im. Each of them regarded him coldly, not speaking a word to him. Each of them, but one.

"What has happened to you?" Haldir narrowed his eyes and watched as Legolas stopped pacing and came closer to the bars. The expression on the Prince's face was one of confidence and contempt. "How could you have done such a thing?"

Legolas smirked, leaning against the cage bars. "You would not understand."

"No, I don't suppose I would. I could never be so vicious."

"You could. We are all capable of such things, Haldir. Trust me." Pursing his lips, Legolas moved his eyes to the doorway when a lock sounded. When Elrond entered, Haldir immediately noticed the Prince tense.

"Leave us," said Elrond to the guards, motioning for Haldir to stay. Legolas pushed away from the bars and stood straight, all traces of amusement gone from his face as the door cl beh behind the guards and the Lord of Imladris stepped closer.

Legolas' sharp blue eyes moved over Elrond. A sneer appeared on his face. "I imagine you look quite noble to Tári right now. I wonder how long it will take her to see that you are more of a villain than I."

"I am no villian," he answered quietly, "And neither are you. Tell me, how long has the darkness of Sauron been calling to you?"

Haldir frowned and watched as Legolas smiled broadly. "As long as it has been calling to all of us. An eternity."

"And when did you fall to it?"

The blonde archer laughed softly. "What are you attempting to do, Elrond? Cure me of my ills?"

"No. There is no cure to what has befallen you. I merely wish to know for certain that you have been lost to the Dark Lord." Elrond sighed and frowned as he considered the young elf.

"Sauron has nothing over me," hissed Legolas, "I do not answer to him, nor do I answer to you."

"I understand you do not answer to him. But you have been influenced beyond repair. I suspect you were infected with the darkness not long after my daughter."

Legolas smiled softly. "Arwen. I remember her well." His eyes grew distant for a moment, almost sad, then returned to the coldness that infiltrated his very being. "Whatever happened to the princess, Elrond?"

Haldir noticed Elrond's eyes flicker. "She could not be saved."

Nodding as if guessing what he meant, Legolas frowned. "And is that my fate as well?"

"It looks that way."

Taking a deep breath, Legolas clasped his hands behind his back and began moving about the cell. "My father will never allow it, you know."

Haldir stalked forward, glaring at the Prince. "Your father will be devastated when he learns what you have done to your own sister! He will not allow it to continue. He will not allow you to be a threat."

Moving to the bars, Legolas stared into the Marchwarden's eyes with malicious intent. "Tári is my kin, my blood. She is mine. It does not matter what my father says or does, nor does it matter what you think. My intentions remain the same, and always will. I will not allow her to be taken away from me."

Haldir clenched his fists, hissing, "And I will never allow you to touch her again!"

A hand on the Marchwarden's shoulder caused him to relax slightly and step back. "What you have done is reprehensible, Legolas. No one here will allow it to continue." Removing a set of keys from the far wall, he opened the Prince's cell door. "We will go to your father now, and you can tell him yourself what you have done."

Legolas eyed the open door warily. "And what then, Elrond? I know how the mind of a Noldor works. Once I am out of the way, do you think she will fall willingly into your arms? I see how you think. You do this only for your own gain."

"I do it to help an innocent." Elrond motioned for Haldir to retrieve a set of cuffs.

He smirked. "She is no innocent. Not anymore." Legolas watched as the Marchwarden approached him. He did not fight when his hands were bound behind his back. "Tell me, Elrond, has my sister asked after me?" Elrond's eyes narrowed and he laughed. "She has, hasn't she? You see, she will not forget me so easily. She will forever remember the love I gave her, and soon she will want after it."

Haldir pushed him past the cell doors. "You're disgusting."

Elrond glared at the Prince, who paid little attention to the Lorien elf. "I see it in your eyes, Elrond," he said, smirking and stepping close, "Anger. Jealousy. We are not unlike. Does it pain you to realize you will never get the chance to hear her moan in ecstasy, unless you force it on her?"

The movement was quick and swift. Haldir stumbled back as Elrond slammed a fist across Legolas' face, the force of which threw him to the ground. Spitting out blood, the Prince sat up and laughed.

"Get up." Elrond's voice was hard, holding back fury. Without a word, Legolas smirked and stood.

Haldir clenched his jaw and pushed Legolas past Elrond. When they exited out the doors, the guards on the other side took immediate residence around the Prince as they made their way to Thrand's r's rooms. It was getting dark by now, and most were indoors. Those who still wandered around Mirkwood only looked on in curiousity as the group walked by. Legolas was too shielded to be recognized.

Glancing up at Elrond, Haldir asked, "What of Tári? Should she not tell the King herself?"

"She is resting." He sighed when the Marchwarden did not avert his eyes. "She did not want her father to know. I know it is not my place to decide for her, but Thranduil must become aware of what his son is capable of. It will be easier this way."

Haldir looked away, noting how Elrond seemed to be trying to convince even himself. It was a hard thing, to make a decision that would change more than one life. As one of the guards stepped up to Thranduil's home and knocked, Haldir wondered how Tári would take the news.

*

It was morning when Tári awoke. Her headache was gone, and the bright sunlight streaming through the curtains brought her mood up ever so slightly. She hadn't woke up at all during the night, and as she sat up now she noticed that it didn't seem as if Elrond had come back at all. As she lowered her feet to the ground, though, she noticed a small pile of clothes sitting on a chair across from the bed. Clean clothes. Elrond had been there.

When she padded into the washroom with the dress provided, her first reaction was one of utter shock. Tári gasped slightly at her appearance, the bruises that marred her face. They were apparent and there would be no hiding from them. Tears threatened to fill her eyes, but she fought the urge to cry. It was over now. It would not happen again. Now all she had to do was heal.

Pulling on the dress, careful to not anger her sore muscles, she prepared herself for the company she knew she would receive eventually. She knew she could not hide inside until healed; people would know something was wrong.

A knock at the door caused her to sigh inwardly. She had hoped it would not begin so early in the day. "Come in," she called from the other room as she smoothed down her hair. The door could be heard closing softly.

Taking a deep breath, preparing to meet Haldir or Elrond or some other such person, she was taken aback when she rounded the corner and saw her father sitting on the edge of the bed. His eyes moved up her frame and there was sadness there, exhaustion apparent on his face. Tári bit the inside of her lip to stop herself from trembling. He knew.

"Ada," she breathed, coming forward. He stood and welcomed her into his arms, holding her tight as she prepared herself for what was to come.

His hold was unyielding. "My daughter. My lovely daughter." His voice was quiet and weak, and she felt her resolve begin to break. Releasing his grip, she pulled away and looked up at him. "Why did you not tell me?"

Moving her gaze downward, she licked her lips and considered her answer. She had not expected this, and felt unprepared. "I don't know. I couldn't. I was scared."

Thranduil shook his head and sat back down on the bed. "I cannot believe what has been told to me. What went wrong? What happened to him?"

Tári lowered herself beside him and touched his back, rubbing soothing circles. "I don't know. I just don't know." Clenching her jaw, she fought back the tears that threatened to show. "When did you find out, ada?"

"Last night. Elrond brought Legolas to see me." When he looked up, she caught a flicker of desperation in his eyes. "The things he said....the things he told me. I have not words to describe my pain for you."

She smiled, trying to keep strong. "It's alright. It's over now." Taking a breath, she asked, "Was Elrond...complete..in his detail of what happened?"

Looking momentarily confused, her father shook his head. "No, Elrond said nothing. Legolas told me everything."

"Legolas? He told you?" She immediately felt ill as a wave of nausea passed through her. "He spoke willingly? What did he say?"

Thranduil blanched. "Things I will not repeat. Things I will never forget. My dear daughter, forgive me for being so blind. I should have seen his darkness."

She felt sick thinking about what Legolas must have told him, the graphic detail, the things he did to her. "It's not your fault."

"I should have been more watchful. If not for Elrond, I fear what could have happened."

She looked up and her her brow. "You know Elrond was the one who rescued me?"

Her father nodded. "Your brother spoke of it. Afterwards, Elrond and I had a discussion. He is a good man, far better than I realized."

"Yes," she whispered, moving her gaze to the floor, "He has been very kind."

"I know you may not want to hear this, Tári, but I feel it could help. During my discussion with Elrond, I came to believe that he has genuine feelings for you. He is concerned. You need to surrounded yourself with friends right now, and while I know you have grown close to Haldir, I think Elrond could be a great source of strength. I know not how you feel about him, but I urge you to give his friendship a chance."

Thranduil's eyes were hopeful. Tári admitted to herself that what her father suggested had already occured to her. Elrond had proven himself noble and supportive. "Do not worry, ada. I will."

He smiled and, leaning forward, kissed her forehead gently. "Melui iell," he breathed, rubbing his thumb gently across her cheek. "Worry no longer."

Tári brought his hand down and cupped it in hers. "What will happen to Legolas?"

The sadness she had feared seeing on her father's face appeared. "I do not know. Elrond believes the same darkness that inflicted his daughter has afflicted Legolas. I fear there is no hope for him."

She could hold back the tears no longer. Biting her trembling lip, she allowed her eyes to fill. "Can nothing be done?"

Squeezing her hand and pulling her into an embrace, Thranduil sighed. "I don't know, love. I don't know."

*

TBC

Elf-Speak:
Ada - Father
Melui iell. - Sweet girl.