To Fly Again

Rating: NC-17 - angst ; slash & rape in the future

Pairing: Haldir/Legolas, Elrond/Thranduil, later Elrond/Glorfindel

Disclaimer: If I could , I would gladly keep Haldir for myself .... but he belongs to Tolkien, as well as the others. I don't earn money with this fic & I don't mean to

Notes : First of all , thanks to all who review ! I really appreciate your feedbacks and I do hope you'll like this chapter too .... let me know, I beg you ! ;) And don't waste your time in flames : it's AU , it's OOC, it's slash and I clearly marked it . If this is not your cup of tea, say bye & hit the back button .
I think it would be safe to say that this is my first shot & I'm not a native speaker- so be nice please!

Thoughts are in / / , emphasis are in * * , reminiscences are in // //

Dedication : to my husband, my Haldir in the real life ;) , and to who puts up with me everyday ! Eternal gratitude to my wonderful beta , Laina

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Thranduil's chamber was at the end of the main corridor, half - hidden behind a corner .
It had been chosen by Lord Elrond himself, to give at the Elven king as many peace and privacy he could; actually, this was the quietest place in all of Imladris .

Legolas stood uneasily in front of the closed door, gazing at the sky through a large window .

His hands were curled into fists, knuckles white and nails stuck into the tender flesh of palms : he needed to speak with his father, because the news brought up by Haldir laid heavy on his heart, preventing him to find peace; but he had had to wait until the end of the feast, when both delegations from Mirkwood and Lothlorien were asleep in their own beds.

/Peace.....I'm far from peace right now.../

The young prince smiled bitterly at the reflection of himself on the pane, forcing hands to relax, to lay still on his sides. Thranduil would notice how nervous he was and he didn't want it . Oh no, *absolutely* not.

After taking a deep breath, the blonde elf knocked at the door .

"Father ? This is Legolas, may I come in ?"

"The door is open". The answer came from inside and quickly Legolas lowered the handle, entering in the king's private room .

A tall elf was sitting behind a desk near the fireplace, where a few pieces of wood were burning , leaving him and the valuable furniture of the chamber in the dim light .

Although he was dressed with a simple green robe and the crown was nowhere to be seen, anyone could make a mistake about him; an aura of pride and severity always surrounded Thranduil , showing who truly he was . Now he seemed to stare at the burning flames , lost in his thoughts.

At that sight Legolas silently drew near his father, waiting with patience for a sign of acknowledgement by him . He learned soon and well the disciplinary lessons Thranduil bestowed him in the past years , when he was just a child .... and he could easily remember the rules he had to follow . The main one was shouted in his ears too many times to be forgotten :

...//Do not question your superiors, *I* know what is good for you// ...

"Child ?"

Thranduil's harsh voice took Legolas back into reality. With both hands behind his back, he bowed slightly and began to speak.

"Father, I apologize if I inconvenience you so late in the night, but-"

At once the king raised an arm to cut off his son, obviously annoyed by Legolas' behaviour.

"I have something to say to you as well. It is about a very important matter, so I am confident you can wait until I am done"

Legolas lowered his head at these words.

"As you wish, father" He said, cursing himself at the same time. Why, for Eru's sake, he was so unable to face him ? He reached his maturity years ago, after all, he was a *child* no more but.....

Shrugging his shoulder, he brought eyes back upon the king.

Thranduil leaned against the back of the chair , gazing straight at the fire. Those green orbs always reminded Legolas of a bird of prey, because they rarely showed any kind of emotion other than coldness. And pride.

After a few moment the king's voice resounded in the room .

"I did not mean to tell you so soon about it, but I think it is better for you to get used at the idea . I just arranged your marriage with Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond . I had a chance to speak with him today and we were both agree at that. The wedding will mean more power for us and a good alliance for him."

/And with this you put your *secret* bond with Elrond in a safe place too, so he couldn't leave you anymore ..... Sweet Elbereth, Haldir was right ... it is true.... it is true... /

Painful thoughts flashed through Legolas' mind, while Thranduil carried on with his speech and he closed his eyes, fighting against the sudden dizziness he felt. He hoped dearly that the .... *matter* .... was a mere rumor, although in the deep of his heart he knew the truth. And it hurt .

In the meantime, the Elven king was still showing how the wedding would increase the power of the realm of Mirkwood; he didn't expect any complaint from Legolas, being sure that his son would obey at his will .So Thranduil stopped in disbelief when he heard a whr.
r.

"No"

He raised an eyebrow and slowly turned the head, looking at Legolas for the first time .

"Did you say anything, child ?" He asked with narrow eyes.

The prince's hands curled into fists at this question, while a flush coloring both his cheeks.
Child, child, child....oh, how he hated that word ! It seemed that Thranduil wasn't able to call him by his own name ! For the king, he was a troublesome boy with less importance, nothing more.
And he could blame himself for it, because he allowed his father to treat him so ... but this time he wouldn't submit in a passive way at Thranduil's plans . This time he had *something* to fight for .

So Legolas stared at him and spoke with clearly voice : "I said no. I do not want *that* marriage. You know Arwen is almost a sister for me .... and yet you did not ask me if I agreed ! Why ? I-"

"Enough"

Thranduil turned towards the dying fire, with jaw tightly clenched . What was it? Did the boy - his own son ! - dare to oppose him ? To talk back ? Obviously he was forgetting his place, and to whom he was talking to . And he couldn't allow such things.

"You will do as I say. I gave my word and, by the Valar, I will not break it for your whims" The king stated, in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Father, I do not think you understand .... I cannot ... I can not marry Arwen or anyone else ...please do not force me into this-".

"Why not ?" Thranduil's voice was as cold as steel, interrupting Legolas. "A few minutes ago, you said you *do not* want it, and now you say you *can not* do it : give me a valid reason, then "

"Because I do not love her" The prince answered. He didn't want to tell his father about Haldir, because he knew about the reaction he would have at it .

But the situation was quickly getting out of his control .

"Pray tell me, who is your *love*, son ?"

The sarcasm in Thranduil's voice was evident .

"A fair maiden of our woods ? A blonde lady stole your heart ? This is the reason of your silly behaviour, I you you think you are in love with someone, do you ?".

Waiting for an answer, he stared at Legolas with narrowed eyes, arms crossed upon his chest . He was trying so hard to not get up, grasp the younger elf by the shoulders and shake him , until some sense would finally return into his mind.

"Look at me, *Prince* : who is it ?"

"Haldir. Haldir of Lothlorien"

Although these words were whispered by Legolas, they resounded in the room like a shout. He had to give it up, at last, and reveal the true reason of his denial.

Thranduil remained silent, allowed himself time to gather thoughts.

/Haldir. I met you today, I am sure. If only I could remember your face - *who* you are....Haldir...from Lothlorien..../

Slowly in his mind appeared a figure of a tall Elf standing behind Celeborn, with blonde hair, deep blue eyes and a ghost of an arrogant smile upon his face.

Dressed as a Galadhrim.

/Oh. Handsome. I have to say it, son. But he is not for you./

"One of the Galadhrim of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel ....Is this a jest ? " Thranduil asked, tilting the head to look at Legolas : at that movement his golden hair flew free behind his back, enlightened by the flames of the fire, while almost his whole face was hid in the dim light.

"I am not jesting, father. I love him"

"Love" Thranduil shown another sarcastic smile "I do not think you really know what it means, child. You are too young .... ."
"Maybe you are fond of him because he looks beautiful, but this is not love. Anyway, it does not matter. When you will be Arwen's husband, you will forget this.... Haldir ? "

Legolas gazed straight in the green pools of Thranduil's eyes. The king wasn't listenening at him; not really .

"Father, I *will not* be her husband. You cannot change my mind, whatever you say."

Thranduil rose from the chair and drew near Legolas. He stood in front of him, looking at his son with lips compressed in a thin line .

"I am the King of Mirkwood and I *do not* deal with servants, neither do you. You must marry someone of the noble class ! And, as far as I know, the Galadhrim do not number in it. "

A smirk appeared on Thranduil's face, while he spoke those words : he clearly meant to insult Haldir. And that was the last straw for Legolas .

"Maybe they are not of the noble class, but surely they do not disrespect the other people just because of rank !"

His words were cut off by a stinging slap, so hard that he fell on the floor at the king's feet. Blood began to run from his nose and quickly it dripped on the carpet, staining the leggings of the blonde elf too.

" I do not care about it . You will marry Arwen , and this is all . Am I clear ?"

"No ! I will not do it ! " Legolas hissed, still hidden under the golden mane of his hair.

The corners of Thranduil's mouth curled up slightly. Stubborn child . But he knew how to break him.

"Then, regretfully, I will tell the whole story to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. They might be very interested about the behaviour of one of their own Guardians" .

Hearing that, Legolas raised his head, confusion clearly written on his face. A purple bruise began to ar onr on the right side of the cheek and he covered it with his hand , almost unaware of it.

"What...what do you mean...."

Thranduil smirked in amusement. "Oh, I will inform them that one of their Galadhrim forced my poor, little son against his will. And I bet you know about the punishment they will bestow him.... Tell me, do you think he will survive at it ?"

Thranduil grinned at Legolas, noticing that the blue eyes were full of horror now.

"He did not force me on anything. You know it ! " Legolas hissed, his lower lip trembling.

"Oh, I know it, my *beloved* son, but you see, it is my word against his ..... what do you think , they would really believe him ? Nay, I do not think so"

"You are cruel, father"

"The choice is yours"

The young prince grabbed the tunic with both hands, gazing up at Thranduil . Perhaps he hoped to find a tiny flash of pity, of caring, of *something* behind the deep pool of green, but no feeling was showed there.

The king would really do such a thing. For him, Haldir was at the same level of a servant and he did not care about him, just as he did not care about the ones in Mirkwood . Nothing that Legolas could say or do would change his mind .
ntuantually the blonde elf rose from the floor and stood still in the dying light of the fireplace, facing his father : his eyes were full of unshed tears, but his voice was firm

" I heard your will, Your Majesty. I will submit"

Thranduil nodded "Very well . From now on you will stay in our quarters until the day we leave. I will not permit you to see him again, so do not put my patience to the test. I am warning you, Legolas"

Then he turned towards the window.

"You may go, now"

Legolas bowed and with a last glance he left the room.
But Thranduil felt the eyes full of hate settled upon his back for a long time.

TBC.....

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A/N : If possible I'm more nervous now than the last time, since I'm not so happy about this chapter. Let me know what do you think.
Ok, I abused of many cliché , above all of the one "Thranduil is such a bad guy" .
Forgive me for this , but he was almost perfect for what I planned to do & I wasn't able to resist. I will make up for it , be sure .