Thranduil's Trial

Beta: Manon, Phyllis and Rebekah
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Full of Angst. What do you expect?
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Tolkien. I just borrowed them. Only the OC.
Note: Legolas age is close to 10, only an elfling compared to the other elves.
Note2: Legolas has a stronger connection with the nature than normal.


Chapter 1

On the way to Imladris...

Prince Legolas rode on the horse his father had given him. The guards riding with him noticed he was staring into the distance.

"Prince Legolas?" one of the guards asked worriedly.

There was no answer from the prince.

The guards stopped riding, and they noticed Legolas still rode slowly, the prince unaware the guards had stopped.

"Prince Legolas?" the guard asked again, and when there was no answer he moved his hand to Legolas' shoulder and squeezed it.

Prince Legolas awoke as he felt a hand touch him; he had fallen asleep. He shivered slightly; he was afraid.

"Forgive me, my Prince," the guard said. "You have us all worried about you. How do you fare?"

"I am tired," Legolas said, and appeared to fall asleep again.

There was a moment when the guards feared he would lose his balance and fall from the horse. They quickly talked amongst themselves and decided to stop for the day.

"Let us make a camp here, I do not want for my king to be hurt again," the guard said, as he walked to Legolas' horse and stopped him. He pulled Legolas down from the horse and laid him on the grass, covering him with a blanket.

The prince felt hands on him, but did care whose it was; he felt so tired. Tired from everything that had happened, tired from the journey; he was used to riding such a long way. In his mind's eye he could see his nana's blood, over her, over his father... every time he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, every waking moment.

There was a time when the guards thought the prince slept, but they really did not know if he was sleeping or only pretending to.

Legolas missed his nana terribly; his missed her love, her touch, and her hands that wiped away his tears.

~*~

In the meantime in Imladris...

Elrond was in his chamber; he seemed to be looking at the letter, but his eyes were staring at something only he could see.

There was a knock on the door.

"Father?" Arwen asked, opening the door a little. When there was no answer from their father, Arwen and her brothers entered the room, and saw their father had not noticed their presence.

"Sister, there is the letter," Elrohir mentioned.

They read the letter together before staring at each other with anxious looks on their faces.

"Father?" Elladan asked, as he tried to shake his father slightly.

As his son shook him, Elrond remembered where he was. He had been in the past, remembering the good days in his life and of his dear friend, King Thranduil.

"Yes, my son?" Elrond asked and looked at them.

"We were worried about you," Arwen said softly and came closer to her father and hugged him.

Elrond hugged her back. He saw their worried looks, and guessed they had read the letter.

"What is Prince Legolas' age?" Elladan asked.

"If I remember correctly, I believe he should be close to 9," Elrond said.

"But ada, he is only an elfling," Arwen said.

"So young to know what is the meaning of death, especially of someone dearest to his heart," Elrond said.

End of Chapter 1.

R/R