The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 23

Legolas stared at the glass tank in his room transfixed by the beauty of the little sea world. Never in his life had he been so close to a live fish before. Mirkwood’s streams had long since been fouled by the evil which crept in the forest and the only fish Legolas had seen in a longe cae came already dead from the lake town set on crystal white snow from the mountains to keep it fresh. They had arrived at this strange place called Edoras earlier in the morning and despite being bewildered by the beauty of the place Legolas did not forget why he was here. Keeldon had almost taken pride in parading him through the village streets, forcefully holding Legolas’ head up so that the elf had to look at those they passed. Like a trophy Keeldon had picked him up off the horse when they’d obviously reached their destination before ungracefully carrying him like an invalid into the house. Legolas had been stuck by how plain Keeldon’s house was, admittedly he was only a lord but the lack of furnishings and luxuries Legolas would have expected were almost non existent in the man’s house. Like a servant Legolas had been shown through the house by Keeldon, who had explained the rules and punishments for not keeping them as he went. Legolas had obediently kept silent the entire tour merely taking in the sights while miserably listening to his freedoms being taken from him by Keeldon’s rules. So far Keeldon had kept his word, he had not hurt Legolas in anyway as long as Legolas had been obedient. On their last night, the party had spent near Lothlorien Legolas had dared ask for a little more food and was promptly backhanded across the face, leaving Keeldon’s clear red handprint on his cheek for hours afterwards.

Now however Keeldon had escorted him to a little room above stairs he she stone house. He had half expected to be shown to Keeldon’s room yet confusingly he was shown to his own room. Keeldon had finally untied his hands from behind his back allowing the elf to rub at his stiff wrists finally after three weeks of holding them in the small of his back. Las has had allowed himself little sleep during their journey in case help should announce itself, but as he’d looked at the large soft bed in the room his fatigued muscles screamed out to fall upon it and rest. The young elf had restrained himself though and stood stiffly facing Keeldon who looked over his appearance with a critical eye.

“You will bathe when I am gone, your filth disgusts me. Everything you see in the room is now yours and you may use them as you see fit.” Keeldon had gestured around at the room but Legolas’ gaze had remained firmly on the man’s not willing to let the man from his sight for even a moment less he slit his throat. “Do not bother looking for an escape, while the window can be opened the drop from it would surely kill you. The door is locked from the outside and the bolt is made of mitheral of which only I have the key.” For emphasis Keeldon had held up the sparkling silver key from his pocket, jangling it against it’s bangle attached to Keeldon’s wrist. “There is a doorway hidden behind the fire surround that is linked with my own chambers. It will be used only by me and will remain locked up until such time as you learn your place here.” Legolas had frowned at that declaration unsure still what his place was. Keeldon had made no effort to inform him why he’d purchased him yet it was obvious from the way Keeldon was treating him that he would have a purpose to the Lord eventually. With that Keeldon had left leaving Legolas alone in the sparsely furnished room. Despite being told Legolas had instantly begun searching the room looking for ways to escape but found very quickly that Keeldon had spoken the truth of the impossibilities of escape. His window, while affording a beautiful view of the open plains beyond the hill top city of Edoras, dropped almost straight down a jagged rock faced cliff to the barren plains below. Upon giving up on escape Legohad had reluctantly taken Keeldon’s advice to bathe. The small bathing room off the main bedroom held a little metal tub just big enough to sit in to wash, and a large pottery basin on the floor obviously meant for reliving yourself. Again Legolas has screwed up his nose in disgust at the idea of watering a basin.

As quickly as possible in such a small bath Legolas had washed himself and thoroughly scrubbed his hair clean, awkwardly pulling though the wind swept tangles with his ers.ers. Taking the time of being alone Legolas had inspected his injured side. Over the past few weeks it had healed significantly and despite it still being tender to touch Legolas believed it to be healing just fine, even with his limited healer knowledge. Once satisfied with his cleanliness Legolas had cautiously dried himself with the small bathrobe which had been draped over the window ledge in the bathroom before he stalked carefully from the bathing room naked. Pausing at the door Legolas looked around the room for signs of anyone before he’d run quickly across to the bed and begun to pull on the clean pair of leggings someone had obviously left on the end of the bed for him. It had upset him a little to think that someone had entered the room while he was bathing and he’d not heard them but could only be thankful that they hadn’t come looking for him in the process.

It was then after he’d relaxed a little at being dressed and washed had he noticed the tank in the far corner of the room. Like an inquisitive new born Legolas had run over to the tank and watched wide eyed as sparling little fish swum back and forth around the tank, and it’s green growing water plants. Legolas had been tempted to put his hand in to try and catch one of the little fish but had refrained from doing so in case Keeldon didn’t like that. Still amazed by the tank Legolas had dragged the red velvet chair from by the fire over so that he could sitfronfront of the tank, his legs folded under him and his hands clasped neatly in his lap. There was little point he considered in worrying about what would en nen now he was in Keeldon’s home because unless by a miracle he was rescued there was nothing he could do about what would happen. So instead he sat in silence and watched the fish, thinking about home, Filgree, his father and most strangely he thought about Lord Glorfindel of Gondolin, all the people he would probably never see again.

Legolas had uncharacteristically dozed off in the chair his need for rest having taken over his sense of reasoning to stay awake and alert. He was awoke by the bolt of the door sliding across and the scrape of the door across the stone as it was opened. Stiffening where he was in the chair Legolas held his breath as he heard footsteps coming up behind him before a shadow fell across his lap.

“I see you like the sea viewer, I bought it from a merchant in Lake Town when I was last there.” At the sound of Keeldon’s voice Legolas let his breath go but did not relax as the man’s hand drifted up to push Legolas’ still wet hair away from his neck so that Keeldon’s hand could begin it’s ritual caressing of the skin.

“Like you bought me?” Legolas’ voice trailed off as he felt Keeldon tighten his grip on the back of his neck having heard Legolas’ comment.

“Yes I think you are right Filgree. I bought the viewer because it’s pretty and is useful in keeping my guests entertained.” Keeldon began moving his hand again in its familiar caressing motion and Legolas sowedowed in relief that he had not offended the Lord again. “I bought you for the same reasons, because you are pretty….” Keeldon leaned forward his breath brushing the tip of Legolas’ ear as he spoke, in a lower whispered voice. “And because you will keep me entertained as well as my guests.” A shiver ran up Legolas spine and the young elf couldn’t help the waver in his exhale. Legolas could just see the reflection of Keeldon’s face in the glass of the sea viewer as it hovered above his right ear.

“And is that my place? As your entertainer?” Legolas paused as he felt Keeldon pull away from him, his hand however still rested on the back of Legolas’ neck.

“You will address me as ‘my lord’ when you speak to me.” Keeldon’s hand once again tightened on the back of Legolas’ neck until the young elf slowly nodded his head in agreement.

“Yes my lord. But I must tell you I do not know many songs and while I play the harp I am not very entertaining.” Legolas hesitated for a moment until he heard Keeldon rumbled into laughter behind him. It was not a nice laugh, more contemptible than joyous and Legolas knew he was somehow being mocked.

“Do not fret my beautiful one you are more entertaining than you know.” Confused by Keeldon’s reply Legolas went to question the man again but was promptly silenced by a hand that gripped his upper arm and pulled him up from the chair.

“Enough questions stand before me and let me see you properly.” At Keeldon’s stcommcommand Legolas got to his feet and turned to face the other man seeing him for the first time after they’d arrived at their destination. Keeldon had obviously used the time he was gone to change and wash also. The red, shoulder length that had been previously let free was now tied securely back from thn’s n’s face with a leather band. He had swapped his blue and black tunic for a deep purple robe, which had ornately woken mitheral strands through it, making it shimmer in the light. If Legolas had not known the man before now he would have considered him hansom in human standards compared to the rangers Legolas had seen at the alehouse of Mirkwood’s village. Under Keeldon’s scrutinizing gaze Legolas was extremely uncomfortable and made no attempt at meeting the man’s gaze as Keeldon tugged at the tunic and leggings on Legolas’ body. “They are far too big but they will do until I can get some more made for you and I do ike ike the colour silver is boring you will have purple and blue like me.” Legomeremerely nodded at Keeldon who reached inside his robe and pulled out a long leather strap and smaller and thicker leather band. Suddenly fearful of what they were for Legolas stepped instinctively away from Keeldon even as the man began advancing on him. “You will stand still and willing or I will force this upon you.” Keeldon’s voice rang painfully in Legolas’ ears and despite the fact he was shaking he stood perfectly still as Keeldon came up close to him. Swallowing hard Legolas watched in the reflection of the looking glass on top of the dresser as Keeldon attached the leather band around Legolas’ neck before clipping the long leather strap to the mitheral lock at the back of Legolas’ neck, which now held the band together. With a snapping sound the lock was closed and Legolas felt Keeldon slip two fingers in under the band to check it’s tightness on the elf’s neck. “There you are not to try and remove the band, although the strap I will remove when I see fit to do so. It is a pretty collar for a pretty neck and a sign to all those who look upon you, that you belong to me and to me alone.” Instinctively Legolas lifted his hands up to feel at the choker now firmly secured about his neck. Legolas had seen chokers such as this upon prisoners of war that his father had returned with after the last alliance. He had never dared ask Filgree what they were used for but in the face of his own imprisoning, humiliation in front of others was among at least one of it clear uses. Sighing heavily Legolas dropped his face to stare at the stone floor at his feet as Keeldon unclipped the strap from the collar satisfied that it fitted and looked how he wanted it to, before stepping back from the withdrawn elf standing in front of him.

“You will join me for dinner tonight. I will come and fetch you when it is time. For now you are free to do what you in in this room, I have some books I will bring up later concerning mortal law and justicet I t I wish you to read. I will also bring some food up for you in a little while for I have little doubt that you are hungry. If you behave yourself I may even allow you to walk with me in the gardens after dinner.” Legolas merely nodded the presence of the leather band around his neck keeping him from showing anything but remorse. Keeldon sighed heavily and stepped back towards the elf his hand coming up to gently cup Legolas’ cheek and forcing the elf to make eye contact with him. “You will learn to accept this fate Filgree and the sooner you do the more enjoyment and pleasure you will get from being in my company.” Unable to help it a small tear slid from the corner of Legolas’ eye only to be caught and brushed away by Keeldon’s gently stroking thumb. “I do not consider myself a demanding man and I do not require a lot of you as some masters would. In time you will learn to please me and in turn I will reward you with more freedoms within the household but until then you will obey everything I say without question as I teach you your place.” Keeldon’s stony grey eyes reflected little emotion as more tears spilled from Legolas’ eyes and down his cheeks. “Do not cry little one life is never as bad as it seems.” With that Keeldon let go of Legolas’ face and hastily left the room, the finality of the bolt closing on the door causing a choked sob to rush from Legolas’ lips. Fruitlessly Legolas ran over to the now closed door and pressed his face and hands against it hopefully as he called for help. When no response was given however Legolas slumped slowly down to the floor sobs racking his body as he slowly closed his eyes and curled up tightly, wishing himself a million miles away from where he was.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(A/n) *Sniffles* I hate it when I mmysemyself cry.