Denied Rights

Author's Note: This chapter is going to be told from Legolas’ point of view. (It’s about time we heard from him!)

*************
Mirkwood…………..
*************

I entered the palace. Any other elf would have said that it was great to be home, but I was not ‘any other elf’, and it definitely was not great to be home. I was already missing Imladris. Arwen, the twins, and Lord Elrond had treated me the way I wished my father would treat me. "My lord, you have returned!" a voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned to see Veryaserko, the captain of the guards. "How are you, my lord, how was your trip?!" he greeted me with enthusiasm. He always did like breaking the rules: although he knew my father’s wishes, he still disobeyed and called me Lord.

I sighed, "It was wonderful. Imladris is lovely this time of year, and Elrond’s company could brighten even the darkest of souls." Silently to myself I added, ‘except my father’s’, onto the end of that sentence.

Thetaintain nodded, and then looking around cautiously, as if expecting orcs to attack at any moment, "And the battle plans? Has Lord Elrond approved of them?" At this my dark mood lightened. I always did like playing around with Veryaserko.

"Now Veryaserko, you know I cannot reveal that information to you until I have spoken to my king." At seeing the bewildered expression on his face, I laughed aloud. I darted off towards the main throne room, calling over my shoulder, "talk to you later!"

I continued through the palace, flashing smiles and murmuring hellos to the elves I passed. As I approached the throne room, I heard shouting and the sound of bottles shattering against the wall. The door opened and a servant scurried out and slammed the door behind her. "Oh Legolas! Thank the Valar you are home! He is upset that you have kept him waiting." I opened my mouth to apologize on behalf of my father, however I was interrupted by my father’s large booming voice.

"Get back in here Silimainwë! I have not dismissed you!" Silimainwë looked at me tearfully, and smiling sympathetically at her I shooed her off down the hall, and went in to face my father.

"Your highness, I hardly think it is necessary to go around scaring the servants like that. Pretty soon none of them will want to work here anymore," I said as I strode in and took a knee before him and my three brothers. Seeing my father’s face turn an ugly shade of purple, I decided it would be wise to continue. "Please forgive my delay, I felt it necessary to speak with Veryaserko upon my immediate return, concerning the numerous attacks during my journey."

Some of the color fled from Thranduil’s face at that comment, however the majority of it remained, so instead of purple, his face remained bright red. "You know you are supposed to report to me as soon as you return!" he shouted at me. "What kind of tactical advisor are you if you cannot even follow orders from your king?" With that, he rose from his throne, and stepping forward cuffed me across the face.

My head snapped to the side, but I made not a sound, and simply turned back to face him. "Father! How could you!" I suddenly heard from the doorway. I turned to see my sister, Calimara, burst in.

My father had the decency to look guilty. "Now precious, I didn’t hit him very hard," he said defensively. I bit back the laughter. Calimara, my father’s only daughter, was his favorite (just as I was his most hated). Therefore, she did and said anything she pleased.

She shook her head angrily at him and came over to me to examine my face. It was true; he did not hit me very hard. Well, at least compared to some previous hits. "Oh! Legolas, you are going to have a bruise," she said softly as she tenderly touched my face, and helped me up from my kneel.

I smiled at her, for while I hated my father, I loved the rest of my family. "Thank you for your concern, my lady," I said while kissing her hand. I heard my father snort, and ignoring him, reached into my pocket. "The Evenstar has sent you a gift," I said as I pulled out the fine mithril chain with a polished white stone dangling from it. She squealed with delight, and I helped her put it on. "Ah, Arwen was right! She said that while wearing this, you would surpass even the beauty of the moon," I said as I held her hands in mine.

Calimara gid. \d. "Legolas! How I have missed you!"

"Ahem! Who is king here? Oh yes, ITS ME!" shouted my father. I rolled my eyes at her, and returned my attention to the king. "So," he said, looking expectantly at me. "Do you have the papers?"

"Of course," I said handing him the papers that had sent me to Imladris in the first place. As he studied them, I made eye contact with each of my brothers and smiled.

It was Vorimarao, the crown prince, who spoke first. "How is Lord Elrond and his family, Legolas? I trust the twins have mellowed somewhat since the last time you saw them?"

I laughed. "You mean when my hair was accidently dyed blue?" I said smiling. "Well, actually there was a couple of days where my hair had suddenly turned blue again, and nobody knew who had caused it. In fact, the twins took it upon themselves to find the culprits, but sadly they were unable to find who had sabotaged my shampoo," I said, finishing my tale with my brothers laughing along.

"And the lady Arwen? How does she fare?" asked my second eldest brother, Anganca. At this question, the king looked up.

"Lady Arwen I am sure is fine, there is no need for you to trouble over her," he said sternly to Anganca. My brother turned pink, and lowered his head shyly.

Glowering at my father, I answered my brother, "Actually, Lady Arwen asked after you. She said next time I visit she hoped you would accompany me."

"Hold your tongue," answered my father harshly. "Anganca would do better to concern himself with ladies of Mirkwood, not Imladris."

To this, Aranisilo, my third brother answered, "Father, Arwen is a perfectly respectable lady, and a joining between her and Anganca should not be out of the question."

"Silence. I’ll have no more talk of this right now," stated my father, as he again started to sift through the papers from Lord Elrond. Deciding that s nos no longer needed, I turned to leave. "You have not been dismissed."

Frankly, I was exhausted from my trip, and I turned my eyes to my sister, silently pleading for her aid. She took the hint. "Father, Legolas has traveled a long way, and needs his rest. After all," she said, grasping her father’s hand," what kind of advisor would he be if he was asleep on his feet."

"Of course you are right, my dear," he said, practically purring. "Advisor you are dismissed."
I bowed to him, my brothers, and to my sister, and turned to leave. A servant popped his head in.

"My lords, there is a messenger from Lothlorien!"