Of Pleasure and Peril

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Of Pleasure and Peril
 
Chapter Six/?
 
by Tasmia Gaylord
 
Rating: Hard NC 17
 
Beta:Novelin
 
Warning: graphic S&M type situations but not too harsh, explicit sex
 
Disclaimer:The Tolkein characters are borrowed for private use in this story, I do not claim to own
them and have no intentions of profiting from them
 
Summary: King Thranduil meets his match in his private punishment chamber with amazing
consequences for all parties involved
 
Pairings: Thranduil/OFC , Legolas/OFC Elrond/OFC Haldir/OFC and perhaps some others, who
knows
 
Feedback: Post it here or you can send me an email "Tasmia7@yahoo.com"

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Thranduil stumbled as if blind while he raced up the private narrow staircase that led to the
lookout post atop his underground palace without any clear idea of where he was headed or what
he meant to do when he arrived. The brilliant sunlight that poured in through the many and
various-sized openings that looked out over the miles and miles of beech forest that lay before the
Elven King's hidden realm dazzled him momentarily as he stepped through his private entrance
and entered the large, activity filled room. Although the King had just breakfasted, for the rest of
his subjects the noon time meal had been prepared and was being served, and, as the look-out
elves gathered at the long dining e ine in the center of the post, they exchanged happy banter
back and forth while discussing the morning's events with each other and the serving elves who
were just arriving through the common entrance bearing large salvers of steaming meats, slices of
cheese and loaves of freshly baked bread.

If the King had overheard any of the intense speculation over his own rather unusual behavior tprevprevious night, and this following morn, he showed no sign of it as the chattering elves fell
suddenly silent after he had rushed through the door, as if being chased by all the fiendish host of
Mordor, and stood blinking in the full light of day. Many sprang up from their seats on the benches
and stood at attention while others, especially those who had their backs turned to the King,
slowly quieted or stopped eating as they became aware of his presence. The Captain of them,
Maegavor, approached his elf Lord hastily, saluted him, and inquired after his health before asking
about the purpof thf the unnannounced visit. Thranduil barely heard him and waved him away
impatiently, as if he were a moth fluttering near his face, before turning his back on the entire
assembled throng to stare unseeingly out the long, thin viewing window while he gathered his
wits. He could hear the soft, careful sounds of forks being scraped against plates or cups being
filled with wine but the happy chatter was completely silenced and the sounds of birdsong and the
laughter of the elflingo rao ran and played beyond the palace entrance filled the uneasy air from
outdoors.

He pretended to be intensely interested in the view before him of the long, thin road that cut
straight through the beech trees and disappeared after a few miles of length into the gloom of the
deeper forest beyond. There was always some movement along the King's highway and this day
was no different from most as riders on horseback or wains laden with foodstuffs, or other goods
from within and without the borders, traveled back and forth upon it below. He grew annoyed with
himself for not having taken a moment to choose his destination beforehand with more care but he
knew now if he turned and left there would only be that much more speculation over his
uncharacteristic activities so he stood stoically and waiter hir his ears to stop roaring long enough
for him to hear his own thoughts and gain control over his overwhelming sense of self-disgust.

"This is ridiculous,' he told himself for the thousandth time since hastily leaving his chambers and
the elleth, Tulare, but it did hel help him come to any further understanding of his own desires in
the matter. 'Ridiculous, unheard of, insane, mad, crazed...' his anxious mind lectured within but to
no avail as the dissonance only seemed to grow instead of decrease. He rocked back and forth
from heels to toes, while holding his hands behind his back, and breathed out everye ine in a
while with a long, deep sigh. 'Fool! Idiot! Ridiculous...ri...dic...u...LOUS!' he shouted at himself
silently. Suddenly he whirled and more than a few elves flinched or sat up alertly as he appeared
to notice their presence for the first time, "You may all take your leave, I will take the afternoon
watch, alone, you are dismissed." With that said he turned back to the window and waited for the
rooms to empty, quite pleased with himself, and completely unaware of the knowing glances his
subjects exchanged with one another as they silently departed from their post and the King.

After a few moments the King turned back to find himself at last alone and left in peace to
untangle his unhappy thoughts and achieve some peace of mind. He paced for a few moments
but his normal ability to control aediredirect his own tendency towards self destructive behavior
refused to come to his aid now that there were no further distractions. He chewed at his lower lip
and rubbed his chin and finally seated himself at the dining table upon one of the benches where
he poured himself a cup of wine, drank it in one long gulp, wiped his mouth and scowled with
disgust over the bitter, vinegary taste of the gaurds wine allotment. He knew they were forbidden
to tap into his exclusive barrels but this swill was horrible and he made his first, clear and concious
decision of the day as he determined to upgrade the look-out elves wine barrels. And with that
one, small decision the inner dissonance disappated and the roaring in his ears ceased and a
moment of clarity was achieved. 'You must send her home, now, without delay,' he told himself
and a long, shuddering breath blew out from his lungs as if he had been holding it in ever since he
had lifted Tulare's gown and viewed his evil handiwork, from the night before, between her legs.
He felt instantly relieved and revived and he stood now with a clear sense of purpose and strode
happily back towards his private door, and was almost through it, when he suddenly stopped
himself in time when he realized that as had sent his elves away, the lookout post would be empty
if he left it, and that was forbidden, by him. He stood for a moment, hand on door handle, then
shook his head and chuckled at his own trap.

He went back to the windows and peered out, this time with interest, at the goings-on before him.
He realized, with a small start, that much time had passed since he last had this view as he
noticed how many new huts had been built just past the bridge that spanned the River Running
that ran before the gate. There was also a newer, larger outdoor smithy and he could hear the
distant clanging of metal on metal as iron was worked and smoke billowed from the forge.
Chickens scurried after insects and a long willow fence had been woven cleverly among the
closest trees to prevent the milk cows from wandering into the forestlands searching for greener
things to add to their cud. The cleng ong of Dol Gurdur was having an impact on his kingdom as
his subjects grew more at ease without an ever-present fear of orc raiding partys, troll forays or
packs of slavering wolves prowling the forest trails. Some of the elves, especially the wilder
wood-elves who had fled to his protection during the gathering of evil in the far southern reaches
of Mirkwood, wsaidsaid to be moving further outside Thranduil's realm than could be seen from
this vantage point. Many had taken to the tree tops in the thicker oak woods around the river bed
to the south, others had built small huts nearby but these were cleverly hidden in small dells or
behind low hills as more and more of his subjects sought the blissful peace of isolation after many
long years in the bee-hive atmosphere of the caves. It pleased him for he drew strength from the
collective will of his people and felt encouraged by their visible trust in him and his ability to keep
them safe from harm. His self loathing diminished moment by moment and he felt his spirits lift.

He watched a hunting party returning with happy hounds trotting beside the weary hard-run
horses which were now laden with antlered stags and strings of pheasant and duck. His heart
stirred at the sight of elves who he had hunted with while still a "green and leafing elf lad" himself
who were now passing along their skills at the hunt to their own sons. The hoofs of the horses
kicked up the carpet of leaves which were falling now as summer waned and autumn began to
color the foliage and wither the vines that covered the white bark of the beech trees. Mornings
would soon be frosted and the afternoons would be mellow and golden with breezes containing air
as intoxicating and revitalizing as mirovur.


'As soon as Legolas is home; wel ril ride together in a great boar hunt and I will make amends for
my witless behavior before him and the Ranger twins this morning,' he thought to himself as he
pictured in his mind the laughter and joy of the hunt that awaited them along the familiar and
beloved trails that wound in and around the forests and glens about him, and the rewarming of his
son's devotion towards him, and decided to find the fletcher and refill the hunting quivers as soon
as he could leave his self-imposed guard duty. He imagined Legolas looking up to him the way he
had when still a princeling and less judgemental of the decisions Thranduil felt forced to make
while fortifying his Kingdom or demanding the respect of his subjects and retainers. "Some day,
he will understand the weight of ruling an elfdom,' he reassured himself but he knew there was
more to his son's distant behavior than just feeling at odds with his father's style of command.
The bitterness between them stretched back for centuries, nay, millenia, and a morning of bow
hunting would hardly heal old wounds. But it would be a place to start.

A sudden squeezing of his heart sent him reeling towards the nearest bench where he sat, head
bowed, and let the irony of the situation sweep over him. Here he was just a few flights above the
elleth, whose face had so filled his mind last night that he could only see her even when he looked
into the eyes of his son and took his leave in order to return to her side, 'And now, here I am, only
thinking of him, and the look in his eyes as I placed my hand on his shoulder...' He sat up straight
and breathed in and blew out a few times as guilt and shame attempted to wash over him once
again. He willed it away. There was no purpose served with reliving his embarrassing behavior
now that he had decided to put everything to right and with haste.

The door across from him opened and Maegavor, his beloved friend and trusted Captain, quietly
stepped within the keep and smiled sympathetically. "He will make you proud, Sire, happy I was
to hear that you have finally loosened your tight-fisted grip on the lad and allowed him to take over
command of the scouting party. It is rare for a King to have such a worthy heir and partner, and
your subjects need their King to home," His Captain stood at the window and Thranduil joined
him there as he continued, " but keeping vigil for him will not hasten his homecoming."

Thranduil was astonished at this new perspective of his leaving Legolas, to deal with the orc
raiders from Isengard, while he returned home to bed an elleth not much older than his own
daughter. Was this the rumor that was proceeding and following him in and out of every door or
hallway he entered since his return this day? That Legolas was promoted to captain his own
contingent of Mirkwood elves while his father returned to attend to the busines of the realm?
Perhaps his own sense of self outrage had clouded his vision of his own behavior and he felt even
more relieved and had an even more vigorous sense of renewed purpose. He clapped his hand
on Maegavors sturdy shoulder and laughed along with him at his seemingly over-protective
attention towards the safe return of his capable son.

"You are right, friend, and now I must trust to you to keep watch for me as I attend to my duties.
My first order of business will be to order the butler to dump the wine in yon casks into the river
and replace them with a less vinegary vintage!" With that said he finally took his leave of the
sunny room and slipped back through his private door and went to send the lovely elf maiden,
Tulare, back home to the arms of her mother.