Voices In The Dark

Title: Voices In The Dark
Author: Nikkiling
Pairing: Legolas/OC, Legolas/?
Rating: NC-17 (Just in case)
Warning: NCS, Mentions/Memories of child abuse, Self-Harm, WIP
Summery: Thranduil sends one of his sons to Imladris, fearing that the stresses of constant battle against the encroaching darkness may be too much for the young prince. Little does anyone know the prince's true state of mind...
Disclaimer: This wonderful world belongs to Tolkien. I'm just borrowing the characters for a time and adding a few of my own.
Author's note: Reviews will be greatly appreciated. Bear with me; it's my first time. Also, mental health tends to be a nebulous science in some aspects. Any inconsistencies will be attributed to the unknowns of elven physiology. Ha!
*This* denotes thought...or something to that effect.

A/N: It's kinda funny. Every time I update, I get all queasy for the rest of the day. Sometimes even initially reading the responses can be a trial on my nerves. Does anyone else have this problem, or am I just obsessing too much?

Chapter Seven: Another Evening Discussion


After dinner was over and everyone had departed for the evening, Glorfindel and Elrond retreated to the balcony for their last glass of wine for the evening before retiring. The stars were already shining brightly by the time they sat down in their respective chairs, and the slight breeze blowing off the river smelled wet and refreshing.

"So?" Glorfindel asked immediately, knowing Elrond had something important on his mind, and while at loathe to break this peaceful evening with heavy matters, knew there were things which needed to be discussed.

"I spoke with Master Saeldis earlier," Elrond began, frowning darkly into his untouched glass. "It seems he lived in Mirkwood for quite some time before moving to Mithlond, and while there he was Legolas’ tutor. I must say, he did not speak highly of the young prince."

Glorfindel set his own glass aside and leaned forwards, curious as to what was said. He had been observing Legolas all during dinner, attempting to discern what malady could have made his father send him to Master Elrond, yet could detect nothing amiss. He seemed a polite elf, if a touch shy. Only the incident at the end gave him pause, but even that could be easily explained by exhaustion, as the prince had elucidated himself. Yet one night's observance didn't necessarily mean a thing. That his former tutor hadn't spoken kindly of him didn't bode well.

"He said that the prince was difficult, stubborn." Elrond shrugged his shoulders. "I told him my own children were much the same, and as are many young elflings, yet he seemed to think differently."

"I don't think any could be as... difficult as your twins were, and at times still are." Glorfindel shook his head with a rueful grin. "I love them as my own, but there have been many times when I wished you could send them to Lorien for your mother-in-law to deal with. Lady Galadriel always had her ways of making unruly elflings behave."

Elrond snorted softly, something he rarely did in public. "Yes, but she always had a soft spot for my children. Spoiled them, and then sent them home for me to deal with. I think it was her revenge for my marrying her daughter."

It was Glorfindel's turn to chuckle softly. He recalled the marriage of Elrond and Celebrian, and how Galadriel had been reluctant to let her daughter marry the half-elf, even one as well thought of as the Master Healer of Imladris. She never voiced her misgivings aloud, but her thoughts were as plain as only the Lady of the Golden Wood's could be. Glorfindel remembered an extremely nervous elf lord receiving his bride on the day of their wedding. Only Celebrian's father, Celeborn, and his calming influence, kept the wedding ritual from becoming a complete disaster.

With reluctance he pulled his mind away from the humorous memories to the more immediate problem at hand.

"What else did he say?"

Elrond took a sip of his wine before setting it aside as well. "That he believes the great fire that burned down many of Thranduil's outbuildings many years ago was no accident. That he believes Legolas might have been trying to kill him."

Glorfindel sat back, an incredulous look on his face. "And what do you think?"

"Truth be told, I do not know what to think. Thus far I have sense no malicious intent coming from our young prince during the short time he has been here. Only odd glimpses of fear have I seen, and those mainly in the presence of Master Saeldis."

"I sensed this also," Glorfindel stated, remembering both times he had seen the two together, the first in the courtyard, and the other in the dining hall. A flash of fear, then extreme politeness coming from the young elf. He supposed it was possible that Legolas had once attempted to do his tutor some sort of harm, which could also explain the odd attitude. Fear of the older elf saying something that might incriminate him was a good excuse for behaving with extreme civility. The penalties for kinslaying were severe, after all. Yet something didn't sit right within the blonde Elda. The sudden, strange shifts in mood seemed to tug at his memory, but no answers were forthcoming. And the prince's ever-shifting eyes seemed to allude to something more than just a change in disposition.

"I am beginning to think that perhaps his coming here wasn't such a good idea, particularly with Master Saeldis present." Elrond continued, looking up at the glimmering stars as if for guidance. "I fear any stresses on the young elf's mind will only be worsened before this is over."

Still frowning, Glorfindel looked towards his friend. "Saeldis told you that Legolas had basically tried to kill him, but gave you no reason as to why he would do so?"

"He did not." The dark-haired elf rubbed his brow tiredly. "I do not trust this. I believe something happened between the two of them, and I intend to find out what. I would also ask that you keep an eye on our young guest as well. Watch for anything out of place."

"Do you believe him to be dangerous?"

"I am not certain at this time. I hope not, for all our sakes. For now we can only wait, and watch. Perhaps if we speak to his fellow scouts, they might be able to give us some clues."

Glorfindel nodded and picked up his glass once more. He took a long swallow of the heavy red wine before turning his attention to the stars shining high above. They seemed so peaceful up there, so far away from the cares of the world, their simple, jeweled light bringing joy to those down below. Sometimes he wished he could sail amongst those stars with Eärendil, Elrond's father, and see the world below as they did. A pleasant dream perhaps, but not likely to happen. He had already been blessed by the Valar once, having been released from the Halls of Mandos and returned to Middle Earth after dying heroically during the fall of his home, the great city of Gondolin. One blessing of such magnitude was enough for one elf's lifetime, or two depending upon how one viewed it.

His mind strayed away from the stars, back to the events of earlier, and he took another sip of his drink before speaking once again.

"What think you of Legolas’ abrupt departure from dinner?" He asked curiously.

"Again, I am uncertain," Elrond replied, sighing heavily and rubbed his creased forehead once again in frustration. "Although he pleaded exhaustion, I fear something was said which upset him. Perhaps something in the twin's story about the orc ambush." He paused, his eyes scanning the darkness as if looking for something. "Wasn't his own mother killed in an orc attack many years ago?"

"Aye," Glorfindel answered, laying his head back against the top of the chair tiredly. "Yet he has battled against those creatures for quite some time. I don't see how one simple story could affect him so. A difficult puzzle this is. Could this mystery problem be associated with her death? I recall Elrohir and Elladan after Celebrian was attacked. They spent so much time out fighting those beasts, I feared they would never come back whole."

Elrond shuddered at the memory. For many years after their mother had departed for the Western Shores, his sons had thought of nothing but revenge. They spent their days traveling about the hills and valleys of the Misty Mountains, destroying all creatures of the dark they could lay their swords upon. He had been frightened for them during that time, yet also wished he could be out there doing the same. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending upon who spoke, he had a city to take care of, and a young, distraught daughter to look after. Even through pain, the world moved on in its usual, uncaring cycles.

"I suppose that could be a likely possibility." Elrond replied, suddenly feeling the urge to retire to his rooms for the night, perhaps settling with a good book to take his mind away from the problems at hand.

He rose from his seat while picking up the barely touched wineglass and stretching his back until it popped slightly. "I think I shall retreat early tonight. Tomorrow we shall see what the new day brings us. I have more meetings with Saeldis to attend to. Perhaps something more will come to light."

"And I shall find out what I can from the other scouts."

"Thank you, my friend." Elrond turned to leave.

"Sleep well, hîr nín."

"And you."

Elrond left, leaving Glorfindel sitting alone with his thoughts but for the multitude of stars shining so high above. For a long time he merely let his mind wander down pleasant paths of dreams and what-ifs until the moon rose lending the world its bright silvery light. Finally he rose tiredly and left the balcony, headed for his own rooms and the soft, comfortable bed that awaited him. Along the way he passed by Legolas’ rooms and paused.

*I wonder how he fares,* Glorfindel asked himself, remembering the events of the evening. *He looked so distressed earlier. Perhaps he could use someone to talk to.*

He lifted his hand to knock on the door, but hesitated before making a sound. *Yet if he truly was exhausted, I'd hate to wake him. It is fairly late, after all.*

He lowered his hand to his side and started down the corridor, feeling an odd reluctance as he did so. Frowning slightly, he shook off the strange feeling before finally entering his rooms and closing the door behind him.