The King's Daughter: [Legolas Fanfiction](on hold until June)

5. Héron's Trial (Part 2)

-Sorry for the wait. And this chapter super short for a reason-

Third Person.

A swell of commotion came from the crowd after hearing Héron's confession. Aragorn, Legolas and Eldarion was enraged, thinking that Héron meant to insult Elarinya, Eldarion's sister, Aragorn's elven princess. Arwen nostrils flared and she was gripping at the handle of her seat until her knuckles were white. Caladhiel and Verya had never seen their loved ones so enraged before but they were also enraged. Elarinya didn't know if she was disgusted or mortified.

"You dare disgrace my daughter?" Aragorn spat with venom in his words.

"Me? I will never disgrace such beauty. I will never harm such beauty. I will never ever disgrace, Elarinya." Héron said staring at Elarinya with a hungry gleam in his green eyes.

"We are not here to speak of your madness nor my daughter. Héron do you wish to confess?" Aragorn hissed.

Héron finally turned his attention to Aragorn. "Yes, my King. I'm guilty. Guilty. Is that what you want to hear?"

"You admit to betraying the Kingdom of Gondor and nearly assassinating my daughter?" Aragorn accused.

"Yes. Of that I'm guilty. But I am also guilty of a far more monstrous crime. I am guilty of being in love."

Aragorn gripped his handle until his knuckles were white. "You are not on trial for being in love."

"Oh, yes I am. I've been on trial for that the day Elarinya became a woman." Héron admitted turning his hungry gleam back to Elarinya.

"Have you nothing to say in your defense?" Aragorn asked once more.

"Nothing but this: I - Héron am in love with Elarinya daughter of King Elessar. For her beauty is far more radiant than the evenstar itself." Héron turned from Aragorn to the crowd.

"I know you all see me is a monster. But you all know nothing of love. Seeing this beautiful woman gives me more pleasure than a thousand whores." Héron turned away from the crowd and pointed at Legolas.

"But seeing her with this...this spoiling boy King, this...pointy-eared brat pushed me too far. I was tired of wishing that this prick bastard was killed I had to do something to make Elarinya mine. I would gladly give my life to watch you - Legolas swallow poison."

"I wish I had enough Orcs and poison for the whole pack of you." Héron finished. Elarinya felt anger rise within her as Héron just insulted her love, family, friends and people.

The crowd went in an uproar as Héron finished. The crowd began shouting: Murder! Monster! Pervert! Aragorn slowly rose from his seat and began to silence the crowd. Aragorn walked in a slowly tantalizing pace toward Héron.

"Héron...you have disobeyed the commands of your King. Through your arrogance and stupidity you have introduced these innocent lives to the horrors of war. You are unworthy of this kingdom!" Aragorn begins to remove his kings guard armor.

"Unworthy of your title! Unworthy of the loved ones, you've betrayed! You are unworthy! I hereby strip you of your position of the kings guard!" Aragorn said coming face to face with Héron.

"You are sentenced to death for attempted murder and betraying the commands of your King."

Enraged, Héron responded to Aragorn. "I will not give my life for Gondor. And I know I'll get no justice here, so I will let the Gods decide my fate!" Héron paused. "King Elessar. I demand a trial by combat."

The roar of the crowd was deafening. Elarinya shuts her eyes. Any hope of Héron living is gone. Legolas smiles, triumphant at having pushed him so far. Verya, Caladhiel and Eldarion lean forwards in their seats intrigued. Aragorn stared at Héron with dark hatred. Héron - defiant stares right back.