How...Unfortunate

8

Draco felt a shiver roll down his spine as they entered Imladris. There was a palpable tension in the air, and he was not entirely sure if it was because of the reason that they were there, or just the fact that they were there at all. He was leaning towards the second one, over the first one, to be honest. He also was not entirely certain how he felt about this...this Elrond. It was clear that though King Thranduil knew him to be the person that they needed to go to to figure things out, there was a sort of sordid tension between the King and his son, and Elrond. What that tension was, and why it was there, Draco did not know, and he was not sure that he really wanted to find out. It was far too little too late though, as they were here now. 

He just did not understand the freak. The Dark Lord's mark was marring his skin, and it would forever mark him as something wrong. Something other. It was too late to change things, and it was not as if he had even been given the chance to either way. Either take the mark or he is tortured to the brink of death by his father and his father's oh so great lord, and risk his mother, or take the mark? It was not even a competition. Of course he would get the mark. 

"While we are here, I want to impress something," Draco turned his eyes to Legolas, watching the anxiety that seemed to fleetingly echo through his eyes. "Elrond can be a bit...well, eccentric to some. I do hope that you know that should he give you any issues, you can immediately call for me, and I will rectify the situation." Draco tilted his head to the side slightly, watching as Legolas seemed to unconsciously calm down at the show of submission. 

"Do not worry, Your Highness," Was all Draco had the time to say before the other servants were quickly dismissed, leaving Legolas and Draco with their own guard, and Elrond walking down the steps of the great house. Draco had to admit, it was a nice place. It was comfortable, and he could see why it was appealing. The water trickled from a waterful, there was a waterfall somewhere further back as Darco could hear it in the distance. A bridge, a carefully inclined stairwell, and it was concealed. He was glad Legolas knew where he was going otherwise, they were liable to be meandering for quite some time before they actually reached their destination. 

He could tell Legolas was still going to worry, and Draco knew it was probably due to Elrond's disposition to Thranduil. If the two did not like each other much, then it was going to be difficult for Legolas. Draco was surprised he was so reassured at taking this trip, and had pushed for it if he was simply going to be uncomfortable the entire time. Then again...Draco had a habit of doing the same thing so perhaps he could not say anything. 

"I will worry, that is simply in my nature," Was all Legolas returned with, before wrapping a gentle arm around Draco's waist, that Draco was proud to say only caused him to flinch just barely. "Lord Elrond, wonderful to see you." 

"And you, Prince Legolas. I trust you are much better than the last I saw you." Legolas seemed to flush heavily. 

"By quite a margin, Lord Elrond," Elrond's gaze slowly trickled to Draco, who made an effort to bow, and was steadied by Legolas who murmured at him not to push himself. 

"I have not seen this individual with you," The questioning look in Elrond's gaze made Draco want to roll his eyes. Clearly, Occlumency fucked with his sight or whatever he wanted to call it. Draco wasn't sure why or how it worked, but he didn't need to know. All he needed to know was that meant Elrond was instantly suspicious of him, which did not bode well. 

"The sight is rather strange at times, we all are aware of this." Legolas said genially, but the quickly continued. "Father asked me to request your aid, on his behalf." A tilt of his head in Draco's direction had the assessing gaze back on him. He did not like it. It was far too much like the Dark Lord's gaze when he was trying to puzzle things through, but instead of a malicious mockery it was concern. Genuine concern, something he had not seen from any but his mother in a long while, considering how distant he had made his friends since the whole fiasco started. 

"Well, come with me, to the healing ward," Draco groaned softly, but did not question anything, and simply went along with Legolas, some Imladris elves moving forwards to take their animals. Draco was not entirely sure how they were going to house some deer and stuff, but Draco did not bother to question it either. It was clear enough that the woodland elves visited relatively often, if not as often as maybe some others were wont to. 

Draco did not know if he should stand up to this sort of thing, he did not know if he should reassure them that the dark wizard that dared to marr his flesh was not here, because he honestly did not know if he was or not. The Dark Lord...he could have been called when that healer elf dared to touch his mark. It had burned like it would, but...The Dark Lord had not come in a swoop of black mist. So he just did not know. 

IT was confusing, and considering Draco still was not entirely sure how the mark worked other than it was excruciatingly painful to get, and even more so when it was touched or when the Dark Lord wished to call for you, he was not exactly a good judge of what to do about it. It was annoying, but he just had to accept it. 

"If you would please, sit," Elrond directed him towards the bed and Draco tensed immediately, closing his eyes and trying to calm his racing heart. He felt his body tremble slightly, but still resolutely tensed his entire being, and sat stiffly on the edge of the bed. 

"And what was it that you wanted me to look at?"