NEW LEAF (Legolas FF) | ✔️

Chapter 22: Hope

3rd PERSON

Legolas walked the halls with an air of defiance. His expression was hard and his eyes were cold. He still could not understand what was going on with his father. It seemed to him that his father had a sudden change of character and here Legolas thought his father had actually changed. Now, everything was falling apart and everyone was noticing it. Rumors and talks spread across the kingdom like wild fire. The King had started to go mad and the queen was regretting her choices. But it was nothing like that at all. Legolas had just talked to Mantheniel and she seemed every bit the elleth that married his father, stubborn, yet caring. His anger had risen a notch when he had seen her in her current state. By the Valar, was his father trying to severe the ties and bonds he had created with them because he was doing a good job at it. Legolas groaned silently as he reached the doors to the throne room. The guards gave him a soft bow as they opened the door, to let the prince pass and enter the vast room. Thranduil sat on his throne with a blank expression on his face, he almost looked catatonic to the prince. The only acknowledgement the King gave his son was a brief flicker of his eyes to his direction.

Legolas bowed slightly when he reached the foot of the throne. Something was definitely wrong with his father. He looked almost lifeless. His eyes studied his father for a moment, lingering lightly on the odd brooch clasped at his neck. Legolas had never seen the brooch before. He also noticed the ring his father normally wore with the stone of Naralis was not on his finger. He grew suspicious then as his father now regarded him with a slight raise of a brow.

"What do you want?" His voice echoed. It sounded lifeless and monotonous that Legolas had to take a moment to reply. He cleared his throat and mimicked his father's cold and detached expression.

"I came to ask you what has been happening to Mantheniel?" Legolas began, it was one of main concerns. He found out last night that Mantheniel was pregnant because he had managed to pry the information from Turwaithiel. He promised both of them he would not tell his father as long as they promised that Mantheniel be examined and checked by a healer, preferably Lord Elrond.

"She was attacked by a shadow," he replied with a bored tone. It lit an anger of fire inside him. How could he not care at all? This was what Turwaithiel had been trying to tell him. Legolas did not want to believe his father was neglecting his own wife.

"Why are you not doing anything about it?" He asked with a more firm voice.

"That is what you think-"

"Sending your guards after a shadow is not going to help her," Legolas pointed out. "She needs help. Why have you not sent for Lord Elrond?"

"Be my guess," Thranduil replied coldly. "Send for the half elf if you think we are not capable of solving our own problems."

"I did not think you to be one who would risk the life of a woman you love for your pride," Legolas words were out of his mouth before he could stop it and it felt even odder that Thranduil's expression remained unchanged. It unnerved the prince more than anything.

"I am pretty sure you did not come here to talk to me about my wife and my pride," Thranduil stated coolly. Legolas pursed his lips, deciding to drop the subject for now and turn to the other one.

"I do not wish to marry Lady Arlayna," he began. "We do not need an alliance. Our trades with Erebor and Dale are going well enough-"

"For now," the King emphasized. He stood up then, his hand gripping his staff. A staff he had once stopped carrying due to the fact it reminded the king too much of his father. Legolas listed all the odd things on a mental note, watching as his father descended the stairs like a lifeless person. There was definitely something wrong. Legolas did not know what worried him more.