Chapter 15 - Courtly Intrigue

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Legolas struggles to figure out the truth behind his fathers' decision to abandon the oath as his love for Tauriel deepens, his jealousy toward Elvändéruil grows. Thranduil and Tauriel struggle to come to terms their differences and how it will affect their relationship. Tauriel is only just beginning to understand the very real dangers of her involvement with the King.

 Tauriel is only just beginning to understand the very real dangers of her involvement with the King

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The palace was quiet as the young prince strode purposefully through the empty halls. It was to be a day of rest following the revelry of the Festival of Winter Solstice, yet he found no rest nor peace. Pacing before the hearth in his rooms had only served to fuel his anger more as images of Tauriel and her ever present companion Elvändéruil danced before his minds' eye. He had no clear destination in mind as he quickly traversed the labyrinth of corridors, he knew only that he needed to keep moving. He needed to feel like he was doing something but there was nothing he could do about the situation.

Trapped inside the palace as the kings' order was firm, unless they were part of the patrol, no one was permitted to leave the fortress without an escort. He had sought escape into the forest only to be informed by Captain Lárasarnë that he was under direct orders by Aldalómë not to include him in the morning patrol. He knew better, the order had to have come from his father himself. Flexing his fingers to hide the tremble, he felt his anger racing through his veins. Disjointed thoughts filled his mind as he schooled his expression to one he hoped reflected the attitude of calm indifference, nodding as politely as possible to the few passersby he encountered.

Efforts to speak with his father that morning had been futile. In his current mood Legolas knew he should probably not be talking to him or Tauriel. It was not unusual for his father to ignore a day of rest when there were matters that he felt required his personal attention. There were also various guests visiting from other lands for the festival and he knew his father enjoyed all the attention he received for his role as host to them. Particularly the Lady Gilaiwë of Lórinand and Tóriôn, her personal attendant.

Finding his way down into the kings' royal stables, he moved silently up the ladder to the loft and found a comfortable place in the hay. Unbidden his thoughts turned to Tauriel and the last time they were alone together in the solarium. He had sensed something changed within her, as if she had given up and resigned herself to a life within the palace walls. Again he felt his anger surge, knowing it was his father that kept her here. Legolas knew of very few with the ability to withstand his fathers' will, especially when his mind was set on certain path.

All his life his father had counseled him to disregard palace gossip yet he could no longer ignore the fact that some of those sources had not been servants. What he knew of his grandfather King Oropher came mostly from history books in his fathers' library or his private tutors as it was yet another topic his father had always refused to talk about. It had been his grandfather's lineage to King Thingol of Doriath that had secured him the position as King of the Woodland Realm over the other Sindar nobles that had made the journey east during the early part of the Second Age.

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