Part Forty-Four

"Thank you for gathering here, my most loyal subjects and friends of Mirkwood," said King Thranduil, sitting on his throne which rested upon a raised dais in the great stone hall. "I regret the unhappiness of this meeting, but it cannot be avoided. We have come here to decide the fate of Lord Glorfindel of Imladris, who has trespassed upon our hospitality to a most inappropriate degree."

Thranduil looked around the room. Most of his subjects sat to the back of the chamber. Legolas stood to the right of his throne, Silindë to the left. Haldir stood next to Legolas, and Saelbeth next to Silindë. At a large table in front of the throne sat Elrond and his sons, Lord Glorfindel, Erestor, Rúmil, and Orophin. He wished that Glorfindel looked a bit more contrite, but the golden-haired elf kept his chin lifted and met Thranduil's gaze without fear.

Two days had passed. Elladan had been released from Legolas' bed yesterday at sunset, and Thranduil knew that he had been well used by both his son and Haldir. He seemed subdued, but not broken. He had gladly accepted the use of Thranduil's bathing chamber, a good meal, and a fresh bedroom, where he wisely had gone to sleep alone. Elrohir had eaten with him and spoken with him privately for a long time, Thranduil knew. He was not worried about Elladan. The punishment had been fair and well-chosen. Surely Elrond would not be angry with him about it.

Should he care about Elrond's anger? After all, this was his kingdom and it was his own child who had been trespassed upon. But the truth was, he did. He loved Elrond, more than he ever meant to. He had fallen hard for the Lord of Imladris over these past few weeks, grown addicted to him.

Elrond had retired to his own chamber for the past two nights. They had spoken little, except for Elrond's convoluted explanation of what Glorfindel had told him. Thranduil had difficulty believing that the War Councilor had committed these crimes in the name of an undeclared passion for Saelbeth, but no other explanation had been offered. Elrond had asked Thranduil not to take Glorfindel's life. Thranduil had no intention of having another elf killed, but he had hesitated in that moment... and the hesitation had cost him Elrond.

"Thranduil," Elrond had said, speaking his name with such coldness that it froze the Elvenking deep inside. "If you even need to think about this, I can no longer call you my friend."

"I do not believe you ever called me your friend in the first place," Thranduil had replied blithely, but he immediately regretted his words. Why could he not stop himself from being harsh with Elrond? "I will do what I think is best."

"You will not even hear me out?"

"I have heard plenty from you, Elrond. Are you going to sing me a different tune?"

"You never change, do you?" Elrond had sighed. "Good night, Thranduil. I can only hope that your conscience has a stronger voice than I seem to."

Thranduil had been unable to sleep alone. He had wandered the hallways of his palace, stopping more than once outside of Elrond's door, but he had not knocked, or let himself in. He had not been able to bring himself to do so. He felt like a coward. He had gone to check on Legolas, but his son was wrapped up in Haldir and both seemed perfectly well and happy. No one needed him.

He shook his head slightly. Back to the present. He had Glorfindel to dispose of. How merciful could he possibly be without losing the respect of his people. They all loved Legolas. They would expect a harsh punishment for Glorfindel.

"Have you anything to say, Lord Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel got to his feet. "I offer my most humble apologies," he said, but the bland tone of his voice only irritated Thranduil further, that and the accusing look on Elrond's face.

"You have already done that," Thranduil interrupted.

Glorfindel nodded. "I meant no harm in this."

"So you have said."

"It is the truth. I would also like to ask the forgiveness of Saelbeth."

"You have it," Saelbeth said softly.

Thranduil turned to look at him suspiciously. There was a softness in his eyes that the king did not like. It was as though he were pleased that Glorfindel had committed this crime in his name. In that moment, he conceived the punishment to bestow upon the errant lord. Elrond would not care for it, but it would satisfy his demand that Thranduil not take Glorfindel's life.

Of course, Elrond was not likely to ever forgive him for it, either.

So what? He thought to himself. Elrond had already withdrawn from him. Elrond had already shown him what happiness could be, and then taken it away from him. Elrond should have stood by him in this, instead of constantly trying to sacrifice himself in the name of those who had committed the crimes.

How dare he be so bloody noble?

"Lord Glorfindel, you have been found guilty of poisoning Haldir of the Golden Wood, border guard of Lothlórien, loyal subject of Galadriel, Lady of Light, and with my blessing, the future Marchwarden of her lands. You have also been found guilty of drugging and kidnapping my son, Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood and of locking him against his will in my very own dungeons. Therefore you are sentenced to—"

"Your majesty," said Elrond sharply, rising to his feet, "May I speak first?"

Had it been anyone else, he would have said no. "Very well, Lord Elrond."

"You allowed Legolas to choose the punishment of my son, Elladan. Will you not allow Haldir to choose the punishment for Lord Glorfindel?"

"No. I have already decided his punishment."

"You may be harsh, Thranduil, but I have never known you to be unfair."

"Thank you, Lord Elrond. You may be seated."

"I am not finished. Allow Haldir and Legolas to decide together Glorfindel's punishment. They were the ones trespassed upon, not you, so—"

"There you are wrong, Elrond," Thranduil said, becoming more and more irritated. "I was hurt by this as well. I suffered! Do you know what it is like to worry for a child? I thought Legolas was lost to me."

"I, too, am a father, Thranduil."

"Then you should understand why I choose to do this. Lord Glorfindel will be taken to the eastern corner of the wood, ensnared in a spider's web, and left. If he can escape, his name will be cleared and this incident will be forgotten. If he cannot… well, I shall not miss him."

A gasp went out through the assembled company. Glorfindel swayed on his feet and looked pale. Elrond's mouth dropped open.

"May I be permitted a weapon?" Glorfindel asked softly. "I stand no chance at all without my sword."

"Very well," said Thranduil.

"This is obscene," said Elrond bitterly. "How can you be so cruel? You know how impossible it is to escape from those webs without help."

"I will not be swayed," said Thranduil.

"Father," Legolas spoke up, "At least give him a companion… to help him."

"And who would you choose to go on this mission, my son?"

"I will go!" said Elrond.

"No, you will be busy helping me fight orcs, per our earlier contract."

"Send Elladan," Legolas said.

"Or Saelbeth," Haldir suggested softly.

"Elladan, come forward," Thranduil said. "And you, Saelbeth. Do the two of you choose to assist Lord Glorfindel, or shall we leave him on his own?"

Elladan lifted his head. His grey eyes had black circles under them, Thranduil noticed, but there was no fear in him. "I will help," he said.

"As will I," said Saelbeth.

Thranduil drew a pair of wrist cuffs forth from the pocket of his robe. Before anyone knew what he was about to do, he had chained Saelbeth and Elladan together by the right hand, each facing different directions.

"Let it be done," Thranduil said. "We will take you out to the eastern corner tonight."

He looked at Elrond, but Elrond simply turned and left the room without sparing him a glance.