Part Thirty-Eight

"Father – are you going to force me to marry Arwen?" Legolas demanded.

King Thranduil looked at his son with compassion. The poor lad had been forced to deal with so much over the past two days. He meant to reply, meant to tell Legolas that no, of course he would not be forced to do anything he did not wish to, but he became aware that Haldir was holding a knife to the throat of the rather smug-looking Lord Glorfindel, who stood at the edge of the bed where the clearly naked elf of Lórien sat, covered only by a thin silk sheet.

Thranduil could not help admiring Haldir's muscular torso and strong arms and well as his beautiful face and determined expression. No wonder Legolas had fallen in love with him. Yes, the King thought, this was what his son needed. This was meant to be. Thranduil shook his head and refocused his attention on Glorfindel.

"Lord Glorfindel, are you here to attempt to harm my son and Haldir again?" he asked in a cold tone.

"King Thranduil, surely you know I wished them no harm in the first place," Glorfindel said airily. "Would you mind telling this hot-headed Galadhrim to lower his knife? I should hate for him to accidentally slit my throat."

"If I slit your throat, it will be no accident," growled Haldir.

"For what purpose did you kidnap my son?" Thranduil demanded.

"I was trying to do the lad a favor. Surely you can see now what a barbarian Haldir is. Legolas would be much better suited to Saelbeth."

Thranduil looked over at Saelbeth. The guard turned a bright red and looked mortified. The King knew he had nothing to do with the plot – he was convinced of that.

"I did not ask for your help," Saelbeth said, clenching his fist.

"No," Glorfindel replied softly. "You would be too brave, too noble to ask for help. You deserved Legolas."

"I choose who deserves me, no one else does!" Legolas snapped. "Not you, not Elladan and not my father! I choose Haldir. He is no barbarian. He has proven that he cares for me, and I desire no one else."

"At least, not anymore," Glorfindel drawled.

"Legolas, you will not be forced to marry Arwen," Lord Elrond said quietly. "Do not blame your father for this. I asked for the marriage."

"Did he not agree to it?"

"Only on the proviso that you agree to it as well," Elrond sighed. "I should hope that you might put some thought into it."

"This is not the time to pressure the lad, Elrond," Thranduil interrupted. He did not want Legolas to have another outburst. He really wished to take his son into his arms and embrace him, to tell him that all would be well, but it was not the time for this, either.

Elrond nodded. "Very well."

"We have another matter to address. Lord Glorfindel, you have committed serious crimes against the Prince of Mirkwood and our esteemed guest, Haldir of Lothlórien. You have confessed to your crimes and must be made to pay for them."

"Really, Thranduil, you are so deadly serious. Are you going to punish Elladan for molesting Legolas as well?"

"I have accepted the burden of Elladan's crimes," Elrond said quickly.

Thranduil looked at Elladan, who looked vaguely worried. Good. Let him worry. If he had not already been involved with Elrond, Thranduil might have had a useful punishment for the pretty elf.

"Elladan did not really hurt me," Legolas said sheepishly.

"And I sincerely apologize for my wandering hands," Elladan said promptly.

"If you wish to be honest, Glorfindel did not really hurt you, either," Saelbeth snapped.

"Thranduil, you cannot mean to punish Elladan," Elrond said, looking irritated. Thranduil turned and looked into his eyes.

"You should not accept the burden of your son's crimes. He will never grow up that way. I must think on this. Until then, perhaps Lord Glorfindel would like to spend the afternoon where he so considerately confined my son."

"You are going to put me in the dungeon?" Glorfindel squealed.

"Yes, why not?" Thranduil said airily.

"Thranduil!" said Elrond, "While I certainly do not endorse or condone Glorfindel's behavior, I think putting him in the dungeon is not necessary."

"I think it is," Thranduil said, lifting an eyebrow at the Lord of Imladris, "And I am this close to having Elladan join him."

Elrond sighed. "Please do not. I will do whatever you require, but--"

"Elladan will be remanded into the custody of Legolas, then," Thranduil said. He grabbed the wrist of the younger elf over the protests of his twin and hauled him towards the wall to the left of Legolas' bed. Thranduil pressed against a brick in the wall and it revolved, releasing a chain with a manacle, which he clamped around Elladan's wrist. A chorus of protests rose up.

"Father!"

"King Thranduil!"

"I did not know that was there," said Haldir.

"Neither did I," said Legolas.

"Oh, they are in all the rooms. Elladan, you will stay here at the mercy of Legolas until further notice, just as you had him at your mercy. Saelbeth, Rúmil, Orophin – escort Lord Glorfindel to the dungeons. Elrond, come with me. We will discuss this in private. Remuneration is due."

"Thranduil, you are stubborn and intolerable at times!" Elrond hissed.

"Indeed I am," Thranduil said coldly. He had had enough of all this nonsense. It was time to get his Kingdom back to normal.

Glorfindel was taken out by Saelbeth and Haldir's brothers and Haldir finally lowered the knife he had been holding. Elrohir was clutching his brother, looking angry. Elrond was trying to calm the both of them. Legolas looked frazzled as well.

"Father, what am I supposed to do with him?"

"Whatever you like. Elrohir, you will accompany your father and myself."

"I am not leaving Elladan here."

"Believe me when I tell you that I do not wish to have him here, either," said Haldir. "Do not worry, Elrohir – obey the King."

"Haldir, you are without a doubt the most sensible elf in Mirkwood, myself aside," Thranduil said, becoming more irritated.

He turned and swept out of the room, assuming Elrond and Elrohir would follow him.