Fra: "Mercuria Stardust" Til: Emne: [OFUM] Another Candidate for Badfic Dato: 18. april 2003 12:18 Mercuria: Okay ... badfic ... *cries* Ai, my lord Thranduil, forgive me! *clears throat, assumes Badfic persona* AUTHOR'S NOTES: First of all, you should all go read my first story, "Blood of the Shadow Rose in Darkness", which details the abuse of Thranduil at the hands of his father, Orophin, over the span of fifty-seven chapters. I would like constructive criticism, of course, but don't tell me what I did wrong, because that just proves that you have no life and like to spend your time poking fun at decent, hardworking writers like myself. Title: "Falling to Ashes of the Starlit Dreams" Summary: The cycle continues as Thranduil takes out the pain of his childhood upon his son Legolas. Can the similarly abused daughter of the Steward of Gondor rescue him before they are both consumed by the fire burning within both of their wronged souls? (AN: I am SO deep.) ******* Once upon a time there lived a terrible king. His name was Thranduil. Thranduil ruled over the Elves of Mirkwood forest in a mighty palace, but he was a horrible wicked despot, who ruled over the fair realm of Mirkwood with a fist of iron. In addition to being a horrible wicked despot, Thranduil was also an alcoholic. Unfortunately for his beautiful son, Legolas, Thranduil was a violent alcoholic, who often beat his son mercilessly in his inebriated rampages. Although Thranduil was only a violent alcoholic due to the abuse he had suffered as a child, there was not an Elf in Mirkwood who could or would condone his actions. Alas, Thranduil would not be contradicted. Anyone attempting to help Legolas was as good as dead. Legolas sighed, remembering his old tutor, Iphrienith, who had tried to reason with Thranduil, only to be beaten and thrown into Mirkwood's deepest dungeons. "Ah, poor Iphrienith," Legolas sighed, leaning his head against the windowsill of his room in the palace. The trees murmured comfortingly to him; they were his friends; ever since he had been a little boy they had been there, strong and supportive. If only his father had been half as supportive as those beautiful trees that he loved so much. There was a knock on the door. Legolas sighed and said, "Come in." The servant who entered gazed in wonder at the tragically beautiful sight before him. Legolas' hair was free and unbound, and did not have its usual braids in it. His head was tilted back, as if he was drinking in the fading light. "P-prince Legolas," the servant stated, stammering as he blushed slightly (AN: Yeah, he has a crush on Legolas, but all you non-slash people, don't worry. It's not a plot point, I just had to have some slash going on! *g* And if you don't like slash, don't bother to tell me about it! This is MY fic and I can write whatever I want, so why don't you go away now and whine to somebody else?!), "your father has summoned you." Legolas sighed and stood up, stretching like a graceful cat. With a gracious nod and "thank you" for the servant, Legolas made his way through the ominous halls of Mirkwood castle to his father's throne room. "Ah, Legolas!" Thranduil stated. He'd been drinking, and the courtiers around him looked distinctly nervous. "So glad you could join us!" Legolas bowed stiffly. "I have wonderful news, Legolas," Thranduil stated, grinning broadly. "In a week's time, you will be married to the daughter of the Steward of Gondor." Legolas gasped, his pale cheeks turning even paler. His eyes were green with shock. "But, father," he began, "I do not even know the maiden of whom you speak! And I thought you disliked huma-" He fell backwards as Thranduil delivered a stinging slap to his now bruised cheek. The courtiers could only stand by helplessly as Thranduil attacked his son. "I will not be contradicted!" he stated angrily. "You will marry her, and you will like it! I must form an alliance between Gondor and Mirkwood so that we can overthrow the Rohirrim and rule Middle-earth!" Legolas gasped again, blood dripping from his perfectly sculpted jaw. "Father! How could you!" Thranduil threw himself at Legolas, hands closing around his throat. Then all the prince knew was darkness. ***** Slap! "Father, please, I do not even know his name!" "Shut up, you stupid wench!" Kaelin winced as her father Denethor hit her with a large blunt object. Her youngest brother, Faramir, could only stand by helplessly, lest he suffer her cruel fate. "You will marry the son of Thranduil, whether you like it or not!" Denethor snarled. "Or else, my lovely daughter, perhaps you'd like to share your mother's fate?!" Kaelin, proud though she was, could no longer hold back the tears that threatened to blossom from her transcendent hazel eyes. She fell to her knees sobbing, insensitive to the blows that fell on her back like the southwestern monsoon that sweeps through India. Faramir too was weeping, and could no longer endure his sister's pain. "Please stop this, my lord!" he cried, flinging himself in front of his sister protectively. "Give Kaelin but two more weeks, at least, before she must submit to marriage with someone she does not know!" This only served to enrage Denethor further. "You traitorous worm!" he stated angrily, striking at Faramir's chest and head with each sentence. "You are seeking to delay the marriage in order to sabotage my reign! It is Mithrandir who has told you to do this! You perfidious little wizard-pawn!" Faramir, unable to withstand his father's abuse, sunk to his knees. "Guards!" Denethor bellowed. "Seize this infidel and lock him in our darkest and most unpleasant dungeon!" "FARAMIR!" shrieked Kaelin, reaching for her brother. Alas, Denethor knocked her to the floor, where she hit her head. Through the descending darkness, she could see the royal guards half-carrying a weak and unresisting Faramir out of the room ... ********* AN: Well, I'm glad that my brilliant story has inspired you to review and beg for more on bended knee ... *smile* There's no need to worry about late updates, just since you're wondering. I have the next 25 chapters saved to my hard drive. See you later! Merc's note: I had way too much fun with that. But man, it's LONG. G'night, folks. P.S. The slash thing was just because, although I like slash, I acknowledge that there are people who don't, and hate it when they get beat over the head with gratuitous LotR slash that serves no purpose, and then called "bigots" or whatever. -Mercuria