A/N: Hi everyone! Before I begin, I'd like to take a moment to explain where this story is going. This is Book One of a trilogy which I have collectively entitled "Of Story and Song," a reference to the last line of The Silmarillion. The idea for this story began a little over two years ago, around when the Desolation of Smaug came out, and at the time was little more than The Lord of the Rings with a few twists I added in, which developed into what is now Book Two (don't worry, it covers a lot more than just The Lord of the Rings). Eventually, I developed the idea for a sequel, which became Book Three, and Book One developed out of a single chapter in Book Two.
This story will be set in neither the "book universe" nor the "movie universe;" instead, I decided to blend the best of both worlds to create a "hybrid universe." The overall timeline and plot will follow the books more closely, but the details of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will generally stick closer to the movies (with a significant number of exceptions).
Because I am writing all three books simultaneously, there may be significant gaps between chapters, and I apologize for that in advance. To compensate, I may post Books One and Two simultaneously, since they don't overlap for some time. Book Two will be called "When the Wise Falter."
"Less Wise and More Dangerous" will tell the story of the Wood-elves of Mirkwood, beginning at the beginning of the Third Age in the aftermath of the War of the Last Alliance and ending in the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies. Since Professor Tolkien told us little of the Wood-elves' history in detail, I took the opportunity to explore their history in depth.
NB: I have provided translatons for the names of characters listed as "Dramatis Personae." Gandalf, Thorin, Fili, and Kili come from Norse mythology; Bard and Bilbo come from Old English, and the rest are Sindarin or Quenya (Tolkien's Elvish languages). There is one exception, Galion, for which I have not found a suitable translation.
Disclaimer: The Silmarilion, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and related works belong to J. R. R. Tolkien's estate. I do not own them, nor do I claim to. If I did, there would be a twelve-part movie adaptation of The Silmarillion.
Less Wise and More Dangerous
Of Story and Song, Book One
The chronicle of the Wood-elves of Mirkwood, from the beginning of the Third Age to the days preceding the War of the Ring.
"The Wood-elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They are less wise, and more dangerous." -Beorn
Dramatis Personae:
Thranduil (Vigorous spring)- Elvenking of the Woodland Realm, husband of Elorneth, and father of Legolas
Elorneth (Star tree)- Queen of the Woodland Realm, wife of Thranduil, and mother of Legolas
Belcuil (Strong life)- Captain of the Palace Guard of the Woodland Realm
Galion- butler of Thranduil
Boron (Loyal)- warrior of the Woodland Realm and son of Belcuil
Celegil (Agile star)- Captain of the Border Guard of the Woodland Realm
Legolas (Green leaf)- Prince of the Woodland Realm and son of Thranduil and Elorneth
Malrin (Lady crowned with gold)- ranger of the Woodland Realm
Gandalf (Wand Elf)- the Grey Wizard
Glorfindel (Golden-haired)- Elf of Rivendell, formerly of Gondolin
Elros (Star foam)- guard of the Woodland Realm
Amathim (Steadfast shield)- ranger of the Woodland Realm
Thalion (Dauntless)- ranger of the Woodland Realm
Raniel (Daughter of a wanderer)- ranger of the Woodland Realm
Feren (Beech tree)- warrior of the Woodland Realm and herald of Thranduil
Cuon (Bow)- ranger of the Woodland Realm
Tauriel (Daughter of the forest)- ranger of the Woodland Realm
Thorin (Darer)- Crown Prince of Erebor
Fili (Seer)- Prince of Erebor, nephew of Thorin, and brother of Kili
Kili (Wedge)- Prince of Erebor, nephew of Thorin, and brother of Fili
Bard (Poet)- Man of Lake-town and descendant of Girion Lord of Dale
Bilbo Baggins (small sword; bag)- Hobbit of the Shire
Halbarad (Tall tower)- ranger of the North
Aragorn (Kingly Valor)- ranger of the North and son of Arathorn
Part One: The Darkening of the Forest
Chapter 1: King of the Greenwood
TA 1- 3075 years ago
For the first time in many years, Thranduil Oropherion felt some semblance of happiness. Alongside the High Elves of the West and the human exiles from Numenor, he and his people had fought a war against the Dark Lord Sauron in Mordor for the past eight years. That war had cost him two thirds of his people, his father King Oropher, and the relatively peaceful life of a Prince. Now, though, none of that seemed to matter as the borders of Greenwood the Great, his home, came into view. Eight years was a very short period of time for an Elf, but the grief, despair, and darkness he had witnessed made it seem far longer.
Already Thranduil could hear horns blowing as he and what was left of his father's army approached the royal palace on Amon Lanc. He had sent messengers ahead weeks ago, so most of the Elves who had not gone to war were gathered outside to greet them and hear tidings from the South, but at that moment, he had eyes only for one.
Elorneth, the Princess of the Woodland Realm and his wife, had practically flown out of the palace as soon as the horns were first sounded. She wore a gown of silver that complemented her blue eyes and yet did not seem to clash with her dark hair. There was a smile on her face and an air of joy about her, and Thranduil thought she had never looked more beautiful.
He smiled in return as he dismounted his elk and walked quickly to her. "Gwannas lu and, meleth nin. (A long time has passed, my love)," he said quietly. Elorneth did not bother to respond; she only wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He leaned into her embrace and kissed her back, neither wanting this moment to end nor caring that most of his kingdom was watching. Finally they parted. "Mae g'ovannen, cund nin. (Well met, my prince)," she said. "Aran. (King)," he responded. Realizing the implications of his statement, her expression changed to one of sadness. She put her hand on his shoulder, and after a moment said, "You should tell them."
Thranduil reluctantly released his wife and ascended the steps of the palace. When he reached the top, he turned to face the gathering and said in a loud voice, "Friends, kinsfolk, Elves of the Greenwood, hear now my words! I am the bearer of news both glad and fell." Instantly the courtyard quieted and all eyes turned to Oropher's son. He continued, "The war in the South is won. The Lord of Mordor is defeated, his Dark Tower thrown down, his servants scattered, and his armies all but destroyed." The Wood-elves were glad in their hearts at these tidings, but perceiving his weariness and solemn tone, they remained silent. "This victory has not come without a heavy price. Of the valiant warriors who marched to war, two thirds were lost. Among these was my father, King Oropher. It was his wish that I should rule after him; therefore I take upon myself his crown and the kingship of the Woodland Realm." Galion, the king's butler, disappeared inside the palace at a sign from Elorneth and soon returned with Belcuil, the Captain of the Guard, who held in his hands the crown of the king. Thranduil removed the prince's circlet and handed it to Galion, then took the crown from Belcuil and set it on his head. It was lighter than his circlet, and for that he was grateful, but it did not lighten the burden he now bore in his heart.
The next day, Thranduil stood on the balcony of the King's bedroom as the sun began its slow ascent into the sky. The sight of the bright green leaves of the forest served as a pleasant contrast to the blackened wastelands he had woken up to for the past eight years. He saw a bird fly to the south, and even as he turned his gaze to follow it the world seemed to grow darker. The sun grew dim as he looked off to the south and suddenly he did not see the sun's light but the light of the fires of Mordor. He fell to his knees as a great fear was awakened in his heart, and he heard an evil voice in his head, speaking in a tongue he had hoped never to hear again: "Ash Nazg… (One Ring…)"
"Thranduil!" He barely heard his wife's panicked voice through the fog of memory and darkness. He closed his eyes, desperately trying to remember where he was. The fog began to dissipate as Elorneth wrapped her arms around him. The light returned, and he opened his eyes, breathing heavily, all his energy drained from him. Elorneth knelt beside him and lowered his head into her lap. Neither of them moved for a long while.
"What happened?" the newly crowned queen finally asked. Thranduil hesitated before responding quietly, "We broke the armies of Mordor. The Dark Lord was thrown down, and his weapon taken from him. He was destroyed." He shuddered, the dark feeling not having fully faded from his mind. "But I do not feel like we have won. I fear Sauron may yet return." He looked up at Elorneth as he spoke, hoping that these words would not affect her as they did him.
But instead she smiled. "I do not think such an evil could arise in strength so soon after its fall. Do not fear the future yet, nor so much that you neglect the present." With that she rose and helped him to his feet, then led him back into their bedchamber. He had, after all, been gone eight years.