Welcome to the third part of this Mirkwood series, the first part being 'Struggles of a New King' and the second part being 'With Darker Times.' I recommend reading at least 'With Darker Times,' before reading this one, just so you will know the characters and their relationships to one another, although below is a bit of a guide to remind. This fic will take place just before and during the events of the hobbit. I will be pulling some details from the movie that I approved of/liked, otherwise it will be book canon as much as possible. Tauriel will be present, although I'm not a fan of her myself (sorry!) Will contain some violence, nothing too bad. More Legolas and More Hurt/Comfort than 'With Darker Times' had just because this story will be more intense than its predecessor. Please let me know what you think, constructive criticism is welcome! I love to hear from you! Thanks for reading in advance, and here we go. Enjoy the peace while you can ;)
Earien- Thranduil's wife, queen of Mirkwood, mother of Legolas.
Luin- Earien's younger brother, Rissien's father, and Legolas' uncle. Foreign rep of Mirkwood.
Calis- Son of Salias, Thranduil's deceased cousin.
Rissien- Luin and Iellwen's son
Faroth- Thranduil's Captain of Defense and a close family friend.
Amandil- Thranduil's captain of the guard.
Pelior- Thranduil's servant.
Iellwen- Luin's wife, mother of Rissien.
Thangannas- Thranduil's personal guard.
Adanion- Earien's guard.
Unwe- Royal healer.
Huldion- highly respected citizen of Mirkwood and advisor to the King, father of Tauriel.
Sidhiel- Faroth's daughter and wife of Huldion. Tauriel's mother.
April 9 TA 2768
"Hir nin, Legolas."
Legolas looked up from his paperwork to Rissien. "Cousin," Leoglas greeted, and his eyes returned to the order before him. "How are you?"
His cousin's grey eyes rolled, and he sat with a smile, "Do not ask. Where is your father?"
"My parents left for Erebor three days ago," Legolas said, "they left me in charge."
"That is why my father is in such a horrid mood," Rissien chuckled.
"Well trouble does follow my parents everywhere. Uncle Luin has every right to be worried."
Rissien's face changed, and he ran his hand through his wavy dark brown hair. Rissien looked more like his mother than Legolas did. He was a little shorter than Legolas, but was highly skilled in combat, and was currently Legolas' guard.
"What are they doing in Erebor?"
"It is simply a diplomatic visit. They are strong and we would like to keep them allies."
"My father told me Mirkwood's relationship with Erebor is strained."
"Your father is right. My parents do not like dwarves, and King Thror does not like elves."
There was a knock, and Calis entered. He was still in his sentinel uniform, and Legolas put together that he had just returned. He bowed slightly, and Legolas inclined his head, "what news do you bring?"
"None. Nothing eventful, my prince."
"This is good news," he said, and stood. "I require Faroth's audience."
"Yes, my lord," Calis said, and exited to find Faroth. Legolas sighed and watched him go. He had been angry with him for weeks for not defending him to the king. He did not deserve to be defended, he had drunkenly taken his father's horse. He didn't really need him to get Faroth. Legolas had complete faith in his own ability to run the kingdom in his father's stead for a week, but he wanted to ensure he was not missing anything. He wanted to prove to his father that he knew precisely what he was doing, and that he could be trusted.
Rissien silently returned to his post outside the door while Legolas was thinking, a glass of wine in his hand. Faroth entered, and bowed his head slightly, "Prince Legolas."
"Lord Faroth," he said, and stared at the wine in his glass. "The eastern patrol has not returned."
"It is alright, they sometimes take longer to return than the others," he said nonchalantly and poured himself a glass of wine.
"You are sure?"
Faroth's green eyes slowly rose to meet Legolas' blue. He sipped his wine slowly, "yes, Legolas."
Legolas nodded, "I am sorry I-"
"It is alright, I understand your unease. But I have been advising Kings since before Beleriand sunk into the sea. I assure you I will let you know if something is amiss, in which time I will help you if so desired."
Legolas smiled gently and ignored the color that appeared in his cheeks, "thank you, you support comforts me."
"You are doing well. Your father trusts you, you must trust yourself as well."
April 10 TA 2768
"Remember yourself. Elves are cold, selfish. They are easy to insult, and quick to condemn." Thorin nodded, and stood straighter. He couldn't pretend he wasn't nervous. He'd never seen elves, and his grandfather always spoke so of their malice. They were all dressed in their finest, Thror on his throne, Thorin and Thrain on either side of him. He could see the guards of Mirkwood approaching, and suddenly he felt very short. They were taller than the men of Dale, and their faces were sharp and beautiful. He could see the king and queen. The Kings hand was out, the queen's hand placed over it. He had light blonde hair long past his shoulders and bright blue eyes of ice. He was long, lean. A creature of danger. She was similar in her dangerous aura. Her eyes were dark, sharp against her light skin. Her hair dark brown and waved like ripples in water. She wore an elaborate crown of silver and twigs, sewn together in an intriguing design. Her gown was flowing blue, a long train following her.
The king bowed his head curtly, his eyes still dangerous, a small smile on his lips. The tension was palpable. The queen did the same, and she scanned the group before her. Her eyes found Thorin, probably because she had never seen him. "Welcome, king Thranduil and queen Earien of the Woodland realm. It's a pleasure to have you here in Erebor."
"Thank you, Thrain son of Thror, King under the Mountain." Thranduil said, and Thror rose from the throne.
"I am sure you would like to rest before the meal we have prepared for you," he said.
"Yes, thank you," Thranduil said, and he hand the queen as well as their guards followed one of the servants. The Kingdom had greatly improved since the previous time they had visited. It was far grander, and their population had increased. Earien squeezed Thranduil's arm gently, and looked back at Adanion, her guard. She was uncomfortable. A rare occurrence.
They arrived in the guest wing, and were shown their room. It was large. The emerald marble walls towered high to a sky light that looked out at the night sky. The bed was large enough for them both but not nearly as large as they were both accustomed to. Adanion and Thangannas were inside the room as well, and looked around the sitting area.
"Permission to speak, my lord," Thangannas said quietly.
"Permission granted," Thranduil said, distracted by the odd colored wine in the carafe.
"I am personally surprised that you were not allowed to stay in the Royal Wing, my lord."
Thranduil looked up and at his wife, "that is right. This is not the royal wing, we stayed in the royal wing last time."
Earien shook her head, "I do not know, maybe they no longer have room in the royal wing."
"Permission to speak freely," Adanion asked.
"Granted," Earien responded.
"It does not seem as if we are as welcome as we were in the past."
Thranduil nodded slightly, and Earien sighed. "I do not know. We have only been here for an hour or so, do not jump to conclusions."
"Yes my lady," Adanion said.
"To your posts, please," Thranduil said and Adanion and Thangannas both nodded and went to stand outside the door.
"I would like a task force sent out in search of this Beinion," Legolas said to Faroth, Rissien followed behind. Faroth looked over to him, eyebrows raised.
"Legolas, he has been gone for centuries. I do not believe he will ever strike again. Not after the hand your mother dealt him. He may have even died of his grief."
Legolas shook his head, "I have a terrible, looming feeling that he is not done with us. We still do not know why he ever went after that village, and we do not know why he went after my father in such a way. What ever his reasons, I do not feel comfortable ignoring him any longer."
"You wish to send out a task force on sheer instinct? I do not know if the council will agree."
"I will not be asking, I will be telling," he said quietly, and pushed the doors open to the council room. The council stood, and waited for Legolas to be seated before they too joined him at the table. Legolas glanced at his father's empty chair at the head of the table, and back at the council. "What news?"
None of the council had anything particularly important to say. As usual they one by one told him what he needed to know, and gave reports of their sectors. "The southern patrol was attacked again, Lord Faroth authorized a dispatch of a support group and a group of healers to their location," was the word of the final council member, and Legolas nodded.
"All seems to be in order," he said nervously. They were going to shoot him down, "I would like to raise the idea of sending a small group of trackers to find the rogue elf, Beinion."
"Beinion? The senseless elf that challenged your parents years ago? What has he done now?"
"Nothing, yet," he said quickly. "My intuition-"
"Your intuition? You will send warriors away from their families and after an elf that has done nothing to us in decades because of your 'intuition?'" One of the council members, Alasse, said.
Angry red flushed Legolas' face. Alasse was always hassling him, and he knew it would only be worse with his father absent. "Yes. We have sent warriors on missions for far worse reasons. We should at least know where such a dangerous criminal is, keep an eye on him."
"He is probably dead, there is no reason to poke a sleeping dragon," Alasse said, and Legolas shot a desperate look to Huldion. He was there, he suffered the hands of Beinion. Alasse followed Legolas' eyes. "Not to be insensitive to you, Lord Huldion. I am sure you wish for justice."
Huldion fingered the brooch at his neck that Thranduil had given him for his bravery at that time, "I must agree with Alasse, Legolas. I am sorry. It would be one thing if he had done something, but he has not. The public would be annoyed at such an act. It is as if we are searching for trouble."
Legolas stared at the council, "All for searching for the criminal," No one raised their hand. "Very well. I will see you all in the next week if all continues as it is," They all bowed to him and he stormed from the council room. He knew Beinion had to be found. He could feel it in every bone in his body. Why did they have to wait for him to strike?
"We have prepared a meal for you, you must be famished after your journey," the messenger of the King said to Thranduil.
"We are. Thank you." Thranduil walked with Earien behind the messenger, Adanion and Thangannas behind them. They got down to the royal banquet hall, and the queen made a noise of approval. The dinner was of a mix of elvish and dwarven delicacies. The servants had dug out Erebor's finest china, and had their chefs learn a few elvish recipes. Thror sat on one end of the table, Thranduil at the other. Earien sat next to Thranduil, Thrain next to her. Thorin and his brother, Frerin sat on the other side.
"Thank you, this looks wonderful," Earien said and Thror smiled, and they ate. After, as they waited for dessert, they sat over wine.
"Tell me, king Thranduil, how is your son?"
"He is well, thank you." He smiled.
"How old is he?" Thrain asked, "I did not know you had a son."
"He does not travel much, he is one hundred seventy and four."
"I thought he was a child." Thrain laughed quietly.
Earien smiled, "no not any more. Your children are all grown as well."
"Oh yes, Frerin is 17, Thorin is 22, and Dis is 8, but she is ill and cannot join us."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope she is well soon."
"I as well. Our healer passed, and we unfortunately do not have anyone qualified enough to do much more than apply bandages."
Thranduil smiled "my wife is a highly skilled healer."
"If you would like me to check on her I'd be happy to."
Thrain opened his mouth in response, but Thror beat him to it "no, thank you." He said curtly. "We do not need elvish medicine." He said quietly.
Earien's face fell, and Thranduil's turned to insulted anguish. Thorin ignored the wash of anger that fell over him. Why did he have to insult them? Everything was going so well. "Thorin, why don't you show the king and queen back to their rooms? I am sure they are exhausted."
"Yes father." He said quietly, and the elves stood in unison, and followed Thorin from the banquet hall. They were silent behind him, Earien occasionally remarked quietly the beauty of some of the structure. He brought them to the royal guest room, and turned to them. "About my grandfather-"
"It is alright. Please do not get yourself involved." Earien said kindly, and he nodded.
"I will see you in the morning," He said quietly and they nodded.
"Thank you, goodnight."
April 10 TA 2768
Legolas approached the gate quickly, and the guards pulled it open for him in haste. Rissien struggled to keep up, and Legolas turned a sharp right toward the stables. The stronghold was suffocating, and he had to get out. He could see what his father meant when he said the kingdom strangled him every now and then.
Calis walked toward him and he jerked his head toward the stable, "I am going riding, care to join me?"
Calis changed his course and joined his cousin, "where to?"
"I do not know. I just need some air."
They entered the royal stable, and it felt strange to Legolas without his parents' horses present. He patted his own white horse distractedly as his cousins mounted their own. Rissien's horse was the color of his hair, chocolate brown. Calis' was white like Legolas', but it was harder to break when he first got him. Legolas mounted his horse, and the three rode from the stable and left the groom to close the gate.
He rode as fast as his horse would carry him, and the horse knew his feelings and complied. Trees rushed by them, and the horse leapt over fallen trees and logs, before a flash of color caught his eye, and a shout. The horse skidded to a stop, and narrowly missed hitting the person by inches. Legolas was enraged, and his cousins rode up behind him, bows drawn.
"Who are you and why do enter Mirkwood forest without leave?" Legolas said, and his cousins stared fiercely at the wandering men.
"Would you be Prince Legolas?" One of the men asked, and Legolas quirked his head curiously.
"Who is asking?"
