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The Deliverer:
Greenwood the great was no longer Green. Darkness had creped in on it from all sides: surrounding the once beautiful woodland realm and Greenwood sadly was renamed Mirkwood.
Though the woods became dark the elves who called it home stayed. Their King, Thranduil did his best to lead his people against the threats that invaded their land, but gradually Thranduil was over taken by his own demons. Greed was a cloud laying heavy in the King's mind, a greed for gold and jewels that would cause Thranduil's downfall.
All those who had loved him took their leave of him and all who once respected the noble king became doubtful of his ability to rule. Time moved slowly on this way. Luck and good fortune turned a cold shoulder on Thranduil and his people. Thranduil's wife of many millennia fled his misdeeds and the darkness that surrounded the elves in Mirkwood seeped through their skin and stole their hearts.
Mirkwood was in despair. The king was mad, and the elves of Mirkwood were dieing of broken hearts. There seemed to be no hope. There was talk of removing the king from his throne. The people whispered behind locked doors and closed shutters. Thranduil had no heir; no one to fight a revolt. But who would take the throne? No one in Mirkwood was capable of bringing the woods back to the light. Those who actively apposed the king were as mad with greed and lust for power as he. All that could follow was chaos and sadness. Who could save Mirkwood?
*************************
Elrond lord of Rivendell sat in his study reading once again the letter the gray wizard Gandulf had sent him on behalf of King Thranduil of Mirkwood. Elrond had read it many times now and still could not believe what it said. He knew that the state of Mirkwood was declining and that Thranduil was not well.
Up until now these matters had been for Mirkwood to deal with, Rivendell had its own problems to attend to. But Gandulf's letter made it clear that Mirkwood's king was no longer capable of protecting his people. Elrond had always thought that Thranduil was a foolish king his stubbornness and obsessive nature cause more harm than good. Elrond sighed and closed his eyes; Gandulf's letter spoke to him as if the old wizard had known while writing it what the elf lord's reaction was going to be. It had to be Estel. Elrond had known this day would come, when his charge, his beloved Estel would be called upon.
"Ada you sent for me?" Estel stood in the doorway to Elrond's study.
"Yes Estel, come in and sit down."
Estel did as he was told; he took a seat and waited. Elrond studied his foster son's handsome face. The boy had always been a treasure to the elfin lord. His own children had grown up centuries ago. It had been nice to watch this kind and thoughtful child become the young man sitting before him. Had twenty years truly pasted sense this child of man was put under his protection. It was only a breath in an elf's life, had Estel been born of Elrond's blood he would still be a mere babe. But Elrond knew Estel was no longer a child and as much as it saddened the elf lord, he knew Estel would be leaving him.
"You have heard of Mirkwood?"
"Yes Ada, it was Greenwood once wasn't it?"
"Yes it was a long time ago, it was considered the greatest of all the elf kingdoms but as of late it has fallen into hard times. That is why I have called you." Elrond watched the look of wonder pass across Estel's face.
"I have received word that King Thranduil of Mirkwood requires assistance. I am sending you Estel."
"Me Ada? Don't you think Elladan or Elrohir would be better suited for a journey of this magnitude? They are the more experienced warriors."
"Estel you are a man, and a fine soldier. Your time has come, this mission is yours alone. Do not fear that you will not know the way. You are a pure soul; it will come to you. Go now, prepare for your journey. Say your farewells tonight for you must leave at first light tomorrow." Estel's eyes glowed with pride, wonder and the chance of adventure.
"I will make you proud Ada."
"I know you will my Estel. The Stars of Varda are as bright in your eyes as in any elf's, she will not forsake you, you are my son." Both father and son stood and embraced.
**********
The next morning Estle rode fast for Mirkwood. Elrond watched from his balcony and Prayed to Varda that he had not made a mistake in following Gandulf's wishes. He hoped deeply that this quickly disappearing image of Estel on the horizon would not be the last he ever saw of his mortal son.
Thousands of miles stood between Rivendell and Mirkwood. But Estel's excitement kept his journey swift, he slept little and ate less, so eager to be on his adventure. After a few days he was standing at the edge of Rhovanion the dark forest in which the kingdom of Mirkwood lay. He stroked his nervous horse's main "I guess this is it." With out looking back he took his first steps into the dieing woods, knowing and not knowing that these first steps would change his life forever.
The Deliverer:
Greenwood the great was no longer Green. Darkness had creped in on it from all sides: surrounding the once beautiful woodland realm and Greenwood sadly was renamed Mirkwood.
Though the woods became dark the elves who called it home stayed. Their King, Thranduil did his best to lead his people against the threats that invaded their land, but gradually Thranduil was over taken by his own demons. Greed was a cloud laying heavy in the King's mind, a greed for gold and jewels that would cause Thranduil's downfall.
All those who had loved him took their leave of him and all who once respected the noble king became doubtful of his ability to rule. Time moved slowly on this way. Luck and good fortune turned a cold shoulder on Thranduil and his people. Thranduil's wife of many millennia fled his misdeeds and the darkness that surrounded the elves in Mirkwood seeped through their skin and stole their hearts.
Mirkwood was in despair. The king was mad, and the elves of Mirkwood were dieing of broken hearts. There seemed to be no hope. There was talk of removing the king from his throne. The people whispered behind locked doors and closed shutters. Thranduil had no heir; no one to fight a revolt. But who would take the throne? No one in Mirkwood was capable of bringing the woods back to the light. Those who actively apposed the king were as mad with greed and lust for power as he. All that could follow was chaos and sadness. Who could save Mirkwood?
*************************
Elrond lord of Rivendell sat in his study reading once again the letter the gray wizard Gandulf had sent him on behalf of King Thranduil of Mirkwood. Elrond had read it many times now and still could not believe what it said. He knew that the state of Mirkwood was declining and that Thranduil was not well.
Up until now these matters had been for Mirkwood to deal with, Rivendell had its own problems to attend to. But Gandulf's letter made it clear that Mirkwood's king was no longer capable of protecting his people. Elrond had always thought that Thranduil was a foolish king his stubbornness and obsessive nature cause more harm than good. Elrond sighed and closed his eyes; Gandulf's letter spoke to him as if the old wizard had known while writing it what the elf lord's reaction was going to be. It had to be Estel. Elrond had known this day would come, when his charge, his beloved Estel would be called upon.
"Ada you sent for me?" Estel stood in the doorway to Elrond's study.
"Yes Estel, come in and sit down."
Estel did as he was told; he took a seat and waited. Elrond studied his foster son's handsome face. The boy had always been a treasure to the elfin lord. His own children had grown up centuries ago. It had been nice to watch this kind and thoughtful child become the young man sitting before him. Had twenty years truly pasted sense this child of man was put under his protection. It was only a breath in an elf's life, had Estel been born of Elrond's blood he would still be a mere babe. But Elrond knew Estel was no longer a child and as much as it saddened the elf lord, he knew Estel would be leaving him.
"You have heard of Mirkwood?"
"Yes Ada, it was Greenwood once wasn't it?"
"Yes it was a long time ago, it was considered the greatest of all the elf kingdoms but as of late it has fallen into hard times. That is why I have called you." Elrond watched the look of wonder pass across Estel's face.
"I have received word that King Thranduil of Mirkwood requires assistance. I am sending you Estel."
"Me Ada? Don't you think Elladan or Elrohir would be better suited for a journey of this magnitude? They are the more experienced warriors."
"Estel you are a man, and a fine soldier. Your time has come, this mission is yours alone. Do not fear that you will not know the way. You are a pure soul; it will come to you. Go now, prepare for your journey. Say your farewells tonight for you must leave at first light tomorrow." Estel's eyes glowed with pride, wonder and the chance of adventure.
"I will make you proud Ada."
"I know you will my Estel. The Stars of Varda are as bright in your eyes as in any elf's, she will not forsake you, you are my son." Both father and son stood and embraced.
**********
The next morning Estle rode fast for Mirkwood. Elrond watched from his balcony and Prayed to Varda that he had not made a mistake in following Gandulf's wishes. He hoped deeply that this quickly disappearing image of Estel on the horizon would not be the last he ever saw of his mortal son.
Thousands of miles stood between Rivendell and Mirkwood. But Estel's excitement kept his journey swift, he slept little and ate less, so eager to be on his adventure. After a few days he was standing at the edge of Rhovanion the dark forest in which the kingdom of Mirkwood lay. He stroked his nervous horse's main "I guess this is it." With out looking back he took his first steps into the dieing woods, knowing and not knowing that these first steps would change his life forever.