Title: The Prophecy – Thranduil Ficlets
Author: Annielle
Summary: The Prophecy story with Thranduil as the lead character, in the form of little ficlets!
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings and any of its characters.
Warnings: Alternate Universe, some content not suitable for minors. You can think of this version of Thranduil as the Elvenking of the Glorfindel version, appalling character and secret dragon injuries included. This will be my last version of the Prophecy story, as I believe I have covered all possible angles. Please do not forget to review to let me know your thoughts!
Chapter 1 – An outrageous claim
The Greenwood party had arrived in Isengard last of all the invited parties. It was no coincidence. Thranduil had wanted to show the Istari that his realm would come to the gathering on his own schedule. They were already lucky that he had deigned making an appearance, him who had not left Greenwood for centuries. Only the most outrageous of claims could have made him make that journey. And Thranduil was a curious ellon, although he would never admit it out loud.
He had received the visit of Mithrandir months ago. The wizard had explained that a prophecy had been found, regarding the rebirth of elven heroes that would help Middle Earth face the growing darkness, and unite both Men and Elves against Sauron. A woman, from a different world of all things, would be the naneth of these reborn elves.
The Elvenking had laughed in Mithrandir's face. Truly, he had not heard something so preposterous in his entire life, and he told the wizard so. It was quite a statement, considering all the idiotic things people told him on a daily basis. Legolas, who had been standing beside his throne, had miraculously kept his serious expression. Then again, Thranduil's son respected the grey wizard much more than the king ever did.
Mithrandir had simply waited for the king to regain his serious demeanor. Once he had stopped laughing, Thranduil had started asking more questions, mostly to find flaws and other absurd allegations in the wizard's story.
Why was Mithrandir in Greenwood to talk about this prophecy? Saruman had seen that three elves could be the potential adar of these reborn elves. Most likely, the ellon representing Greenwood was Legolas.
Who were the other two? Saruman had traveled to Lothlorien to discuss the same matter with Celeborn and Galadriel, as their Marchwarden was another potential ellon. Radagast had traveled to Imladris to discuss with Elrond and his captain, Glorfindel.
Why would the elven lords believe this story that seemed to be coming from an elfling's story book? Because the woman was real. She was already here, in Middle Earth. The wizards had gone to get her in her world, almost a year before. She had been in Isengard all this time, until she had been deemed ready to meet her potential mates.
At that point, Thranduil had realized that Mithrandir was very serious. He had no doubt that in Orthanc lived a woman that the wizards wanted bound to an elven lord. Binding an elven lord with a mortal would cause his fading. What was their goal, to weaken an elven realm by having one of their important lord fade within the next few decades? Mithrandir even had had an answer about that. The woman had become a half-elf, with many elven characteristics, undeniable proof of the favor of the Valar. Binding with her would be an honor.
At that point, Thranduil had exchanged a glance with his only heir. He would never allow him to bind himself with a half-elf, even one who was blessed by the Valar. However, he was most curious to see what Elrond and Galadriel would do. Would they fall in the wizards' trap? Because it could only be a trap. This whole story seemed like a fairy tale, and Thranduil had stopped believing in fairy tales quite early in his childhood.
And so three months later, and purposely at least a week later than the appointed time, the Greenwood party arrived in Isenguard. They set their tents far from the camps of the Imladris and Lothlorien elves, just to maintain their distance as they had always done with their kin. The Elvenking and his son were offered rooms in Orthanc, but Thranduil preferred to stay with his warriors, and quite frankly, did not want to do anything that would be interpreted as cooperation and compliance with the plan designed by the Istari.
The elven leaders met outside the presence of the wizards and at Thranduil's suggestion, agreed on the terms of the negotiations with the Istari. Questions were prepared and restrictions expressed. None of them were pleased with the events and they sought to understand what the wizards had to gain in this. They agreed that no elf would meet the woman before a meeting was held with the wizards and all terms agreed on. The meeting with the Istari was set for the next day.
Thranduil could not find sleep that night. His tent was close to some of the most beautiful trees of Isengard, which he had not visited in centuries. It had been a long while since he had walked amongst such beautiful gardens. His own forest was growing dark with every passing year, and Legolas had informed him that the people of Middle Earth no longer called his forest Greenwood, but now called it Mirkwood. How disrespectful! Although he had to admit to himself that when he compared what his forest now looked like with the nature in Isengard, there was no comparison possible anymore.
He strolled in an alley with beautiful, centuries old oak trees, majestic, so peaceful and strong. Owls were singing their songs while little animals were running out of his path as he went further away from the camp. Lost in his thoughts, he never realized that his path was soon to cross another, in which an unfamiliar lady was quietly strolling too. He noticed her before she saw him and he stopped, hidden behind a tree while she kept walking ahead. There were no female servants in Isengard. If there was a female, it could only be that woman Mithrandir had mentioned. At least, that part of the tale had been true.
He could see her very well under the moonlight. Long, slightly wavy hair that seemed auburn in the dark, and must be much lighter in the daylight. She was tall, with curvier forms than an elleth. Her waist was small while her breasts were round and her hips wide. She was wearing an elven dress, dark red with a small train behind her. She moved with confidence, he thought, for someone who should know that her status was still very uncertain. So far, she looked like a very beautiful woman. As he discreetly followed her, he searched for signs of her being a half-elf, like Mithrandir had claimed. He had to get much closer and a little on her side to see that she indeed have slightly pointy ears, not pointy enough to be an elf, but definitely too pointy to be the regular ears of a mortal. She also moved with too much grace for a human, and seemed to be able to see the birds and flowers despite the darkness. Her hearing didn't seem as developed as his, since she had not heard his almost silent steps as he followed her.
As he tried to see her face better by walking closer to her right side, he inadvertently walked on a twig. Before he could hide, she turned in his direction, looking for the source of the noise. Their gazes crossed.
And that was when it hit him. She would not bind with Glorfindel or Haldir. Nor would she bind with Legolas.
There was only one ellon that he would allow for her to bind with. Himself.