This chapter is really short, but hopefully interesting! And a little cliffhanger!

Thanks for your support when I kind of gave up, but I am writing again now.

Enjoy


Thranduil lounged upon his elevated throne, deep in thought. I stayed unnoticed, in the shadows of the large room, waiting for my moment to step out and report. A gentle breeze wafted through, freshening the air and creating a slight sway in the Elvenking's flowing robes. Muffled sounds of nature and the forest rode atop this breeze and brought a life to the great halls.

But, soon enough, this peaceful quiet was ended, and before I could make my move too. Legolas strode into the room, red-faced and out of breath. He was tangled and begrimed as he bowed briefly before his father. "We have caught close sight of the archer, but we are not much the wiser. Male, an elf we think. His clothes are not of the elvish kind, and bear no markings. He said only one phrase."

Thranduil raised his eyebrows.

"îm n'alaquel, he said. I am back".

I could think of no meaning to this phrase, nor any importance or cause for intimidation but Thranduil paled. Something he was concealing, from everyone, a harboured doubt, or clue about our besieger.

"Oh, and he threw this towards us." From his tunic, Legolas pulled out a dirty cloth, and from within produced a small, dirt encrusted crown of leaves and jewels. The leaves, which once would have been a bright green, were now a dead, dry brown, woven together and secured with clear white jewels, radiant even in their current state.

A crown. I was very curious about this, it looked as if in the fashion of the elves. And Legolas had said it might have been an elf. Combined with the mysterious phrase, there was quite a cloud of intrigue surrounding our besieger. This was not some lone pest, he was more than that. But what he was still remained for the most part a secret.

Abandoning my report, I ghosted out of the room and left Legolas and Thranduil. I sensed that no more information would come of this particular conversation. After many corners and stairs I reached the Records area and the Library, a somewhat neglected part of the realm. Not many had need for old lore, records and stories.

Old wooden shelves lined the walls, leaning on precarious angles and overflowing in some places. Only a few flickering candles attempted to light the room, shadows gathering in the corners and in the aisles. Scrolls littered a small desk in one of the more shadowy corners, and a hunched figure leant over them, peering through the shadow. It certainly was a curious place.

I moved on and started to trawl the many aisles, trying to make sense of the shelving system. Having only been here a few times before it was a while before I found what I wanted. The history of the kings and queens, a thickly bound book documenting information about each successive leader of the elves.

I sensed the records keeper hovering over my shoulder, and turned abruptly to face him.

Somewhat startled, he said, "Aah, yes, Tauriel. What brings you here, I wonder? Any particular things I could… help you with?"

"Research, but I will be fine thanks." I replied, not needing more inquiries. His inquisitive manner was already unnerving.

At this, he strolled off and I turned back, opening the book (if you could call it that, it was really not in the size category of most books) and beginning to skim each page. I quickly found that there was not much to be had in the front part of the book, all very old history, of the Silvan leaders. But when I came to Oropher, father of Thranduil and first Sindar king of the Greenwood, I payed attention once more.

I saw the next page and drew in a sudden breath. It was not a name I had heard or seen before. He was… the son of Oropher? And the elder brother of Thranduil? The image of the crown matched perfectly what Legolas had shown. I sat back in my chair shocked. I had only created more mystery and intrigue.

Our besieger was Thranduil's brother. Valnoldo.