Chapter Two: Of Darkened Times
Hours had passed, and the Elvenking had heard nothing from his princess. He had been pacing back and forth outside her rooms, waiting for her to say something to him. He had been waiting for her to come out, to hold onto him and say her apologies to him.
He wanted to reconcile with her, to hold her close. She of course was his only daughter, so his heart was telling him to make peace with her. He feared that if he did not, that the Valar would separate them in the Grey Havens if he did not attempt to be a father to her. He could not, and would not, lose her, his precious daughter and heir.
"A'maelamin," he said softly, knocking upon her doors. "Come forth and embrace me, please. I cannot remain like this."
Moments passed. Not a single sound escaped her room, and the Elvenking's heart became rather sullen in sadness and worry.
"Iell nín?" he whispered. And when he heard nothing come yet again, he did not hesitate in fetching his guard. "Ereníl, Oradad! Break her door down now!" the king demanded.
The two strong Elves came toward her door and with the large log of wood, the two broke the mahogany doors off their hinges. Thranduil ran into her room and looked around.
"Iell nín! Answer me!"
He looked around the shadowy room and saw that her bed was empty, and her closets had been emptied. He saw how her sword had left its rack, and he saw her Elvish cloak had gone. Inside his chest, his heart began to race.
The king slumped to his knees, and his tears fell from his haunted blue eyes. The guard christened Oradad stepped forward, and asked, "My lord, shall we go after her?"
As he asked that, he watched the king throw his head toward his direction. The look in the king's eyes was one of pure desperation.
"Yes. Take Ereníl with you and search around Imladris, and take a scouting toward the boundaries of Lôthlorien. Do not rest or sleep until you find my daughter," the Elvenking said, his voice deep in a raspy horror.
Oradad and Ereníl both bowed to Thranduil, but before they left, he stopped them again. "Bring me Galion. I need to speak with him immediately. Tell him not to stray; tell him it is urgent."
It had been a secret meeting, so to speak, when Oradad found Galion. The servant had been tending to the storage of the Dorwinion wine when the guard found him. He turned his head and looked over his shoulder. Oradad's green eyes gave off a stern look, and he said, "The king wishes to see you, Galion. Immediately."
The servant's heart floundered in his chest. Had the elvenking found out at last? Would he be sentenced to death or marked for treason?
The servant complied and went out immediately toward the king's throne. Along the way, he was accompanied by Ereníl, who had left his post to sojourn with him. "Galion," he said, "E ú-'ar hired râd."
In a low and confused tone, Galion replied, "Ú-chenion."
Taking him by the arm, Ereníl hurried him into a corner and said, "The princess has fled. The king is in heavy dismay; tonight Oradad and I are to go out and search for her."
Inside his own chest, Galion felt his conscience screaming. He hadn't expected the King to react so quickly, and when he heard that Oradad and Ereníl were to leave to search for her, he felt to be the one to blame.
"Ereníl, I allowed her to leave. I helped her to leave out from under the King's sight. I am the reason why she is gone," Galion explained. Ereníl's blue eyes went wide.
He replied, "Am man theled?"
Sighing, the servant had no choice but to tell the guard the absolute truth. "Tawariell is traveling to Imladris, to meet with Lord Elrond. She is content on helping the Dwarfs with their struggle to take back Erebor. Do you understand? She is trying to make peace with our races."
As he finished speaking, Ereníl went defensive. "She wants to betray her own kind to help our disgusting foes? Galion, you know as well as I do that that is an act of treason against her adar and against Mirkwood. She will be marked."
"Not if she completes her quest. I have faith in her, and she will make it through."
They were contrite, Ereníl's feelings were. He looked into his eyes and saw how content and calm Galion was.
"The king will soon find out, Galion. He always has a way of finding these kinds of things out," Ereníl concluded.
A large lump formed in the servant's throat, and he swallowed it heavily. He turned and walked on alone, leaving Ereníl at the top step. Toward the King's throne room he went, with a heavy heart and a distorted conscience. He agreed. He knew the king would find out that he allowed his only daughter to leave. All would end in anger and sorrow. Thranduil did not have an eager heart and he often had a grueling judgment too.
In tears sat the Elvenking upon his throne, where he was gripping onto the throne handles in complete fear. His blue eyes alone showed fearsome memories he had stored within his mind.
"Eru, if you can hear me," Thranduil whispered, "please return my daughter to me."
Galion had pondered over his actions, and he wondered if the King had any distinction that he had helped Tawariell to leave unseen. His heart raced in his chest and his blood ran cold in his veins as he knelt before the King. His blue eyes shifted to the floor.
"Heruamin," he said. "Your faithful guard has told me that you are with a heavy heart. May I ask why there is such sorrow in my lord's mind?"
Galion inquired, trying to dissuade the knowledge into rumor. He kept his eyes away from the king's, fearful he would search deep into them.
Thranduil looked at his servant and said, "What troubles me, Galion, is that my daughter, the princess, does not dwell in her chambers. She is not here in my realm, and I fear that she has fled to somewhere else. Somewhere I believe you know."
His voice sounded grim with its deepness, and it also sounded rather angered. He stood then, attracting Galion's gaze. The Elvenking stepped down from his wooden throne and clutched onto Galion's chin, raising it higher. His hand seemed so cold.
"I know you helped my daughter escape. But Galion, I cannot fathom as to why you would help her. She is after all your future monarch, and you have the gall to keep this a secret from me, her adar? How can you betray me so!"
Then two other guards clutched onto Galion's arms and hoisted him off the floor. Thranduil turned his back toward Galion and sighed. "It is with a deep sincerity of regret that I must imprison you. Your act of treason has befallen upon me the bitter judgment that I know my daughter would resent. If she should return, she should be rather thankful that I am sparing your life. But know this Galion: if Tawariell is not returned to me, I will have your head. I do not care what others will say. A father's judgment and worry supercedes any other duty than one for a king."
With a deep octave, he looked to the guards and ordered for Galion to be taken to the dungeon. His screams entered the air with words of begging. "My daughter will return to me; but now you must pay for defying your king. I will always find out about your secrets, one way or another. You can trust me upon that promise."
(Chapter three to come!)
{Elvish to English translations:
· A'maelamin- My beloved.
· Iell nín- My daughter.
· E ú-'ar hired râd- He is not able to find a way.
· Ú-chenion- I do not understand.
· Am man theled- For what purpose?
· Heruamin- My lord.}
