Disclaimer: I do not own the 'Hobbit' or its characters- I am merely borrowing them for this fanfiction. The characters, places, phrases and et. cetera to be used all respectively belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. I only own the original character of Tawariell Silimaurë. Please leave comments and constructive critisisms on this work. Thank you and enjoy. I will be making updates as often as I can. I will leave the Elvish to English translations at the bottom of the chapter.
Chapter Two: Memories and Torment
Thranduil had been all but conscious of the darkness that surrounded the forest his own adar had vowed to protect and help thrive. As he sat upon his wooden, horned throne, his mind was glazed with the thoughts of dwarfs and of memories of years past. His hand went to his forehead in mild contempt and pain, as a headache had fallen over him. Being a king was excruciating, but the Elvenking himself vowed to make this forest breathe once again. He would not let his beloved Greenwood remain in the shadows forever- he would have it come to light somehow.
All this talk of darkness surrounding the forest was boring him to an utmost death. Whispers were growing, rumors were beginning to spread. Everything the Elvenking dreaded was flowing directly into his ears like rivers of poison. Voices even began to ring in his ears. These voices though, were from years past- these voices were from the war he had fought with his adar. Battle cries were one thing he had not forgotten, let alone the screams of his wife Lithôniel, from the time when she had given birth to his legitimate child Legolas. But he would never forget the memory of his illegitimate child being born. Though he had not had her through marriage, he still loved her like no other. He remember how her mother cried and screamed, but he also remembered the sound of laughter and joy.
For many, many years he kept her close, his Tawariell. He kept her out of the forest and inside always, as she was his firstborn and only daughter. If Legolas decided not to have children, the rest of his line would have to endure through her. But that of course was not the only reason why he kept her inside. He loved her as he loved Legolas- those two were his life eternally. They were the future heirs, they were the reasons the Greenwood would survive. But if he had lost either one of them, or perhaps if both succumbed to death, there would be nothing left for him to do, nothing left for him to live for. He loved his son and daughter like no other. But when Galion, his loyal servant, entered, he felt a twinge of despair as he saw the look of bad news cloud the young elf's face. "Speak Galion," he said.
Galion approached his king and bowed in respect. He looked back at the king and sighed, fearing the worst. "Your daughter, my lord," he began, his voice full of tremors. "She has not responded to your message. I fear she is gone and has left the halls." Thranduil's heart cried out in his chest and his blue eyes widened. She... had left? His only daughter had gone? A swarm of fear and panic flowed over Thranduil like waves of a black ocean that was approached by an angry storm. He stood up quickly from his throne and began to make his way down the stair, his mouth dropped open in shock. He walked past Galion and began to make his way toward Tawariell's chambers. Eru, tell me she hasn't gone, Thranduil thought to himself. Tell me my flesh and blood hasn't deserted me after all this time!
Thranduil walked past the guards and growled, "Leave!" The guards did as they were told, as they always had. They knew this night would be one of despair and horror from what they saw on their king's face. Thranduil's hands thrust open the doors and with his eyes, he searched every inch of her rooms. "Tawariell!" he cried out, his deep voice cracking. Tears flowed into his eyes as he pulled back the sheets upon her bed. He tore her rooms apart until there was nothing left unchecked. His flaxen hair was rattled, flowing over his shoulders in waves of agony. His mouth was dropped open as he cried out for her. Why had she gone, he thought. Why did she desert me and leave? Have I not loved her for more than a thousand years? The horror of him finding no trace of his child famished him. As he saw the pendant he had given her on her 400th birthday, he gathered it to his chest and held it close to his heart with both hands. In his Sindarin tongue, he whispered as his eyes closed, "Guren *níniatha n'i lû n'i a-govenitham." For the rest of the night, he remained in her rooms, crying upon the floors as he waited.
***to be continued***
(Guren *níniatha n'i lû n'i a-govenitham)- My heart shall weep until I see you again
(Author's Note- I used the Elvish name of Lithôniel (lit. "ash tree"), which is pronounced 'Lee-thone-ee-ell,' for the name of Legolas' mother. I know, I know- it's not canon, but Tolkien never gave us her name, so I'm using that for her). Please leave reviews and enjoy! More to follow!
