A Place Settle In

Fall of 2063 Two weeks before the Dinner With Uncle Owle and Aunt Indis

Unede stood outside of the heavy doors of the Kings study. Her hands and neck were slick with nervous sweat, and her jaw was tight with worry. She slouched as she wiped her hands hurriedly on her skirts, then patted her hair making sure her braids were intact. After what seemed like an eternity, the heavy wooden doors open and she was waved into the room.

"Captain Unede of Eryn Galen, daughter of Gelmir Former Councilor to the King, may they rest peacefully, and Laurebrian of the house of Finarfin."

Unede gathered herself and entered the chambers. It was a wide room, with soaring walls of pale stone. Banners of their house hung from the eaves, and a fire roared on the hearth behind the King, casting his face in shadow, and ringing him in an burning red light. Unede had seen the King many times before, but this time his heavy robes and glowing aura made her stomach uneasy.

The King looked over his shoulder at her, his great crown casting dark branchlike shadows on the walls. Unede shrank, feeling as though she was in the clutches of the great forest again, and felt a fear pulse through her body.

The King moved to face her and extended his arm towards his chairs, the heavy velvets blocked the fire for a moment, allowing her to look on the face of Thranduil and see that his gaze gave little away.

The King sat, and Unede followed suit, she smoothed her skirts and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"You asked to meet with me," The King said.

"I did" she whispered.

"Speak freely, what is the burden you carry?"

Unede was quiet for a moment, taking time to gather her courage.

"I cant be a captain any more. I am ready to come to court, to settle down, to grow a garden, to be with my family again." She said, and paused for a moment before continueing. "My spirit is tired. I saw the evil of Dol Guldur, I led the army to drive it out, but I am not strong enough to face any terror in those woods again."

The two sat in silence for a long time. They watched the flames on the hearth dance, and the great banners sway in the eaves. They listened to the movement in the hallway, as elves busied themselves and went about their day oblivious that the King and his Great Warrior held important council.

"You saw Sauron," The King said solemnly.

"No one will believe me," She breathed "That was no necromancer. I have heard the stories, I have read the scrolls. I know that evil. I have known it since I was young, and it is not yet defeated."

The King nodded and heaved a heavy sigh. He had seen her grow quiet since her coming at dawn a fort night before, and when she had returned home her eyes had darkened, as if some evil had taken their light.

"You should take rest, spend time with your family, grow your garden, break your bread." The King agreed. Yet he knew her presence in his Kingdom was invaluable, though he could not admit it. "I will need you to serve in other ways now, you know this."

Unede nodded "Of course your highness, what ever you require of me, it will be an honor to serve," yet her stomach soured at the thought of battle.

"Take your father's place on the my council. Guide our armies from afar. We go into an era of peace, but I do not trust it, we must be vigilant." Unede nodded at the Kings words "And I need someone who has the ear of the those that call themselves The Wise. Our relations with Rivendell and Lothlorien have been strained, we must rebuild them, we must become part of their council."

Unede's jaw clinched "They abandoned us," She said tightly "They should have attacked from the south, a hundred years ago. We have suffered at their hand."

"We have," Thranduil agreed "Perhaps you can show them their wrong doing. Perhaps our Houses can make amends…I am a King, I do not often ask for aide. Your relations with your family are strained, I know this, but your people here are more important."

"I know," she said looking away from the kings heavy gaze.

"You have their ear-"

"Not that of the wizards." Unede interrupted "The one who calls himself Saruman, he is unshakable, he has always asserted the Nazgul took refuge in Dol Guldur, he is unwavering."

"You think he holds sway over Your Grandmother and your Uncle". The King asked leaning forward to encourage her to speak.

"I do not know. They are wise, but their council with the wizards, I do not understand why they value it so. Why they would not take head of your warnings."

The King was quiet for a moment, he knew how wild Oropher had been, how he had thrown his people into the Battle of Dagorlad ahead of the orders of Gil-Galad. They had nearly been defeated, and the elves of the woodland realm took heavy losses. He saw that same fire in Unede, yet it was somehow tempered by the blood of Finarfin. Though the words escaped him, he admired her brilliance on the battle field, and her allegiance to his house had proven valuable time and time again. He drank deeply of his honeyed wine, now able to be traded for again since the woods were safer to travel through. It warmed his heart that this elleth had chosen his Kingdom to fight for, his people to love.

"Elrond and Galadriel have always held tension with me, and sought counsel elsewhere, we will help them see the this error," The King said delicately. "All will be mended in time."

"Perhaps," Unede replied "I shall try."

They were quiet again, Unede pondered her King's request. It would take a long time to mend her relation's with her Mother's side of the family. Likely made much more complicated with Uncle Olwe's most recent request. She pursed her and signed.

"What is on your mind?" the King said intrigued.

"Family gossip, Uncle Olwe always pressing," She muttered "Nothing to trouble yourself with."

"Perhaps not, yet I take great pleasure in gossip, and have a tight lip should you need it."

"He want's me to dance the may pole, and look for spring courtships! I've hardly been home for two weeks, and they already are playing match maker!" She said exasperated.

"Well you are the eldest."

"Yes, but Cousin Miriel is begging to be presented at court, and can't be until I am, and now that I am home, she has spoken of it endlessly."

"Perhaps you can appease her, have you anyone who speaks to your heart?" Thranduil laughed "I know of many Ellon's who have spoken to your Uncle of their admiration for you."

"Oh by the God's" Unede said.

"Well, what about my son? I have heard muttering's," He said pointedly.

She flushed "Whatever you heard," she stopped. She remembered that evening a hundred years before. It was a new moon, on the eve of a great battle, one she thought they were sure to lose. She wiped the memory away in a flash. " You highness, these are matters of Queen, and country. I would not put our people's welfare at risk. The relations with my family are strained already. Taking your son as my mate, putting a crown on my head, would risk loosing trade relations at the very least. At worst they would may cease communication's."

"Why do you think that is."

"Because I looked into that mirror, and I choose to stay in middle earth despite what I saw."

"You were a child when she lay that burden at your feet Unede," The King reminded her gently, deciding that now was not the time to ask what she saw in the Mirror of Galadriel.

"And Legolas was born with a crown on his head. He has accepted it humbly and graciously every day sense." She said sternly "I broke my mother's heart, how can my family forgive that?"

Silence settled between them again, this was the most The King had ever heard her speak of her Grandmother.

"You love him then?" The king asked quietly.

Unede looked the King in the eye sternly "I would not be so foolish as to act in a way which could bring harm to this Kingdom."

The King nodded without word.

"Am I dismissed your highness?" She asked

He nodded again, and she left the room in a few swift steps.