The Thanks of Thranduil
The Sun was shining brightly through the healthy trees of North Mirkwood and Gandalf the Grey was striding along the smooth pathway of the Great Forest Road with a smile on his aged face. Walking beside him was Captain Navari, who despite his ragged garb and still filthy hair looked full of hope and light. Behind the Elf and the Wizard were the survivors of the Elven revolt in Dol Guldur that Gandalf had sparked.
By the time the Grey Wizard had managed to make his way down to the eight level of the tower after the defeat of the Necromancer, Captain Navari and his people had managed to slay the vast majority of the Orcs that had been present in the tower at the time if the revolt. The cave-in Gandalf had caused on the first floor had kept the thousands of Orcs in the warrens trapped and unable to intervene in the conflict.
As soon as Gandalf had joined them and given them the news that his mission was a complete success, they had fled the tower with all haste. Now Gandalf and the four score of Elves that had survived the attack were trekking back to the Woodland Realm, where Navari and people were eager to return after spending so much time in torturous captivity.
As his party crossed a shallow stream, Gandalf pondered the things he had seen in the highest chambers of Dol Guldur after the Ringwraith that had called itself the Necromancer had fallen from the balcony, apparently to its death. Upon the wraith's defeat, Gandalf had been able to shift the rubble sealing the Altar Room and had explored the other chambers in the pinnacle of the tower. He had seen many more atrocities and abominations in the Necromancer's workrooms and had at length come to an expansive throne room of dark majesty.
The chamber had been devoid of any life when Gandalf had forced his way inside, and though he'd searched the entire room, he'd found almost nothing of significance, aside from a few scrolls written in the Black Speech. Those Gandalf had wrapped in one of the intact tapestries in the throne room and had taken with him for further examination.
Pushing aside the weighty thoughts for the moment, Gandalf stretched out his arms and inhaled a deep breath of the clean forest air. The foul darkness that had blanketed the forest for an entire millennium had departed and the entirety of Mirkwood felt brighter and cleaner. The trees near Thranduil's realm were healthy and vigorous, with the leaves just starting to turn red-gold as summer began to fade into autumn. Birdsong filled the air and here and there the native flora and fauna of the forest could be seen poking out of brambles or trees.
All the Elves that had escaped Dol Guldur were laughing and singing, exulting in both their freedom and the absence of darkness from their great realm. While the forest had not been restored to the lush beauty that had been Greenwood the Great, Gandalf has no doubt that the Wood-Elves would soon chase away the few remnants of the Necromancer's presence and in time, the forest would be fully cleansed.
The forest road was easy to traverse now that the evil creatures that served the Necromancer had lost their guiding will and not a single spider assailed them for the entire journey. At length, the group had come to the edge of Thranduil's kingdom and stood before the great gate that Gandalf had passed through several months ago.
Stepping forward, Gandalf called out in a cheerful tenor, "Hail Captain Hausein!"
There was sudden sounds of movement on the upper walkway of the gate and a dozen Elven archers appeared out of nowhere, their lethal bows nocked and ready to fire on a moment's notice. Then a thirteenth figure appeared behind the archers, clad in familiar silver armour with an arrogant expression on his youthful face.
"Mithrandir?"
Hausein stepped to the edge of the parapet and frowned down at Gandalf, "Do wizards have potatoes instead of ears? Or do they simply think themselves above the rulings of Kings and choose to ignore their decrees at all opportunities?"
The Captain gaze Gandalf a very serious look, "King Thranduil banished you from our realm for a full century, Mithrandir, and you will find that his mindset has not changed in the few months you have been gone."
"I bring tidings that may do just that, Captain," Gandalf replied, his blue eyes twinkling with good humour.
Hausein's frown deepened, "Do these tidings have anything to do with the ragged band of vagabonds that have you have led to our borders? The King has little tolerance for beggars in our lands, and bringing an entire company of them will only further his anger towards you."
Gandalf returned Hausein's frown with one of his own, "Perhaps you should take a closer look at those whom you call beggars, good captain."
Hausein blinked at Gandalf's words and focused his gaze on the bedraggled prisoners Gandalf had rescued and his eyes widened.
"Brother!"
Hausein abruptly vanished from the top of the gate and a few moments later he exited the gate via an hidden door in the main wall. Approaching the poorly clad Captain Navari, Hausein drew close but stopped just shy of physical contact.
"Navari, my younger brother, is that truly you?"
Navari looked at Hausein with a wide smile and embraced the Elf with great affection.
"It is I indeed, brother. My heart warms to see you again."
Hausein embraced his lost kinsman for a long moment before drawing back and taking a good look at his brother's filthy appearance.
"We had thought you dead, brother. Slain at the hands of the Necromancer's servants."
He turned a suspicious look on Gandalf, "How is this possible Mithrandir? Is this some sort of illusion?"
Navari laughed and clapped his brother on the shoulder, "Always so suspicious, little brother. It is I, Navari, son of Melien and Turien."
Hausein's mouth opened and closed with no noise.
"How…?"
"The Necromancer has been destroyed!" Gandalf declared in a deep voice that boomed throughout the clearing.
"His servants have fled and his tower lies empty. The darkness has left the Woodland Realm!"
Hausein looked stunned as did the archers on the gate. They began whispering to each other in awe and the Captain of the Gate looked at Gandalf with amazement.
"This is your doing Mithrandir," he said in a enthralled tone, "You have destroyed the evil!"
"Not singlehanded did I do this," Gandalf said, "Your brave brother and all the others who stand here before you did their part as well. The Necromancer held them prisoner in his black dungeons, but when I chanced upon them and liberated them, they fought his minions with great resolve."
Hausein looked back forth from Gandalf and the freed Elves. He seemed to ponder this news for several long moments. Then he nodded to himself, coming to a decision.
"Such momentous news must be brought before the King at once," he said, "And His Majesty will wish to hear it from the messenger himself."
He looked up at the archers, "Open the gate and allow Mithrandir and our freed brothers and sisters into the Woodland Realm."
Most of the Elves on the parapet moved to comply, but one of them looked at Hausein with disapproval.
"The King's command was that Mithrandir was banished from our realm for a full century," the stubborn Elf said firmly.
"I will personally take responsibility for permitting him to enter our lands, Vailan" Hausein said, "As the Captain of the Gate, I order you to open it at once and allow Mithrandir and the others to enter so that they may bear these important tidings to the King personally."
The recalcitrant Vailan seemed satisfied with that, and the gate opened soundlessly in a few moments. Clasping his brother on the shoulder, Hausein led Gandalf and the liberated Elves into the Woodland Realm.
The large party traversed the path to the King's Halls, Hausein speaking with his brother in rapid Sindarin while the other Elves were glancing around their homeland in delight, marvelling at the wondrous sights they had forgotten in their brutal imprisonment. As they walked past the many houses and settlements of the Wood-Elves the freed prisoners drew attention from all who caught sight of them.
Many of the Elves were seen by members of their family who clustered around them, clasping their hands in amazement, hugging and kissing their family that had been miraculously returned to them. Gandalf took in all the merriment with a laugh, his aged features alight with happiness at the return of the Elves to their loved ones.
Most of the freed Elves wanted to go their homes and be with their family, but Captain Hausein insisted that Gandalf and all the former prisoners be brought before Thranduil.
"For the King may not give credence to your tidings, Mithrandir. Welcome as they are, they are also difficult to believe. Seeing so many Elves that he considered to be dead brought before him alive will help to convince him of the truth of your words."
Yet none of the Elves who had been reunited with their kin wished to let them out of their sight and by the time they had neared the peaceful dene where Thranduil's palace lay, their party numbered almost three hundred. They were all crowding down the great road and Gandalf was certain that with so much popular support, he would have little difficulty in obtaining a reversal of his banishment.
They entered the glen without fanfare and were promptly confronted by a full score of guards that demanded an explanation for the jubliant mob that was making for the palace. Several of the guards had family that been freed however and with Captain Hausein's quick words of reassurance, the great party was allowed to proceed.
They had little further to go it turned out, for streaming out into the lush grassy clearing that lay before the palace were the King and his guards. Accompanied by Prince Legolas, Thranduil had come to discover the source of the great commotion that was taking place within his estate.
Standing before the great mob, Thranduil drew himself up to a regal height, his silver crown resting upon his smooth blonde hair, it's flawless emeralds glittering in the afternoon sunlight.
"What is the meaning of this disturbance?"
The King crossed his slender arms over his chest, the red-gold fabric of his royal garments rippling slightly. His sky-blue eyes scanned the crowd and as they fell upon Gandalf, they widened in fury.
"How dare you return here, Mithrandir!"
The King's expression transformed from inquisitive annoyance to righteous anger and he jabbed an slender finger at the Grey Wizard.
"Seize this vagabond of a Wizard and clap him irons at once!"
The King's Guards moved to comply and Gandalf waxed wroth, having reached the end of his limited patience for Thranduil's continued short-sightedness.
"Cease these meaningless posturing!" Gandalf declared in a deep voice.
Drawing himself up to his full height, he raised his staff and suddenly appeared to be a great figure, hidden power shining from deep within in his core.
"The Necromancer of Dol Guldur has been destroyed! His foul creatures are fleeing the forest as we speak. The darkness has lifted from your realm, Son of Oropher!"
Gesturing to the ragged prisoners who stood behind him with their families, Gandalf continued his impassioned speech.
"Through my actions the Shadow over Mirkwood has been lifted and it's people have been freed from the grip of Darkness!"
Thranduil said nothing, but his sky-blue eyes gazed at the Elves that had accompanied the Grey Wizard. As he took in the wretched condition of so many of the captives his expression softened and he looked at Gandalf with respect.
"If these tidings are indeed true, then you shall have my utmost gratitude, Mithrandir. But how do I know that you speak the truth?"
Captain Hausein stepped forward, "It is no deception my liege." He grasped his brother warmly by the shoulder and drew him forward.
"My beloved brother, thought slain in combat but instead captured, has returned to us. As have four score more!"
The Prince gasped in recognition and dashed forward and clasped Navari by the arms.
"My friend," he cried, "My old, dear friend, can it be?"
Navari laughed and embraced the Prince as one does with a friend of old.
"It is me, my friend, freed from my chains by the grace of the Valar and the aid of Mithrandir!"
Thranduil looked at Gandalf with deep gratitude shining in his pale eyes.
"I see now that I was wrong to doubt you, Mithrandir."
Drawing himself up with royal dignity, Thranduil inclined his head in a respectful gesture.
"By my sovereign majesty, I hereby rescind your banishment from the Woodland Realm."
The Elven-King drew close to the Grey Wizard and took the Istar's hand in a gesture of respect and friendship.
"As the King of these lands, I offer you my personal gratitude as well as the gratitude of my realm. You have proven yourself to be a friend of the Woodland Realm beyond any doubt."
Gandalf smiled warmly and returned the gesture, his bearded face alight with triumph and satisfaction.
"There are many things that I have to tell you about what I discovered in Dol Guldur," the Grey Wizard said with a hint of graveness.
"Of course," Thranduil said, "But there will be time enough for that in the coming days."
The Elven-King flung his arms out wide, his rich robes rippling in the warm breeze that swept through the dene, "The Darkness has left our realm! This is a day of great importance."
He turned to his guards, "Bring food and drink for all," he commanded, "Tonight we celebrate this victory!"
The King's servants moved to comply and the Elven-King gave Gandalf a look of deep gratitude.
"We owe this all to you, Mithrandir," he said warmly, "Already as I reach out with my mind, I can feel the darkness lifting and light returning to our beloved forest."
"Indeed," Gandalf said, "I deem that your lands shall have peace for many long years to come."
The Elves all rejoiced and the dene was filled with laughter and merriment as all revelled in the departure of evil. The sun swiftly fell into the West and the clear night sky shine with dazzling stars, beautiful singing songbirds and the clean white light of the Moon.
