This is probably my favorite chapter today. I feel really good about this one here. :D
Also: Italics with a single ' indicates a thought, and Italics with a " indicates Elvish. (I am being super lazy and really don't want to have to hunt down a translator. Sue me.)
Speaking of suing! I was told by a dear reader that I have no put a disclaimer since chapter one. So here is another. I do not own LOTR/The Hobbit, that all belongs to Tolkien. This is merely a fun passing of time and is not intended for commercial use.
Anyway, y'all know the drill from here. Thank you to all those who have favorited/followed/reviewed! (and those who are still HOPEFULLY sticking this through with me!) lem00066, Jovie Black, ZabuzasGirl, alleycat023, amariabt, DarkAngelLinda, page88, lunatic4eva, aprildaisy6234, Winthrop1888, Tibblets, Marianne 16, WMaldonado89, tori333lynn, Xtremesparkles, FrlBarth,lili316, Danielle89, cassiellie, Arkansas Sweetheart(RAZORBACKS REPRESENT!), Doria Nell, sillystring-rox-the-earth, MasonJ, flameofanor, annie.b-sociopath, moonbunnie, obbid, Woman of Letters, Cutedxlls, Peterpan is life, Anouc, ChibiSpyStuff.
TA: 3014
Thranduil swished the wine in his goblet, his eyes staring intently at the woman in front of him. With her feet hiding beneath her skirts as she lounged on his chaise, her own goblet almost empty. It was definitely late, both their bellies full from dinner. Her husband and his son were already fast asleep as they discussed the reason she was here. Thranduil had to admit that he did see the merit in her cousins plan. His scouts had informed him of the recent growing activity within Dol Guldur, he was not completely blind to all that moved between his realm and Lorien. The news did not affect him the slightest, at first. After hearing from his son's own mouth that Khamul, the Witch-King's second in command, had taken up post at the abandoned fortress, he began to worry. If Sauron did indeed plan to attack Middle Earth, Dol Guldur would be a vital point in his conquest.
"Tell me, why should I help? My people are leaving this shores. Many have heard the call of the West and are planning on sailing." Annalynn lifted her head from the chaise with a raised brow.
"If whispers become true, then there won't be a West. Do you really expect Sauron to stop with Middle Earth? I know the past as well as you do Thranduil. He will not stop, he believes himself to be Morgoth. He will wipe out all the good in this world, including Valinor."
Before he could speak, a dull shock resonated within his bedroom, then another, and another. "What is that?" Annalynn jumped to her feet as Thranduil went for his sword. Thranduil threw open his door and the duo ran out. The followed the shouting and screams until they reached near the front gate.
"Sire! The Orcs, they have descended from Dol Guldur. They are trying to break through!" Annalynn felt her blood run cold as Thranduil frantically began throwing out orders. Several of the guards began running around in all directions. Another shock rang out causing Annalynn to stumbled into Thranduil. With swift hands, he steadied her back onto her feet.
"Annalynn!" She turned and saw Arryn running towards her with their small guard. She ran into his arms and held tightly for a second. "Arryn, it's the Orcs."
"It's going to be alright." He softly pushed her behind him and drew his sword. "It may not be much, but let us help."
Thranduil did not say a word, but nodded his head at the councilman.
"My Lady." Annalynn looked at her guard and his outstretched hand. In it was her polearm. Giving him a silent thanks, she took it in her hands. With a careful spin, she began to loosen her muscles. "Annalynn." Thranduil grabbed her by the arm, "I need you to help get the women and children out. Do not fight me on this. I need all I can at the front."
"Where am I taking them?" She knew better right now. This was not a sparring match, this was not a simple training exercise. This was real.
"Lead them to spring, to the cave behind the waterfall. If you are found, further in there is a small opening that will take you out towards the northern forest." She gave him a soft nod and turned to leave, only to have him stop her again. "If anything happens…"
She placed a hand on his cheek. "I know." She gave him a small smile and ran off. She could hear him barking orders again and hurried towards the residential part of the cavernous kingdom. The further she headed down, the quieter it got. She could hear the murmurs of the elven women but nothing of the battle raging behind her.
"Lady Nostariel!" Annalynn saw the elder turn towards as she quickly closed in. "We must get to the spring." The elder looked at her with confusion.
"What is going on?" A lady of the court pushed her way towards the front and stared down Annalynn. She bit her lip as small whimper caught her ear. No doubt many of Mirkwood's off duty guards were called to fight, leaving their families wondering in the dark about the Orcs.
"A band of Orcs have attacked. King Thranduil has left me specific instruction to get you all to safety. We must hurry." As she began herding them towards the cave, another rumble shook the earth. Annalynn could only assume that they had broken through the front gate. Picking the older women up, she prayed that the elves would be the victor.
As they traveled through the narrow parts of the keep, Annalynn stayed in the rear, keeping an open ear for any unusual noises. Another shock shook most of the women off their feet, "We need to hurry." Annalynn pulled a rather young looking elleth to her feet and hurried them along. Soon the roar of the waterfall met her ears. "Time to get a little." She mumbled as she pushed her way towards the front and searched for an easy passage into the cave. She had been to this particular pool a few times during her stays in Mirkwood, but when Legolas showed her the cave, they had swam underneath. She let out a small squeal when a short ledge appeared behind the rocks. Quietly she signaled for the others to follow her.
The cave was definitely large, when she first saw it, it reminded her of the caves at Helms Deep she and her sister found when they got bored one afternoon. As soon as everyone was inside, she gave a quick peak outside, letting out a relieved breath. They were not followed. "We'll stay here until someone sends for us." She leaned against the wall nearest the waterfall. The roar almost lulling her to sleep. She was beyond exhausted. The last time she slept was the evening before they reached Mirkwood, but a new night had passed and she still had not slept.
Between her spot against the wall and listening to the sound of water, a sudden memory came to mind. It was not all that long ago, in a place quite similar to this. Arryn had arranged for them to go on a day trip towards the northern mountains of Mirkwood. There was a small lake with the most gorgeous scenery. A waterfall descended into the almost crystal blue water that was surrounded by green grass and almost every variety of wildflower. They ate, they laughed, they swam, and they loved. She could still remember the way his arms held her, how his hands caressed her. His honey colored eyes staring….honey colored? Annalynn pulled back from the memory for a moment, Arryn's eyes were green. Diving back into the moment, the color of straw and hay sat on top of his head rather than the normal dark curls she was used to seeing every night. The soft pale skin was replaced by rough tan battle scarred skin. Staring into his eyes again, the amber blazed into her soul and lit her skin afire. She could hear the words he was saying, but it was not in the smooth harmony that whispered in her ear every night, it was the warm velvet that wrapped around her so long ago. Why was she seeing his face now, why was she hearing his voice now? It had been four years since her mind recalled him.
"Annie." Her name flew like from his mouth like warm summer breeze. It entangled itself in her hair and wrapped around her body as a thick winter coat.
"Annie." She savored ever second of her name on his lips.
"Annie!" The urgency in his voice suddenly began to break the shield of warmth around her.
"Annie!" His shouting made her body shake out of fear.
"Annalynn!"
With a soft gasp, the almost golden eyes were quickly replaced by a pair of ice blue. Leaning back, Annalynn promptly recognized whom they belonged to. "Legolas." Her tried to steady her breathing and loosened the grip on her pole arm. "What happened? Is it over?"
"Yes. My father sent me to get you. Quickly now." He hauled her to her feet as several other guards were leading the women and children back into the cavernous kingdom. Legolas took hold of her hand, rapidly leading her through several halls. "Legolas, what is it?" She could not ignore the grim look on his delicate features.
Soon they were outside the healing house, Thranduil was speaking in hushed whispers with the head healer, her guard not far from them. When they got close enough, they stopped talking. Thranduil did not say a word, he merely opened the door for her and instantly she knew.
Running inside she searched each bed of wounded and dead elves, looking for the mortal among them. Near the back of the house, she found him. "Arryn!" Annalynn ran to his side and knelt next to the bed.
"Annie…" His normal gorgeous smile was tainted by blood stained lips and coated teeth. Black blood covered his face and most of his clothing. "I was too slow. You were always telling me I wasn't quick enough on my feet." He tried to smile again, but only proceeded in coughing.
"You're going to be okay. I'm going to take care you of. You'll see." Tears formed in her eyes as she stared down at him. His skin even paler than normal, his vibrant green eyes dulled as if all the color was slowly draining from them. Arryn grabbed her hand, pulling it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on them. "What do you think he'd have looked like?"
Annalynn let out a soft sob. "Do not talk of such things. You are going to get better."
"Will he have my hair or yours? Perhaps he'd have taken after your father, wild red curls flying about."
"Hush now. You need to save you strength." When he nodded his head, another cough racked his body and the once fresh cloth over his wound began to soak red. "No, no, no! Someone help!" She screamed at anyone in particular, everyone. The head healer ran to her side and pulled back the cloth, but only more blood came flowing from the open wound. "I am sorry my dear." She did not know much of the elven tongue yet, but she knew what he was telling her.
"Arryn, stay with me. I need you. Please." Tears streamed down her face and landed on his own, smearing the black blood. With a shaky hand, Arryn wiped away on her tears. "I'll see you again if Eru permits." She could hear the waning in his voice, it wouldn't be long know. "I'll always love you Annalynn, Lady Fair, Daughter of the Woods." She couldn't help but laugh at all the silly titles she had been given since her time in Dale. With a shaky breathe, his hand fell from her face and landed on the bed.
"No…."She grabbed his face and shook it. "No, no, no." She placed her head on his chest and screamed out his name.
The day had gone on. Unceremoniously, Thranduil threw himself onto his bed. Removing his circlet, he lightly flung it across his bed, the light silver not making a sound as it made impact. He had spent the better part of the day giving out orders and notifying families that their husbands or wives, sons or daughters would not be returning home. It was a heavy, but small grace that only so few were a casualty of this sudden attack. If only he had listened sooner, if only he had not let his pride blind him to all who tried to warn him, no elven blood would have been spilt.
Other than the onslaught of this people one more thing disturbed him. Annalynn. She had to be physical forced out of the House of Healing and sent to her room. Then she fought her way out of the room and ran. Tauriel managed to bring her back in, which she was given a sedative to calm her. Last he checked, she was sitting in a chair staring out the window. He made sure to keep her guard posted near the bedroom, that one of them was to report to him directly if anything were to go wrong. Too many times has he seen an elf fade due to the loss of their spouse. If it had not been for his son, perhaps he himself would have faded.
He knew tomorrow would bring more trouble. He could feel something stirring in the wind and it burned inside his bones. Perhaps it was the exhaustion, perhaps it was the grief of mourning, whatever it may be he could not sleep. Giving up, he drug himself from his bed and left his room. Maybe checking on her would clear his mind, help him rest, even for a few hours.
As he walked the corridors, different songs reached his ears. Some were mildly cheerful, while others broke his heart even further. After today, he could no longer deny the coming war. This was no random attack, this was premeditated. The rumors, he could not doubt, were true. Sauron was back and intended to take all of Middle Earth down in a blazing hellfire. Perhaps it would be ideal to align himself with Brand's plan. Thranduil would see how he was the descendant of Bard. Brand carried the same hire that his grandfather had. The same fire that was slowly dying inside the young girl he came so fond of.
As he neared his room, the guards stood attentively. The older one walked up to him, "She has not moved since you were last here. Prince Legolas came to speak with her, but she offered no words." Thranduil nodded at the guard and walked into her room. There was no light inside, save for the pale moonlight streaming in from the open window. Pulling a thin flint from beside the fireplace, he struck it against the wall and began lighting a few candles in the room and moved to get a fire going. It was close to winter, she would surely catch her death in the cold.
Once the fire was roaring, heat slowly began to fill the room. Rubbing his hands together, he walked over to her chair. "Annalynn." He called out her name, but she did not answer. She continued to stare out into the forest. "Do you know why they called you the Daughter of the Forest? It because you feel deep and strong, like the tree roots, like the rushing stream. You offer protection and yet you can be daunting when darkened." Settling himself in a nearby chair, he could see a flicker of pain in her eyes. "I do not doubt the love you felt from him, but if it was real than why was it not his name that came from your lips?"
She did not give any response to his question. He knew that there was something not true to her tale when she returned to Dale, he could feel the pain radiating off her. He would not pretend to care for the mortal, but she did in some sense, and her pain caused him pain. "Do not become so darkened that people are frightened at the mere sight of you. Do not become the shriveled forest that does not radiate beauty as it should." Rising from his perch, Thranduil left the room.
When the door clicked shut, Annalynn hung her head in shame. She really did love Arryn, she loved her husband with all that she had. He loved her as she was, even after telling him what had happened to her after the Durin's Day feast. He even knew of her banishment, letting her use his shoulder as a place to grieve. He was sweet and understanding. Even so understanding, that he never once became upset at the fact that they had been together for four years and had yet to birth a child. Saying that the Valar would bless them with a child when they were ready. He was there for her when her grandmother passed, helping her family with more than they hoped for. He was her piece of mind when her mother fell ill. He was there for her no matter the reason. He loved her and she loved him.
She loved him. '
She loved him.
"I love him." She whispered to herself.
'If you really loved him, then why did you see Eomer's lifeless face?'