AUTHOR NOTE: I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break. I was aiming to try and have this update done in time for it, but unfortunately, I developed an infection in my wound after I posted the last chapter, which meant two long distance trips to the surgeon, so preparing this chapter got pushed to the side.

To the new readers who have joined us I welcome you most warmly! And as always I want to thank everyone who read the last chapter, along with those who have added the story or myself to your favourite/follow list. :)

This chapter is dedicated to Silver-crowned Valkyrie and AndurilofTolkien. Your lovely reviews of the last two chapters (and also, AndurilofTolkien, for your reviews of my other story The Bonds of Friendship) certainly cheered me up, and kept giving me the impetus I needed to plod away at the keyboard to get this one done. I hope you enjoy it. :)

Part 14 – A Journey Through Dale

Within his great hall and seated upon his throne, Thranduil lowered the scroll of paper in his hand and gazed at the messenger before him.

'King Thrór writes that he requests my presence in relation to "a matter of great importance",' he announced. 'What light can you shed on this matter for me, Nár, son of Nýr?'

A rather distinguished looking dwarf with a fine grey beard that hung past the silver belt clasped around his wide stomach, rose from his chair and bowed.

'My apologies, O King, but I know not what has prompted this request,' he said politely. 'My companions and I were only instructed to deliver that message to you, and to ensure it was handed to you alone.'

'And you have performed your task well,' Thranduil complimented him in the courteous manner of the Elves. Then rising from his throne, the Elvenking declared, 'we are willing to agree to your king's request, and shall make preparations to leave on the morrow at first light. You and your companions, Master Dwarf, are welcome to remain within my halls as our guests for the night if it please you to do so. Our first autumn feast shall take place this evening, so you will find many dishes to your liking I am sure.'

A glimmer of delighted eagerness shone in the dwarf's eyes at the prospect of a hearty meal. Bowing low once again, he answered, 'I have heard it is a fine table you keep, O King, and glad we will be to share in it.'

Permitting a small smile to grace his lips, Thranduil turned to the Elf that stood near the dais and said, 'Eraisuithan, pray conduct our guests to their chambers. Have food and drink provided to them as well, for I am sure they are wearied from their long journey.'

As the Dwarves led by Nár followed the tall Elf from the great hall, Thranduil's smile vanished and he glanced again at the letter in his hand.

'Why do you suppose he wishes to see you, Father?'

At Legolas' quiet voice beside him, Thranduil frowned in thought. 'I do not know,' he admitted. 'He uses such strange, enigmatical phrasing that his intent in requesting my presence is obscure. If the matter was grave in nature, were there a vast host of Orcs marching upon the Mountain, then one would conclude he would be specific in the reason for desiring a meeting.'

'Perhaps he wishes to seek counsel from you?'

This comment from his son drew a genuine laugh from the Elvenking. 'Nay, my child. The day is sure to never come when a dwarf shall willingly seek counsel from Thranduil, son of Oropher.'

His expression puzzled, Legolas asked, 'then why, if you are unsure of the purpose for his request, did you agree to go?'

'Curiosity,' Thranduil answered simply. 'Lord Celeborn would say it is one attribute I have possessed all my life that has been both a curse and a blessing. I would know why Thrór, who has never before sought a meeting, now appears anxious to have me journey to Erebor to meet with him in his own halls.'

'When you go may I accompany you to the meeting?'

Having considered the question for a brief moment, Thranduil finally shook his head. 'Although nothing in the letter, nor the messenger's manner, give me cause to believe the Dwarves desire nothing more than to speak with me, I cannot risk the possible danger to you should things go poorly between us during the meeting.'

Legolas' eyes widened. 'They would try to harm you?' he cried.

'History has shown that their race would not hesitate to do so should the mood strike them,' Thranduil replied, 'which is why you shall remain here, and I shall endeavour to pay them every courtesy whilst in their halls.'

'But if they should seek to harm you –'

'I shall not be so foolish as to appear before a company of Dwarves unarmed,' Thranduil said grimly. 'And the walls of Erebor are of the same earth whence came the ancient oak whose branch was carved into the staff I now hold. As a blade will shatter under sufficient force, so too will stone crumble when it is struck with enough power. Some of the Royal Guard shall also accompany me, and they are all of them warriors who have survived a great number of battles.'

Despite this reassurance a look of distress still lingered in Legolas' eyes. Upon seeing this, Thranduil added gently, 'Dwarves can sometimes be quite unreasonable and abrupt in their manner, and I can now only endure so much when dealing with them; but there has been no quarrel between us, and they have no cause to do violence to me, my son, and I shall give them none. This I promise you.'

And as his father had never be known to break his word, Legolas' fear subsided – at least for the present moment! The next morning as he watched his father depart, the majestic elk they had saved whilst out hunting in the forest proudly bearing him on its back, the Elf-prince of Mirkwood could not quell the sense of unease he felt stirring inside his heart that whispered the meeting would not end well.

O * O

The city of Dale was in a flurry of excitement. The morning had dawned with the green banners of the Elvenking fluttering in the far distance as the golden-haired Elf approached the bustling town with a grand retinue of Wood-Elves, the fair folk's merry singing carrying lightly on the breeze with a charm that surpassed the most beautiful birdsong. All the citizens, many of whom had never before seen the Elf-lord, rushed eagerly to the main street, anxious not to miss a sight they may never have the opportunity to see again in their lifetime.

And foremost among them was Girion, the new Lord of Dale.

The tall young nobleman stood proudly erect at the entrance to the city arrayed in his finest garments; his dark hair and beard neatly trimmed; and around his neck lay a magnificent necklace comprised of five hundred emeralds that shone brilliantly in the bright daylight.

As the Elves drew nigh and began to cross the low stone bridge that lay before the main gate, Girion called out warmly, 'Hail, O Elvenking! Welcome once more to Dale! It has been many years since last you were seen in these parts.'

At a signal from their king the Elves halted, then waited in silence as Thranduil gracefully dismounted from his elk. As the Elf-king turned to face him, Girion's eyes widened – he had not realised the Elf would be so tall! And with his crown of berries and red leaves, fine silver-green robe, and staff of carven oak, Thranduil was quite an imposing figure as he walked forward to greet the man.

'Good morning, Girion, Lord of Dale,' he said, 'I believe when last I came it was your grandfather who welcomed me and you were a mere babe held in your mother's arms.'

'I am honoured that you remember me, O King,' Girion replied with a slight bow. Upon raising his head he caught a glimpse of something in the group behind Thranduil that startled him: coming up through the ranks of Elves were several Dwarves mounted on ponies.

'Lord Nár! Master Dwarves of Erebor! This is another welcome sight!' he cried happily. 'I did not know your business had to do with King Thranduil when last you passed through our city.'

'Our business concerned no one but ourselves,' Nár remarked gruffly. He did not mean to be rude, but for an ageing Dwarf the speed at which Elves travelled was quite exhausting and he was anxious to return to his own bed in the Mountain.

Upon observing the rather embarrassed look on Girion's youthful face when he realised he had inadvertently given offence, Thranduil took pity on the young nobleman and recalled his attention to himself by saying, 'Lord Girion, we are headed toward the Mountain and need to pass through your city. By your leave may we pass through?'

His expression clearing and his spirits restored, Girion beamed. 'With my utmost good will, O King,' he answered. 'And you are arrived in time to hear all the city bells chime the hour.'

'We did hear their sweet sound as we journeyed along the road,' Thranduil observed with a slight smile, 'but we shall enjoy hearing them as their music surrounds us.'

Then he and Girion, followed by the great elk, the Dwarves and Wood-Elves, entered through the main gate to the excited cries and awed faces of Dale's citizens.

The cobbled stones of the wide streets glistened in the sunlight, and the great elk's hooves clattered along them with a dignified clip clop as its large antlers ensured that a clear path was made for the group.

Many of those in the crowd stared in wonder at the sight of the Elves, for though some had occasionally seen several of the fair folk wandering through the nearby woods, never before had they beheld them so finely arrayed. Gone were the plain green and brown garments normally worn by the Wood-Elves for roaming through the forests and glens; and in their place were the richly embroidered ones of the Royal Guard with green and white gems glinting on their collars and belts. All the Elves carried a sword sheathed in a scabbard of elven silver, but while the ones at the front also held a long spear in their hand, those at the rear were clearly bowmen.

However, it was the Elvenking himself who caught and held their attention the longest. His impressive stature as he towered over Lord Girion made him easy to see, and the pure golden radiance of his hair captivated the eyes of the people as he passed before them, for never before had they seen hair of such a shimmering colour.

Approaching the large city square of Dale, Thranduil gazed up to look at the tall fountain that had been built in its centre since his previous visit. A rather ostentatious marvel of precious metal, gems and polished stone, the fountain's clear water sprayed in gentle streams around three life-size gold statues that shone on a raised dais in the middle. The one on the left was a figure of a Dwarf standing proudly with one hand holding up a large jewel; whilst on the right was a Man who held aloft a shimmering sword made from silver with the hilt inlaid with precious stones. And in the middle was an Elf, his face tilted up to gaze at the sky above and holding a flowered wreath in his lowered hand.

'We wished to honour each of the three races within these lands that have helped our city grow,' Girion said, having noticed Thranduil's eyes examining the fountain.

'It is well crafted,' Thranduil acknowledged. Continuing onward he enquired politely after Girion's family.

Unexpectedly, the young man blushed. 'I have recently become betrothed, O King,' he announced. 'We are to be wed in the spring.'

'A happy event that shall be for you and your bride,' Thranduil said with a smile, his blue eyes softened by Girion's obvious pleasure. 'My warmest felicitations, Lord Girion, and may your union be a blessed and fruitful one.'

'O King! Master Elf!'

The high-pitched cry of a child brought the group, and the conversation between Thranduil and Girion, to a halt. Turning toward the sound the Elvenking saw a small boy trying to make his way through the thick wall of people.

'Let the child through.'

At Thranduil's quiet command the crowd quickly parted and the boy ran towards the Elvenking.

'O King, please help me!'

After looking down at the panting boy in front of him, Thranduil surprised everyone when he suddenly knelt down and reached out his hand.

'Give her to me,' he instructed softly.

Without hesitation the boy opened up his clasped hands and revealed a tiny thrush. The little bird lay deathly still.

'She won't sing anymore,' the boy whimpered as he gave his precious burden to Thranduil. 'And she hasn't moved all night.'

'What is her name?'

'Astrid.'

'And yours?'

'It's Bain.'

His expression quite solemn Thranduil said, 'you must love her very much, Master Bain, and I promise I shall do all I can to heal her.'

Lifting the hand that held the bird closer to his face, Thranduil bent his head until his lips were almost touching its body. Then he began to whisper a string of words that flowed like music in his elven-tongue; and to all the citizens of Dale it was as though a pure white light shone about him.

As he witnessed the mesmerising sight and heard the clear sounds of the Elvenking's words, Bain's tears began to dry on his cheeks and he watched in wide-eyed excitement as his pet began to twitch. Soon a low, sweet trill escaped Astrid's beak and both her eyes blinked open.

'She's awake! You healed her!'

Gently returning the bird to her owner, Thranduil observed, 'she drank some unclean water that poisoned her body. Had it remained untreated much longer she would have been beyond my power to heal.'

His brown eyes brimming with joy, Bain looked adoringly at his bird before lifting his gaze to meet Thranduil's.

'Grandmother is always saying Elves have special magic,' he said. 'Thank you for saving her.'

'It was your own action in bringing her hither to me that brought about her healing,' Thranduil said with a smile, and after briefly laying his hand on the boy's head he stood up. 'Now, ere I continue on my journey, please show me the source whence came her water.'

At his words some of the Dwarves began to grumble beneath their breaths, for they were getting anxious to return home. None of the citizens of Dale heard them, as the Dwarves were polite enough to do it very softly; however, their complaints were clearly heard by the Elves, including their king.

Turning toward the leader of the Dwarves, Thranduil informed him, 'Lord Nár, I do not wish to delay your arrival home, so please proceed ahead of us. Pray convey my respects to King Thrór and inform him that I shall follow you presently.'

Greatly relieved at this suggestion the Dwarves all moved forward eagerly, and Nár directed a low bow toward both Thranduil and Girion.

'May wealth and prosperity continue to flourish for you, Lord Girion, and your people,' were his words of farewell to the Lord of Dale, and to the Elvenking, he said, 'we shall inform our king of your coming, King Thranduil.'

Then the Dwarves all departed toward the Mountain, and Bain began to lead the way toward the water source as Thranduil had requested.

It did not take long for the small boy to guide the Elvenking, and most of the crowd for that matter, to the small stream where he gathered the water for his bird. The people of Dale frowned at the sight, for the water appeared normal and not in the least tainted by any foul substance. But Thranduil slowly walked forward and knelt upon the rocky ground. Reaching out his arm he barely touched the water before pulling his hand away.

'Something has entered the water from farther upstream,' he murmured. 'In the mines of Erebor, perhaps. Although still of the earth, it does not belong here.'

And submerging his hand in the water, he closed his eyes and began to chant in elvish – his words a plea to the great Lord of Waters, Ulmo, the Vala who governs all waters, bays and rivers, entreating him to cleanse the water for the sake of the second born children of Ilúvatar.

A long moment passed and then it seemed as though a shimmer of light spread through the stream, travelling both against and with its current; and the water became clearer until its appearance was like the finest crystal.

Another flow of words came from Thranduil's mouth, but this time they were a chant of praise and gratitude to Ulmo for his kindness. Removing his hand from the water the Elvenking stood up, and turning to Bain he told him, 'the water has been cleansed and is now safe for Astrid to drink. You need not fear drawing from this source again.'

Being utterly incapable of speech after having witnessed the mystical purification of the water, Bain could only nod and gaze at Thranduil with wide eyes. Most of the crowd were in a similar state. Only Girion, it seemed, was capable of voicing his thanks, and this he did with many a stumbled word spilling from his lips.

Accepting the Lord of Dale's gratitude with only a slight bow, the Elvenking then declared he must depart and continue onward towards Erebor. 'Else I shall be unpardonably late in arriving and they may bar the door against me,' he finished lightly.

Unfortunately, Girion mistook his playful words for a serious statement and proceeded to assure him that such an occurrence could never happen. 'For they ever have their doors open to all who journey to see them,' he said, 'and they are most generous in their hospitality. They will not deny you admittance, O King.'

Unwilling to prolong the discussion by explaining he meant his words only in jest, Thranduil merely nodded and thanked him for the reassurance. Then, after calling his elk to his side, and with the people of Dale and Girion still escorting him and his people to the city's northern gate, he made for the great mountain of Erebor where King Thrór awaited his arrival.

A/N: What will happen next when Thranduil reaches Erebor? You'll just have to wait and find out. :D

Thanks again for reading, and just a heads up it will probably be another 3 weeks before the next chapter is ready. I have another trip to the surgeon, plus my sister's wedding, to get through, which won't leave much time for one-handed typing. If you get desperate for a Thranduil fix (and you've read all the stories about him on this site) I highly recommend going to YouTube and watching the video "Lee Pace/Thranduil MV: Memories" by Suki Wong. Absolutely beautiful, and I've used it a lot to help motivate me when writing my Tolkien stories - although, it can also be a huge distraction looking at the gorgeous Elvenking! ;) Until next time, take care & be safe.

REFERENCES

I placed the upcoming meeting between Thranduil and Thrór in 2753. This would make Thorin II only seven years old at the time, as in LOTR, Appendix A, Durin's Folk it says he was born in 2746. This is very different from the movie which made it appear he was around the same age as when Smaug attacks in 2770 (he would've been 24 years old). I make no apologies to PJ & co for the change seeing as how they messed with Tolkien's timeline, Thranduil and the original story so much!

Nár the Dwarf

The dwarf Nár is actually a Tolkien creation, although not much is known of him save he was the old companion who went with Thrór to Moria (reference is the one above). We know nothing of his parentage and so I took the name Nýr from the same source Tolkien is reputed to have taken many of his original names for the dwarves in the The Hobbit. The source is a collection of Old Norse poems called Poetic Edda. The poem in particular is called Völuspá and the section with the names is called the Dvergatal (the "Catalogue of Dwarves"). In case you're curious the name Nýr is a male name (obviously) and it means 'new' or 'young'.

Thranduil's Elk

I love these beautiful creatures! FYI – the elk in the movie is commonly known as an Irish elk, an extinct species that stood about 2.1 metres (6.9ft) tall at the shoulders and with the largest antlers of any known deer – they grew to a maximum length of 3.65 metres (12ft) from tip to tip. The largest specimen of the animal found weighs 700kg or more. The elk in this chapter is the first of many noble mounts for Thranduil leading up to the one who appears in the BOTFA. I was fortunate to see some of the antlers from these magnificent creatures when I visited Bunratty Castle in County Clare, Ireland; and my first reaction was: "Thranduil's elk!" :'( The antlers had been preserved in the peat bogs since the last ice age!

Emerald Necklace of Girion

This is mentioned in The Hobbit, Chapter 12 – Inside Information: "the necklace of Girion, Lord of Dale, made of five hundred emeralds green as grass, which he gave for the arming of his eldest son in a coat of dwarf-linked rings". This is also the necklace Bard gives to Thranduil after the BOTFA as a token of his gratitude for the aid the Elves provided to his people.

Woodland Elves

In The Hobbit, Chapter 8 – Flies & Spiders the first time the Dwarves and Bilbo come across the Elves feasting in the forest they are all "dressed in green and brown". There is no mention of the king being present. However, when they come to the third feast, and apparently the main one as Kili observed: "There's a regular blaze of light begun…hundreds of torches and many fires must have been lit…and hark to the singing and the harps", and it is described as being "greater and more magnificent than before", the Elves have now got "green and white gems on their collars and their belts" and Thranduil is now present. To me this implies that the ones with gems on their clothes could be close to the king, either by being his guards or his "lords in waiting". I chose to make them his guards. :) Incidentally, this may also explain why the Elves captured Thorin the third time their feast got crashed when he stepped out in to their midst – the king was there.

Ulmo the Vala & the tainted water

Of him in The Silmarillion, Valaquenta it is said: "Ulmo is the Lord of Waters. He is alone. He dwells nowhere long, but moves as he will in all deep waters about the Earth or under the Earth…He is next in might to Manwë…Ulmo loves both Elves and Men, and never abandoned them…mostly Ulmo speaks to those who dwell in Middle-earth with voices that are heard only as the music of water. For all seas, lakes, rivers, fountains and springs are in his government; so that the Elves say that the spirit of Ulmo runs in all the veins of the world. Thus news comes to Ulmo, even in the deeps, of all the needs and griefs of Arda."

Although Tolkien didn't really mention anything about the Dwarves' mining affecting water ways, etc, it has been proven that mining can and does affect water supplies near to where they are located. Therefore, although not intentionally, the Dwarves mining could have affected the water supply and subsequently the wildlife that drinks it.