DISCLAIMER: Anything recognizable belongs to Tolkien, the rest is mine.

A Divided Court

King Thranduil felt a disturbance. He could not explain it, but he knew something out of the usual affairs of his realm was occurring. He did not yet know that the Golden Wood had been assailed and Amorith was injured; he did not feel that there was anything more evil and sinister brewing than there already was present in his kingdom. Every moment of his waking hours that day, he felt a sort of tenseness in the air, an awkward silence hung heavy through the halls of his palace. No one said anything more than was necessary, laughter was curt. Even Míriel's singing was of a woeful tale, and he had sent her away as soon as she had finished. His courtiers sat in their chairs, all staring at him, waiting for the unknown.

"Any news from Dol Guldur?" he asked.

They looked in amazement at him. He had not asked this in awhile.

"No one has heard anything since your last order to Captain Innas." they replied. "There have been no reports of any kind, Lord."

He sighed impatiently.

"Any news of the Fellowship?" he asked, his voice betraying the slightest worry.

There were a few heads shaking now, the King was at his wits' end.

"Sire, the last we heard he was in Rohan still, after Isengard was defeated at the battle of Helm's Deep. He is unhurt. He travels with Aragorn, and also a Dwarf, Gimli. They are all with Gandalf now, and two Hobbits. Frodo and Sam are alone."

Thranduil paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair. His sapphire eyes were glinting. This news he knew already, yet he found himself eager to hear it again as he had the first time it was told to him, several days ago. There was much on his mind he wished to say, yet he found himself torn. It was not fear; it was not indecisiveness…for the first time in his life Thranduil wished for all this talk of war and despair to stop. Currently, it seemed all that anyone thought of was ill. He was tired of the incessant worries about possible attacks, either his palace or elsewhere. And he was not responsible for anything beyond his own borders; if the neighboring lands were assaulted he was not to be held accountable. Those rulers were the responsible parties. If Dol Guldur wanted to lay waste to his palace, it would have already done so. It was not, like his courtiers argued daily, that the opportune moment had not yet presented itself, that the Dark forces were awaiting and amassing a vast army. Meanwhile, his subjects were forced to remain hiding like frightened rabbits because of these rumors that have so far not been proven factual. Since when did he allow rumors to become laws? He was King Thranduil, Lord of Mirkwood. No, his kingdom was much stronger than everyone thought. Dol Guldur had not, and would not, attack him. The forest was still safe to travel. There was nothing to be feared, nothing to be wary of, save for those who persisted to spread more lies throughout his halls, those whom he deemed traitors. While he allowed his mind to continue this internal debate, he heard the following words:

"…Innas believes we should send word…"

"…the Shadow spreads even more…"

"…departing for Imladris, with my family…join the others…"

This last he heard spoken aloud, and his reverie came to a halt. He turned around quickly, robes bellowing fluidly, his face turning a dangerous shade of red.

"I cannot believe what I have just heard. Is there no one here loyal to his King? Some speak of the rumors of Dol Guldur attacking, others of the darkness, and yet others confess of open abandonment. Is this what my court has become, a mere council of merriment, where lies and treachery are spoken of so lightly?" he hissed.

One of the courtiers stood. Thranduil recognized him as Aranel, one of those who remained loyal to Amorith. He had openly opposed Thranduil when he had exiled her, and was always first in objecting when the King rejected any reports of Dol Guldur. It was Aranel who suggested that a temporary ban on travel not related to matters of the kingdom be banned, and ruefully did Thranduil regret this. He was angered that Aranel now opposed him after being his most trusted advisor.

"Lord, I speak for myself when I say that nothing save loyalty lies here. I beg you to let me speak plainly now, for I harbor no treachery or deceit towards you or the kingdom. I regard things with more open a mind, and less biasness than has been your tendency of late. I swore to uphold this beloved kingdom, and so I have done to the best of my abilities since I took up this position in your court, and even until this very hour. I am quite concerned for Mirkwood, and for you. I seem to detect indifference in you. Your subjects grow restless. There is a severe danger plaguing us, and yet we slumber, doing nothing about it. Dol Guldur—"

Thranduil held up his hand for silence, and Aranel grew silent.

"Dol Guldur, Dol Guldur! This is all I hear! Such an obsession there is about that accursed place! If Dol Guldur would only attack and be done with us all so that I may rest in peace with my kin in the Halls of Mandos! How weary are my ears of hearing its name! Tell me, Aranel, why is it that we have not been attacked yet?"

"They gather their forces, Lord—"

Again Thranduil cut him short, laughing, "Yes, yes, we have all heard this before! You told me this when my son left and still there has been no attack! I suspended all leisurely travel throughout the kingdom based on your information. And what have we to show for it? Disgruntled people, doubting their King's judgment—"

"I speak only from complete loyalty to you and Mirkwood—your judgment has been doubtful well before this, sire." Aranel tersely said, interrupting his King.

There was now complete silence in the court. Every pair of eyes was locked on Aranel and his King. Around him, Thranduil saw a number of shocked looks, yet from shock of the words, or shock of them being spoken aloud, he could not tell. Yet there were those who seemed to side with Aranel, and they murmured approval in whispers to each other as they nodded their heads. A large faction remained silent, regarding the scene before them carefully. This faction filled Thranduil with dread. How many stood in Aranel's company? He noticed, to his relief, that there were a few of his courtiers who stared at Aranel with hatred. He was relieved to know that he had not lost complete control of his court yet. They moved closer to the King. This action seemed like an avalanche effect, for no sooner had the band circled around Thranduil than another group joined Aranel. There now remained a third portion, and they stood on the outskirts of the two parties, the undecided. Aranel waited until the movement subsided before continuing.

"The current decline of our kingdom and your judgment, to me, seem to coincide with the exile of Amorith." he said, aware of the murmured reaction to his having spoken the name of the former Mistress of Mirkwood aloud, which was forbidden. "I recall you being quite content with her, and our realm then was so much the fairer and safer. You, sire, were much more amiable. Yet when you exiled her, it seems you lost a part of your soul. You withdrew into yourself, distancing us. Suspicions and anger filled your every fiber, and you acted rashly. You poisoned your mind against her, and were able to convert some of your subjects to your view. Yet not all of us were easily deceived. We knew of her love for you, for Mirkwood—"

Thranduil laughed, yet Aranel continued his speech unwaveringly.

"You remain steadfast that Amorith, her true name being Vanimë, one daughter of Caranthir, of the line of Fëanor, desired only to rule your kingdom for herself, that she was aligned with Dol Guldur to overthrow you. You will have us believe that she did not love you, that she did not love us. If so, why has she not taken this realm so long ago? Why has she not joined forces with the noble Lady Galadriel, whom you also mistrust, and overthrown you? Her twin sister, Vanië, resides in Fangorn. Why did she not join Isengard? If they are truly evil, they would have done so."

Thranduil gazed heatedly at Aranel in reply, "I do not know the ways of evil."

Aranel closed his eyes, shaking his head, saying, "Still, you persist in saying that she is evil? I know of the Kinslaying, of the misfortunes of old, yet I cannot see that our beloved Mistress and her sister are of the same designs. Everything that they have done, and not done, proves otherwise. What befell so many Ages ago still clouds your vision, my Lord! I beg you to stop! We need you, Mirkwood needs her King of old to lead and protect her! The days grow darker, please do not make them anymore full of shadow than they already are. The threat of Dol Guldur is real, and it will come. I do not know why it has not occurred yet, but it will. We are already divided, as you see, the Enemy will gain much from our mistrust. Can you not see that all this is to his advantage only? This is not of Amorith's doing at all."

He ended his speech passionately, beseeching to his King.

"Mirkwood needs her King, and her King needs loyal subjects. I see my court today, divided as it is, and can only thank Amorith. She planted these seeds of deceit long ago, and she will wait until we are at the brink of death to reap what she sowed. Trust me, she will return, but not for our saving. Dol Guldur does not attack for one reason—because we are strong. There is no danger from there. Our people have nothing to fear except for the traitors before me." Thranduil said. He motioned for the guards to surround Aranel and his company, saying, "From this minute, I will not sit idly by any longer and allow lies to ruin my halls. Take them away."

But Aranel stood defiantly.

"You have no power over me. In vain I have exhausted myself attempting to help you through the barriers of your mind. I will join my family in Imladris, and implore Lord Elrond. He, at least, will not allow folly to be the councilor of his judgment. A great evil haunts our door, I can feel it. And when Amorith does return, for it is inevitable that she does, I hope you throw yourself at her feet and beg her mercy, for there is no equal to the wrath of the Noldor when they have been wronged. This, at least, Lord, you know. I leave you now. May the Valar protect you!"

Thranduil watched in silence as he and his companions walked out calmly, the guards merely standing, observing this odd scene before them. After the doors shut behind them, Thranduil turned his back, striding to his throne.

"If there are any who wish to join them, now is your time."

Yet none moved, and Thranduil settled to preside over the remainder of his court.

Míriel was in the library, pouring over a stack of books when there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Aranel behind her, an urgent look on his face. She moved with him silently to the back, sensing a matter of greatness.

"I have no time, so I will speak hastily. I am leaving for Imladris now, and I want you to come with me. My family awaits me. It is not safe for you any longer here. You must come away at once with me." he said.

"I cannot, I promised the King I would remain with him. And Innas…" she said.

"There is no hope in the King, he will lead us all to doom happily and blindly. As for Innas, he cannot be reached now. You must come with me now, child."

Míriel grew silent.

"I have to stay here, I am with child…his child." she whispered.

Aranel's face softened momentarily, "My grandchild?"

Míriel nodded.

Aranel closed his eyes, offering a prayer of thanks to the Valar.

"Even more reason for you to come with me to Imladris. Lord Elrond is an excellent healer; both you and the child will be in the best care."

Yet Míriel shook her head again.

"I await Amorith."

"I fear when she comes, it will be too late. If she comes at all, for Innas informed me it is likely the Golden Wood will be attacked, and I doubt she will come here."

"I sent her a letter warning her of this the day Innas left. I urged her to return to us. I am sure she will come. She will not abandon Mirkwood, not her King."

"You know there is no hope in that cause. She has been forsaken. She has a new home, Lórien, and we have no authority to ask her to return to us no matter how strong the desire. Why should she return here, where so much grief occurred?"

"Because she is needed, she is the only one who can save us. You know this to be true. I have to stay, to believe she will return. And I promised her to look after the King, even before I promised him. I am his only hope. I cannot abandon him. So many have already left him. He has no one left here on whom he can rely."

Aranel gripped her shoulders tightly.

"Forgive me for not having the courage to continue as you do." he said.

Míriel only smiled in return. "I do not blame you. Go now, go in safety and haste."

He lingered a moment longer to kiss her forehead before vanishing into the dusk.