CHAPTER 20

Hidden from sight in the dark shadows of the trees, Tauriel stood silently watching the scene unravel in front of her eyes. She had been greatly alarmed at first, the urgency and insistency of that call leading her to believe that Valadhiel was in imminent danger. She stopped in her tracks, and thus from making herself noticed, as soon as she saw the Queen speaking calmly to the King's adviser.

The voice and images in her head had dissipated now and Tauriel was left guessing that Lord Lathron must have probably heard it too and had come to the aid of the Queen and any peril she might have found herself in.

Yet, she did not leave. That lingering feeling that there was something terribly wrong was still there, lurking at the back of her mind. Focusing on their faces, her elf eyes could distinctly discern the Queen's features covered in sadness. Why? Why was she so upset? Had Lathron told her something? Maybe something that had to do with her past? Why wasn't he taking her back to the Palace? Reverting her attention to the adviser as soon as the Queen turned round to face him, she was greatly disturbed to notice the malicious grin on his face. Valar! What was happening? Should she intervene? Alarm shot through her body. There was something amiss in this picture although she kept on reassuring herself that the Queen could take good care of herself.

It was with all these questions running through her mind that Tauriel witnessed in shocked silence what happened next. His voice rang clearly in her ears as he viciously pushed Valadhiel into the river and, without a second glance, disappeared back along the path they had come.

The initial shock quickly turned into action as a moment later she was running swiftly and nimbly along the riverbank, eyes glued to the foaming water as she tried to catch a glimpse of Valadhiel. Blocking out all questions as to the insane actions of the King's adviser, her main focus was to get the Queen out of the water. But where was she? Panic rose with every passing second until she finally saw her head bobbing out of the water for a second or two before disappearing again to be sucked into the undercurrents, dragging her directly towards the waterfall.

Without wasting precious time and regardless of the danger, Tauriel jumped in. She saw her again, very close, her aimless journey hindered by the contact she had made with a big boulder that lay in their path. Thankful for this, Tauriel swam towards her using all the strength she possessed. Almost within reach, she stretched out her hand for the Queen to hold on to yet although she had seen her, Valadhiel did not make any movement, only her eyes betraying shock and horror.

Confused at having missed this opportunity, Tauriel braced herself to face the waterfall. Down they went, both of them, sucked into a vortex of frothing waters to be released some distance further down in much calmer currents. Tauriel surfaced inhaling huge gulps of air, breathless from her water ride. Anxious, she desperately looked around for her queen but she was nowhere in sight. This meant that she was still underwater and the elleth lost no time in diving again, searching its depths.

It was then that she saw her, or rather the luminescent light which was emanating from her body, a light which she also noticed was slowly fading as her eyes were closing, succumbing to the darkness. Tauriel grabbed her hand and pulled her to the surface and then painstakingly to the pebbly river bank where she dragged her away and onto the grass. Pulling her up to a sitting position, Valadhiel threw up all the water she had swallowed and closed her eyes, resting safely in Tauriel's arms.

Relieved that she was well and out of danger, Tauriel held her close, ready to defend her Queen should further need arise. Looking around her, the forest was still as dusk had come to reclaim yet another day.

The Queen's touch made her look down once again as she saw Valadhiel's eyes wandering from her own down towards her hand, around which there was a golden bracelet. Tauriel looked at it as recognition dawned on her. She had seen that bracelet before. It was the one Lord Lathron had dropped when they had bumped into each other in the corridor. As she effortlessly unclasped it from around the Queen's hand, she heard Valadhiel gasping before emotionally whispering her gratitude.

"Where is she?" His voice was like thunder which Legolas could swear must have rumbled throughout the whole Kingdom. Thranduil looked fiercely at both Drauchir and Meldarion, expecting an answer to his question which they did not have.

Both generals were lost for words, knowing well that their King's level of patience had long been surpassed. "Speak!" He continued, hands crossed, his tone less harsh but still menacing and intimidating. "She shouldn't have gone far in this short lapse of time!"

Silence. It was Drauchir who finally plucked up enough courage to speak. "The soldiers searched everywhere my Lord. No stone was left unturned, both inside the castle walls and the gardens. At this moment guards are being dispatched to search the borders and the surrounding lands. My King, you have my word that we are going to find her!"

"I had your word that you were going to protect her once, hadn't I?" Although these words were spoken more out of desperation than to hurt his loyal and faithful general, Lord Drauchir felt as if a knife had just sliced through his heart.

"Father!" Seeing Drauchir's downcast eyes and shocked expression, Legolas felt the need to intervene so as to placate somewhat the King's growing anger…an anger that was fuelled none other than by fear and frustration at the recent turn of events. Where had the Queen gone? Why had she left? Legolas understood that these were precisely the questions that haunted his father right now and all he wanted to do was to try and reassure him.

"Waiting here leads us nowhere," he finally said, "I will join in the searches and this time we could start with the most perilous places even though they are further away. Thus they would be the first to be ruled out."

Legolas looked expectantly at his father. He could see the pain lying just beyond the ice cold surface. He knew him too well. "Fear not Ada, we will find her!" he said reassuringly.

With jaw clenched and pursed lips the King nodded, accepting Legolas' suggestion whilst turning round to face the open balcony door overlooking Mirkwood forest. Anxiety tugged mercilessly at his heart. The Greenwood had changed considerably throughout the years. It had become much darker and sinister, no longer safe to tread its paths, especially at night. Even though she was a strong fighter, it was still dangerous, being alone and unarmed…where are you my sweet Valadhiel?

Just then the doors of the council room burst open to let in Gandalf, Bard and the rangers with Arahad at the lead. "Any news?" It was he who spoke, his face betraying a mixture of emotions that was difficult to decipher.

"No," came Legolas' dejected reply, evidently disappointed that they were not bringing any good news either. "We were just about to leave and search for her further down South as well as along the river."

Arahad was confused. What could have happened? They had been talking in Bard's room for quite some time when they heard the commotion and the strong raps on the door demanding immediate entry. Dread turned to fear as soon as the soldiers informed them of what was going on, before continuing with their thorough search of every room. Although Arahad and the others had tried to help in every possible way, his level of anxiety continued to rise with every passing moment. She had no reason to leave. Something must have happened and he was certain that it had something to do with that elf!

Nodding at Legolas, he was just about to follow him when they were both abruptly stopped by Gandalf. "Meldarion can take the South borders, while Drauchir can lead the search along the river. I believe that it would be more important for you to stay here and discuss with the King the matter which we had been talking about before we were interrupted by the guards." And with these words, spoken gravely, in that particular tone of voice which showed to those who knew him well that he had highly important news to impart, the wizard locked his gaze with that of the Elvenking.

"Is there something I should be made aware of Mithrandir?" Thranduil's words rolled out of his mouth as smooth as silk but his tone hinted at his irritation and his overall countenance instilled a coldness in the room which was felt by everyone present. His eyes never leaving those of the wizard, he continued, "Well? Say it Gandalf…I know you will…as much as I am certain that I won't like it!"

The rangers and Legolas looked visibly confused at this sudden verbal exchange between the wizard and the King. Arahad felt as if he had just been turned into a stone statue, unable to move a single muscle. His breathing much slower, taking in long deep gulps as if the air in the room wasn't enough to fill his lungs. His secret was about to come out and he was not ready…although, thinking about it, he will never be, so might as well get this over and done with as soon as possible.

But it was not Gandalf who spoke. Bard, the voice of reasoning, intervened as usual at exactly the right moment. "My Lord Thranduil, this is for me very incredible and difficult to put in words; it being, I must confess, even for me very extraordinary to comprehend and finally accept. Still…" he moved forward and, putting his hand on Arahad's shoulder, he continued, "I completely place my faith in my friend here…and I believe in him and all he has to say. He is a true, honest and loyal companion and brother my King. Always has been. And now I know why he turned up to help during the most difficult and unexpected of times. Now I know the real reason why he went to Gundabad that day."

He turned to look at Thranduil at this point, his eyes seeking understanding and acknowledgement for he knew that it would be difficult for the King to accept what he had to say next.

"His sensitive nature towards magic saved Queen Valadhiel from eternal sleep that day…and for that I am certain that this Kingdom, as well as all the others in Middle Earth, will always be grateful."

Sighing, he continued, "Yet, unfortunately, his gift is not always the harbinger of good and pleasant news. He confided in us that at times he is made aware of things which we do not want to know and believe. But hear them we must my friends, look at them with reasoning and act accordingly…"

Bard's eyes were fixed once again on the King, waiting for a sign which showed, to some degree, that Thranduil was ready to listen. A few seconds passed, where all those present were surrounded by a deafening silence, until the Elvenking' s features relaxed and he finally uttered one word, "Continue."

It was Arahad who spoke now. (And, one dare say, much to the bewilderment of the other rangers) "My Lord," he started, for he was well aware that this point was crucial and it was essential for him to choose his words wisely for Star's sake. He wanted the King's wrath to be directed towards the one who deserved it. "My friends pointed out that I might have sounded angry in the council room this morning. I want to reassure you that it was not the subject itself, but the one who was addressing me that made me react thus."

The King raised an eyebrow, evidently demanding more explanation. Arahad did not know how to break this news. There was no nice way so he continued, albeit in a lower voice.

"Lord Lathron is hiding something, my King. His aura is rotten and evil. I felt this every time I was near him and I am convinced about it as much as I was certain of the feeling that drove me to Gundabad. I do not doubt his loyalty to you, having been your adviser for all these years, yet I'd wage my right hand that it is not transmitted to…others."

Gandalf intervened at this lull in the conversation. "When I heard all this the first time, it immediately shed some light on the Lord's reaction when I came to tell you the news that the Queen was alive. Shock was there, like in everybody else, yet never for one instant did I see him rejoice at the news. Never.

The Queen had returned to the Kingdom, and not some unknown elf! He knew her then. And this got me thinking Thranduil…What had been his relationship with her before she disappeared? What was his reaction when she was thought to be dead, killed by orcs? Where was he when the Kingdom welcomed her back? And finally, where is he now?"

The King never said a word. Each question hitting home like a hammer hitting a nail in a stone wall. His eyes were ablaze and an energy radiated from his body which was so threatening that it made some in the room shake to their core.