The Life & Times of Greenwood the Great
Part II: Shadows Rise
Matters of the Heart
c.1362 SA- Eryn Galen
The last night of the king's forced resting period had come. Thranduil at least now seemed at ease, even if on the inside he was not yet completely there. At this moment Oiolairë was watching him, hoping that her eyes did not deceive her. For the first time his body seemed relaxed. She walked up behind him and stood next to him.
"We did it. We disappeared." She said looking out from their hidden world.
"Yes," Thranduil said sighing. He leaned on their balcony rail in simple leggings and a loose tunic, looking over the forest with relief and foreboding at the same time. His eye, however trailed and found the Royal garden and the small vine that marked the entrance to a secret cavern that few knew of. Oiolairë cocked her head at her husband.
"What do you think of?"
His sparkling blue eyes looked at her, hinting at some wry behavior. "Would you like to see something?" He asked her. Oiolairë looked at him confused.
"Will I like it?"
"I think you will love it." He said, his eyes pleading with her. She had never been one to resist him so she joined him as he held out his arm. He slowly opened the door to their room, glancing out to make sure no one was there. There was a Guard at the end of the hallway, nearer to the entrance, but they did not have to go so far. Thranduil slipped down a passageway when the Guard's attention turned elsewhere and Oiolairë followed.
You are acting as a child. She informed him.
Why should I not? He asked, playfulness in his tone. She shook her head as he silently ghosted down the stairs the opened to garden, but at the same time she was quite relieved at the playful behavior as compared to his silent stoicism of earlier that week. She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
The gardens, Thranduil?
Patience, love. He told her. She sighed and followed him as he walked over to the wall. He glanced at her and winked before he set his hand upon the stone. Oiolairë jumped back as a door appeared and opened before them. He laughed softly and led her in before she jumped again as the door closed. "Trust me." He said softly. She looked at him in the darkness and nodded. He left her side for a second and then the hallway became possible to see with a torch Thranduil had procured.
Her eyes widened as she saw the few carvings that lined the walls. Time had obviously been spent here. "How?"
"A lot of silence and slipping away." Thranduil answered. He led her along the hallway until they came to the archway. Her eyes traced the beautiful etchings on the arch and sighed with the beauty of it. "Wait here," Thranduil said. She could hear the running water, but she saw nothing beside a star through the small hole the water fell through and the water it shined upon. Other than that, it was dark. She listened as Thranduil did something off to her side.
Then there was a whoosh! and a grinding noise and she almost fled but Thranduil was calm and so she remained. Then small holes in the wall were revealed and the fire splashed color dancing across the water and the rest of the cave. In the firelight, she could now see the wealth ingrained into the walls. It was beautiful, and she stood awed by the sight of it. She felt Thranduil's arms wrap around her from behind but he was silent as well.
"This is beautiful." She finally said. He smiled, content at this time more than he had been since he had returned from Lindon.
"It is still a cave, but its beauty still astounds me even so."
"I do not think Elves would hate dark places if they saw this." Oiolairë said, still breathless.
"Perhaps, but this is one of few places where an Elf would be completely comfortable below ground." Thranduil said. He held her like that in silence for a while. Finally, Oiolairë turned to face him.
"How did you find this place? And keep it secret?"
"I discovered it was a cave by talking to a tree next to the stream that makes this waterfall. At first it was to be our, yours and mine, escape should something happen, but then I found a way in after a lot of fruitless searching and I saw what was inside. I could not turn this into a hideout, not a military one anyway. Instead we did this. I and Tawarthion. Do you remember the answers you once tried to pull from me? After you discovered Galion had decided I needed two quite similar outfits?"
"I cannot believe that this had anything to do with that." Oiolairë said quietly. "Nor that you did this. The reckless and stubborn warrior? Since when did you become an artist? And why hide it?"
"I have a few surprises up my sleeve yet. After all… in the most basic sense Melian's teaching made me an artist more than anything. It is an art. As for hiding it, I did not want unwelcome visitors who might seek the wealth for themselves." Thranduil said. "This is not a wealth to be taken, but admired."
"Remember that, love, in case this world grows darker."
"I will," he promised her, kissing her gently. She buried her head in his chest, glad that he seemed more at ease than he had in the past week. He had even been mischievous once more, something that had been missing in his eyes for a little while yet.
"How did only the two of you accomplish such a thing?"
"We had a lot of time, and all of this was already here, it was not as hard as all that." Thranduil said. "The hardest part was the door."
"Not making this?"
"Making this was easy." Thranduil said. "All we had to do was carve out the caverns for the flames to sit in. We already knew how to do aught else."
"You know what this reminds me of?" Oiolairë asked.
"Not until you tell me."
"The candle." Thranduil smiled and rested his chin on her head.
"It does bear a resemblance." He said.
"Indeed." She was silent for a long moment before she finally spoke again. "Will you be okay now?"
"As long as you are here, I will always gain myself again."
Thranduil returned to the public throne the next day, which ironically was also the date of their Feast. It was the end of summer, and the elves celebrated the gateway into autumn. A cool breeze floated through the air, the leaves danced on the trees, and laughter was heard wherever one went. As for Thranduil, the Feast was a good way to relax him, and make him forget why he had abandoned the throne for a week.
His smile was not totally lost, and it might have been a little grim, but the smile was there nonetheless. To his people who still thought he had been caught in meetings all week, it seemed normal that he might look a little grim. After all, who really wanted to be stuck in such droll activities? Instead all were happy to see their king once more, and the wine made them merrier than ever.
A shadow still lay on Thranduil's heart, he had seen too much to be misguided, but for now the weight felt lighter than it had.
Oiolairë, Ortherion, Daugion, Galion, and to an extent the rest of the Council felt relief that Thranduil at least looked much better than he had the previous months. Galion set a glass of wine down next to him. "Hannon le," Thranduil said to him. "Why not enjoy the party yourself?"
"Because you can probably handle the wine far better than I, sire." Galion said with a mischievous glint to his eye.
"Oh dear." Thranduil said. "That is a poor excuse."
"Is it?" Galion asked.
"Indeed. I shall be fine. You need a break."
"Who will then get you wine?"
"Ortherion of course."
The self-same Ortherion overheard and turned a mistrusting eye on Thranduil. "I like that idea." Galion said and handed the wine bottle to Ortherion who looked surprised. Thranduil laughed and Ortherion rolled his eyes.
"That was a poor decision on your part." Ortherion said.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, because now you will find you have no more wine." Ortherion said and downed the rest of the bottle.
"That just means you have to find another bottle." Thranduil said raising an eyebrow.
Ortherion shrugged, grabbed two bottles and sat next to Thranduil. "Tis not that much of a chore. Goblets are for nobles." Ortherion said and handed Thranduil a full bottle. Thranduil smiled.
"Strange. I thought it was for everyone."
"Yes, but we are not everyone." Ortherion said and took a long sip.
Thranduil laughed. "Indeed. I suppose that is a good thing."
"Cheers!" Ortherion said and an amused Thranduil allowed him to hit their bottles together.
However, when Oiolairë saw the copious amount of wine she was not as amused. "Are you serious?"
"You were the one that wanted him to lighten up!" Ortherion said. "I finally found a way."
"Wrong." Thranduil said. "You found a way to lighten yourself up."
"Oh yes… You and your ways of not ending up drunk. The secret the world has been searching for since wine existed. Tell me, have you ever been drunk?"
"A few times." Thranduil said smiling mischievously. "Although that might have been purposeful."
"For what purpose?" Oiolairë asked suspiciously.
"There were few ways to get on my father's and Thingol's nerves at the same time." Thranduil admitted. "One of which happened to include getting quite drunk."
Ortherion rolled his eyes. "Where was I?"
"On duty." Thranduil said smirking.
"I see." Ortherion said sounding displeased.
"Well, let's not have that tonight, shall we?" Oiolairë more demanded than asked. Thranduil shrugged.
"I wasn't planning on it. Too many people would faint of surprise." He said with a mischievous glance in his eyes.
"Maer, now come, dance." Oiolairë said pulling him away. Ortherion laughed as Thranduil was more dragged than allowed to walk to the dance floor, which happened to be a clear space of grass. Many Elves stopped dancing themselves in order to watch the king and queen.
Thranduil moved quickly and without error, and Oiolairë had exceptional grace. Together they made the dance look wild and beautiful and that was as it should be. After all, were they not considered feral by their kin? Did Thranduil not have fire beyond the usual? His grace as a warrior and hers as a lady, and it helped that the trees seemed to dance with them.
"I am relieved beyond care." Daugion said as he sat next to Ortherion. "I did not know if he would act so relaxed again."
"You doubt his bounce back rate." Ortherion said. "He may go silent and tense for awhile but never too long. He has incredible fortitude."
"It was not his fortitude I doubted, but his ability to smile again." Daugion admitted. Ortherion cocked his head and watched Thranduil as he danced.
"Nay, he has seen worse before and eventually he has always smiled again." Ortherion said and took another sip from the bottle he held. "Beyond any of that, he now has more reason to smile again. You perhaps did not realize this, but he has known Oiolairë for less time than he has known you. They did not meet for a long time. He had been a General for a while when we went on the mission with you. It was soon after that Oiolairë came to Lindon, and since it had been a half a century before you came back with a more prosaic purpose. He was quiet before she came. You might not believe it, but she has done wonders for his soul." Ortherion paused and smiled as the dance concluded. "Beyond that, he is more at peace here than he ever was in Lindon. He has found his home."
Ortherion stood and nodded at Daugion before leaving to find a dance partner of his own. Daugion sat for a moment before he moved. He went to the food tables and reached for a strawberry. As he did his hand collided with another, one far slimmer and more graceful. He looked up, the words "forgive me" on his lips. There they died, however, as he saw the face of the one who also reached for the strawberry.
"I did not see you."
"I noticed. Are you not supposed to be always watchful. Always wary?" She asked, a wry smile on her face.
"Not necessarily." He answered.
The elleth smiled. "Well, it's encouraging to hear that."
"It is?" Daugion asked, confusion now on his face.
"Mmm… the one who most often guards our King is not paying enough attention to notice an elleth reaching for the same strawberry. It's very encouraging."
"I am off duty." He responded coolly.
"Is that possible? To be off duty?"
"According to the self same king it is." Daugion said. "Though the same rule does not apply to himself."
The elleth laughed. "Well, at least he applies it to someone. Well I shall see you around." She said and started to leave.
"Melui!" He called after her.
"Yes?"
"Where are you going?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Well since you did not even notice me…"
Daugion sighed. "I was deep in thought. I apologize. Now are you going to dance with me or not?"
Melui's smile brightened. "Yes of course." She said and he led her to the dance floor. "What were you so occupied with besides me?"
"Remember the King we spoke of?" Daugion asked. "I was glad to see him so relaxed. It has been awhile since he has been."
"Mmm… and when will you be so relaxed?"
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You hardly ever take your mind off things enough to calm down. And when you do even still do you think of what awaits you the next day. Will you not ever take your mind off your duty enough to ask my father-."
"I know, I know. I promised you I would too long ago." Daugion said. "But when I did, I did not realize that we were about to be in the most chaotic season we have had since we begun. I was going to ask as soon as we returned, but our return was not as expected. Will you allow me a week more?"
"A day more. Before the Feasts end." Melui said. "I do not wish to wait any longer."
He sighed as he looked down at her. "Well, I suppose I need a few more glasses of wine-."
Melui laughed. "Oh, no you don't. My father will appreciate it more if you are sober. And if your mind is more on me than our king."
"Well let's hope he does not need me in the meantime. I fear what your father will do to me."
Melui only laughed. "Have some faith yet."
Daugion rolled his eyes but that night he forgot why he was so scared. He danced with her that whole night through. He regretted not asking her father and resolved to do it the next day. Possibly before the Feast. He had her ring already. The trip to Lindon and the ensuing chaos had only delayed him. But he would do it. And so he returned to his room and slept. And as he slept he dreamt of her. When he woke he woke with the same resolve and determination.
Until he remembered he was supposed to be on duty. An hour before.
He walked into the throne room from the side entrance as nonchalantly as possible, but even then he saw the confusion in his own guards' eyes. He said nothing but walked straight to where he was supposed to be. Thranduil said nothing either, he was listening to the case before him. Once all was finished in the throne room Thranduil rose and went to his study. Daugion followed silently, and was yet surprised when no forthcoming comment came from Thranduil. Galion came into the study quite soon with lunch.
"Do you need anything else, Sire?" Galion asked.
"No, but be ready to leave." Thranduil said.
"When, my lord?"
"Soon. I am sure those in the mountains have just as many inquiries. Probably as soon as the Feasts are over."
"Of course, Sire." Galion said bowing out and leaving.
Daugion wondered about the king's response. What did he mean? Had he not been planning on telling his own Captain? Or was what he had said to Galion Thranduil's way of telling him? It was unlike the King, he was usually not so careless. Daugion waited for two hours in silence wondering why Thranduil said nothing to him. I mean, he never usually did but it was also unlike Thranduil to not say something when an opportune moment comes for the wry glance and the teasing tongue. Thranduil, however, was silent. Daugion watched as he signed many things that had piled up in his absence. Some things were no longer relevant, many assumed they still lived in Amon Lanc. Those Thranduil put in a separate pile with a hesitant hand each time. But still he was silent.
Two hours turned into three and it was almost time for everyone in the Palace to be finished for the day if they did not have the whole day off. During feasting times everyone got let out early so that all could prepare for the Feast. The exception was those who actually prepared the Feast but they were also the most honored people during this time. Mainly because everyone enjoyed their handiwork.
Idhrenion and Tawarthion entered the study right around the time the work day was to end. Thranduil glanced up. "Yes?"
"The Queen said you planned on leaving. Is this true?"
Did everyone but Daugion become aware that Thranduil was leaving?
"Yes." Thranduil answered calmly.
"When?"
"As soon as the Feast is over." Thranduil said. "There will be just as many in the mountains who need to be heard as much as there were yesterday, today, and I expect tomorrow as well. As it is, I will go to that fortress and do exactly as I am here."
"You cannot leave!" Tawarthion cried exasperated. "You were out of commission for a week and-."
"Whose fault was that?" Thranduil asked.
"Yours." Tawarthion said.
"Mine?" Thranduil asked. "If I remember right I was coerced into staying in my rooms. It was not a particularly pleasant occasion. Now tell me, who was it that planned that?"
"Well…" Tawarthion started and then thought better of it. "It was still your fault for running yourself down. And now you just plan on trotting off to run yourself down some more."
Thranduil looked amused. "I am perfectly fine. I was doing much more than any of this when there were two palaces under construction. I shall be perfectly fine. Ortherion is coming with me."
"Ortherion?" Idhrenion asked. "No one else?"
"I told Galion he was coming earlier."
Now Daugion was even more confused. "Your Majesty-."
"I agree." Idhrenion said without even letting the Captain finish. "You and two others? Not even a single guard."
"Between the trees, the animals in the forest, Ortherion, and myself (I do find myself an accomplished swordsman and at least accurate archer) I think I will be perfectly safe. Guards will only slow us down. I will be back before you miss me." Thranduil said standing. "Besides, I happen to know Ortherion was a key conspirator, as well as who some of the others were," he added throwing in a sidelong glance at Tawarthion, "And I highly doubt Ortherion will let me run myself down again. After all, he's the one who handed me a full bottle of wine last night." Thranduil added with a wry smile. "I think the one in the most danger is actually Galion."
"And why's that?" Tawarthion asked.
"He's the least skilled with defending himself. But even so he has the same skill as any of you with talking to the trees, and I am more confident that they will warn us of any intruders. As of now no one unsavory has entered the Palace beyond a few dislikable Elves of which there are some. But in either case they do not mean me harm." Thranduil said. "As it is, I will be traveling… for the most part alone."
Idhrenion seemed to see a lost case when he saw one. He only sighed and said, "One week. No less."
"Until you go." Tawarthion added.
Idhrenion shook his head. "No, stay there for at least a week. Deal with all that needs dealing with in an unhurried manner. Come back when it is done. But do not rush. Rushing is what gets you in trouble. Therefore I am giving you as much time as needed. We can take care of things here."
Thranduil looked amused once more but he nodded. "As you wish." He paused. "I am not leaving tonight, however, and both of you have yet to change and prepare for tonight. Go, I am leaving myself." He said and grabbed the stack of now useless papers. Idhrenion and Tawarthion both left, Tawarthion looking quite hesitant to do so. Thranduil threw the papers on the fire and grabbed the Oak staff he would put in his own chambers for the night.
"What are you thinking? Going without a guard?" Daugion asked him.
"I am thinking I do not need one in my own borders at this point. No one knows where to find us, and those that have a small inclination do not wish too." Thranduil said. "Besides, you can stay here and watch the Queen for me, yes?"
"I could but that does not mean-."
"After all, I think you would enjoy your time here better, and knowing you I probably cannot force you into another sabbatical so soon."
"No." Daugion said crossing his arms.
"And watching Oiolairë should be an easy enough task." Thranduil finished as if Daugion had not interrupted. "Even if you are late." He added and Daugion started. Thranduil had not brought it up until now, so what was the point now?
"I was not late-."
"Only by an hour. No one can be perfect after all." Thranduil said cocking his head at him. "Besides, I do believe that pretty elleth will be staying here. And from the look on your face, you need to speak to her father. And soon." Thranduil added at the end.
Daugion stared at him and Thranduil grinned, winked at him, and started to walk by him. When they were even, Thranduil stopped and glanced at him. "Besides, haven't I always said you needed a wife?" Daugion's face flushed and Thranduil smiled even wider. "Yes, there it is. Hurry it up would you? A wedding will be quite festive this time of year."
