The Life & Times of Greenwood the Great
Part III: Illusion & Reality
The Prince and the King
c.2300 SA- Greenwood
Amroth woke up blearily and blinked several times before he even remembered that he was supposed to be on the way to Greenwood. That's when he glanced at the ceiling and realized that he was nowhere he had ever been before. He started to panic and he sat up too quickly, instantly regretting it as his head pounded. He groaned. That's when he finally remembered where he had last been. He remembered being captured, trying to explain himself, and then being silenced and led away. A few minutes later he remembered that he had been drugged.
"Where am I?" He asked the quiet room. A lantern burned on a beside table next to him, and he realized that was his only light source. However, next to the lantern was a tray of food, nothing fancy but not food for a prisoner either. He sighed and realized he was hungry, and so he ate.
Then he looked around the room. It was a plain room as far as rooms go, but at the same time there was a large amount of decoration in the walls, leaves and vines interlacing at a complex level. Amroth sighed. He slowly stood and walked over to the only door he saw right away. To his surprise it was a washroom, and there was a clean set of clothes waiting for him.
He shrugged and cleaned himself, which helped to wake him up, and then he pulled on the fresh clothes and went searching for another exit. He found another door and he opened it into a sitting room. There was no one there. He saw yet another door and he went for it, opening it and blinking at the bright light.
He then jumped back as he realized a guard stood next to him once his eyes adjusted. The guard was wearing the same formal clothes he remembered from the last time he had seen the guards of Eryn Galen. "Where am I?" He asked the guard who did not quite answer his question.
"Come." He said instead and walked away. Amroth stared after him but followed. He was led along several corridors until he was hopelessly lost before they emerged into a larger chamber. It was the throne room, but the throne was empty. Instead a noble looking elf stood at the bottom of the dais and greeted him.
"Welcome, Your Highness." He said.
Amroth blinked. "You know who I am?"
"Yes. My name is Idhrenion, I am in charge of the Council." He said.
"Well met." Amroth said.
Idhrenion nodded. "May I enquire as to why you are here?"
"My father sent me."
Idhrenion stared at him, obviously expecting him to continue. "Yes? And?"
Amroth shifted, not feeling entirely comfortable. "I was told to only present my instructions to the king alone, preferably in private."
"The king is unavailable at the present." Idhrenion said. "If you would tell me-."
"I cannot. My instructions were clear."
"As are mine." Idhrenion said. "The king will not be available for some time."
"I will wait." Amroth said, stubborn in his orders.
Idhrenion cocked his head. "Your obedience is admirable. Perhaps you would agree to telling someone you know?"
"Only the king."
Idhrenion tapped his fingers together. "I cannot promise an audience anytime soon."
"How soon? A few hours?"
Idhrenion shifted. "A few days at the least, perhaps longer."
Amroth could tell something was wrong. Idhrenion was tense, even if he held himself well. "I am willing to wait."
"Very well." Idhrenion said. "You will be brought your meals. Normally there would be dinner in the hall, but as you saw on your way here, there is a lot of stress at the moment. You may wander if you choose, but we will not take extra care to guard your steps. The trees are unpredictable, and frankly I am amazed they let you through. If you would like to bathe, ask the guard outside your room to guide you."
"Of course." Amroth said. "Will I be sent for once the King is available?"
"Yes." Idhrenion answered, but a little too hesitantly. Amroth frowned but allowed his guard to lead him back.
"Would you like to bathe?" The guard asked.
"Not now but thank you." Amroth said. "Perhaps tonight?"
"It is tonight." The guard said. "You did not wake until late evening."
Amroth felt bad about demanding the king's presence. "I would not have asked to see the king now if I had known that." Amroth said, blushing slightly.
"Idhrenion knew you did not know." The guard said lightly.
"Do you know why the king is unavailable?"
"Yes." The guard said but did not elaborate.
"Do you think it likely I will see him tomorrow?"
"No."
"Then I will bathe tomorrow." Amroth said. "I rinsed off but an hour ago. Thank you." He told the guard and then walked into my room.
The guard watched the door shut. "I haven't even seen the king in four months." He muttered.
Idhrenion walked down the hall to find Ortherion staring over the latest report of the previous battle in his office. "Amroth woke."
"Did he?"
"Yes." Idhrenion paused. "He is demanding to see the king."
"Great." Ortherion muttered, wiping his hand over his face.
"You need rest."
"Yes, well, that appears unlikely."
"You are not doing him any good running yourself down."
"He doesn't know any better." Ortherion said bitterly. "At any rate I have little choice."
"You should still rest." Idhrenion insisted. "I am sure nothing will change during the night."
"What if it does?"
"Then there was nothing you could do. It sounds as if it is up to him now." Idhrenion said gently.
"I wish. For some reason I get a feeling that it is not as entirely up to him as we might wish."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure." Ortherion said tapping his desk. "At any rate now we have to deal with Amroth. When he inevitably comes asking, tell him the king is indisposed and that if he wishes to deal with any of us he will have to talk to someone else."
"As you wish. If not you may have to convince him."
"Call me if you must." Ortherion said. "I did not know him as well as Thranduil did."
"That's why he wishes to talk to him I am sure."
"Probably. Ai, we need him back." Ortherion said rubbing his face again.
"Go rest." Idhrenion said more forcefully. "Else I will have a few guards drag you to bed."
Ortherion glowered at him but Idhrenion merely crossed his arms and Ortherion sulked off to bed.
Amroth took a bath the next day and then wandered the palace. The palace was quieter than he expected, and those who did have conversations had them in hushed tones. Everyone seemed to be rushing frantically from one place to another. The few times he passed someone they did not meet his eyes. He frowned and a chill went up his spine.
He went back to his room for lunch and thereafter stayed in his room. At evening he leaned out of his window and heard a haunting melody in the trees. He could not understand the words, they sounded archaic and they were twisted in song, but something about the melody made him even more sure that something was very wrong. What it was he did not know, but he knew he needed to talk to Thranduil soon.
But a few days passed, and then a few more. No one came to get him. He began to feel like more of a prisoner than a prince, and every time he left his room no one greeted him except his guard who barely said a few words to him. He finally saw Idhrenion again who was walking seemingly with a purpose in mind but Amroth stopped him.
"It's been a few days and I was wondering if the king is available yet?"
Idhrenion glanced at him and then down the hallway. He looked back at him. "No. He remains indisposed. I told you before if you would like your message to reach the right person you should tell me."
At that Amroth grew angry. "Does the king even know I am here?"
Idhrenion opened his mouth but nothing came out for a second and that told Amroth everything he needed to know. "He doesn't does he? I am being treated more like a prisoner here!" He said angrily and moved to storm off.
"No, wait." Idhrenion said grabbing his arm. "It is not that we are keeping the information of your arrival from him. The king is not currently in any position-."
"I've heard enough excuses! Take me to him, this is important!"
"I am sure it is."
"Don't patronize me!" Amroth hissed.
Idhrenion took a step back from him and took a deep breath. "I am not trying to. You do not understand, we-."
"Amroth." A voice from behind him said. Amroth turned and saw Ortherion.
"Ortherion? Oh thank goodness, can you please take me to the king?"
"I cannot do much of anything." Ortherion admitted. "The king is not here."
"Not here? Then where is he?"
"Far beyond my reach." Ortherion said. "If you would, give me the message and I can evaluate it."
"No!" Amroth said. "You too? I am not a child. I am a prince and I wish to speak with the king." He glanced around as he noticed there were now more elves in the corridor they were in and they were all now staring at him. He felt the tips of his ears redden but he held up his chin. "The king and I were once friends, I am sure he would be glad to hear from me."
"I spoke no lie." Ortherion said quietly. "The king is not here."
"Then who is in charge?"
"I am." Idhrenion said.
"You?" Amroth obviously did not trust him.
Ortherion had noticed the crowd as well. "Come we can speak privately, all three of us."
"No." Amroth decided to use the crowd to his advantage. "I want an audience with the king and no one else."
"That is not possible."
"Or he appears to not care to descend to the rest of us? Am I that despicable to him?"
"Valar." Ortherion said. "You are being careless! I have half a mind to turn you away now."
"But?"
"But I respect your father and the fact that he sent a message. Will you not even consider-?"
"My father made me promise to deliver the message to no one but the king!"
"Then you will have to agree to wait longer."
"How much longer?"
At that Idhrenion and Ortherion both shifted and glanced at the crowd. Amroth did too and he was surprised at the closeness at which they were being surveyed. "Long enough for the king to return."
"This is ridiculous." Amroth muttered. "And if I choose not to wait?"
"Then you will be escorted blindfolded back to the Anduin." Ortherion said with such finality that Amroth suddenly believed him. "Or you can instead choose to give one of us the message."
Amroth fingered the letter he had tucked into his sleeve. "What of the Queen?"
Idhrenion glanced at Ortherion who sighed. "The Queen-."
"Is here."
There was a sudden break out of murmuring as the queen entered the room. Amroth turned on his heel to see Oiolairë striding toward them. "My lady," Amroth said and bowed his head.
"Well met. As I am sure you have heard, the king is not available at the moment, but I am sure you will take me as a substitute." It was not a question. Amroth bit his lip and glanced at the floor.
"Very well," he finally sighed, not seeing any other option.
"If you will follow me." Oiolairë said and she led the way down the hallway and Amroth followed after as well as Ortherion. The three of them entered a study. It looked like it might have been the king's, but there was no sign of the king's presence or absence. There was no stacks of reports piled high that Amroth had seen on his own father's desk, and there was nothing there to suggest the king himself, except for a wax seal on the desk and perhaps a long staff he saw standing in the corner.
"Please sit." Oiolairë said as she sat in the chair behind the desk. Amroth sat across from here and Ortherion leaned against the fireplace. "What is the message?" Oiolairë asked and now alone in the firelight Amroth looked at her eyes and found they looked weary.
He hesitantly reached into his tunic and passed it across to the Queen. She took it and slowly broke the seal and opened it. Her eyes scanned the contents and then she glanced at Ortherion before looking back to Amroth. "Why are you really here?"
"As it says in the letter. Celeborn is too stubborn to do anything, but my father and I were worried. We knew something was not right, the trees were too dark and we have seen too many orcs pass through them never to be seen again. We just want to help. We will do anything."
Ortherion glanced at him and then at the queen. "We need it." He said quietly to her.
Oiolairë's hands slowly set the letter down and she stared at Amroth. "You will bring any aide we ask for?"
"If we have it." Amroth said earnestly.
Oiolairë sighed. "I think we have to be honest then."
Ortherion cocked his head. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"No." Oiolairë admitted. "But he may be our last hope."
Last hope? Amroth wondered. "I mean what I say." He said aloud.
"Come then. We will take you to the king." Oiolairë said as she stood.
"You said he was not here!" Amroth said to Ortherion.
"I said I did not lie." Ortherion said. "I meant what I said too. You will see." He said and Amroth followed the two of them down another hallway. Oiolairë walked up to a set of Royal Oak doors that were intricately carved and two guards opened them before her. She continued down the hallway and into another door at the end. A guard opened it before her as well, and Amroth entered behind her. "Tie this around your face." Oiolairë told him handing him a cloth. He frowned but put it on.
Then they walked into another room and at first Amroth did not know why they had entered an empty bedchamber. Then, however he saw three ellon standing in the far corner speaking softly to each other over some paper one of them was scribbling furiously on. None of them looked like Thranduil. Ortherion silently grabbed his arm and redirected his gaze to the bed.
That's when Amroth gasped.
"I meant what I said." Ortherion said quietly as Amroth moved to stand over the bed. Amroth glanced at him as Ortherion walked up beside him.
"Who did this?" Amroth asked.
"Sauron."
"How?"
"More orcs have entered these woods than even you know." Ortherion said. He looked around and grabbed a rolled up paper lying on the ground near a table. "Most of the orcs entered here." He said pointing to the southeast corner of the woods. "Where no one but us would know of it. Three- four months ago now three thousand entered and we led the army out. Thranduil disappeared in the middle of the battle. The Captain, Daugion," Ortherion motioned to one of the elves in the corner still speaking softly, "Tracked him down but could not find a way to enter. Two others caught up with him, and they saw Sauron leave a hidden door and once they figured out how to get in they stormed the place and got him out. Most of his actual wounds are healed now, save for those." Ortherion said pointing at the four scars across his face. "We think they have poison in them but we cannot figure out how to extract it or if we can. We need help. He is dying. We are keeping him alive by stalling his entire system to stall the poison. Without it he has seizures, and that is usually when the poison spreads."
Amroth inspected the black veins now criss crossing his face. "What kind of poison?"
"We don't know. We think it has black magic in it." Ortherion said crossing his arms. "Else we could have cured it ourselves."
"He is dying?"
"Well, we are not sure. He is losing vitality by the day, but we are not sure what happens if the poison runs its course."
"What do-," Amroth broke off as he realized what else the poison could do. It could kill him yes, but it could also turn him into a orc, or worse. It had been known to happen. "Do you have any idea of what could be done?"
"Athelas would be a good start." Said one of the three elves from in the corner.
"There's that." Ortherion said. "And any help on black poisons."
"There are several problems, however." Oiolairë said. "One, we know for sure that Sauron is watching these woods, and he probably knows you have entered. We do not want him to capture you and torture the information out of you. Two, we do not want Lórien to be punished for attempting to help us."
"That is why we did not allow Gil-galad to find us the first time." Ortherion added.
"Even so." Oiolairë said. "And nor do we want the knowledge that we are in a vulnerable position spread."
"I understand." Amroth said quietly. "But you need help for him to heal."
"Yes."
"But you had no one to turn to or ask."
"Yes."
Amroth slowly sank into the chair next to the bed. "And you have been suffering this silently?"
"Beyond the melodies I am sure you have heard… yes."
Amroth sighed and stared at the king in front of him. "I can return, I will slip out at night where he is not expecting me to come out. Then I can poke around the healer's quarters. I know we had a problem with the orc poison on their arrows during the last war."
"It is not quite the same." The healer spoke again. He approached Amroth. "My name is Nestaron." He said to Amroth who nodded. "The magic here I do not think is killing him. It's purpose is to torture, as far as I can tell, not to kill. He should have been dead when we found him, but I think this poison kept him alive but in darkness. It is spreading, what that means none of us know, but the cure will not be the same."
"Nothing has been seen like this since Morgoth took ours and turned us into orcs." Another elf said.
"He is Maeben." Ortherion murmured to Amroth.
"Then what can be done? What can I do?" Amroth asked.
Both healers looked uncomfortable. "We are as lost as you."
Suddenly Ortherion looked up. "How did we not see this before?" He asked out loud.
"What?" Daugion asked.
"Especially you! You were there!" Ortherion said to him. "The Eagles. Surely if any know or remember a way to stop such things it would be them."
"Or they could find someone who did."
"Can you take a message to the Eagles?" Ortherion asked Amroth who looked caught off guard but nodded.
"What kind of message?"
"That they once promised to help a warrior named Thranduil should he ever need it, and that he is now slowly succumbing to a poison liken to what we just told you." Amroth nodded but then frowned.
"Repeat that?"
Ortherion repeated it slower, and explained a bit more. "If they tell you of something try to find it before you return here. But if you must go to anyone else, Elrond, Gil-galad or whoever, please try to keep our name out of it."
"I will do my best." Amroth said.
"We will leave at dawn." Daugion said.
"What?"
"You're going to need someone to get you out of the woods."
"But you cannot leave them, can you?"
"I think I can." Daugion said glancing at Ortherion. Ortherion shrugged.
"We never planned on using them again."
"Good enough for me." Daugion said. "Come on. I will show you how we leave the woods."
Amroth stared at the black cloak Daugion held out to him. "It was you?!" He said as he looked at the silver insignia in the sleeve.
"Yes." Daugion answered. "Pack it away, no one can see it inside the woods."
"Why ever not?"
"Because we don't want anyone to know it was us." Daugion said smiling slightly. "Keep it to yourself."
"But-."
"We don't want Sauron angrier at us than he already is."
Amroth finally conceded as he realized they had a point. "Very well. What do we wear until we leave the forest?"
"These." Daugion said throwing more clothes at him. "Pack light. But bring your weapons. There are enough orcs that keep being sent that we might need more than we think."
That dawn, two lonely elves left the Greenwood in search of their last hope.
