Sindarin to English Translations

Penneth... young one

Hannon-le... thank you

Lacho calad! Drego morn!... Flame light! Flee night! (A battle cry)

Chapter 24

"No, no, no, and if you didn't hear me the first time; no!"

"Ada, I won't stand by and do nothing! They—"

"No, Estel, and that's final!"

"They need to be warned!"

"Not by you!"

"Hush, Ada, you're frightening the Eagle."

Elrond sagged against the doorframe and pushed a hand through his hair. "Estel saes. I don't want you to go." His voice had become quiet and despairing.

Estel stopped his rushed packing and approached his Adar. He smiled wryly and cocked his hip. "I know, Ada. But I really, really need to do this. Please understand?"

Elrond shook his head and flicked hay out of the young human's hair. He gestured to the Eagle smothered in the hay and peering at them sheepishly with huge brown eyes. "And he agreed?" he finally asked.

Estel beamed and nodded. "He's a bit shy but he would be glad to take me."

Elrond shook his head again and crushed the young human in an embrace. "Take care of yourself."

"I will Ada."

oOo

"I've been expecting you. You haven't gotten any less predictable I'm afraid." Ausocitin fidgeted but looked far too confident for his current predicament.

Thranduil noticed the human guards around than made no move to their weapons. Many of them even edged away from the duo with fidgety, nervous steps and looked at them as if they might explode.

It was just as he had suspected then. He had walked straight into a trap.

"I asked you a question, Advisor, and I do not deem it wise to keep me waiting," Thranduil did his best to keep up the charade, but the rebels were actually much more organized than he had anticipated.

"They fight for me because I promise them aid that you neglected to give them after Smaug—"

"And why do you fight, Advisor? Ever loyal to my father, weren't you?" Thranduil cut him off. This was good. Stay on top of the negotiations. Lead them.

That, however was the only thing that seemed to be going well. Ausocitin's eyes kept flicking from Thranduil's face to something behind him, farther into the camp, but Thranduil knew he couldn't allow himself to turn around or even take his eyes off Ausocitin. It would shatter the charade. Thranduil only hoped Ausocitin didn't know about the guards he had hidden in the trees.

Ausocitin smiled once again. Not a simple, pleasant smile, but a feral one that put the crazed light in his eyes. "Why do I fight?" he repeated to himself. The smile stayed in place as he looked away as if pondering his answer. "I fight for me." He slid a folder of parchment into the Sinda's belt. "Do this for me, and I will let your precious people live."

Ausocitin saw something. Thranduil knew it by the way he perked up and twitched under his hold.

Sure enough, another familiar voice rang out from behind him.

"I suggest you stand down, King Thranduil," Denisale's voice was uncertain, as if such words were foreign in his mouth.

Thranduil's eyes bore into Ausocitin's. The ellon kept a cool, indifferent expression on his face as he watched the proceedings under lax eyelids. Their gazes met for a brief moment and what Thranduil saw made him dread what he was about to turn around to. Triumph.

He turned slowly. He was met with a struggle similar to his own. Denisale held a young woman at knifepoint. A bright shock of red hair was pulled into a clasp at the nape of her neck, revealing a very human set of ears and quite pleasant round, rosy cheeks. She struggled faintly and kept her face a mask of fear.

"I do not think you would want the blood of an innocent on your hands, Hir—uh, Thranduil." Denisale's threat was very half-hearted he seemed to be doing this out of task alone. In fact, by the way he kept looking to his victim and loosening his hold on the weapon in his hands, Thranduil would say there was something suspicious going on there. The Sinda noticed the slip-up on his title, and according to the slight scowl on Ausocitin's face, so did he.

"'Tis not on my hands that her blood would be stained, Captain," Thranduil returned stoically. Unlike Ausocitin, to whom Thranduil kept referring to by his former title as a form of mockery, the tone of which the Elvenking called Denisale 'Captain' told of a remaining level respect. What Denisale had done to Legolas made it hard for him to reserve that respect. Perhaps it was a fool's hope that kept Thranduil believing this elf was not too far gone, but sometimes, a fool's hope is just enough. He simply had to deal with the complication at hand.

Not difficult at all, yes? Thranduil thought sarcastically to himself.

The woman began to speak.

Just what I need.

"Please, sire, give me a chance!" The woman struggled more fiercely. Denisale's eyes flew open. this was obviously not a part of the plan.

Not wanting to hurt the woman, Denisale fumbled awkwardly with the knife, momentarily relaxing his grip on her. But a moment was all she needed. She twisted in his grip, unsettling his hold, and plunged her fist right into his middle, causing him to double over and accidentally abandon the blade.

Ausocitin cursed under his breath.

The woman ran forwards towards Thranduil, who continuously had to remind himself to keep the blade pressed firmly to the ex-Advisor's neck.

"Evlani!" Denisale managed to croak out; apparently the woman's name.

A young dark-haired human burst from one of the tents, his eyes wild. "Ma! Don't you hurt my ma!" he cried. Thranduil was suddenly struck full-force with the familiarity this young boy posed; he looked exactly like Elrond's young Estel. So there had been an imposter.

Thranduil barely had a chance to give his new observation a second thought when his eyes caught a small glint at the boy's shoulder. His cloak pin; it was the traditional crest of Mirkwood. It was a silver or gold crest of leaves weaved around the wearer's personal emblem of their house. This crest bore a lean ash tree, its branches spreading outwards and connecting it to the crest of leaves surrounding it. Jaseric's emblem.

Thranduil's heart dropped in his stomach, and it must've shown on his face because he felt a flutter of panic brush his fëa; apparently Legolas was paying close attention to their bond.

He could almost feel Ausocitin's rapid pulse under his blade.

The woman, Evlani, advanced. "You stay back, Gilgan!" she called over her shoulder, not looking behind her but taking slow, steady steps towards him as if he were some wild beast to be reckoned with. He instinctively looked to the trees for Feren; that comparison sounded very familiar. He inwardly chided himself for letting his eyes slip and give indication to his hidden soldiers, but no one had seemed to notice.

His mind reeled. They had Jaseric's cloak. What could that mean? He didn't know, but it gave him an unpleasant feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Before Thranduil had any more time to ponder this, Evlani had collapsed to her knees before him, holding something out on her slender hand.

Gilgan started with a cry and began to run to his mother, but was intercepted by Denisale who caught his waist and held him.

His own heartbeat speeding up considerably, Thranduil leaned over to peer at the glittering object in the human's hand.

His mouth went dry and blood froze cold. The knife dropped out of his hand. All he could do was stare as he fought the memories flashing at the back of his consciousness.

There, resting on the woman's trembling hand was Greenwood's lost Ring of Power.

oOo

Legolas felt a strong jerk in the paternal bond with his father in his fea. He reached out and probed it. Thranduil was a jumble of emotions and flashes. They raced past Legolas so fast he could discern not-a-one. The bright flashes began to invade his consciousness and he had to pull back before he was pushed into the fray.

Eyes wide, Legolas turned his attention back to the scene below. Thranduil's knife fell to the ground with a small thud. Ice froze itself into the blond ellon's veins. He could not tear his eyes away from the frozen form of his father.

The red-haired woman's upturned and outstretched hand shook.

His limbs trembled with restraint. His hand strayed to his knife and he repositioned himself on the branch. His eyes remained trained on his father.

The tension was nearly pliable. No one moved; no one dared even breathe.

The stretch of frozen time was broken by Ausocitin. In the blink of an eye, he had the Elvenking pressed against the tree the knife at his throat, much like Ausocitin was before.

Legolas jerked instinctively.

Movement in the trees caught Legolas' attention. Feren was already on his way to him. Legolas readied himself.

Thranduil remained unmoving. He could not seem to be able to tear his eyes from the dancing emerald in the woman's hand. The flickering torchlight played on the gem's surface in a wavering, mesmerizing rhythm.

Evlani's hand began to tilt. The ring tumbled to the edge of her hand. She paused for a beat. The ring dropped into the dirt. Thranduil lunged. Ausocitin let out a frustrated cry, but did not attempt to re-establish his hold on the Elvenking.

Feren's hand closed on Legolas' collar. Legolas lashed out with his elbow, catching Feren in his ribs. He let out a muffled grunt and Legolas pushed off. He crashed into Evlani, tipping her over on her side.

Gindorelle was on top of him before he could even draw his weapon.

Legolas met his father's eyes and his heart nearly skipped a beat as everything seemed to stop around them. He stared, and stared; out feeling into his stare. Telepathy was a rare phenomenon for anyone but elven twins or ring beaters, but if it was possible to take place between father and son, that is exactly what happened in that moment. I love you too, Ada.

Tauriel flew out of the trees, supporting an Adan sporting a knife in his thigh. One of the knives from the stronghold's armory. Then it hit Legolas. Sentries. Someone had taken out the sentries for them.

Oh, Tauriel, why? His heart sobbed.

oOo

Thranduil did a double take. Tauriel's eyes met his. He shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. She had no threat hanging over her, no restraint. She was willingly helping that human sentry. She was a traitor. His heart crumbled through his fingers.

Before Thranduil could snatch up the ring, a scream tore through the night. A flurry of wings barreled into Gindorelle and his yell was chocked with blood as the Eagle's claws met the soft flesh at his throat. The light leaked out of his eyes. Estel was at Legolas' side in an instant, gripping his shoulders and rushing him into the trees, away from the clearing of the camp.

Denisale pushed Gilgan and Evlani into the trees, sheltering them with his own body.

The humans began to clear out of the camp, running for the trees with wild looks of fear plastered to their scruffy faces.

Thranduil's fingers closed around the ring and he slipped it onto his finger. A bright flash of red seared through his consciousness, and a deafening roar seemed to crush him with it's weight.

He was able to return to the present as Tauriel's scream pierced the air.

Ausocitin was on the far side of the camp. He had gotten one of the crates open and had a black vial in his hand.

His arm drew back as if to throw it. The vial tumbled head over heel across the clearing.

Thranduil barely had time to backpedal farther away from the the target; Tauriel.

Another yell erupted from the trees. A flash of red isn't the form of a body shot across the clearing. A very familiar flash. Jaseric.

Joy rushed through his fea. He's alive!

"Lacho calad! Drego morn!"

"NO!"

oOo

Jaseric took a deep breath. I love you, Tauri. I'll see you in my dreams.

No matter what...

The vial seemed to connect with Jaseric's body in slow motion. Tauriel screamed again, and the impact of the blast sent Thranduil crashing into the trees behind him. Red obscured his vision and he knew no more.

oOo

"Do you think he's waking up?"

"Who you askin'? I ain't no healer."

"Oh, wait, I think so. He's not injured so I don't see why not."

"Maybe he just hit his head."

"Well there was just an explosion. I'd say he's uh shell— uh—"

"Shell-shocked?"

"Yeah, yeah that's the word."

"Hmph. Y'all a bunch o' sissies. Jus' pour some o' that there water on 'im."

"And what if he's the King!?"

"Hmph."

Thranduil grimaced and groaned as he attempted to move his hand. No success.

"He looks like he has a headache. See that face he's making?"

Finally he lifted his hand to his head and rubbed his temple. "And all of you aren't making it any better with all your jabbering."

A few voices cried out in surprise. "He's awake!"

"No kiddin'."

"Hush!"

Thranduil managed to pry his eyes open and blink the spots from his vision. He let out a low groan as he rose to one elbow.

There were elflings sitting all about him. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, but sure enough, there they were, right in front of him and plain as day. Four of them to be exact.

"Are you the king, mister?" A young ellon with nut brown hair spoke and peered at him curiously. He looked to be the youngest.

Thranduil smiled as the little elleth—the only one in this lot— gave him a satisfactory smack upside the head. "Fararth!"

She turned her own youthful, curious eyes on him. "Well, are you? Sir," she added on almost as an afterthought.

His smile widened and he shook his head in amusement. "Yes, penneth." He frowned suddenly as noticing the whole absurdity of the situation. "Who, or rather, where are your parents?"

They all looked down simultaneously. Really, elflings were so easy to read at times.

A small, chestnut-haired elfling spoke up first. He was small, almost as small as the presumed youngest, but he was much stockier and his eyes held a superior intelligence of one who is older. "Helgilion, sir. Son of Haldaner. Sir."

Ah, General Haldaner's son. He felt he would like this ellon.

The elleth spoke next. "My name is Estella Filendisiel and this is Fararth." Estella nudged her brother and he inclined his head, causing her to forget to do so in the process.

A smile tugged on Thranduil's lips. Filendis' elflings were here too? His curiosity peaked.

All eyes turned to the last elfling; a grumpy-looking brown haired ellon. He had not spoken so far that Thranduil had gained consciousness.

"What about you, penneth?" Thranduil prompted gently. He had always been told he had a soft spot for children.

"Whadda 'bout me?" he countered tersely. The elfling did not look up and instead picked at the grass sprouting from the cold soil.

Thranduil inwardly grimaced. So this is the one with the terrible speech.

There's the attitude. He was beginning to feel irked at this young one's temperament.

"What is your name?"

"Minaitir."

"Who is your father penneth?"

"He's dead," Minaitir stated flatly.

Thranduil's heart went out to the boy.

"I'm sorry to hear that. What is your father's name?"

Minaitir glanced up briefly before looking back down again. Thranduil put all the gentleness he could muster into the moment their gazes met.

"Gindorelle. General Gindorelle."

Thranduil's heart came running right back. He inwardly chided himself for being so prejudiced towards the boy because of his father, but he couldn't help it. His prejudices were famous throughout the lands after all.

Thranduil noticed the smoking remains of the clearing in the distance, and Anor was almost fully risen, meaning the elfling had to be close by when... things happened. Meaning Minaitir had seen the Eagle tear the life from his father. Thranduil grimaced.

"And your mother?"

"Adar," the word seemed foreign on Minaitir's tongue, "left her."

The Sinda was taken aback. Such a thing was unheard of among elves. "He left her?" he croaked.

Minaitir scowled. "Yeah, when she was a-dead and bleedin' he had to leave her 'fore the wolves got him and me too."

The Elvenking was at a loss of what to say. "I see."

He filled in the blanks as to where the parents of the other elflings were.

The young ellon's eyes hardened and he scowled and looked away.

It was then Thranduil noticed the disheveled state of Helgilion and Minaitir. They even seemed to be sporting some injuries.

He reached behind him and was delighted to find his full pack still there; still stuffed with the necessary traveling supplies.

He took out a roll of bandages.

"How about you two tell me about what happened while I get you cleaned up," he said with a very pointed look at the gash across Minaitir's middle.

"Yessir— Wait! You can't do that, sir!" It was Helgilion this time.

"And why not?"

"Because you're the king! Sir!"

"Thranduil will do, hannon-le, penneth."

Helgilion looked around, rather flustered.

Thranduil smiled and pulled Helgilion into his arms. The elfling was stiff in his arms and made an alarmed peep. "I have kissed more scrapes and bruises in my lifetime than you would care to know; I am not incapable of doing it again."

Helgilion struggled, his face aghast. Thranduil laughed.

"Oh, learn to take a joke, Haldanerion."

His words had brought a certain young blond ellon to the forefront of his mind. His boy. That muse was crushed with the image of Jaseric bursting through the trees and colliding into the path of the tumbling vial. Those thoughts brought unwelcome grief to his heart and he pushed those thoughts away.

He fingered the documents still tucked in his belt. Ausocitin wanted the money from Oropher's business? Then that's what he would get.

oOoOoOo

Having regrets about killing Jaseric. *sniff* Maybe not... *sniff* Well I did warn you guys last chapter with that poem. Its not the "Song of parting" for no reason :P

Poor Thranduil. He's in a predicament now isn't he?

This chapter has not been beta-ed (Have fun vacationing Scribbles!) so I apologize if it's rough. I also post at silly hours of the night :P

A shout-out to the Piano Guys for helping me fight that massive hunk of writer's block xD Classical music really helps the Block, I have discovered, and I encourage your to try it when He refuses to budge :P (Listen to Arwen's Vigil by them; it's beautiful)

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Drop me a review, pretty please? :D

P.S I probably shouldn't be mentioning this (I don't know why) but I have started to plot out my next story (I know, I know, but I needed to write it down before I forgot). I'm pretty excited about it honestly, and I will actually plot it out and write the whole thing before I start posting so we don't have the update problem like on this one. :) No worries, I won't start it until I'm done with this one ;)