I am sorry of the length of this chapter. It is shorter than I had hoped, but I blame all of my finals :P

To those who are getting anxious to know what happened that started Thranduil's anger towards Elrond: I am working on the chapters where you will be told the stories from both perspectives. Then I hope you will understand :) Thank you for being patient with me and all my mysteries. These chapter will be the 25 and 26. I hope that it will clear up come questions and frustrations.

As always thank you DakotaPevensieGreenleaf for helping me edit.

Now read on…

Out of Mirkwood

Scribbles-on-Parchment

December 14, 2019

Chapter 23 – Searching

Kélion marched up to the gates of the palace, face grim. The two ellyn guards at the gate snapped to attention as the prince approached. They all knew to avoid getting on any of the royal family's nerves when they were in such a mood.

"Open the gate!" Kélion demanded as he strode across the welcoming hall.

The guards gave a quick bow before moving to open the great door. As the great stone entry slowly opened, sunlight spilled into the hall. Kélion stepped to the entrance of the gate and looked out at the surrounding forest. There was no one in sight. Anger filled his heart. Why did Êmand and Meldir leave? Or if they had to leave, why did they do it without him? And without telling him? He felt betrayed. First Legolas had left him and now his closest friend.

The prince took a step out of the gate, he was going to have to go and find them. For he could not, would not, leave them to face danger alone. He would not leave them to suffer the same fate as Legolas. To lose them would be the death of him. He needed to do something. He needed to get out of the palace. Away from the memories that haunted his every step.

"My prince," Kélion paused just outside of the gate, "Will you not take a guard out with you? It would be unwise to leave the palace grounds alone. Especially at a time such as this."

The Sinda did not even turn as he addressed the guard, "I am not in need of protection mellon. I just need to be alone. I pray you understand."

Kélion did not need to see the ellon to know that he understood. The prince continued towards the trees, but once again a voice called out to him,

"My Lord Êmand and Captain Meldir took the South path. If you are not back by sundown, I will alert the king and send out a guard."

A soft smile graced Kélion's face. It seemed he could not hide his true intentions from anyone. Without a word, the ellon quietly slipped into the trees, soon disappearing into the shadows.

The guard watched the prince vanish. He knew that the elf was not simply going for a walk in the woods. Turning back to welcoming hall, the ellon walked away. He needed to go and talk with the king. Behind him the gate closed with a hollow boom and a smile crossed his face. The royal family was falling apart. If all went as planned, the crown prince would return as king. If he returned at all.

Kélion brushed through the thick undergrowth. He did not notice the trail he was leaving his wake, nor the soft whispers of the trees. Anger was consuming him, anger and frustration.

The prince pushed through the brush and came upon a clearing. He stepped into the tall grass and froze. A hooded figure stood in front of him, aiming an arrow right at his heart. Kélion started to raise his hands to show he posed no threat, but then stopped. He knew that bow and arrow. The prince crossed his arms.

"Kélion?" the figure brushed his hood back, "Valar, you scared me half to death. What are you doing crashing through the forest like an orch?"

If the Sinda had not been furious at Meldir he would have laughed at the startled look his mellon's face. But no joy or laughter filled his heart. Instead he glared at the elf.

"Why did you leave the palace?"

"Why did you follow?"

The two friends glared at one another; icy blue eyes boring into dark, brown ones. But a second later Meldir sighed and looked away.

"Êmand asked for my help."

"And you didn't think to come and tell me?" Kélion threw up his arms in frustration, "Does our friendship mean so little to you that you would not come to me for advice? Did you not think to at least come and tell me where you were going? I could have helped."

"I tried to tell you," Meldir cut in.

"Obviously not very hard."

Kélion did not miss the hurt look that flashed in his mellon's eyes.

"I tried to tell you," Meldir said again, his voice as cold as steel, "But Thalion refused to let me see you. He said that you were grieving in the garden with your adar and that I could not interrupt you. Our friendship means enough to me that I did not intrude on your moment of grieving. What did you want me to do mellon nín?"

The last two words were forced out through clenched teeth. Kélion took a step back. The anger radiating from Meldir surprised him and the words his friend has said struck at his heart. He let his hands drop to his side.

"Goheno nin. I did not mean to be so harsh with my words. My heart is full of anger and frustration. It is not fair for me to take these emotions out on you."

Meldir smiled sadly. He stepped forward and put his hand on Kélion's shoulder.

"There is nothing to forgive. But now that you are here, perhaps you can be of some help. Come, let us go and check on Êmand. Perhaps he has had better luck at finding something."

Êmand frowned as found the deep cut in the soft bark of the young sapling. He had prayed that the arrow would still be there. He remembered seeing it stuck fast in the tree after grazing Legolas's neck. Whoever had fired it was obviously either very carful with his arrows or cared who saw it.

Êmand groaned. He had already looked over the arrow that had been pulled from his leg the day of the attack. It was that of an orch. The clumsy design and crude material used left no doubt of that. But the projectile that he had seen graze his charge's neck had not been that of any yrch. It had been smooth and well built. The arrow of a highly skilled archer.

The Silvan's thoughts were interrupted by Meldir calling to him. He looked up and caught sight of his companion and a certain blond elf. For a moment the ellon mistook the silver-blond hair and stern face for that of Thranduil. But it was only Kélion.

"I am here mellon. And it appears that you have found someone," Êmand walked away from the tree, smirking at the sullen look the prince shot his way, "A lost elfling it seems."

But the taunt did not bring the usual smile to the prince's face. Instead the prince demanded,

"Did you find anything?"

Êmand sighed. Things would never be the same now that Legolas was gone.

"The arrow is missing. It appears as though whoever shot it at your brother was very thorough in cleaning up after himself."

Kélion walked slowly behind Meldir as the elf scoured the surrounding undergrowth.

What is the use? Whoever was here is now long gone. All traces will likely just lead us on some wild chase that will lead nowhere.

The prince leaned against a tree. He had never felt so useless before; so defeated. Kélion closed his eyes.

Mae Govannen, Prince of Greenwood.

Kélion's eyes flew open and he stumbled away from the tree. Meldir looked back at him, but the Sinda paid him no heed.

You heart is fill of anger, deep sorrow… and disappear. Why do you lose your hope penneth? For hope is not lost.

Kélion sank to his knees. He had never heard the trees speak so clearly. Was he in a dream? Had he fallen ill?

You need to return to the palace, for something evil is at work. The trees here have grown dark. They are hiding something.

The prince looked at he trees around him. How could the forest this close to the palace be going dark?

You must leave.

Kélion frowned. He scrambled to his feet and stepped over the tree he had leaned against. Putting his hands to the bark he let his inner light flare.

I am here to find out what happened to my brother.

You must go back to the palace, for you have all been betrayed, the intensity of the voice startled Kélion, the little green leaf has left this forest, but do not despair yet. Now go, for things are happening that cannot be undone. Farewell my prince.

The gentle voice went silent. Kélion pressed his hands against the tree.

No! Do not leave. What of my brother? What are you not telling me?

But there was just silence.

A hand on his shoulder made Kélion jump.

"Peace mellon nín," Meldir's concerned eyes looked at him, "What did you hear?"

The intensity of the azure eyes startled the Silvan elf.

"We need to get back to the palace."

"Why?" Meldir asked as the prince took off back the way they had come, "We may never get this chance again. We may never know what happened to Legolas."

Kélion turned and looked his friend in the eye, "Something has gone ill at the palace. Legolas would want me to care for those who still yet live, before avenging those who do not. Come with me if you want or stay here and continue to search. It matters not to me."
Something the tree had said had distressed the prince greatly. He felt torn inside. Leaving now would mean that they may never find out who had attacked Êmand and Legolas that day. But how could he leave his friend? He had sworn an oath to protect the prince.

"Êmand!" the Silvan called even as Kélion turned to walk away, "We must leave now."

Elvish Translations:

mellon nín – my friend

mellon – friend

orch – orc

adar – father

goheno nin – forgive me

yrch – orcs

mae govannen – greetings

penneth – young one