I hope this chapter helps :) If you would like you can go back and read the prologue to refresh.
Thank you DakotaPevensieGreenleaf. You are a blessing mellon nin!
On a sadder note I will be missing the next week to two weeks of uploads. I made a promise to myself when I started, that I would take a bit of time off after every 10ish chapters. As you can see I failed!
So please forgive me that the next chapter will be a bit late. I do not want my writing to get rushed or worse then it already is :) I am not abandoning this, just taking some time to rest, relax, and write the next chapter...
With that said enjoy and I will see you all in 2020!
Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
December 28, 2019
Chapter 25 – Elrond's Tale
The giant spider's bulbous red eyes. The unconscious elf laying to the side of the clearing. A quiet voice saying his name. A silver tear sliding down a pale cheek.
Estel shook his head to dispel the flashes of memory that flooded him mind. So much had happened in the past couple of days and it had all originated from them venturing into Mirkwood. If they had never found Maer would any of this have happened?
The young human glanced over at his ada. Elladan had joined the group of elves after checking on the horses. He had figured his brother would do this, but still it stung. Here he was an outcast, not only in the world of men, but also in his family.
Frustrated, Estel reached down and ripped up a handful of grass. He was tired, board, and irritated. Why could they not for once treat him like the man he was, not the child he used to be? What were they talking about that they felt he could not be included in?
He tossed the grass up. But the air around him was still, no breeze passing through it. With nothing to carry it away down the hill the torn pieces of grass floated back down to land on Estel and the young elf next to him.
Grumbling the human spat out bit of grass that had gotten into his mouth. Sometimes he swore that arda itself hated him.
"Toron, you have grass in your hair."
Estel groaned at Elladan's voice. He quickly ran a hand through his tangled, brown hair to remove the bits of green.
"What were you doing? Rolling around in the grass?" Elrohir chuckled, "You haven't done that for many years. Why did you not invite me?"
Estel turned to glare at the elf. He was in no mood for his brother's taunting.
"So, you finally decided to come back and join me. Did ada finally stop talking or did he decided not to let you in on the conversation either? I thought it was just me who got this special privilege," the sarcasm dripped from Estel's words, "Is anyone ever going to bother…"
His words faltered as he saw his ada walk out from behind Elrohir.
"No ion nín, it is not fair. I have kept you in the dark for far too long. Elladan has told me of your frustration. You are not a child anymore; I just cannot see it," Elrond looked from his son down at the unconscious elf, "Pray tell why does he have grass on his face?"
"There are many things I should have told you all sooner," Elrond looked at each one of his sons, "I have left you in the dark about many things, but most of all you."
The Noldor's dark eyes came to rest upon Estel, "You deserve to know the truth. I have hidden this past from even myself, for the shame and guilt is great."
"Do you not want to wait until we have traveled from this place and made a camp for the night?" Elladan was looking down the hill at the yrch corpses.
"If I do not tell this now then I fear I never will."
What had his ada done that had been so terrible? Estel felt his heart quicken as the elf lord started his tale.
Flashback - 2,600 years earlier in Imladris
"My lord Thranduil, what brings you here to Imladris? We were not expecting you," Lamonir bowed quickly to the menacing figure in front of him.
"I come to see Elrond. And I believe that my coming is only a surprise to you, for I did not come on my own desires. I received a letter," with this the elf king jumped down gracefully from his white horse and brushed past the ellon. He was quickly followed by his personal guard.
Elrond stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. He sighed. Half of him had hoped that Thranduil would not come. As the Greenwood elves vanished into the hall the elf lord turned away from the beautiful view. It was not good to keep his company waiting, least of all this particular company.
"Welcome to Imladris my Lord Thranduil. I trust that your journey over was uneventful."
"Uneventful and I hope not unnecessary. Why have you summoned me here?"
Elrond let himself groan internally, "It will be worth your time. I assure you. But let us not speak of such things now. I will escort you to your rooms for I am sure you tired."
Thranduil did not look pleased but followed him none the less.
"Hîr nín, why have you called them here? What purpose do you think this will serve?"
Elrond looked smiled gently at Lamonir, "Darkness is spreading over all of arda. The eldar cannot remain divided. I believe much good will come of this."
The ellon did not look convinced as he followed the elf lord into the Hall of Counsel. Thranduil sat near the head of the table, his trusted guard Tamír, sitting next to him eyeing everyone with suspicion. The very air of the room seemed ripe with tension.
The elf king's steely blue eyes cast a judgmental gaze on Elrond as he took his seat at the head of the table.
"I trust you have rested well?"
Thranduil's eyes darkened slightly, "Pray skip the formalities. I desire to get back to my kingdom as quickly as I can."
The Noldo bit back a harsh retort, "Of course. I know how difficult it is for you to leave your kingdom, especially in such a dark time we now live in."
"Do you think that my wife and advisors are not capable of taking care of the Greenwood while I am away?"
The other elves in the room started mummering.
"No not at all," Elrond stuttered, "I meant only that…"
But Thranduil stopped him, "I care not. Just get on with the treaty, for that is no doubt why you have called me here."
This was not going at all as he had hoped.
"You wish for the aid of my kingdom if Imladris is ever attacked and if we are in need of aid you will help us?"
"Yes. Have you not felt the darkness?"
Thranduil's eyes grew guarded, "The Greenwood can protect itself. We have no need for aid."
"Yet, I have received news of armies of yrch massing at Dol Guldur."
"And why should I care about that evil place? It is beyond my borders."
"Because if the evil continues to grow then you will be the first to be attacked. I have already gotten news of armies of yrch gathering there. We must band together if we are to survive. You cannot be so arrogant that you will not see this warning and accept help."
The hall went completely still as if the air had been sucked out of it. When Thranduil spoke, his voice was as cold as ice,
"You must guarantee me that you will not betray my trust. You must guarantee me you will come to our aid should we need it."
Elrond glanced over at Glorfindel before saying, "You have my word."
"If you break this…"
Thranduil trailed off, the unsaid threat hanging in the air.
"Legions of yrch as amassing at Dol Guldur. They are preparing to attack the Greenwood."
Elrond set his pen down gently, gazing at Glorfindel calmly, "And has Thranduil called for aid?"
"You know he won't. He is too proud. He will never call for aid unless forced to."
The Noldo looked back down at the letter he was writing and remained quiet.
"So, we mean not to go to their aid? Elrond, you signed a treaty."
"I do intend to help them. I will not see the Greenwood be overrun all because of one arrogant elf, mellon nín."
"What do you intend to do?"
The elf lord picked his pen up again and signed his name at the bottom of the letter with a flourish. Then he folded it and handed it to Glorfindel,
"Find someone to take this to Thranduil. Then call the counsel."
"You knew," the elf smiled at Elrond, "I should have guessed. What did you say in the letter?"
"I told him to prepare his army and that I would send another letter as soon as we arrive at the west side of the Greenwood. I told him that he is not alone in this fight."
"Have you sent the letter to King Thranduil?"
"Yes, hîr nín. We sent several of our riders to ensure that it will reach the king."
"Mae carnen Lasbelin," Elrond watched as the ellon nodded before walking out of the tent, "You have remained strangely quiet mellon nín. What is on your mind? Do you not think this will work in our favor?"
Glorfindel placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, "I believe the yrch will be caught by surprise. They will not expect an attack from both directions. But there is a worry in my heart still."
Elrond walked over to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder, "We will not fail. Before noon today we will attack from the West and Thranduil from the East. The battle will be over before nightfall. Alone we both would fall, but together we are stronger than they."
"But if things do go ill today then I am happy to have fought on your side for all of these years gwador. Berio ven Eru."
"Sy telir!"
Elrond and Glorfindel jumped from their seats in the tent as the frantic cries echoed through the encampment. Lasbelin stumbled through the entrance, brown eyes filled with horror.
"A company of new yrch traveling to Dol Guldur found our camp. We are under attack!"
Both ellyn stood still for a moment as they heard the cries of both elves and yrch outside. Glorfindel looked his friend,
"Send a letter to Thranduil. He must call off his attack. He cannot win the battle if he attacks on his own. They will be slaughtered."
Elrond rushed over his bags and grabbed a piece of parchment from it. He could hear Glorfindel speaking softly to Lasbelin as he hastily scribbled a note to Thranduil. A moment later he handed the hastily addressed letter to the Noldo guard.
"Take this to King Thranduil. He must get it soon."
The elf bowed before rushing out of the tent. The cries from the yrch grew louder and both Elrond and Glorfindel drew their swords.
"If Thranduil does not get the letter in time then he will attack. And if he does then we will not be there to help him. He will think we deserted them and forsake our treaty."
The elf lord gripped the handle of his sword tighter,
"Then we shall just have to hope that Lasbelin reaches them quickly."
Together the two friends stepped out into the battle.
To their west the Greenwood army began their attack, not knowing that their allies would never arrive. They were alone.
As the sun set that night Elrond looked around at the injured ellyn. The battle had been long, and they had suffered many casualties, but they had been victorious. Thranduil would likely be angered that they had called off the attack, but he would worry about the Sinda later.
Unknown to them several leagues away a young Noldo guard lay dead, an undelivered letter still clutched in his hand.
Elvish Translations:
maer – golden
ada - dad
toron – brother (Noldorin Elvish)
ion nín – my son
yrch – orcs
hîr nin – my lord
mae carnen – well done
gwador – sworn brother
berio ven Eru – may Eru protect us
sy telir – they are coming