The Fall of 2065: Rivendell
Rumil paced the room. His feet pattered back and forth across the hearth in frustrated slaps. Every so often he would stop for a moment to let out a huff at the wood elves, open his mouth as if to speak, and begin to pace again.
Unede had barred the door and ordered the curtains closed, and now she sat with her head in her hands unspeaking and unmoving. She had changed from her gown, to her well-worn travel clothes that still smelled of horse and forest, and from the look of her it seemed she wished that the smells would manifest around her so that she might disappear into the trees. The other's around her stood near their packs, counting arrows or folding clothes into their saddle bags awaiting the orders of their captain.
But Elenwe stood alone in front of the fire, unchanged from her evening garb and staring at the flames dancing on the wooden logs. She was pale and clammy and short of breath, and the heat of the flames could not warm the worry in her bones.
"What have you done?" Rumil looked at Unede.
"Hush" she said unmoving. "The walls have ears."
Rumil rushed to Unede's side in only a few strides and grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled her close to him. Her eyes filled with fear and the breath caught in her chest.
"You wed the Prince of Mirkwood?" He whispered into her ear. "You wed the damn Prince and told not a soul and came to Rivendell?" He released her clothing and threw his hands in the air. "I trained you better than this." He yelled.
"Be silent." The Princess said standing swiftly, and bringing her face only inches from his. Now it was not fear in her eyes but swift anger. "I'll not have your tongue running loose and endangering my people."
"Endangering your people!" Rumils snorted. "Your guard sang your praise in front of the entire valley."
Mahtan shot him a dark look and crossed his arms.
"I will deal with him when we are home."
"Home!" Rumil yelled. "Home! You think Lord Elrond would send the Princess of Mirkwood into the Misty Mountains in the winter?" He moved closer and hissed at her. "You think he would send the Crown Princess of the Noldor?"
"Better than in the Spring when the Orc's are all about!" Mahtan muttered.
"Fall is our best chance." Unede said. "We leave now, and we bear the cold before the snows come." She moved for her pack but Elenwe stopped her.
"We can no go out into the night drunk and swiftly, surely we are not so foolish."
"Unede-" Rumil started.
"Your Highness" Beleg muttered the correction, but the Princess raised a hand at his words.
"Your Highness." Rumil repeated with a roll of this eyes. "You should have thought about the repercussions of your actions. This union, your marriage, could be treated as a, a…" he faltered and fear flashed over his eyes.
"As a what Rumil?" Unede asked raising her eye brows and drinking her wine. "Speak." Rumil crinkled his nose as she peered at him over the rim of the glass and for a moment thought he saw a flash of King Thranduils piercing blue eyes.
"As a hostility. What aim do you have? Would you move to be High Queen, to lead an army? To take command of Rivendell? To command all the elves of Middle Earth?"
"Is not Rivendell mine?" Unede tipped her head and raised a finger to Rumils chest. "Elrond is my Vice Reagent, and should I desire to be High Queen, and to rule Rivendell I shall." She sneered at him and took a handful of his tunic into her hand. "If there was a hostile deed done by my family, then it is the rule of your Lady in our southern woods. If anyone, had anything to lose, it would be King Thranduil, by your own admission. But it seems you think I would take his Kingdom too, and claim both Lorien and Rivendell. You think I am burned by some desire for power and crowns. But you see Rumil, you are not my councilor, you don't council queens, you guard them."
Unede crossed the room and poured a heavy glass of wine. She drank deeply, and set the glass down and looked pointedly at Rumil. "It's a funny thing Rumil, we came here bringing aide, and my Uncle put his us in shackles under the guise of a homely house. Not even allowing word to be sent to Eryn Galen of our delay, a travesty of courtesy. Perhaps, as you say, an act of hostility."
She watched him, and furrowed her brow and let the lights of the fire dance about her, and a glow surrounded her and for a moment Rumil saw the deep darkness that was settled in the seat of her heart, held there by some unseen force. But she moved aside and his gaze broke, and he felt a sadness flow from her and a peace settled into her skin and she let out a long sigh and shook off the shadow that had nearly bound its self on her shoulders, then gave the old elf a sad smile.
"The truth, my old friend, is that I wed Legolas because I love him. I love him desperately, we wed for no other reason, and I do not delight in the burden that these titles bring. I have no intention of ruling Rivendell, or being High Queen, and I counseled Galadriel against taking a title other than Lady of Lorien. I risked the disapproval of my countrymen and the Kings Council to come to Rivendell, and forge better kinship with someone who banished me. Still, cannot see his reasoning for keeping us here. And it seems I can do no right where ever I turn." Unede said gathering her thoughts and Looked to Elenwe. "But alas, Elrond cannot keep Elenwe here, it is a risk to him and he knows it now. Elrond would not dare to insult the King of the Woodland realm."
Rumil cursed, knowing he should have counseled Elrond to let them leave more swiftly. "This all could have been avoided with a messenger or even honesty from you at your arrival."
"And have him think I mean to take over all of elvendom as you did? No, better show good manners and good will and better our relations first. There is more at risk than orc attacks and elven crowns." Rumil furrowed his brows at her words.
"I for one am anxious for the road. We ought to ride at dawn." Beleg said trying to break the tension as he closed his pack and stood to face the others. "We have all had enough of this Your Highness, let us abscond this homely house and go back to our forest."
"Beleg if I hear another word from you, I shall throw you in the dungeons with Mahtan." Unede said and clinched her fists. Desperately she searched her mind for a plan. In battle she had a thousand contingencies and yet in the heat of court she found herself witless and unwise.
"This is what we will do." She began at last. "I will stay and everyone else will leave on the morrow. Elrond has no choice, he must let you go, and if not now then the repercussions The King will deal him are unthinkable. Even Legolas could not stay his fury." Unede paused for a moment "Have a company come and fetch me next summer."
"That is your plan?" Rumil said cautiously "Hide the truth and stay quiet?"
"Captain." A quiet voice spoke.
"What else is there to do Rumil? What words could sooth my uncle's malice? I thought aide would put us in the good graces of Rivendell. I thought my blood would give Elrond reason to heed my words. I thought my station would bring respect for Eryn Galen and give us a seat at the White Council. This journey was a test, and Rivendell has failed. They see my Kingdom as no more than an inconvenience, and I as no more than a fool."
"Your Highness." She spoke again.
"His fury will pass in time. He only acts for your safety. Perhaps if you tell him the truth-" Rumil replied.
"Unede." She said more firmly.
Their conversation paused and all eyes turned to the healer who stood at the hearth wringing her hands.
"I…" She started "I…" and she fell silent again. "I gave sleeping herbs to the bird keeper and sent word to His Majesty three weeks ago."
"You sent word to King Thranduil." Rumil breathed.
Unede's shoulders slumped and she poured more wine. "What did this letter say Elenwe?"
"Only to expect our delay." She was quiet again "I thought we needed to bide more time. I only meant to ease you of the need for haste."
"What exactly did the letter say Elenwe." Unede said.
The healers eyes welled with tears and through her sobs the story fell into place.
"I told The King that Lord Elrond felt it was unsafe for so few elves to travel back through the pass so close to winter. And that he was holding us here until it was safe for the wood-elves to return home, and that The Lord Elrond was keen for you to stay here in Rivendell, with the Noldor, where he deemed it safe for you."
Unede clinched her fists, and Rumil let out a cry of exasperation.
"Do you not trust our Princess to handle this little healer. Your place is to stay quiet and tend our wounds, not insert yourself into the business of our leaders. Did you not think what your actions could mean?" Beleg spat at her.
"My mind was bent that we should go home! Just as you were, I have tired of tarrying here in this valley."
"Silence." Rumil shouted over the feuding pair. "Unede, how long did it take you to ride here?"
"Seventeen day's time, we made great haste."
"And how long does it take for one of your companies to ready themselves for travel?" Rumil said quickly.
"An afternoon." She replied flatly.
Rumil cursed again. "Rivendell will have a host of wild elves here in mere days."
"Still your tongue the you should call us wild." Mahtan said "We've spent more than an age at war while you rest in talans under the protection a magic ring, and a witch."
Their voices quieted when a brisk knock came on the door, and the company looked to Unede.
"Unbar the door and let the Lord in." She muttered and poured another cup of wine.
The Lord Elrond strode into the room, leaving behind him a dozen guards in the hallway. He watched the wood elves standing before him, wild and angry, even the fire burned hotter with the fuel of their feas.
"I had never thought you wise child." Elrond said at last. "Your father's blood has thinned your better sense. What a precarious position I have found myself in, that you have made my house a prison."
"I came with aide."
"You came with secrets niece." Elrond continued "Secrets which were better spoken than silent. Your healer is quick witted, with more wisdom than you will ever have. Well, it seems, this Prince has chosen his mate. I would have tended you better Your Highness had I known of your travels for I am sure you have deemed me a poor host."
The healer watched Lord Elrond, and behind him Unede gave a swift and short nod.
"A poor host indeed. I thought this was a homely house, your visitors should be treated no different than I. Surely you desire comforts for all your guests be they royal or no."
Elrond began to speak but Elenwe continued.
"I was quite surprised too that you would treat our Captain which such cold malice. She is your family, and a hero to the elven folk. Is this the courtesy that the mighty Glorfindel receives? Or perhaps you think poor wine and bed rolls are a luxury to those who live in caves. Your Niece is the Crown Princess of the Noldor and you let her sleep on the floor. I've heard of better hospitality from dwarves."
"I meant no offense, allow me to better your stay tonight, and on the morrow we can speak of your return home." Elrond said.
Elenwe sneered at him. "I am of the mind to stay in the chambers you have given us. If this is what you think the woodland realm deserves, then it is what we shall have. Now, I beg you, leave us to our wine and fire and let us find rest after such an unsettling evening."
The Lord bowed and bid the company goodnight, and the room fell silent save for the sound of Rumil filling everyone's glasses with wine, and Beleg loading another log onto the fire.
Unede came to Elenwe and brought her into an embrace and held the elleth there for many minutes in silence until finally she spoke.
"How can I repay you for all you have done for me." She whispered to the healer.
"Just get us home Your Highness. Just get us home."
