Wishing all of my amazing readers a happy Saturday! There are only 15 chapters left in this story! I cannot believe how fast it is all coming to a close! Fear not I am currently well one my way to writing the sequel ;) And due to the fact that I am now not allowed to see anyone and am not supposed to leave my dorm, I am getting pretty board!

For silverarrow: I will never turn down any review from you! Fear not! so sorry for leaving you in that position! Cliffies are not fun and I am sorry to say that it will not be cleared up in this chapter! You will sadly have to wait for next week to find out about Legolas *hides face from the angered readers*. The last thing I will leave to think about it will Estel as Tamir what is wrong with Legolas? Or will time run out before he can... I will end with that!

For my guest reviewer: Thank you so much for the review! Glad to hear that you are enjoying it! That sure means a lot to me! And yes Elrond does seem to consider Legolas like a son. More on that to come? ;)

I am aware that a lot of the memory harkens very much to the words spoken between Denethor and Faramir. It just seemed to fit too well! A massive thank you the side of Arda for my beta elvenmaia!

Out of Mirkwood

Scribbles-on-Parchment

September 26, 2020


Chapter 60 – Angered Words

Kélion shifted uncomfortably as he scanned the trees around him. It has been many years since he had worn his armor as there had been no need to wear it until now. While the silver metal that adorned the tunic was lightweight and fit him well, he found it much more constricting than his normal light tunic and leggings. On top of all of this his mind was on full alert and adrenaline would flood his body when he heard any sound coming from the forest around him and his men. It was a horrible feeling to be preparing for a battle but the Sinda felt that it was far worse to wait for one.

The day before Kélion had gotten into a furious argument with his adar about the best course of action to engage the enemy and it had left a great rift between the two. While Meldir had been able to dispel the small scouting party of yrch that had made it into the forest that lay inside the barrier, the prince knew that more would soon follow. By now the word had spread throughout the palace of the King's fading strength and of the imminent collapse of the Greenwood barrier. Already Kélion had heard rumors that the next wave of yrch would wipe them all out, and while Meldir had done his best to put a stop to these whispers, they only continued to grow.

Everyone was anxious and on edge, especially at night when the darkness seemed to stretch on for days and few were able to find rest. An attack was expected at any moment and that meant that all were on their guard.

Since Kélion's failed attempt to strengthen the barrier, the ellon had been unable to access it again. No one knew if the elven magic still held or if it had already fallen, but it was a great source of frustration for the Sinda. He knew he had failed his people and his adar. Every time he tried to get back to the dream where his brother had met him, he failed. It was as if there was some force that was keeping him out. Had another been given this power or had something evil taken over it?

After he had awoken from his dream yesterday, Kélion had had little time to dwell on the thought of the traitor in their midst. It did make sense to him that Úmmon would not have been the only elf with darkness corrupting his heart, yet he did not feel like burdening his adar with any more worries. The King had enough on his plate as it was and it had showed painfully in the fight they had just had. Besides, he did not think it right to become suspicious of his fellow eldar, not until some kind of proof was found. It was a dream after all; how true could it really be?


Meldir came up to Kélion as the ellon stood in the midst of his men by the gate to the palace. They had been commanded to protect the place should a surprise attack come. Thranduil had insisted on taking the rest of the soldiers and patrol the south end of the woods to see if any more information of the yrch would present itself.

The Silvan general glanced at his friend and sighed inwardly. He knew the look in the prince's tired eyes. The ellon was agitated, extremely agitated.

"There forest is still quiet; no signs of yrch," Meldir paused for a moment, "However there is also no word yet from your adar. Do you think it wise for me to send out some scouts?"

Kélion shook his head, "No, not yet. I do not want to be paranoid. They have only been gone for but a couple of hours. I shall give it a little longer before we go out in search of them. For I have an odd feeling…"

The prince's voice died away, leaving Meldir to raise an eyebrow. Yet the Sinda did not speak again and appeared to become lost in thought. The general put a hand on his friend's shoulder,

"I am going to check on the ellyn I have stationed in the trees to the North," Kélion nodded but did not appear to have fully comprehended the elf's words, "Do not leave this place or do anything foolish until I get back."

Meldir gave a stern look to the Silvan soldiers who stood beside the crown prince before he turned and walked away into the woods.


Kélion was getting an odd feeling. Though the trees had gone oddly silent in the foreshadowing of a battle, he somehow knew that someone or something had entered the Greenwood. It was drawing nearer, yet it did not feel like a dark force; on the contrary, it felt almost like something familiar. However, he could not place his finger on what exactly it was. The prince shook his head to clear his thoughts and watched as Meldir disappeared into the dark shadow of the trees.


FLASHBACK

The day before in the Greenwood palace…

"Adar," Kélion marched into the King's chambers to find the Sinda sitting in a chair staring listlessly at the fire, "I need to speak with you," The prince threw a glance at Thalion who stood by the door and added, "In private."

The Silvan counselor got the hint and quickly bowed to Thranduil before making his way out of the room. As soon as the door shut behind Thalion, the king got to his feet and turned to look at his son before asking,

"What is it ion nín? What is troubling you? You appear to be upset."

"Upset!" Kélion's voice had risen in anger, "I am very upset adar. Meldir has just told me of what you did yesterday while I was out on patrol."

"What did he tell you of?"

"He told me that you called the counsel together to discuss plans for battle. Why did you do this without me?"

Thranduil did not react to the anger in his son's voice but instead said calmly,

"Am I not allowed to call together my counsel when I see fit to do so? I did not realize I needed to get your permission to do so."

"That is not the problem," Kélion seethed, "My issue is that you chose to make plans without me, your son, and then not tell me of it. Did it not cross your mind that I was not there in the room with you? Or did you do it on purpose?"

"I did only what I saw was wise."

"Wise?" the prince spat, "How was it wise? Am I not still part of that counsel?"

"You are ion nín, but I did not want you there," the king brushed past his son and went to pour himself a glass of wine from a small chalice that sat on his desk.

"And why is that? Do you not see me fit to help guide you in times of war? Or do you not see me fit to be your son?"

"Neither. I merely did not think that you would agree with the course of plan that I wanted to propose so I held it without you."

Kélion was fuming, "And I do not agree with it. You are still ill adar, you should not be the one to lead the soldiers tomorrow on the Southern patrol. It is not wise. I should go in your stead."

Thranduil took a small sip of wine before answering, "And that is exactly why you were not in the counsel yesterday. Though you will be happy to know that Meldir proposed this same idea that you had. However he was quick to change his mind."

"And why was that?"

"Because he saw the validity in my argument. I will be the one to lead the soldiers tomorrow because right now the people need to see a strong leader. They need their king to lead them. I will not make the same mistake with you as I made with Legolas. You will stay close to the palace tomorrow and in any battle that ensues."

"Why are you are doing all of this? For revenge? Because you are paranoid that I will be slain too? Do you really think that killing those yrch will bring Legolas back? It will not and you know that. You are being foolish adar. You will be killed."

For the first time in their conversation anger flared in the king's eyes.

"You would do well to watch your words carefully, penneth."

"That is what you said to Legolas before you hit him," Kélion took a challenging step towards his adar, "I am beginning to see why he wanted to leave in the first place."

"Do not say another word ion nín," Thranduil growled, "You are out of line."

"And what will you do if I demand to go in your place tomorrow? Will you hit me too?"

The king and crown prince stood facing one another, neither willing to back down as sorrow and anxiety fueled anger flooded through them.

"You will do as I say because I am your king and you will obey me. I will not suffer any disobedience from you," Thranduil's eyes were blazing, "Your brother never challenged me. He knew his rightful place and it would be good for you to remember yours. If you decide to leave the palace tomorrow then know that I will not come after you, nor will I send anyone out to save you should you need it. My son who wished to live is dead and my other son who wishes to die is alive. Perhaps it would have been better if you had switched places."

Instantly the fire in Kélion's veins died and a look of immense pain crossed the prince's azure eyes. He took several steps back as though he had been struck,

"So be it adar."

The younger elf turned towards the door as Thranduil realized the impact of his words. The king cried out,

"Wait ion nín. I did not mean…"

"No, I think you did mean that," Kélion cut his adar off as he opened the door, "If I see you alive after whatever happens tomorrow, then I pray to the Valar that you will be happier with the son that you are left with."

The door slammed shut behind the crown prince.

END FLASHBACK


Kélion felt his heart break as his adar's words once again rang through his mind. He knew the ellon felt great remorse for saying them for the Sinda had tried several times to speak to him in private before he had left. But the prince's heart was too torn and hurt to speak to the king. He had done all he could to avoid his adar after their fight for he feared that any other words between them would just lead to more hurt and anger.

Though he suspected Thranduil did not mean his words, Kélion knew he would never be able to brush them aside. Legolas should have lived. He should have died in place of his brother. Kélion had spent the remainder of the long night desperately wishing that their places could have been switched. He had begged the Valar to bring his brother back and take him instead, but he knew it was not to be.

Why had he been left on arda if only to fail at all that he tried? He had failed his people in not being able to strengthen the barrier and he had failed in becoming the ellon his adar had wanted him to be.

"Hîr nín."

Kélion was jolted once more from his thoughts. He glanced over to see the Silvan that had just spoken. It was a guard. The younger elf's dark eyes were full of worry.

"What is it?"

"It is an ellon. He is demanding to speak to you."

Kélion sighed deeply and turned to follow the elf back into the palace. What was it now?

The guard led him into the now deserted Welcoming Hall where he saw a hooded elf standing by one of the side doors.

"Prince Kélion," The elf addressed him as they walked up, "I have something I need to tell you of. It is urgent."

The stranger's voice was deep and soft and sent a chill down the Sinda's back. He did not recognize who it belonged to.

"Who are you?"

"I am Rívorn."


Elvish Translations:

adar - father

yrch – orcs

ion nín – my son

penneth – young one

hîr nín – my lord