Hello mellyn! After a hard week I am eager to see what you all will think of this chapter :) Thank you so much for sticking with me and congratulations on making it to chapter 63!

For silverarrow: Keep your drawing! I too have a hard time finishing things...though for me it is finishing stories! And yes one of my favorite things to write is Maer being loved by everyone around him :D You know sometimes it is even hard for me to wait to post the next chapter! Fear not though because you will be getting extra chapters come Christmas :)

For Dream Plane: Glad that you think so! And yes Thranduil is quite a stubborn elf isn't he! I guess we will have to see what happens... ;)

For earthdragon: Yes what has Tamír done? I guess that will have to be revealed at a later time :) Thank you so so much for the kind review mellon nín!

And a thank you as large as all of Middle Earth to my beta elvenmaia.

Out of Mirkwood

Scribbles-on-Parchment

October 17, 2020


Chapter 63 – Planting Suspicions

Kélion looked hard at the ellon standing in front of him. The elf's hood still hid his face in dark shadow. Something just did not feel right about the eldar. It was like a dark aura surrounded him, but the prince naïvely pushed these thoughts aside,

"You requested to speak with me?"

"I did, but is there somewhere I can discuss some things with you in private? I do not wish to have other ears listening in."

The Sinda's eyes took on a calculating look for a second before he nodded his head slowly.

Kélion dismissed the guard who had led him to Rívorn before he led the hooded ellon out of the Welcoming Hall and into a side room that was used to discuss patrol routes. He shut the door firmly behind them and then turned to face the eldar. To his surprise he saw that the elf had pulled back his hood to reveal his face, yet the prince still did not recognize him which made him instantly weary.

The Sinda kept a close eye on the ellon as he moved away from the door towards the Silvan.

"You have my curiosity peaked mellon, for now I greatly desire to know what information you have that you did not feel was fit to tell me in front of my men," Kélion folded his arms over his chest, "But first I would like to know who exactly you are. I do not recall ever seeing your face in these halls before."

Rívorn chuckled softly,

"You may not remember me, but I certainly remember you. You were not but a young elf when I knew you, not even to your majority yet. I remember you running around the palace, in these very halls. I wonder what ever happened to that happy elfling."

"He grew up," The prince's voice was cold for he had a growing feeling of dislike for this elf, "Now pray tell me where you come from and who you really or I shall be forced to call the guards to arrest you under suspicion of trespassing into our realm."

"You do not want to do that princeling," the smile had suddenly vanished from the Silvan's pale face and a dangerous gleam had appeared in his dark eyes, "As for who I am, you will perhaps know me better as Manadhon for that is what my name used to be. However, I found it did not suit me very well, so I changed it."

Rívorn walked slowly around the prince as he spoke until he was standing between the Sinda and the door out of the room. Kélion took notice of this and his hand reached for his sword.

"I used to be your adar's most trusted guard and the captain of the royal escort. You remember me now do you not?"

The prince did faintly recognize the ellon in front of him, though now wished he had sooner.

"I remember that you were banished for high treason and for the use of dark magic," his blue eyes narrowed and glinted threateningly in the dim light, "You should not be here Manadhon. What is your purpose for visiting me for I could have you arrested and imprisoned in an instant."

"Not while you are alone you cannot and please call me Rívorn for I think you will come to find that it really does suit me well," the ellon did not seem to be the least bit perturbed at the Sinda's dangerous look, "Honestly I had hoped that you would have grown up to be wiser than that idiot king you call your adar. Yet I am afraid that I am sadly disappointed."

The prince's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. Rívorn noticed and let out a deep sigh,

"Come now Kélion, there is no need for violence and weapons. If I had wanted to kill you, I would have already done so by now," the Silvan watched the eldar's body tense, "But no, I am really here on a different matter. I came to let you know of some information that I thought you would find rather enlightening."

"So you mentioned already, but as of yet you have still told me nothing of any importance."

"You sound exactly like Thranduil, but alas it is true, I have gotten a bit off topic, haven't I?"

If the ellon's words were meant as a question Kélion did not answer and the Silvan eldar continued,

"Now I know I do not need to tell you that you are about to engage in a war that you cannot hope to win. Your numbers are few, your people questioning their fading king, and you… you are weak. Even now I can feel that your very súlë is dimming. You have lost all of your hope and will to continue on."

"Whatever you think you know, fuinthron, is wrong," Kélion spat at the Silvan.

"Such strong words for one so helpless."

Had the prince not had such a great amount of self-control, the result of so many years of dealing with his adar, he would have attacked the Rívorn right then and there; instead he growled,

"I can show you more than just strong words."

The Silvan smirked. This had been exactly the reaction he had wanted.

"Then it will also not come as a surprise to you to know that there are certain members that serve the royal family that should not be trusted."

"That is a lie."

Rívorn raised a brow and continued, "Let's start with Thalion. The supposed advisor to the king himself yet is unable to protect Thranduil and disappears for long amounts of time with no explanation. Did you not think it convenient that he was nowhere to be found when your adar was missing or when he was almost killed in the healing chambers? Then there is Êmand. Oh, poor Êmand. All he wants is for Legolas to come back. He feels worthless without the young prince to look after and who does he blame for the elfling's death? Thranduil. I myself can attest to what blame and anger can do to an elf. And Meldir, he just seeks power. He only calls you his friend so that he can gain control of the throne when you and your adar…"

"Daro!"

"What? Does it make you realize that you truly have no friends or allies in this place?"

"You speak only lies," Kélion's eyes were burning in fury, yet Rívorn could see the sliver of doubt that had begun to form behind the sky-blue eyes, "None of what you say is true."

"Then I shall let you continue on in your dream land until one day you come to a rude awakening. You really are all alone."

The Silvan smirked, his work here was almost done,

"One last thing, penneth," he pauses for a moment, "Noldor elves have entered these woods led by several of Elrond's sons. They have come to finish what they started. They will try to find good favor with Thranduil. They will seek to flatter you and give you wise counsel but be weary of them for they only wait for you to lower your guard before they destroy you," Rívorn turned and put his hand on the door, "Oh and I am glad you got your strength returned. Strengthening that barrier is not to be taken lightly especially when it has already been taken over by dark magic."

The prince growled and flung himself towards the Silvan, his control over his emotions vanishing. However, the instant he moved the room was plunged into complete darkness. Kélion gasped and scrambled for the door fearing that at any moment the ellon would come around and slit his throat. When his hand landed on the handle to the door, he flung it open allowing light to spill in once more.

Kélion whirled back around, sword in hand already calling for the guards. But the room was completely empty.

Rívorn was gone.


The Sinda's face was clouded in frustration as he learned from the stuttering guard in front of him that Manadhon was nowhere to be found in the entire palace. It was like the ellon had vanished into thin air. The only explanation was dark magic.

Meldir folded his hands over his chest as he watched the emotions play out behind his friend's blue eyes. Kélion had told him little of what this elf had talked to him about and the commander knew there was more the prince was not telling him.

However, his worry was now on Thranduil. If Noldo elves had in fact entered the forest would they dare delve deep enough under the Greenwood's twisted branches to stumble across the palace? With the barrier most likely already lost, there would be nothing from stopping the eldar from finding the realm that Thranduil had tried to keep secret for so many years. This truly could serve to be the end of them.

"Kélion," the Silvan walked up to the exasperated elf, "There is no need to worry yourself about that traitor anymore. I have little doubt that he turned tail and ran. That is the way of such cowards."

"Or he is still in the palace waiting for the perfect opportunity to…"

"Hush mellon nín. There are more important things to deal with at the moment. Your adar…"

Now it was the prince's turn to interrupt,

"My adar is the reason that this is all happening in the first place. If he had never walked in on the conversation between and Legolas or if I had stopped him before he hit him then this could have all be avoided."

Meldir's brow wrinkled in concern. He had thought Kélion was over these crippling thoughts.

"Why are you mentioning these things now? What did Manadhon say to you that has taken you back to such a dark place?"

"Nothing. I am merely irritated that I am having to sit and wait here while he is out doing Eru knows what."

"Then go after him."

Kélion stopped his frustrated pacing and stared at the ellon.

"You would have me disobey my adar - the king?"

"I would. For I fear that if you stay in this place any longer you will lose your mind. There has been no word from the patrol in far too long and I worry that they have run into trouble either with yrch or with the Noldor that you spoke to me of. Either way there is enough cause for me to give you my blessing to go after your adar."

The prince blinked slowly. He could not believe his friend was actually encouraging him to do this. But Rívorn's words suddenly came to mind. Was Meldir truly using him to get to a position of power? Was this all part of his plan?

Kélion ground his teeth. No. He was not going to think like this. The Silvan was his most trusted friend. He would never do anything like this. Nonetheless the prince found himself asking,

"And what do you intend to do while I am away?"

Meldir did not seem fazed by the question however and responded,

"I intend to hunt down this traitor before he can cause any more damage. He does not belong in these woods."

Satisfied with the answer the prince unconsciously relaxed his fists. He was being paranoid.

"Very well mellon. If you think it wise that I go in search of my adar then I will not argue for I cannot lie that my heart yearns for this greatly."

"Then go and take as many soldiers with you as can be spared. Eru knows you will need them more than I," the commander watched Kélion turn to leave and added, "May the Valar watch over you until you return safely mellon nín."

Meldir watched the Sinda walk before turning back to look into the palace. He would find that evil traitor and when he did, he would learn what exactly he had told Kélion. Then he would know how to help the prince, for that eldar had planted some dark thought that was quickly taking root in the prince's mind. He would not lose his friend to the darkness.


Elvish Translations:

adar – father

súlë – spirit

fuinthron – lover of evil (Sindarin insult)

daro - stop

penneth – young one

mellon nín – my friend

yrch – orcs

mellon – friend