Hello faithful readers! Here is the long awaited chapter! I hope that you all enjoy :)

For silverarrow: Thank you so so much for the review as always :) In terms of what Tamír has done... Thranduil thinks he has abandoned his people because he was gone after the battle that destroyed the Greenwood. It will be explained more later! I am sorry that you have to suffer through all of the cliffies! And yes I do believe that a chapter will be coming December 23 ;)

For Dream Plane: You may just be too smart mellon nín! Glad you were able to figure it out! Thank you so so much for the kind review!

Thank you to elvenmaia for being the best and most faithful beta of all times! You are a gift mellon nín!

Out of Mirkwood

Scribbles-on-Parchment

October 31, 2020


Chapter 65 – Reunion of Brothers

An hour earlier

Kélion knew something was amiss. Unlike his usual patrols in the forest, the crown prince could sense the presence of the evil that had passed beneath the great boughs of the trees. The Greenwood seemed darker somehow, as through a great sickness was leeching the life and color out of every tree and plant around them.

The Sinda dropped down onto one knee as he spotted a great disturbance in the undergrowth and glanced at the marks imprinted into the soft ground. The footprints that had transformed the delicate earth into a muddy mess could be none other than that of yrch. There were no other creatures that would leave so much careless damage as if the land were theirs' to destroy.

Getting lightly to his feet, Kélion looked around at the trail the evil creatures had left. A great many of them appeared to have passed through here not two hours before and were headed along the same path as his adar's group seemed to have taken. He was only slightly relieved that he could see no signs of a skirmish, yet.

"What are your orders hîr nín? Shall we follow the tracks or continue along the southern part of the border?"

The prince glanced over at the patrol officer, slightly confused at the ellon's question.

"What do you mean by the southern part of the border? Are we not still in the confines of where the barrier would lie? Surely we have not already passed out of it?"

"We passed out of the barrier not twelve paces back. We are outside of it now."

Kélion now glanced at the forest around him in a new perspective. Perhaps this was why the song of the trees has quieted considerably.

"Where did the king's patrol travel? Our mission is to find them. The yrch can wait for they are not within the barrier yet."

The eldar pointed down the trail that the creatures had left causing the prince to sigh. He had been afraid this was the case. For whatever reason, his adar had led his patrol out of the protected area of the forest and into the darkened woods. If they had ended up getting into trouble out here then there would have been no way to ask the trees to send out a call for aid, for the woods in this part of the forest were corrupted by darkness and listened to no one.

"We follow the yrch trail," Kélion felt for the sword that hung at his hip, "I do not know what led them to follow these tracks or if these tracks were made after they had traveled here, but I fear what we will discover. We must be on our guard."

The officer nodded briskly before hurrying off to tell the other ellyn in their patrol. Already the Sinda could hear the soft whispers of the soldiers as they questioned his decision to follow the yrch tracks. But Kélion found he did not care, for they would do as he commanded. If they were to fall back and follow the true path of the Southern patrol, he knew they might end up missing his adar's group entirely.

Weapon at the ready, the crown prince began to cautiously lead his group further into the forest and away from the palace. Valar willing they would find the patrol alive and well.


The path of the yrch continued to travel farther and farther into the dark woods until even Kélion was starting to grow anxious. They were now many leagues away from the gate and still the path of destruction went on. At the places where the muddy trail curved suddenly into dark shadows or thick underbrush, every ellyn reached for their weapons fearing a surprise attack would soon follow.

But none ever came.

The Sinda was now not even sure what he was following. Was he still on the trail of his adar's patrol or had the Sinda doubled back at some point? It seemed as though all visible elven tracks had been obliterated by the creatures' rampage through the forest. Was he leading his patrol into a trap that would serve to be their end?

These dark thoughts swirled around in Kélion's mind as another bend in the trail appeared several paces away. A dim light could now be seen through the tree trunks and with it faint movement where something or someone passed in front of the sunlight. Kélion held up his hand and the patrol came to a sudden halt. It was then that all began to hear the faint sound coming through the stagnant air. It sounded like elven voices.

Had they just found his adar's patrol or they had just stumbled upon the Noldor elves Rívorn had warned him of? What was the likelihood that that corrupt Silvan had even spoken the truth?

It was best to be on their guard rather than be taken by surprise by those kinslayers, Kélion decided, even if there was nothing to worry about this could all still be a trap.

He spoke softly with the officer and several other ellyn and it was agreed that they would go ahead of the rest of the group to see what lay in front of them. As the Silvan soldiers melted into the dark shadows of the forest surrounding the yrch path, Kélion watched them leave restlessly. He desperately wished he could speak with the trees and have them tell him who was in the clearing up ahead. However, the wood was deathly still, only the mummer from the gathering beyond them breaking the persistent silence.


"It is the king's patrol. It appears as if they did get attacked by yrch for the entire clearing is bathed in blood."

Kélion frowned. This was not what he had hoped to hear.

"Did you see my adar?"

"Yes, he was standing at the far side of the clearing and did not look to be wounded. But hîr nín, there are also other ellyn there as well," The prince had a horrible feeling he knew what the young Silvan was about to say, "They are blue and grey clothed elves... Noldor elves."

"Noldor elves? What are they doing in these woods?" The soldier that spoke had already drawn his blade, anger twisting his fair features, "They should not be here. Have they succeeded in capturing the king?"

All eyes turned to the two Silvans who had been selected to scout ahead.

"We could not tell. However, there was also a human," This led to more angry whispers filling the air, "He stands by himself at the edge of the clearing closest to us."

"So, we are not facing a horde of yrch but rather a hostage situation of our king by the Noldor and a single edan."

The others in the group agreed with the ellyns' statements and turned to look at their prince who had yet to speak. Kélion's brow was furrowed and his azure eyes were dark with anger,

"We must take them by surprise. They must not know we are here until we spring our trap on them. We must be weary for there could be other humans in these woods. It is unlikely that only one would be here alone."


"Eru, anno vellas lín enin 'raw hen."

Elladan put his hand gently on the Silvan's fevered brow as he said this. The elf had received a stab wound to the abdomen and had almost bleed to death before he had been brought to him. Even after Elladan had managed to stem the flow of blood and stitch the gaping wound, he was doubtful the ellon would survive the night.

"We have too little supplies," Elrohir came to kneel by his brother's side, "'We are running low on bandages and we are out of athelas. Already two who were brought to me have passed to the Halls of Mandos. This makes the death count near thirty."

Both twins fell silent and surveyed the wounded and dying Mirkwood soldiers that lay around them on makeshift beds that were little more than cloaks spread out on the leaves. At this rate many more would pass to the great halls before the sun set. They needed more help.

Elladan cast a glance over at Estel. The human was skilled in the art of healing and could prove himself useful if only the stubborn king had not taken such a great dislike towards the edan. As the Noldo's brown eyes landed on his younger brother he was surprised to see that the man was staring off into the dark trees as if he had seen something. Elladan's eyes then widened as a second later Estel launched himself at the ground as an arrow flew over his head, landing exactly in the spot his brother had just been a moment before.

"Estel!"

The Noldo's cry rang out in the small clearing causing all of the ellyn present to look his way; but Elladan was already hurrying over to his younger brother who was picking himself up off the ground.

"Toron are you well?"

The human glanced over at his brother while brushing leaves off of his tunic.

"Elladan, there are elves. We are being watched."

The elder twin looked quickly into the dark shadows of the trees the surrounded them. An eldar had fired an arrow at his brother and tried to kill him?

As the ellon's sharp eyes scanned the forest he felt his hand reaching for his sword. Or could it be that the yrch had come back for a second attack?

"Do not move Noldo or you shall find a dozen arrows in his chest."

The deep voice that spoke startled both males. The sound was coming from above them.

Both glanced up in time to see a hooded elf drop down from the branch that hung over them, bow drawn and pointed directly at Estel's heart. Instantly other elves began to materialize out of the woods, weapons drawn and angered looks on their faces.


Legolas heard Elladan's cry and jerked his head up. Êmand had immediately drawn sword and jumped in front the prince blocking his view of what was happening. Were the yrch attacking again?

The Sinda leaned over to glance around the ellon, but was only was able to catch a glimpse of a cloaked figure leaping down from a tree.

What in the Valar's name was this?

"Stay behind me Legolas," Êmand's voice was firm, his gaze remaining fixed on whatever was happening across the clearing.

However, the young prince was already pushing himself to his feet and was reaching for his bow. As his hands closed around the elegant weapon, he heard a voice behind him snarl,

"Do not do that or I shall be forced to put an arrow in your back."

Legolas froze and Êmand whirled around prepared to attack, but to the young prince's surprise his mentor lowered his sword mid swing and chuckled softly.

"I had not expected to see you here mellon. Pray tell me what brings the crown prince deep into the forest against his adar's wishes and attack his own people no less?"

Legolas turned around quickly, his heart pounding in his chest. Kélion?

"Why are you here with these eldar Êmand? Do you not know who they are? And who is it that you seem so frantic to prote…"

The young elf found himself looking up into the face of the crown prince. The Kélion's voice seemed to die in his throat as he looked at the familiar elfling in front of him. All of the blood swiftly drained his face. Both Sindar looked at one another for a long moment as the bow in Kélion's hand dropped unnoticed to the ground.

Legolas felt his chest began to tighten and a second later he launched himself into his older brother's arms.


Elvish Translations:

yrch - orcs

adar – father

hîr nín – my lord

eru, anno vellas lín enin 'raw hen – eru, may you give strength to this body

toron – brother (Noldorin Elvish)

mellon – friend