Mae Govannen mellyn! I am proud of you all for making it this far! There are now less than 10 chapters to go...
For silverarrow: Here is your answer as to what Kélion is feeling. You don't have to wait any longer ;) And yes the 'hooded dude' will be important later! Also kudos to you for suffering through my chapters twice I can barely do it once when I edit them! I love the translation though! 'Raw chicken' I like it! Maybe it is like a hidden message for me! Hmmm... you may see this come up at some point in the future now ;)
For Dream Plane: Well I am glad I can at least keep you on your toes then! I enjoy adding in something unexpected here or there! So happy you enjoyed the chapter mellon nín!
Thank you elevenmaia for being the best and most wonderful Beta ever!
Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
November 7, 2020
Chapter 66 – The Noldor
Kélion stumbled backwards several steps, his hood falling back, as Legolas flung his arms around his older brother. The crown prince's face was deathly pale, his arms remaining limp at his side. He could not believe that the elfling clinging to him was truly his brother. How could this be Legolas? This had to all just be another trick or perhaps he was in a dream of some kind or having a hallucination. There was no way the young elf was here; he was dead. He himself had seen the mutilated corpse of Legolas with his own eyes. There had been a funeral. He had mourned for his brother. He had…
"Kélion?"
The prince heard the sweet sound of Legolas's voice as he felt the arms around him fall away. His eyes snapped open though he did recall when he had closing them. The Sinda found himself looking into the concerned face of his youngest brother. The deep blue eyes were flecked with brilliant gold, just as he had remembered. The elfling's brow was creased, reflecting the worry that had been evident in his voice,
"It is really me. I promise, this is not a dream anymore."
The light melodic voice made his heart jump with emotion. Kélion stretched his hand out until the tips of fingers were able to brush the smooth, pale cheek of the young elf. As he felt the warm skin against his hand, the Sinda felt a smile form on his lips. It was not the cold, dead body that had haunted his dreams for the past several nights, it was full of light and life.
In an instant Kélion had wrapped his arms around the elfling, holding him in a tight embrace. He was not even aware of the tears falling down his face until they began to dampen his brother's soft golden locks. His heart felt so full of emotions he was shocked it had not burst yet. There was joy, happiness, relief, but also feelings of anger and frustration. The Sinda managed to choke back the sobs that threatened to break free from his lips and keep a handle on his emotions. He pulled back from the hug and was at last able to look the young ellon over.
"Where in all of Arda have you been, you bloody idiot? Do you have any idea what you have put me through? Look at me, I am crying even now."
Through the haze of tears that still covered his vision and made everything blurry, Kélion could just glimpse the look of pain that flashed over his brother's face as he held him at arm's length. His instinct to protect his younger brother took over immediately,
"Where are you hurt, penneth? And do not try to hide it from me."
But it was Êmand who was first to respond,
"His shoulder; but do not let it worry you for I have cleansed and bandaged the area as best I can with the few supplies we have left."
At this revelation, the prince drew his hands back as through he had been burned. Had he caused Legolas hurt by embracing him?
"Im mear. Do not let Êmand get you worried over nothing, for that is all it is," Legolas tried to hide the bandages from his brother's sight as he spoke.
The last thing he wanted was for the Sinda to panic and become as overprotective as Êmand had. In truth it was his brother's violent hug that had caused a shooting pain to race across his arm, but it was nothing he could not handle.
"It is not nothing ion nín," Legolas groaned inwardly at the sound of his adar's voice that came from behind him, "You were stabbed in the shoulder by a filthy orch blade."
Kélion glared at his brother,
"And how did this happen? Why were you with engaging in battle with any yrch in the first place?"
The young prince opened his mouth to protest when he was cut short by his mentor addressing his adar and older brother,
"Hîr nín, I regret greatly that I must say this, but this is not the time for a reunion. The edan and the sons of Elrond are being escorted over here by your ellyn."
All three Sindar turned to look to see several of Kélion's soldiers standing several paces away, swords brandished, all three of Elrond's sons between them.
Estel wet his dry lips as he glanced over the anger filled faces of the Mirkwood elves who had escorted them towards the king. The ellyn had not spoken a word since they had disarmed them and their faces gave away none of their emotions. The rest of the Noldor had also been rounded up into a corner of the clearing, thankfully without protest on their part. Everyone seemed to be waiting to hear what Thranduil would say now that he at last had full control of the situation.
The young human had seen little of what had happened to Maer after they had been ambushed by the Silvans, but he had a feeling that the prince was faring much better than they were. In fact, as they drew closer to where the king stood, Estel could now see that another silver and gold headed Sinda was hugging the young ellon tightly. Another member of the royal family? A sibling perhaps? He had remembered Maer saying that he was the youngest son of Thranduil, but he had never really imagined the elfling to have any older siblings.
The dark haired ellon addressed Thranduil and at once all attention was turned onto him and his brothers. The new eldar took a step towards them, his face already hardening into what Estel had come to recognize was a trait of the elven king and his offspring. The ellon was tall, taller even than Elladan. He had dark azure eyes, that were a deeper shade than that of Legolas's and hair of a light golden color that gleamed almost white in the sunlight. The resemblance to Legolas was clear in the high cheek bones and slender frame. This Sinda's hard gaze came to rest on Estel,
"So, these are the sons of Elrond? I must admit I did not expect to come across you out here in the Greenwood; but then again," his eyes moved to the twins, "You always did cause trouble wherever you went if I recall correctly."
"Prince Kélion," Elladan nodded his head in a show of respect, "I am glad to see you again. It has been many years."
"It has but that was all by your doing not mine."
Estel glanced over at his brothers in surprise. They had known this Sinda? Neither of the twins looked over at him so the human turned back to the older prince as the Kélion continued,
"And what are you doing traveling in these woods and with an edan no less? I never took you for the type to fraternize with the humans."
Estel bristled at these words but managed to hold his tongue; he knew that if he spoke now it would only make things worse. He would have to leave it up to Maer and his brothers to defend him.
"This is Estel," Elladan spoke again, his gaze never moving from the prince's, "He is with us. He is our brother."
"Brother?" Now it was Thranduil who spoke, "How in Eru's name can that edan be your brother? What devilry is Elrond playing with now that has made this human his own?"
"He is our brother, though not by blood. He was adopted into our family by my ada when he was but a child. Though it is true he is not of the eldar he has been with us for many years and is one of our family. Be assured that if something were to happen to him we would avenge him as we would our own."
Though still spoken in an air of respect there was also a hint of warning in the Elladan's last words that made all around tense, yet thankfully neither royal seemed to take notice.
"If this is so, Elrondion, then pray tell me why you thought it wise to come into the Greenwood at all? You have laid low as cowards for many years, what has changed now that you come to seek us out once more? And why did your ada not come himself but instead send you?" Thranduil's voice was low and dangerous.
Estel could feel the tension once again begin to rise and he knew that both of his elder brothers were doing their best to keep their tempers under control.
"This is a matter that is long and complicated hîr nín. I would not want you to suffer with the details at this time as we stand here on the open with injured and dead ellyn and a band of yrch running unchecked through your forest. Do you not think this discussion is better suited for a later time?"
The anger and frustration were now beginning to show in Elladan's voice and Estel could see the Noldo's hands tightening into fists in an attempt to keep his anger in check.
"Then you will have to be brief," Kélion spoke now, seeming to sense the rise in hostility between them, "For as of this moment I do not see why my adar should let you or any of your ellyn give us aid. You have, as of yet, not given us any reason to trust you in the slightest. How do we not know you are here to kill us all?"
Estel could not help but let out a soft snort. This prince was proving that he was just as paranoid as the king, if not more. Why in Arda would they be here to kill them? It made no sense. The human looked up and noticed that all eyes had suddenly turned to him.
"Is there something you find entertaining about this, edan? Do you have something that you wish to tell us? If not, then I suggest you keep your mouth shut."
Realizing what had just happened, Estel glanced over at his brothers who were staring at him in horror. Their faces seemed to be pleading with him to keep quiet, but the young man knew that his stupid pride would not allow him to back down now.
"Hîr nín," Estel dared to take a step towards the Sindar as he spoke, "Though I understand your level of wariness about both me and the ellyn who I travel with, I would also caution you not to inflict judgements upon us without just cause. Had we come here to attack you why would we not have brought an entire army with us?"
Behind him the human could here Elladan groan softly but he forged on as a strange sense of confidence began fill him,
"Nay, we have journeyed for several days not to attack you but rather to bring you back your son, Legolas. You can do with me what you will but all you must do is ask the prince and you will see that we are to be trusted and have no malicious intent towards you."
Both Sindar looked Estel with calculating looks before Kélion turned around to his younger brother,
"Is this true, penneth?"
The young man watched at Maer took a step forward so he could make eye contact with him before answering,
"These Noldor have given me reasons to question their true intentions and I would not have them linger long here, however the edan speaks the truth. He, at least, has proven faithful to me whilst I was held captive by them."
As Legolas said this the entire clearing was thrown into an uproar.
Elvish Translations:
penneth – young one
im maer – I am well
ion nín – my son
adar - father
orch – orc
yrch – orcs
hîr nín – my lord
maer – golden
ada - dad
