Hello faithful readers - due to the many comments regarding dislike for my last chapter I felt it necessary to address a couple of things so please forgive me for this... I understand many are upset about the portrayal of Thranduil, Legolas. Kélion, Tamír, etc. All I can say is that this is the way I have chosen to write them I am sorry if you do not like it and will try to take it into consideration later. However, I have already written chapters that will be posted well into June of 2021 and fo not have time to incorporate changes now. Thank you all for understanding...

For silverarrow: thank you so so much for the review as always! You are super kind and it means a lot to me... especially this week after a lot of criticism so thank you Mellon nín! Please keep me updated about the covid situation as I am worried for you...

For Dream Plane: thanm you as well Mellon nín! You are a great friend and reviewer in these hard times and I appreciate your undying support!

And to my beat elvenmaia- you truly are one if the only things keeping me going :)

Out of Mirkwood

Scribbles-on-Parchment

November 28, 2020


Chapter 69 – Dark Visions

After Thranduil's explosion at Legolas, Êmand had been quick to escort the young ellon out of the king's sight. He had led the elfling to the far side of the clearing and under the low hanging branches of a large oak. The ground underneath was dry but covered in a thick blanket of dead leaves that crunched loudly every time one of them moved.

This is where the three ellyn had been ever since.

The Silvan had checked on the elfling's shoulder wound before moving to lean against the great trunk of the tree. Legolas had not spoken a word since his explosion at his adar and sat completely still, gazing out at the ellyn moving about in the clearing. His blue eyes seemed to flicker in the faint rays of sun that managed to get past the thick boughs above them.

Kélion had not moved from his side.

Part of the older prince wanted to speak with his brother. He longed to hear all that had happened to him and what was troubling the elfling's heart, but the Sinda knew that Legolas was too closed off right now to speak of such things; not yet at least.

Kélion watched as the human walked slowly over towards them before stopping several paces away from where they sat. He could see by the hesitation in his step that Estel was uncomfortable and did not seem to know what he should or should not do. The edan cast a glance around seeming slightly lost before walking away to sit under a nearby tree.

The grey eyes of the man drifted over to the group of ellyn and his eyes came to rest on Legolas. Part of Kélion wanted to move into the edan's line of sight to protect his brother from any more prying eyes but he could not bring himself to do so. Instead he tilted his head slightly to the side and tried to read Estel's body language to figure out his intentions. The human noticed this and quickly diverted his gaze, a faint blush creeping over his cheeks.

"Come mellon."

Êmand's voice called out softly, startling both the crown prince and the edan. Kélion turned sharply to the Silvan and raised a brow questioningly. He was calling Estel over to them? If his adar saw this he would not be at all pleased; however, his brother's mentor did not look at him and only motioned to the young human to come over to them.

The Sinda shook his head and turned back to see what the edan would do. To his surprise he saw the man's eyes lighten and a soft smile creep over his face. The human pushed himself off of the ground and walked steadily over towards them, all hesitation in his step now gone.

Kélion did not take his watchful gaze off of the human as Estel knelt down on the other side of his younger brother. The eldar's hand instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword as the edan put a hand on Legolas's arm, ready to protect the elfling at any moment.

"Maer? Manen le?"

To the prince's wonder a small smile formed on Legolas's lips and he turned to look at the man.

"Estel, I had thought you would be over helping your brothers? Or has my adar said something else to deter you?"

"No, Elladan simply wants to avoid causing anymore anger between us and your ada so he told me it was best to stay well away."

Kélion's eyebrows rose and he glanced back at Êmand once more. The Silvan had a broad grin on his face at the two young males' interaction. He had been impressed that Estel had been not only able to make the elfling talk but his brother's very súlë seemed to have brightened at the edan's presence. Was there truly a bond forming between the two? If so, he worried that it would not last long for it would not be long before his adar found out and destroyed any friendship they might have formed.


Tamír was lost in anger and deep regret. He had stormed away from the elven king and had wandered into the woods to allow himself the chance to cool his fury and gain a handle on his own emotions. The last thing he desired at the moment was to see Thranduil - in fact he never wished to see the ellon again. How was it possible that a single eldar could cause so much damage and hatred with just his words?

The Silvan came to a sudden stop as a strange scuttling sound behind him caught his attention. He spun around and looked back the way he had come, yet there was nothing except dark trees and shadows. The sound came again, but this time from the dense undergrowth to his right. Tamír's hand reached for his sword as he took a step forward in the direction of the noise.

As he did so he began to realize how far he had traveled into the forest. The faint light from the clearing was still faintly visible behind him, however all else was trees and darkness. How had he come so far without noticing it?

The ellon drew his sword. He could not travel any further into the woods or he would risk becoming lost and the trees here would serve no help to get him back to the clearing.

No other sound came.

Tamír's heart was pounding rapidly as he waited for another second, but all was silent. Deathly silent.

A creak of a branch bending with a heavy weight came and the eldar shifted his gaze upwards just in time to see a large bulky body of a massive spider dropping down towards him. His instincts took over and Tamír flung himself out of the creature's path as it came crashing to the forest floor with a screech. As soon as the ugly spider had landed, the Silvan was already back on his feet with sword still in hand. He thanked his years of rigorous training for saving him from being flattened by the giant creature.

The spider lunged at the elf, red eye gleaming in blood lust, giant legs scrambling to find traction on the dead leaves and damp earth. Tamír took notice of this and decided to use it to his advantage. He moved away from the arachnid until his back was pressed against a nearby tree. He glanced upward and smiled at the sturdy branch that was above him before turning his attention back to his opponent. The evil creature let out a low hiss, thinking its prey was cornered, and charged forward.

The instant the spider was about to reach him Tamír took a deep breath and leapt gracefully into the tree. The beast, being unable to stop so quickly, ran headfirst into the great oak with a loud shrill scream.

The Silvan felt the tree shudder underneath him at the impact but he kept his balance on the branch he now crouched on. He would use the spider's own tactics against it. The beast lacked any great amount of intelligence and in fact reminded Tamír faintly of an orch. They were both spawns of evil with only darkness in their hearts and a raging desire to kill.

The elf watched silently as the spider scrambled away from the great oak tree hissing in pain. As its ugly head passed under where he sat, Tamír jumped down into it.

The arachnid never stood a chance as the eldar landed lightly on its head before plunged his sword into its skull. The creature was dead in an instant, its great body collapsing the earth.

Tamír jerked his blade free as the spider convulsed in death's grip and leapt down onto the leaf covered ground. He glanced at the dead corpse of the giant spider and sighed. It did not appear to have been full grown and had stood no taller than his shoulders, but to him the fact that any of these beasts lived here was disturbing. How low had the Greenwood had sunk to become infested with these arachnids?

The ellon did his best to wipe the black spider blood from his blade and onto the damp leaves; he hesitated to put it away. He did not know if these creatures traveled in groups or not. Tamír glanced around at the dark trees wearily, yet no other movement nor sound could be heard. Everything lay quiet once more however this was no longer a comfort to him. He needed to get back to the clearing where there was safety in numbers should another attack come.

Tamír turned to begin heading back the way he had come and froze. The faint light from the opening in the trees was gone, replaced by shifting shadows. Had he gotten turned around in the fight? The Silvan looked around him in bewilderment but saw only dark trees, no sign of the clearing remained. Which way had he come from?

Slowly realization began to sink in. He was lost.


Thranduil glanced up from Elrond's letter, a great frown creasing his face. He did not know what to make of the elf lord's message and did not know if he should believe it or not.

The elven king looked around the clearing. He saw the Noldor working side by side with his ellyn to finish disposing of the yrch corpses and prepare the dead eldar for burial. Elrond's elven sons were working with the wounded and Tamír was nowhere to be seen.

Thranduil clenched his hands into fists, unintentionally crumping the letter he still held. Where in Eru's name had the blasted Silvan gone? He had wanted to speak with the ellon again regarding the contents of the letter.

Moving to the edge of the clearing to get away from prying eyes, the Sinda caught sight of his sons sitting under one of the trees opposite to him. He gritted his teeth angrily as he noticed that the edan was with them. The human was speaking with Legolas.

As the king took a step forward to go and address this, he suddenly gasped as his legs gave out beneath him and he crumpled to the ground. There it was, the feeling of great power being taken from him, again flooding his body. A sharp pain shot through his chest and he groaned softly even as his mind was telling him to stand up and fight it. A second later his vision went grey. He was just conscious long enough to hear someone calling his name frantically before he was plunged into a dark vision.


Thranduil groaned as he sat up. He felt terribly weak. Glancing around the eldar saw that he was standing in the audience room at the palace. His entire body stiffened as he noticed a familiar figure sitting on his very own throne. Dark hair and calculating brown eyes, it was just as Thranduil had remembered him.

"You knew this would happen, but you resisted it," Elrond's voice was soft, yet seemed to fill the entire room, "Only in the end you could not stop it."

The Sindarin king growled and tried to lunge at the Noldo only to find that he was held fast by several of his own guards.

"You fiend…"

"Now now my king," Elrond cut him short, "Angry words will do you no good. Not now at least."

"How did you get here? The Greenwood is protected, you should not have been able to…"

"To enter? But I did. Do you not see mellon. You let me in here. My sons came to you offering help and you… you accepted it, too misguided by the words of your sons to force us out. This is all your doing and you will pay dearly for it."

"No!" Thranduil struggled against the arms that held him, "Why are you doing this?"

"I think you already know why my dear Thranduil. You should never have trusted me."


Elvish Translations:

adar – father

mellon – friend

maer – golden

manen le – are you well

ada – dad

súlë – spirit

orch – orc

yrch - orcs