A week late... but better late than never! My apologies, but I hope you all enjoy the next chapter!

In Times of Trouble

Scribbles-on-Parchment

November 13, 2021

Chapter 14 – Visions

Tamír could hear the sounds of loud voices even before he caught sight of the two irate Sindar. He had left Legolas's side with the intent of returning soon upon finding Êmand to ask him several questions that were pressing on his mind. No one seemed to know the princeling's mind, as well as his mentor and bodyguard and Tamír, knew if anyone would have insight on what to do, then it would be that Silvan.

However, the sound of Kélion's raised voice shouting at what could only be the elven king had made him quickly change the direction of his steps. Thranduil was known for his dangerous tempers and harsh words and it sounded as if his eldest son had finally had enough of it.

"You will not speak to your king in such a manner! Now go before I do something I will regret."

Tamír felt his hands tighten into fists at his side. He swore under his breath as he raced around the corner towards the sounds of the voices. Ahead of him, he could already hear the sounds of the royal guards, who must have had the same idea as he had. He had always known that under Thranduil's hard exterior he was simply a worried adar and king. Yet ever since he had returned, he had begun to wonder if the ellon he had loved and respected for so many years had passed away along with the queen.

The Silvan rounded the last corner and was forced to come to a sudden halt to avoid running into a very irate-looking Kélion being guided away by Meldir. Tamír made eye contact with the elven commander for a brief moment. He was surprised to see the Meldir's normally sharp and intelligent gaze had dulled dramatically, having been replaced by a hurt that shown out clearly in his face.

Tamír tore his gaze away as Meldir continued to direct the crown prince away from his angered adar. He would have to speak with the commander later about what had occurred between him and the prince, for that could be the only thing that would have affected the eldar so. Turning his focus on the King, Tamír redirected his gaze towards the armed guards who stood in the corridor. Thranduil was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is he? Where is the king?" Tamír demanded as he glanced around trying to find the telltale golden head of the Sinda. He needed to find the eldar before he did something foolish.

"He went into his chambers," one of the nearby guards said, clearly concerned about what he had just witnessed, "But I am not sure if it would be a good idea for you to follow. When the king is in such a temper it is wise to let him be until it has passed."

Tamír nodded his head knowing that these words were the truth.

"You may return back to your stations," Tamír said, feeling suddenly responsible, "Post one guard outside of Prince Legolas's room and set a watch on the King's chambers. I do not want anyone to disturb them until this situation has been sorted out. Now, please excuse me while I go and speak with the king."

The guard gave the Silvan a skeptical look but merely shook his head before turning around to leave. However, by this time Tamír was already heading towards the great wooden door to Thranduil's private chambers. He could only hope that he would be able to reason with the eldar.

"Why are you here?"

Thranduil's voice came from across the room as soon as Tamír had entered. The elven king stood facing the dying fire that was next to his great desk.

"Hîr nín, I only wanted to come and speak with you about our conversation earlier. I feel that my words were misguided and ill-timed," Tamír said calmly, closing the door firmly behind him.

The Sinda said nothing.

"I understand you are upset and rightly so. Yet it was never my intent to cause you to feel this way. If you do not wish to send for Elrond than I will listen and heed your request and speak of it no longer," Tamír had come to a halt in the center of the large room as he spoke unsure if it would be wise to continue forward, "Rest assured that I will do everything that is in my power to help your son. I will speak with my wife about the next thing that can be done and…"

"What is the point?" Thranduil's voice was so soft that the Silvan had to strain to hear the words, "What is the point of all of this?"

"I am sorry?"

"Fighting all of this darkness and evil. It is a never-ending battle that robs the world of its light and happiness. And what for?"

A crease appeared on Tamír's brow as he tried to understand what the eldar was implying.

"In the end," Thranduil continued, "Even the brave crumble. Even the light from the stars is hidden by dark clouds."

"I am not sure what you are saying."

"Do you not? Legolas is fading. My son is dying – you said so yourself. He is battling darkness that not even I can help him with. And even if he wakes then he will have no rest from it until his soul flees these accursed lands. Is it not more merciful to spare him of this pain and let him…"

"No!" Tamír's voice rang out in the room, "How could you think of abandoning your son? How could you choose to do nothing and let him die? You will not make the mistake I have. You may have lost all hope in your heart, but I shall not so readily give in. Banish these dark thoughts from your mind. Why do you dwell in such despair?"

As his question hung in the air, Tamír watched as his once good friend turned to face him. To his surprise, he saw that the cold exterior that the Sinda had erected around himself was at long last beginning to crack. The single silver tear that fell from the elven king's eye was enough to make his heartbreak.

Tamír walked slowly over to Thranduil waiting for the moment the Sinda would bring back up his defenses and throw him out of the room. However, it never came. He put a hand gently on the king's shoulder as a sign of friendship.

"Come mellon. Tell me what is on your heart."

"What were you doing? What in Eru's name has gotten into you Kélion?"

The crown prince ignored his friend as he ripped his arm from Meldir's grasp.

"Nothing has gotten into me. I am merely feeling extreme worry for my brother who as of now lies in a coma with no sign that he will ever awake. Now leave me be for I am in no mood to speak with you."

"Fine."

Kélion spun around at Meldir's calm response. He had never expected the Silvan to actually agree to do what he asked.

"What?"

"I said, fine. You wish for me to leave you be and so I shall do just that. You are the crown prince after all and it is not my place to argue. I shall go and see to my men. If you will excuse me."

Kélion simply stood and watched and the eldar gave a polite bow, spun on his heel, and strode away down the corridor. As Meldir disappeared part of the prince felt a pang of disappointment, but another part of him felt pleased. He wished the Silvan had chosen to stay with him and speak with him, but he also knew that it would have led only to another argument.

The crown prince walked slowly down the hall. He paused in front of the door to his brother's room before he pushed it open and walked inside. Legolas lay as still as ever on the bed, sunlight coming through the windows causing his hair to shine. Kélion closed the door softly behind him saying,

"How long have you been in here Êmand?"

"Not long. I came to see how my elfling was doing," the voice of his brother's mentor came from across the room, "And what brings you in here at this time?"

Kélion said nothing but made his way over to the large bed where Legolas lay. He reached out and brushed a strand of golden hair off of the pale brow and sighed,

"Why did he never tell us?"

"Tell us what? Of what are you referring to?"

"The barrier, his growing weaker, all of it. Why did he not tell me?"

Êmand was silent for a moment,

"I suppose that that is something that he will have to tell us himself when he awakes. Though I am not entirely surprised. He is as stubborn as your adar. He does what he sees to be right, even at great cost to himself."

"And do you think he shall awaken?"

"Yes. Though when I do not know. What I can tell you is that he will not readily leave with you still here by his side."

Kélion frowned as he glanced over the Silvan standing next to the large window. The dark bruise still stood out on the elf's cheek - something that the prince had all but forgotten about.

"Êmand, how did you come by that bruise on your cheek? You never did tell me."

The result was instantaneous. Kélion could only watch as the eldar's eyes darkened a shade.

"It was merely the result of a misunderstanding, I assure you. The fault was utterly my own."

Kélion narrowed his eyes. Êmand was hiding something and he knew it.

"Who hit you?"

"It does not matter. He was confused and frightened and did not know what he was doing. I can assure you."

"But it matters to me. You are a member of the royal staff and I will not have you being assaulted while you are under my care."

Êmand moved away from his place by the window as he sighed,

"I can defend myself, Kélion, if I see that it is needed. Yet perhaps I shall tell you when I deem the time is right, but I fear that what I say would hurt you deeply," the eldar cast a sorrowful glance at Legolas, "Now I will leave you to be with your brother in peace. I shall be right outside should you be in need of anything."

The guard whisked out of the room leaving Kélion alone.

"Kélion?"

The crown prince's head jerked up at the pleading voice and froze to see himself in an eerily familiar place. The flickering light of the Greenwood barrier stood out against the sickly green of the forest that surrounded him. He was in a dream.

"Kélion?" the voice came again this time from behind him, "Anno dulu enni."

The Sinda spun around, his hand already reaching for the nonexistent weapon at his side. However, what he saw made his breath catch in his chest.

"Legolas? Muindor?"

The elfling lay in a crumpled heap on the ground, golden hair spread out around his head as if in a halo, eyes closed as if in death. With a cry, Kélion raced to his brother and fell to his knees by the eldar's side.

"What is wrong Legolas? Tell me! I am here now and I can help you!"

The young Sinda's eyes fluttered open revealing deep blue irises that seemed to darken with each passing breath.

"They are coming, muindor. It has already begun - do you not already see them?"

Kélion's brow creased as he noticed his younger brother seemed to be looking not at him, but at something behind him. The prince turned his head but saw nothing.

"It hurts…"

Legolas's voice was so sorrowful that Kélion had to school his expressions as he turned back to the elfling.

"I know penneth. Do not worry, I will help you. Tell me what is the matter."

But the young ellon did not respond, merely turned his head to gaze at the barrier that stood a little way off. Kélion followed his gaze and his heart instantly jerked in horror. There behind the flickering golden light of the barrier stood an elf. The eldar's black eyes seemed to pierce into the crown prince's very soul.

"Rívorn?" Kélion breathed, "But what…"

His voice trailed off as he watched other dark shapes of other elves appear on either side of the dark elf. Then without a warning, Rívorn seemed to reach out and place his hand on the outside of the barrier. He watched, frozen, as a dark mist seemed to spread out over the wall as though trying to find a way inside. It was the horrible cry of pain that tore from Legolas's mouth that brought all of Kélion's attention back to this brother who now lay writhing on the ground.

Realization struck the crown prince instantly. Kélion bent over the elfling and pressed the shaking body of the young Sinda into the soft earth.

"Legolas, you need to listen to me," his voice came out sharp with concern, "You need to give me back control of the barrier. You are too weak."

"I can't," the elfling gave another harsh cry, "It is too strong. You need to leave me and find help."

"Help?" Kélion's brow was creased, "From whom? Êmand? Meldir? Adar?"

A shudder seemed to pass through Legolas and the crown prince looked up to see dark wisps of a smoke like substance coming in from under the barrier.

"Estel," Legolas breathed his face now deathly pale, "Estel will know what to do. Find him."

Kélion did his best to keep the frown off of his face at the mention of the edan.

"Why Estel? What can he do?"

But the elfling did not answer, his eyes closing and his body going limp. Kélion cried out and shook the still body even as he suddenly felt a sharp pull on his own body.

"No, no, no," the prince screamed as the forest began to fade around him, "I have to stay. I need to help him!"

But the words did not stop the dream from continuing to crumble around him.

"Legolas! Do not give up hope! I will find a way to help you!"

At Kélion's desperate cry the barrier seemed to give one last shudder before great cracks started forming all throughout it. The crown prince felt his body freeze in terror as he felt himself being dragged back towards the land of the living. Tears streaked down his face as he screamed at the unseen force to let him go. The last view of his beloved brother that he got was the figure of Rívorn bending down over Legolas as the barrier, at last, gave way.

Kélion awoke with a gasp. The panic and horror from the dream were still racing through his body. The prince pushed himself out of the chair he had fallen asleep in and raced to Legolas' bed, all but collapsing when he got there. His frantic movements caused the small bedside table to topple over with a loud crash, spilling its contents across the carpet.

"Muindor, wake up! Come back to me!" Kélion cried placing his hands on either side of the elfling's face.

Behind him, the door to the room was flung open and Êmand rushed in, sword drawn as if expecting an army of yrch to be attacking his penneth. But with no danger to be seen the Silvan quickly sheathed his blade and hurried across the room towards Kélion who was slumped over the body of his brother.

Êmand placed a hand gently on the crown prince's shoulder asking,

"What is it? What has happened?"

The Sinda seemed to be startled by his presence and jerked his head up in surprise. Êmand frowned deeply at the sight of the prince. Dried tear streaks stood out on Kélion's pale cheeks, strands of golden hair clung to his sweaty brow, and a desperate almost wild look had appeared in his eyes.

"Kélion?"

The ellon seemed to ignore Êmand as he pushed himself up whispering to himself,

"Estel."

"Estel?"

Kélion turned back towards the Silvan and demanded, "Where is my adar?"

"In his chambers, I would surmise," Êmand responded still trying to understand what was happening, "Why?"

But the prince gave no response as he turned on his heel and raced out of the room.

Elvish Translations:

adar - father

hîr nín – my lord

mellon – friend

anno dulu enni – help me

muindor – brother (Sindarin)

penneth – little one

yrch - orcs