Another week another chapter! I hope you guys enjoy as the plot is now starting to kick into gear!
And thank you all for the kind reviews! They are very encouraging!
In Times of Trouble
Scribbles-on-Parchment
November 20, 2021
Chapter 15 – Kélion's Choice
"Adar!" Kélion's voice rang out in the room as he burst into the king's chambers, having brushed past the guards who stood watch by the door.
The two Silvans had protested weakly at their prince's abrupt appearance and obvious distress that showed clearly on his pale face. Despite their orders, they had nonetheless let Kélion through unheeded.
"Adar," the Sinda exclaimed again as he caught sight of Thranduil by a window, "I know what we have to do! I know what Legolas needs! We can help him, but we have to hurry. There is no time to lose. I think that he is dy…"
"Nan belain, Kélion," the intimidating figure of the elven king turned slowly at the sound of his eldest son's sudden entrance, "What is the meaning of this? I will not have you running around these halls as though you are a mere elfling…"
Thranduil's voice faded slightly as he, at last, caught sight of the other eldar. Kélion's light blue robes were creased badly and out of place, his normally immaculate hair was disheveled and falling out of the braids - at a glance, you would have assumed the prince had recently emerged from a fight or had even just awoken from a deep slumber. Yet, what caught the king's attention were the dried tear tracks that ran down Kélion's cheeks and the obvious crease of concern that lined his brow. Something had severely affected his son.
"What is it?" he demanded striding forward, suddenly fearing for Legolas's safety, "What has happened to you?"
Thranduil came to a stop right in front of the crown prince, his emotionless gaze boring into that of his son's.
"We need to find Estel," Kélion said, returning the intense look, refusing to look away.
"Estel? What are you going on about? What is hope going to do for us now? All hope has left this place long ago."
"No. Not estel. I said, Estel. The human form Imladris helped to bring Legolas back to us. His name was Estel. We need to find him."
Thranduil's gaze hardened even more if that was even possible as he spat,
"I want nothing to do with that edan. I want nothing to do with any of them. Now I do not know what has happened to bring about this foolish idea that some mere mortal will miraculously know how to help your brother, but I will not stand for it."
"You do not understand, Adar," Kélion pressed on unphased by the words the king has just spoken, "Legolas told me. He said that Estel would know what to do to help him. He told me himself that I must do this for him."
"And how pray tell, did he tell you this? Did he wake up and speak with you? Or perhaps you simply imagined this happening in the exhausted state you are in now."
Kélion's eyes narrowed, irritation igniting in their depths, "I did not imagine it, adar. I did not simply make this up. I had a vision. Legolas spoke to me in the vision. I saw him there."
Even before the crown prince had even finished saying this, he could already see the doubt and judgment growing behind the elven king's cold stare. His adar did not believe him.
"So, it was nothing more than a dream."
"No! It was not…"
"Yes, it was," Thranduil cut Kélion off as he turned around and began to walk away again, "It was nothing more than a foolish dream. You are so desperate to bring your brother back that your mind has created a solution. But it is nothing more than an illusion. Learn to tell the difference between your imagination and the cruel reality you are forced to live in."
"But I saw…"
"You saw nothing but what you wanted to see," Thranduil's voice was condescending, "Now leave for I do not wish to speak of this now, for I know your words will only serve to cause another disagreement between us."
The elven king waved a dismissive hand at Kélion, who just stood frozen in the center of the room. A look of hurt flashed over his face and immediately his eyes began to darken with emotion.
"You are a coward."
"So you have said before," Thranduil did not turn as he began to examine documents that lay on his desk, clearly thinking the conversation was well and truly over, "Now as I have said before leave or I shall be forced to have you removed by force."
"What do you plan to do with Legolas? What are you going to do with your dying son? Why are you giving up on him when he never would have given up on you?"
Thranduil said nothing so Kélion persisted,
"Why will you not believe me when I tell you that I spoke to Legolas in a vision? He was there and he was in pain. Adar, cannot sustain the barrier. It is killing him. If Estel can help him or knows even how to help him, then that gives me hope. I will do whatever it takes to help him – even if I have to take him to Imladris on foot myself."
"And if you do that then you will never be welcome back in these halls again," Thranduil turned to look at his eldest son once more, "I will not allow you to take my son on a suicide mission to the home of a kinslayer. Elrond will not help you and the edan cannot help you. After all, what could a pathetic human know about such things? No, Legolas will remain here until he awakens, or he passes on to Mando's Halls."
"You are telling me I am not allowed to seek help for Legolas? He is my brother and I have a duty to protect him that transcends all else."
"You have a duty," Thranduil roared, "To this kingdom! You have a duty to me, your king! Kélion I am not telling you cannot do this; I am forbidding it."
"Then you will kill him," Kélion shouted back his heart full of dread for what this would mean for Legolas, "How will you then be any better than Elrond? I am beginning to wonder if the Noldor are not the issue and cause of this hatred in you, but if it all is steaming from you. You are not making a very good impression as king."
"Leave!" Thranduil's voice was ice.
"And what if I choose that the life of my brother is more important than my loyalty to you? What then?" Kélion shouted ignoring the order, "Will you have me thrown into the darkest dungeon? Strip my title? Or perhaps will you do something far worse."
"Guards!" the king's cry echoed across the room.
In an instant the great door was thrust open as several of the royal guards rushed into the room, swords drawn.
"What is wrong hîr nín? Are you well?"
Thranduil strode across the room and came to stand next to Kélion who just looked over at him with fierce anger blazing in his eyes.
"Remove Prince Kélion from my sight. I do not wish for him to be here any longer and he refuses to leave."
The soldiers seemed to hesitate for a moment, confused by the order, before moving forward to drag their prince out of the room. As the Silvan guards grabbed Kélion's shoulders Thranduil leaned close to his son's pointed ear and hissed,
"And if you dare to try and take Legolas away from here then know that you will be branded a traitor and thrown from this forest and this kingdom. You will be left to wander arda until you, at long last, fade into nothing. Do not try to go against me Kélion for you will never win."
With that Thranduil turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the guards to lead his son away. Kélion shook off the hands that held him and stormed out of the room.
"Follow him and make sure he returns safely to his quarters," the elven king added as he heard his son leave, "And do not let him leave there until I say otherwise."
As soon as he had stepped foot into the corridor, Kélion took off running. He knew that his adar would have the guards make sure he returned to his chambers and did not leave. Yet the crown prince had much on his mind and being forced to stay in his rooms as if he were but an elfling was not something he wanted to do.
Hearing the guards call out from him from somewhere behind him, the Sinda quickly changed his path and made a sharp turn into Legolas's room. He knew he could escape from there out a window and into the garden. Seeing that there was no guard posted at the entrance, the prince quickly ducked inside the room before shutting the wooden door quietly behind him and locking it.
Footsteps ran past the door a moment later causing Kélion to hold his breath, but they soon faded. The prince let out a sigh of relief and rested his forehead against the cool wooden planks on the door. What in the Valars' name was he doing? What had led to him running through the halls of the palace and hiding in a room as if he were an elfling who had gotten in trouble?
"What have you done now?" Kélion spun around at the sound of Meldir's voice, "I have not seen you hide from the guards since we were but still elflings? What did you do to invoke their anger so?"
Kélion glared at the sight of his friend standing calmly by Legolas's bed.
"Why are you still here?"
"I was waiting for you to return," Meldir's face grew serious, "You seemed greatly distressed when you left, and I wanted to make sure you were well."
"I am fine."
"No, you are not."
Kélion's eyes flashed in irritation, "What do you mean? Are you saying I am lying?"
Meldir moved away from the bed as he said, "Yes. You forget, mellon, that I have known you for many years and I can tell when you are not speaking the truth. Your face betrays you for I can tell that you are battling within yourself. What did your adar say to you?"
Kélion remained silent.
"Tell me, for I can see that you have come to some kind of decision even now and I fear what it may be."
"You know I hate you?"
"Of course," Meldir said, his face betraying nothing, "But you would also not be here if it were not for me. So perhaps your hate for me is not so bad. Now come and tell me what is on your mind."
Meldir frowned as he listened to Kélion finish telling him about all that had occurred since the prince had run from the room. He had known as soon as his friend had barged into the chamber that something was wrong yet had no idea what the severity of the situation might be. Even now he could see the turmoil within Kélion as to what he should do. Should try to save his brother by disobeying his adar and king and risk committing open treason? Or watch Legolas fade away to nothing as he could only watch?
It was a double-edged sword that tore also at Meldir's heart. Even despite their disagreements, the silvan commander had always known that Kélion would come to him when he was in need of advice. For even in his anger, he knew that the prince still held their bond of friendship tight to his heart. The only question now was if Kélion kept the bond he held with his beloved brother tighter than he did with that of his adar.
Though the crown prince had said nothing of what he planned to do, or what action he intended to take, the Silvan already knew what Kélion had decided. And Meldir had already decided long before that he would follow Kélion in whatever path he chose, even if it meant betraying his king.
Elvish Translations:
adar – father
nan belain – by the Valar
estel – hope
hîr nín – my lord
mellon – friend