DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything created by Tolkein and Middle-Earth. This is for entertainment only.
A/N: Hello, dear readers! As I said, this is a big chapter. SO BIG in fact, that I decided to split it into two chapters. I know, I know... Not the nicest thing in the world, but I promise it is for the best! XOXO - Presephone
Thranduil was continually distressed since he felt the change in Aurora's soul. He wore his indifferent mask in front of Greenwood and Lothlorien's armies, but in private, he found himself feeling weary and his mind on edge.
Even now, standing alone at the edge of a small river, his mind was at war with itself. He could carry on through the night, without rest. But that would tire out the soldiers, and they would not meet up with the Imladris army. But resting, even for the night, would waste time and leave Aurora in danger longer.
"Ada (Father)?"
Thranduil turned to meet his son's gaze. He said nothing, and Legolas approached him until they were standing shoulder to shoulder. He turned back around, and the pair silently watched the water trickle around rocks and branches.
"I cannot lose her, ionneg (my son)," The Elvenking finally whispered, "I will not survive it."
Legolas looked to his father and noted the tears welling in his eyes, refusing to fall. Tenderly, he placed a hand on his father's shoulders, and Thranduil closed his eyes, "On my life, Ada (Father), she will return to your side where she belongs."
Without another word, Legolas turned and left his father to help the others set up the camp for the night. The leaves on the ground danced around his feet as a light wind weaved through the trees.
Thranduil felt her presence next to her for several minutes before either of them spoke.
"How will I pull her from the darkness?" He spoke softly, "Is it even possible?"
"Of course, it's possible," Galadriel said, "For you see, Thranduil, her light has not fully extinguished."
Thranduil looked at her and noted the kind smile on her lip. Then she continued her explanation, "Her fea is mine, and my heart will dwell within her from this breath until my last." Galadriel quoted looked over and met Thranduil's confused eyes, "The light within her fea has been broken away from her, it is true. But her magic lives on," she placed a hand on Thranduil's chest directly over where Ondo Ilma lay, "in you."
Thranduil's eyes widened in understanding as Galadriel took a step back and returned her gaze to the water. He pulled Ondo Ilma from under his tunic and held the warm stone in his hand, "You're saying that I hold some of her magic through our bond?"
"Not some of it, Thranduil. You hold all of her magic," she looked over to him, "The pain you felt when the darkness claimed her... It was not only because of the magic separating her from fea. But it was also her magic attaching to you and funneling into Ondo Ilma."
"How do I get it back to her?" Thranduil inquired.
"First, we need to get Ondo Ilma to her once again. It has formed a strong connection to her, and I believe that it will begin to connect back to her fea once more when she has it again."
For the first time in almost a week, Thranduil felt a glimmer of hope spark in his chest.
The wind whipped through Aurora's hair as she stood at the edge, overlooking the ravine as the sun rose. She wore a long black dress that fanned out around her; the lace sleeves wrapped delicately around her arms.
"You look beautiful."
She glanced over her shoulder to see Sankrovyn standing at the entrance of the cave. She could see that he was wearing his blackened armor with his two blades at his sides. He walked to her side, and she turned back out to the ravine. She closed her eyes as his arm wrapped around her waist.
He pressed his forehead to her temple as he whispered, "I have a gift for you."
She turned to him as he held up a simple pendant. It was a simple black cord with a heavy stone at the center, its red and gold lines lacing through the black stone. He lifted it over her head, and she felt the weight press against her chest, where Ondo Ilma once sat. "It's called Ondo Fuin," Sankrovyn explained, "The Stone of Darkness. It is the twin of Ondo Ilma, and it will help suppress your light magic if it ever returns."
As the stone settled against her skin, she felt a sudden cold sink into her skin. Her breathing increased as the cold spread through her whole body, and she felt her vision darken for a moment before returning to normal.
"It's beautiful, thank you," She gently took his hand and looked up at him, stood on her tiptoes, and brought their lips together.
Sankrovyn tensed for several seconds as he processed her action. A moment later, he pulled her closer, and fervently returned the kiss. Aurora ran her hand up to his arm until she wrapped her fingers into his hair, pulling his head down as she deepened the kiss. Sankrovyn's other hand gripped her skirts as his tongue traced her lower lip. At this, Aurora pulled away to catch her breath, and Sankrovyn pressed his forehead to hers.
"Meleth nin (my Love)," Sankrovyn breathed, "what caused this change?"
"You did," Aurora, she looped her arms around his neck, "you were right about everything. About the realm, about Elves rightful place, about— about Thranduil… Everything." Aurora pressed another kiss to his lips that he immediately reciprocated before looking into his darkened grey eyes, "We burn it all. Then we'll rise from its stronger and in our rightful place. My rightful place," she let go of his neck and laced her hand into one of his, "By your side."
Sankrovyn's eyes brightened at her words, and part of her felt bad, but she couldn't dwell on that too much; he pulled her into another kiss for a moment, "This is all I wanted for us, Aurora. I'm sorry it had to happen this—"
"Don't," Aurora placed a hand on his mouth, "don't dwell on that now."
Aurora tensed as the Nazgul appeared at their side, and she backed away. Sankrovyn held her hand tighter to reassure her and looked to the Nazgul, "Pukhlor (report)."
"Za Orc brus-gonakal za albai maubur roth-Dol Guldur. (The Orcs have seen the elven soldiers surrounding Dol Guldur)"
Sankrovyn looked to Aurora with a hopeful gaze, "It's time, Are you with me Bereth nin (my Queen)?"
"I am," Aurora kissed him a final time, "Aran nin. (my King)"
Thranduil's battle armor shined in the sun as he sat atop his Elk and led the Greenwood army into the barren clearing that surrounded the decrepit fortress. He saw the Tree of Eryn Galen on the far end of the clearing where the Lothlorien army had emerged.
His eyes scanned the area surrounding Dol Guldur as thousands of Orcs surrounded the fortress. The elven soldiers quickly looked to the sky as the Fellbeast screeched and flew overhead. But immediately began to circle as a Giant Eagle flew over the Imladris army and into the clearing.
Thranduil looked forward, seeing the Orcs separating as two large horses broke through them, and Sankrovyn and Aurora cantered forward. His heart jumped as he saw Aurora's black dress billowing around her. Her hair had been pulled into an elegant blade twisted into a bun on the top of her head. Atop her head was an ominous black crown with blood-red gems that shimmered in the sun.
It will be difficult, Thranduil heard Lady Galadriel's voice in his head, but you must remain calm.
But the thing that turned his veins to ice was when their gaze met for the first time in nine days. Her jade eyes… Her bright eyes that stopped his heart for a moment every time he looked into them… Were black.
Sankrovyn held his head high as he approached. His once gleaming armor had been blackened, and he wore a black circlet that matched the one Aurora wore. They continued riding forward, and with a glance at Legolas, they followed suit.
Thranduil kept his eyes fixed on Aurora, but she no longer returned his gaze. She either looked to the ground in front of her, or she stole side glances at Sankrovyn. When they stopped in the clearing center, an ominous silence fell over them; not even the wind whistled through the trees.
The silence was broken by a horse's desperate bray, causing Aurora to look beyond her husband to see Caspian holding an agitated Egg. The horses' wide eyes trained only on his beloved owner. She felt a pang in her chest, not the first one of the day, and wanted to whistle for Egg to join her.
But she couldn't. Not yet.
Thranduil tilted his head upward as he locked eyes with the man he had trusted his life to for 3,000 years. "Why, Sankrovyn?" He spoke in a measured, cold tone. Sankrovyn's jaw tightened as Thranduil continued, "I demand an explanation... You owe me that much."
Sankrovyn watched Thranduil closely for a moment before speaking, "I wish it didn't have to be this way, Thranduil. But you have refused to see that we can rule this world instead of having trade agreements and alliances. We can rule the other races if only we leave the old ways behind. Please, mellon nin (my friend), just surrender and see things as they can be."
Thranduil couldn't believe the madness he was hearing, "And what part of this plan of yours justifies allying with Orcs and Nazgul?"
"A means to an end," Sankrovyn explained, "and easily taken care of once they've served their purpose."
Thranduil just stared at Sankrovyn with wide eyes. How could I not have seen it? He lectured himself, How did I not see him slipping into this madness? Thranduil looked away from his former High Advisor to Aurora.
"Ilma nin (my Starlight)," he spoke softer as she continued to stare at the ground, "Aurora, please look at me." He held his breath as she took several deep breaths before her eyes drifted upwards and met his gaze. Her eyes were more terrifying up close. He could no longer tell where her pupil ended, and iris began. He exhaled a staggered breath, "What has he done to you?"
"He's shown me the truth," Aurora's voice was colder than Thranduil had ever heard, "You've lied to me this entire time. Leading me to believe that I had to choose light or darkness when, this whole time, one will lead to the other. You made me believe what would most benefit you, not your realm."
Thranduil was speechless. How could she believe such things? Surely Sankrovyn was controlling her mind.
"Aurora, please—" Legolas began but was cut off.
"Don't talk to me," She snapped at him as her cold eyes bore into him, "You promised me that Augustus would never leave your sight! You promised me that he would be safe! But as he died in my arms, you were nowhere to be seen. You are the reason that Augustus is—"
"Stop it, Aurora!" Thranduil suddenly shouted, and she met his gaze once more. His eyes had turned hard, no trace of the softness that Aurora had become accustomed to these last few months. Thranduil continued as he held her in an almost hypnotic glare, "Those responsible for your brother's death are currently flying above us and sitting at your side. Do not blame my son for a tragedy that is not his fault."
The pair stared at each other for several minutes before Aurora spoke in an unfeeling tone, laced with disgust, "You really are weak, aren't you?" She tilted her head upward and watched the pain flash across Thranduil's face. She took a deep breath as she continued her chastisement, "It's a wonder that it took me so long to see it. I was so blinded by your pretty words and your unhindered favor that I couldn't see what was in front of me the whole time."
Thranduil's face had paled beyond anything she had seen before; she knew that it was time to deal the final blow, "Surrender your armies and those of Imladris and Lothlorien, or wash your hands in the blood of those that you could've saved here today."
Before he could even think of a response, Aurora turned her horse and cantered back until she had vanished beyond Orcs' wall. What no one saw were the tears that had begun to stream down Aurora's face. She could truly feel his heart breaking in her words. Once she was away from any prying eyes, she dismounted the horse she had been provided and finally allowed herself to collapse to the ground in grief.
Thranduil sat on his elk, stunned at the horrible words Aurora had just spoken. He had almost accepted the fact that she truly no longer loved him when he suddenly felt a wave of despair and shame wash over him through their bond.
With the last glimmer of hope he possessed, he opened his mind a final time.
Aurora?
Silence.
"Thranduil," Sankrovyn broke through his thoughts, "You know as well as I that this will only end in unnecessary bloodshed if you do not surrender now."
Aurora... Please don't do this, Herves nin (my Wife.)
Silence.
Thranduil closed his eyes once more before his heart suddenly jumped to his throat.
Forgive me, Vuin nin (my Beloved); her voice was a tormented whisper in his head. He needed to believe my words were true. My heart has always been and will always be yours, Hervenn laich (Sweet husband).
Thranduil exhaled a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. When his eyes snapped back open, Sankrovyn saw a determination reignited in his scowl as he drew his sword, "Greenwood the Great will not bow down to a false King."
As he raised his sword to the sky, hundreds of arrows soared out from the trees.
The final battle for Eryn Galen had begun.
