Restoration II: The Story Continues ...

by Fianna Leighton

Chapter Twelve

Eria gripped her fingers, hands hidden in the folds of her gown. She had to get a hold of herself, never had she been so nervous and unsettled. She grimaced, squeezing her fingers as if doing so would literally give her a grip on her emotions.

A hand touched her elbow, a faint touch but one of reassurance. Rowen leaned close to whisper into her ear.

"Remember how you felt in Lorien. Be that elleth, Eria. You are not changed."

Eria sighed and opened her eyes, shifting her gaze over the cavern walls, the elves that had gathered, if small in number now, a growing crowd as word spread of Tauriel's return and of the Lorien contingent.

She bit her lip and then focused, as Rowen had said, on how she'd felt in Lorien. Her first sight of Thranduil and how it had made her feel. Annoyed at his attitude, heart leaping at the handsome face. She had thought it would pass, but each time she saw him her heart had leaped in answer, her stomach wreathed in knots. Yet too, the annoyance at his demeanor had demanded a response.

She had never thought he would comply to her orders. Had been surprised and then amused at his acquiesce. And more deeply enamored as the days passed.

He was no more than any elf, a tall, good-looking elf, strong, able and arrogant as many male elves were. Sometimes one had to put them in their place. Remind them there were two halves to a whole. Thranduil had been lopsided for a long while, so deeply set in that imbalance he no longer saw it, or felt it. Or if he had, refused to admit it even to himself. Eria didn't need Rowen to tell her this, she could feel it herself.

Didn't everyone else?

She looked at Tauriel, blinked when the warden smiled and gave her a wink.

It was not going to be easy, Tauriel's expression told her. Was she, Eria, up to the challenge?

Thranduil appeared above them, his hair long over his shoulder, wearing a deep blue robe that trailed the steps behind him. It was almost absurd his demeanor, the nose in the air, the disdain. Eria suddenly had the urge to laugh, and coughed it away as he reached the bottom of the stairs. The sound brought his gaze to her and she shivered at its intensity. Stiffened when he continued to stare, moving slowly toward them, the crowd parting curious at his attention.

She couldn't move. Stood rooted as even the Lorien elves moved aside. Orophin's brow had lifted, so much in expression as his brother. Tauriel hid a smile. Rowen looked at Thranduil, hesitated in moving aside and then with a nod of her head, stepped back.

He stopped in front of Eria, tall enough she had to lift her chin to gaze back. He had changed little, hiding once more in the trappings of his office, his role, his life as the wily, Mirkwood King. She saw him more as the elf she had come to see, to love should he allow it, blue eyes deep and moody, lips flat as he strove to control his expression.

A losing battle as their eyes met.

"Why have you come, Eria?"

"Why not," she answered, surprised to find her voice steady.

"I am King here."

"Yeah, so?"

He snorted, laughter lifting the haughty exterior for a moment. "No one speaks to me as you do."

"Well, I guess it's about time then... my lord." She bowed, if only to hide her smile, her heart pounding at the sight of him. She really needed to get control...

His fingers slid under her chin, lifting her head back up, then sliding carefully along her jaw to brush back her hair. "You are impertinent, elleth."

"No, really I am a baker. I heard you needed a new one."

Laughter again twitched at his mouth. His eyes rose to the ceiling and then with a sigh he looked back down. "What am I to do with you, Eria of Lorien?"

"Um..." She bit her lip, cutting off the remark as he stepped closer.

The room had gone silent, the held breath of a dozen people just steps from them, but they seemed alone.

He broke the moment with a sudden movement, stepped to her and gripped her face with his hands to kiss her, a shock of heat between them that spread like rapid fire into her blood. Then he stepped back with a deep breath.

"You can go home now, Orophin."

The Lorien March Warden grinned. "Not just yet, Thranduil."

OoO

Haldir walked with Radagast, holding his temper and impatience with the absent-minded wizard in check.

Radagast muttered on about mundane things, hands moving to point to this and that, bending every step or so to touch or look, enough that Haldir's patience was nearly at an end.

"Radagast, enough!"

The wizard stopped, frozen in mid-bend, and then slowly turned to look at Haldir, his hat sitting firmly on his head even at the odd angle. Wizardry, Haldir snorted at the effect.

"Just tell me what you know."

"Why, Haldir, I don't know any thing!"

"Then why are you here? What have you been rambling about for days? Have you come simply to annoy me?"

"Are you annoyed, March Warden?"

Haldir sucked in a breath and then slowly brushed a hand over his brow, then down over his face to control his irritation. "No, Radagast."

"You could never lie well, Haldir. Too honorable, you know. You haven't changed at all, March Warden."

"I am not March Warden, Orophin is now. You know this."

"Well, of course I do. But you still are you."

Haldir sighed again.

"Which is why the trees said I should come to you." Radagast stood up and continued along the path. Haldir did not move, but folded his arms over his chest.

The wizard took ten steps then stopped to look back.

"They do like you a lot you know."

"And why is that?" Haldir asked.

"Because you love this wood like no one else has. Even Galadriel did not feel this deeply of the wood. You and Lorien are one, no matter what else happens. What happens here happens to you. Those baby trees are your children." Radagast grinned then turned back to the path, hopping over a stick like a child.

"Radagast, this does not answer my question."

The wizard stopped again, but did not turn around. Haldir waited, arms folded, eyes narrowed, lips tight to hold back his annoyance. A deep feeling of unease had risen when the wizard had arrived. It deepened now as Radagast stood still.

"You are an intimidating elf, even when I do not look at you. Your reputation, your loyalty is well-known. You fear little except that which may wipe out your forest. That fear drives you most, that fear keeps you off balance. You must put it away, Haldir."

"Why?"

"Because you need to feel more. Life will go on without the elves. But while you are here, you must play a significant role even when you do not wish to. Perhaps, dear boy, it is time you seek out others in this world."

"My time of traveling is done, Radagast."

"No," Radagast turned around finally to point a finger at Haldir. "Your journey is still nigh. Sauron may be gone, but this world is still lost. You must help put it to rights."

"I am done with those of the world, wizard. I have no care for what happens there."

"Then your forest is doomed, elf. For men will come, in force to take what you love. Lorien's lofty boughs may be gone, but her reputation draws the curious, those that seek any remnant of magic here, those that seek power. For there is a current here as yet, you are immune that you do not feel it, but others seek it out. The trees feel it."

"You don't know what you are talking about. You ramble once more, old man."

Radagast waved a hand and the air shimmered around him, insects of all kind appeared him, a fox pressed around his legs. "I am a wizard of the earth, Haldir of Lorien. Heed my words, for I do not speak them lightly. This world will change, for good or bad, all can be determined by what you do. Ignore my advice and this forest will cease to exist. Your trees will die, your animals down to these insects will become nothing. Have a care, elf, to ignore the world again."

"I have done enough, Radagast." Haldir's throat constricted as memories flooded back. "I have lost many to aid this world. It is ENOUGH!"

Radagast shook his head. "No, it is not. Once more you are called, Haldir. There are few with your power. Find it quickly, March Warden. Find it quickly so that it can be used well and for good."

The wizard touched his brow and then turned away. The fox stood still watching Haldir, the insects called remained buzzing in the air above the fox, as if waiting. Haldir pressed a hand to his brow with a shudder.

OoO

Sweeney stood, the boat rocking slightly at his movement. Esteri leaned back, kicking out as he leaned over her with a smile. She hated this man, nee elf. Would rip the short hair from his head, she would... He picked her up with a grunt to toss her over one shoulder.

"I'll take the elf."

Sweeney shifted, and Esteri shut her eyes as the boat swayed. "No, she is still my property. I'll keep her for now."

He leaped to the dock with an ease that annoyed Esteri. As much as she'd dislike getting wet, seeing him stumble and fall into the lake would have been enjoyable. But the man had elven blood, clear as day should the men take note, but they were too stupid to see his grace as elvish.

She grunted as he walked, his shoulder wide, but sharp enough it caused discomfort, a hand too distracting placed on the back of her thigh. It made her blood heat, made her light-headed, which she promptly attributed to hanging upside down.

The wood beneath them was dirty, worn and greyed with age she wondered at times if they would fall through the dock.

Sweeney did not slow, but followed the men with a faint hum beneath his breath.

Esteri wanted only to kick him, to shove a knee into his chest to get free.

The hand on her thigh pinched. "Your thoughts are very loud, Esteri."

"Are they, should I not be thinking of escape, e-"

"Ssh, do not give away everything so soon, wench. Surely you see the wisdom of me carrying you. I am sure the men would not be so gentle or nice."

"Nice?"

"You know what I mean."

"I know only that I can't wait to kill you."

"As you have said numerous times."

"I'm just reminding you I haven't forgotten."

He laughed softly. Then stopped. Esteri felt the elf stiffen beneath her, sensed his wariness.

"Ye go inside here. Ye can leave the elf with us."

"No, I think not," Sweeney replied. "As I said, she's still my property."

"Ye seem pretty taken, lad."

"She's worth enough that to hand her off without a care is stupid. I'm not stupid."

"Ain't ye?" The men laughed. Esteri looked up to find several more behind them, a few more joined them as Sweeney turned a bit to look around.

"Ah, it's like that." He shook his head. "Esteri are you ready?"

She felt the knife split the bonds on her feet, landed easily on the dock and moved to stand behind Sweeney. Wrists still bound, she could do little as far as the men could tell.

"Aww, come on now, lad." The man from the dock growled a bit. "What's she gonna do tied up? As if she'd defend you after what ye done?"

Esteri felt Sweeney shrug. "She's got a choice, me or you. What do you think she'd choose?"

Esteri wondered that as well. The men stepped closer, hands filled with an assortment of weapons, eyes intent in the shadowed light of the lanterns.

"That's enough."

Sweeney laughed softly. "Took him long enough."