Restoration II: The Story Continues ...

by Fianna Leighton

Chapter Thirteen

The men on the dock shifted, grumbling at the interference. Sweeney looked over his shoulder, but Esteri could see him, a short man shoving aside the others in his way, not as short as a dwarf but perhaps one of mixed blood.

She gritted her teeth, just like Sweeney.

The man wore a leather coat, tattered at the knee and worn in the elbow, it had clearly seen much use. Leather pants tucked into leather boots, a long tunic covered a paunchy gut she decided wasn't a deterrent to the man's ability.

His boots clomped loudly on the dock. His hair stuck out in all directions, half of his head bare from ear to forehead, the rest a long ratty braid down his back.

"Elf, eh?" The man pulled a pipe from his belt. Took the time to pack it, light it, and then puff it going for several moments.

Esteri knew she'd been studied intently and judged for worth. She lifted her chin, annoyed.

The man grinned and then moved further down the dock to face Sweeney.

"Ain't seen you around in a long time, lad. Surprised to see me?"

Sweeney shifted, a subtle move that put Esteri behind him. "Durbin! Not so good to see you."

Durbin laughed, teeth clenched on the pipe. "I can imagine. How'd ye come to have an elf, boy? They ain't easy to come by, nor to sell as you seem wont to do."

"My story, does it matter?"

"Snuck in among Thranduil's lackeys? Parading as an elf again? Always thought you were cocky, Sweeney. Thranduil'll have yer head."

"He might try," Sweeney agreed with a laugh. "How'd you end up here? Last I saw you was ten years back. Ithilien, after the carnage there."

"Was good pickings until then. But things got cleaned up. Made things hard to get and sell. Thought I'd try here. Dwarves and men more willing to pay for interesting cargoes."

"Indeed," Sweeney agreed. "But perhaps I'll change my mind not that I know you are here."

"Why, afraid I'd hurt yer gel?" Durbin snorted, but Esteri didn't miss the shadows in his gaze, the darkness that spoke of bad things to come.

"Well, she's not my girl," Sweeney argued. "But she is mine to sell, on conditions of course."

"Ain't takin' no conditions, boy." Durbin took the pipe from his mouth to point it at Sweeney. "Ye ain't got a leg to stand on. I give word and yer dead." He shrugged, glancing at the men near them. "Might lose a few."

Men shifted to stare at Durbin, then at Sweeney with muttered grumbles.

Sweeney smiled back, unperturbed.

Esteri lifted her hands to remove the gag, spat it out with a curse. "Thranduil will kill you both."

Durbin grinned around his pipe. Sweeney took her arm to move her closer. "She's not easy to get along with, I'll give you that. But she's young, curvy..." he pinched her and Esteri slammed an elbow into his side.

Sweeney coughed and then chuckled. "A handful. All the more fun, eh Durbiin?"

"And what am I to do with her?"

"What you do with all your elf captives, man. Or have you stopped buying?"

Durbin gripped his pipe, eyes intent on Sweeney. "You know me too well. How much?"

"Too much, I'm afraid. Selling her to you will certainly bring Thranduil down on my head. He thinks you are harmless. Men worthless, even after they took over his caves."

"Those men didn't know a thing. Thranduil is a canny elf." Durbin shrugged. "But I aim to get that cave city. Tired of living on water. The caves of Mirkwood are nice and dry. Besides," Durbin chuckled. "I heard the elves still have some magic yet. A few more and I might have figured out how they get it."

Esteri stared at the man in horror. "What do you mean?"

Durbin shook out his pipe, put it in his belt. "A few more tests, that's all. I've a few aiding me in figuring out how to transfer that power. Heard tell that King Aragorn lived longer yet because of that elf of his."

Esteri knew her eyes were wide, knew her horror was far too apparent. Sweeney only sniffed beside her. "You have nothing."

"Right now, but things are changing, Sweeney. Now step aside. I'm taking the she-elf." Durbin lifted a hand and then men around him stepped forward.

Sweeney drew his knife and slit the bonds on Esteri's wrists. "All right. But first things first, if you want her then try to take her."

OoO

Thranduil sat down abruptly, the chair creaking at the force of his movement. He threaded a hand into his hair, holding the heel against the pounding in his forehead, using the movement to shield an expression he knew he couldn't hide. For once, for the first time since he was young, he felt vulnerable, open to anyone's view, his emotions bared for all to see.

"My lord, are you all right?"

He closed his eyes against the concerned face before him, waving off the guard. Another stood beside him, while before him, gathering in the hall, stood many of his people, all silent and staring.

A low murmur drew his gaze and he looked up to find the crowd parting for Legolas.

A deep sigh escaped Thranduil, and he stiffened for the concern he expected from Legolas. It was too much, all of this emotion. He needed space to dwell on it, but there was no room, no escape from the attention.

Legolas stopped and then turned to face those watching. "My father has expressed his affection for the Lorien elf. There is nothing more to note at this point. You will retreat to give him time to greet our guests."

The crowd shifted, elves curious and unwilling to leave, yet Legolas stood his ground, his gaze upon them making many step back, bowing and then turning away to leave. It took several moments but finally the room was clear. Legolas waved off the guards as well, then turned toward Orophin. "If there is anything important to note from Haldir?"

Orophin touched his brow and shook his head. Caught Tauriel's arm, and with a nod to Legolas, drew her away. The elven wardens followed without looking back. Rowen stepped into view, crouching before Thranduil with a smile.

"You are no less of an elf, my lord Thranduil, for having a heart." She rose and touched his arm lightly then also retreated, leaving Eria and Legolas with Thranduil.

"Shall I take her away, Ada?"

Thranduil inhaled and then sat back to rest his head against the back of the chair. "Nay. But you may go Legolas."

His son bowed slightly and then turned away.

"Legolas?"

He paused, but did not look back.

"Thank you."

Legolas touched his lips with his fingers and held them toward Eria. "I will see you later, Ada."

Thranduil smiled as well, knowing that moment would be trying enough.

Eria watched Legolas leave and then turned back. "Shall I leave as well, Thranduil?"

"Should it not be King Thranduil?" he asked.

"I do not speak to "King" Thranduil," she replied.

"Traitorous," he murmured, but felt only amusement at her audacity.

"You are not "my" King," she explained.

"Am I not?" Thranduil sat up to lean forward so he could study her. "Have you not come to be my subject."

She sniffed, eyes flashing. "I have not."

"Then why have you come, Eria? What do you want from me?"

She tilted her head, stepped closer. "What can you give me, Thranduil?"

"Perhaps very little," he admitted carefully.

"Perhaps it may be enough," Eria said. She turned to look at the lofty cavern, the ceiling nearly in shadows from the height. "Tis grand, this chamber. But it's cold, like you. It needs warmth, love, companionship."

"And you think I need this as well?"

She glanced over her shoulder with a lift of her brow. "Do you?"

"I didn't think so." He sat back and rested his hands on the arms of the chair. Thranduil looked at the throne sitting on a pedestal further into the chamber. His chair sat silent, empty. He smiled faintly. "But perhaps I do." He lifted a hand toward Eria. "Do you dare? You do not truly know me."

Eria stepped forward to touch his fingers with hers. "I know enough, Thranduil."

"I cannot promise anything to you." He shook his head in rueful amusement. "I do not know myself anymore."

"Well then," Eria moved forward, pushing his arm aside to settle over his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck then leaned back to look at him. "We shall learn together. It can't be that bad."

He laughed softly. "You might regret this."

Eria kissed him briefly. A moment too short, it still took his breath. He marveled at the sensation, the pounding of a heart that had felt so little for so long. She traced a line down his cheek with her finger. "I shall regret only that we did not meet sooner. But perhaps it was as the Valar will, perhaps we both had to become who we are to arrive at this destination."

He lifted a brow, amused by her introspection. "Perhaps, but I care not how Haldir will be after this. He will look upon me with great amusement. It shall rankle deeply."

She laughed and hugged him. "It shall not for it will be his joy to see you happy. He cares for all elves, Thranduil, not just Lorien folk."

"Foolish elf," Thranduil murmured into her hair. He closed his eyes and sighed.

OoO

The orc scrambled on all fours, head down as he crawled, eyes moving in search of his next shadow, moving so quietly the elf standing guard on the dock did not note him.

Another moved just as carefully, three more floated along the bank of the river in the shadows, waiting for the elf to look away to leap onto shore.

Movement made the orc pause, voices in the cursed elvish, a call and an answer as three more elves appeared in the moonlight, eyes aglow as they often did, lit within by the magic. The orc suppressed a growl, eyes narrowed in the darkness as the four conversed quietly.

To take out one elf was one thing, four made the orc pause warily. It was not that they couldn't do so, but it would make a commotion, one that he'd been commanded not to make. And so, the choice was not his to make, and he crouched further into the shadows as two of the elves turned to leave.

Stupid creatures, the orc thought, watching them through the shield of a branch with dead leaves. So close to an orc and yet they did not note them. So easy to leap out and strangle one, so tempting to use his knife to kill another. He almost stood, almost gave in, but then memory returned and the fear of a worse reprisal than an angry Mirkwood King made him settle back down, fingers tapping the hilt of his knife.

The others did not move, they too knew the consequences of following orders.

The two elves stepped off the dock, chatting together, laughter echoing in the darkness. They moved past the orc without looking, but then one stopped abruptly.

The orc shivered, glee almost too strong to hold back, eyes dancing at the thought that the elf would initiate a fight, one the orc was forced then to engage. But the elf sniffed and then shrugged, returning to his companion's side to disappear into the night.

The other two remained on the dock, each looking out beyond the river, unaware of the orcs just beneath their feet.

OoO

Tauriel moved in the shadows, making her way along the long hall that led to the doors leading out, crossing behind the two guards at the door amid the shadows, waiting patiently until they looked away to slide around the doorway and then over the railing of the long causeway leading to the Mirkwood stronghold. She should have berated the elves, her role as their captain no longer hers, but their inattention was no longer her affair.

She had other things to do, feelings too strong to ignore, forcing her to forget those she once commanded, moving below the bridge with a long remembered ease.

She made it to the end without issue and found an elf waiting for her.

"You used to do this when you were an elfling," Legolas complained. "I would think you'd grown out of it."

Tauriel settled into a v of the stone bracing the bridge overhead. "It's always good to keep up skills that might be useful."

"Sneaking around elven guards is useful?" Legolas tilted his head, blue eyes sharp even in the shadows."

"I didn't want to start something," Tauriel offered.

"But felt it necessary to leave without letting anyone know. Where is Orophin?"

She smiled. "Sleeping. It was a long journey."

Legolas let out a strangled cough. "I see."

"Does this upset you?" Tauriel leaned closer to peer at Legolas's face.

"Nay, Tauriel, your words only amuse me."

She wrinkled her nose at the comment, then looked at Legolas more intently. "You take my meaning ill, Legolas."

"Do I?"

She huffed, settling back again. "So why do you watch for me."

"I can always sense when something troubles you. You've been watching things too closely. Your attention was not on Ada, but on everything else. What is it?"

"A bad feeling, since we left the river. I thought to go back."

Legolas grunted faintly. "And Orophin senses nothing."

"He has said nothing," Tauriel admitted. "What about you? You were in the forest, what were you doing there?"

"Looking for answers to a bad feeling," Legolas replied. "Let us return to the river, perhaps we will find some answers together."

Tauriel nodded.

They reached the river road near dawn, a days travel yet to go when Legolas caught her arm, pulling her from the path and into the woods. He crouched down, a finger to his lips, eyes searching the road ahead.

Tauriel pressed her fingers against her brow, hiding her face.

"What is it, Tauriel, are you ill?" Legolas looked at her in concern.

"Nay Legolas, I am simply a fool."

Legolas frowned and then sighed. "Where?"

"Where do you think?"

They both looked up to find Orophin sitting above them in the tree. He leaned over a knee, an arrow braced into his bow, lips tight. "It took you long enough."

Tauriel stood up and put her hands to her hips. "If you think..."

Legolas stood up to glare at the elf.

Orophin's eyes narrowed but then he looked up. A bird called twice. Legolas cursed and leaped to the road, drawing both knives from his back. Tauriel glanced up but Orophin was no longer there, the branch swaying from his exit.

Ahead a screech told them of the danger. Tauriel followed Legolas, shifting her bow from her back, an arrow nocked as she ran. Where ever Orophin had gone was not visible, the wood elf's ability to blend in legendary in Lorien, and equally effective in Mirkwood.

They reached the elves fighting in moments, surprised by the number of orcs. Two elves stood back to back, another two appeared on the far side of the road just as Orophin moved around a tree, arrow to his cheek. His aim sent an orc tumbling to the ground. Legolas leaped into the fray with a cry of rage, knives slashing, forcing two orcs back. Arrows took down several more from the far side elves, and Tauriel finished off yet another with a swing of her bow, the orc too close to shoot, using her arrow instead to impale the creature in the eye.

It was only moments until the orcs lay dead, their destruction swift and terrible.

The elves stood breathing hard, memories too clear held them still for a moment, until each of them forced them away, returning knives to sheaths and bows to their backs.

Legolas kicked one over, grimacing as he did. "How did they gain the river road. Have you seen the guardians there?"

The Lorien elves shook their heads. "We were with Orophin. We did not get that far."

Legolas picked up an arrow. "I know most orcs and their sign, but these do not look familiar. He held the arrow out to Orophin.

He shook his head, but took the arrow to sniff, tossing it away with a growl. He glared at Tauriel. " You did not have to sneak away, Tauriel-min. I knew you were troubled, yet you did not speak of it."

Tauriel sighed. "I did not think you'd noticed. I felt ill ever since we came from the river."

"As did I," Orophin agreed. He smiled at Legolas. "And you sensed her unrest as well."

Legolas grinned back. "I have known Tauriel for a long time." The smile faded as Legolas peered at Orophin intently. "How did you get here first?"

Orophin laughed and shoved Legolas aside. "Tauriel is not the only one lurking in shadows. The trees offer more than just shade, my friend."

Legolas frowned and look back at the dead orcs. "Well that and more. I wonder why they have come, something tells me it was more than just an idle game to gain elves, or they would have killed those on the river." He looked up as he spoke, noting the two elves just coming into view. "They will have to report to Thanduil."

"And not Sweeney?" Tauriel lifted a brow.

"Sweeney was relieved of his captain position."

"And sent into danger into Laketown," Tauriel finished.

Legolas nodded. "As I said before." He waved at the orcs again. "Perhaps my father's intuition was well founded."

OoO