RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
41.
It was to be a council of twelve that met this time: the original ten plus Elenath and Marcus who had been invited by Legolas. The Eagle's presence made thirteen, so to avoid the unlucky number, Mike was also invited to attend. Sitting around the Council Table, all fourteen of them awaited the Eagle's report.
The majestic bird waited until he was sure that all were present and got right to the point. "Rivendell and Lorien were greatly distressed by the news of the siege on Mirkwood. Their warriors were dispatched at once and already Lorien has arrived at the outskirts of the forest. They are ready for battle. Rivendell's contingent remains three days hard march away, but they also desire to hasten the battle. The leaders of both armies sent me to ask if you are ready to fight.
There was an uncomfortable silence at the table until King Thranduil finally spoke. "Are they aware of the dragon?"
"They are," replied the Eagle. "Their leaders carry the weapons of old and are ready to fight and die if necessary."
The King cast his glance around the room. "What thinks the Council on this matter?"
Legolas was the first to respond. "Our warriors are well-trained, Father, and ready for battle. I believe that we are ready to reclaim Northern Mirkwood."
Thranduil nodded his approval and waited for any other comments.
"If I may," David spoke a little timidly, "I would like to know more about this dragon."
"Horrible beast," said the Eagle. "Scales so strong that most weapons will only glance off of them. It breathes fire, and dragon's fire burns through the best armor and penetrates all but the most powerful of magic."
"What about Elenath?" asked David, "Will she be safe from the dragon's fire?"
The King's advisors all cast questioning glances at one another.
"We do not know," said Thorondil at last.
Marcus spoke then, surprising them all. "It doesn't matter. I'm telling you this and I know it's true. You've got to kill the dragon. If you don't, well, dudes, Mirkwood is toast."
"At any cost?" asked Estel. "Even at the cost of Elenath and her unborn child?"
Deep pain shown in the young Man's eyes. "At any cost," he repeated, closing his eyes and dropping his head into his hands as Elenath touched the hilt of her sword.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?" Elenath looked up at Marcus as he spoke along with the sword, and she joined him along with Mike and David. "The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked come against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident."
The four gazed at each other for a long moment before turning their attention back to the Council.
"I do not fear death," said Elenath, "Though I cannot choose it for my child."
"Our child," said Legolas, taking her hand.
"Mirkwood's child," corrected Thranduil. "Heir to the throne after its father. It will be the Council's decision whether or not you will fight in this battle, Elenath."
"Can someone else bear the Sword Calmakil in battle?" asked Legolas. "Weapons that can pierce dragon flesh are rare. We will need the Sword to give us the best chance possible."
"Calmakil may choose a new bearer at any time," replied Lord Elrond. "But it is the Sword that chooses. If Elenath does not fight, then more than likely, Calmakil will not either."
"I am at a loss," said the king with a sigh. "We do not know if Elenath's defenses can stand against dragon fire. If yes, then she will be invaluable on the field. If no… well… that puts two Elves in danger. Two Elves who are every precious to me and to this Kingdom.
"It is too great a risk," concluded Thorondil.
Raion shook his head. "I have watched Elenath's skill improve. She has become a formidable opponent. Frankly, we need her, and certainly the dragon cannot be defeated without the Sword that rests now at her side."
"But what of the child?" asked Estel.
Raion answered, "If the greatest Elven Kings and Queens of Middle Earth are going to risk their lives to slay this dragon, then why not the future heir to Mirkwood's throne?"
"But they have a choice," argued Estel. "The child does not."
Elenath stood up. "Do not discuss me or my child as if we were not here. Have I no say in this matter?"
Legolas stood next to her, drawing her near. "No, Melamin. You do not. At least not any more than the rest of us do."
Marcus stood then as well. Coming up next to the princess, he pulled her gently aside and placed his right hand on her belly, whispering in her ear for a long moment as she steadily dropped her defensive stance. Finally she stepped back from him in an attitude of humility, meeting the young Man's eyes and gently squeezing his hand.
"Forgive me," she said to the council, "I am sorry. Whatever you decide, I will comply. I leave your decision in God's hands."
She sat back down next to her husband as the king stood up. "Obviously this decision cannot be made tonight. But what we must decide is if we are ready to fight when Rivendell's warriors arrive."
The Eagle nodded. "Both armies await your answer."
"We have no choice," said Thorondil. "Such large armies cannot be hidden for long, even from orcs."
There was a nod of agreement around the table.
"Right," said the King. "One week, then. We will attack one week from tomorrow at sunrise."
"I will relay the message," said the Eagle, "if you would be so kind as to bring refreshment to me, I will be off first thing in the morning."
"Of course," said Thranduil. "And as for the matter of our Princess and her child, I ask for twenty-four hours to ponder my decision. You are all my advisors, so if you have anything you would like to say to me on this matter, please see me privately in my chambers." He paused. "This meeting is hereby adjourned."
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
41.
It was to be a council of twelve that met this time: the original ten plus Elenath and Marcus who had been invited by Legolas. The Eagle's presence made thirteen, so to avoid the unlucky number, Mike was also invited to attend. Sitting around the Council Table, all fourteen of them awaited the Eagle's report.
The majestic bird waited until he was sure that all were present and got right to the point. "Rivendell and Lorien were greatly distressed by the news of the siege on Mirkwood. Their warriors were dispatched at once and already Lorien has arrived at the outskirts of the forest. They are ready for battle. Rivendell's contingent remains three days hard march away, but they also desire to hasten the battle. The leaders of both armies sent me to ask if you are ready to fight.
There was an uncomfortable silence at the table until King Thranduil finally spoke. "Are they aware of the dragon?"
"They are," replied the Eagle. "Their leaders carry the weapons of old and are ready to fight and die if necessary."
The King cast his glance around the room. "What thinks the Council on this matter?"
Legolas was the first to respond. "Our warriors are well-trained, Father, and ready for battle. I believe that we are ready to reclaim Northern Mirkwood."
Thranduil nodded his approval and waited for any other comments.
"If I may," David spoke a little timidly, "I would like to know more about this dragon."
"Horrible beast," said the Eagle. "Scales so strong that most weapons will only glance off of them. It breathes fire, and dragon's fire burns through the best armor and penetrates all but the most powerful of magic."
"What about Elenath?" asked David, "Will she be safe from the dragon's fire?"
The King's advisors all cast questioning glances at one another.
"We do not know," said Thorondil at last.
Marcus spoke then, surprising them all. "It doesn't matter. I'm telling you this and I know it's true. You've got to kill the dragon. If you don't, well, dudes, Mirkwood is toast."
"At any cost?" asked Estel. "Even at the cost of Elenath and her unborn child?"
Deep pain shown in the young Man's eyes. "At any cost," he repeated, closing his eyes and dropping his head into his hands as Elenath touched the hilt of her sword.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?" Elenath looked up at Marcus as he spoke along with the sword, and she joined him along with Mike and David. "The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked come against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident."
The four gazed at each other for a long moment before turning their attention back to the Council.
"I do not fear death," said Elenath, "Though I cannot choose it for my child."
"Our child," said Legolas, taking her hand.
"Mirkwood's child," corrected Thranduil. "Heir to the throne after its father. It will be the Council's decision whether or not you will fight in this battle, Elenath."
"Can someone else bear the Sword Calmakil in battle?" asked Legolas. "Weapons that can pierce dragon flesh are rare. We will need the Sword to give us the best chance possible."
"Calmakil may choose a new bearer at any time," replied Lord Elrond. "But it is the Sword that chooses. If Elenath does not fight, then more than likely, Calmakil will not either."
"I am at a loss," said the king with a sigh. "We do not know if Elenath's defenses can stand against dragon fire. If yes, then she will be invaluable on the field. If no… well… that puts two Elves in danger. Two Elves who are every precious to me and to this Kingdom.
"It is too great a risk," concluded Thorondil.
Raion shook his head. "I have watched Elenath's skill improve. She has become a formidable opponent. Frankly, we need her, and certainly the dragon cannot be defeated without the Sword that rests now at her side."
"But what of the child?" asked Estel.
Raion answered, "If the greatest Elven Kings and Queens of Middle Earth are going to risk their lives to slay this dragon, then why not the future heir to Mirkwood's throne?"
"But they have a choice," argued Estel. "The child does not."
Elenath stood up. "Do not discuss me or my child as if we were not here. Have I no say in this matter?"
Legolas stood next to her, drawing her near. "No, Melamin. You do not. At least not any more than the rest of us do."
Marcus stood then as well. Coming up next to the princess, he pulled her gently aside and placed his right hand on her belly, whispering in her ear for a long moment as she steadily dropped her defensive stance. Finally she stepped back from him in an attitude of humility, meeting the young Man's eyes and gently squeezing his hand.
"Forgive me," she said to the council, "I am sorry. Whatever you decide, I will comply. I leave your decision in God's hands."
She sat back down next to her husband as the king stood up. "Obviously this decision cannot be made tonight. But what we must decide is if we are ready to fight when Rivendell's warriors arrive."
The Eagle nodded. "Both armies await your answer."
"We have no choice," said Thorondil. "Such large armies cannot be hidden for long, even from orcs."
There was a nod of agreement around the table.
"Right," said the King. "One week, then. We will attack one week from tomorrow at sunrise."
"I will relay the message," said the Eagle, "if you would be so kind as to bring refreshment to me, I will be off first thing in the morning."
"Of course," said Thranduil. "And as for the matter of our Princess and her child, I ask for twenty-four hours to ponder my decision. You are all my advisors, so if you have anything you would like to say to me on this matter, please see me privately in my chambers." He paused. "This meeting is hereby adjourned."