Chapter 5
King Thranduil sat alone in his throne room. The words, "But he must wish to come back," echoed loudly in his mind. He slowly examined each word as if seeking an answer there. Why should his son come back, indeed? To have lost his sister, brother, mother, and now his best friends.
He knew how he had survived after losing his wife and Silwen and Naurdril. He had his Golden Son, the remaining pride of his heart who looked so like his Mother. He now lived for Legolas, though he would die himself before he would ever let him know. What would he do if he lost his last Beloved Son who carried what was left of his heart? He grimaced at the thought, and then looked to the door of the Great Hall as Lord Elrond came through it. Was there hope on the Elf Lord's face?
Elrond was direct. "He is in torment and sways between Light and Shadow and refuses to come to me. He suffers much guilt about what happened to his friends and believes he is responsible in some way for the loss of his mother, brother, and sister."
Thranduil met Elrond's directness with his own. "Any guilt on his part is unfounded. You know that."
"I can heal his physical wounds, though serious; but the mental ones will take something more than what I have to offer."
King Thranduil's heart skipped a beat at the possibility of good news, but then his hopes plunged. Elrond and he had not always seen eye to eye, but he knew there was no better Healer. If he was admitting defeat, then there was no hope left.
Elrond saw Thranduil's shoulders sag as his hope faded. The Elf Lord said gently, "That is why I sent for my sons, Thranduil. They will be here soon."
The King frowned at this. "What can your sons do that you cannot, Elrond?"
"Become his new friends. Share in his loss - they lost their Mother, too. Give him hope to go on. They will be able to reach him."
"You have never before shown this kind of concern. Your sons have never even been here before. Why now?"
Elrond eyes shone as if he had anticipated this question, which he had. "You and I have not been friends, Thranduil." He held his hand up as Thranduil began to speak. "Our families and lands are far apart but the time is coming when Kind will seek Kind for succor. The Shadow is upon "Mirkwood" and the might of all your warriors can do naught but slow it. Our families and lands must be joined to remain strong and free. Being alone only invites attack. It is my wish that our sons will be steadfast in a friendship that will bind both Mirkwood and Rivendell."
Thranduil had begun chewing his lip thoughtfully, and his eyes brightened. "Elrond, you have changed so much in just a few thousand years." The King's mood was lightened and he was grateful. "Thank you. You have given me hope, for my Son and my Kingdom. I, too, would be pleased for our Houses to be so joined."
A strange look came over Elrond's face and his eyes seemed to glow with an inner light. "I have taken Hope into my House, King Thranduil, and daily watch him grow. The future is in his hands."
TBC
King Thranduil sat alone in his throne room. The words, "But he must wish to come back," echoed loudly in his mind. He slowly examined each word as if seeking an answer there. Why should his son come back, indeed? To have lost his sister, brother, mother, and now his best friends.
He knew how he had survived after losing his wife and Silwen and Naurdril. He had his Golden Son, the remaining pride of his heart who looked so like his Mother. He now lived for Legolas, though he would die himself before he would ever let him know. What would he do if he lost his last Beloved Son who carried what was left of his heart? He grimaced at the thought, and then looked to the door of the Great Hall as Lord Elrond came through it. Was there hope on the Elf Lord's face?
Elrond was direct. "He is in torment and sways between Light and Shadow and refuses to come to me. He suffers much guilt about what happened to his friends and believes he is responsible in some way for the loss of his mother, brother, and sister."
Thranduil met Elrond's directness with his own. "Any guilt on his part is unfounded. You know that."
"I can heal his physical wounds, though serious; but the mental ones will take something more than what I have to offer."
King Thranduil's heart skipped a beat at the possibility of good news, but then his hopes plunged. Elrond and he had not always seen eye to eye, but he knew there was no better Healer. If he was admitting defeat, then there was no hope left.
Elrond saw Thranduil's shoulders sag as his hope faded. The Elf Lord said gently, "That is why I sent for my sons, Thranduil. They will be here soon."
The King frowned at this. "What can your sons do that you cannot, Elrond?"
"Become his new friends. Share in his loss - they lost their Mother, too. Give him hope to go on. They will be able to reach him."
"You have never before shown this kind of concern. Your sons have never even been here before. Why now?"
Elrond eyes shone as if he had anticipated this question, which he had. "You and I have not been friends, Thranduil." He held his hand up as Thranduil began to speak. "Our families and lands are far apart but the time is coming when Kind will seek Kind for succor. The Shadow is upon "Mirkwood" and the might of all your warriors can do naught but slow it. Our families and lands must be joined to remain strong and free. Being alone only invites attack. It is my wish that our sons will be steadfast in a friendship that will bind both Mirkwood and Rivendell."
Thranduil had begun chewing his lip thoughtfully, and his eyes brightened. "Elrond, you have changed so much in just a few thousand years." The King's mood was lightened and he was grateful. "Thank you. You have given me hope, for my Son and my Kingdom. I, too, would be pleased for our Houses to be so joined."
A strange look came over Elrond's face and his eyes seemed to glow with an inner light. "I have taken Hope into my House, King Thranduil, and daily watch him grow. The future is in his hands."
TBC