Duath uin Taur
"Darkness of the Forest"
By G. D. Gauss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For disclaimer, rating, etc. see Chapter 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2 The Fellowship of the Ring
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The palace courtyard was overflowing with an eager crowd. The princes of Mirkwood were expected home any moment. Hundreds of keen eyes searched the boughs and foliage of the gardens for the band of four brothers on four white horses. Suddenly, they were spotted.
"There they are!" an elf shouted, pointing straight ahead. Everyone suddenly cheered and tried to get a glimpse between the giant palace gates. A small group of riders appeared from out of the mist of early morning. Everyone suddenly began realizing that the group was a bit too small. one was missing. There were four horses but one was missing a rider. Only three brothers returned.
Méndel approached the elf lords as they rode inside the gates. "Where is the fourth of your group?" He looked quickly over their faces with a concerned expression, "Where is Prince Legolas? Is he alright? What happened? Did you receive help from Lord Elrond?"
Tadrielas raised his hand and smiled gently, "Patience, Méndel, not so many questions at a time!" Ryldor and Legandir shifted uncomfortably in their saddles at the mention of Legolas and Elrond's counsel.
Nanien suddenly appeared out of the crowd as a path was parted for her. "Father is expecting you all." She said with a brilliant smile. "How did your journey fare-. wait." she frowned, "where's Legolas?"
Tadrielas dismounted and approached his sister as a nearby stable hand took his horse. "Nanien, I have much to tell father." She took his arm as they walked through the courtyard followed by Ryldor and Legandir. "Many things went as we did not intend them to."
"But Legolas. is he alright?"
"Legolas is fine. if not entirely sane, he's fine otherwise."
"Tadrielas, where is he? What happened?"
The heir to the throne waved his hand, "All will be answered in time. First, I must see father."
Nanien slowly nodded, satisfied enough to know that her brother was safe. She still worried, though. What mess could he have gotten himself into this time? He was quite good at that, actually. Legolas seemed the most prone of the five children to getting into trouble. Father would have a grand time sorting this out, whatever it was. She had a gnawing feeling that it was worse than it sounded. the way Tadrielas avoided answering questions. Ryldor and Legandir refused to look at her directly. Nanien closed her eyes and prayed.
The children of Thranduil came into the king's giant marbled throne room. Their father was sitting upon his throne, deep in thought. He looked up and smiled as his children entered. When only four elves came in and the door closed behind them he frowned. Their faces smiled back at him but he knew them too well. They were only masks covering up some kind of sadness. or was it concern? It brought an unpleasant draught of worry into the king's heart.
Thranduil opened his mouth to question them when Ryldor held up his hand. "Father, before you ask us where Legolas is we have quite a story to tell you. and Nanien, for she is not aware of the goings on either."
The crease in the king's brow did not fade. "Is he well? Tell me nothing happened to him."
"He is fine, father," said Legandir. "He gave himself something to keep him busy for quite some time. I would not be surprised if he does not return for several years. Tadrielas, you had best tell the story, for there are some things that not even Ryldor or I are too familiar with."
Tadrielas nodded and let out a deep sigh. "We arrived in Imladris to find it quite as we did not expect it to. Many beings were there other than elves; dwarves, men, even halflings. Mithrandir made an appearance as well."
The king interrupted his son momentarily. "Did you give the message of Sméagol's escape to Lord Elrond?"
"Yes, but it is a small matter now that we have learned what we did in Imladris."
At this, the worry in Thranduil's heart burned mercilessly.
"Lord Elrond called a secret council to the messengers of each race. At this council, he informed us of a great darkness that has been growing for many years in Middle-Earth. All races and species will be affected by this evil. It is coming from none other than Mordor, by the hands of the Dark Lord Sauron. He is awakened once more. The Ring of Power had come to Imladris by way of a small halfling named Frodo Baggins. He made a long and perilous journey from the Shire just east of the Grey Havens."
The king was hardly believing what he was hearing. "The ring came by a halfling? How could Lord Elrond allow such a thing?"
"Mithrandir helped him along his way. He had other halfling friends with him who followed him to Imladris and were quiet unwilling to leave his side. He presented the ring to the council to show that the Ring of Power had not been lost forever and is once again posing a threat to Middle-Earth. Elrond proposed that a representative of every race form a Fellowship to take the ring to Mordor and destroy it forever, for it is the only way to stop this great evil from engulfing all of existence. It was then time to decide who would bare Isildur's Bane to the Dark Lands. There was quite a dispute over this. The entire council erupted into argument when several unnecessary comments were made.
"In the end, to the great astonishment of everyone, Frodo the halfling pledged his life to the ring and promised to take it to Mount Doom or as close as his strength could manage. Mithrandir was the first to stand by his side. Then Aragorn the ranger stood followed by our brother, Legolas. He pledged his own life to this almost certainly perilous quest. I fear he is off to Mordor under the eye of the Dark Lord."
Thranduil's eyes closed slowly. The burning in his heart magnified as he struggled with his emotions. This was far beyond anything his son had done. He cringed when he thought of the things Legolas may face on this journey. The phrase "certain death" crossed through his mind incessantly. Though the prince was strong and he was only thankful that it was not his son who had volunteered to bear the ring himself.
Tadrielas stepped forward cautiously. "Father?"
Thranduil looked up and smiled softly. "Legolas has taken upon himself a burden that may give him great honor no matter what the future holds. Pray for him and lest he falls to the evil of the Dark Lord, give a warm welcome when he returns."
The princes and princess bowed their heads and followed each other out of their father's throne room. Their hearts were heavy but filled with pride for the actions and bravery of their brother. It was a hard fate to be burdened with such a test of strength. They would pray indeed, for the whole Fellowship. They would need every ounce of prayer they could receive and more, for they were the Fellowship of the Ring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eight months later.
The crisp morning saw the fair-haired royalty out of their palace. The king and three of his four sons rode into the white mist on four white steeds. They had planned a merry hunting trip to ease the burdened hearts of all of them.
When they entered the shadowed denseness of the forest, they felt a tense unease upon their souls as remembrance of the evil in their homeland returned to them. It was not a heavy feeling and they ignored it completely in light of the new day.
They journeyed on into the darkness, despite the bright sun spilling over the treetops. Their travels took them deep into the forest, far from the palace. Their laughing and song took their awareness away as evil things followed their path.
Completely incoherent to the darkness that lurked behind, a shadow closed in from all around them and struck.
By G. D. Gauss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For disclaimer, rating, etc. see Chapter 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2 The Fellowship of the Ring
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The palace courtyard was overflowing with an eager crowd. The princes of Mirkwood were expected home any moment. Hundreds of keen eyes searched the boughs and foliage of the gardens for the band of four brothers on four white horses. Suddenly, they were spotted.
"There they are!" an elf shouted, pointing straight ahead. Everyone suddenly cheered and tried to get a glimpse between the giant palace gates. A small group of riders appeared from out of the mist of early morning. Everyone suddenly began realizing that the group was a bit too small. one was missing. There were four horses but one was missing a rider. Only three brothers returned.
Méndel approached the elf lords as they rode inside the gates. "Where is the fourth of your group?" He looked quickly over their faces with a concerned expression, "Where is Prince Legolas? Is he alright? What happened? Did you receive help from Lord Elrond?"
Tadrielas raised his hand and smiled gently, "Patience, Méndel, not so many questions at a time!" Ryldor and Legandir shifted uncomfortably in their saddles at the mention of Legolas and Elrond's counsel.
Nanien suddenly appeared out of the crowd as a path was parted for her. "Father is expecting you all." She said with a brilliant smile. "How did your journey fare-. wait." she frowned, "where's Legolas?"
Tadrielas dismounted and approached his sister as a nearby stable hand took his horse. "Nanien, I have much to tell father." She took his arm as they walked through the courtyard followed by Ryldor and Legandir. "Many things went as we did not intend them to."
"But Legolas. is he alright?"
"Legolas is fine. if not entirely sane, he's fine otherwise."
"Tadrielas, where is he? What happened?"
The heir to the throne waved his hand, "All will be answered in time. First, I must see father."
Nanien slowly nodded, satisfied enough to know that her brother was safe. She still worried, though. What mess could he have gotten himself into this time? He was quite good at that, actually. Legolas seemed the most prone of the five children to getting into trouble. Father would have a grand time sorting this out, whatever it was. She had a gnawing feeling that it was worse than it sounded. the way Tadrielas avoided answering questions. Ryldor and Legandir refused to look at her directly. Nanien closed her eyes and prayed.
The children of Thranduil came into the king's giant marbled throne room. Their father was sitting upon his throne, deep in thought. He looked up and smiled as his children entered. When only four elves came in and the door closed behind them he frowned. Their faces smiled back at him but he knew them too well. They were only masks covering up some kind of sadness. or was it concern? It brought an unpleasant draught of worry into the king's heart.
Thranduil opened his mouth to question them when Ryldor held up his hand. "Father, before you ask us where Legolas is we have quite a story to tell you. and Nanien, for she is not aware of the goings on either."
The crease in the king's brow did not fade. "Is he well? Tell me nothing happened to him."
"He is fine, father," said Legandir. "He gave himself something to keep him busy for quite some time. I would not be surprised if he does not return for several years. Tadrielas, you had best tell the story, for there are some things that not even Ryldor or I are too familiar with."
Tadrielas nodded and let out a deep sigh. "We arrived in Imladris to find it quite as we did not expect it to. Many beings were there other than elves; dwarves, men, even halflings. Mithrandir made an appearance as well."
The king interrupted his son momentarily. "Did you give the message of Sméagol's escape to Lord Elrond?"
"Yes, but it is a small matter now that we have learned what we did in Imladris."
At this, the worry in Thranduil's heart burned mercilessly.
"Lord Elrond called a secret council to the messengers of each race. At this council, he informed us of a great darkness that has been growing for many years in Middle-Earth. All races and species will be affected by this evil. It is coming from none other than Mordor, by the hands of the Dark Lord Sauron. He is awakened once more. The Ring of Power had come to Imladris by way of a small halfling named Frodo Baggins. He made a long and perilous journey from the Shire just east of the Grey Havens."
The king was hardly believing what he was hearing. "The ring came by a halfling? How could Lord Elrond allow such a thing?"
"Mithrandir helped him along his way. He had other halfling friends with him who followed him to Imladris and were quiet unwilling to leave his side. He presented the ring to the council to show that the Ring of Power had not been lost forever and is once again posing a threat to Middle-Earth. Elrond proposed that a representative of every race form a Fellowship to take the ring to Mordor and destroy it forever, for it is the only way to stop this great evil from engulfing all of existence. It was then time to decide who would bare Isildur's Bane to the Dark Lands. There was quite a dispute over this. The entire council erupted into argument when several unnecessary comments were made.
"In the end, to the great astonishment of everyone, Frodo the halfling pledged his life to the ring and promised to take it to Mount Doom or as close as his strength could manage. Mithrandir was the first to stand by his side. Then Aragorn the ranger stood followed by our brother, Legolas. He pledged his own life to this almost certainly perilous quest. I fear he is off to Mordor under the eye of the Dark Lord."
Thranduil's eyes closed slowly. The burning in his heart magnified as he struggled with his emotions. This was far beyond anything his son had done. He cringed when he thought of the things Legolas may face on this journey. The phrase "certain death" crossed through his mind incessantly. Though the prince was strong and he was only thankful that it was not his son who had volunteered to bear the ring himself.
Tadrielas stepped forward cautiously. "Father?"
Thranduil looked up and smiled softly. "Legolas has taken upon himself a burden that may give him great honor no matter what the future holds. Pray for him and lest he falls to the evil of the Dark Lord, give a warm welcome when he returns."
The princes and princess bowed their heads and followed each other out of their father's throne room. Their hearts were heavy but filled with pride for the actions and bravery of their brother. It was a hard fate to be burdened with such a test of strength. They would pray indeed, for the whole Fellowship. They would need every ounce of prayer they could receive and more, for they were the Fellowship of the Ring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eight months later.
The crisp morning saw the fair-haired royalty out of their palace. The king and three of his four sons rode into the white mist on four white steeds. They had planned a merry hunting trip to ease the burdened hearts of all of them.
When they entered the shadowed denseness of the forest, they felt a tense unease upon their souls as remembrance of the evil in their homeland returned to them. It was not a heavy feeling and they ignored it completely in light of the new day.
They journeyed on into the darkness, despite the bright sun spilling over the treetops. Their travels took them deep into the forest, far from the palace. Their laughing and song took their awareness away as evil things followed their path.
Completely incoherent to the darkness that lurked behind, a shadow closed in from all around them and struck.