Author's note: When Nilmandra betaed the final chapter for me, she
suggested that I fill in some of the blanks between it and the previous
chapter. She was right. Pretend that this is the end of Chapter 6.
6 ½. Betrayal (continued)
Eilian stayed for one more frozen moment staring in shock at the dead Arramiel. It was so rare for an Elf to kill another Elf! He swallowed the distress he felt that it should be Legolas who had done so. Then he forced himself to his feet and, gaining the door, he shouted down the hall for help. He knew that Thranduil was in his office and that there would be Elves with him. He was crouching near the wounded guard when Thranduil and four more guards scrambled through the doorway, swords drawn. His father took in the situation at a glance. "Get him to the infirmary," he ordered, gesturing toward the wounded Elf, and, sheathing their swords, two of the guards leapt to obey. "Then tell Lord Ithilden what has happened and send him to me."
Thranduil now crossed the room and placed one arm around Legolas's still heaving shoulders, standing between him and Galenadiual, whom he pushed aside not altogether gently. The other two guards stood behind her, not touching her but close enough to seize her easily should it become necessary. With his other hand, Thranduil examined the wound on Legolas's chest as best he could under the circumstances. "What happened?" he demanded of Eilian.
"I am not completely sure," Eilian answered. "When I got here, Arramiel had evidently stabbed the guard and had a knife pointed at Lady Galenadiual." He paused, and his father looked at him, hearing the anguish in his voice. "Legolas caught her off guard," he said.
Thranduil looked at the young woman's body, and saw the hilt of the dagger. It was engraved with twining leaf designs. He knew to whom the dagger belonged. His arm tightened around his youngest son's shoulders, and he briefly closed his eyes. Legolas had at last stopped vomiting, and Thranduil turned him into his embrace. "You did well," he said steadily. Legolas stood with his face buried in his father's chest, and Eilian could see that he was trembling slightly. "It was fortunate that you were here," Thranduil continued, stroking the blond head gently. "You have saved us all from much danger and anguish."
Ithilden appeared in the doorway, breathless in his haste. Thranduil pulled away from Legolas slightly and spoke to Ithilden. "Take Legolas to the infirmary and see they treat the cut on his chest and whatever other hurts he might have." He looked at Ithilden meaningfully. "Stay with him. Do not leave him until I come."
Ithilden had commanded troops for many years and knew a young warrior in shock when he saw one. He grasped his little brother's arm and led him away, speaking calmly and cheerfully. Eilian started after them, but Thranduil stopped him. "I need you here, Eilian," he said firmly.
Thranduil now turned to look at Galenadiual, who was white faced but held his eye steadily enough. Thranduil evidently reached some sort of decision and spoke to the remaining guards, "Take the body away." One of them removed the dagger and handed it to Thranduil, who grimaced, hesitated, and then placed it in his pocket. When they had left with their burden, he looked at Galenadiual again. "Tell me what you know of Arramiel," he commanded. "I need to know if there are others with whom she was in league."
"I know very little," her voice was ragged. "She walked into the courtyard of our manor about two months before the Orc attack that destroyed it. She beseeched our aid, for she said that her own home had been burned and her family lost. I had never seen her before, but you know that there are many such poor souls wandering now."
Eilian fought the impulse to go this woman and lend her his arm for support. She was increasingly distraught, but Thranduil did not seem to notice.
"She sometimes complained that you had not done enough for those of us in the south, my lord," Galenadiual went on, hesitantly. "My husband wanted to dismiss her. He said that she was unwise in her choice of friends and enemies, that she was like the Elves of old who believed the lies and promises of the evil one. But I felt sorry for her, and I would not let him send her away." Her voice rose now almost to a wail. "Think you that my credulity led to his death?" She began to sob.
Eilian could bear it no longer. Could his father not see that this woman was near the end of her strength? He moved quickly to her side and guided her to a chair, determined that she should sit even if his father had not given leave. "You could not have known what she was," he murmured. "You acted from kindness. No one could doubt your motives."
Glancing up, he saw that his father was looking at him intently. An expression that could only be described as "satisfied" crossed Thranduil's face, and then he looked at Galenadiual. "My lady," he said, "I regret the grief that this woman brought upon you. I sorrow for your loss of husband and home. I believe that you have had no part in her betrayal." Eilian was not quite certain what had just occurred, but he knew that whatever it was had been between Thranduil and himself as much as between Thranduil and Galenadiual. He felt as if he had just passed some sort of test that he had not even known he was taking.
6 ½. Betrayal (continued)
Eilian stayed for one more frozen moment staring in shock at the dead Arramiel. It was so rare for an Elf to kill another Elf! He swallowed the distress he felt that it should be Legolas who had done so. Then he forced himself to his feet and, gaining the door, he shouted down the hall for help. He knew that Thranduil was in his office and that there would be Elves with him. He was crouching near the wounded guard when Thranduil and four more guards scrambled through the doorway, swords drawn. His father took in the situation at a glance. "Get him to the infirmary," he ordered, gesturing toward the wounded Elf, and, sheathing their swords, two of the guards leapt to obey. "Then tell Lord Ithilden what has happened and send him to me."
Thranduil now crossed the room and placed one arm around Legolas's still heaving shoulders, standing between him and Galenadiual, whom he pushed aside not altogether gently. The other two guards stood behind her, not touching her but close enough to seize her easily should it become necessary. With his other hand, Thranduil examined the wound on Legolas's chest as best he could under the circumstances. "What happened?" he demanded of Eilian.
"I am not completely sure," Eilian answered. "When I got here, Arramiel had evidently stabbed the guard and had a knife pointed at Lady Galenadiual." He paused, and his father looked at him, hearing the anguish in his voice. "Legolas caught her off guard," he said.
Thranduil looked at the young woman's body, and saw the hilt of the dagger. It was engraved with twining leaf designs. He knew to whom the dagger belonged. His arm tightened around his youngest son's shoulders, and he briefly closed his eyes. Legolas had at last stopped vomiting, and Thranduil turned him into his embrace. "You did well," he said steadily. Legolas stood with his face buried in his father's chest, and Eilian could see that he was trembling slightly. "It was fortunate that you were here," Thranduil continued, stroking the blond head gently. "You have saved us all from much danger and anguish."
Ithilden appeared in the doorway, breathless in his haste. Thranduil pulled away from Legolas slightly and spoke to Ithilden. "Take Legolas to the infirmary and see they treat the cut on his chest and whatever other hurts he might have." He looked at Ithilden meaningfully. "Stay with him. Do not leave him until I come."
Ithilden had commanded troops for many years and knew a young warrior in shock when he saw one. He grasped his little brother's arm and led him away, speaking calmly and cheerfully. Eilian started after them, but Thranduil stopped him. "I need you here, Eilian," he said firmly.
Thranduil now turned to look at Galenadiual, who was white faced but held his eye steadily enough. Thranduil evidently reached some sort of decision and spoke to the remaining guards, "Take the body away." One of them removed the dagger and handed it to Thranduil, who grimaced, hesitated, and then placed it in his pocket. When they had left with their burden, he looked at Galenadiual again. "Tell me what you know of Arramiel," he commanded. "I need to know if there are others with whom she was in league."
"I know very little," her voice was ragged. "She walked into the courtyard of our manor about two months before the Orc attack that destroyed it. She beseeched our aid, for she said that her own home had been burned and her family lost. I had never seen her before, but you know that there are many such poor souls wandering now."
Eilian fought the impulse to go this woman and lend her his arm for support. She was increasingly distraught, but Thranduil did not seem to notice.
"She sometimes complained that you had not done enough for those of us in the south, my lord," Galenadiual went on, hesitantly. "My husband wanted to dismiss her. He said that she was unwise in her choice of friends and enemies, that she was like the Elves of old who believed the lies and promises of the evil one. But I felt sorry for her, and I would not let him send her away." Her voice rose now almost to a wail. "Think you that my credulity led to his death?" She began to sob.
Eilian could bear it no longer. Could his father not see that this woman was near the end of her strength? He moved quickly to her side and guided her to a chair, determined that she should sit even if his father had not given leave. "You could not have known what she was," he murmured. "You acted from kindness. No one could doubt your motives."
Glancing up, he saw that his father was looking at him intently. An expression that could only be described as "satisfied" crossed Thranduil's face, and then he looked at Galenadiual. "My lady," he said, "I regret the grief that this woman brought upon you. I sorrow for your loss of husband and home. I believe that you have had no part in her betrayal." Eilian was not quite certain what had just occurred, but he knew that whatever it was had been between Thranduil and himself as much as between Thranduil and Galenadiual. He felt as if he had just passed some sort of test that he had not even known he was taking.