As the three riders rode through the gates Assyrian could sense the guards eying her though they dared not stare outright. Her violet eyes swept over the palace and the few elves that were out and around. Her horse Aurora snorted nervously at all the new surroundings and pranced anxiously under his master. Assyrian laid a calming hand upon her horse's shoulder and spoke soft words in Elvish. Reaching the steps to the palace Assyrian slowly dismounted and spoke a few more words to the horse before turning to Legolas and Aragorn.
"Shall we go and see Thranduil?" she asked and swept her arm to the side for Aragorn and Legolas to lead the way.
She allowed the two to lead the way into the building before her and was content with following. Her cloak covered her entire body and allowed her to almost float across the flooring as they moved quickly through the halls. Reaching a large set of double doors Legolas waved aside the guards before pushing open the doors to Thranduil's main room.
Thranduil looked up from his papers and saw his son come through the doors followed by Aragorn and someone they did not depart with. He stood up from his chair as the three approached his desk and he looked closer at the new arrival as Assyrian pushed back her hood.
"Father this is-"
"Assyrian," he breathed as he walked around the desk. "It ahs been a long time my friend."
"Several hundred years at least my lord," she replied with a faint smile.
Both Legolas and Aragorn were slightly stunned when Thranduil bowed his head to Assyrian in deep respect. She smiled and did the same before pulling Thranduil into a tight hug.
"When Aragorn asked about you, I did not expect him to have met you. This is quite a shock," he said when he released her.
"You know I always must keep you on your toes but I come not on pleasure. I bring news of ill tidings," she said, her voice turning serious.
Thranduil's face dropped as he glanced to Aragorn and Legolas before looking back to Assyrian. Following his glance she looked at Legolas and held his gaze for a moment's time before looking back at Thranduil and slowly nodded.
"Please Assyrian, tell of your news," he said and slowly moved to sit back in his chair.
With a look to the other two, Aragorn and Legolas moved to seat themselves and waited for Assyrian to begin. She slipped off her cloak and draped it across a chair and gently laid her bow on Thranduil's desk. Her hand paused for a moment on the bow as it almost pained her to let go of it, even for a brief moment.
"With the knowledge that Aragorn and Legolas do not know of exactly who or where I come from, I shall start with this. I am called Assyrian Nelaminia but I have several other names which I am called in different areas. I was born in Lothlórien but my family moved to the Elf city in Ered Luin.
"I know not of this city," Legolas interjected never hearing of an Elf city in Ered Luin.
"You would not for it was destroyed quietly about millennia ago. Some spoke naught of it for believed it to be a curse. Others never believed the city even existed so it passed from knowledge into myth quite easily. I at the time was about 2500 years of age and my brother was of a bit younger when it happened. We had been out hunting and when we returned, the city was burning and death was everywhere. Our family and friends had been slaughtered like Uruk-hai and left for the scavengers. That day, only two Elves who had called the city home walked out of it. The Elf that did it, and me," she said as she slowly moved towards the window.
"What of your brother?" Legolas asked not heeding Aragorn's warning glance towards him.
Assyrian's head dipped a bit to conceal her tear filled eyes. She could see her brother in her mind and hear his laughter ring in her ears as if he stood behind her. She could also hear his screams of pain which awoke her from her sleep on some nights and gave her horror to try and sleep again. Raising her head she looked out the window and across the grounds cast in the warm cast of the setting sun. The warm rays from the sun did nothing to banish the sorrow from her heart. Turning to look at Legolas and the others would only cause more pain to her heart, more than she thought she could bear.
"They snuck up behind us and surprised us. They made me watched as they forced my brother upon his knees at my feet…and they killed him. As he bled to death at my feet, they took the same blade which killed him and slashed my throat and neck and left me to die by my brother's corpse. By some miracle, I did not. Even with my Elf healing abilities I did not fully recover for several moons. But I still carry the scar of my inability to protect my brother," she said and slowly turned as she pushed aside the neck of her tunic.
Legolas looked at the vicious scar that marred the otherwise flawless skin and understood why it took so long to heal and still leave the horrid mark. It was apparent that the wound had been deep and extensive; it had been a wonder that the blade hadn't slit anything vital. Assyrian released the shirt and let it move back to cover the scar.
"So now I track the Elf and men that did it. I have tracked them through Eriador, Moria, Rohan and Mirkwood where the storm hit and I met Strider. Their tracks had been washed away but I soon found them again after leaving Strider that morning. When I caught up to the group, I was about to attack when I overheard their discussion. They're making their way towards here from the back for the advantage of surprise."
"But why? Why attack Thranduil's palace? He doesn't have the man power to overtake this palace," Aragorn said as Assyrian slowly moved past him and pulled out one of her blades.
"He does not wish to take over the palace or anything of the sort," Thranduil said quietly as Assyrian slowly swung her blade by her side in thought.
"Then what does his wish for?" Legolas asked as Assyrian's eyes turned towards him.
"The Elf is called Dalimer and he studied secretly under Sauron and Saruman in the evil craft of sorcery. After the fall of Sauron, Dalimer continued to study to perfect his art. When he went as far as he could with what he knew he began to read the books of spells from Saruman. There he learned of a great evil somewhere of which I do not know. The creature can be raised only by a servant of Sauron and killed by one who is not. When it is awakened, it is weak for only a few days till it gets its strength. But there is a way for its strength to return almost immediate and stronger than thought possible. When he needs is the heart and soul of the purest race of Middle-Earth from one individual. One that would lay down their life for another, cry for a loss of life, and see not what is on the outside but the inside. Even the inside of their selves," she said before going through several motions with her blade.
"And who is this person of which you speak of?" Aragorn said as he looked to Assyrian's back.
"Him."
Assyrian turned and pointed the tip of the sword towards Legolas's chest. He looked down at the blade that barely pierced his tunic before looking up at Assyrian as she looked down at him. The room was silent as the impact of her words finally dawned on everyone.
"What do you advise we do Assyrian?" Thranduil asked quietly as she lowered her blade and slipped it back into the scabbard.
"Legolas must disappear before Dalimer gets here. I suggest that he leaves as quickly as possible and tell no one where he heads. I will track Dalimer again and try and kill him and all his men. He can not be let near Legolas," she said looking to Thranduil.
"Where will I go?"
Assyrian turned and looked at Legolas and her violet eyes softened. She could see that he was scared, but he hid it especially well before her. He was a courageous warrior and a loyal friend to those lucky to be called his friend but he knew that at times one must hide.
"Go where ever you must prince. It is for you to know and others not."
"I am going with him," Aragorn said moving to stand behind Legolas. "I shall not allow my friend to go through this alone."
"I expected nothing less of you King Elessar. But what of your kingdom?"
"My kingdom can manage without a king for a while. I am a friend before a king," he said reaching out and squeezed Legolas's shoulder.
"Then it is settled. Legolas and Aragorn shall start out tomorrow night under the cover of darkness," Thranduil said as he stood next to Assyrian.
"And I must start out now in hopes of finding Dalimer," Assyrian said as she picked up her cloak and swung it over her shoulders.
Picking up her quiver and bow she quickly walked out of the room and out of the building as the others followed. Piercing the cool night air with a shrill whistle she turned to Legolas and rested both her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eyes.
"Aá menle nauva calen aŕ ta hwesta e' ale' quenle. Tenná ento lye amenta," she whispered to him as he grasped her forearms and gently squeezed. (May thy paths be green and the breeze on thy back. Until next we meet)
"Tenná sań." (Until then)
"When will you join us?" Aragorn asked as she mounted Aurora.
"As soon as I am able to. Travel as fast as you can; I will find you where ever you go," she said as she pulled the hood over her head and partially covered her face. "Caro celeg Aurora!" (Make haste Aurora!)
Aurora's head snapped up and his hooves dug into the ground as the horse leapt forward following his master's commands. Assyrian's cloak swept behind her as Aurora sped towards the gates that were quickly opened by the guards. Her form melted into the darkness and soon the sound of Aurora's pounding hooves could no longer be heard by even Elf ears.
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Well what does everyone think? I hope everyone is pleased with this chapter. And a huge thank you goes out to: phoenixqueen and The Lady Sorcha of Sevenwaters and Kaminari. You have no clue how happy your reviews made me, I was just ecstatic when I read them. So everyone who reads please review and I'll give you a shout out in the next chapter, I just love all of my reviewers. Okay so happy readings and reviewing. Peace.