Author's Note: Nope, still not Tolkien and still receiving absolutely no
money, so no need to sue, really.
Chapter 16
King Thranduil had been holding a small counsel with a few of his top advisors when there was the sounds of a commotion outside of the hall. The elves stopped their conference and turned expectantly. Presently, the door was opened and two of the guards that stood at the entrances of Mirkwood came in with a strange elf.
One of the guards turned on the strange elf before anything could be said. "I told you to wait outside," he said impatiently.
"I have to speak to your Lord Thranduil," the strange elf said coolly. He straightened and made his stance strong, clearly stating that he was not going anywhere until he said what he had come to say.
The two guards turned on the strange elf and things might have gone ill if Thranduil had not spoken.
"Peace," he called out, striding to the trio. His advisors followed silently, flanking their king. The guards looked over at Thranduil and then bowed to him before moving a bit to the side. They kept their spears out and at the ready and positioned themselves so that one was on either side of the strange elf should he try anything.
Thranduil approached the strange elf with a small mixture of confusion. The elf neither bowed or averted his gaze, which was considered respectful, and only stared brazenly at the elf king. A small measure of pride washed through Thranduil but he pushed it aside. He wanted to know why this elf had come.
Thranduil stopped before the elf and looked at him closely. "Where do you hail from?" the elven king finally asked. The elf was dark in coloring but did not look familiar.
"I come from Imladris bearing a message," the elf said after a beat. Thranduil looked skeptical for he knew the elves of Rivendell fairly well and he did not look particularly like them even if he did share the coloring. "I have word of your son," the elf continued.
All skepticism and other thoughts flew from Thranduil when he heard this. A flash of hope swept through him and his face lit up. "Legolas? Is he well? Where is he?"
The elf held up a hand to stave off Thranduil's questions and then spoke rapidly. "Your son has been dwelling in Rivendell for the better part of the week. He arrived after being pursued by a band of renegade elves that slew his company. He says that he wishes for an envoy to be sent to Rivendell so that he may be escorted back home in full protection as the renegade band is still abroad and specifically aiming for your son."
Thranduil was nodding rapidly, "Of course, I will send one with you immediately so that you may be able to return safely home." Thranduil turned to send out one of his advisors as a runner to get the envoy established as soon as possible but the elf stopped him.
"That will not be necessary, lord," he said, "for I have come with my own company and we shall be safe enough. However we need to make a run to Lothlorien for Lord Elrond in order to inform Galadriel and Celeborn about the renegade elves as well."
The elven king had turned back to the elf and he gave a short nod. "Do not let me delay you any longer than necessary in your errand. You may leave as soon as you have want to, but please let us provide you with provisions first."
The elf was already beginning to back up. "It is not necessary lord, we have plenty provisions and desire no rest. We only wish to finish our errand and return home as quickly as possible."
"Go then and may Elbereth protect you," Thranduil finished and bowed slightly to the elf. The elf did not return the bow and only turned abruptly to exit the room. The guards held the door open for him and Thranduil glimpsed three other elves with his same coloring waiting for him outside. Then the doors closed and Thranduil thought no more of them.
He turned to the elf closest to him. "Elderein, quickly, run out and gather twenty of my warriors. Tell the stable hands to prepare horses and provisions for them. Send them off as quickly as possible to Rivendell."
Elderein spoke up hesitantly, "My lord, do you not think this a little strange?"
Thranduil stopped in his hasty planning. "What do you mean?"
Elderein gestured to the now empty door. "That elf that just came in, he was unlike those in Rivendell."
"He did not show respect or indicated knowledge of our ways," spoke up another elf gathered around Thranduil.
Thranduil frowned. "He was in haste," he said slowly, "and he came bearing news of my son. I knew that he was still alive and well."
"He did not look to be of the house of Elrond Half-elven," Elderein spoke up again with frustration.
Thranduil did not have any patience. "He was a simple runner, he does not have to be of the house of Elrond to live in Imladris. Now please do not argue with my judgement and do as I say." Elderein set his mouth in a tight line and gave a small bow to Thranduil before walking out the doors. Thranduil watched him go and then turned to another elf, the head of his army at present.
"Hildor, I want you to form a small contingent separate from the envoy, at least forty strong. Tell them that they are to go out and search for this renegade band. I want the renegades brought here for questioning as to why they are targeting Legolas and who lords over them. If they show resistance do not hesitate to slay them." Hildor bowed low and then turned to walk out of the hall.
That left Thranduil with three of his advisors. Thranduil waved them away. "I do not wish to speak about the conditions of the woods anymore. I will be in my chambers if anybody needs me." Thranduil then exited the room.
The four dark-haired elves rode swiftly out of Mirkwood and then turned in the direction of Lothlorien. Once they were out of sight from the keenest of eyes, they checked their horses and turned in the correct way of their destination.
"Did the king believe you?" one of them asked the one in the lead.
The elf nodded curtly. "He was so happy to hear about his son that his suspicions left him." There was a pause and then he asked, "Did you scout the borders of their woods?"
The elf on his left spoke up. "There is much turmoil in the deep of the woods and it is barely being held at bay. It will take very little to encourage the darkness to once again cover all of Mirkwood."
"Very good," the elf in the lead commented and then no more was said as they raced back to their own lord.
Personal Notes: Arbariel- you're hilarious, I love your reviews, they always brighten my day
Elentari Manwe- And the award goes to.(but shhhhh, don't tell anybody!) :)
Aredhel Ereinionchil- First runner-up award goes to you, great reasoning skills
LegolasLover2003 and Lady of Legolas- hang in there, the confusion will pass!
Nilmandra- award for suspense huh? Cool. :)
Gaile- you know how to make an author feel loved
Chapter 16
King Thranduil had been holding a small counsel with a few of his top advisors when there was the sounds of a commotion outside of the hall. The elves stopped their conference and turned expectantly. Presently, the door was opened and two of the guards that stood at the entrances of Mirkwood came in with a strange elf.
One of the guards turned on the strange elf before anything could be said. "I told you to wait outside," he said impatiently.
"I have to speak to your Lord Thranduil," the strange elf said coolly. He straightened and made his stance strong, clearly stating that he was not going anywhere until he said what he had come to say.
The two guards turned on the strange elf and things might have gone ill if Thranduil had not spoken.
"Peace," he called out, striding to the trio. His advisors followed silently, flanking their king. The guards looked over at Thranduil and then bowed to him before moving a bit to the side. They kept their spears out and at the ready and positioned themselves so that one was on either side of the strange elf should he try anything.
Thranduil approached the strange elf with a small mixture of confusion. The elf neither bowed or averted his gaze, which was considered respectful, and only stared brazenly at the elf king. A small measure of pride washed through Thranduil but he pushed it aside. He wanted to know why this elf had come.
Thranduil stopped before the elf and looked at him closely. "Where do you hail from?" the elven king finally asked. The elf was dark in coloring but did not look familiar.
"I come from Imladris bearing a message," the elf said after a beat. Thranduil looked skeptical for he knew the elves of Rivendell fairly well and he did not look particularly like them even if he did share the coloring. "I have word of your son," the elf continued.
All skepticism and other thoughts flew from Thranduil when he heard this. A flash of hope swept through him and his face lit up. "Legolas? Is he well? Where is he?"
The elf held up a hand to stave off Thranduil's questions and then spoke rapidly. "Your son has been dwelling in Rivendell for the better part of the week. He arrived after being pursued by a band of renegade elves that slew his company. He says that he wishes for an envoy to be sent to Rivendell so that he may be escorted back home in full protection as the renegade band is still abroad and specifically aiming for your son."
Thranduil was nodding rapidly, "Of course, I will send one with you immediately so that you may be able to return safely home." Thranduil turned to send out one of his advisors as a runner to get the envoy established as soon as possible but the elf stopped him.
"That will not be necessary, lord," he said, "for I have come with my own company and we shall be safe enough. However we need to make a run to Lothlorien for Lord Elrond in order to inform Galadriel and Celeborn about the renegade elves as well."
The elven king had turned back to the elf and he gave a short nod. "Do not let me delay you any longer than necessary in your errand. You may leave as soon as you have want to, but please let us provide you with provisions first."
The elf was already beginning to back up. "It is not necessary lord, we have plenty provisions and desire no rest. We only wish to finish our errand and return home as quickly as possible."
"Go then and may Elbereth protect you," Thranduil finished and bowed slightly to the elf. The elf did not return the bow and only turned abruptly to exit the room. The guards held the door open for him and Thranduil glimpsed three other elves with his same coloring waiting for him outside. Then the doors closed and Thranduil thought no more of them.
He turned to the elf closest to him. "Elderein, quickly, run out and gather twenty of my warriors. Tell the stable hands to prepare horses and provisions for them. Send them off as quickly as possible to Rivendell."
Elderein spoke up hesitantly, "My lord, do you not think this a little strange?"
Thranduil stopped in his hasty planning. "What do you mean?"
Elderein gestured to the now empty door. "That elf that just came in, he was unlike those in Rivendell."
"He did not show respect or indicated knowledge of our ways," spoke up another elf gathered around Thranduil.
Thranduil frowned. "He was in haste," he said slowly, "and he came bearing news of my son. I knew that he was still alive and well."
"He did not look to be of the house of Elrond Half-elven," Elderein spoke up again with frustration.
Thranduil did not have any patience. "He was a simple runner, he does not have to be of the house of Elrond to live in Imladris. Now please do not argue with my judgement and do as I say." Elderein set his mouth in a tight line and gave a small bow to Thranduil before walking out the doors. Thranduil watched him go and then turned to another elf, the head of his army at present.
"Hildor, I want you to form a small contingent separate from the envoy, at least forty strong. Tell them that they are to go out and search for this renegade band. I want the renegades brought here for questioning as to why they are targeting Legolas and who lords over them. If they show resistance do not hesitate to slay them." Hildor bowed low and then turned to walk out of the hall.
That left Thranduil with three of his advisors. Thranduil waved them away. "I do not wish to speak about the conditions of the woods anymore. I will be in my chambers if anybody needs me." Thranduil then exited the room.
The four dark-haired elves rode swiftly out of Mirkwood and then turned in the direction of Lothlorien. Once they were out of sight from the keenest of eyes, they checked their horses and turned in the correct way of their destination.
"Did the king believe you?" one of them asked the one in the lead.
The elf nodded curtly. "He was so happy to hear about his son that his suspicions left him." There was a pause and then he asked, "Did you scout the borders of their woods?"
The elf on his left spoke up. "There is much turmoil in the deep of the woods and it is barely being held at bay. It will take very little to encourage the darkness to once again cover all of Mirkwood."
"Very good," the elf in the lead commented and then no more was said as they raced back to their own lord.
Personal Notes: Arbariel- you're hilarious, I love your reviews, they always brighten my day
Elentari Manwe- And the award goes to.(but shhhhh, don't tell anybody!) :)
Aredhel Ereinionchil- First runner-up award goes to you, great reasoning skills
LegolasLover2003 and Lady of Legolas- hang in there, the confusion will pass!
Nilmandra- award for suspense huh? Cool. :)
Gaile- you know how to make an author feel loved