Silvan Soldier
randomwriter96
Disclaimer: Own nothing. Have nothing. ^^; Therefore, don't sue. Have nothing = have no money. Oo; Unless you absolutely have to have 15 cents...
Note: This is my attempt at recreating Thranduil's childhood and life thereon using the info I have from the Silmarillion, the Unfinished Tales, LOTR, etc. And websites such as the Encyclopedia of Arda. Do not hesitate to tell me if I have a mistake or not. ^^;
Enjoy. :o) And thank you for reviewing.
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[One year later, when Thranduil learned to speak a bit]
"MY LORD!!" a handmaiden's shriek erupted. Oropher widened his eyes and nearly tripped in his haste towards her. "THRANDUIL...HE..." Oropher quickened his pace, hoping dearly that it wasn't his worst nightmare. He found himself rushing into the kitchen. He took one look at Thranduil and doubled up in laughter.
"Wom, ada! Wom!" Thranduil, covered from head to toe in mud and grass, waved around a tiny worm. The handmaiden, deathly afraid of all bugs, cowered in the corner, refusing to get any closer to the child. "Can keep?"
"Of course you can keep it, child," Oropher chuckled, eyeing the 'wom'. Thranduil grinned, reaching up to hug his father. "Oh no. Don't touch these robes, now. They're the special ones for ada's council meetings," Oropher shook a finger at him. Thranduil frowned, then asked,
"Nosey kiss?" Oropher smiled and leaned down, rubbing noses with his son.
"There you go. Ada has to leave now. Be nice and take a bath. Your lore tutor is due any moment," Oropher patted Thranduil's head and called in a different handmaiden to usher Thranduil and his worm (kindly named Orphy after his father) off. "Please set up the tables for the guests of the council meeting. Dinner will be served about an hour thereafter," Oropher told the handmaiden who shrieked earlier.
"Yes, my Lord," she seemed embarrassed and scurried off. Oropher adjusted his robes and headed out to the gardens. A large, circle was flattened and cleared for a spontaneous council meeting years earlier and was now devoted for just that purpose. Oropher felt that the fresh air could help him think more clearly. He gazed at the flowers, seeing that the roses were almost in bloom. He knelt down and cradled one in his hand, breathing in its fragrance. He seemed lost in his thoughts and memories after that, immobile for a while as he stared at the sky.
"My Lord? They have arrived," Avanor, Oropher's chief advisor, walked up to him. Oropher broke his train of thought and quickly stood up to welcome the members of the meeting. There were advisors from Lórien and representatives from scattered groups near the Gladden Fields and elsewhere. Oropher eyes widened the slightest bit as he saw that Gil-Galad, High King of the Noldor, and his own advisors arrived, wearing gleaming chain mails. A last member arrived a little later and Oropher smiled as he strode towards the unexpected visitor.
"Amdír!* I had not expected to see you here," Oropher gave him a brotherly hug. Malgalad laughed.
"I had not either. I figured that no meeting of yours would ever be complete without me. Nay, I am jesting with you. I came to learn the news for myself. My advisors, I can safely say, are not the best ones you can find in Middle Earth. You do not look a day older than the last time I saw you," he grinned.
"Nor you," Oropher chuckled. "How is Amroth?" He asked, referring to Malgalad's son.
"Amroth is doing well. He is nearly of ruling age. I may retire sometime soon, actually," Malgalad smiled, letting out a deep breath.
"In a couple hundred years or so?"
"Perhaps. I can stand being a king for a while longer,"
"As you will, my liege," Oropher mock bowed to Malgalad in a ridiculously exaggerated manner. They laughed and headed towards the meeting circle. Oropher then motioned for everyone to sit down.
"Welcome, my friends and distant kin. We are gathered here to speak upon the uprising of the East, now no more a rumor, I hear?" He looked to Gil- galad to speak first.
"We have confirmed distant sightings and have found some of Sauron's spies. They are multiplying slowly, but surely. At least, that is what we know for now. We are sending scouts near the East, for our part," Oropher frowned.
"Are you suggesting we have done nothing?" He replied.
"No, that was not what I implied. However, aid would be of great use, as you Silvan Elves would perhaps know the wilderness better than us," Gil- galad raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed. But we give help out of our own accord. I will have to speak to my people. Only if they agree, will we willingly give aid," Oropher's voice cut the air like a knife.
"Surely you are all against the evil force of the East. Neutrality is dangerous in seemingly safe environments. You may be assailed by the enemy, whether you agree to it or not. We ask for your alliance, for we are a weaker force without the valiance of your numerous people," Oropher closed his eyes for a period of time. When he opened them, he spoke.
"All right. The Noldor will have our alliance," At this, Gil-galad smiled. "But, we are our own group. We are not to be ruled by a supreme leader or a majority and our decisions are our own," Oropher said solemnly. Malgalad nodded in agreement.
"Lórien is bound to Greenwood. And so we shall give maximum aid as well. And upon the same terms,"
"Without a supreme leader, you will be cut off and may fall, should Sauron's forces overcome you," Gil-galad's lips thinned.
"Our realms are alone and independent. We follow ourselves and not any other. If we are cut off, we are cut off. If we fall, we fall alone and as one," Oropher's eyes grew dark.
"Be it so," Gil-galad leaned back into his chair. He had tried and if they choose their own demise, then that was their own fault. The meeting continued with varying views and opinions from the different representatives and advisors and went on long into the night. Most had decided to stay overnight, then depart early at dawn. It was straight after dinner that Malgalad took his leave. Oropher saw him to the front hall.
"You must leave now? I assure you, it will be more comfortable here. Most others are leaving at dawn,"
"Yes. I have much to discuss with Amroth. I fear he may not agree with me. Thank you for your hospitality, dear cousin. I may very well see you again next year. Perhaps sooner," Malgalad waved farewell and rode off with great speed towards Lórien, should the sun set too fast. Oropher had his guards close the great doors to the front hall and departed towards the feast hall again. With luck, he would tolerate another one of Gil-galad's stories. Perhaps he would bring out the elderberry wine. It has never yet failed to put Elves to sleep.
********************************************************
* Malgalad and Amdír, I am supposing (for Tolkien had never really explained it), are the same person. Malgalad perhaps being his epessë, or "after-name" (otherwise a nickname), like Gil-galad is to Ereinion.
randomwriter96
Disclaimer: Own nothing. Have nothing. ^^; Therefore, don't sue. Have nothing = have no money. Oo; Unless you absolutely have to have 15 cents...
Note: This is my attempt at recreating Thranduil's childhood and life thereon using the info I have from the Silmarillion, the Unfinished Tales, LOTR, etc. And websites such as the Encyclopedia of Arda. Do not hesitate to tell me if I have a mistake or not. ^^;
Enjoy. :o) And thank you for reviewing.
********************************************************
[One year later, when Thranduil learned to speak a bit]
"MY LORD!!" a handmaiden's shriek erupted. Oropher widened his eyes and nearly tripped in his haste towards her. "THRANDUIL...HE..." Oropher quickened his pace, hoping dearly that it wasn't his worst nightmare. He found himself rushing into the kitchen. He took one look at Thranduil and doubled up in laughter.
"Wom, ada! Wom!" Thranduil, covered from head to toe in mud and grass, waved around a tiny worm. The handmaiden, deathly afraid of all bugs, cowered in the corner, refusing to get any closer to the child. "Can keep?"
"Of course you can keep it, child," Oropher chuckled, eyeing the 'wom'. Thranduil grinned, reaching up to hug his father. "Oh no. Don't touch these robes, now. They're the special ones for ada's council meetings," Oropher shook a finger at him. Thranduil frowned, then asked,
"Nosey kiss?" Oropher smiled and leaned down, rubbing noses with his son.
"There you go. Ada has to leave now. Be nice and take a bath. Your lore tutor is due any moment," Oropher patted Thranduil's head and called in a different handmaiden to usher Thranduil and his worm (kindly named Orphy after his father) off. "Please set up the tables for the guests of the council meeting. Dinner will be served about an hour thereafter," Oropher told the handmaiden who shrieked earlier.
"Yes, my Lord," she seemed embarrassed and scurried off. Oropher adjusted his robes and headed out to the gardens. A large, circle was flattened and cleared for a spontaneous council meeting years earlier and was now devoted for just that purpose. Oropher felt that the fresh air could help him think more clearly. He gazed at the flowers, seeing that the roses were almost in bloom. He knelt down and cradled one in his hand, breathing in its fragrance. He seemed lost in his thoughts and memories after that, immobile for a while as he stared at the sky.
"My Lord? They have arrived," Avanor, Oropher's chief advisor, walked up to him. Oropher broke his train of thought and quickly stood up to welcome the members of the meeting. There were advisors from Lórien and representatives from scattered groups near the Gladden Fields and elsewhere. Oropher eyes widened the slightest bit as he saw that Gil-Galad, High King of the Noldor, and his own advisors arrived, wearing gleaming chain mails. A last member arrived a little later and Oropher smiled as he strode towards the unexpected visitor.
"Amdír!* I had not expected to see you here," Oropher gave him a brotherly hug. Malgalad laughed.
"I had not either. I figured that no meeting of yours would ever be complete without me. Nay, I am jesting with you. I came to learn the news for myself. My advisors, I can safely say, are not the best ones you can find in Middle Earth. You do not look a day older than the last time I saw you," he grinned.
"Nor you," Oropher chuckled. "How is Amroth?" He asked, referring to Malgalad's son.
"Amroth is doing well. He is nearly of ruling age. I may retire sometime soon, actually," Malgalad smiled, letting out a deep breath.
"In a couple hundred years or so?"
"Perhaps. I can stand being a king for a while longer,"
"As you will, my liege," Oropher mock bowed to Malgalad in a ridiculously exaggerated manner. They laughed and headed towards the meeting circle. Oropher then motioned for everyone to sit down.
"Welcome, my friends and distant kin. We are gathered here to speak upon the uprising of the East, now no more a rumor, I hear?" He looked to Gil- galad to speak first.
"We have confirmed distant sightings and have found some of Sauron's spies. They are multiplying slowly, but surely. At least, that is what we know for now. We are sending scouts near the East, for our part," Oropher frowned.
"Are you suggesting we have done nothing?" He replied.
"No, that was not what I implied. However, aid would be of great use, as you Silvan Elves would perhaps know the wilderness better than us," Gil- galad raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed. But we give help out of our own accord. I will have to speak to my people. Only if they agree, will we willingly give aid," Oropher's voice cut the air like a knife.
"Surely you are all against the evil force of the East. Neutrality is dangerous in seemingly safe environments. You may be assailed by the enemy, whether you agree to it or not. We ask for your alliance, for we are a weaker force without the valiance of your numerous people," Oropher closed his eyes for a period of time. When he opened them, he spoke.
"All right. The Noldor will have our alliance," At this, Gil-galad smiled. "But, we are our own group. We are not to be ruled by a supreme leader or a majority and our decisions are our own," Oropher said solemnly. Malgalad nodded in agreement.
"Lórien is bound to Greenwood. And so we shall give maximum aid as well. And upon the same terms,"
"Without a supreme leader, you will be cut off and may fall, should Sauron's forces overcome you," Gil-galad's lips thinned.
"Our realms are alone and independent. We follow ourselves and not any other. If we are cut off, we are cut off. If we fall, we fall alone and as one," Oropher's eyes grew dark.
"Be it so," Gil-galad leaned back into his chair. He had tried and if they choose their own demise, then that was their own fault. The meeting continued with varying views and opinions from the different representatives and advisors and went on long into the night. Most had decided to stay overnight, then depart early at dawn. It was straight after dinner that Malgalad took his leave. Oropher saw him to the front hall.
"You must leave now? I assure you, it will be more comfortable here. Most others are leaving at dawn,"
"Yes. I have much to discuss with Amroth. I fear he may not agree with me. Thank you for your hospitality, dear cousin. I may very well see you again next year. Perhaps sooner," Malgalad waved farewell and rode off with great speed towards Lórien, should the sun set too fast. Oropher had his guards close the great doors to the front hall and departed towards the feast hall again. With luck, he would tolerate another one of Gil-galad's stories. Perhaps he would bring out the elderberry wine. It has never yet failed to put Elves to sleep.
********************************************************
* Malgalad and Amdír, I am supposing (for Tolkien had never really explained it), are the same person. Malgalad perhaps being his epessë, or "after-name" (otherwise a nickname), like Gil-galad is to Ereinion.