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Chapter 23 Two legends and an assumption

Thranduil was looking at his son who was returning from this morning's archery training with a group of five novices. All warriors were deployed in the training of new ones and being a prince was not seen as a reason for exception. Thranduil smiled, if it would be one it would, in fact, be fairly difficult to try and explain that to Legolas.

In thought he stared at the young elves. Legolas was home again and yet... Like in the past it was not all of Legolas that was home. Still it was different then before. No, not 'it' was different, his son was different. Sometimes in the last days it was like Legolas was not home at all yet at other times he was 'more' here then before. He was more aware of the other people in his proximity. More friendly towards them, more patient with the protocol... It was like there was just more Legolas. The sad look in his eyes was gone, replaced by an eager one. A look that resembled the one that had been on his face when he had sent Legolas to the Council of Elrond: ready, eager to explore, to fight and to conquer. But this time the look was more mature, like one who knows that for each fight there is a price to pay... Only somehow, by the looks of it, more like one who knows what price there is to win!

More Legolas, more captain to a king... "Is there something else I should know?" he had asked Legolas from his throne after he had given an account of the 'Battle of the Caves'. "No, my King, there is nothing more that is of importance to the safety of this realm." had been the answer. Open face, eyes completely honest and yet... there was more in those eyes. For a moment they were softened, overtaken by... by what?

He had tried just once more: "And besides its safety?" "I don't remember anything else but the safety of the realm and my alliance to its king in my oath of honour as a captain, my Lord and King." This reply blocked, more than effectively, this way of getting an answer. It was a formal answer fit for a formal inquiry: such as this one and it over-politely ended that inquiry.

But there was more, yet not for a king to hear. Maybe there was more for a ...

"Adar?" [Father]. Thranduil looked up and smiled: more son to a father! Legolas was standing next to him; some slightly wet hairs told Thranduil that his son had had a quick fresh-up. "Yes?" "Adar, the nedhmadel [lit.: middle eating = lunch] is ready, are you coming?"

During their nedhmadel they talked about the progress of the novices and the integration between the elves of former Lothlórien and those of former Mirkwood. Now they had eaten and were finishing their drinks and Thranduil was determined on trying to get something more out of his son. "So, my son, tell me about 'The Battle of the Caves'; there must be more to tell your father over lunch then there is to tell a king while giving account. Legolas nodded, "Well there is one thing that bothers me, Adar." Thranduil took one last sip of his drink and Legolas refilled his father's mug and then his own. He continued: "Had you ever heard of this 'Heir of Sauron' before I told you of it?" and answered: "Yes I did, just slightly different." "Would you tell me Adar, please?" That last word was to prevent Thranduil from going on about the battle.

Thranduil took another sip before he started: "Well, it's not a long story. It is a variation on the one that was told in the days of Melkor; after all, Sauron was, in a way, his heir. The legend merely revolves around the hopeful idea that Sauron could be banished for ever. It tells us that Sauron knew this and for this reason he would have another being ready to inherit his power and his realm, if this moment would ever occur. It is strange, for beings like Melkor and Sauron are so power-mad that they are not likely to tolerate anyone next to them. Therefore, it is told, they probably choose one of their servants to be their 'Heir'. The legend further tells us that the position of this 'Heir' was not to be envied: power-mad persons do tend to let that madness overtake their, already not so sane, mind. But on the other hand: if Sauron killed his heir, he would endanger the future of Mordor itself... and that's all there is to tell," Thranduil finished.

"Do you believe it, Adar?" Legolas asked. His father thought for a brief moment and then said: "Well, I've seen a bit too many falls and resurrections of the Dark Lord in my life. However: I do believe the One Ring destroyed, and now that most of his followers are killed, with not a few we have you to thank for..." He smiled, trying to lead the conversation back to suit his own goals, but seeing the expecting look on his son's face, he added: "I just think that it is what it is Legolas; a legend, nothing more, nothing less."

Silently Legolas nodded: "Well, I'll make my way to the training field and start the afternoon session, bain nedharad Adar." He got up and left the dining hall.

"Bain nedharad, nîn ior" [Fair noon, my son] Thranduil followed him with his eyes; judging by the distracted look in his son's eyes, the afternoon session was not the first thing on his mind.


It had been three weeks since Legolas returned from the Morn Dant and tonight one of his father's counsellors was joining them for dinner. Camlanndir, was not only one of Thranduil's counsellors but also a friend of the family. The conversation was vivid and flowed from one subject to another. At a certain point it got to 'good versus evil'.

"Well, I just think that it's not like all evil has left this world with Sauron," Camlanndir stated, "and now there is this talk about an Heir... I don't know..." He took some grapes from the fruit bowl that accompanied the dessert. Thranduil answered: "No one will state that all evil left Middle Earth when Sauron did; it's just like you said: 'No good without evil'. I'd like to add: hence, no evil without good." "Right, right," Camlanndir countered: "But Sauron was evil in evil. No good nowhere around there!"

"Are you sure?" Legolas suddenly asked. Both his father and Camlanndir turned their heads to him and stared. When he found his voice back Cammlandir uttered: "Do you, who was part of the Fellowship doubt that?" Legolas heard the suspicion of madness dripping from his voice. "Well," he said, trying to explain: "Like my father just said: 'no evil without good'. I have not met Sauron in person; I don't know him that well..." This explanation was not going anywhere good, that was obvious from the looks on Cammlandir's face. "I was just theorising." Legolas ended unsure. Complete silence.

Thranduil looked at his son, maybe I just caught a glimpse of what is 'more', he thought. He cleared his throat: "It is not that strange and it has been thought before." Cammlandir finally turned his head away from Legolas to look at Thranduil. "Are you referring to the legend of the 'Gadorben'? [Prisoner]" he furrowed his brow: "Mmm, I've always put that story aside as a way to keep little elflings from behaving badly..." Thranduil reacted: "Yes, that's how most people think of it." Legolas had recovered and curiously questioned: "The legend of the Prisoner? I don't think I know that one. Is it in our library?"

And once again saved by a legend, Thranduil thought, one of these days my son, a legend will not be so close at hand and then... Cammlandir swallowed another grape and said: "I hope it is not in your library, it is a load of old twaddle, I'll tell you! Still, it is a nice story..." Legolas pushed his chair a bit backwards and said: "You should tell it then, we are finished and it is time to tell and sing..." When Thranduil with a nod agreed, Cammlandir started:

"As you know Illúvatar, the Father of All, created Manwë Súlimo and Melkor (2) together. Herein lays the inevitable union between good and evil. Now it is told by travellers and wanderers that whereas Illúvatar created the good that enabled the evil, or the evil that enabled the good; later 'evil spirits' had to create their own 'good spirits'. There are some horrifying stories about evil spirits eating good ones alive, but those will have to wait. The one about the Gadorben, is a rather recent one, compared to the others. It is said that the Dark Lord Sauron enhanced his evil by keeping within his reach something as pure and good as he was impure and evil. It is told that the elves he captured were meant for this purpose; however stories of torture do contradict this. The theory that evil needs good to exist is thought true; for how do you know something is evil if you can not compare it to something not-evil, that is: to something good." Cammlandir paused. Legolas felt nauseated, what better suited for that purpose than young elflings?

"However..." his father continued, "this legend is not solid: we all knew Sauron was evil, we called him 'evil' in comparison to what we think is good. There you have the 'evil' and 'good' from our point of view. We do not need an 'evil prisoner' to be able to be good. Did Sauron need one in order to be evil? And, and this is my chief objection, did Sauron felt he was 'evil'? I, for one, do not think so. He wanted power and gaining that was not an evil thing to do, I think, from his point of view. If he did not think he was evil, he would not have any need for a 'good prisoner'."

"Precisely why I think it a lot of nonsense," Cammlandir said. "But the older ones, they are a lot of fun to tell." He grinned: "Oh, yes, there are a lot more stories about evil and good spirits battling..."


Yes, there had been more, more, rather horrifying legends but no more of Legolas's attention, Thranduil thought, as he walked to his private quarters. He was still convinced there was something more, but Legolas was not giving him anymore. He sighed. He knew, he should just talk to his son - like a father to a son - but he had tried that in the past few weeks and all he ended up doing was telling legends! However, for a diversion technique, Legolas was paying a lot of attention to them. This afternoon his realm would have to wait. All was well. First thing next morning would be 'the king's business' again. He left his robe hanging on his bed and in his embroidered tunic and pants he went to find his son. This afternoon would be 'a father's business'!

The captain of his guard told him that Legolas had gone out hunting before daybreak, but a cook told him that Legolas had collected some food near midday... Where did the boy go? Thranduil started feeling like a fool, inquiring his staff about his son's whereabouts and not getting anywhere, when a thought struck him. As a child, when Legolas did not wanted to be found he would always hide in 'his tree'. Maybe...

Thranduil mounted the stairs to Legolas'ss room. He peeked in. No Legolas. He smiled at the contents of the room: some armour, some weapons, the leftovers from his lunch and... A lot of books! Those last items were not usually found in Legolas's room. Thranduil took one book from a pile. It was about 'The art of forging'; the next one was about the 'Misty Mountains and its adjoining realms, now and then'. Strange! He looked outside and smiled. The sight of his son's golden head in that tree took him years back in time. Years in which he had seen his son's golden head looking down from this tree to see if someone spied him, he had seen that head bent over an arrowhead, bent over an almost dead mouse, bird or squirrel, over a recovering mouse, bird or squirrel and over a healthy, visiting mouse, bird or squirrel. He had seen that head bend over a bow and over nothing at all: just staring into the distance but he had to live 5647 years to see his son's golden head bent over... a book.

"Legolas?" "Ai! Adar! [Ah! Father!] Were you looking for me?" "Yes, no, please." Thranduil motioned when Legolas was getting down from 'his' branch. "Have you started a new hobby, Legolas? After game-hunting, orc-hunting and cave-hunting are you now book-hunting?" Thranduil started towards the window, the sound of Legolas's laughter was like honey to his ears. That laugh was still present in his voice when Legolas answered: "Well, I did promise the generals to try and find everything we have on this Heir of Sauron." Thranduil sat down on the broad rocky windowsill with his back against the frame. He closed his eyes for a minute and let the sun warm his face. Since Legolas, as a thirteen year old, had discovered this broad opening on the outside of the caves, it had been his son's favourite place. The tree outside was the main reason but Thranduil thought the broad flat sides of the opening itself scored high points too.

Legolas observed his father, 'his' branch was level with Thranduil's head. His father looked younger when he was not wearing his robe and 'king's eyes'; as he would call them when he was a young elfling: eyes full of sorrow, full of work.

Suddenly Thranduil opened his eyes and looked at Legolas. "Studying your father Legolas? And what is your diagnosis?" "You look young Adar, without your 'king's eyes'." Thranduil smiled: "Well, sometimes it takes a father's eye to see more than one would see with a king's eye."

To his surprise his son blushed! And then he was treated to the famous frog-in-the-water glass-at-the-state banquet-smile. A smile that had accompanied many more 'highlights' of Legolas's youth. "I think I just saw a frog my son!" Thranduil laughed.

That laughter had broken the small amount of tension Thranduil had felt. "Now, tell me Legolas, what makes you think there is a connection between the Heir of Sauron and the destroyed realm of Eregion?" Legolas looked at his book and frowned: "I was looking for information on one named Nenmírdan; I was told he forged the ring Nenya but I can't seem to find his name in any of these books..." he gestured towards the inside of his room. "That is, I have not quite finished this one. All these books speak of a certain 'Barthmellyrn' as the maker of Nenya." He leafed through the book on his knees. Thranduil looked at his son, finally I'm hearing something more than 'matters concerning the safety of our realm' he thought.

"Adar, you were alive when Eregion fell, do you know anything more then what these books say? Were there any survivors at all? Children perhaps?" Legolas sounded frustrated. Cautiously Thranduil answered: "Yes, I was here when Sauron was battling in Eriador. Though I have not witnessed the remains of Eregion, I've heard from sources around Rivendell that exiles of Númenor reported all Eregion destroyed and Ost-in-Ethil ravaged by Sauron's forces. (3) It was believed, and as we always thought, thoroughly confirmed, that no one survived that massacre."

Still frustrated Legolas said: "It was believed... you thought... You speak as if not certain Adar" Calmly Thranduil answered: "You are right; it was until this day that I believed nobody survived." "It was until THIS day?" Legolas questioned. Thranduil looked his son straight in the eyes and said: "Yes Legolas. You see, Barthmellyrn got his name after the forging of Nenya. As a gift from Galadriel he was allowed to take on the name 'Protector of the Mallorn-trees'. Nenmírdan is almost certainly the family name of Barthmellyrn. Only a member of his family would have been able to give you that name."


Thranduil was pacing his throne room impatiently while waiting for his son. He had sent all servants away, except for his guard at the door. He had had to turn to his rights as a king to summon any of his captains to call Legolas to him. And the first five times he had done so, Legolas had thought up a valid excuse not to come. Every time again! Thranduil had threatened to bring him in by force if he would not attend his summons this time.

First shock, then horror and finally fear had shown on Legolas's face the day they had their conversation about Eregion. He had looked at his father, offered him the book and then disappeared into the trees at a high speed. Thranduil had called after him; without any result. Since then Legolas had made it a day and night job to avoid his father. After a fortnight Thranduil had had enough of it. So he started with asking and ultimately summoning his son to talk to him. And now... finally the door on the other side of the room opened and his guard announced the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen.

Legolas walked half-way through the room then kneeled and bowed his head: he greeted his king. "I'm glad you could spare me some time Legolas, would you be so kind to explain your behaviour to me?" His son remained silent. "Do you have anything to say to me Legolas?" More silence. "Fine! You can have it your way and play captain and king Legolas, but you will listen to me!" Thranduil said angrily. "I am your king! And I'm good at it! One of the reasons I'm good at being a king is that I combine information from one source with another. Like from a captain reporting to his king and from a son asking for old stories to be told!" Suddenly Legolas got up and started towards the door. "No! You will stay here and listen to me!" Thranduil's voice boomed through the room. Legolas stopped, but he did not turn to face his father.

Softer Thranduil continued to his son's back: "I'm also your father Legolas, and when I look at you I see that you found someone that makes you whole, cancels out your restlessness... someone that completes you..." A sad tone crept into Thranduil's voice as he continued: "For some reason you've chosen not to tell me about this person. That hurts, but..."

Abruptly Legolas turned and faced his father, despair clearly written on his face: "But I promised! I promised not to tell, Adar, neither if you would ask me as your captain nor if you would ask me as your son. I have evaluated that the safety of our realm was not in question." He dropped his head: "I'm sorry my king..." and softer he added: "Adar..."

"As I was saying," Thranduil continued, "It hurts but I presume you have your reasons. I'm just glad that you seemed so happy." "Im trenóriel Adar, Im prestannen." [I've promised father, I'm sorry; lit. I told father, I affected].

Suddenly they were disturbed by a commotion near the doors. They heard one of the guards yell: "Daro! Ava-nedledhich, darhatha!" [Stop! You will not go in, you'll have to wait!]. There was some tumult and a group of guards entered the room, seemingly trying to keep someone out. All of a sudden one of them cried out: "Magol!" [Sword].

Legolas turned and stepped in front of his father, long knives drawn. He pushed his father further away from the group at the other side of the room. But Thranduil drew his own sword and stood next to Legolas. "Stand back!" Legolas yelled at him: "I am your captain!" He tried to push his father back again, but Thranduil kept his position: "And I am your father!" he yelled back.

"And I am just so glad I found you!" a clear voice came from the group on the other side of the room.

"Thûlocuil?!"

On hearing the tone of his son's voice, seeing his eyes and body language, Thranduil put his sword away. He signalled the guards to leave with a nod of gratitude. So this is what's more my son, he thought.



(1) I suppose they renamed the place where the Black Gate stood. So I named it: Black Fall (since 'ruin' was not in my sindarin dictionary).

(2) This is most certainly superfluous but: Illúvar is the one that created the World and those who inhabit it. Melkor and Manwë were brothers in the mind of Ilúvatar. Melkor decided to gain power for himself alone; he was the first Dark Lord. He was ultimately banished from the world. Manwë is the greatest of the Valar, he dwells in his halls on Taniquetil, the highest mountain, from where he commands the winds and airs of Arda.

(3) Ost-in-Ethil was the chief city in Eregion; it was destroyed with the realm itself when Sauron in 1697 (Second Age) was annexing much of Eriador. He was finally driven back into the east by an army of Númenor. The exiles of Númenor is a name given by Elrond to the survivors of the Downfall of Númenor (3319 Second Age).



A/N: 14-08-2003: bench of course should have been branch; as it is now!