Chapter Fifty-One: Plans
A/N: Sorry about that. It's so hard to write now, my stupid, terrible life always gets in the way. Prepare for some shorter chapters while I write up some longer ones. Terribly sorry, I really am. But oh well. I'll be able to write a whole bunch during Christmas vacation. Yea! Only a week and a half more. I wore my ROTC uniform today and got inspected by the three highest cadets in the corps, besides my brother =^) Yeah, look, he's got a nose! I love that. So classic. Anyway, enjoy this. Just some random stuff going on, but its' fun anyway. Oh, and about proof-reading, I get back to you guys on that when I'm working on my next chapter. I'll e-mail it to you both (both? There's two of you right? Two actually responded?) fun stuff. I'll just have to take a look through the reviews. TTYL. Man, the fun just never stops.
…
The Elven Herald stood before the populace of Mirkwood during a dinner, in which Findecano had asked all of the elves of Mirkwood and visitors to attend. The day was cold and wet, a day that elves usually enjoyed, but the bitter cold coupled with the wet drops was enough to put any elf in a mildly bad mood, but the news they were about to receive would put them into a depression almost as deep as Findecano's was at the moment. Though Findecano had heard the news that Herald was about to give prior to this, he still felt the blow of every word to his heart. Rain drops fell onto his head from above, as he stood in his seat outdoors, while his people were covered from the slight downpour. Raindrops dripped down his face, falling from his chin and the tip of his nose, but the young prince did nothing to wipe the water from his face. Occasionally, a drop would fall just beneath his eyes, giving others the perception that he was crying. And indeed, he was, but the rain hid the fact. Next to him sat Thranduil, who felt the same sorrow.
"Of Prince Legolas and Princess Aila, of Mirkwood," began the Herald, and the population fell silent, their sharp, pointed ears rapt to the voice of the elf. "Having been found out for espionage, Prince Legolas and wife, Princess Aila, are held captive by the men of the Dale, led by their King Glorinul. That is all of the information we have at this point."
Gasps flew through the usually joyful hall of the elves. Immediately after the shock wore away, anger was easily felt throbbing in the elven population.
"How could they do this!" one elven women shouted, he feelings getting the best of her.
"Our own royalty!"
"Our flesh and blood!"
"Poor Legolas, and Aila, she was such a sweet girl."
"We never did anything to those dirty humans!"
"So easily they forget the good times between us," sighed another.
"They'll pay for this!" That one phrase was heard all throughout the hall, and cheers met it.
"We'll annihilate their pitiful army, lay siege to their siege! We will capture their king and kill him!"
"NO!" cried Findecano, unable to take it anymore. "NO!" The elves around him became silent, and silence flew through the hall like a domino effect. When all the elves were quiet, he spoke. "What good is it?" he asked. "What good is it to talk about them forgetting. What good is it to capture their king and kill him? If we kill their king, they will kill my parents. Your prince and princess. If we kill, they will kill. If we attack, they will attack. If we do any of this violence, elves will be killed. And isn't that what we want to avoid?! Yes, I understand. Most of all do I understand. Those are my parents they are holding hostage. My parents! There is not much we can do. We could sit here in our castle, and wait for the humans to die. But they would just send reinforcements, wouldn't they? What if they kill Legolas and Aila because they are sick of waiting. We have to do something soon, so that we can clear the way for the elves all over Middle Earth who are coming to Mirkwood. We are a haven to them, until we can attain the Gray Havens, it used to be safe here. But alas, we dwelled too near the humans who hated our spawn, and now they have captured our most beloved. However much I feel that we must do something, and however much you are with me … violence is simply not the answer. Violence makes way for more violence. And soon we will be in total war, humans will die, but elves will die. If we make war upon them, they will hate us even more and attack with greater strength."
"Then what can we do?" asked one elven lady, trembling in her seat, full of anger, but respectfully listening to the young prince.
"We cannot wait. That is not an option. We must create a plan. We have one element on our side: surprise. The humans have forgotten us. All of their knowledge of us comes from myths and legends. Eventually, those legends made us out to be terrible, and that is why they hate us now. They know we have no extraordinarily perilous tendencies, or they shouldn't, because they have my father in captivity, and they will know that he is not extraordinary. But we do have several qualities that put us in a league above humans. We must spy on them. Watch their every move, and set up communications between my father and mother. My father will know what to do. That is all." Findecano began to walk out of the hall, leaving the elves sitting spellbound in their seats, ready for dinner, but not really hungry anymore. Findecano turned to speak once more. "When your dinner is through, and you are done eating, I request the company of the royal generals and advisors in the conference room. Thank you." King Thranduil stood and followed Prince Findecano outside the hall.
The food was served but the talk never resumed, no one touched their food. After several minutes, the military general of the elven army stood, and walked out of the room. Lieutenant and brigadier generals followed him, and colonels, several advisors, some commanders and champions. Champions there were few of. Legolas himself had been the archery champion, and the sword fighting champion. Aila had easily become the strategizing champion. There were not many others who were needed for war.
The generals and advisors, and colonels, gathered outside of the conference room door. Once all of them were gathered, they got into line, and opened the door. They filed through, in a single-file line, and when the line stopped, each general, commander, colonel, and advisor was in his correct seat. Simultaneously, they all sat. Findecano looked up from his usual seat. He had been staring at the empty seat of his father, who was at the foot of the table, and King Thranduil at the end. There was another empty seat that was next to Legolas. That seat was usually occupied by Aila. The generals and advisors looked to Thranduil, but Thranduil was looking at his grandson.
"Well, Findecano. We are waiting for you to begin this meeting. They are your father and mother, and therefore you should have the most say in the matter."
"They are your son and daughter-in-law," replied the prince.
"I have spent more time with them," Thranduil almost laughed, but he remained seriously looking at Findecano.
"Very well." He turned to the generals and advisors. "Anything you wish to add on to my speech, or wish me to elaborate on. Any suggestions as to what we may do?"
Silence.
"Well?" Findecano drummed him fingers on the table.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump … He stopped and there was silence.
"Sir …" piped a small voice, almost afraid to speak. "I believe I could be of assistance in communicating with Prince Legolas and Princess Aila." Findecano's eyes flashed up to the speaker. He was a slight elf, even thinner than most elves were. His eyes were black and darting, his skin pale white, his lips blended to his skin so you could hardly tell he had a mouth, a sharp nose stuck crookedly from the center of his face, and his dark eyelashes contrasted his skin drastically. He was their elven Champion of Camouflage. Findecano smiled, catching on to the plan that had not been told yet.
"I understand. There must be something more to that, though. We cannot simply risk your life as well." Findecano was silent for a few moments, thinking of the multiple stories his mother had told him. "Once," he began, "there was a man who wished to conquer the world. He was a genius when it came to war strategy. However, he knew that by shouting commands, the other army would know what he was doing, so he needed something to disguise what he was doing, to keep secret what he wished. This man was Genghis Khan, and instead of using words for his commands, he used bird calls and whistles."
"Where do you hear these things, Findecano?" Thranduil asked.
"My mother, but that is besides the point," he turned back to the Champion. "Tell me, can you sing like a bird?"
"I can."
"Good. During your first visit with my parents you shall establish this code. You will whistle and they will prepare for your coming. However, your must stick to one bird call. This way, we may have a specific birdcall for them when we have a plan for their rescue."
"Yes, sir," the elf replied, and his eyes continued to shift through the conference, but no one thought more of it--it was simply how he was.
"Now," continued Findecano. "Does anyone have any ideas on how we could rescue my parents? It has to be stealthy, silent, almost invisible. The humans can't realize what's is happening until we've already rescued my parents."
"We could dig a tunnel to their tent, and pull them back to the castle that way. The humans wouldn't realize it until it was too late."
"We are not moles," responded Findecano, "and we don't know which tent they are stowed in, or who occupies the tent with them. It would be a death wish. Suicide. Even if a tunnel that long didn't collapse."
The conference fell silent once more and Findecano hung his head in despair. If he, the royal generals and advisors had no ideas as to how they could rescue his mother and father, then there were hopeless.
"Sir," came the voice of Hukil, the Champion of Camouflage. "Sir, what about your parents? Surely they have thought of escape, and perhaps have a plan. But … but they are waiting for us to contact them." Findecano left his head hanging as he thought. Slowly, ever so slowly, his head began to rise, until his sharp blue eyes, so similar to his father's, met the black eyes of Hukil.
"Thank you, my friend," Findecano said. "We must contact my parents. That should have been my first step all along. We cannot rescue them without them."
…
Tied together, inside a tent, was not a position in which Aila and Legolas had ever wanted to be in. They were sitting with their back to the other's, and their legs tightly pulled against their chests. Legolas' back was bruised from Aila's squirming. For the first few hours, she was kicking, and pushing against him, twisting her wrists in the ropes. Finally, however, just when Legolas couldn't take it anymore, she stopped. Her wrists were bleeding, as were her ankles, and her gums were sore from trying to chew the rope off. Aila's head was sideways against her shoulder, the closest she could get to Legolas.
She leaned heavily against his bruised back, but he didn't mind as much anymore. Her sobs had him preoccupied. Trying his best, he turned his head as far as he could, so that he could hardly kiss the top of her head.
"Don't cry," he whispered.
"Why not?" she asked. "We're never getting out of here. Glorinul is going to keep us here until the elves agree to battle with him, or to trade elven lives. What if they do it, Legolas? What if they kill elves for us?"
"They won't," was Legolas' strong reply.
"Glorinul won't set us free for any trade. He'll take the elves, kill them, and then kill us."
"They won't."
"Then we are dead. It all comes out bad for us in the end."
"Relax, Aila. Fall asleep. Rest. Wait for your wrists to stop bleeding. It will all be all right. I can feel it. Now sleep." Song naturally erupted from his throat.
"I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen,
Of meadow-flowers and butterflies
In summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
In autumns that there were,
With morning mist and silver sun
And wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
Of how the world will be
When winter comes without a spring
That I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things
That I have never seen:
In every wood in every spring
There is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago,
And people who will see a world
That I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think
Of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
And voices at the door."
It seemed odd that a song about dying has instantly popped into his head just at that moment. Especially since it was the song that he had sung with Aila all that long time ago.
When he felt Aila's breath become slow and deep, he started to shift slowly, working at the bonds that held him. However, he sat almost placated, like he was not moving at all, unlike Aila, who had attacked her ties with a violent energy Legolas had only seen once--at the Battle of Pellinore Fields.
He looped his arms around his legs, which were closely brought to his chest. Only his wrists were tied, enabling him to do this. So he began to work at the ties of his ankles. Several tense minutes passed, and a bird whistled outside. Legolas' head shot up as the tent around them rustled, and a small edge was raised from the ground. He could hear the movement of someone entering the tent, but for the life of him, he could not see. He thought that possibly the captivity was robbing him of his superior elven sight.
Hukil stood before him.
…
A/N: Hmm, muy interesante, huh? You know, somebody told me to start watching Yu-Gi-Oh, and so I did. Dude is awesome! I'm totally hooked now. He's so much tighter when he's possessed by the dude in his puzzle. That's just awesome! So much cooler. Anyway yeah.
Review. (Please)
A/N: Sorry about that. It's so hard to write now, my stupid, terrible life always gets in the way. Prepare for some shorter chapters while I write up some longer ones. Terribly sorry, I really am. But oh well. I'll be able to write a whole bunch during Christmas vacation. Yea! Only a week and a half more. I wore my ROTC uniform today and got inspected by the three highest cadets in the corps, besides my brother =^) Yeah, look, he's got a nose! I love that. So classic. Anyway, enjoy this. Just some random stuff going on, but its' fun anyway. Oh, and about proof-reading, I get back to you guys on that when I'm working on my next chapter. I'll e-mail it to you both (both? There's two of you right? Two actually responded?) fun stuff. I'll just have to take a look through the reviews. TTYL. Man, the fun just never stops.
…
The Elven Herald stood before the populace of Mirkwood during a dinner, in which Findecano had asked all of the elves of Mirkwood and visitors to attend. The day was cold and wet, a day that elves usually enjoyed, but the bitter cold coupled with the wet drops was enough to put any elf in a mildly bad mood, but the news they were about to receive would put them into a depression almost as deep as Findecano's was at the moment. Though Findecano had heard the news that Herald was about to give prior to this, he still felt the blow of every word to his heart. Rain drops fell onto his head from above, as he stood in his seat outdoors, while his people were covered from the slight downpour. Raindrops dripped down his face, falling from his chin and the tip of his nose, but the young prince did nothing to wipe the water from his face. Occasionally, a drop would fall just beneath his eyes, giving others the perception that he was crying. And indeed, he was, but the rain hid the fact. Next to him sat Thranduil, who felt the same sorrow.
"Of Prince Legolas and Princess Aila, of Mirkwood," began the Herald, and the population fell silent, their sharp, pointed ears rapt to the voice of the elf. "Having been found out for espionage, Prince Legolas and wife, Princess Aila, are held captive by the men of the Dale, led by their King Glorinul. That is all of the information we have at this point."
Gasps flew through the usually joyful hall of the elves. Immediately after the shock wore away, anger was easily felt throbbing in the elven population.
"How could they do this!" one elven women shouted, he feelings getting the best of her.
"Our own royalty!"
"Our flesh and blood!"
"Poor Legolas, and Aila, she was such a sweet girl."
"We never did anything to those dirty humans!"
"So easily they forget the good times between us," sighed another.
"They'll pay for this!" That one phrase was heard all throughout the hall, and cheers met it.
"We'll annihilate their pitiful army, lay siege to their siege! We will capture their king and kill him!"
"NO!" cried Findecano, unable to take it anymore. "NO!" The elves around him became silent, and silence flew through the hall like a domino effect. When all the elves were quiet, he spoke. "What good is it?" he asked. "What good is it to talk about them forgetting. What good is it to capture their king and kill him? If we kill their king, they will kill my parents. Your prince and princess. If we kill, they will kill. If we attack, they will attack. If we do any of this violence, elves will be killed. And isn't that what we want to avoid?! Yes, I understand. Most of all do I understand. Those are my parents they are holding hostage. My parents! There is not much we can do. We could sit here in our castle, and wait for the humans to die. But they would just send reinforcements, wouldn't they? What if they kill Legolas and Aila because they are sick of waiting. We have to do something soon, so that we can clear the way for the elves all over Middle Earth who are coming to Mirkwood. We are a haven to them, until we can attain the Gray Havens, it used to be safe here. But alas, we dwelled too near the humans who hated our spawn, and now they have captured our most beloved. However much I feel that we must do something, and however much you are with me … violence is simply not the answer. Violence makes way for more violence. And soon we will be in total war, humans will die, but elves will die. If we make war upon them, they will hate us even more and attack with greater strength."
"Then what can we do?" asked one elven lady, trembling in her seat, full of anger, but respectfully listening to the young prince.
"We cannot wait. That is not an option. We must create a plan. We have one element on our side: surprise. The humans have forgotten us. All of their knowledge of us comes from myths and legends. Eventually, those legends made us out to be terrible, and that is why they hate us now. They know we have no extraordinarily perilous tendencies, or they shouldn't, because they have my father in captivity, and they will know that he is not extraordinary. But we do have several qualities that put us in a league above humans. We must spy on them. Watch their every move, and set up communications between my father and mother. My father will know what to do. That is all." Findecano began to walk out of the hall, leaving the elves sitting spellbound in their seats, ready for dinner, but not really hungry anymore. Findecano turned to speak once more. "When your dinner is through, and you are done eating, I request the company of the royal generals and advisors in the conference room. Thank you." King Thranduil stood and followed Prince Findecano outside the hall.
The food was served but the talk never resumed, no one touched their food. After several minutes, the military general of the elven army stood, and walked out of the room. Lieutenant and brigadier generals followed him, and colonels, several advisors, some commanders and champions. Champions there were few of. Legolas himself had been the archery champion, and the sword fighting champion. Aila had easily become the strategizing champion. There were not many others who were needed for war.
The generals and advisors, and colonels, gathered outside of the conference room door. Once all of them were gathered, they got into line, and opened the door. They filed through, in a single-file line, and when the line stopped, each general, commander, colonel, and advisor was in his correct seat. Simultaneously, they all sat. Findecano looked up from his usual seat. He had been staring at the empty seat of his father, who was at the foot of the table, and King Thranduil at the end. There was another empty seat that was next to Legolas. That seat was usually occupied by Aila. The generals and advisors looked to Thranduil, but Thranduil was looking at his grandson.
"Well, Findecano. We are waiting for you to begin this meeting. They are your father and mother, and therefore you should have the most say in the matter."
"They are your son and daughter-in-law," replied the prince.
"I have spent more time with them," Thranduil almost laughed, but he remained seriously looking at Findecano.
"Very well." He turned to the generals and advisors. "Anything you wish to add on to my speech, or wish me to elaborate on. Any suggestions as to what we may do?"
Silence.
"Well?" Findecano drummed him fingers on the table.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump … He stopped and there was silence.
"Sir …" piped a small voice, almost afraid to speak. "I believe I could be of assistance in communicating with Prince Legolas and Princess Aila." Findecano's eyes flashed up to the speaker. He was a slight elf, even thinner than most elves were. His eyes were black and darting, his skin pale white, his lips blended to his skin so you could hardly tell he had a mouth, a sharp nose stuck crookedly from the center of his face, and his dark eyelashes contrasted his skin drastically. He was their elven Champion of Camouflage. Findecano smiled, catching on to the plan that had not been told yet.
"I understand. There must be something more to that, though. We cannot simply risk your life as well." Findecano was silent for a few moments, thinking of the multiple stories his mother had told him. "Once," he began, "there was a man who wished to conquer the world. He was a genius when it came to war strategy. However, he knew that by shouting commands, the other army would know what he was doing, so he needed something to disguise what he was doing, to keep secret what he wished. This man was Genghis Khan, and instead of using words for his commands, he used bird calls and whistles."
"Where do you hear these things, Findecano?" Thranduil asked.
"My mother, but that is besides the point," he turned back to the Champion. "Tell me, can you sing like a bird?"
"I can."
"Good. During your first visit with my parents you shall establish this code. You will whistle and they will prepare for your coming. However, your must stick to one bird call. This way, we may have a specific birdcall for them when we have a plan for their rescue."
"Yes, sir," the elf replied, and his eyes continued to shift through the conference, but no one thought more of it--it was simply how he was.
"Now," continued Findecano. "Does anyone have any ideas on how we could rescue my parents? It has to be stealthy, silent, almost invisible. The humans can't realize what's is happening until we've already rescued my parents."
"We could dig a tunnel to their tent, and pull them back to the castle that way. The humans wouldn't realize it until it was too late."
"We are not moles," responded Findecano, "and we don't know which tent they are stowed in, or who occupies the tent with them. It would be a death wish. Suicide. Even if a tunnel that long didn't collapse."
The conference fell silent once more and Findecano hung his head in despair. If he, the royal generals and advisors had no ideas as to how they could rescue his mother and father, then there were hopeless.
"Sir," came the voice of Hukil, the Champion of Camouflage. "Sir, what about your parents? Surely they have thought of escape, and perhaps have a plan. But … but they are waiting for us to contact them." Findecano left his head hanging as he thought. Slowly, ever so slowly, his head began to rise, until his sharp blue eyes, so similar to his father's, met the black eyes of Hukil.
"Thank you, my friend," Findecano said. "We must contact my parents. That should have been my first step all along. We cannot rescue them without them."
…
Tied together, inside a tent, was not a position in which Aila and Legolas had ever wanted to be in. They were sitting with their back to the other's, and their legs tightly pulled against their chests. Legolas' back was bruised from Aila's squirming. For the first few hours, she was kicking, and pushing against him, twisting her wrists in the ropes. Finally, however, just when Legolas couldn't take it anymore, she stopped. Her wrists were bleeding, as were her ankles, and her gums were sore from trying to chew the rope off. Aila's head was sideways against her shoulder, the closest she could get to Legolas.
She leaned heavily against his bruised back, but he didn't mind as much anymore. Her sobs had him preoccupied. Trying his best, he turned his head as far as he could, so that he could hardly kiss the top of her head.
"Don't cry," he whispered.
"Why not?" she asked. "We're never getting out of here. Glorinul is going to keep us here until the elves agree to battle with him, or to trade elven lives. What if they do it, Legolas? What if they kill elves for us?"
"They won't," was Legolas' strong reply.
"Glorinul won't set us free for any trade. He'll take the elves, kill them, and then kill us."
"They won't."
"Then we are dead. It all comes out bad for us in the end."
"Relax, Aila. Fall asleep. Rest. Wait for your wrists to stop bleeding. It will all be all right. I can feel it. Now sleep." Song naturally erupted from his throat.
"I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen,
Of meadow-flowers and butterflies
In summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
In autumns that there were,
With morning mist and silver sun
And wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
Of how the world will be
When winter comes without a spring
That I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things
That I have never seen:
In every wood in every spring
There is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago,
And people who will see a world
That I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think
Of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
And voices at the door."
It seemed odd that a song about dying has instantly popped into his head just at that moment. Especially since it was the song that he had sung with Aila all that long time ago.
When he felt Aila's breath become slow and deep, he started to shift slowly, working at the bonds that held him. However, he sat almost placated, like he was not moving at all, unlike Aila, who had attacked her ties with a violent energy Legolas had only seen once--at the Battle of Pellinore Fields.
He looped his arms around his legs, which were closely brought to his chest. Only his wrists were tied, enabling him to do this. So he began to work at the ties of his ankles. Several tense minutes passed, and a bird whistled outside. Legolas' head shot up as the tent around them rustled, and a small edge was raised from the ground. He could hear the movement of someone entering the tent, but for the life of him, he could not see. He thought that possibly the captivity was robbing him of his superior elven sight.
Hukil stood before him.
…
A/N: Hmm, muy interesante, huh? You know, somebody told me to start watching Yu-Gi-Oh, and so I did. Dude is awesome! I'm totally hooked now. He's so much tighter when he's possessed by the dude in his puzzle. That's just awesome! So much cooler. Anyway yeah.
Review. (Please)