Chapter 14

Thranduil fell back from his son, his face pale, his blue eyes dim and his body slumped into the nearest vacant chair, defeated.

"My son…" he muttered staring at the floor.

"See how strong those who have been turned mortal can still be" Gandalf said quietly watching Thranduil closely. "All is not lost my friend"

"Who will stand when I am gone?" Thranduil questioned barely audio able. "My son, my only son – how could this happen? Evil – disgust me" the King muttered disconnectedly.

"Gandalf is right, father. Those have been affected can be helped" Legolas stepped towards his father. But the King leapt up from the seat as if not wishing to be near his son as if he could catch his mortality.

"Gone is all hope" he said, starting around the room blankly. "Shadow will claim us all. No hope, none at all. Mortals are weak…"

Gandalf stepped towards the deluded elf and shook him: "Hope has not faded! Nor will it if you remain strong for your people!"
"My people?"

"They care for you greatly, do not let your madness end their fate, aid us if you wish!"

Thranduil's glazed look suddenly slipped and the met the wizards gaze.

"The Ring cannot stay here, Gandalf"

The aging wizard frowned ever so slightly. "You must also leave here as quickly as possible my forces can not withstand another attack so soon"

"You mean to throw us out right this instance? Without aid or supplies? If you do not want another attack then aid us!"
"Enough Gimli" Gandalf said quietly watching Thranduil's expression

"I will not be silent!" the dwarf continued. "Do you –"

 "What would you do, master dwarf in my position?" Thranduil shot back, coming to life suddenly. "My people dead or dying, my borders unprotected, pride lost, betrayed by my own kin and to find the most dangerous and powerful item ever crafted in my halls in times of war and death. Wouldn't you wish for it to be removed quickly, master dwarf?" he cried, fists shaking,

 The company fell silent under the King's words.

"Where ever we have travelled with the Ring spoken openly or not we have been accepted both before and now. In Rivendell, Lothlórien and with Men each gave us food, a place to rest and their best wishes for an onward journey. Will you not give us you blessing, sir?" Sam's timid voice sounded lost in the Great Hall of stone. "Will you not aid us so that we can rid you and Middle-Earth of this deadly jewel?"

Thranduil's expression did not soften.

"If thy King will not then I will" Erbschaft said striding forward in between the King and the company.

"And I also" said Aufstand as she steeped forward from the shadows.

"Though I do not have an army I can give you, you Highness you are welcome to whatever my family can provide you with." Erbschaft smiled at Legolas. "You are indeed as Mirthrandir has said you are the people's beacon of light"

Aufstand bowed "I am yours to command sire"

Thranduil's face reddened: "Mutiny!" he cried storming out of the Hall.

"Gandalf and I will talk with my people and see you will join us" Legolas said to Sam and Gimli outside the palace. "Stay with Aufstand, she will look after you and lead you round the village whilst we are away. I do not know what my father will do if he finds you alone" his eyes dimmed as he spoke about his father, obviously ashamed by him.

"Do not worry they will be safe with me" Aufstand reassured her long brown hair falling across her grey eyes.

Legolas nodded and left.

"Come with me, we'll start from west to east." She said leading them away from the palace doors.

"It is such a shame you have to see the village in this state. Before as Legolas may have told you it is a beautiful and peaceful place. Untouched, and hidden, but not hidden enough it seems" Aufstand sighed her eyes passing over the smoke damaged homes. "He have suffered great loss but we were victorious over them, strangely another enemy aided us. Never again will I think of the spiders as pest or foul creatures"

Sam suppressed a shudder thinking about Shelob.

"Some of our people have also been turned mortal, some with their hair cut short but most without as if there were not enough time to…" she trailed off. "Here was the mill" she returned to her tour. "Driven by the stream, our corn is grown in field in the west, some beyond the trees, though we do not care much if they are spoilt as travellers often ruin the harvest or others steal the corn. There though smoke stained is the Blacksmith though elven horses do not have tack or rein they still need shoes." She explained pointing to each building in turn.

"Aufstand!" someone called. They turned and saw Erbschaft running towards them.

"I'll take over whilst you gather things. Nymane won't allow me to go, but I still wish to help you" he glanced at Sam and Gimli.
"Alright, thank you" Aufstand nodded hurrying away.

"Who's Nymane?" Sam asked looked at Erbschaft flushed face.

"She's my wife, she fears that I may not return and our son will not remember his father in the future. She has a fierce temper I dare not arguer" his face fell. Gimli and Sam laughed.

"Sounds very familiar" Sam said. "Rose was the same too but I managed to persuade her"

"How?" Erbschaft asked thinking maybe the same tacit could work on Nymane.

"I missed out some of the detail" Sam confessed.

"You lied to her?" Erbschaft shot back rather shocked.

"Not really. Well maybe a little bit, but I'll tell her when I get back"

"If you get back"

Back inside the Palace Thranduil turned to them: "You may rest here for the night but be gone by dawn. Your packs have been filled with supplies, all that we can spare many of our crops have been lost."

"Thank you, Thranduil for your help" Gandalf inclined his head.

"I saw you have been talking with those who have been turned mortal"

"Yes, they seemed dimmed and lethargic. We could not stir many of them."

"That does not surprise me" 

"Do not give up on the Thranduil they will recover" Gandalf said softly.

The elf King nodded, "I hope you are right, Mithrandir. Who will be accompanying you?"

"We have six volunteers that wish to travel with us as an escort" Legolas said looking up from his goblet.

"Hummel"

"A women?" Thranduil criticised.

"Propfen"

"Lazy, fool his sword shaper then his mind"

"Aniond"

"Poor shot"

"Ruzlina"

"Another female!"

"Henduil"

"Henduil? Are you sure? Isn't he…? Aren't you going Erbschaft?"

"And Aufstand"

"Aufstand? You wish to go with them, are you sure?"

"Yes, you Majesty"

"My son has never lead any into battle" Thranduil tried to persuade her

"I trust Legolas. My decision has been made."

"Fair enough, you have chosen, though maybe not wisely I must say" Thranduil turned to his son,

"None of this I have chosen have left either myself or you down father, and unlike men are women are perfectly capable fighters."

"So you say Legolas"

At dawn they prepared to leave as Thranduil ordered, Gandalf turned to the company, his face grave and serious.

"What you are about to embark is both deadly and dangerous. I will not deny it that some of you may not be coming back alive and the enemy may be expecting us, but we must try. My final warning is that if any of you are tempted, even just a little by the power of the Ring you should turn back immediately. It will tempt you with all you wildest desires and dreams, already one member of our ordinal company has died attempting to take the Ring." He looked hard upon all the faces of the company as if trying to work out who might break first. " I am begging you if you so much as imagine the Ring in your hands turn and leave before any more live are lost. The more lives that can be saved the brighter the future looks"  

The company nodded some replying: "I understand Mithrandir"

  Once Gandalf had mounted behind Sam they left, with no one wishing them luck or waving tearfully from the woods, they left somewhat dishearten yet glad to be on the road again.

"Don't worry, Legolas your father has always been the same old fool you remember when you come back" Ruzlina said gentle patting him.

"Has he always been that cold towards his family?" Gimli asked from behind Legolas, still without saddle or bridle.

"Though Thranduil may act cold and uninterested he loves his family greatly. He is just a troubled elf" Gandalf said sternly defending the King of the woods.

Legolas looked up at the aging man, slightly amazed by the strength of his words.

"Will that poisoning affect you?" Sam asked in front of Gandalf.

"No, the Ragwort poisoning has been removed. It only occurred because you were trying to treat the wounds whist travelling. It's fairly common in men, but left untreated even to an elf it is serious." Aufstand stated plainly, "Nothing a healer can't see too"

 Slowly the vast greenery fell away as they galloped away southwards. Upon a speckled grey hose with Gandalf Sam flinched every time he bounced in time with the horse the Ring hitting his chest like a hammer his breathing began gasps.

Looking down Gandalf asked: "Is something the matter Samwise?"

"The Ring is heavy, it hits my chest like a hammer" Sam gasped.

"Would you prefer we stopped?"

Sam shook his head. "It's not that bad, Gandalf. Besides we can not afford to stop.

"Whaaoo" Gandalf called to his hose, who like all elvish horses had no saddle or rein. Obediently the hose slowed and stopped, the others falling in alongside.

"Something the matter?" Hummel asked, her long blond hair catching the afternoon sunlight.

"Sam is not as use to long rides as many of us" Gandalf said, "Let rest for a while and eat" he dismounted giving Sam a small wink.

The new company of six elves, three female, two male and one mortal happily spoke and sung in the common tongue. They were cheerful and very interested in the Shire. Sam wished Merry or Pippin where here to help answer some of the questions.

"It's in the North, not many people know of it, which is just as well"

"What is it they call you?"

"We are called Hobbits; we are Halflings, looking like children of men, but much smaller then half your height"

Hummel laughed, a laughter that was light and sweet like fruits.

"You more then half my height, Sam I'm short for my race"

"I'll say!" Ruzlina poked her "She's half my age!"

"How old does that make you, then Ruz?" Aniond asked his voice trying to hold back his laughter, "Older enough to remember the 'Making'!" he laughed pounding the grass.

"Old enough to be deeply ashamed by your aim" Ruzlina shot back, her eyes narrowing.

The group roared with laughter, even Legolas joined in.

Sam smirked he felt right at home.

"Hey! At least I do something, that's more then Propfen does. I doubt he can't draw that sword of his without breaking into a sweat" Aniond cried.

"Excuse me! Propfen is an admire swordsman" Aufstand joined in. "He's been every useful"

"Thank you, Aufstand"

"You're welcome"

"Tell us more about the Shire, Sam"

"No I think that will do for now. There will be plenty to time to ask more questions later" Gandalf broke up the laughing party.

Moaning slightly they rose and Sam could see them change personality from laughing friendly back into serious and deadly. I shocked him at first, until Ruzlina poked him.

"Don't worry Sam we aren't going to eat you" she teased placing up in front of Gandalf.

At nightfall they stopped again, making camp.

Sam was glad his legs barely supported him when he stood.

"Make the most of the fire little hobbit" Gimli said sitting beside him. "This will probably be the last one we can have for a while. Tomorrow we travel into the Brown lands. Miles of empty flat land, nothing lives there so we will have to live off our supplies from there onwards." He said, his eyes turning to the burning fire

"But do not worry Sam there are many good hunting spots are around here. They will find us some food that will last" Legolas stood over them warming his hands.

 Henduil and Aufstand stayed behind with Sam, Gimli, Legolas and Gandalf after colleting firewood whilst the others had insisted they would hunt after betting who would catch the most.

Gandalf let them play as he sat smoking his pipe, tonight would be their last night on friendly ground as the next few days would find them travelling deeper and deeper into enemy ground.
First through the Brown Lands and past the Dead Marshes, abandoning the horses at Ephel Duath (Mountains of Shadow) and travelling through Cirith Ungol. He had not told Sam of this route, as he expended an angry if not violent response, it would depend on how much the Ring has affected him.

  He turned to the sound of galloping horses as the hunting team had returned calling loudly to one another as they drew closer.

"How many goes did you have at it, Aniond?"

"Three"
 "How many, I didn't hear you"

"Three"

"Sorry can you repeat that"

"THREE"

"And I had to finish it because you made such a mess!"

"And he fell off his horse – didn't you see?"

"You didn't did you, Aniond?"

"I slipped"

"What was that?"

"I slipped"

"Sorry?"

"ALRIGHT! I fell off and made a fool of myself!"

"Honestly, even the hobbit and dwarf can ride better then you!"

"Bet they can shoot better then him"

The broke into laughter as they drew nearer, throwing down what they had captured.

"Even the fish out smarted you, Aniond"

Legolas looked over the hoard, a stag, various birds, rabbits and several fish. "Aniond couldn't even shoot a squirrel if it lay bathing in the sun all morning and death to his countless missed shoots" Legolas smiled dragging the limp stag away from the pile of meat.

"Oh, shut up!" Aniond cried hotly swiping a fist at Legolas who ducked nimbly.

"Ooooohhh" the crowd cooed.

"Naughty, naughty attempting assassination on the Prince!" Ruzlina leaped on top of him pulling him to the ground and wrestled with him, Hummel and Aufstand joined in.

"I'll have all four of you assassinated if you don't help prepare his food before its dark" Legolas said firmly.

Automatically and comically the four untangled themselves and leapt up.

"Yes, sire, sorry sire!"

AN: Struggle to write this chapter! What do you think about my new characters?

I didn't mean to make Thranduil out to be so cruel and cold, it just kind of happened!

 Next chapter more on Merry, Pippin, Aragorn and co.