Both Fang and Fire
by Erestor
Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to The Lord of the Rings.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Thranduil was a tall Elf, dignified and regal. Not pompous though, just dangerous. His blue eyes were sharp and piercing, his stance was that of a warrior's. Carca felt rather awed. This Elf was a good king, she could tell that just from looking at him.
Glorfindel, Erestor, and even Legolas bowed when Thranduil entered the room. However, the king did not appear to be too interested in formalities. He ignored his throne and walked forward to greet his son.
"Home so soon, Legolas!" he said. "I did not hope to see you for weeks yet, and this comes as a marvelous surprise. How was your journey? What did Lord Elrond say about Gollum?"
He might have been talking quickly, but he did not sound at all silly. Carca smiled as she watched Legolas trying to answer the multitude of questions.
"Both Mithrandir and Lord Elrond think Gollum will an important part to play in the near future. For good or ill he would not say. As for our journey, it was surprisingly uneventful," the prince said. Carca saw the smile in his eyes, and realized how glad he was to see his father again.
Glorfindel stepped forward. "Thranduil," he said, "Lord Elrond needs your son."
Thranduil's eyes flitted to Glorfindel's face. "Legolas? Why?"
Both Erestor and the Elf in question looked as surprised as the Elvenking. Apparently this news was new indeed.
"Isildur's Bane, the Ring created by the Enemy, has been rediscovered," Glorfindel said, "and by a hobbit, of all creatures. During the Council, we decided that the only way to defend ourselves from the Enemy is to destroy this weapon, and the only way to destory it is to throw it into Mt. Doom, where it was forged."
"I see," Thranduil said. "That makes sense."
"The hobbit will need companions to protect him," Glorfindel said, "and Lord Elrond is interested in recruiting Legolas to be one of them."
"Lord Elrond wants my son to go to Mt. Doom? To Mordor?" Thranduil stared, but then collected himself. "Really?"
Glorfindel nodded, a slight smile creeping across his face.
"I'm so proud of you, Legolas!" Thranduil said. "And a little worried too, I'll admit. But this is good news. If Lord Elrond thinks you can do it, I agree heartily with him."
Legolas looked as stunned as Carca had ever seen him. "Me?"
"Why, of course," Thranduil said. "Do you doubt your abilities? Do you not remember how you once wanted to save the world?"
"Father, I was three at the time," Legolas said. "I thought Lord Glorfindel would go on the quest."
Glorfindel shook his head. "I can be of great assistance elsewhere."
Carca rolled her eyes.
"Legolas is the perfect for the job," Thranduil said. "I admire you very much, Glorfindel, but I agree that you would not be such a good choice."
Erestor bridled visibly at this comment. "I think Glorfindel would be perfect for the Fellowship," he said.
The air suddenly became tense. A human might not have noticed, but Carca certainly did.
"What do you mean by that?" Thranduil asked, "Are you suggesting that Legolas is incapable of this?"
Legolas still looked quietly doubtful.
"I think Lord Elrond was right," Glorfindel said. "I do not want to be part of the Fellowship."
Erestor stiffened, but he looked more startled than anything else. He had defended his friend, and his friend had disagreed with him and sided with the enemy. Not only that, but now all three Elves were watching him with annoyance. Erestor was very diplomatic. He bowed. "I'm sorry if my words offended," he said. "I spoke without thinking."
"And I'll bet he does that all the time," Carca thought, feeling sarcastic.
Legolas sighed and shook his head. "Father, you need me here," he said. "I was not expecting such an offer from Lord Elrond, and I really cannot accept it. I thought I would be returning to Imladris, but I did not even suspect the reason..."
"Lord Elrond wants you," Glorfindel said. Carca could tell he was speaking in his most persuasive tone of voice.
"You are needed," Thranduil said, "and I am not going to hold you back."
Carca sat and watched. It was an interesting predicament. Two Elves were potential Fellowshipers, but neither wanted to go Fellowshipping. To make matters more complicated, they both had an Elf on their side, someone who did want them to go.
"Legolas, you must be willing," Glorfindel said. "I cannot force you to go, for it is a dangerous task, and you may not survive."
"Yes," Thranduil said. "I'm sorry. We shouldn't have been trying to force you to do anything against your will."
"Thank you," Legolas said softly. "I'll have to think this over." He turned and left the room, with one parting bow to his father.
When Glorfindel exited the palace, Carca followed him. The world outside was dark and cold, and the December wind was biting.
"I'm cold," she thought.
Glorfindel glanced at her. "No wonder," he said aloud. "You're thinking thoughts that would make an Elf freeze in his boots."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You don't have to be cold if you don't want to be," Glorfindel said. "That's how an Elf operates."
"You deny the fact that you're cold?"
"No. We do not deny it. We revel in the fact that it is cold. If you do not fear the cold, it is much harder for it to overwhelm you."
Carca concentrated. "I will not shiver," she thought. "I am not cold." To Glorfindel, she thought, "This sounds potentially dangerous to me."
"It works for the Elves."
"I'm not an Elf. I am a dog. Please get used to that."
"Ah, yes. Sometimes I am inclined to forget. So many Elves are small and furry that it's hard to tell which ones aren't dogs."
"Elvish sarcasm lacks something, did you know that?"
"No. It's very subtle, that's all."
They stood in silence for a moment, looking up at the sky.
"I miss the stars here."
Glorfindel mock-gasped. "You are becoming Elvish. Next thing you know, you'll lose your tail and nice thick fur and begin glowing, Carca."
"I was serious."
"Don't worry. So was I. I miss the stars myself."
"Glorfindel?"
"Yes?"
"You do want to join the Fellowship, don't you?"
"I did, but I realize it wouldn't work, Carca. My era is over, and Legolas is young. He can do this, and I can't."
"Don't be too hard on yourself. According to Erestor, you killed a Balrog once."
"That's the sort of thing one doesn't do often."
"For that I'm very thankful, Elf."
"You have been watching us all, and I want to know if you think Legolas will be able to do this."
"If he really wants to do this, I think he can. But it's his choice."
"Yes, you're right, Carca," Glorfindel said. "That is why I must stand aside. I am not wholehearted enough for the task."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm packing, Cúkáno. Tomorrow I will be leaving Mirkwood to return to Imladris," Legolas replied, carefully selecting a tunic from his wardrobe.
"But we need you," Cúkáno said softly. "Mirkwood must not fall. You could be of great service here."
"Lord Elrond needs me too," Legolas said.
"And he is more important than your family?"
Legolas turned around and faced his brother angrily. "You cannot say things like that. Not you, of all people. Mirkwood is important, but the fate of Middle-earth is even more important. Lord Elrond needs me to save Middle-earth. You once said that only by working from the outside could someone hope to save our home."
Cúkáno's eyes became dark and furious, but he said nothing.
"I have to help. Lord Elrond needs me." Legolas sounded as though he were trying to convince himself. He had been so happy for a while, with his father proud of him, and everyone wanting him to go. Now Cúkáno was annoyed with him. Maybe even angry. What could an Elf do?
Cúkáno glared at his little brother, utterly frustrated. He had been glad to see him return, and now he discovered that Legolas would be leaving soon. Probably tomorrow. "Legolas," he said softly, but with great feeling in his voice, "you might not return."
Legolas made a noise that sounded a lot like a choking growl. Then he strode out of his bedroom to find some peace and quiet in the gardens.
Erestor stood silently by the window to his bedroom, looking out over Mirkwood. In the dark, it stretched out into the horizon. It seemed limitless. Erestor wished he had not come to this place. He had only made things more difficult for everyone.
The advisor carefully folded his one serviceable cloak and laid it on the chair next to his bed. He looked up quickly when someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?"
"Glorfindel."
"Come in." The Elf sat on the edge of his bed and waited.
Glorfindel entered the room almost cautiously, Carca following him. As soon as he saw his friend, the golden haired Elf sighed unhappily.
"I'm sorry, Erestor," he said softly. "I didn't mean to hurt you. But I can't go with the Fellowship."
Erestor brushed his black hair away from his face. "It was my fault, Glorfindel," he said. "I should have trusted you."
Carca strolled around outside happily, glad that Glorfindel and Erestor were reconciled. The courtyard she was in was more of a tangled garden, snarled with old dead rose bushes. It was a lonely, forgotten place, and she felt pleased to have found it.
Then she found something else.
An Elf sat on a bench in the darkness, his head buried in his hands. Even as the startled dog watched, a tear trickled through his fingers.
"It's Legolas!" Carca realized, and her heart suddenly began to pound. "What would Mary-Lou do now?" She knew the answer immediately. She would have kissed him. "That's ridiculous," Carca thought. "I wouldn't do something like that... I can't anyway."
"Cheer up, Legolas," she thought. "The Fellowship won't be that bad. I'm sure you'll all win in the end."
The Elf looked down at her blearily, his eyes cloudy and dark. "Don't cry," Carca thought desperately. "It's too touching. I can't take it anymore."
Carca awkwardly put her paws on the bench so that she had a good view, then she began to carefully lick the tears away.
To Be Continued...
