A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED
By : mirkwood-elf-2931


CHAPTER 14


Darkness had completely fallen, before it was that Arwen returned to the palace and into the guestroom that she and Aragorn shared. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she heard her husband enter a few minutes later.

"Hey, finally back, huh? How was Landailyn?"

"She's all right..." The Half-Elf replied, but said nothing more.

"Arwen? What's wrong?" He came around to see her face, noting that she was biting her bottom lip and he knew it to always mean that she was troubled over something.

She stared up at her husband for a long moment, before adverting her eyes to her hands folded in her lap. "I cannot tell you." She murmured.

Aragorn's eyebrows creased, a baffled smile leaving him as quickly as it forced its way onto his lips. "Cannot tell me? Oh come on, you know you can tell me anything."

Arwen sighed, making a face. She would have to tell him, as she knew he would only keep after her until she did anyway. "Alright, Landailyn asked me not to say anything, as it is personal, but at least you're a close friend of hers, like I. Her parents are soon leaving for the West. There, glad?"

"What?"

Aragorn simply looked up, while Arwen rounded half way to see Legolas standing in the doorway directly behind, wondering if he had heard right in the fast paced speech Arwen had used.

"They're going to the Grey Havens?" He stepped inside the room that was decorated just as beautifully as his own, his questioning stare fixed firmly on the she-Elf.

"Yes, she overheard them talking about it."

Now feeling a little ashamed for pressing this 'secret' out of his wife, the Human asked quietly, a sudden thought that was produced by this news and the prince being present. "Do you think your father will leave with them?"

"I don't know." Legolas had automatically began pondering this himself. If Thranduil left with Andolan and Mylthar, he would then become the new King of Mirkwood. And he didn't know if he was quite yet ready for it or not.

Seeing as how the two already knew the secret she was suppose to keep, Arwen found herself revealing a little more. "She wishes she could accompany them and see them off as far as the harbor…but she fears what is the inevitable once having heard the mewing of a gull…or even to see the Sea for that matter."

Legolas looked alarmed at those possibilities. Backing out of the room, he announced where he was heading. "I must go speak with my father."

"Great," Arwen turned back to Aragorn. "Now look what you've done. Landy is not going to be very happy with me."

The Human breathed a small laugh, sitting with her and putting and arm around her shoulders. "Sorry."


~*~*~~*~~*~*~


"Father," The prince had found him almost immediately and now stood face to face with him in the Great Hall. "Andolan and Mylthar are leaving for Mithlond."

Thranduil merely looked down, turning to walk away. "Yes, they are setting out in a matter of days."

"You knew?" Legolas followed a few steps, before the grim lord ceased and turned back to face the young Elf.

"While you and Landailyn were gone to the mountains, they came often to talk. They were going to tell her sooner, but it is hard for them. And she was so happy, as we all were that every one of our warriors came home this time." He started to turn away again.

"Father?" The prince dreaded the coming question he was determined to ask, but he had to know. "Are you leaving with them?"

The king's look grew softer, as he stopped and rounded back on his son once more. He could see a boyish fear hidden deep in Legolas' eyes. A fear of also losing his only relative left in Middle-earth. A fear of becoming more than he felt he could handle, even though Thranduil had faith in him. "No, my son," He placed his hands on the wrists of Legolas' crossed arms, squeezing them with affection. "I am not leaving. Not for some time yet."

There was a visible relief in the prince that his father smiled at.

"But when and if I do," He continued. "Do not doubt that you cannot run this kingdom by yourself. You have learned well from what I have taught you, and I assure you it is not that hard."

Legolas breathed a small laugh, for the moment his head hanging, eyes going to the floor.

"And you always have Landailyn, you know."

At this, the prince looked up in time to see the king disappear from the room down the eastern hallway in the direction of his study. And just what exactly did his father mean by this? He wondered, as he headed back to Arwen and Aragorn's guestroom to let them know what he had found out.


~*~*~~*~~*~*~


"Well, looks like you have to wait a while before you become a king." Smiled Aragorn, slapping Legolas on the back, who simply looked relieved over the whole matter.

"Oh, I forgot before," Arwen suddenly blurted. "Landy says that she's not mad at you...just annoyed."

Legolas half smiled. "I just didn't want her to overdoing it, in case of a relapse from her concussion…"

"Of course, and that's what I told her you felt." The queen sighed. "But you know how all of you tend to not make any sort of deal about an injury, which is exactly what makes it hard on the rest of us and each other. I can't believe Landailyn has taken after you two..."

Both smiling at this, the king and prince shrugged, as if to say they were sorry, but couldn't help the way they were.


~*~*~~*~~*~*~


"Landailyn! Something came for you!" Andolan took the package she held carefully to the long table they usually dined at, waiting for her daughter to open it herself.

"What came?" Asked Landailyn and Mylthar nearly at the same time, when they both entered the room from different areas.

The elder of the two she-Elves held out her hands to the parchment wrapped object in a presenting gesture.

Landailyn eyed it, sitting down across from her mother. On the parchment was written the date it was given to its carrier, and who it was for, Captain Landailyn Windsong of Eryn Lasgalen, and in the middle rested the symbol of the House of Elrond. Instantly, Landailyn had guessed in her mind at what it was, and had no doubt that that guess was correct. Though disguised, the shape and size of it was familiar nonetheless. Almost cautiously, she proceeded to unwrap it.

"A book?" Voiced Andolan, searching the young captain's face for an answer.

It was indeed what she thought it had been, and it was not just any book. "This was Thalawen's journal."

Her parents nodded in silent understanding, letting her read the letter that sat upon the leather cover.

Landailyn,

I truly know not how soon your next desire to visit Imladris will come, and this item I would have delivered myself, but it seems these days I am more occupied than usual, as the day I leave for the Sea, I fear, grows ever closer. Therefore, I have decided that the gift you gave me of better understanding my late daughter should at last rest in your hands alone. I believe if it were Thalawen's choice she would want you to have it, if not her sister, and apparently she has made that choice with her last entry. Please, young one, do not have the hesitancy to read it, if you are willing.

Hanned lle, [Thank you,]
Elrond

Landailyn laid the letter inside the pulled back cover of the handwritten book, but before she could even attempt to turn another page, her father's voice alerted the room.

"Landailyn, there's something we need to discuss with..."

"I already know." She interrupted quietly, not looking up at either of them, instead messing with a corner of the journal, her eyes staying glued to it. "Why are you leaving me?"

Stunned, the elder couple looked at one another, then back at their daughter.

Andolan was the first to speak up, taking a deep breath to control her emotions. "Do you remember that trip we took two months ago to Lorien? It happened on the journey back, just before the Gladden River. They were flying westward overhead."

The captain's mouth gaped. They had heard gulls, yet they had not set out before this? "But why have you waited to...?"

"It has been difficult to tell you, Landailyn." Mylthar tried to explain. "But we will be leaving within a few days now."

Landailyn nodded, trying her best not to shed a tear. "Please, when you pass through Imladris on your way, tell Lord Elrond that I deeply thank him." Then excusing herself, she left the table for the privacy of her room with her new possession in hand.

Mylthar pulled his wife close, as a quiet sob broke from her. "I do not wish to leave her like this..."

"I hate this too, my love, I do...but we have to go, I feel we have lingered too long as it is."

"We have." She whispered. "Our hearts pull with the longing, as much was someday expected of, but I did not expect it to also hurt as much as it does to leave our only child."

"At least it is a comfort that she will be able to take care of herself...and you know Legolas will, especially now that it has become clear they are deeply in love."

Andolan couldn't help but smile at that. "Aye, and even better that they now know it of one another."


~*~*~~*~~*~*~


At last, Landailyn's routine went back to normal, as quite happily she returned to her duties.

However, she still avoided Legolas, mostly to be amusingly spiteful, but to also actually spend some time with her new students. And during her second day back, she walked with two in particular from the group outside the palace grounds among the wood, but as of this moment they were heading back for the daily training.

"I never had the chance to thank the both of you and tell you before how well you handled our situation. As well as you and your friends' futures looking promising by the standards of the army of Mirkwood."

"Really?! We're good enough?!"

Landailyn beamed brightly at the boy's signs of excitement. Again, such in a hurry to grow up, she thought. "So far, Nylaro, yes. All fifteen new soldiers will complete the training in no time. Just...please try not to deliberately disobey anyone's orders." She warned them now, in case there were any 'young, foolish intentions' to do so in their minds for the future. "Things like that most of the time do not sit well with your elders, you know."

"We won't, we promise!" Nylaro quickly assured her, looking over to see Evanyne agreeing with him, and knowing the captain was reminding him that he had done exactly that, when he had returned to the palace to aid her, instead of going home where it was safe.

She sighed, trying to hide a smile. "Please, see that that is kept to from now on."

Their first encounters with Landailyn had been uneasy, for none of them had known her at all then, but now that they had seen how reasonable and good hearted she was, having spent a little time with her, the two were really beginning to like their superior and would not take advantage of her kindness and risk breaking her trust in them, as others might have done.

"Landailyn,"

A voice from behind ceased their laggard steps, just before they crossed the bridge over the Forest River.

"Father?" The captain spun around, brows together in slight confusion. "Mother? What...?" Then she took a better look at them and realized how they were clothed and that they each had their horse with them. She shook her head. "No..."

"Yes, dear, it is time."

As this was stated, more Elves from the city that were leaving came to wait for Andolan and Mylthar, already having said their goodbyes to any family they were 'temporarily' leaving behind. And then the gates of the palace were opened to reveal a large group coming forth, led by Thranduil, Legolas, Aragorn and Arwen.

No one had told Landailyn that today was the day. Her wide, stunned eyes followed only her parents, as both distributed hugs in their farewell to everyone else. She hardly even heard the words exchanged, as her sobs could not be contained and she let them out freely as they came.

Beside her, Evanyne and Nylaro lowered their heads to stare at the ground sadly.

"Nearly five millennia you have been a loyal friend, Mylthar, son of Vahlthar." Smiled Thranduil. "You served my father and I well, and I know what he would say if he were here now. You were one of the best, a great soldier, and your daughter now follows in your footsteps. Oropher would thank you, as I do, for standing with your kinsman through hard times."

"No, my lord...my friend, thank you. It was an honor. Oropher was a great king, you also followed in your father's footsteps and I know Legolas will do the same." The slightly older Elf smiled back, placing a hand over his heart and clasping the Elven-king's shoulder.

"You have always been her best friend, Legolas. And we are grateful she has such friends as all of you." Landailyn's mother looked from the prince to Arwen and Aragorn beside him. "She loves you all so much." She paused, looking back sorrowfully over at the dark haired she-Elf. "And we only wish we could have had the chance to meet Thalawen, when she was here; we know that Landailyn was very fond of her. Watch after her for us?" The latter was said to Legolas, as much as to the king and queen.

The three watched Andolan, nodding with much sadness upon their faces.

"You have my word." Said the prince, staring seriously into her hopeful eyes with this promise.

At last, Mylthar came to embrace his daughter very tightly, placing a kiss upon her forehead.

And when Andolan had finally collected herself, she did the same. Only in stepping back, she cocked her head to the left; the smile she held for her daughter was faint and sad. "Do not grieve, my child."

"How can I not? When I love you...both, so much..." She nearly whispered, looking back and forth between them.

"Well, just always know that we love you very much too, Landailyn. And no matter if at times in the past we were disapproving of anything in your life, we were proud of you always, and now even more for what you have become. A fine warrior and captain, but most of all a strong, wise, beautiful young woman. You know this farewell is not forever."

"No," Andolan agreed with her husband. "We will see one another again...someday, when it is your time."

They glanced over and nodded respectively to the Elven-king and his son, and the Human king and his wife before turning with their white steeds and heading down the Path to join the other departing Elves.

Just before the thickness of the trees began, they stopped to look back one last time; to smile at none other there than their daughter. More than anything they hated leaving her so broken, but they would wait for the day when they would see her smile again, when they would reunite as a family across the Sea.

Legolas had moved up silently behind her, and now put a consoling hand on her shoulder.

But the moment Landailyn's parents were out of sight's range, she left her position and headed for what was now her very own house.

"She wishes to be alone." Said Arwen, quickly and quietly, before the prince had a chance to even think of going after her.

Legolas closed his watery eyes. He wanted to be there for her like the day of Thalawen's death, the last time he had known her to have cried, but it was hard when she would now rather be isolated from any comfort at all.


TBC ...

~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~

mirkwood-elf-2931 :
I talked about you again, Thala! Twice! hahaha! And you wondered why we made you slightly 'crazy' in our PotC fic...cuz' here you are having so much fun with it! ;) So yes everyone, that strange line "Ye said ye liked it, didncha?" comes from her character saying it to mine! Sorry that you'll have to wait quite a while to find out why! There's over 20,000 words to that story so far, but it's almost like it's a bunch of random stuff and I don't know how to put it all together!
Well anyway, Landailyn got Thalawen's journal back...and now her parents are gone. She just doesn't get a break, huh? LOL Wait till you see what happens in the next chapter though! Chapter 15 will be the last one by the way! At least it will be longer, like this one was! Both over 2,700 words a piece!