Sorry for such a short chapter. My old college English Professor would be doing a little happy dance if she knew that something had at last been found that could shut me up ...
Chapter 29
Do Not Despair
Thranduil had been in Elrond's study, talking to the Noldor Lord when, without warning, he found himself on his knees, gasping for breath. His mind was assailed by images of his son, dying, alone and in terrible pain. The fear and loneliness the vision was telling him his son was experiencing was almost too much for his father's heart to bear.
Then, as suddenly as the vision had come, it was gone. Vaguely, he felt Lord Elrond's comforting hand on his back but it was when he heard the healer's soft voice in his ear that the Mirkwood King felt himself return to the "here and now" of reality. With his friend's help, Thranduil rose to his feet and walked somewhat unsteadily, to a nearby chair. After a moment, a cup of wine was put in his hands which he drank quickly.
As his heart rate slowed and he finally started to relax, he raised his head and met the questioning eyes of the Noldor Lord. Thranduil raised a shaky hand, signaling that he was feeling much better. Elrond drew a chair close to the Mirkwood King then sat and quietly waited until the other was ready to speak of what he had seen, for it had been a vision and judging from the King's reaction to it, a very disturbing vision.
"He is dying, Elrond. My son is alone, in pain and he is dying."
"Does Legolas yet draw breath?"
"Yes, apparently he does."
"Then, my friend, there is still hope."
Thranduil rose from his chair and paced agitatedly while he spoke. "What do you mean there is hope? Did you not hear me Elrond? My son is dying! What hope can there be if he yet remains alone? I should never have trusted his safety to another. In that I have failed him for I should have gone after him myself." Finally, his emotion having been spent, the King once again sank into his chair and covered his eyes with a shaking hand.
Elrond had not interrupted Thranduil as he had ranted but waited until the King calmed down before making eye contact with him. He wanted to make sure that when he did speak, the elf would listen to him.
"I can guarantee you, Thranduil, that no elf, King, Lord or otherwise, could have followed my foster daughter after she left Imladris, nor could we have tracked her after the sun had risen for there would have been no tracks follow. She rode fast and hard through the night on paths no elf's eyes could see except for her own. If a chance exists that your son is alive, somewhere, then Anayah will find him."
"What if there is no chance? What if she is too late?" His words were almost a whisper.
"Would you despair while your son still draws breath? Do you not remember the oath that was sworn to you? Do not relinquish hope, my friend, for ever it will remain in a steadfast heart."
"The Lady Anayah swore to me, on her honor, that she would bring my son back home."
"Then Thranduil, it is my suggestion to you, as both friend and father, that you hold on to that oath for if I know the Lady as well as I think I am beginning to, there are few things capable of making her break that oath."
"Aye, Elrond, once again you are right and once again you have talked some sense into me and I thank you for that. Now, if you will share another glass of that fine wine, I believe it will make the wait a little less painful for both of us."
* * * * * *
Legolas raised his head and looked toward the north, toward Imladris and toward where he knew his father was waiting for him. He had seen an image in his mind of his father weeping, and the image of such a strong elf brought low by grief, had saddened him. Hanging his own head, and slumping in his bonds, he let his own tears fall.
TBC
Do Not Despair
Then, as suddenly as the vision had come, it was gone. Vaguely, he felt Lord Elrond's comforting hand on his back but it was when he heard the healer's soft voice in his ear that the Mirkwood King felt himself return to the "here and now" of reality. With his friend's help, Thranduil rose to his feet and walked somewhat unsteadily, to a nearby chair. After a moment, a cup of wine was put in his hands which he drank quickly.
As his heart rate slowed and he finally started to relax, he raised his head and met the questioning eyes of the Noldor Lord. Thranduil raised a shaky hand, signaling that he was feeling much better. Elrond drew a chair close to the Mirkwood King then sat and quietly waited until the other was ready to speak of what he had seen, for it had been a vision and judging from the King's reaction to it, a very disturbing vision.
"He is dying, Elrond. My son is alone, in pain and he is dying."
"Does Legolas yet draw breath?"
"Yes, apparently he does."
"Then, my friend, there is still hope."
Thranduil rose from his chair and paced agitatedly while he spoke. "What do you mean there is hope? Did you not hear me Elrond? My son is dying! What hope can there be if he yet remains alone? I should never have trusted his safety to another. In that I have failed him for I should have gone after him myself." Finally, his emotion having been spent, the King once again sank into his chair and covered his eyes with a shaking hand.
Elrond had not interrupted Thranduil as he had ranted but waited until the King calmed down before making eye contact with him. He wanted to make sure that when he did speak, the elf would listen to him.
"I can guarantee you, Thranduil, that no elf, King, Lord or otherwise, could have followed my foster daughter after she left Imladris, nor could we have tracked her after the sun had risen for there would have been no tracks follow. She rode fast and hard through the night on paths no elf's eyes could see except for her own. If a chance exists that your son is alive, somewhere, then Anayah will find him."
"What if there is no chance? What if she is too late?" His words were almost a whisper.
"Would you despair while your son still draws breath? Do you not remember the oath that was sworn to you? Do not relinquish hope, my friend, for ever it will remain in a steadfast heart."
"The Lady Anayah swore to me, on her honor, that she would bring my son back home."
"Then Thranduil, it is my suggestion to you, as both friend and father, that you hold on to that oath for if I know the Lady as well as I think I am beginning to, there are few things capable of making her break that oath."
"Aye, Elrond, once again you are right and once again you have talked some sense into me and I thank you for that. Now, if you will share another glass of that fine wine, I believe it will make the wait a little less painful for both of us."
* * * * * *
Legolas raised his head and looked toward the north, toward Imladris and toward where he knew his father was waiting for him. He had seen an image in his mind of his father weeping, and the image of such a strong elf brought low by grief, had saddened him. Hanging his own head, and slumping in his bonds, he let his own tears fall.
TBC