Chapter Seventeen: Avathar's Plan
Thranduil watched his son leave the room. He lay back against his chair, eyes closed, shaking his head in disbelief. How could it be that his son also loved Míriel? She is far too old for him. It would not do, he said to himself, because she was his mother's dearest and closest friend. What a calamity, that they both love her!
'Age means nothing at times. Look at Arwen and Elessar. She surpasses him very much in age, yet they are wedded. Most importantly, though, Míriel is wedded.' he thought.
He opened his eyes again. There was a knock at the door.
"Who is there?" Thranduil called.
"It is I," said a soft voice. "Do you want me tonight?"
Thranduil smiled slightly. It was the singer, Forfirith. At least he had her to satisfy his lust whenever the need arose.
"I do." he told her, putting Míriel out of his mind. "Enter."
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Legolas returned to his chamber. He went out onto the balcony and sighed deeply. It was on such a night that he had kissed Míriel. It was also on such a night that he had professed his love for her. He glanced up at the stars, twinkling brightly above him in the dark sky, only to be reminded of her silver shimmering hair. He pined for her.
"Oh Míriel, oh lady fair, le annon veleth nín." he whispered.
There was a faint noise, and the Prince whirled around quickly. Avathar stood silently, watching him from his chamber.
"Man le carel s?" Legolas asked him.
Avathar did not respond immediately. He was staring at Legolas in a strange manner, as if he had heard something he did not like.
"I heard movement in your chamber." he replied.
"It was I; I have finished from speaking with my sire." Legolas said.
Avathar moved silently next to him.
"I heard you whispering a lady's name. Who is she?" he said.
Legolas flushed slightly.
"I thought I was alone, speaking to the shadows of the night. I did not know you heard me. She is Míriel, Gil-celeb's daughter. I have loved her for so long a time. She is wedded, and that is my problem." he said.
Avathar nodded his head slightly to himself.
'So,' he thought grimly, 'it is as I felt. Prince Legolas is in love with Míriel. This will make it easier for me to call them here. Legolas will serve me well in this matter.'
"Something wrong?" Legolas asked Avathar. "Why are you silent?"
"Nothing is wrong, hîr nín. I am only remembering her. She is a very beautiful lady. Only Aerandir wedded her." Avathar said bitterly.
Legolas looked at his servant.
"You speak with bitterness in your voice." he said, surprised.
"Aerandir was not the one to whom she should have wedded, but Falathar. He is the one who deserves her." Avathar said heatedly.
"Falathar? I heard his name before. Who is he?" Legolas asked.
Avathar hesitated. How had he dared to speak his own name?
"He was a captain in the army, very close to Aerandir. Falathar fell in love with Míriel, as did Aerandir. Aerandir made sure to keep Míriel to himself when he learned that Falathar desired her as well. Míriel loves Falathar, but Aerandir forced her to wed him." he said.
Legolas was silent. His mind was busy in thought.
"Yet I know Aerandir. He does not seem to me in any way bad." Legolas said. "Aerandir is my friend."
Avathar turned to Legolas.
"Think as you please, but I have told you the truth." he said. "If I may, I would like to return to my room now and rest. Maer fuin."
"Maer fuin." Legolas replied.
Avathar made his way swiftly to his room, a wide smile on his face. The first part of his plan was accomplished. The rest would follow soon.
All he had to do was wait patiently. Nothing could go wrong.
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The following morning dawned bright and clear. The sun warmed the new day as birds sang sweetly in the treetops. Avathar entered into Legolas' bedchamber and woke him.
"Maer aur, ernil nín." he said.
Legolas blinked several moments before stretching his arms.
"Good day to you." he said.
Avathar stood by, ready for any command.
"Is there anything I may help you with?" he asked.
"Did Aerandir truly force Míriel to marry him?" Legolas asked.
'You believe it! Excellent!' Avathar thought to himself.
"He did." Avathar told him.
"Yet Míriel told me she loves him."
"She fears him, and so says what he tells her."
Avathar could see that the Prince was still unsure, still hesitant. So he decided to persuade him further.
"Míriel's pregnancy is part of Aerandir's plan." Avathar said.
"You know she is pregnant? What do you mean?" Legolas said.
"I heard she is pregnant from your people. With Míriel pregnant, Aerandir is assured that she will not leave him."
Legolas stared at Avathar.
"How do you know all of this?" he wondered.
"Though I am a servant, I still think and hear things. My former master has told me much." Avathar replied.
"Where is he?"
Avathar looked at Legolas.
"He was forced to leave, because of Aerandir." he told him.
Avathar helped Legolas dress, all the while smiling secretly to himself. By slipping in some truth amidst the majority of the lies, Avathar had managed to make Legolas doubt Aerandir. Avathar wanted Míriel, and a chance to get rid of his brother, Aerandir. He knew he could not do so alone. Legolas would be the perfect trap for his brother. Already, the final stages of his plan were finalized in his mind.
Now that he told Legolas everything, he suspected the Prince would become uneasy and worry about Míriel. A letter would be sent, followed shortly by an invitation to visit. Once the invitation is accepted, Aerandir and Míriel would arrive. Avathar would feign sudden illness and not be present. And when the chance came, he would slip under the cover of darkness, kill his brother, and take Míriel. There would be only one dead—his brother. Avathar would finally have Míriel all to himself. That was his plan. He did not suspect anything would go wrong. Nor did he imagine Legolas would tell anyone.
The two elven-men went to the dining hall for the morning meal. Legolas hardly ate anything, being occupied in thought. A feeling of suspicion was over him. He had to tell someone. He had to tell his sire.
When the morning meal was over, Legolas gave Avathar an errand. Then he took his sire aside privately.
"Sire, alarming news has reached me concerning Míriel." he began.
Thranduil immediately took interest.
"What has happened to her?" he asked quickly.
"Aerandir has forced her to wed him." Legolas replied.
Thranduil looked at Legolas.
"Who has told you this?" he asked his son.
"Avathar, my servant." the Prince responded.
"I do not believe a word your servant says. Since I first saw him, a wary feeling about him grows in my heart. I do not like the look of him. His name alone is suspicious." Thranduil said.
Legolas then proceeded to tell his sire everything Avathar told him.
"My son, I marvel at you. Aerandir has ever been your dearest friend, and now you doubt him? And you think he forced Míriel to wed him? Truly, you do not know Míriel! She has a strong will, and nothing can stand in her way. As for Avathar, I warn you to be on your guard. I feel his presence here is for a deadly purpose, Legolas." Thranduil said. "If he speaks any truth, than I think Avathar is embittered by the fact that Míriel wedded Aerandir. It appears he loves her himself."
"Ai, how did I think such a vile thing against my mentor? It was as if I was bewitched! Eru, forgive me!" Legolas said. "You are wise, sire. I am glad I spoke to you. I promise to be on my guard."
"Go now, my son."
Sindarin Translations:
Le annon veleth nín: I give you my love
Man le carel sí: what are you doing here