Chapter 8
A torrent of rain poured down upon Legolas's head, soaking him instantly.
"Legolas, here!" came Adrahil's voice from somewhere in front of him.
The younger prince struggled towards his brother's voice. The rain crashed down through the canopy of the trees, the wind gusting mightily. The wind pressed the rain back, into Legolas's face, making it almost impossible to see. His clothes were soaked through, his cloak seemed as if it had been dipped into the river. Ripping off the hindering cloak, Legolas struggled forward.
He felt a grip on his arm, leading him forward. Looking up, he found it was Adrahil, leading him back towards the palace.
Abruptly, the downpour stopped, as suddenly as it had come, the storm had disappeared.
Thoroughly wet and disgruntled, the two brothers trudged back to their home, leading their small troop of guards.
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The butler and the Captain of the Guards knelt on the cold marble floor before the Elvenking's throne. On the King's left hand, Brethilorn, Thalion, and Ithilwen sat on smaller thrones, Legolas's and Adrahil's thrones empty. Half a week had passed since the dwarves' disappearance. Legolas and Adrahil had been searching the forest the entire time.
"Well, Galion, what have you to say for yourself?" Thranduil asked his butler.
"I – I don't know what sort of – of foolishness overcame me that night, Taur-nin," responded Galion timidly.
"And you, Kalmakil?" asked the King, turning to the Captain of the Guards.
"Like Galion said, Taur-nin, I was acting foolishly that night, and…and it was my fault the prisoners escaped."
"Is that all you two have to say for yourselves?" asked Thranduil.
The two nodded.
"Well, híni-nin, you've heard them speak. How should they be dealt with?" Thranduil asked, turning to his children.
"Both should be stripped of their ranks," suggested Brethilorn after some thought.
"I agree," said Ithilwen. "Kalmakil should be de-promoted to the rank of Officer. Galion shall be de-promoted from butler, and neither shall hold key to the dungeons or cellars. Privilege of drinking wine or ale shall be taken away until they have proved the competence once more."
"Excellent, Ithilwen, Brethilorn," nodded Thranduil. "So be it."
Galion and Kalmakil breathed a soft sigh of relief, such a sentence was better than either had prayed for.
"You may leave," Thranduil added.
Kalmakil unpinned his rank insignia, placing it before the King's feet along with his ring of keys. Galion placed his keys beside Kalmakil's items, and then exited from the hall. A few moments later, the doors opened again, Legolas and Adrahil entered, each drenched to the bone.
"We've searched the forest, Ada, but did not find any traces of the dwarves before the rain came," Adrahil reported to their father. Legolas stood behind him, slightly grateful that the ill news was not his to bear to the Elvenking.
Thranduil looked angry, his forehead knit in a scowl.
Adrahil glanced down, nervous of what Thranduil would say next.
"You are sure you searched thoroughly?"
"Yes, Ada," answered Adrahil. "We found no traces before the rain came. What may not have found has been washed away by the water."
Thranduil opened his mouth to speak again, but stopped, catching the look of enlightment on Legolas's face. "What is it, ion-nin?"
"The water!" Legolas spluttered excitedly.
"Clarify yourself?" Thranduil asked, his eyebrow slightly raised.
"The water!" Legolas repeated. "The dwarves escaped by water. That's why they left no trace! They must have escaped somehow directly into the river from the palace."
"Of course!" exclaimed Adrahil. "Legolas is right."
Thranduil nodded. "Are you sure about this?"
"Without a doubt," answered Legolas readily.
"Alright," Thranduil said, nodding to a guard at his side. "Celebfindel, send word to the men of Laketown, tell them that thirteen dwarf prisoners have escaped from the Elvenking's Palace. Reward shall be given to the man that returns them to me."
The doors were thrown open just as Celebfindel reached them. Several elven raft-men burst in, crossing the hall in a few steps. They bowed to Thranduil.
"Speak."
"Taur-nin," began the captain, we have just returned from Laketown. There, we saw the escaped prisoners. Their leader, Thorin Oakenshield claims to be the returning King Under the Mountain. They have left for Erebor, the Lonely Mountain."
"Fools," murmured Thranduil. "How do they expect to conquer the sleeping dragon?"
"Shall we recapture them, Taur-nin"?" asked the raft-men captain?
"No," Thranduil said decisively. "They go on an impossible mission. They will not be returning."
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"The dragon has been slain!" A messenger burst in through the open doors of the hall, stopping short of Thranduil's throne, bowing. "We have received news from the birds that the dragon of Erebor has been slain by the men of Laketown. The city has been laid to ruins by the dragon's wrath before his death."
"And the Noegyth? Are they alive still?" asked the Elvenking.
"I do not know, Taur-nin," replied the messenger, "We have heard no news of them."
"So be it. The city is in ruins, you say?"
"Yes. Their homes are burnt, many are slain."
"Then we shall send help, to our friends," answered the King.
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Taur-nin = My King
Híni-nin = My children
Ada = Father
Ion-nin = My son
Noegyth = Dwarves
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PrincessEvenstar – Thanx! No problem, it was about time I included her in the story anyways :P
Kelsey – Thnx for the review. Yeah, I really like those ideas, you've got me thinking on what's coming… Thnx for the suggestions. I really appreciate it. I've been trying to work on longer chps, and I think your suggestions would really help. Thanx so much!
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Sorry it took forever to update! I meant to have it up much sooner, but I've been really busy and I've re-written this chapter so many times.
Please review! Thank you!
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