Chapter 19 – Let The Games Begin!
~Meanwhile in Mirkwood ~
Legolas raised his fist hesitantly, glancing once at Brethil, whose brows were furrowed, one hand tugging on his long pale braid. The princeling swallowed, his mouth dry with fear as he managed to knock on the elegantly carved door of Tavor's family home.
Laureahiril's house was nestled a bit apart from the others in a stand of tall, silvery barked beech trees. The window frames were carved with what that grand lady had said were, "Noldorin designs.... Far superior to anything you would find elsewhere." It was an elegant house, a large house, but then Tavor had several brothers and sisters, so they needed a large home. Legolas had once overheard Thranduil saying that Laureahiril wanted a large family so she could populate Mirkwood with more Noldor, which were sadly lacking in these Silvan and Sindarin infested woods.
This house was not perched in the protective branches of the trees as were most of the Woodland Realm homes, but sat firmly amid new green grass, bright spring flowers lining the stone walkway; bushes beneath the windows showed tiny, pale leaflets just beginning to unfurl like tiny green banners. Lace curtains fluttered in the windows open to the gently warm breeze, and the smell of baking bread wafted to the two elflings standing outside. It was deceptively serene here.
"Maybe he's not here," Brethil whispered. "Maybe his daernaneth...I mean his 'araamil'," he hesitated, using the Quenya word that Tavor and his siblings called Laureahiril – 'noble mother', "his araamil magicked him too because she thought he was part of your plan! Oh, Legolas! What if she magicked everyone and has become the Queen of Mirkwood? I guess we will all have to learn Quenya then, won't we? Master Tanglinna will not like that at all...though I think some of the words he says when he is mad are in Quenya. Your adar will not be happy about it either...but then he will not be happy that he is no longer the king-!"
Legolas turned to glare at Brethil, who immediately looked chagrined and smiled apologetically. The prince shook his head and turned to contemplate the door once more, reading the runes inscribed on the east- facing lintel: Cenanarore – Behold the Sunrise. Surely, Laureahiril would not have magicked her grandson, would she?
Before he had time to think on this most dreadful possibility too much, the door did open, only it was not Tavor that stood there, but Brassenalph, Tavor's oldest sister that peered out.
"Yes, Prince Legolas?" she queried, her grey eyes cool as she gazed at them down her elegant thin nose.
Thranduil's son swallowed, reaching up to tug on his collar. She resembled her daernaneth-her araamil – entirely too much when she looked like that!
"Is...is Tavor here, Brassenalph?" he managed to choke out, hoping that his voice betrayed none of his turbulent emotions. Surely, it was a cool and calm as his adar's was...most of the time.
"Yes, he is."
"M-may I speak with him, please?"
The maiden studied them for a moment, and then she tossed her long, intricately braided and curled golden hair back, and called, "Tambaro! Legolas and Brethil are here for you."
She turned back to them, studying them with a slight air of disapproval, which puzzled Brethil, who could no longer remain silent.
"Who is Tambaro? Is that Tavor or someone else? Oh, and Brassenalph, do you know anything about Evil Noldorin M-!"
Legolas' hand clamped over Brethil's mouth, stopping those decidedly careless words.
"Don't listen to him, Alphi," the princeling said with a lopsided grin. "You know how he is...talks nonsense all day...you know that....His tongue just doesn't like to remain still. He truly cannot help it. Just forget what he said about Evil Noldorin...I mean...." He staggered to a halt, realizing that he was about to talk nonsense all day –dangerous nonsense.
Luckily, Tavor appeared just then, looking entirely ill at ease. Brassenalph gazed at her younger brother, brows arched, almost as if a silent communication passed between them. Tavor gulped slightly before moving to stand in the doorway as his sister walked back into the house. The moment she disappeared from view, Brethil began to speak.
"Oh, Tavor! You have to help us! Where is your daer-um, your araamil? And who is Tambaro?"
Tavor said nothing for a moment, merely stared beyond his two friends, his gaze fixed on something in the yard. Brethil turned to see what it was. Were the orcs coming even now?! Or Tavor's araamil?! Or was Tambaro out there? But there was nothing and no one there. Puzzled, he turned back to gaze at Tavor once more.
"I...I do not know where araamil is," Laureahiril's grandson answered at last. "I...I cannot talk just now. I...I have things that ... that I need to do." He looked quite miserable, but then he sighed. "My name is Tambaro...my real name. Atar, uh Adar said that since we are living in Mirkwood I should use a Sindarin name instead of one in Quenya...."
Legolas stared at him in disbelief as the door began to swing shut. It was true then! And Tavor knew it! Lady Laureahiril *had* magicked Laerlend and Celebross and Tavor – Tambaro! Ai, Valar! The Noldor *were* taking over! - knew it!
He stepped forward, prepared to shove the door open and demand to know just what was going on – did he really want to know?! No, but he was the prince – a Sindarin prince at that, and he had the *right* to know, the *duty* to know – but Brassenalph reappeared, opening the door as Tavor looked on, his face red with chagrin and embarrassment.
"Tambaro meant to give you this, Prince Legolas. It is from araamil. She said it was important."
She handed him a sheet of paper of a pale gold color, folded neatly and sealed with the soaring eagle symbol of their former house in Aman – Laureahiril's house - the Mirilyasoron, the Glittering Eagles - for though her husband had been a Noldo, she was of an old and ancient house, more important and noble than his own. On either side of the eagle were the images of the Two Trees of Valinor. Suddenly, Legolas felt even more afraid!
Lady Laureahiril was so old and powerful that it was rumored that she had been born in Valinor and seen the marvelous trees of the Valar. She must have been plotting and scheming all these years and now her plans had at last come to fruition!
Brassenalph graced them with a chill smile as if she knew what the princeling was thinking – did she know what he was thinking?_ - and closed the door.
Brethil stared at the piece of paper, wondering if it might be magicked and then they would be under a spell if it were opened. But before he could voice his concerns to Legolas, Little Greenleaf was breaking the seal – his face looking as white and frightened as Brethil was sure his was.
There were no magical sparks or fireworks, nor did vile words poured forth in a fell voice. It was a letter, written with violet ink in Lady Laureahiril's strong elegant hand.
At midnight tonight, it read, you must come to Ringe Balrog if you want to see your sister and your brother again. If you tell anyone, you will suffer grievously from the spell that was set into motion when you opened this letter, O Prince of the Woodland Realm. ~
It was signed: The Lady Balrog
The Balrog's Lake, Ringe Balrog, was a dark warren of caves surrounding a small lake that lay just west of Gladaran Thamas. There were many rumors about this place, saying that some dark magic worked there, that a Balrog had escaped there after one of the cataclysmic events of the First Age and taken up residence in the many dark holes that dotted Ringe Balrog. But none of those old tales were true, were they?
Legolas found that he was thinking that perhaps they were true. And if they were, was it possible that Lady Laureahiril *was* the Balrog, having taken elven form...was that possible? Perhaps, he should have paid more attention when reading about Gondolin and the Balrogs that had been part of the attack on the Hidden City. If only Glorfindel or Ecthelion of the Fountain were here!
Brethil, who had been reading over Legolas' shoulder gasped, stepping away from Thranduil's son and the cursed letter.
"Oh, Legolas! What will you do now? You are not allowed to go there!"
Shaken and pale, Legolas slowly raised his head.
"I will meet her at midnight," he declared in a low voice. Worry wrinkling his brow, but his determination was greater and would not be shaken. "I have no choice."
Brethil frowned, feeling very afraid for his friend as well as for poor Laerlend and Celebross, who were doubtlessly prisoners of the cruel araamil in the Balrog's Lake, trapped beneath its glassy surface.
"Then I will come with you," he declared, bravely nodding his head, his eyes filled with steely determination. "Though your Adar will be very angry when he finds out that we went there...You do not think that Tavor's araamil is a...a...." The child's eyes widened. "Oh, Legolas! What if she really is a Balrog?!"
Legolas felt a moment of panic when Brethil's thoughts mirrored his own. That was not a good thing!
~If that is the only thing Adar is angry about when he returns, then I will think I am very lucky,~ the prince thought glumly as they moved away from Cenanarore. ~ But I doubt I will even be alive....~
~*~*~*~*~*
"He....He...!"
"Yes, Celebavorn. He is...cerulean, would you not say? Rather a nice color on him."
Tanglinna stared in horrified amazement at Thranduil, whose skin – the skin that was visible beneath the soft white coverlet that was pulled neatly to his chest – was a rich blue color, looking even more vivid than it had at the stream.
"Why did you not wash it off him?!" the distraught archer demanded, whirling to glare at Celeborn, ignoring the annoying pain of his throbbing head and aching ankle – the ankle he had sprained at the stream – the ankle he had forgotten about until he had swung out of bed earlier that morning.
Celeborn smiled serenely, staring down at Thranduil. The Lord of Lorien appeared to be...amused.
"We did try," he answered, his emerald gaze moving to meet Tanglinna's silver. "But it availed us naught. The twins assured me that the soap they brought would easily remove the dye." Here his stunning smile deepened. "But it appears to have had the opposite effect. Isn't that odd? The twins were most... troubled and apologetic."
Celeborn did not react at all when Tanglinna snarled something very uncomplimentary about certain grandchildren that could not be controlled, but he filed it away in case blackmail was in order later.
"The soap appears to have affected his hair as well," Lorien's lord said calmly, bending to brush at a stray strand of hair that should have been a rich gold, but was rather a sickly green color instead. "He likes green, so perhaps he will like the way it looks."
Tanglinna turned to Thranduil and stared aghast at the green hair. Why had he not seen that before?! Not all the rich hair glowed green, but enough of it did that Thranduil was certain to notice the first time he looked into a mirror!
"I *knew* we should never have come here," Tanglinna hissed. "But you never listen to me, Oropherion! This is just wonderful!"
"It is, is it not?" Celeborn chortled, ignoring the blatant sarcasm that had marked Tanglinna's words. "Though I doubt that our lovely sleepers will find it thus. I suspect they will be highly displeased."
Tanglinna ground his teeth, eyes narrowing. It would not do to lose his temper now, though he was very close. How many times was Celeborn going to bring this up – the fact that the sleepers – and one in particular – would be 'displeased'? He had already lost track of how often he had heard similar sentiments as he had dressed, as they had walked down the hall to Thranduil's room and even now.
"My wife will be most displeased....My wife will not be happy with this....My wife...the Lady...Galadriel...." It went on and on and on!
"Is there a cure to remedy this, Celebavorn?" Celeborn asked, starting Tanglinna from his dark thoughts about Sinda who let their Noldorin wives rule their every waking moment...and probably their sleeping ones as well.
"No, there is no cure. They will get over the affects...in time." The archer frowned. Would they? As far as he knew Morn Nen water had not been mixed with Dorwinion wine before, so who knew how that would affect them? He scowled. They were certainly about to find out! Perhaps it would not be so bad....Perhaps....
"The memory loss, you mean, Celebavorn?"
"Yes, the memory loss," Tanglinna growled, wishing the other silver- haired elf would just go away. But then he rounded once more on Celeborn. "Why do you keep calling me Celebavorn?" he demanded, glaring at Celeborn once more.
"It is quite simple really," Celeborn said with a slow smile. "Do you ever remember seeing my Lady-wife in Doriath?"
Tanglinna frowned, trying to turn his somewhat distracted thoughts back to Doriath. That had been *so* long ago! Things had fallen apart fairly quickly for him there, and those early days were vague and colored with emotions he would rather forget. But...yes...he did remember ...something about the tall golden haired Noldorin lady if he thought about it hard enough. It had been a fleeting meeting, if meeting it could have been called. Their eyes had met certainly.
"Yes," he said at last in a very slow voice, vaguely wondering why Celeborn had brought this up now. Had he insulted Lorien's Golden Lady in some way and forgotten it? He had been just a youngling then, and fairly well behaved.
"Well, she saw you. She was intrigued by," Celeborn's lips curled in a fond smile, "your lovely silver hair. I do wonder why," he smirked then and Tanglinna shook his head in disgust as Celeborn ran his hand through his own luxuruient silver mane of hair, which he had freed from the braid as they walked down the hall earlier. Celeborn smiled indulgently and continued. "She knew little of you, I believe she called you ' That Wild Silvan Child' and wondered about many things. Tell me, Celebavorn, what do you remember of that day?"
Tanglinna did not remember much at all, but he did not wish to admit this to someone who clearly did recall it – or was told by his 'Lady' that he did.
"I...I remember seeing her at a distance and thinking her very sc...ah, very...impressive." He frowned, wondering why he cared if he insulted someone or not. Impressive and scary indeed! But he had been a mere child. What did he know? A lot apparently. She was still very impressive and scary!
Celeborn's smile was getting very annoying and Tanglinna was about to tell him just this, when Elu Thingol's nephew spoke once more.
"Do you remember a rather ... hm, odd feeling in your head?"
"A what?" An odd feeling? What was he talking about? But then he did remember something. She had smiled over at him from where she sat in a shaft of moonlight, her eyes magnificent and oh so lovely...and he had felt...something.
"Ah! You do remember! I can tell by that dreamy look on your face, that...charmed expression. Wonderful! Galadriel will be very pleased! Then you must realize that she was...well, she was trying to decide what you...thought about her, shall we say. But before she could...decide how much you 'admired' her, you ran away, looking very distressed and angry. "Little Quicksilver fled from me, Celeborn," she had sighed when she told me about it. I think she was disappointed that things had not gone as she had... foreseen. I believe her interest in Silvans began that day when you fled so quickly, O Celebavorn, and she has worked so hard on making them... 'admire' her more properly."
With that tale told, Celeborn smiled quite...well... it was no smile; it was a smirk.
Tanglinna growled again, thinking that he had been fortunate to escape her charms that day or he would be as strange and enthralled as those Lorien Silvans were said to be.
But then things began to get very interesting, for the door opened and Arwen peered about it, her eyes shining brightly.
"Daerada," she exclaimed happily. "Daernaneth is stirring. I think she is waking up! But she does not look as though her sleep was very pleasant."
As Celeborn excused himself to hasten to his wife's side, murmuring, "Ah, now things will indeed get amusing," as he winked boldly at Tanglinna, who spun toward Thranduil to see if there were any signs that he was awakening as well. He would *not* face HER alone!
Arwen glided over to the bed to stand at its foot, staring down at the Woodland Realm's king. Her smile was enigmatic, to say the least.
"He should be waking up soon as well," she commented, turning her magnificent eyes on Tanglinna.
The archer's jaw sagged slightly as a pleasant sensation filled his head, which no longer seemed to ache quite as much. By the Valar! She was lovely!
But he would have none of this, now that he knew what she was about! So, though he tried to look gracious at least, he frowned at her, tightening his mental defenses. He trusted none of them!
"I will be certain to tell you when he does, Lady Arwen," he said stiffly, feeling his headache coming back full force and then some. Had *she* done that?!
Arwen smiled and tipped her dark head, deciding that it might be fun to see if she could charm this stubborn archer at some point, but not yet. The sleepers were awakening and....Well....
"Please do," she said quietly and sweetly, eyes sparkling like wet jewels "I am sure that Thranduil will be most eager to see me."
With that statement, she turned away and glided from the room, her pleased laughter following after her.
~*~*~*~*~*
"Look, Elladan! Aralith is – Why I believe he is waking up!"
Elrohir moved swiftly to the elven prince's bedside, perching on the side of the bed and gently stroked one sleep-flushed cheek. He was rewarded with a small sigh.
"You see!" he said, with a pleased grin. "He will be awake soon."
"It is about time," Elladan agreed, sitting on the opposite side of the bed, grinning over at his twin. "They look so sweet, do you not think?"
"They do. One almost hates to disturb them."
"Yes, it seems a pity, but...."
"SOMEONE STOP THAT POOR DEFENCELESS CHILD!"
"Ah, Glory is awake as well. How delightful!"
"I wonder if everyone else is waking up," Elrohir said with a snicker.
"Poor Haldir. I wonder what they all will remember."
"*I* am wondering what we should *tell* them they remember," Elrohir countered with a wink.
"Ah, yes....What indeed!"
The twins grinned at one another identical expressions on their identical fair faces, only looking down when Aralith groaned slightly and opened his eyes....
TBC
Responses to Reviewers
daw the minstrel – I have always thought that Galadriel was a bit of a scary elf myself. I think it is the entire Scary Powerful Woman syndrome, and as women we know we can be very scary when we so choose. ;)
Dragon-of-the-north –It would appear that Lady Balrogs do inhabit some small corner of Mirkwood, after all, and Mother Spiders are not to be discounted in this tale just yet. And the more power you have the more titles you need...or the more titles you have the more power you THINK you have! ;)
Amlee –I hope this was not too long a wait for you! :)
JastaElf – Scaring your children is one of the rewards of being a parent, as I am certain you know...those of us with a cruel, somewhat malicious bend anyway. *grin* I am sure the great, good king can handle Appendix Girl. Don't worry. ;) And I am sure you can take good care of the king. ;D
Erik's-Lil-Rocker – If young Legolas did not get himself into trouble now and again, some of us would not have anything to write about! ;) The dreams are strange and perhaps they will be explained.
Ithildiel – I am glad that you are enjoying this! :)
Hel- I think that Galadriel is a bit misunderstood...but she is still scary at times, IMHO anyway! ;) And yes, it is unlikely that everything will be forgotten and Legolas and Company will get away with it. ;) Arwen is just having some ... fun.
Lainfaer – I am trying to update a bit quicker than I have been. Sorry about that! ;)
Tant – I thought all Galadriel's elves needed a break from her. Glad you liked that idea! :)
Kim – LOL Hm. I am glad you think that I have much time to write. Maybe some day I actually will and update on a more regular basis!
Dis Thrainsdotter – I think it will be a most interesting time when all the dreamers finally do awaken...like next chapter! ;)
Sirithiliel – Heyla to you! I hope you enjoyed "Brother Bear". I have not had a chance to see that one yet!
Nilmandra – I am very glad you enjoyed that last chapter. Things are going to be getting very interesting from now on, I believe, and yes. LOL to poor Aralith and the spider!
Lutris – Thank you for putting the song from King's Quest VII on there! It does sound like Laerlend. And yes, I will be working on getting the next chapter of "Bells..." typed very soon, since I did find the correct notebook with the handwritten chapter in it! :)
kingmaker - I think that Legolas has his own set of strange issues without any help from Graldor or Tanglinna...but then who knows??? ;) I like Celeborn out of his 'patented Non Entity Mode' myself, but I do not know how long it will last once his ladylove is awake and not her usual sunny self. ;)) Galadriel should HIRE Fremus, actually! I think she might like that!
Karina – I admit that I have to reread parts to reacquaint myself with this story. ;) Too often! I have seen the picture of Decipher's Glorfindel...and well...that is not quite the way I see him, but no one asked me! ;) My version looks a bit older, more buff – not TOO buff, but ... studly, shall we say?? ;) It is just too bad PJ couldn't find a way to fit him into the film! I was certain that elf with Elrond at the Wedding/Coronation was Glory, but I guess not! :/
LeggoMyLegolas – I shall continue to update as quickly as I can!
Ptath – I think Galadriel's nightmare is just beginning...actually, I know it is! ;) Hm....Will Glorfindel remember his dream in "Bells"? I shall have to think on that one. It might prove interesting.
CanonKillerEllie – LOL So you want Erestor to stay out of it and keep him awake? Well, we shall see. I had planned on.... ;) I will see what I can do about it! :)
WeasleyTwinsLover1112 – I like for Celeborn to have some fun now and then, and he seemed to enjoy that last chapter. Glad you did too!
Silver Knight 7 – Sorry this was not sooner! I did my best! :)
Lirenel – Yes, poor Galadriel has probably never faced anything like this before. I feel rather sorry for several people when she realizes just what has befallen her!
Espel – Well, since the Morn Nen water was mixed with wine, I am not just certain how long the memory loss will last! ;)
wellduh – I sincerely hope that the dreams are all connected! LOL I had fun writing this!
Venyatuima – I am sincerely trying not to take MONTHS between postings for this tale. Sometimes it would be very nice if Real Life vanished for say...a year or so. ;) Oh yes. The twins... no, they are not being nice like their parents think! ;))
erunyauve – I do not know why we all have this tendency to think of Galadriel as scary and most impressively so! But I find it fun to do so and the results are sometimes funny. And Aralith...yes, he is having quite a time...I shall have to work on remedying that. :)
Wild Iris – I admit that I like my elves to be accessible. If they are too remotely removed, we cannot relate to them and don't care, so...I like my 'human' elves too. ;)
Gwilwileth – I have taken your hint and my Grand Search For The Missing Tablet was successful (yes, I am hopelessly old-fashioned and handwrite things out first!), so as soon as I manage some typing time, there will be a "Bells" chapter! :) Well, there is one, just not here yet. ;)
the evil witch queen – As you can see there is now an Official Little Greenleaf Adventure in this story. He had to have something to do while his father and brother were off having 'fun' in Imladris. And you may most certainly write anything about Tanglinna going Gollum that you like! :)
EMerald Queen – LOL I am not surprised that you thought I had finished this one off, but no...slow updates is the only thing this tale suffers from, I fear! Poor little Bastryn is right! I actually feel sorry for him, so I will have to think of something to make his life more bearable among all those insane elves! ;) I hope you are enjoying the new elfling adventure in this story entitled so brilliantly ;) "Meanwhile in Mirkwood". LOL This is for all of you who missed the elflings!
Carandra – I am very pleased to hear that you love Tavor. I like him quite a bit myself, though he can be annoying...well, they are ALL annoying. ;) He was most pleased and looked so very happy when he read your review. He blushed nicely and was quite flabbergasted. He may just take you up on your proposal! ;)
AURORA – I sincerely hope that Writer's Block is over...at least for now as it is bound to return at some point. LOL Legolas is going to get it now from another side and then again later...probably. ;) And yes! LOL Thrumb Dumb has an eye for pretty things indeed or in this case, the pretty thing has her eye on him! Hm...be gentle with Haldir...well, I will...try, but you know I am not gentle with any of them! ;)
~Meanwhile in Mirkwood ~
Legolas raised his fist hesitantly, glancing once at Brethil, whose brows were furrowed, one hand tugging on his long pale braid. The princeling swallowed, his mouth dry with fear as he managed to knock on the elegantly carved door of Tavor's family home.
Laureahiril's house was nestled a bit apart from the others in a stand of tall, silvery barked beech trees. The window frames were carved with what that grand lady had said were, "Noldorin designs.... Far superior to anything you would find elsewhere." It was an elegant house, a large house, but then Tavor had several brothers and sisters, so they needed a large home. Legolas had once overheard Thranduil saying that Laureahiril wanted a large family so she could populate Mirkwood with more Noldor, which were sadly lacking in these Silvan and Sindarin infested woods.
This house was not perched in the protective branches of the trees as were most of the Woodland Realm homes, but sat firmly amid new green grass, bright spring flowers lining the stone walkway; bushes beneath the windows showed tiny, pale leaflets just beginning to unfurl like tiny green banners. Lace curtains fluttered in the windows open to the gently warm breeze, and the smell of baking bread wafted to the two elflings standing outside. It was deceptively serene here.
"Maybe he's not here," Brethil whispered. "Maybe his daernaneth...I mean his 'araamil'," he hesitated, using the Quenya word that Tavor and his siblings called Laureahiril – 'noble mother', "his araamil magicked him too because she thought he was part of your plan! Oh, Legolas! What if she magicked everyone and has become the Queen of Mirkwood? I guess we will all have to learn Quenya then, won't we? Master Tanglinna will not like that at all...though I think some of the words he says when he is mad are in Quenya. Your adar will not be happy about it either...but then he will not be happy that he is no longer the king-!"
Legolas turned to glare at Brethil, who immediately looked chagrined and smiled apologetically. The prince shook his head and turned to contemplate the door once more, reading the runes inscribed on the east- facing lintel: Cenanarore – Behold the Sunrise. Surely, Laureahiril would not have magicked her grandson, would she?
Before he had time to think on this most dreadful possibility too much, the door did open, only it was not Tavor that stood there, but Brassenalph, Tavor's oldest sister that peered out.
"Yes, Prince Legolas?" she queried, her grey eyes cool as she gazed at them down her elegant thin nose.
Thranduil's son swallowed, reaching up to tug on his collar. She resembled her daernaneth-her araamil – entirely too much when she looked like that!
"Is...is Tavor here, Brassenalph?" he managed to choke out, hoping that his voice betrayed none of his turbulent emotions. Surely, it was a cool and calm as his adar's was...most of the time.
"Yes, he is."
"M-may I speak with him, please?"
The maiden studied them for a moment, and then she tossed her long, intricately braided and curled golden hair back, and called, "Tambaro! Legolas and Brethil are here for you."
She turned back to them, studying them with a slight air of disapproval, which puzzled Brethil, who could no longer remain silent.
"Who is Tambaro? Is that Tavor or someone else? Oh, and Brassenalph, do you know anything about Evil Noldorin M-!"
Legolas' hand clamped over Brethil's mouth, stopping those decidedly careless words.
"Don't listen to him, Alphi," the princeling said with a lopsided grin. "You know how he is...talks nonsense all day...you know that....His tongue just doesn't like to remain still. He truly cannot help it. Just forget what he said about Evil Noldorin...I mean...." He staggered to a halt, realizing that he was about to talk nonsense all day –dangerous nonsense.
Luckily, Tavor appeared just then, looking entirely ill at ease. Brassenalph gazed at her younger brother, brows arched, almost as if a silent communication passed between them. Tavor gulped slightly before moving to stand in the doorway as his sister walked back into the house. The moment she disappeared from view, Brethil began to speak.
"Oh, Tavor! You have to help us! Where is your daer-um, your araamil? And who is Tambaro?"
Tavor said nothing for a moment, merely stared beyond his two friends, his gaze fixed on something in the yard. Brethil turned to see what it was. Were the orcs coming even now?! Or Tavor's araamil?! Or was Tambaro out there? But there was nothing and no one there. Puzzled, he turned back to gaze at Tavor once more.
"I...I do not know where araamil is," Laureahiril's grandson answered at last. "I...I cannot talk just now. I...I have things that ... that I need to do." He looked quite miserable, but then he sighed. "My name is Tambaro...my real name. Atar, uh Adar said that since we are living in Mirkwood I should use a Sindarin name instead of one in Quenya...."
Legolas stared at him in disbelief as the door began to swing shut. It was true then! And Tavor knew it! Lady Laureahiril *had* magicked Laerlend and Celebross and Tavor – Tambaro! Ai, Valar! The Noldor *were* taking over! - knew it!
He stepped forward, prepared to shove the door open and demand to know just what was going on – did he really want to know?! No, but he was the prince – a Sindarin prince at that, and he had the *right* to know, the *duty* to know – but Brassenalph reappeared, opening the door as Tavor looked on, his face red with chagrin and embarrassment.
"Tambaro meant to give you this, Prince Legolas. It is from araamil. She said it was important."
She handed him a sheet of paper of a pale gold color, folded neatly and sealed with the soaring eagle symbol of their former house in Aman – Laureahiril's house - the Mirilyasoron, the Glittering Eagles - for though her husband had been a Noldo, she was of an old and ancient house, more important and noble than his own. On either side of the eagle were the images of the Two Trees of Valinor. Suddenly, Legolas felt even more afraid!
Lady Laureahiril was so old and powerful that it was rumored that she had been born in Valinor and seen the marvelous trees of the Valar. She must have been plotting and scheming all these years and now her plans had at last come to fruition!
Brassenalph graced them with a chill smile as if she knew what the princeling was thinking – did she know what he was thinking?_ - and closed the door.
Brethil stared at the piece of paper, wondering if it might be magicked and then they would be under a spell if it were opened. But before he could voice his concerns to Legolas, Little Greenleaf was breaking the seal – his face looking as white and frightened as Brethil was sure his was.
There were no magical sparks or fireworks, nor did vile words poured forth in a fell voice. It was a letter, written with violet ink in Lady Laureahiril's strong elegant hand.
At midnight tonight, it read, you must come to Ringe Balrog if you want to see your sister and your brother again. If you tell anyone, you will suffer grievously from the spell that was set into motion when you opened this letter, O Prince of the Woodland Realm. ~
It was signed: The Lady Balrog
The Balrog's Lake, Ringe Balrog, was a dark warren of caves surrounding a small lake that lay just west of Gladaran Thamas. There were many rumors about this place, saying that some dark magic worked there, that a Balrog had escaped there after one of the cataclysmic events of the First Age and taken up residence in the many dark holes that dotted Ringe Balrog. But none of those old tales were true, were they?
Legolas found that he was thinking that perhaps they were true. And if they were, was it possible that Lady Laureahiril *was* the Balrog, having taken elven form...was that possible? Perhaps, he should have paid more attention when reading about Gondolin and the Balrogs that had been part of the attack on the Hidden City. If only Glorfindel or Ecthelion of the Fountain were here!
Brethil, who had been reading over Legolas' shoulder gasped, stepping away from Thranduil's son and the cursed letter.
"Oh, Legolas! What will you do now? You are not allowed to go there!"
Shaken and pale, Legolas slowly raised his head.
"I will meet her at midnight," he declared in a low voice. Worry wrinkling his brow, but his determination was greater and would not be shaken. "I have no choice."
Brethil frowned, feeling very afraid for his friend as well as for poor Laerlend and Celebross, who were doubtlessly prisoners of the cruel araamil in the Balrog's Lake, trapped beneath its glassy surface.
"Then I will come with you," he declared, bravely nodding his head, his eyes filled with steely determination. "Though your Adar will be very angry when he finds out that we went there...You do not think that Tavor's araamil is a...a...." The child's eyes widened. "Oh, Legolas! What if she really is a Balrog?!"
Legolas felt a moment of panic when Brethil's thoughts mirrored his own. That was not a good thing!
~If that is the only thing Adar is angry about when he returns, then I will think I am very lucky,~ the prince thought glumly as they moved away from Cenanarore. ~ But I doubt I will even be alive....~
~*~*~*~*~*
"He....He...!"
"Yes, Celebavorn. He is...cerulean, would you not say? Rather a nice color on him."
Tanglinna stared in horrified amazement at Thranduil, whose skin – the skin that was visible beneath the soft white coverlet that was pulled neatly to his chest – was a rich blue color, looking even more vivid than it had at the stream.
"Why did you not wash it off him?!" the distraught archer demanded, whirling to glare at Celeborn, ignoring the annoying pain of his throbbing head and aching ankle – the ankle he had sprained at the stream – the ankle he had forgotten about until he had swung out of bed earlier that morning.
Celeborn smiled serenely, staring down at Thranduil. The Lord of Lorien appeared to be...amused.
"We did try," he answered, his emerald gaze moving to meet Tanglinna's silver. "But it availed us naught. The twins assured me that the soap they brought would easily remove the dye." Here his stunning smile deepened. "But it appears to have had the opposite effect. Isn't that odd? The twins were most... troubled and apologetic."
Celeborn did not react at all when Tanglinna snarled something very uncomplimentary about certain grandchildren that could not be controlled, but he filed it away in case blackmail was in order later.
"The soap appears to have affected his hair as well," Lorien's lord said calmly, bending to brush at a stray strand of hair that should have been a rich gold, but was rather a sickly green color instead. "He likes green, so perhaps he will like the way it looks."
Tanglinna turned to Thranduil and stared aghast at the green hair. Why had he not seen that before?! Not all the rich hair glowed green, but enough of it did that Thranduil was certain to notice the first time he looked into a mirror!
"I *knew* we should never have come here," Tanglinna hissed. "But you never listen to me, Oropherion! This is just wonderful!"
"It is, is it not?" Celeborn chortled, ignoring the blatant sarcasm that had marked Tanglinna's words. "Though I doubt that our lovely sleepers will find it thus. I suspect they will be highly displeased."
Tanglinna ground his teeth, eyes narrowing. It would not do to lose his temper now, though he was very close. How many times was Celeborn going to bring this up – the fact that the sleepers – and one in particular – would be 'displeased'? He had already lost track of how often he had heard similar sentiments as he had dressed, as they had walked down the hall to Thranduil's room and even now.
"My wife will be most displeased....My wife will not be happy with this....My wife...the Lady...Galadriel...." It went on and on and on!
"Is there a cure to remedy this, Celebavorn?" Celeborn asked, starting Tanglinna from his dark thoughts about Sinda who let their Noldorin wives rule their every waking moment...and probably their sleeping ones as well.
"No, there is no cure. They will get over the affects...in time." The archer frowned. Would they? As far as he knew Morn Nen water had not been mixed with Dorwinion wine before, so who knew how that would affect them? He scowled. They were certainly about to find out! Perhaps it would not be so bad....Perhaps....
"The memory loss, you mean, Celebavorn?"
"Yes, the memory loss," Tanglinna growled, wishing the other silver- haired elf would just go away. But then he rounded once more on Celeborn. "Why do you keep calling me Celebavorn?" he demanded, glaring at Celeborn once more.
"It is quite simple really," Celeborn said with a slow smile. "Do you ever remember seeing my Lady-wife in Doriath?"
Tanglinna frowned, trying to turn his somewhat distracted thoughts back to Doriath. That had been *so* long ago! Things had fallen apart fairly quickly for him there, and those early days were vague and colored with emotions he would rather forget. But...yes...he did remember ...something about the tall golden haired Noldorin lady if he thought about it hard enough. It had been a fleeting meeting, if meeting it could have been called. Their eyes had met certainly.
"Yes," he said at last in a very slow voice, vaguely wondering why Celeborn had brought this up now. Had he insulted Lorien's Golden Lady in some way and forgotten it? He had been just a youngling then, and fairly well behaved.
"Well, she saw you. She was intrigued by," Celeborn's lips curled in a fond smile, "your lovely silver hair. I do wonder why," he smirked then and Tanglinna shook his head in disgust as Celeborn ran his hand through his own luxuruient silver mane of hair, which he had freed from the braid as they walked down the hall earlier. Celeborn smiled indulgently and continued. "She knew little of you, I believe she called you ' That Wild Silvan Child' and wondered about many things. Tell me, Celebavorn, what do you remember of that day?"
Tanglinna did not remember much at all, but he did not wish to admit this to someone who clearly did recall it – or was told by his 'Lady' that he did.
"I...I remember seeing her at a distance and thinking her very sc...ah, very...impressive." He frowned, wondering why he cared if he insulted someone or not. Impressive and scary indeed! But he had been a mere child. What did he know? A lot apparently. She was still very impressive and scary!
Celeborn's smile was getting very annoying and Tanglinna was about to tell him just this, when Elu Thingol's nephew spoke once more.
"Do you remember a rather ... hm, odd feeling in your head?"
"A what?" An odd feeling? What was he talking about? But then he did remember something. She had smiled over at him from where she sat in a shaft of moonlight, her eyes magnificent and oh so lovely...and he had felt...something.
"Ah! You do remember! I can tell by that dreamy look on your face, that...charmed expression. Wonderful! Galadriel will be very pleased! Then you must realize that she was...well, she was trying to decide what you...thought about her, shall we say. But before she could...decide how much you 'admired' her, you ran away, looking very distressed and angry. "Little Quicksilver fled from me, Celeborn," she had sighed when she told me about it. I think she was disappointed that things had not gone as she had... foreseen. I believe her interest in Silvans began that day when you fled so quickly, O Celebavorn, and she has worked so hard on making them... 'admire' her more properly."
With that tale told, Celeborn smiled quite...well... it was no smile; it was a smirk.
Tanglinna growled again, thinking that he had been fortunate to escape her charms that day or he would be as strange and enthralled as those Lorien Silvans were said to be.
But then things began to get very interesting, for the door opened and Arwen peered about it, her eyes shining brightly.
"Daerada," she exclaimed happily. "Daernaneth is stirring. I think she is waking up! But she does not look as though her sleep was very pleasant."
As Celeborn excused himself to hasten to his wife's side, murmuring, "Ah, now things will indeed get amusing," as he winked boldly at Tanglinna, who spun toward Thranduil to see if there were any signs that he was awakening as well. He would *not* face HER alone!
Arwen glided over to the bed to stand at its foot, staring down at the Woodland Realm's king. Her smile was enigmatic, to say the least.
"He should be waking up soon as well," she commented, turning her magnificent eyes on Tanglinna.
The archer's jaw sagged slightly as a pleasant sensation filled his head, which no longer seemed to ache quite as much. By the Valar! She was lovely!
But he would have none of this, now that he knew what she was about! So, though he tried to look gracious at least, he frowned at her, tightening his mental defenses. He trusted none of them!
"I will be certain to tell you when he does, Lady Arwen," he said stiffly, feeling his headache coming back full force and then some. Had *she* done that?!
Arwen smiled and tipped her dark head, deciding that it might be fun to see if she could charm this stubborn archer at some point, but not yet. The sleepers were awakening and....Well....
"Please do," she said quietly and sweetly, eyes sparkling like wet jewels "I am sure that Thranduil will be most eager to see me."
With that statement, she turned away and glided from the room, her pleased laughter following after her.
~*~*~*~*~*
"Look, Elladan! Aralith is – Why I believe he is waking up!"
Elrohir moved swiftly to the elven prince's bedside, perching on the side of the bed and gently stroked one sleep-flushed cheek. He was rewarded with a small sigh.
"You see!" he said, with a pleased grin. "He will be awake soon."
"It is about time," Elladan agreed, sitting on the opposite side of the bed, grinning over at his twin. "They look so sweet, do you not think?"
"They do. One almost hates to disturb them."
"Yes, it seems a pity, but...."
"SOMEONE STOP THAT POOR DEFENCELESS CHILD!"
"Ah, Glory is awake as well. How delightful!"
"I wonder if everyone else is waking up," Elrohir said with a snicker.
"Poor Haldir. I wonder what they all will remember."
"*I* am wondering what we should *tell* them they remember," Elrohir countered with a wink.
"Ah, yes....What indeed!"
The twins grinned at one another identical expressions on their identical fair faces, only looking down when Aralith groaned slightly and opened his eyes....
TBC
Responses to Reviewers
daw the minstrel – I have always thought that Galadriel was a bit of a scary elf myself. I think it is the entire Scary Powerful Woman syndrome, and as women we know we can be very scary when we so choose. ;)
Dragon-of-the-north –It would appear that Lady Balrogs do inhabit some small corner of Mirkwood, after all, and Mother Spiders are not to be discounted in this tale just yet. And the more power you have the more titles you need...or the more titles you have the more power you THINK you have! ;)
Amlee –I hope this was not too long a wait for you! :)
JastaElf – Scaring your children is one of the rewards of being a parent, as I am certain you know...those of us with a cruel, somewhat malicious bend anyway. *grin* I am sure the great, good king can handle Appendix Girl. Don't worry. ;) And I am sure you can take good care of the king. ;D
Erik's-Lil-Rocker – If young Legolas did not get himself into trouble now and again, some of us would not have anything to write about! ;) The dreams are strange and perhaps they will be explained.
Ithildiel – I am glad that you are enjoying this! :)
Hel- I think that Galadriel is a bit misunderstood...but she is still scary at times, IMHO anyway! ;) And yes, it is unlikely that everything will be forgotten and Legolas and Company will get away with it. ;) Arwen is just having some ... fun.
Lainfaer – I am trying to update a bit quicker than I have been. Sorry about that! ;)
Tant – I thought all Galadriel's elves needed a break from her. Glad you liked that idea! :)
Kim – LOL Hm. I am glad you think that I have much time to write. Maybe some day I actually will and update on a more regular basis!
Dis Thrainsdotter – I think it will be a most interesting time when all the dreamers finally do awaken...like next chapter! ;)
Sirithiliel – Heyla to you! I hope you enjoyed "Brother Bear". I have not had a chance to see that one yet!
Nilmandra – I am very glad you enjoyed that last chapter. Things are going to be getting very interesting from now on, I believe, and yes. LOL to poor Aralith and the spider!
Lutris – Thank you for putting the song from King's Quest VII on there! It does sound like Laerlend. And yes, I will be working on getting the next chapter of "Bells..." typed very soon, since I did find the correct notebook with the handwritten chapter in it! :)
kingmaker - I think that Legolas has his own set of strange issues without any help from Graldor or Tanglinna...but then who knows??? ;) I like Celeborn out of his 'patented Non Entity Mode' myself, but I do not know how long it will last once his ladylove is awake and not her usual sunny self. ;)) Galadriel should HIRE Fremus, actually! I think she might like that!
Karina – I admit that I have to reread parts to reacquaint myself with this story. ;) Too often! I have seen the picture of Decipher's Glorfindel...and well...that is not quite the way I see him, but no one asked me! ;) My version looks a bit older, more buff – not TOO buff, but ... studly, shall we say?? ;) It is just too bad PJ couldn't find a way to fit him into the film! I was certain that elf with Elrond at the Wedding/Coronation was Glory, but I guess not! :/
LeggoMyLegolas – I shall continue to update as quickly as I can!
Ptath – I think Galadriel's nightmare is just beginning...actually, I know it is! ;) Hm....Will Glorfindel remember his dream in "Bells"? I shall have to think on that one. It might prove interesting.
CanonKillerEllie – LOL So you want Erestor to stay out of it and keep him awake? Well, we shall see. I had planned on.... ;) I will see what I can do about it! :)
WeasleyTwinsLover1112 – I like for Celeborn to have some fun now and then, and he seemed to enjoy that last chapter. Glad you did too!
Silver Knight 7 – Sorry this was not sooner! I did my best! :)
Lirenel – Yes, poor Galadriel has probably never faced anything like this before. I feel rather sorry for several people when she realizes just what has befallen her!
Espel – Well, since the Morn Nen water was mixed with wine, I am not just certain how long the memory loss will last! ;)
wellduh – I sincerely hope that the dreams are all connected! LOL I had fun writing this!
Venyatuima – I am sincerely trying not to take MONTHS between postings for this tale. Sometimes it would be very nice if Real Life vanished for say...a year or so. ;) Oh yes. The twins... no, they are not being nice like their parents think! ;))
erunyauve – I do not know why we all have this tendency to think of Galadriel as scary and most impressively so! But I find it fun to do so and the results are sometimes funny. And Aralith...yes, he is having quite a time...I shall have to work on remedying that. :)
Wild Iris – I admit that I like my elves to be accessible. If they are too remotely removed, we cannot relate to them and don't care, so...I like my 'human' elves too. ;)
Gwilwileth – I have taken your hint and my Grand Search For The Missing Tablet was successful (yes, I am hopelessly old-fashioned and handwrite things out first!), so as soon as I manage some typing time, there will be a "Bells" chapter! :) Well, there is one, just not here yet. ;)
the evil witch queen – As you can see there is now an Official Little Greenleaf Adventure in this story. He had to have something to do while his father and brother were off having 'fun' in Imladris. And you may most certainly write anything about Tanglinna going Gollum that you like! :)
EMerald Queen – LOL I am not surprised that you thought I had finished this one off, but no...slow updates is the only thing this tale suffers from, I fear! Poor little Bastryn is right! I actually feel sorry for him, so I will have to think of something to make his life more bearable among all those insane elves! ;) I hope you are enjoying the new elfling adventure in this story entitled so brilliantly ;) "Meanwhile in Mirkwood". LOL This is for all of you who missed the elflings!
Carandra – I am very pleased to hear that you love Tavor. I like him quite a bit myself, though he can be annoying...well, they are ALL annoying. ;) He was most pleased and looked so very happy when he read your review. He blushed nicely and was quite flabbergasted. He may just take you up on your proposal! ;)
AURORA – I sincerely hope that Writer's Block is over...at least for now as it is bound to return at some point. LOL Legolas is going to get it now from another side and then again later...probably. ;) And yes! LOL Thrumb Dumb has an eye for pretty things indeed or in this case, the pretty thing has her eye on him! Hm...be gentle with Haldir...well, I will...try, but you know I am not gentle with any of them! ;)