A/N: I'm so very sorry for the delay in the updates. School started, and a number of family issues arose, and made fanfic-writing (or reviewing, either—apologies to the authors I read) impossible for the last couple of months. But I'm back on the horse now, and will hopefully be regularly updating, though I can make no promises about deadlines. I can promise that this story will definitely be finished, and I have no intention of abandoning it.
Chapter VIII: Maple Syrup
"Welcome, Legolas." Elrond turned elegantly from the bookshelf in the nook of his study, smiling at the Wood-elf.
"Mae govannen," said Legolas, concealing his uneasiness. Elrond did not seem surprised to see him. That would not have been unusual, for Elrond was capable of keeping himself perfectly impassive. But the peredhel's demeanor was not merely calm, or controlled. Legolas sensed something else, something tremulous and anticipatory and frightened all at once. "You have met the lady Rohiril," he said, gesturing to the Avari maiden, "and my other companions are Tathar and Luinmir."
A grave nod of greeting came from the peredhel. "Perhaps you would care to rest and refresh yourselves after your long journey. I trust it was as easy as could be expected?"
"Yes, and I thank you," said Legolas, "but we bear a most urgent message for you, Master Elrond, and it would be well if you heard it at once." Elrond raised a black eyebrow at Legolas's brusqueness, but remained silent. Legolas paused for a moment before continuing, choosing his words carefully. "Gollum attracted a large contingent of yrch to the Wood. They arranged a two-pronged attack on us, striking our stronghold while sending a few of their number to help Gollum escape. The three warriors guarding the creature are dead." Elrond's face was as cool and calm as ever, and Legolas's hand fairly itched to box the peredhel's ears. "Gollum has disappeared, but our trackers say he went into Dol Guldur. He must be with his old master by now."
"I see." Elrond sighed. "This is grievous indeed, and I am sorry to bring trouble to your realm, son of Thranduil." Elrond paused, toying with the binding of a book. "I thank you for informing me, for we had thought Gollum well-guarded—" He was well-guarded, thought Legolas savagely. "—and we must of course keep ourselves informed." Elrond fell silent once more, staring at Legolas with inscrutable eyes. "Legolas, are you able to stay for a few days more?"
Legolas, caught off-guard, answered, "If the need is great…yet we must return to the Wood swiftly, for we all have duties there."
"The need is most certainly great," said Elrond, fixing deep black eyes on the Wood-elf. "Three days is all I ask for. And, Legolas—I must ask you and your companions not to speak of Gollum's loss to anyone else here."
"Certainly," said Legolas stiffly. "But what is the purpose of our remaining here, if I may ask?"
For the first time that Legolas could remember, Elrond looked uncertain. "I do not know," he murmured, "I cannot tell. All I know is that you must be here for at least a little longer." He looked up. "There will be a council," he said. "And I must ask you to tell the tale of Gollum's escape there." The two Elves locked eyes. "You need only remain for a short while."
"Very well," Legolas said finally, after a long pause. "For a short while." And with bows and polite murmurs, he and his companions left Elrond's presence.
"Why do you suppose Master Elrond wants us?" Rohiril's eyes glittered darkly at Legolas. She, Tathar and Luinmir were all gathered in Legolas's chambers. "And why does he insist upon telling us nothing about his reasons?"
"I dismissed the servants," said Luinmir, in response to Legolas's wary glance at the door. "No use having them pottering about, I know."
Legolas nodded his approval. "Still, it would be best not to speak too loudly, or too freely beyond the walls of our chambers. The Imladris Elves are of good will, but…" There was no need for him to finish; the others knew precisely what he meant, guided by their own innate Wood-elven suspiciousness. "I am inclined to believe Elrond," he continued. "I do not think he knows more than he tells us—or, at any rate, not much more. There are…strange things afoot. Radagast himself warned us, you know."
"Do you know what those things are?" Rohiril's gaze was firm and unblinking, and Legolas had to steel himself to avoid giving away what little he knew.
"No," he said. It was no lie, after all. All he had were vague fears and suspicions.
Tathar gave a great, gaping-wide yawn. "This place…the air here is so thick. I feel as though I am wading through oil," he murmured. "Is it always like this, Legolas?"
"All the times I have been here, yes," Legolas replied with sympathy. "Each breath one draws here is less free than the air of our Wood, shadowed though it be. But 'tis full of beauty nonetheless, so do not squander your time here complaining."
"The ellyth here seem to be full of beauty indeed," noted Luinmir, throwing a look out the window.
Tathar shook his head. "They are too slow and dithering for my liking."
"How can you judge? You have been here for less than a day," protested Legolas, though Lothwen's disparaging remarks about the Imladris women rang in his ears.
Tathar merely yawned once more. "Perhaps the air is not like oil," he mused. "Perhaps it is more like…maple syrup."
Rohiril snorted. "Or perhaps you simply think with your stomach," she said. "Maple syrup, indeed. Get you to Elrond's dining hall, my friend, before you begin comparing the walls of Imladris to cake slices and its master to a berry tart." The chamber rang with wild laughter, as the thought of Elrond sandwiched between slabs of dough was without a doubt too much for any creature to bear with a straight face.
"The dining hall," said Luinmir through his chuckles. "Now, that would not be amiss, after long weeks on the road." By common consent, the four Elves rose and left the chamber for their meal.
Elrond's hall was merry, his bards' music fine and his food delicious—although Tathar opined that his wine left something to be desired, and drew out a small flask of Dorwinion, to the delight of the Mirkwood contingent. True, an Imladris Elf named Falasion drank perhaps too much for one unaccustomed to Wood-elven wine, but let it not be said that the spirits of the four Mirkwood Elves were in any way burdened by this incident.
After the meal, Legolas wandered outdoors, drinking in the heavy air of the valley. He felt sluggish and tired and unfocused; he knew not what Elrond wanted of him and, at this moment, he cared not. He lifted his face to the sky, bathing in the starlight that shone from out of the dull inky darkness. Perhaps he could forget his troubles in Elbereth's grace—or, failing that, he might at least feel able to grapple with them once more.
Strange things are afoot.
So Radagast had said.
What things, and what was his part in them? Would he have no part? That would be unbearable—Ennor under siege and himself passive, quiescent, unable to raise a hand and fight.
The need is most certainly great, were Elrond's words.
Whose need? And how was it to be fulfilled?
Out of the corner of his eye, Legolas saw other Elves basking in the silver of the night, strolling beneath the trees, singing softly to themselves. He saw Tathar and Luinmir swinging in the branches, and an earnest-faced Rohiril speaking to a squirrel—and why did that trouble him? He still knew not.
What was happening to Ennor?
Wood-elven practicality rose up in a tide within Legolas, overwhelming his questions and submerging his doubts. What is happening will happen, without my worrying endlessly over it. He stretched out beneath a beech tree and gave himself over to reverie, for a time leaving the honeyed yet haunted world of Imladris behind.
TBC
List of OCs:
Tathar, Luinmir: warriors of Mirkwood in Legolas's patrol
RohirilMirkwood Elf of Avari descent
Falasion Imladris Elf of no particular consequence.
Responses to Reviewers:
Daw the minstrel: Rohiril, hmm? You'll see. And, yeah, Legolas bringing himself closer and closer to reverie is disturbing, and a bit drug-like.
Brazgirl: Legolas is paranoic but not entirely wrong. More than that I cannot say.
Nimnen: I'm glad you think the story flows well—I'm a bit concerned about that since I write one chapter at a time. It all makes logical sense in my head but it's hard making that clear to readers. I'm also really glad you think my Legolas and my Mirkwood Elves are believable and not trite. I like Mirkwood and can't stay away, so I have to try and make it as original as I can.
Lamiel: Glad you like the description. I keep trying to strike a balance between putting too much description in and making my story a laundry-list of events. And, yeah, I don't buy Legolas talking to animals either. I think he understands them and can communicate with them much better than humans can, but for real talking I think the Nandor are the experts.
The-burglar: Yep, Radagast shows up after he meets Gandalf. I like Radagast a lot, so I found a way to work him in. And now it's the second-to-last week of October! Er…sorry?
Sunn-kissed: Thanks for reviewing, and yeah, the deadline sort of got pushed back a little…or a lot…Fear not, though, there will certainly be an ending. And my Wood-elves are smart-alecky creatures, so the Mordor line basically wrote itself.
Next up: Council of Elrond chapter, its aftermath and the formation of the Fellowship. Much more eventful than this one, which is more of a connective.
