Hey guys, here's the next chapter. As I promised there is a scene that explains the dissention ritual, hopefully it will quench your curiosity for now but remember I cant give away too much as we are to journey with Isil to find out what's in store. If needs be, I will type up an explanation and overview of the ritual for the next chapter for those who want it.
The use of sealing the ritual with blood is common practice and it's something Legolas would know about but we'll find out why in a much later chapter.
The method of drawing the arrow from Legolas's shoulder, in case anyone is interested is based on a true fact. You cannot redraw an arrow the way it came in and many mortal humans would have been in terrible agony and shock from such a procedure carried out on Legolas. He must be feeling the pain in some way or the other!
Oh and for the next chapter.....hehehe! no more will be said.
Servant Rule Number Eight:- Gifts and words of praise given to you from your master are to be cherished as they are signs of approval and acknowledgement for a job well done.
The next morning Isil was helping prepare stew for the injured from the previous day's battle.
There has been no news from the party Legolas had ordered his friend Horthe to lead and tension was getting high.
Especially when the news was revealed that Mirkwood's only heir was injured, prompting Thranduil to take Isil aside and ordered her to do whatever was necessary for the welfare of his son.
She had left him in the capable hands of Arkle who was to assist Legolas for his bath if he awoke due to the dirt and grime they hadn't washed off.
Isil looked out the kitchen window in the midst of peeling some carrots for the prince's stew she was going to get down him. He'll need his strength for the forthcoming plans regarding the constant ambushes made on scouting parties and villages. Rowan was beside her assisting in this task and she noticed the maid's silence.
"Rowan?" Isil halted mid-carrot but didn't look over to her friend who stopped too.
"You remember when we carried out the dissention ritual and you cut my hand to some words? What does it mean?"
Rowan raised an eyebrow, thinking she already knew. "Your mother didn't tell you?"
"She said you will. I understand what the ritual was all about by why have it?" Isil frowned.
"It was introduced by King Thranduil, for reasons I cannot tell but he views them necessary if you wish to work here."
"So that line about not falling in love.......?"
Rowan laughed, "Is that what its about? You caught some elf's eye? Well rest assure you Isil that line doesn't count if he's a servant or the likes but as long it doesn't effect the royals."
"Out of curiosity....."
Rowan shrugged, she might as well tell her. "There have been cases in the past concerning servants fornicating with elves of high circles and believe me it does cause great waves of destruction. The punishments for those caught are swift and its usually the servants who gets it bad. The things I've seen....." Rowan shook her head as if she wanted to shake those dark memories away but Isil pushed her further and inquired what punishments were they.
"They were publicly humiliated and shamed and many families have disowned sons and daughters for the dark stain upon a family name is frowned upon. I've seen some fade away under a lifetime's work of labour and others who were more robust were exiled, never to be seen again. Isil, I warn you that if some lord is pushing his luck with you, stay away." Rowan looked sternly at her young employee, "Don't go thinking ill of your charge Isil, he had nothing to do with this. He's a good prince he is and will do Mirkwood proud when he comes to the throne."
Isil nodded and resumed peeling her carrots, the conversation swiftly moved on to the weather and the battle.
Isil later took the stew up to the prince's bedroom where Arkle grinned, "Hey! Saw you at the merry making getting it on with Legolas!"
"Ssh! We did not 'get it on'." Isil snapped as Arkle chuckled, "It's alright, your secrets safe with me."
"I'm in so much trouble. To kiss the prince when I took the vows!" Isil wringed her hand but to her surprise, instead of words of worry came Arkle's laughter.
"Isil! Anything that happens in the circle is kept in the circle. It's a pact well known with elves. That's the loop hole the vows doesn't cover. Thranduil didn't think that far ahead so we're taking it to its full advantage. Even Legolas does."
"So I'm in the clear?" Isil frowned as she looked up at Arkle who recovered from his laughter to nod, "You're clear."
A soft groan caught their attention and they turned to look at the bed where the prince laid, unmoving for the past day. He stirred and blinked his eyes and picked his head up slowly from his pillow to give the room a quick glance.
"Legolas! Welcome back." Arkle called out only to get sharply ribbed by Isil as the prince winced from his loud tone that caused his head to throb even harder.
"Sorry milord." Arkle shifted his voice almost comically to a whisper and followed Isil meekly to the bed where she looked down at Legolas who gingerly laid on his back and wincing in the effort.
"How are you?" Isil softly enquired, Legolas closed his eyes and sighed, "In pain. My shoulder's bad."
"I've bought you up some stew, Arkle shall feed it to you whilst I mix something for the pain." Isil adjusted the covers to make him more comfortable, he grumbled his complaints on being fed like a baby and that he was quite capable.
"You wish for me to feed you and Arkle....with his skills.........to mix up the medicine for you?" Isil smiled as she teased the prince who opened one eye and looked at Arkle who grinned like a fool, "He'll only end up poisoning me."
"Me milord?" Arkle grinned and helped the prince to sit up. He picked up the bowl and spooned a healthy portion then smiled, "Open wide!"
"Isil!" Legolas shouted as Arkle hovered the spoon closer to his mouth.
Legolas proved to be a terrible patient for days to follow. He got out of bed when he knew he shouldn't have, worked when he should be resting and bitterly complained whenever someone tried to help him.
After seeing Keay run from his quarters in a flood of tears Isil had enough and stormed in to confront the prince who stared at her as she yelled at him, surprised that she had the guts to do so and the incredible set of lungs she had on her.
"We're trying to help you, why do you make our jobs harder? You're not dying so stop acting if so!" Isil shouted, her whole stance stood rigid and taunt with hands knuckled and face in a scowl that made the prince wince.
Two armed guards who stood either side of the door, peered in at the incredible sight of their lord being degraded by a servant and all the servants in the hallway passing by halted and listened to the interaction.
"You will apologise to Keay and Arkle, we are all under orders of your father to make sure that we take care of your welfare. Your father will be interested to know why we'll refuse wont he?" Isil picked up the tray of food she had bought in and looked at the prince who blanched, "Don't tell Thranduil!"
"Then you will sit here and think about what you've done." Isil walked from the room, talking away the prince's lunch with her and leaving him with a growling stomach and a bruised ego.
She saw Arkle and Keay later that day to learn that the prince had profusely apologised and obediently took his medicine, ate his lunch and allowed Keay to change his dressing this time without any abuse being thrown at her.
"Elves! They get a scratch and think they're dying!" Isil snorted and Arkle cleared his throat, "I object to that."
"You would, wouldn't you. Anyway I'm not going to stand round here all day, I got an apology to go and get." Isil smiled and left the kitchen to walk to Legolas's room. The guards at the door gave her an amused smile and despite their orders one of them spoke, "He's been behaving all day so far Isil."
Isil nodded and passed in to see Legolas standing by the window in only his breeches and his arm in a sling. He turned to see her arrival and smiled, "Forgive my behaviour for the past few days. I don't take to injuries very well. Never could do."
"Just be aware we're trying to help." Isil pointed out and Legolas nodded, "I know but I feel at times so useless and...well lonely. There is only so much resting a body can do."
Isil nodded and sighed, "What are we going to do with you? Lets have a look at the shoulder."
Legolas sat down by the fire and let Isil take off his sling to look at the straight line of stitches that held the puckered wound together. It was almost healing but Isil wasn't in any hurry to tell him so. He'll only go and climb a tree at any first given moment.
"I saw you that day beside my father, he told me you assisted him throughout the battle. You are a little wonder aren't you?" Legolas grinned as Isil blushed, "I did what I needed to do for my kingdom. It was an honour to be by your father's side."
"Lets not forget saving me from the orcs that crept up behind me. Your aim is good." He gave her a praise and watched Isil duck her head, "I'm aware that my father is considering to award you with an honour."
"He needn't do that." Isil replied as she busied herself with tying his sling back on. She tied the knot once then twice and stood back to admire her first aiding skills that were put so rigorously to the test in the last few days.
"I wish to give you something that shows my gratitude during the battle. I'm forever in dept to you for saving my life." Legolas stood up and walked over to the wall where several weapons were arranged on display. He reached for a beautiful bow and handed it to Isil. "My archer teacher made this for me after my thousandth birthday, he in his own time would carve and this bow showed the best of his skills, I wish for you to have it."
Isil ran her finger over the white beech that was the wood, her fingers ran over the inscription 'in life or in death, be victorious.' The vinery that scrolled up to each bow curve were beautiful and remarkable in detail and Isil opened her mouth to say she couldn't accept such gift but Legolas pressed his lips to hers in a brief kiss then pulled away, "Thank you for excepting my gift, you do not know how it thrills me."
"I'm happy you returned to us all, alive." Isil weakly said. Legolas smiled, "It takes a lot to keep me down Isil."
Isil placed the bow against the wall by the door and turned her attention back to the prince, "I don't know why I felt sick to watch you fight that day. My heart leapt with every arrow and sword that flew towards you....i thought you would die and that thought terrified me the most." She stood there, her eyes watching Legolas as she licked her lips nervously, heart hammering away and knees shaking. "I don't know why I'm telling you this."
Legolas watched her, his eyes looked at her fidgeting fingers and awkward pose and knew she was nervous.
And so some reason, that made him nervous too.
"I never did get to give you my gift for your birth year did I?" he said, covering the uneasy silence that fell between them. Isil smiled, looking grateful for a change of subject. "You got me something?"
"Arkle has been looking after him for me whilst I was out of it. I'll just go and get him." Legolas excused himself and walked off to a room adjoining the master room, which she doesn't frequent.
There was a brief pause and the door opened to readmit Legolas but this time holding up a tiny pure white fluffy ball with a cute pink nose and two bright blue eyes. It blinked and meowed as Legolas shifted the kitten to Isil who cooed and ahhed over the tiny creature who seem content in her arms.
"I thought I'd leave it to you to give him a name, but if you're interested I'd dubbed him Wrag." Legolas scratched his fingers behind the kitten's ear with a smile, "He ruined the curtains."
Isil picked up the kitten and held it so it faced her with its huge unblinking blue eyes, "Wrag? No, look at its eyes. They look just like yours Legolas."
"Mine? I don't know whether to be offended or not." Legolas raised an eyebrow at her and she stuck her tongue at him in retaliation.
"I think I'll call him Estel." Isil smiled, the kitten meowed and Legolas grinned, "Hope? What kind of hope a cat's going to bring....maybe a few mice...."
"No Estel it is. Anything is better than Wrag!" Isil placed the kitten on the floor and watched it scamper off to play with a tassel hanging from the curtains by the window.
"Thank you, it's the best gift I had." She smiled and turned her attention from Estel to Legolas who nodded, looking pleased with himself.
The door opened without any warning to admit the guards that stood outside the door, each of them looking worried and tense as they relayed to Legolas that Thranduil urgently needed to see him.
Isil draped a cloak across his shoulders and watched him exchange a worried glance at her then leave the room. Whatever it was, she felt something would give....something was going to change........and she could only guess what it was and try to will away such premonitions that caused her nerves to fray and her thoughts to darken.
Her premonition was right, the news was out by the time she ventured down to the kitchen.
The army Legolas sent forth to kill and drive away the remaining orcs have been ambushed and suffered serious casualties.
And Horthe was one of many elves who had died. Tears and songs of lament were sung as the dead were laid in the halls of rest where proper burial preparations could be made.
All festivities were cancelled and candles were lit for the memories of those departed.
Isil later went up to Legolas's room with Estel in her arms purring away as if oblivious to such times of pain.
He wasn't there except the darkness of night where someone failed to lit candles. She set Estel down on the bed and went about lightening the dark space when the door opened to reveal a weary Thranduil.
"He hasn't returned has he?" he took in the empty room then his eyes laid to rest on Estel rolling around and clawing at the air at some invisible foe.
"Who's this then?" he walked over to the bed and picked up the white kitten and gently stroked it. Isil smiled, "He's called Estel, he's a gift from Legolas."
"Hope....something we so desperately need at this moment." He sadly smiled at the kitten and set it down on the bed, "I'm weary Isil, it's been a long day and more so for Legolas. Horthe was his best friend since they were babies. One can only imagine such lost he's feeling now. He's down in the halls of rest and I've tried to bring him away you try?" he looked over at Isil and there in that shadow of a moment, she was no longer looking at a tired king but a concerned father. "He needs a source of comfort that I doubt I can offer."
"I will do so......you go and rest Thranduil, it's been a long day and the kingdom needs you to be strong for them to follow you." Isil smiled, the king nodded and a weak smile that seemed so foreign and worn spread across his face, "You've a
good heart Isil."
"He's down there my lady." A guard pointed down the dimly lit corridor leading to the long hall where sounds of weeping and mourning echoed.
Small handfuls of elves came and went, all in solemn silence as candles were lit and prayers were sung.
She stepped into the white marbled hall which glowed orange in the torchlight. A line of guards garbed in funeral dressage lined the wall as they kept a respectful vigil to the deceased who were laid out on marble tables. Each of the dead were surrounded by candles lit by their loved ones and Isil smelt the unmistakable smell of death and blood.
She passed a small party of mourners and looked down the long hall to see a solemn figure standing alone by one such marble table.
She walked towards him, cautious of invading his moment of grief and looked down at the elf she had never met.
He laid there eyes closed as if was asleep and his lips were froze in the beginning of a smile who's secrets no one will never know.
He wore his armour still but with a dark green flag of Mirkwood draped over his lower torso in a gesture that Isil knew was not only out of respect for the fallen but one for the families as they hid the wounds their loved ones died from.
His hair which was faint red laid about his face like a dim halo that flickered in the torch light, already his skin held a deathly tint to it seen in his stiff fingers that valiantly held his sword across his chest in one final gesture of valour.
Isil, turning her attention from the elf named Horthe, she shook out the thick warm cloak in her hands and draped it across the slumped shoulders of Legolas.
There was a definite chill to the hall that Isil could feel through the many layers of clothes she wore and knew Legolas felt it as he was still bare chested and had only a flimsy cloak for dignity.
She didn't know what to say, what could one say in a moment so rife with death?
"I'm sorry." She whispered, her soft voice carried itself down the hall and both the dead and living could hear it.
She looked up at his face to see sunken eyes that showed sighs they shed tears, his face was emotionless and as beautiful as a solemn statue as he stood there with defeated grace.
She reached out to take his limp hand by his side and took it in her own, giving it a squeeze to let him know he wasn't alone.
She didn't expect him to react but she felt his fingers twitch then fold over her own, taking comfort from her presence. He blinked then blinked again and Isil saw a tear falling down his cheek.
"Isil, take me from here. The dead call me to join them as I should have." He whispered. She reached up and wiped his tear away then gently coaxed him away from the side of his fallen friend.
He walked beside her of a slow pace, his hand still holding her own as she lead him back to his room. She seated him by the fire and handed him a glass of Dorwinion to warm him up and said she was going to be running his bath.
She went into the bathroom and turned the lights on and opened the tub door to let in the water. When it was full she closed the door and gathered the towels that were warming by the fire.
She halted by the door when she heard the one sound that ripped at her heart.
The soft sounds of his strangled sobs came from the main room and she opened the door to see his face buried in his hands as his shoulders racked with every sob.
She hurriedly walked over to him and held him close to her as he cried, his arms fell away from his face to wrap themselves round her waist as he buried his face so innocently against her breasts like a child seeking comfort. She pressed kisses upon his head as she soothed him till his sobs died away to leave him tired and content in her arms.
"Your bath is waiting Legolas, you'll feel better for having it." She softly said and she felt him somewhat reluctantly move away from her and stand up. "I know it's hard.....be strong." She said and reached up to hold his face between her soft fingers.
He closed his eyes and sighed, peace came over him at her merest touch and he nodded, "I know and I thank you." He took her in a hug then pulled away and headed to the bathroom where she heard the rustle of clothes as he stripped and the splash of water as he bathed.
When he came out his eyes fell upon Isil slumped figure upon the chaise lounge by the fire.
She had fallen asleep and must be exhausted as her eyes were closed rather then open. He walked over and slipped his arms under her knees and shoulders and picked her up, ignoring the dull pain in his injured shoulder and carried her to the bed and laid her down beneath the covers.
He slipped off her boots and pulled the covers up which disturbed Estel who uncurled from his tight ball and walked over to where Isil laid and curled up upon her stomach.
"Wrag." Legolas scorned the kitten with jealousy at not being able to curl up beside her himself. He finished drying his hair and sat by the fire, restless at the news of his friend's death.
He sat there for a long time as his soul stirred continuously and he got up to look at the stars that so often calmed his soul.
But tonight they were veiled, with a sigh he looked over at the sleeping elleth in his bed.
It was with her he felt safe and relaxed, maybe she was the balm he needed in order to rest.
He slipped into the bed covers beside her and stared up at the ceiling, aware of how her close presence seem to soothe him.
He looked over at her sleeping form and decided that tonight he needed comfort and if by lying next to her he can achieve it then so be it.
He moved beside her and lowered his head by hers, inhaling her fresh, warm scent and tingling with the awed sensation of her warm skin close by.
He reached out and wrapped an arm round her and felt her stir and move closer to him. He had found his peace for that night and he felt the compelling waves of sleep lull him to close his eyes and dream.
