Chapter 11: A mission
At those words, Haldir was quick to jump to his feet, out of the chair and nearly stepping on one of Legolas' fingers, and rushing to Tonus. Tonus allowed Haldir to take the letter in his hands, and worriedly, Haldir read it over a few times properly, and softly read out loud the letter to the rest of the family:
Dear Lord Thranduil of Mirkwood,
I write this because you have not left Mirkwood yet, and I need to speak with you soon… Since I do not expect that you will be leaving for another two weeks, I send this out a week before I myself will leave to come to Mirkwood. With me, I will bring my sons and my daughter, which will hopefully keep all of our children out of our hair while we speak of the pressing matters I come to Mirkwood for. Please wait for me in Mirkwood; my arrival will be within the next two weeks.
Sincerely,
Lord Elrond of Rivendell
Haldir couldn't believe the letter, he couldn't figure out why they received it so late, nor did he know what they should do about it. Whatever Elrond had to speak of was very important, if it wasn't, Thranduil could have sent Tonus to speak with him instead. Tonus couldn't act as the King for this, he was still too young and inexperienced to know what to say or do.
"We have to get my father here… We'll never manage to do so in time, not with Elrond probably near here… Elrond could arrive any day now - any minute now, for all I know, with the other Rivendell elves he brings with him! I don't know what to do!" Tonus was extremely confused, frustrated and even a bit traumatized by confusion.
"Listen Tonus, do not worry. I am certain that Lord Elrond will understand how stuck you are… He may be a bit upset, but it is nothing to worry about too much, you can send someone out to get your father to return to Mirkwood, correct? Elrond might have to wait a little bit, but you will not be to blame." Haldir tried to comfort the panicking prince as much as he could, not really having a vast knowledge of royalties and what to do if ever such a situation came to be.
"Well… Yes, I suppose that is true… I do not think Elrond will be the most pleased of elves in this palace, though. Even if he knows I am young and confused… But yes, I will send someone to find my father as soon as possible." Tonus spoke nervously.
"I will go." Cield was now seated up, his two children on either side of him. Tonus sighed and shook his head disapprovingly, making Cield, who usually did do such tasks for his father, frown in confusion.
"Cield, I am not sending you to find Ada." Tonus stated simply, but with as much authority as he could when talking to his younger brother.
"Adar always sends me to do such things, Tonusalion," Cield began, his choice of name making Tonus both angry and a bit embarrassed, "And I have never failed him. You have to let me go, I am faster than the other servants and I am prince."
"I know, I know, Cield. But those were your single days, when you didn't have a wife or two adorable little elflings, who love you and I know they want you to stay here. I wont risk you getting hurt-
"That is unfair!" Cield stomped his foot before continuing, "I know I have a family, and I know I have two of the greatest elflings I can ask for, and I know they love me and I love them too! But still, if a war ever happened, I would have to go by force… And you say that when I volunteer to do something barely dangerous, I cannot?" Cield argued angrily.
For a short while, the two brothers angrily fought over why and why not should Cield be sent to fetch King Thranduil, and in the end, Tonus called guards into the rooms.
"Cield, this is your last chance. Agree with me that you will not go, that you will stay with your children and wife, or I will have these guards escort you out of here, to your bedroom, where you will remain confined until you see my point in this!" Tonus snapped, though he already knew what Cield's reaction to this would be.
"I don't care if you confine me, I think it will just prove to ada that you are not ready for the throne-
Before Cield could finish a long list of insults he wished to shout at his elder brother, the guards grabbed him by his arms gently but with force, and lead him to his bedroom at Tonus' commands.
Following Cield and the guards, with Tonus' permission, was little Nenmir and his sister Malfinniel, who would keep their father company since they really wanted to play fun games with their father.
Tonus sat down on the bench that had been left vacant with Cield's departure and he sighed loudly and tiredly. Tonus had to select someone, and the decision wouldn't be easy for him to make.
"Don't worry so much Tonus. Yes, it will be hard to choose, but it's not too dangerous and as long as you take someone experienced enough to keep themselves safe and know what to do and not to do in Mirkwood or in any dangerous place, you will be fine and your father, proud." Haldir gently said to the troubled prince.
"Thank you, Haldir, but even with what you said, I still have to face the fact that Elrond will not be very pleased when he arrives to find Thranduil nearing Mirkwood every moment that we speak." Tonus murmured. Legolas, who was nearby, smiled.
"Why don't me and Haldir go?" Legolas asked, excited. Tonus shook his head.
"I just said no to Cield, an experienced fighter. You do not expect me to send off an elfling, do you?" Tonus was shocked that his brother would even think such a thing, when the answer was so completely obvious.
"I know that, but going with Haldir, I would not be ALONE. That's what matters! I'd be safe! I've left Mirkwood with Haldir when I was even littler; remember that? I did not get hurt at all!" Legolas stated proudly.
"Yes, but besides all that, Haldir is our guest, not a servant to do whatever I command. Now, go on with whatever you where doing, I will find some other guard or someone who works here to help myself and Mirkwood." Tonus stood up, and Haldir stood in front of him.
"No, Tonus. I believe Legolas has a point: It will keep him out of here, and that will cause you and some other elves less stress, and give him something to do. I do not mind, I am march-warden and it is something I am used to doing. You may send myself with Legolas, Tonus. You can trust us." Haldir smiled. Tonus sighed and nodded.
"I agree completely, Haldir. You are experienced in Lorien, and you can manage this. I just do not trust you going with Legolas, not that I think he will be put in danger, but I think it will be hard… And, you have to watch Nenmir, too!" Tonus sighed once again.
"I can bring him, too. It wont be any trouble, just… Good practice, for when I have, or if I have, any elflings of my own. I wont let you down, Tonus, and I wont let them get hurt. I will protect them with my life." Haldir stated a vow he often said when he was a young escort many years before being March-Warden.
"I'd rather you not: They need you alive to be guided back home." Tonus smiled. "Well, pack up your needed things and the elflings' things, you are the two little ones are the best choice I suppose I will make today. Hurry now, I don't want Elrond waiting too long… If he looses his temper with me, I'll never be good enough to be a king one day." Tonus stated, leading Legolas and Haldir to their bedrooms so that they could pack.
Tonus took little Nenmir by his hand and brought him to his bedroom, quickly getting Nenmir's favourite little toys, changes of clothing, cloth diapers and other little necessary items for the young elfling into one sack for Haldir, a sack small enough for Haldir to carry over his shoulder with ease.
With Nenmir's baby stuff all neatly packed away, a bag full of food and other needed provisions was made, and both Legolas and Haldir carrying their own wanted possessions, the three where ready to take on the job of finding Thranduil and bringing him back to Mirkwood. It was obvious that the task wouldn't be the easiest of tasks, but Legolas and Haldir where very willing. Nenmir really had no idea what was going on, he believed that uncle Legolas and Haldir where taking him on vacation.
A beautiful horse was found. The horse was mostly white with pale, brown spots on it's silky fur and a beautiful brown mane, was strong and capable to carry Haldir as well as Nenmir and the possessions and provisions they had to bring along. The horse was very proud, but would agree to let Haldir and the elfling mount him.
For Legolas, he got his own horse. Legolas had only recently been gifted with this horse from his father a year ago for doing very well in his schoolwork. This horse was not too big, not as big as Haldir's white and brown horse, was all black, including her mane. She was soft and Legolas gave her the best of his care, coming to see her nearly everyday to give her a carrot or an apple, to brush her fur and if his father allowed him, he would ride her around the palace for a short while.
"This, Haldir, is Sigil, which means Dagger. There is some times where he ignores commands, so please be careful, especially with Nenmir. Sigil has refused to be rode by many, so you are lucky to be one he likes. Some of my father's elves found him in the forest, we do not know where he came from or what his past was like, but we believe he was mistreated before we found him, there where marks on him that proved so. The only elves that have ever properly rode him are my father, myself and Cield, and even at that, once Cield was thrown off and nearly broke his back. Cield hasn't rode him since and ada says that if this horse causes any more troubles, he will be put to death, so treat him right." Tonus said softly to Haldir whilst he gently stroked the horse Haldir had just recently mounted.
"And which horse is that, that Legolas rides on?" Haldir asked curiously, looking over at the pretty, dark horse that Legolas sat upon.
"That is Dae, meaning Shadow, Legolas' own horse. Our father gave her to Legolas because Legolas had done the best he had ever done on a writing test with his tutor. Dae was a gift to Thranduil from some men, who live not too far off, as a sign of peace. Since our father didn't need yet another horse, and Legolas still did not own his own, Dae was gifted to him. She listens to any elf, so you will not be having troubles with her, though she does not like just any elf to ride her, she needs to trust them." Tonus said, staying near Haldir's horse as he watched Legolas stroke his own horse and whisper kind words to her.
"Have you said goodbye to ada yet, Nenmir?" Haldir asked the little elfling he held in his arms.
"Yea! He gave me this so I cant have something of him!" Nenmir pointed to the chain he wore around his neck. Haldir smiled at the kindness of Cield to let his son wear one of his expensive possessions.
"That was very nice of your ada. Did you thank him?" Tonus asked, smiling.
"Yup! Ada said he's gonna miss me! I said bye-bye to Malfinniel too, and bye-bye to nana, and everyone! I can't wait to go on vacation!" Nenmir exclaimed happily.
To be continued… ElenweMorewen: I hope to update more as summer comes…A. NuEvil: Oh yea, Tavel, forgot about that guy… Oops… Don't worry, he'll show up in the next chapter.
Fealeitha: A site that states elvish to English/English to elvish words, as well as elf names for boys and girls.
Mistopurr: Aw, don't worry about it…
Manwathiel: Human years, a week before he is 11.
Dragonfaeriex: Yes, there could have been worse… But, I was feeling friendly.
Mesozoic Flower: I know… Haldir doesn't see that many girls, it's not easy for him!
Aranna Undomiel: Not for fun, that's for sure…
Caprice Ann: Thanks.
Legolas' Girl 9: Well… He is…
Bberry06: Well, he doesn't know Maer… Maer is technically YOURS since Maer is a nayona or whatever the new word is, or Florien's…
Haldir's Heart and Soul: What are you talking about!