Disclaimer: As always, all characters, names and places from the Lord of the Rings belong to their respective owners. I own nothing other than a couple of OCs. How could I anyway?
My unwavering thanks go to my beta-reader Anie, whose gentle prodding gave me the courage to post these new chapters.
Chapter 2: Legolas
The journey from Tôl Eressëa, where Lord Elrond and his family dwelt, to the wooded lands on the north of Eldamar was a long one, but infused with the powers of his own kind here in Aman Olórin was able to cover the large distance in very little time. Having even abandoned his old alias as an aged old man for the one he frequented in the lands of Valimar, Olórin practically felt like a different creature from Gandalf the Grey that roamed the forests and plains of Middle-Earth so long ago.
But he was still the same, and his clear memories of the events of the past told him that this second visit would probably be the hardest part of his task. Still, mastering his own emotions, he calmly entered the ancient forest where many of the Silvan elves had withdrawn and where Lord Oropher himself held his house.
Needing little directions to find the Halls of the Lord in question, Olórin easily made his way through the gleaming foliage and occasional flets. A large tree far ahead marked his destination. On its base and all the way up its trunk were elegant rooms and halls connected with airy stairs swaying softly in the wind in time with the tree's branches.
Although he did not feel obliged, Olórin decided it would be best to greet the king and his son first.
Upon Thranduil's arrival in Aman, the Silvan elves that had already sought refuge there had asked that he be proclaimed their king on this side of the sea as well. But when Thranduil found out that his father had been released from the Halls of Mandos many years ago, he gladly gave up the title to Oropher, claiming that his reigning days were over and that indeed the time had come for him to rest. At that time, most had treated the words of the incredibly headstrong and powerful former king with disbelief and yet Olórin knew that Thranduil's decision was the right one. Oropher had spent enough time in Aman already and was better qualified for guarding the interests of their people in these lands.
Still, he was not surprised to find Thranduil on his father's side standing next to the throne once his arrival had been announced.
"Lord Olórin" Oropher was the first to talk, "we are honored by your presence here. Long has it been since you last walked among us."
Olórin smiled and sought to return the greeting.
"And hail to you, King Oropher. Indeed, I have had little dealings with the North lately. But I am here now, should it be for good or bad."
Unlike his father, Thranduil had had to deal with Olórin as Mithrandir in the long past and even if this tall elf-like lithe creature with long dark flowing hair and fair skin looked nothing like the gnarled old wizard, he had not forgotten the Maia's mannerisms. Much like Elrond before him, he could tell something was amiss.
"What is the matter Olórin?" he went straight to the point. "Surely it cannot be ill news you are bringing since the Valar's protection has kept misfortune at bay for longer than we can remember."
Olórin eyed him for a moment. Old instincts die hard, and certainly Thranduil Oropherion had had his fair share of millennia of protecting his people in a realm surrounded by darkness, time enough to grow an uncanny instinct for realizing when something was wrong.
"And yet I am afraid that ill news it is. But it does not concern you Thranduil or your people. In fact, I was wondering if I could speak with your son."
"Legolas?" came Oropher's startled inquiry, whereas Thranduil was trying to gauge the Maia's intentions.
"What would my son have to do with the plans of the Valar?" Thranduil asked. "Has he not given up enough already?"
Olórin suppressed a sigh and landed his steady gaze squarely on Thranduil's worried face.
"I understand your apprehension for your son, Lord Thranduil, but I would not lightly ask of him what is beyond his power or what should not be his burden."
"You avoid the question Olórin" Thranduil all but growled.
"I need to ask him to take on an important task on behalf of Lord Manwë himself" Olórin raised his voice to be heard above Thranduil, "but he will be free to choose if he wishes to accept it or not. And" he interrupted Thranduil as he was ready to speak again "I am afraid I cannot reveal too much information until he has reached a decision upon his intentions. So, my Lords, if you would be so kind as to inform me where I might find him?"
Half an hour later, Olórin was making his way through a particularly thick part of the Silvan elves' forest, his eyes scanning the woods for a particular flet. Soon enough he had found it and he wasn't in the least surprised when a second later a blond elf had soundlessly landed on the forest floor beside him.
"Mithrandir!" the elf exclaimed in surprise. Olórin just smiled at the sound of his old name. (/Grey Pilgrim/)
"You know you do not have to call me that anymore" he put in playfully as he grasped the other's shoulders in place of a formal greeting instead.
Legolas took in the other's very bright and very blue raiment and allowed himself a small laugh.
"Indeed, you no longer are anything like the grey traveler I used to know, but I find I have grown quite used of that name."
It was true enough. No matter how different the Maia may have looked on the outside, Legolas had seen enough of those sparkling blue eyes to recognize them anywhere, eyes that reminded him of many long nights in the company of long lost friends and a sky of stars different from the one he saw now.
As if reading his thoughts, Olórin's expression softened and he offered an honest smile.
"What brings you here Mithrandir?" Legolas asked when Olórin didn't seem to be coming forth with an explanation. "Have you finally decided to pay me a visit?"
"Aaah, I am afraid you have put me to shame again, my good Elf. This is no mere visit. But if you could show the way to some more comfortable arrangements for this old Maia to rest, I will tell you all you need to know" Olórin replied, allowing himself to slip more into Gandalf's persona for a while, as a small comfort for the younger elf.
Like all the others before him, Legolas too gave him a grave look that spoke of ill premonitions before nodding and disappearing through the branches towards the talan that was barely visible above them.
"Always thought that one to be smart" the Maia muttered to himself, "but I really should talk with Manwë for these little 'tasks' of his. Even the elves of Aman are growing suspicious of my visits!"
Not two minutes later Olórin was quite comfortably sitting on an elegant chair and facing Legolas perched on one of the branches that were springing out from the trunk a few feet above the flet's floor. The Sindar and Silvan elves had retained much of their old affinity for living among the trees, a trait that always wondered their Noldor and Vanyarin relatives. Thankfully, there were more than enough forests and cities in Aman to provide a home for every single elf that had come back from Arda.
"I see you still prefer keeping to your own."
Legolas didn't seem surprised by the remark.
"I simply enjoy the harmony of living among the trees" he replied with an ease that spoke of long experience in this kind of conversations.
"And yet you do not do so in the company of your kin" Olórin persisted.
Legolas eyed him for a minute, but otherwise didn't seem surprised by that kind of persistence either.
"An elf often feels the need to rejoice in the melody of life in private. It is not rare among our kind to seek solitude here in such a protected realm."
Olórin was hard put to refrain from replying to that comment. It would not do well for his purpose to ruffle Legolas' feathers before the main subject of their discussion was even breached.
In a conversation that closely mirrored the one he had held with Elrond, Olórin proceeded to recount the information they had gathered of Saruman's return in the World of Men and the need to intervene. But much to his dismay, Legolas' face had begun to darken suspiciously when the latter point was brought forth.
"You mean to send Elves back to Middle-Earth!" he cried indignantly and even Olórin was taken back with his intense reaction.
"Yes, that is the plan."
Legolas stared at him hard.
"Would you really do something like that to them? Mithrandir, you do not know what it is you are asking!"
Olórin considered his words for a while before asking him to elaborate. He had an idea of what was about to follow, but Legolas would have to speak some things aloud before he could start pushing him for some hard decisions.
The younger elf nimbly jumped from his branch and walked to the talan's end, turning his back at the Maia.
"The edain are wonderful creatures, Mithrandir, truly they are, but we shouldn't be allowed to mingle with them anymore. Elves are gentle-hearted of nature and most of the younger ones of our kind have no notion of the meaning of loss. And yet even the long-term separation that comes from a loved one's departure for the Halls of Mandos cannot be compared with the pain of being eternally separated from a mortal's fëa that departs from the circles of this world altogether. Whomever you wish to send would be in risk of great pain."
"The mission itself is a great risk Thranduillion. Is seeing mortals again what you perceive to be the greatest peril?" Olórin gently inquired while getting up to come and stand by his side.
"It isn't supposed to be as painful as you describe it little one. The Secondborn are magnificent beings indeed. They live during their short time here on Arda with such passion that they can remind us the beauty of this world as well. In fact, I fear your kind has been away from them for too long. It is my belief that both races need each other; if you were meant to be apart Eru Ilúvatar would not have placed you on the same world together. But that is a conversation for other times. And it is not the point here. We need to do this for their protection, not our pleasure. They have been left alone and unguided far too long. Besides, I guarantee you that no elf that has not been in the company of humans before will join you in this mission."
This time, it was Legolas' turn to look taken back at the other's words.
"Join me? And what makes you think I will agree?"
"I have no way of forcing you, but I really think you should. In the end the choice is yours, of course."
When Legolas didn't seem to be responding, Olórin decided to resort to one final bit of information he had been holding back. What he would not share with Elrond before he had reached his decision, the Maia couldn't bear to withhold from Legolas, for his past was entirely different.
"There is one last thing that you should probably know. The one that has been assigned to help and guide you while you are there… is one of Elessar's heirs."
A bitter laugh was issued from Legolas.
"Aaah, yes, of course, the 'ally'… I should have known you would pull something like that. But how do you plan to do so, Mithrandir? Even you admitted that Gondor has long been forgotten and Aragorn's descendants have no knowledge of their heritage. Or has this been planned for longer that you let on?"
Olórin spoke as if having ignored the elf's sarcasm that was evident in his voice.
"Everything I told you is true. None of Aragorn's descendants know who they really are, but one of them has been chosen and Irmo is working as we speak. He uses dreams and nightly visions to re-awaken some of the knowledge of the past, especially through Aragorn's point of view since he was so tightly connected to the events in question and he had a vast knowledge of the old world."
At this point Olórin momentarily flinched before continuing.
"It has never of course been tried before, but we have no reason to believe it won't work."
Legolas snorted in disbelief.
"So you were going to use my loyalty to Aragorn and Arwen's bloodline to convince me to go back and protect this… 'heir' " he said, and was satisfied to at least have been able to make the Maia squirm with his accusing tone.
"It worked" he finally declared in defeat. "I will do as you wish. Now leave me to my solitude among the trees."
Realizing that there was no point in pushing the matter any further, Olórin indeed turned to leave. But he had hardly reached the trunk of the tree from where a slender ladder of hithlain led to the ground when Legolas' voice drifted to him.
"Do not think me selfish, Mithrandir. You weren't there, that is why it is so easy for you to speak. You weren't there when every single immortal had left those shores and I had to stay behind for the sake of bonds that were too hard to break. You weren't there when for the better part of two centuries I lived among mortals and opened my heart to them only to watch them wither and die. You weren't there when Aragorn's bright eyes were forever sealed and the man I admired the most left me behind. You weren't there when Arwen Undómiel, the Evenstar of her people, surrendered to her fate, lying on the dead hill of Cerin Amroth, reduced to a mere shell of her former self from grief. You weren't there…"
There was terrible sadness in the elf's words, but there was nothing more that Olórin could do. All there was left was a secret hope that the Maia's plans would be proved right in the end.
A/N: Hopefully you'll like the new version better... Reviews are always welcome!