The Undecided of Earendil
By- Larien
Chapter 28
ChirikoFan- Yay! I'm glad you like the character of Caniel. I didn't want to make one of those annoying mary-sues, so it made my day to hear you like her! Thanks so much for the review!
madrone- Indeed a climax is coming. No idea when, but slowly but surely it's coming! Lol. And I agree on disliking Nenuial and Aradhel; not a place I'd want to live. I also asure you you'll dislike the man they call king more after this chapter! Thanks for the review and happen ending dance! Always much appreciated!
Corvis Greenleaf- Sweet name! Oh the number of plot twists is only beginning. This chapter and the next are going to be filled with them, lol! Anyway, glad you're still enjoying it and thank you so much for the reviews!
Copperfang- Never hesitate to ask questions-that's why I'm here, lol! And why Legolas is constantly being warned to leave the city will be explained in good time...Perhaps you might even figure it out in this chapter, who knows? These next two chapters will bring about many realizations and twists, so hang on! And thanks for the reviews, no matter how long! I always enjoy hearing from you and totally enjoy your long reviews! Lol.
Elvnchic9- Lol, which question would you like me to answer first? And really, how do you truly feel about King-arrogant-ass? Lol. That made my day! So let's see, what happened to Aragorn isn't mentioned in this chapter, but probably the next. And Aradhel and the baby isn't really touched on much here either, but she'll be important later on, I promise. Tee hee, and I hope Legolas kills many people when he finds out what happened to Aragorn! Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the last scene with the orphange. I really enjoyed writing it, despite it's depressing nature. Thanks always for the review and sorry to leave you in suspense...
Loony Kay- I'm so glad you loved the last chapter! I was worried I would lose some readers since it took so long! Lol. Ah Balrant...he's rather important in his own way, so there's more of him to come. Along with many other twists so hold on! Thanks for the review!
A/N- I hope I didn't lose that many readers! The last chapter only got a few reviews and some people who I normally hear from didn't review! I hope in any case that you're all still reading and enjoying this. Otherwise I am wasting my time writing it. So I hope it's something worth continuing. If not, just let me know.
This chapter and the next may be a little jumpy so I do apologize. There will be many twists in these chapters; therefore I felt it necessary to incorporate many things that are a bit out of par with my other chapters. With that in mind, I hope I don't lose to many of you and I really encourage feedback on it. If you have questions, feel free to ask. I'll answer them best I can. Otherwise, as always, enjoy and thanks to all of you who continue to read and review!
Sírdhem's entire life played before Caniel's eyes. It began with a young girl prancing through the streets, giggling and twirling a lace shawl around her head. Following close behind was a mob of about ten boys, all of whom were frolicking and shoving each other out of the way. The girl seemed to notice the attention given by the boys, but continued her dance through the streets, smiling to the adults as she went. The adults glanced only momentarily before returning to their duties. The vision then followed the dancing mob out of the town and into an open field. It was here that some of the boys struggled and turned around, casting one hopeful glance back at the girl they had followed, and then trudging along. This continued for minutes on end; twirling, dancing and giggling through woods and fields, until at last Sírdhem paused at a lake shore to look back and find one lone boy still dancing along, flailing his arms wildly and grinning all the more. Stopping to breathe, but still smiling at the girl, it was evident this boy indeed was up to something, for when he straightened, he ran to the girl who was sharing his grin and spun her around. Laughter filled the calm lake, and Caniel watched once again as they embraced in a kiss, wrapped around each other as though there was only one of them.
Then the gray fog began to swirl about her and Caniel was soon faced with yet another familiar scene. In the cage behind her a small girl, the same one who had been dancing in the streets, sat silently just as bruised and muddy as the other men in the dungeon. Then a loud clang, and the jail-keepers marched in and when they reached the cage of the girl, they pulled out their keys and dragged her out by the scruff of the cloth she had tied around her. Forcing her roughly ahead of them to a man who stood in the doorway, Caniel once again recognized him as the boy that Sírdhem had danced with earlier. But now he looked on uncaringly as Sírdhem pleaded for mercy at his feet. Thenwith a rough kick, the man issued her away from his shiny boots and scoffed in her face. Caniel looked as the man waved the jailors to toss her back into the streets, for which the young woman was most grateful to be free.
Then more fog and soon Caniel was back in the bar. Tables were again filled with the gamblers who were slapping their cards down violently if they lost, and pulling daggers to threaten the throats of the winners. Meandering over to the nearby table, Caniel again found Sírdhem, very full and voluptuous in tight garments, playing a ruddy hand at some gambling game. When one player slapped fake cards down to win the large pile of money, Caniel wasn't the least bit surprised when Sírdhem whipped a dagger from her cleavage and pinned the man to his chair with it held to his throat. And while she forced him into admitting he had cheated, Caniel watched a different man, rather rich and handsomely dressed in a military garb approach Sírdhem. After many compliments he offered her to come with him and soon they were headed out of the bar.
After the clearing of more smoke and yet another transition in the vision, Caniel almost laughed when she saw the training camp spread ahead of her. The night was still full of strategies and plans for the first mutiny to ever occur inside the ranks of an army. Caniel watched as the ranks of men and the one woman invaded the commander's tent that night, and with a muffled cry he was slit at the throat. Gray smoke clouded her sight for a fourth time.
Now there were no tents, no mutinies. Just a man standing in his garden, puzzling over a piece of parchment. Caniel turned from the engrossed King Belegorn to the muffled yelps from men behind her. There she saw the guards, which had been stationed at the gate's entrance, lying motionless on the ground, buried in their pools of blood. And standing between them was a slender, but muscular Sírdhem. Two other men, armed and ready were standing opposite the guards, no doubt being the killers themselves. But instead of advancing on the king as Sírdhem was now doing, they stood back and watched. Once again the girl, who had pulled out a glimmering dagger, walked up behind the king, who was too engrossed to have noticed that his life was now in severe danger. For a brief moment, Sírdhem hesitated, breathing quick as she gazed at the young man who had vowed to marry her and make her a powerful queen. The young man who released her from the prison from whence his father had placed her. Belegorn, the man Sírdhem both loved and hated with such a passion that she knew no other cure for the sickness then to rid herself of him. Sírdhem took another step forward and without ado, the dagger had been plunged into the back of the king.
The man seemed to freeze where he stood, the only thing out of place being the dagger sticking from his back and the parchment that had slipped from his grasp. Then Sírdhem pulled it out, nonchalantly almost, and he turned slowly to face her, his eyes wide with surprise and tear swimming down her cheek. He whispered her name, taking a brief second to glance at the bloody dagger in her hand. She only nodded sadly, holding a hand up to his cheek where she gazed into the once warm eyes that had since boyhood become cold and emotionless. Then, with a swift turn of heel, Sírdhem strode away from the man who fell with a thud to the ground, life no longer residing within him.
Cold gray clouds returned for a final round with the vision. But this was unlike her other visions; it was black as night and all that could be heard was Sírdhem screaming. Clawing and gnashing ensued thereafter and Caniel could do nothing but watch in horror as once again the girl struggled with a man who had grabbed her roughly by the arms. But what was this? Future? Past? Present? Just as she began to feel sick at the blood curling screams that vibrated in her ears, the darkness started to evaporate and instead of screaming, Sírdhem was gazing at Caniel with fierce blue eyes. Her skin was as pale as ever and her features just as shallow and haunting, but there was new life within that gaze. As Caniel looked into the familiar face she tried to speak. And though no words came from her mouth, making it as though she were a fish out of water, Sírdhem seemed to hear her.
Sírdhem! What do you want from me?
"You." Sírdhem's face answered. It was a scratchy, rather low voice. It vaguely reminded Caniel of Galadriel's mesmerizing voice.
What of me? What can I do?
"Rid Middle Earth of the line of Aradhel."
Why? What does this all mean?
Sírdhem's face smiled. "You need not ask me all these questions Caniel. For in your heart you have come to realize the answers."
But I haven't! Caniel said exasperated. Why do you keep using me?
"If Aradhel is not destroyed, then the elves will be attacked and murdered along with the smaller races of men in the West." Sírdhem's face melted into another vision that played in front of her as if it were on a giant screen. At first it was that of woman and children fleeing their burning huts, screaming and grabbing one another as orcs and wild men of Nenuial advanced on them. The men of the villages, with rakes and clubs tried fending off the attacks, but clubs do little against a sword and shield. Then it melted into yet another city where two men were being dragged through the streets; each bound and in nothing but white shirts and black pants. Dirt clung to them as people spat on their passing and rocks were thrown, leaving cuts on their arms, which were already scarred, from previous beating. In horror, Caniel watched as Legolas and Aragorn were taken to a tall platform where two large polls stood waiting for them, surrounded by logs just waiting to be burned. As they were tied up and torches were being lit, Caniel started to scream for them. No noise issued from her, but her mouth gaped open and tears swam her cheeks. Closing her eyes and continuing to scream, she willed herself not to watch further.
"You see then why he must be destroyed."
That is not certain! Caniel denied opening her eyes slightly. She was relieved to see only the face of Sírdhem. Nothing is certain!
"Some things are certain!" Sírdhem said at length. "Why do you suppose the Valar want you to return? Because you are Aradhel's way to them. You are his map."
I would not tell him of the location! It is folly should he even know, isn't it?
"These men are dangerous. And if they can wreak havoc on Middle Earth, so will it inflict the Undying Lands. They are not to be underestimated. Their treachery runs deeper then we are aware."
I don't understand. Caniel said in dismay. What am I to do? Why are you showing me all this?
"You can kill him, Caniel."
His supporters would catch me and he would be avenged! There are others supporting his cause!
"Is it not a sacrifice worth taking? It is either you or Legolas and Aragorn."
Caniel's head felt thick, as if it were going to explode while thinking about all the decisions laying on her.
"Aradhel will use you to get to Valinor. You are his tool for mass destruction. And because you are his tool, so too must you be his destruction. Don't you see? This is your destiny!"
Why can't you do it? You've done so in the past, haven't you? You are the leader of the ghosts!
Sírdhem actually laughed in amusement. "So I am. But I cannot kill him this time, Caniel. For I am too far away to do it in time. You must finish him as soon as possible. Before anyone else gets involved with his war effort."
Then it is real? This war?
"I do not know."
But you know everything else!
"I have my limits, like anyone."
Caniel looked at the face angrily.
So you expect me to kill the king of Nenuial on the whim that he is using me to get to Valinor? When even if he were to know, it would make no difference for his men would never stand a chance anyway against the Valar?
"It makes all the difference!" Sírdhem said. "If you tell them, mankind will forever know where Valinor is! They will have won! Aradhel is foolish in that forever in his line the kings will bring battlefronts to the Undying Lands. If there is any hope at all that they are destroying the elvish life, then they will continue."
It is all pride then? The elves don't want their big secret given to men?
"We don't want to fight men for the rest of eternity, Caniel. Not when the elves once allied themselves with men and called them 'friend.'"
Caniel was crying again, trembling and burying her face in her hands.
I cannot kill.
"Yes you can."
I cannot be killed.
"Selfish?"
Caniel glared at the face.
You are a murderer. You committed mutiny against your own captain. Why should I trust you?
"My actions have been to better the lives of both men and elves."
And instead they are still at odds and now clashing in views when they need most to agree. The orcs are killing the men of Nenuial and the elves are not aiding. Apparently your help has done little!
"If I had not killed off the past kings, the consequences would be worse then they are now. In your place would have been me. And I would've betrayed the elves." She said the last sentence with her eyes averted downward.
I don't understand.
"You are in love with Legolas. Elrond told you not to tell of your visions to anyone and yet you have already told Legolas in the city of Nenuial. My love was for the king's son, Belegorn. I told him everything. I know how to get to Valinor and should have he asked, I would've told him. Had he offered me love again, I would've given it. But so is the way with love. It is its own weakness."
You're saying then, had you not killed Rochval, he would've used his son to get the location from you? And had you not killed Belegorn he would've seduced you?
"Before I killed Belegorn, he was searching for me for that very reason."
You betray both men and elves. And now you are asking for my assistance in betraying men?
"And keeping your loyalties to the elves."
Caniel looked at her through watering eyes, her teeth clenched and her fists balled.
What you say makes little sense to me. And I cannot kill Aradhel.
"Listen to me Caniel. Aradhel must be killed. Men cannot know of Valinor simply because they would spend forever trying to get there and cause destruction to the elves. And while elves reside in Middle Earth, they will forever be hunted by the likes of Nenuial. Therefore, to save the elves Aradhel must be stopped. His line and his followers must be done with."
I have my own life to think of. I have Legolas. I have a child. I have family and friends.
"All of whom you will lose should Aradhel be permitted to live."
You can't know this! Caniel screamed. More tears were streaking her face now. You cannot know this!
But Sírdhem did not reply. Instead, Caniel suddenly realized she was being violently shaken by someone. The vision started to disintegrate around her as the darkness became light and the familiar picture of her room became more and more clear. In the background a baby was crying from her cradle in the corner; Caniel had yet to feed her this morning. But more concerning was the voice awakening her from her vision with Sírdhem.
"Caniel! Caniel are you alright?" Aradhel asked, as he cradled her limp body in his lap.
She opened her eyes a bit more and her nose fought for fresh air; the king smelt strongly of wine and incense.
"Yes. Yes I'm fine." She said wearily, lifting herself to a sitting position. The king eyed her curiously, brushing some hair from her face. "What time is it?"
"Almost noon." Aradhel said, his gold hoop earring shimmering in the rays of the high sun. His long hair lay askew around his shoulders and his red velvet outfit shown brilliantly with gold embroidery. "What happened?"
Caniel thought about an adequate answer when she simply decided, "I don't know," was as good as anything.
"I heard the baby crying," Aradhel explained. "And when I knocked and received no answer, I became wary. And I'm glad I came in, for what should my eyes behold but you lying on the floor screaming random sentences and crying. You're body was limp but trembled every so often, and I've been trying to wake you for the longest time!"
Caniel nodded weakly. "It must have been something I ate this morning. I was just faint I guess."
Aradhel nodded vaguely and helped her up as she hastened to Aurel's cradle, where she picked up the crying child who had gained considerable weight for only being in the palace two days. Rushing to the cupboards and getting a bottle of milk, Caniel began to feed the child, cooing her gently as she did so.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Aradhel asked, as he watched her sit down wearily in a plush chair.
Caniel nodded, not looking at him, but rather at the bright eyes of the baby who gazed up at her in wonder.
"Okay then. If you need me, I'll be in my room. Just down the hall." Aradhel said and then scurried from her room. Once he had gone, Caniel dared look up and at the door, just to make sure that he had truly left. Wishing more then ever that Legolas was around (he had gone in search of Aragorn who they had not seen nor heard from in the past two days) to tell of her latest vision, she began to sort it out thinking back on all that was said.
In the back of her mind, she wondered if it had indeed been only a dream. But no dream had ever been that real. Still, the reasoning given to her from Sírdhem just didn't seem convincing. Why should she murder the king of Nenuial if the only reason behind it was to keep him from discovering the location of Valinor through her? Why couldn't she just not tell him? Was he so deceptive that he would weasel it out of her without her knowledge? But no man was that conniving. Even so, she wondered how on earth Sírdhem expected her to throw her life away so easily when there were clearly other means of getting out of this predicament. One way being to simply get Legolas and Aragorn out of Nenuial which seemed the most obvious way. But then again, they would never leave her there, so perhaps it wasn't that simple. And Caniel wouldn't allow herself to leave until it was all settled; foolish as it was, her stubbornness to finish what she started could not be argued with. She was staying put until things were figured out.
But then what of not telling Aradhel? She'd just make sure that she didn't allow her dreams to happen and perhaps hard meditation would rid her memory of the dreams. And if Legolas and Aragorn stayed with her at all times, there would be no reason for them to get killed. With a lurching stomach, Caniel wondered why Legolas was still gone and if perhaps today was the day that the killings were meant to take place. Trying to settle her paranoia though, she assured herself that everything was fine. For if Legolas was in trouble, surly she would sense it.
Aurel gave a soft hiccup and Caniel looked down to see the bottle empty. Slipping out of her robe and revealing her tunic (she had chose today to dress in a black silk tunic with matching leggings and a gold robe. For though it was frowned upon for a woman to dress so man-like and casual, she had been up most the night with the baby and was in no mood to impress.) she lay back in the rather large round chair and rested her feet on the footrest. The child curled up on Caniel's bosom, resting its soft head under her chin as Caniel patted it's back gently. Slowly, as the baby rested her eyelids, so did Caniel until she had fallen into adeep meditationwith the child in her arms.
"I cannot marry him brother!" Rodwen was saying impatiently to her brother, who had just returned not more then ten minutes ago from Caniel's bedroom. "He is below my standards and I feel nothing for him! Only contempt!"
"There is little I can do about this marriage, Rodwen." Aradhel said wearily rubbing his forehead and pouring a goblet full of strong wine. "My advice to you then is start feeling. For the wedding will proceed as planned."
"You should be more concerned with your own marriage." Rodwen's purple, gem-embroidered dress was glimmering in the window whence she stood. And her dark hair lay long around her shoulders in shiny layers. "You are king after all and without a queen."
"My marriage will happen in time." Aradhel retorted. "And mine has little to do with the matter at hand."
"And mine does?"
"Yes!" The king exclaimed, whirling around to face her and sloshing much of the wine onto the floor. "You must keep the peace with Annúminas, or the orcs will be out of my control!"
"You are still going through with this plan then?" Rodwen asked sadly.
"Of course. Why?"
Rodwen looked at her brother who sipped greedily from his goblet. "Don't drink so much. It's not healthy and you look vile."
Aradhel only shrugged.
"I just thought that perhaps in the months time I've been gone that you had thought better of this plan." She concluded.
"What's wrong with it?" Aradhel asked, throwing his red robe over a chair before sinking into it.
"Besides being a-moral and all?" Rodwen rolled her eyes sarcastically. "How many men have you lost?"
"Over three hundred last I heard."
"That is more then is necessary."
"The elves must believe that this is real. That our people are dying."
"And how many more must we lose Aradhel? How many men will fall to the hands of the orcs at your command?"
"As many as necessary."
Rodwen glared at him. "You disgust me."
"You hypocrite!" Aradhel laughed loudly, spilling more wine. "You accuse me of being a-moral when look at all the men you've had! I could write a book! Have you ever actually loved anyone, Rodwen? How many men have been left alone at night when you suddenly change your mind on them? Lying in their beds naked and cold with no woman beside them, all because you've changed your mind? Hm?"
Rodwen's face was flushed with anger and her hands trembled in fists at her sides. "Only as many as you've had, Aradhel." She looked out the window. "And yes. I have loved before. Unlike you."
"You know nothing of love." Aradhel snorted, tossing his empty goblet aside.
Rodwen didn't reply only gazed out the window. After a moment's silence, Aradhel spoke again.
"Point of the matter is, you are marrying Pilimor and that's final. If Nenuial looses Annúminas as an ally, the orcs will be out of my control. They are far too large in number to handle myself. Not to mention they demand far too much money for this act."
Rodwen tried her hardest to conceal the tears that swam in her eyes. Pretending to shield the sun from her eyes, she wiped away the small rivers on her cheeks and moved to the door of her brother's room.
"You will have me marry even if I do not love him?"
"It is your duty to your people."
"And what of you?"
"Who and when I marry is of no concern to you."
"Caniel would die before marrying you."
Aradhel stood up at this comment and his eyes flashed dangerously. "Get out. Now." His voice was cold.
"Whatever you say." With that, Rodwen turned and left her brother.
Not long thereafter, there was yet another knock on the king's door and beckoning them in, Aradhel was pleased to see that the maid had found Dirum, who waltzed in with a sour look on his face.
"My lord." The old man said, bowing his baldhead slightly as he entered. His fingers were adorned with gold rings as he helped himself to some wine and his white robes were overlaid with a fur band, which wrapped diagonally across his body. "You wished to speak with me?"
"Yes!" Aradhel smiled, picking up his own goblet from the floor. "I have good news!"
"Good. Because I have bad news." The man said, with a sniff of his pointed nose.
"Well then, which shall we hear first?"
"Let's hear yours." Dirum's dark eyes were slit with disgust as he swallowed a gulp of wine. "Perhaps it will make my bad news seem less bad."
"Very well." Aradhel poured himself more wine before continuing .He paced around the room with an arrogant swagger as he spoke. "I have discovered who the leader of the ghosts is."
Dirum stopped in mid drink and stared with curious eyes at the king. "Who is he?"
"It is not a he, but she. Her name is Sírdhem." Aradhel said, studying the face of the man who now crinkled his forehead and chewed his lip in thought.
"I've heard that name before…"
"Indeed you have." Aradhel nodded. "Sírdhem was a village maiden of Nenuial in the days my grandfather was king. She was my father's lover if you remember correctly."
"Ah yes!" Dirum said with an air of understanding. "She was the half-blood Rochval thought knew of the whereabouts of Valinor!"
Aradhel nodded, taking a sip of wine as he paced. Dirum was leaning against the table, his goblet still full of wine. "When she claimed she did not know where Valinor was, he jailed her, remember? Then he realized his mistake. He needn't jail her; only use his son to retrieve the information from her. But my father was foolish and when he went down to get the information from her, he instead released her."
"You're grandfather was furious. Belegorn received a mighty good lashing that night." Dirum laughed a fake, thin laugh. "What a foolish thing love is."
Aradhel didn't respond to this only paused in his step momentarily before continuing. "When my father was king it took years for him to realize what a good plan seducing the girl was. And when he did realize it, she was long gone."
"But how did you find this out? And are you certain it is her?"
Aradhel smiled sinisterly. "I was walking down the hall earlier when I heard Caniel's child crying. When she never ceased, I went to check on her and found Caniel lying unconscious on the floor. At the time she wasn't talking or anything, but soon she started conversing with Sírdhem and I heard everything Caniel had to say."
Dirum sat down rather rigidly in a chair as Aradhel continued. "Apparently Sírdhem has been using Caniel through a series of visions. And today she was actually talking to her through these visions."
"What for?"
"Caniel is to kill me." Aradhel said with a wry smile. "Because Sírdhem is too far away to get here and do it herself in time."
"You think Caniel will?"
"No. And she knows she can't, that's why she was screaming and crying. Sírdhem was trying to convince her by telling her that I was using her to get to Valinor."
"Well then we must rid of Caniel too! She is on to us!"
"No!" Aradhel said sharply. "No not yet. She doesn't know whom to believe just yet. She is wary of Sírdhem's past, and yet everything she has been shown in the visions makes sense. No, Caniel is lost at the moment and posses as a little threat. Nothing more."
"But she will not reveal the location to you, now that she knows you are using her!"
Aradhel nodded in agreement. "She won't. But Sírdhem might."
"What do you mean?"
"Sírdhem is expecting me to seduce Caniel into telling me how to get to Valinor. But what if I tried seducing Sírdhem herself? While she was talking to Caniel in her vision, she said that had my father asked her where Valinor was, she would have told him. Again she was foolish in love. And that's why she killed him; so he could not ask her. And now she suspects that I will do likewise with Caniel."
"Aren't you?"
"Not anymore." Aradhel rubbed his forehead as though he were thinking hard. "What if I communicated to Sírdhem and instead seduced her into telling me?"
"But she is far away and will not easily be lead here."
"No. But what if I communicated through Caniel?"
Dirum's eyes widened. "Through the visions? Is that possible?"
Aradhel shrugged. "I don't know. But it's worth a shot isn't it?"
"And what if it fails?"
"Then we can send for her kidnap. Rash actions best be saved for later."
Dirum heaved a sigh and gulped a large amount of wine. "Wouldn't it just be easier to get the location from Caniel?"
Aradhel smiled slyly at the man. "It might. But now that she's on to us, it throws a loop in all our plans. And Sírdhem won't be expecting it."
"While you're on to her, shouldn't we rid ourselves of her threat?" Dirum asked, looking sternly at the king.
"I don't know how we would do it, unless we kidnapped her first and brought her here…"
"That seems logical to me." Dirum said sarcastically. "Then again you've never been one to follow logic."
Aradhel only smiled. "Kidnapping has many risks involved. Not to mention it may be wiser to lure her here through Caniel with the rest of the ghosts so we can rid of them all. It'll give the orcs something to do."
"That is if the communication through Caniel actually works." Dirum grunted, standing from his chair and making his way to the window. "And speaking of orcs, are you ready for the bad news?"
Aradhel raised his eyebrows and nodded, seating himself in a chair once again and watching his advisor with interest.
"The orcs are growing impatient. They are threatening to back out if no elves should arrive soon. Their troops in the east keep playing chicken with the aiding elves, and with no avail. As they lure the elves towards the city, the elves back off. And when they advance on them, the elves kill them. It is a loosing situation. Not to mention the ranks at our entrance are quite bored with nothing to do."
"They cannot back out!" Aradhel said in a flurry of anger. "They are being paid!"
"To which they are also demanding more."
"For doing nothing?"
Dirum nodded.
Aradhel threw his hands in the air. "They are already being paid thrice the amount my men are being paid! And it is my men who are fighting and dying for a cause they aren't even aware of!"
"I'm simply repeating their remarks to you, my lord." Dirum said defensively. "Nonetheless, something should be done about it if we wish to keep them here for the arrival of the elves."
Aradhel nodded wearily. "I will have Caniel send for the elves again. The letter intercepted from Balrant was out of date so we did not send it. But perhaps if I inform them that Aragorn has been taken by the orcs, some action will ensue quickly."
"One can only hope." Dirum nodded. "And what of their pay?"
"If Annúminas is in agreement, then comply with their wishes." Aradhel said into his hands where his face was buried.
"Very well. I will inform you of all that happens when we next meet. Until then, good day my lord," The advisor made his way to the door. "And good luck."
Legolas marched into Caniel's room angrily, tossing aside his tunic as he did so and slamming the door shut behind him. His blonde hair, which had been pulled back, let fly loose strands giving him a rather ruffled appearance. Caniel jumped from her spot on the chair and opened her eyes to see Legolas kick a chair angrily from where he was leaning over her desk, breathing hard.
"Legolas?" She asked quietly, not wanting to waken the child who was asleep in her arms.
Legolas turned around and looked at the girl with intense eyes. But upon seeing her fair face, his heart immediately lightened and he managed a small smile. Moving towards her, he ran his fingers over Aurel's head and kissed Caniel on the cheek before standing and marching back over to the desk where he pulled out a sheet of parchment and began scribbling in elvish.
Caniel watched him curiously before standing and placing the baby back in her cradle, where she wrapped her in her blankets before making her way back into the room where Legolas was writing.
"What are you doing?" She asked him, looking over his shoulder and reading.
"Sending once again for the elves." Came his short reply.
"Why? What is troubling you?"
Legolas stopped momentarily and looked at her. "Aragorn. He has gone missing and one of the captains has informed me that they speculate he may have been captured by the orcs."
Caniel felt her stomach knot at the terrible news and her face went pale. "Captured? Are you sure?"
"We have not heard nor seen him for almost two days now. And neither has anyone else. The last anyone saw of him was the day of the parade. And he was often wandering the walls of the city, so it wouldn't surprise me."
Caniel sat down slowly in a chair next to Legolas, who continued to scribble a hasty note to Elrond. "But the letter will take too long."
"We have no choice. Here," he said, handing her the letter. "I need you to sign it."
Caniel took the quill in a trembling hand and signed the letter. When she handed it back to Legolas, he excused himself and ran from the room to deliver the letter to the mailroom.
While he was away, Caniel was frozen in her chair thinking of the ranger and what horrid treatment he would be receiving if her were indeed in the hands of the orcs. Her limbs felt numb and her eyes welled with tears at the prospect of him lying vulnerable to spears and whips. Shortly after his leave, though, Legolas returned still supporting a grim look on his face.
Spotting Caniel still in her chair next to the desk, he knelt down in front of her and clasped her hands in his own. Gazing into her watering eyes, he smiled sweetly and kissed her knuckles.
"Caniel, do not fear for him. Aragorn is strong and will survive whatever predicament he's gotten himself into." The elf said quietly.
"What if the elves do not come?"
Legolas knew that this was a problem and hesitated a moment before saying, "I must ride to Mirkwood and speak with my father. Only I can persuade him to send aid."
This brought new intensity to Caniel's eyes and she looked at him in horror. "You are leaving again?"
"Only for a short time!" Legolas assured her quickly. "But I must. You know as well as I that he will not budge for anyone, least of all you."
"But he did not see your way when you were last with him."
"I think after his little confrontation with Gandalf he will be quicker to see reason." Legolas smiled slyly. "And he respects Aragorn as a friend. He will consider it. But I must be the one to speak to him. You needn't worry of Elrond; he trusts your word and will move Glorfindel to aid here. As for Lorien, I know not what they will do. I'm betting though if Glorfindel is moved, so too will they move Haldir."
Caniel nodded, chewing her lip. "When will you return?"
"In a few days time. I promise. I will only be gone to confront my father and then I will return."
Caniel nodded again and tried to smile. "I wonder if Aragorn still has his sword?"
"No man dare touch that ranger's sword, lest he wants his head removed with it!" They shared a quite laugh, both using it as a cover for the immense worry that now consumed them.
Just then, Caniel remembered her vision and hastened to tell Legolas about it. He listened intently, pacing in front of her as she replayed everything that was said and when she concluded, he looked solemnly at her.
"Are you going to kill him then?"
"I don't think I can!" Caniel said sadly. "There must be other ways out of this! For still we have no evidence to support anything. Only people's words."
Legolas nodded, feeling as though another weight had been added to the already heavy load on his shoulders. Averting his eyes from the ground back to Caniel, he was moved with pity. For even though much was placed on him, the real weight was on the frail girl in the chair, who looked on the verge of tears once again. Moving to her and pulling her up to him, he kissed her gently then locked eyes with her.
"Everything will work out Caniel. I'm here to help you." He kissed her again and held her trembling body against his own. "I promise everything will be alright."