CHAPTER 1
THE COUNCIL
And so it was, that the council of the Elves was appointed to gather in Caras Galadhon, in the deepest places of the Golden Wood. It was held in absolute secrecy, and only the Elven lords of that time had knowledge of the juncture. No commoner was notified, nor members of the other races called, noble or not.
Out of the Elven lords, only Gandalf the White witnessed the assembly, for he had word to say about the matter, and no thought could be hidden from him, not even those of the most ancient Eldar sovereigns.
On September 20, 3020, only a year before the final parting of the ring bearers towards the infinite west, unaccompanied and grave came those who were summoned: Círdan the shipwright, lord to the Elves dwelling in the Gray Havens of Mithlond, once bearer of Narya, the ring of fire; Elrond Peredhil, lord to the Elves of Imladris, second to the High King Gil-galad, bearer of Vilya, the Great Ring; King Thranduil, Sindar lord to the woodland Elves of Eryn Lasgalen, son of Oropher; Gandalf the White of the Istari, Maiar of Manwë and Varda, bearer of Narya, which was entrusted to him by Círdan; and finally the sovereigns over Lorien, and hosts to the council: Lord Celeborn, the Silver Tree, noble Elf of Doriath; and Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood, daughter of Finarfin of the Noldor, and bearer of Nenya, the ring of Adamant.
First to talk were the hosts, as they needed to explain the motives of the council, known only by Gandalf, but not by the others. Mostly Celeborn gave the account of the signs and prophecies seen by him and his wife, as the Lady used the time to scrutinize the minds of her attending kin. When the report was completely unfolded, the faces of the lords were grave and stern with worry, but no signs of surprise were shown as they had all felt the darkness and threat drawing near, even as they did not know what it was, and the meeting had only served to confirm their qualms.
They agreed that something had to be done to prevent or ward off the upcoming dread, but when it came to decide what, they all fell into helpless silence, knowing that the time of their people was over, and their sail inevitable. Only Galadriel and Gandalf seemed to remain serene, waiting for the others' minds to settle so they could speak their plans.
"The world of men faces doom," spoke Elrond, his profound voice even lower from heartache. "A threat they are not aware of, and so they cannot fight it back. And yet we cannot alert them, for fright would destroy them as well, as their immature hearts cannot bare such knowledge. Moreover, we cannot even discern what is really coming their way, and so, how can we tell them to defend their selves? How can they tell apart friend from foe?"
The elflord's voice faded, and his severe face showed a weakness never before seen. From all the ones gathered there, he feared most as he had most to lose and to grief for; his foster son was leader and King to a doomed race, but mostly because his daughter, the Evenstar and first to his heart, had chosen to share the unsure fate of men, and was bound to suffer the threat being discussed.
"They cannot," said the White Lady, finally breaking her silence. "And I fear we cannot either. But do not trouble your heart so much, Elrond Peredhil. We all know you suffer for your daughter's decision, but there is still hope."
The entire council held their breaths, waiting to hear the wisdom of the Lady. "It is true that our people's time fades, and that we are appointed to leave shortly. But it is also true that many Elves are young and not yet weary of this land. They will stay for a time, time enough to aid the world of men in what's to come."
"What will they do without leaders?" spoke Thranduil, his prominent form standing from his seat, his fiery eyes shining underneath the crown of golden leaves. "I myself am weary of these lands, and long to look upon the brilliance of Aman, where a well-deserved rest awaits me. I have not the strength to stay and lead my people into yet another war, and I don't believe any of you do."
Gandalf blew a puff of his dear old Toby and cleared his throat. "Peace, King of the Woodland! Why don't you allow our hostess to fully reveal her thoughts? You may as well be surprised, or even pleased."
The wizard shared a conspiracy smile with the Lady, and so, she continued speaking. "Your thoughts and doubts are well placed, King Thranduil. None of us has the strength or the will to stay one day longer than what was appointed, or to wield battle against a force we don't even comprehend. We will sail, all of us, in our due time. But we all must also leave behind our legacy, our heritage and gift to men; and that we can do, with the aid of a young one who would lead the remaining firstborn, a King for all the Elves, who will carry our teachings and intentions, well beyond our final parting."
Still seated and deep in thought, Círdan the shipwright fingered his long, gray beard, a unique attribute among the Elven race. "A King to all Elves," he said slowly, doubtfully. "I know you have dwelt this world longer than anyone can remember, Lady of the Golden Wood; but remember that my days extend as far back as yours, to the time when the earth was young and the blessed trees still gave light in Valinor. Never before has such King existed, not even in the times of old; none has been able to rightfully claim such title, much less carry it for long. Elves are Elves, proud and bound to their blood. But Noldor are Noldor, Teleri are Teleri, Sindar are Sindar, and Silvan are Silvan. How can we unite them all? How can we make them forget the differences and discords of the past? And most importantly, whom will they follow? Would a Teleri follow a Noldor? I highly doubt such thing is possible."
"Once again you are right, skilled shipwright," said the fair Galadriel. "But only in part, for your heart lively remembers the disputes of old, and the quarrels between the races because you lived them, and were part of those times. We all remember and hold the bitter memories, but we are all ancient and weary as well. This is not true for the ones willing to stay; they are young, innocent, and witnesses to a world of change, where Elf follows man, dwarf and hobbit for the sake of the world he still loves."
"We don't love this world," continued the Queen, standing from her seat, appearing before the council, tall and bright, as in her days of a warrior princess. "But the ones staying behind do, and I believe in my heart that to defend the forests, rivers and prairies they care for, they will follow a brave and noble young one, regardless of his race. They will look upon his courage and loyalty, and they will be true to him, for he deserves it."
"And who is this young one you talk about?" asked Thranduil, still skeptical and unimpressed by the Lady's display of power. "Who will earn the trust of all the races? What deeds will he be forced to perform in order to impress the remaining Elves? Tell us your thoughts once and for all."
The Lady walked up to the golden-haired King, proud and confident she came to stand before the imposing woodland ruler. "He will not be forced to perform any feat, for he has already done enough to show his courage. Fear not, Thranduil King, you know this young one very well. He is one that pays no heed to races nor positions, one that showed his courage where no other Elf dared to, a defender of this time; your son Legolas, of the Nine Walkers."
A collective gasp was heard from the ones gathered there, save for Celeborn and Gandalf, who were well aware of the Lady's choice. A long silence followed, as the idea settled in their minds.
"My son?" barely articulated the dumbfounded King. "How can this be your preference? I love my son, but even if he carries blood both of Sindar and Noldor, he is a Silvan wood Elf in more than one way, and far from being regal." 1
The King started pacing back and forth, speaking mostly to himself, and explaining the reasons why his son should not be appointed to such burdens. "I tried to instruct him in the way of royalty, in the ways of Sindar nobility; but he rejected every attempt, and rather adopted the ways of the Silvan folk as his own. I doubt he can carry this burden, no matter how brave he is. He is not well versed in lore nor history, even that of his own heritage. He carries a bow and knife instead of the spears, lances, or swords wielded by Gil-galad, Turgon, and other Elf princes and kings of old. In every way he is a scout, a hunter, a woodland Elf with no care for the troubles of the lords and stewards of his race. How can he become one?"
"That is why he is perfect for this ordeal," interrupted Galadriel. "He is not polluted by politics, and yet he is brave enough to fight for what he believes to be right."
"This is a strange situation," Círdan said, not really addressing anyone. "Legolas has come to Mithlond more than once. I remember him to be tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely strong, hard and resistant to hurt. I believe he is indeed brave and loyal to his friends, regardless of race or title. I know him to be a singer of songs, undaunted and cheerful; but to hold the worries of leadership in such times doesn't seem to be a duty he will be fit for." He paused, letting a memory clear in his mind. "And yet, he learns remarkably fast, faster than most Elves. He became skilled in the art of building ships in one visit. Maybe that ability will serve him well to undertake the task."
"Wisdom cannot be taught," spoke Thranduil. "You may teach him manners, tradition, wit and skill, but wisdom is something acquired only in time. I doubt he can become wise in a matter of few seasons."
This time, it was Elrond who stood up, and everyone else listened closely, anxious to know what he had to say on the matter, as his good judgment was highly esteemed. "I knew Legolas long ago," he said, his eyes looking to the floor he stood on. "I greatly appreciated his visits to Imladris, and the friendship he held to my sons Elladan and Elrohir. This is so true that I indeed hold him dear as if he was my own blood. I know of his courage, reason why I chose him to stand for the Elves in the Ring Quest, and he proved me right by staying true and overcoming the perils and temptations that followed. Yes, he is indeed worthy of trust, and I wouldn't think of anyone else best to appoint the defense of the world of men, and therefore of my daughter's sake. But my heart would ache to load him with such a heavy yoke. He would have to lose his innocence, his joy and his freedom in order to be prepared to face the upcoming darkness; and every forest of the world would weep to lose his true spirit. He is indeed a free soul, and right at this moment he must be running under the stars of a summer night in the depths of Fangorn Forest, accompanied by his friend Gimli the dwarf, oblivious to the cares that consume us. Yes, he is the one fit for the undertaking, but if he does so, it will be against his will and nature, and I have not the heart to ask such a forfeit from him."
Gandalf rested his staff against the seat and leant forward, ready to give his advice. "Small a sacrifice it would be if he can stand against the untimely destruction of men. I traveled with Legolas; facing the worst dreads and doubts I came to know him. The ghosts of Men hold no fear for him, nor does battle dismay him in the least; and I know that he will do whatever is needed, regardless of his own wishes or sake. I can say so because I've seen him put aside his own needs and safety in order to achieve a greater good and to protect those he holds as friends."
The wizard looked around, scanning the faces of the Elf lords. "As for those of you who doubt his competence, let me give you an example so your minds may be at peace. You all know of the Battle of the Last Alliance, and how Oropher, grandfather to Legolas, was slain before the Black Gates along with all the champions of his household and two-thirds of the Silvan Elves. Legolas was but a child at the time, and the horror of such event should be engraved in his mind and soul, as it is in Thranduil's." 2
He looked upon the woodland King, whose face was contorted with apprehension, and the sadness of such loss. He would have never gone near that dreadful place in his life.
Gandalf continued. "And yet with these eyes I saw him charge against those very gates, blindly following a man without second thoughts or hesitation, even when we were beyond all hope. Against his fears, against his sake, he did so, for loyalty to a man; all because he was his friend, and had sworn to follow him even to death. That requires courage and nobility seldom found, and it made me think of Finrod Felagund, or even Fingolfin, great Kings of old. Such courage and unconcern for one's self are what makes a man or an Elf noble, not graveness, not lore, not blood."
None had words to object the wizard's, and so they fell silent, soundlessly nodding their agreement.
Gandalf leaned back. "So, friends, do we all concur with Legolas's ordainment?"
The answer was unanimous and definite. Extending their hands to the wizard, they all agreed to concede their kingdoms, birthrights and authority to the absent Legolas.
"Now we must dedicate ourselves to his instruction," Celeborn said. "All our time and energy should be invested in his preparation. But I have one more question: should he know of the prophecy and signs?"
The answer came quickly from Gandalf. "No. He will be told only what is absolutely necessary; enough he will have facing the cares of kingship. Of course we'll tell him something comes, but details shall not be discussed in his presence."
"And what of Aragorn?" asked a concerned Elrond. "Shouldn't he at least be informed? He could almost be counted as an Elf lord."
"No," said the Queen. "I do not doubt Aragorn's wisdom; but remember that the prophesied one is far greater than any man, and a man he is. Elessar will certainly help to defend his own land, but we don't know what will come first, if it will be enemy or friend. Let his own wisdom decide when the time comes, and let him face it with full strength, without the weariness of anticipation. His heart is set to justice, his mind to insight. I am sure he will choose the right path."
A dismayed sigh escaped the Lord of Rivendell. "Then I fear I have seen my daughter for the last time," he said. "For if we are to meet, my eyes will not be able to hide the truth from her. She would know, and she cannot keep secrets from her husband. It cannot be!" he said bitterly, losing his composure.
"It is all for the best," said Círdan, clutching Elrond's shoulder, and he nodded back.
"I know. It is just that I had promised her to visit her once before my parting. Now I am forced to fail my promise, and never to see her again, not even in Aman will I look upon her fair face. Ai! How I wish to see the brightness of Gil-Estel shinning through this darkened sky; only then would I feel hope, when the white Vingilot bearing my father, the bright Earendil, crosses the firmament again" Elrond fell on his seat, his brow rested over his clutched fist. "It is decided," he said sternly. "Legolas' instruction shall begin in Rivendell, with the aid of the Twin Stars. The art of war will come first; for I fear it is the skill he will need the most."
"So it begins," said Galadriel. "But first we must find him. I will send a company to Fangorn Forest."
................................
And the dark woodland of Fangorn was witness to an unheard event, as Legolas of the Nine Walkers was tracked and hunted like a wild animal by a company of ill-tempered Galadhrim soldiers. Like a criminal he was detained, and like a prisoner he was forced to march towards Lothlorien, much to the dismay and rage of his friend Gimli, who was even more short- tempered than the Lorien soldiers.
The dwarf had lifted his axe against his friend's captors, but Legolas convinced him to still his hand, knowing that a good reason was in order for Lady Galadriel to send such a hasty troop looking for him. He surrendered his weapons, and humbly followed the group; his only concern was to leave Gimli alone in the depths of Fangorn, as the company did not allow the dwarf to join them.
Gimli tried to follow the swift steps of the fleeing Elves, more from his own desire to look upon his beloved White Lady again than out of concern for his friend; but he had never been a good tracker, much less of the silent and light Elves, and so he was quickly left behind. The dwarf decided against going into Lothlorien unaccompanied, and he made his way back to Erebor, where he afterwards gathered a group of his household and friends to part towards Aglarond, the Glittering Caves, where he became lord.
So Legolas was taken to Lorien, and after ambiguous explanations and much beseeching, he, against his will, accepted the title of King of all Elves, only because he could not stand against the will of so many nobles, and he was forced to trust their judgment.
His instruction begun in Rivendell, then he was taken to Eryn Lasgalen, then to Lorien, and lastly to Mithlond.
The ones that had gathered in the council undertook the complex endeavor that was instructing the woodland Elf prince in the ways of a leader, up to the departing of the ring bearers a year afterwards and beyond; for Celeborn stayed yet for a time, bidding his wife farewell so he could help concluding Legolas's preparation. Along with him stayed Thranduil and the Twin Stars, and for two more years the instruction ensued.
Then, they all left Legolas behind and by himself, believing him to be ready and taking with them the last memory of the Elder Days. At their parting they all bestowed every blessing and gifts of great valor, relics of power, and heirlooms that confirmed Legolas's new and absolute authority over the Elves. A new name they gave him as well, Aramarth, The King of Fate, as Galadriel had called him before she left.
Aramarth then traveled to every Elvendom in Middle Earth, and called his people to follow him to Ithilien, where he meant to establish his Kingdom. Few did not answer the call, and his reign was born strong and quickly prospered. But as a result of the unceasing instruction, and as Elrond had feared, Legolas's spirit quickly broke, and he relented his freedom and joy of life to the cares of nobility; and as foreseen by the Elven lord, the forests wept his absence.
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1 Since the identity of Legolas' mother has never been revealed, and merely for the sake of the story I am assuming that she was of Noldor blood. After all, marriages between Sindar and Noldor were not all that uncommon, look at Galadriel and Celeborn.
2 Legolas' age is also undisclosed, so I took the liberty to assume that he was present at the time of the Battle of the Last Alliance, very young, but a witness of it nevertheless.
Next Chapter, as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading.
Elwe.
THE COUNCIL
And so it was, that the council of the Elves was appointed to gather in Caras Galadhon, in the deepest places of the Golden Wood. It was held in absolute secrecy, and only the Elven lords of that time had knowledge of the juncture. No commoner was notified, nor members of the other races called, noble or not.
Out of the Elven lords, only Gandalf the White witnessed the assembly, for he had word to say about the matter, and no thought could be hidden from him, not even those of the most ancient Eldar sovereigns.
On September 20, 3020, only a year before the final parting of the ring bearers towards the infinite west, unaccompanied and grave came those who were summoned: Círdan the shipwright, lord to the Elves dwelling in the Gray Havens of Mithlond, once bearer of Narya, the ring of fire; Elrond Peredhil, lord to the Elves of Imladris, second to the High King Gil-galad, bearer of Vilya, the Great Ring; King Thranduil, Sindar lord to the woodland Elves of Eryn Lasgalen, son of Oropher; Gandalf the White of the Istari, Maiar of Manwë and Varda, bearer of Narya, which was entrusted to him by Círdan; and finally the sovereigns over Lorien, and hosts to the council: Lord Celeborn, the Silver Tree, noble Elf of Doriath; and Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood, daughter of Finarfin of the Noldor, and bearer of Nenya, the ring of Adamant.
First to talk were the hosts, as they needed to explain the motives of the council, known only by Gandalf, but not by the others. Mostly Celeborn gave the account of the signs and prophecies seen by him and his wife, as the Lady used the time to scrutinize the minds of her attending kin. When the report was completely unfolded, the faces of the lords were grave and stern with worry, but no signs of surprise were shown as they had all felt the darkness and threat drawing near, even as they did not know what it was, and the meeting had only served to confirm their qualms.
They agreed that something had to be done to prevent or ward off the upcoming dread, but when it came to decide what, they all fell into helpless silence, knowing that the time of their people was over, and their sail inevitable. Only Galadriel and Gandalf seemed to remain serene, waiting for the others' minds to settle so they could speak their plans.
"The world of men faces doom," spoke Elrond, his profound voice even lower from heartache. "A threat they are not aware of, and so they cannot fight it back. And yet we cannot alert them, for fright would destroy them as well, as their immature hearts cannot bare such knowledge. Moreover, we cannot even discern what is really coming their way, and so, how can we tell them to defend their selves? How can they tell apart friend from foe?"
The elflord's voice faded, and his severe face showed a weakness never before seen. From all the ones gathered there, he feared most as he had most to lose and to grief for; his foster son was leader and King to a doomed race, but mostly because his daughter, the Evenstar and first to his heart, had chosen to share the unsure fate of men, and was bound to suffer the threat being discussed.
"They cannot," said the White Lady, finally breaking her silence. "And I fear we cannot either. But do not trouble your heart so much, Elrond Peredhil. We all know you suffer for your daughter's decision, but there is still hope."
The entire council held their breaths, waiting to hear the wisdom of the Lady. "It is true that our people's time fades, and that we are appointed to leave shortly. But it is also true that many Elves are young and not yet weary of this land. They will stay for a time, time enough to aid the world of men in what's to come."
"What will they do without leaders?" spoke Thranduil, his prominent form standing from his seat, his fiery eyes shining underneath the crown of golden leaves. "I myself am weary of these lands, and long to look upon the brilliance of Aman, where a well-deserved rest awaits me. I have not the strength to stay and lead my people into yet another war, and I don't believe any of you do."
Gandalf blew a puff of his dear old Toby and cleared his throat. "Peace, King of the Woodland! Why don't you allow our hostess to fully reveal her thoughts? You may as well be surprised, or even pleased."
The wizard shared a conspiracy smile with the Lady, and so, she continued speaking. "Your thoughts and doubts are well placed, King Thranduil. None of us has the strength or the will to stay one day longer than what was appointed, or to wield battle against a force we don't even comprehend. We will sail, all of us, in our due time. But we all must also leave behind our legacy, our heritage and gift to men; and that we can do, with the aid of a young one who would lead the remaining firstborn, a King for all the Elves, who will carry our teachings and intentions, well beyond our final parting."
Still seated and deep in thought, Círdan the shipwright fingered his long, gray beard, a unique attribute among the Elven race. "A King to all Elves," he said slowly, doubtfully. "I know you have dwelt this world longer than anyone can remember, Lady of the Golden Wood; but remember that my days extend as far back as yours, to the time when the earth was young and the blessed trees still gave light in Valinor. Never before has such King existed, not even in the times of old; none has been able to rightfully claim such title, much less carry it for long. Elves are Elves, proud and bound to their blood. But Noldor are Noldor, Teleri are Teleri, Sindar are Sindar, and Silvan are Silvan. How can we unite them all? How can we make them forget the differences and discords of the past? And most importantly, whom will they follow? Would a Teleri follow a Noldor? I highly doubt such thing is possible."
"Once again you are right, skilled shipwright," said the fair Galadriel. "But only in part, for your heart lively remembers the disputes of old, and the quarrels between the races because you lived them, and were part of those times. We all remember and hold the bitter memories, but we are all ancient and weary as well. This is not true for the ones willing to stay; they are young, innocent, and witnesses to a world of change, where Elf follows man, dwarf and hobbit for the sake of the world he still loves."
"We don't love this world," continued the Queen, standing from her seat, appearing before the council, tall and bright, as in her days of a warrior princess. "But the ones staying behind do, and I believe in my heart that to defend the forests, rivers and prairies they care for, they will follow a brave and noble young one, regardless of his race. They will look upon his courage and loyalty, and they will be true to him, for he deserves it."
"And who is this young one you talk about?" asked Thranduil, still skeptical and unimpressed by the Lady's display of power. "Who will earn the trust of all the races? What deeds will he be forced to perform in order to impress the remaining Elves? Tell us your thoughts once and for all."
The Lady walked up to the golden-haired King, proud and confident she came to stand before the imposing woodland ruler. "He will not be forced to perform any feat, for he has already done enough to show his courage. Fear not, Thranduil King, you know this young one very well. He is one that pays no heed to races nor positions, one that showed his courage where no other Elf dared to, a defender of this time; your son Legolas, of the Nine Walkers."
A collective gasp was heard from the ones gathered there, save for Celeborn and Gandalf, who were well aware of the Lady's choice. A long silence followed, as the idea settled in their minds.
"My son?" barely articulated the dumbfounded King. "How can this be your preference? I love my son, but even if he carries blood both of Sindar and Noldor, he is a Silvan wood Elf in more than one way, and far from being regal." 1
The King started pacing back and forth, speaking mostly to himself, and explaining the reasons why his son should not be appointed to such burdens. "I tried to instruct him in the way of royalty, in the ways of Sindar nobility; but he rejected every attempt, and rather adopted the ways of the Silvan folk as his own. I doubt he can carry this burden, no matter how brave he is. He is not well versed in lore nor history, even that of his own heritage. He carries a bow and knife instead of the spears, lances, or swords wielded by Gil-galad, Turgon, and other Elf princes and kings of old. In every way he is a scout, a hunter, a woodland Elf with no care for the troubles of the lords and stewards of his race. How can he become one?"
"That is why he is perfect for this ordeal," interrupted Galadriel. "He is not polluted by politics, and yet he is brave enough to fight for what he believes to be right."
"This is a strange situation," Círdan said, not really addressing anyone. "Legolas has come to Mithlond more than once. I remember him to be tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely strong, hard and resistant to hurt. I believe he is indeed brave and loyal to his friends, regardless of race or title. I know him to be a singer of songs, undaunted and cheerful; but to hold the worries of leadership in such times doesn't seem to be a duty he will be fit for." He paused, letting a memory clear in his mind. "And yet, he learns remarkably fast, faster than most Elves. He became skilled in the art of building ships in one visit. Maybe that ability will serve him well to undertake the task."
"Wisdom cannot be taught," spoke Thranduil. "You may teach him manners, tradition, wit and skill, but wisdom is something acquired only in time. I doubt he can become wise in a matter of few seasons."
This time, it was Elrond who stood up, and everyone else listened closely, anxious to know what he had to say on the matter, as his good judgment was highly esteemed. "I knew Legolas long ago," he said, his eyes looking to the floor he stood on. "I greatly appreciated his visits to Imladris, and the friendship he held to my sons Elladan and Elrohir. This is so true that I indeed hold him dear as if he was my own blood. I know of his courage, reason why I chose him to stand for the Elves in the Ring Quest, and he proved me right by staying true and overcoming the perils and temptations that followed. Yes, he is indeed worthy of trust, and I wouldn't think of anyone else best to appoint the defense of the world of men, and therefore of my daughter's sake. But my heart would ache to load him with such a heavy yoke. He would have to lose his innocence, his joy and his freedom in order to be prepared to face the upcoming darkness; and every forest of the world would weep to lose his true spirit. He is indeed a free soul, and right at this moment he must be running under the stars of a summer night in the depths of Fangorn Forest, accompanied by his friend Gimli the dwarf, oblivious to the cares that consume us. Yes, he is the one fit for the undertaking, but if he does so, it will be against his will and nature, and I have not the heart to ask such a forfeit from him."
Gandalf rested his staff against the seat and leant forward, ready to give his advice. "Small a sacrifice it would be if he can stand against the untimely destruction of men. I traveled with Legolas; facing the worst dreads and doubts I came to know him. The ghosts of Men hold no fear for him, nor does battle dismay him in the least; and I know that he will do whatever is needed, regardless of his own wishes or sake. I can say so because I've seen him put aside his own needs and safety in order to achieve a greater good and to protect those he holds as friends."
The wizard looked around, scanning the faces of the Elf lords. "As for those of you who doubt his competence, let me give you an example so your minds may be at peace. You all know of the Battle of the Last Alliance, and how Oropher, grandfather to Legolas, was slain before the Black Gates along with all the champions of his household and two-thirds of the Silvan Elves. Legolas was but a child at the time, and the horror of such event should be engraved in his mind and soul, as it is in Thranduil's." 2
He looked upon the woodland King, whose face was contorted with apprehension, and the sadness of such loss. He would have never gone near that dreadful place in his life.
Gandalf continued. "And yet with these eyes I saw him charge against those very gates, blindly following a man without second thoughts or hesitation, even when we were beyond all hope. Against his fears, against his sake, he did so, for loyalty to a man; all because he was his friend, and had sworn to follow him even to death. That requires courage and nobility seldom found, and it made me think of Finrod Felagund, or even Fingolfin, great Kings of old. Such courage and unconcern for one's self are what makes a man or an Elf noble, not graveness, not lore, not blood."
None had words to object the wizard's, and so they fell silent, soundlessly nodding their agreement.
Gandalf leaned back. "So, friends, do we all concur with Legolas's ordainment?"
The answer was unanimous and definite. Extending their hands to the wizard, they all agreed to concede their kingdoms, birthrights and authority to the absent Legolas.
"Now we must dedicate ourselves to his instruction," Celeborn said. "All our time and energy should be invested in his preparation. But I have one more question: should he know of the prophecy and signs?"
The answer came quickly from Gandalf. "No. He will be told only what is absolutely necessary; enough he will have facing the cares of kingship. Of course we'll tell him something comes, but details shall not be discussed in his presence."
"And what of Aragorn?" asked a concerned Elrond. "Shouldn't he at least be informed? He could almost be counted as an Elf lord."
"No," said the Queen. "I do not doubt Aragorn's wisdom; but remember that the prophesied one is far greater than any man, and a man he is. Elessar will certainly help to defend his own land, but we don't know what will come first, if it will be enemy or friend. Let his own wisdom decide when the time comes, and let him face it with full strength, without the weariness of anticipation. His heart is set to justice, his mind to insight. I am sure he will choose the right path."
A dismayed sigh escaped the Lord of Rivendell. "Then I fear I have seen my daughter for the last time," he said. "For if we are to meet, my eyes will not be able to hide the truth from her. She would know, and she cannot keep secrets from her husband. It cannot be!" he said bitterly, losing his composure.
"It is all for the best," said Círdan, clutching Elrond's shoulder, and he nodded back.
"I know. It is just that I had promised her to visit her once before my parting. Now I am forced to fail my promise, and never to see her again, not even in Aman will I look upon her fair face. Ai! How I wish to see the brightness of Gil-Estel shinning through this darkened sky; only then would I feel hope, when the white Vingilot bearing my father, the bright Earendil, crosses the firmament again" Elrond fell on his seat, his brow rested over his clutched fist. "It is decided," he said sternly. "Legolas' instruction shall begin in Rivendell, with the aid of the Twin Stars. The art of war will come first; for I fear it is the skill he will need the most."
"So it begins," said Galadriel. "But first we must find him. I will send a company to Fangorn Forest."
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And the dark woodland of Fangorn was witness to an unheard event, as Legolas of the Nine Walkers was tracked and hunted like a wild animal by a company of ill-tempered Galadhrim soldiers. Like a criminal he was detained, and like a prisoner he was forced to march towards Lothlorien, much to the dismay and rage of his friend Gimli, who was even more short- tempered than the Lorien soldiers.
The dwarf had lifted his axe against his friend's captors, but Legolas convinced him to still his hand, knowing that a good reason was in order for Lady Galadriel to send such a hasty troop looking for him. He surrendered his weapons, and humbly followed the group; his only concern was to leave Gimli alone in the depths of Fangorn, as the company did not allow the dwarf to join them.
Gimli tried to follow the swift steps of the fleeing Elves, more from his own desire to look upon his beloved White Lady again than out of concern for his friend; but he had never been a good tracker, much less of the silent and light Elves, and so he was quickly left behind. The dwarf decided against going into Lothlorien unaccompanied, and he made his way back to Erebor, where he afterwards gathered a group of his household and friends to part towards Aglarond, the Glittering Caves, where he became lord.
So Legolas was taken to Lorien, and after ambiguous explanations and much beseeching, he, against his will, accepted the title of King of all Elves, only because he could not stand against the will of so many nobles, and he was forced to trust their judgment.
His instruction begun in Rivendell, then he was taken to Eryn Lasgalen, then to Lorien, and lastly to Mithlond.
The ones that had gathered in the council undertook the complex endeavor that was instructing the woodland Elf prince in the ways of a leader, up to the departing of the ring bearers a year afterwards and beyond; for Celeborn stayed yet for a time, bidding his wife farewell so he could help concluding Legolas's preparation. Along with him stayed Thranduil and the Twin Stars, and for two more years the instruction ensued.
Then, they all left Legolas behind and by himself, believing him to be ready and taking with them the last memory of the Elder Days. At their parting they all bestowed every blessing and gifts of great valor, relics of power, and heirlooms that confirmed Legolas's new and absolute authority over the Elves. A new name they gave him as well, Aramarth, The King of Fate, as Galadriel had called him before she left.
Aramarth then traveled to every Elvendom in Middle Earth, and called his people to follow him to Ithilien, where he meant to establish his Kingdom. Few did not answer the call, and his reign was born strong and quickly prospered. But as a result of the unceasing instruction, and as Elrond had feared, Legolas's spirit quickly broke, and he relented his freedom and joy of life to the cares of nobility; and as foreseen by the Elven lord, the forests wept his absence.
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1 Since the identity of Legolas' mother has never been revealed, and merely for the sake of the story I am assuming that she was of Noldor blood. After all, marriages between Sindar and Noldor were not all that uncommon, look at Galadriel and Celeborn.
2 Legolas' age is also undisclosed, so I took the liberty to assume that he was present at the time of the Battle of the Last Alliance, very young, but a witness of it nevertheless.
Next Chapter, as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading.
Elwe.