Return to Duty

The full moon rising above the forest brought the end of the feasting and the return to the hard days of a Mirkwood winter. Those elves still remaining at their king's Hall now packed up their belongings and set out for their villages, or settled down to spend the rest of the winter in the settlements clustered around the end of the forest path. This year there were more doing the latter for the winter promised to continue as harshly as it had started.

Thranduil stood and looked out over the cold forest watching the sliver lamp in the skies, and its smaller sentinels, overtaken by a dark veil of cloud whose size and shape promised more snow by dawn, and debated with himself. His custom was to ride out after the midwinter festival and inspect their boundaries, to assess the damage already done by the winter to the villages, roads and riverbanks and note where more could be expected; though repairs could not be undertaken before the spring returned there was always much to be prepared during the later months of winter. In the days before the battle at the Lonely Mountain he would have shared this task with Legolas, he would have ridden one half of the boundary and Legolas the other. During his son's absence he had ridden it all himself, which, by virtue of the time it had taken, had meant less time to prepare. Now Legolas was returned it would be a relief to share the load again but the king was unsure that his son was yet ready to undertake such a journey, one that would take him into many of their more isolated communities. A journey that would perhaps leave him with too much time to dwell on things he could not change.

Yet if he did not ask him to resume this task how might he interpret the fact?

He sighed and wished, not for the first time, that he had paid more heed to Elrond's warnings on the subject of taking homeless children into his house or at least listened to them a little more carefully. Whilst he could not regret his actions on her behalf, for her mother's mother's sake if no other reason, it might have put him on his guard had he given them more thought. He did most wholeheartedly wish that he had paid more attention to the dangers sooner than he had, and yet what would he have done if he had seen them? Could he have predicted the nature of the thoughts and feeling being stored up without sign or warning? No he did not think he could, not sooner, and by the time he understood the depth of the harm done it was perhaps already gone beyond being repaired, certainly her conduct in Dale suggested that was the case.

He felt the pain welling up again at the memory and pushed it away, looking down at his clenched fist where it rested on the balustrade and cursing the clarity of elven memory. So, she would have killed him, why take so much hurt from that fact, he was no tender child after all. Had he not walked the world long enough to ignore such slights, certainly when he understood their cause?

Perhaps so, but he had never hidden from disagreeable truths and he knew that an echo of this hurt would live with him for many centuries yet. He had fought the desire to lash out and hurt in return once that first terrible pain had been pushed aside, struggled to be fair and compassionate to those whose unmanaged emotions endangered more than themselves, to seek no revenge. For the most part he thought that he had succeeded, though it had brought no easing of his his own distress. He knew that with more than five millennia of living accomplished it would not become him to behave like a spoilt child, but he also knew that he had the right to this pain and so he did not berate himself for it, merely acknowledged it and buried it under other thoughts and his duties to those whose lives he governed.

Speaking of which..

With another sigh he pulled his thoughts back from what was gone and could not be changed to the immediate needs of his Realm and his son and the matter of the boundary inspections.

So did he do the full tour of inspection as he had been forced to these recent winters or risk sending Legolas out onto the road alone knowing that he was still very far from being reconciled with himself? Nights on the road could be woefully lonely, as he knew only too well, so how would Legolas fare with only the trees to talk to, trees that he maintained he could no longer hear? Thranduil frowned at the moon, so many things to be weighed; true he could chose his guard with care but could not summon back the easy camaraderie his son has once shared with others, not whilst that son refused to accept the possibility of regaining it. There were one or two of his closest friends with whom some semblance of normality appeared to have been resumed but the number was small, far too small to make up the entire party, and would even that survive the constant pressure of others less generous presence? Leglolas was right that many, even those who did not know the details of Dale, now viewed him with some uncertainty. Yet without a push of some form was his son going to move past the barriers of sorrow and guilt that currently held him prisoner?

For a moment he wondered if she had always intended to cause this much pain, if this had been her revenge for her anger. He smiled bitterly into the darkness, it would almost be better to assume that she had, at least that way he could see some reason for it. Yet in his heart he knew that was not the case for she lacked the ability to see so far, nor was the matter the doing of some passing fate, for any sprite worthy of the name would have found something far less banal than this mess of childish dreaming to test them with. But test it was and he must find the best way through for all concerned, for no one else was going to do it.

Thranduil sighed and rested his elbow on the ledge dropping his chin into his hands, feeling the crown shift upon his head as he did so.

On balance he felt it would be better to resume sharing this task with Legolas, to behave as if his travelling had been nothing more than a duty set him. His report of those travels was not yet complete and he could finish what remained on the journey, that should keep him occupied during the hours of darkness; he made a note to himself to ensure that enough lamps were provided to serve that purpose. He frowned in thought, if he added a round of inspections of the old spider nests and the surrounding areas to ensure their continued desertion then that should be enough to keep him occupied when the boundaries did not. As for his companions, he would have to make what shift he could, there were probably enough of the guard who knew little of the events in Dale, or who had absolved Legolas of blame, to make up his personal guard, as for the rest he would make his wishes clear and expect them to raise no difficulties while on the road and about the Kings business.

Thranduil's thoughtful frown deepened as another consideration came to him; the matter of the route and area to set. It would not be wise to send him either north or east, for that route would bring him closer to those places where the sources of his grief were found. Certainly it would be unwise to place him near the road to Dale, for it was clear that he had not yet come to terms with his mistakes where she was concerned. Though it seemed unlikely he would seek her out for reasons of his heart he might do so in the pursuit of answers, for he was much in need of them. But such answers, if they were forthcoming, his father did not think he was yet prepared to hear. Though he doubted that the answers would be forthcoming even should the two meet again, for it was unlikely that she had yet faced the truth of the matter herself and until she did that she could provide no comfort for either of them.

So, that was decided; he would take the north and east and send Legolas south and west, no further than the mountains though, the land to the far south must be left for a better season if not left completely. He remained undecided about whether the darkness would return to Dol Guldur, whilst he wished to believe that it was banished for good something within him whispered that the last stand against the darkness had not yet been made. No, this was not the time to test that healing wound and so the mountains would be the limit of their inspections, they would wait for further information from those closer to the grim place and he couldn't expect to hear from Celeborn until early spring. Any further word from Elrond could not be expected until the middle of spring given that for the mountain passes would be slow to clear this year and the bitter winds would ground the avain messengers that might have made it through in a milder year.

'My Lord, you sent for me." The voice of his equerry came from behind him.
"Yes," he responded without turning, "begin preparations for the tour of inspection, I wish to be on the road before the the next phase of the moon has turned."
"Yes, Sire, will you be undertaking a full circuit this year or does my Lord Legolas resume the task too?"
The question seemed unstudied but Thranduil noted it with a tightening of his lips and strove to keep the expression of both his face and voice as bland as possible as he turned to face the elf hovering in the doorway .
"My son will take up this role as before, reflect that in the provisioning. Also, he has a report still to complete so make sure he is provided with enough lamps to permit it."
"Yes, my Lord."

Thranduil stepped back into the room picking up a map from the table holding it out to the equerry who crossed to join him.
"These are the two routes I propose, confirm that there have been no reports that might cause a change to be needed."
The other elf quickly scanned the markings on the map and nodded, doubting that a change would be needed for their king was always meticulous in his planning.
"Yes my Lord, will you go North or South, for there is the matter of the toll bridge and the third rapid to consider, always a sore spot with the men of the lake, might I suggest it would be appreciated by the Master if you oversaw that inspection."
The King nodded.
"I agree, I will take the northern circuit and Legolas the southern. Tell the master of the guard to prepare a list of all those available for this duty and bring it to me by the afternoon of tomorrow. Also send my son to me; I think you will find him in his quarters.".
The equerry dipped his head in response, his expression a diplomatic mask.
"Yes my Lord."
Then he left and pulled the door closed behind him.

The King of Mirkwood crossed the room and sat in his high backed chair before the fire, staring into the flames as he continued to turn the matter of his son's future over in his mind, His equerry was one of those who had not forgiven Legolas for his transgression in Dale, and though his king understood why and valued the loyalty behind the other elf's disdain it was not a comfortable situation, but he was determined that such loyalty would not carry a penalty to those of such a view. However much he loved his son he would not buy his peace at such cost. Even were he willing to it would be of little use whilst the boil of Legloas doubts about her remained unlanced.

He frowned at the fire. Sooner or later he was going to have to arrange a meeting between the two of them, for Legolas would not rest until he had seen her again, the only question was when and where for there was the compounding factor of Dain and his bitterness to allow for. A meeting in Dale might attract unwanted attention yet it was hard to see how it could be arranged anywhere else without drawing attention to her. He sighed deeply, he would need to ensure that any reason Legolas had to travel to Dale was genuine and easily explained if more damage was to be avoided. But there was yet time to decide the matters and considering how that might be achieved would provide him food for thought to while away the tedium of the coming journey.

Even so the time available was not endless, knowing his son's nature and mood the sooner it was done and over the better, for only then would he truly settle to walk the path back to himself. No, it would not be wise to let another year turn in waiting.

Thranduil reached out and filled his wine cup from the jug beside it sipping as he rotated possible futures in his mind; his own sense of the future was far less powerful than Elrond's but he had passed the point where he could deny that he possessed some such intuition, and that as the centuries passed it grew. Yet his certainty that the darkness would return had been with him since the moment he heard that the ring had not been destroyed. Much of the millennia since had been spent in preparing for it while at the same time praying that those same preparations were never needed. Now he was past such hope and whilst he did not think the darkness would return to the fortress this year he did not doubt that the time of its return would certainly come. They would all need to be strong when it did.

He pushed the darker thoughts away, time enough for those when the matter was resolved. As for the the meeting in Dale, spring or summer then, he could find some suitable feast or pageant in the city or Laketown to make the visit unremarkable. He frowned again as unwelcome memories stirred, keeping his son's actions equally unremarkable might take more thought and effort even in his currently chastened mood.

XXX

"So no further than the mountains?" Legolas asked.
Thranduil nodded.
"Yes, the weather is unlikely to be sufficiently benign to cross them with any ease at this time of year and I would rather we waited until a season when those sent will be able to move quickly and stealthily."
Legolas nodded, he could see the sense of that. His father continued staring down at the map on the table between them.
"Even so the winter has been harsh to date and the journey is likely to be arduous in places. I would suggest that you ride with me to the marshes and then turn south along the river to the foothills, check on the warning braziers, they were rebuilt but I fear that the rains of autumn and this winter's storms may have dislodged them, if so they will need to be repaired come spring."
Legolas nodded, knowing that if their people did return to their outlying villages in the south of the realm the mountain bonfires might be their only way of seeking help quickly if it were needed.

The king continued.
"A cycle of the moon should do it unless the weather closes in again, if it does then send me word. If it allows then ride west through the forest here," he pointed to a point where the trees grew more thinly, "spider colonies were established there in the darkest days and I would wish to be assured they remain deserted. Few villages lie in that area, but I would like to confirm the safety of any who might return. Then turn north and we will meet up in the clearing here," he tapped the map, "and ride back together making a more rigorous sweep of the this area, " his finger swept a circle on the edge of the road," where the nests were most densely clustered."
Legolas nodded again and waved his wine cup towards the map.
"Are these all the spider nests?"
His father nodded.
"All that are known of, no new ones have been discovered since Galadrial banished Sauron from the fortress."

Legolas gave a sad half smile and the comment.
"So they were coming up from there as … she... believed."
Thranduil seemed to review the matter before replying.
"There is no way to be sure I grant you, but I doubt it, not even creatures such as they would venture close to the shadow of that place. Nor did the Galadrial's people ever speak of seeing them there or in the southern most part of Mirkwood that falls within their view. No I do not think that they spawned there, I think it is more likely that the shade of Sauron gave them confidence to emerge from whatever holes they had sheltered in, perhaps in the lands across the river or from the Gladden Fields or further north in the foothills of the Grey mountains. I do not doubt they acted as his spies and answered to his command but he may not have summoned them directly and here is no reason to believe that Dol Guldor itself was their origin ."
Legolas frowned at his father's words, conjuring as they did one more recollection of the things he had ignored in the days he travelled after the dwarves with … her.
"It is true that we have not patrolled so far south in centuries, and in my time upon the road I came across no one who had seen their like elsewhere, nor heard even any reports of it.."
He sat back and sipped at his wine for a moment staring at the map, then he shook his head in confusion.
" Why did they remain within the forest to plague us? I wondered about when I was on the road, for none had been seen in Lothlorien by Lord Celeborn's report; nor by Elrond's folk and as I said I heard no stories of them in lands to the west or south."

The king sat back in his chair and smiled at his son.
"Little surprise there, after all where would they go? The lands to the south and east are wastelands until the borders of Rohan where the riders would have made swift work of them; and what hope did they have if they ventured west? Lothorien is not far from the edges of the forest but it is far enough for them to be seen and dealt with before they had crossed the open land, and there is nowhere there for them to hide or hunt, little in the way of prey at all and a wall of arrows and spears waiting for them at the edge of the Golden Wood assuming they reached that far, and with the river between them there would be nothing to shelter them from the stings."
He gave a sad smile.
"They stayed in Mirkwood because there was no where else that suited them so well."
Legolas sighed.
"More's the pity. So much damage done to the forest, and so much grief for our people."
"Yes, though it is true they also played a part in keeping more dangerous enemies at bay, for I doubt that they would have hesitated to hunt Orc or wild wolf if such creatures had come within their reach, and we know they considered dwarf to be good prey. It is true that their venom did much harm but already the forest is recovering, the trees growing strong and straight again, as you will see when spring comes."

"So will they return if the shadow does?"
Thranduil looked up,his expression grim, his eyes suddenly haunted by old memories. He spoke softly and reluctantly.
"Perhaps, bur I fear that we might face worse foe than they would ever be if Sauron regains full power. I have seen his allies before and would not wish to repeat the experience. But if such a war comes I do not expect to be granted the choice."
Legolas felt a shiver run through him as if some chill wind from the future had blown through the room and he nodded his own expression sombre. His father saw it and gave him a small smile.
"All the more reason to ensure that our lands and borders are kept on good heart, and to make preparation for future war even as we enjoy the current peace."

"True, and you are sure you would not prefer me to take the eastern route so that you may inspect the mountain border?"|
"Yes, the matter of the river crossing is something I must deal with myself, this year at least, for you do not know the new master of the lake and he might take it amiss if I send you to inspect something of such importance to him before you are formally acquainted."|
Thranduil lowered his eyes to the maps and kept his voice soft and calm as he continued.
" In the spring we will need to visit Lake town, and Dale too, to make sure the necessary introductions are made. A day or two in each should suffice, though Bard can be a good host and a few extra days there should be no hardship. But for now its best that you take the southern inspections."
Legolas felt his heart lurch at the mention of Dale, he had devoted much effort to not thinking of it since his return, though he had always known he would have to return there some time. His father looked up and met his eyes steadily and with a faint smile,.
"Do not be over concerned, for the men of the Lake and the City the battle is old news and Dale itself is much changed, many repairs have been done and much rebuilding. Ravenhill has been pulled down and replaced with a new lookout post shared between the men of Dale and the Dwarves of the Mountain You will find little to remind you of past battles.".

Legolas smiled faintly.
"Not everything is gone though."
Thranduil shot him a stern look.
"No, but put that thought aside for the moment there is much work to be done before that matter needs to be confronted."
"But you know that it must be?"
"I know enough of you my son to have no doubt of it."
Legolas looked down at the map again his eyes following the track of the Road towards the lake and the city of Dale. He spoke softy.
"You will not prevent it? If you were to prohibit it I would not disobey, on that count I have caused enough pain and I would not cause you more."
His father smiled slightly towards the bent head seeing the place at which his son stared. His own voice was heavy with resignation.
"It would cause you pain not to go, and that would hurt me as much. No, I will not prohibit it, all I would ask is that you wait until an agreed time and take all the precautions asked, for the matter is not as straightforward as it might appear."

Legolas looked up with a frown.
"So you have suggested, yet I do not understand why that should be so. Why it should be a matter of such seriousness you seem to consider it."
His father reached forward and began to roll up the map keeping his eyes on the action of his hands as he replied.
"I will explain when the time is right, but for the moment concentrate on the task in hand and leave other matters until we return."

XXX

The snow lay heavy along the road for there had been further falls since the last thaw and the wind had piled it against every tree and bush and filled in every hollow and rut, making the road seem beautifully smooth, an image that was very deceptive. Careful for their horses legs, and the wheels of the carts that followed behind them, their progress was necessarily slow and though the cold did not bother the riders unduly they knew that it was a trial for their mounts. As the light held the company wended their way with elven patience knowing that once they turned into the shelter of the forest a faster pace would be possible, and for the moment they were happy enough to enjoy the beauty of the winter world around them.

A world in which they seemed to be the only living things, for other than the wind and the occasional head tossing snort from one of the horses silence reigned and there was no obvious sign of life to be seen..It was clear that no one had passed this way since before the midwinter feast and the only tracks were that of the forest animals, mainly the larger ones for most of the small would be hidden down in holes or sleeping in well padded nests.

They had parted from his fathers party where then road headed out across the marshes towards the lake and they had now reached the point where all sight of them was lost Legolas pulled his hood further down over his face as much to ease the glare as against the wind for the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky, only the indigo shading on the horizon warning that the fair weather would not hold much beyond this day. Even so his father's journey was likely to be more arduous than his own for the wind across the marshes would be fierce and the land beside the river a morass of ice and mud that would slow them to a snails pace, at least he would spend much of his travel within the shelter of the trees.

Yet the scene of beauty did not lift his mood, not even the first signs that the branches and of the trees were recovering from the scars of the spiders venom could do that, though he could see that they were becoming straighter and and more supple again just as his father had told him. Instead the silence of the winter forest weighed heavily upon him and the peace and serenity of the winter wood seemed to mock him. To his regret Legolas had felt a dark mood settle upon him as they rode on, not unlike the one that had accompanied his ride home, and as the miles passed a sense of tension knotted his shoulders. At first he had wondered why, for nothing had happened to sink his spirits in this manner, and it had been something of a shock to realise that his dark mood derived from his leaving of his father. This was the first time he had been amongst his own without the protective hovering shadow of his father since he had returned and the loss was greater than he had anticipated 'I am like a child again,' he found himself thinking, 'wishing to cling to his parent's hand, fearful of what might happen, what hurts may come, if he lets go! Am I come to this then? Robbed of my self by a foolish fancy that I cannot put behind me?' His mouth tightened in anger at himself at the thought and he sat straighter in the saddle determined that no one would suspect his anguish.

But there seemed to be no reason for such fears, his companions had been respectful enough and he had started to develop the old sense of camaraderie with a few, even so the imp of despair had for the moment escaped from its chains and it rampaged through his mind at will. For the moment all the peace that he had regained at the midwinter feast seemed lost.

The clouds had darkened before the sun sank and they halted their days travel before dusk set in, setting up their camp in the shelter of a group of blackthorn bushes. As shelters were erected and cooking fires built Legolas rubbed down his horse and wondered how troublesome the hours of darkness would prove to be for him, wishing them gone and the day returned. As his fingers were busy with the fastenings of his saddle and the horse brush his mind was once again walked that last journey home and wondered if he should have turned aside and banished himself for ever.

But what would that have meant for his father, left wondering at his son's fate or grieving the abandonment of his kin for the company of others? No, he had to believe that he would find his way through and become once again the son and prince he had been before his world had been distorted and perverted by events that he would never have believed to be possible. Before his madness, as he was starting to think of it, before he reverted to some strange childish state that he could not explain.

With his horse settled and feeding happily he knew he should return to the fire and the waiting meal, for it would be there than the duties of the night watch would be shared out. The others would not expect him to stand a watch but he had every intention of doing so just as he would have done in the past. Listening to the cheerful chatter of his guard around him he wished for past days, even at the expenses of spider patrols. Yet still he dallied in the shadow of the horses leaning against the trunk of a small eldertree prey to his doubts and fears wondering how the others felt at his presence. Wondering too how he might best show that he had put the past behind him.
"My lord Legolas?" A familiar voice hailed him from the edge of the shadows.
"Yes."
"Are you not eating?"
There seemed to be faint note of anxiety in the voice that made him wonder at the speakers reasons for seeking him out. Had his father placed watchers amongst this company, was he afraid of what might happen to his son upon the road? He hoped not.

He pushed away his fruitless introspection and he stepping away from the tree responded as lightly as he could.
"Yes indeed I am for I am famished by the cold."
He stepped forward and clapped the other elf lightly on the shoulder striving for the right note of humour and ease.
"Forgive my tardiness, I was lost in thought. I hope you have not waited for me."
He turned and started towards the fire and the other elf turned with him matching stride for stride.
"What is it that concerns you enough to keep you from warm food and a bright fire after so cold a ride?"
Legolas felt himself stiffen at the question, and it took some effort to relax the sudden clenching of his hands, but he answered as naturally as he could and to his own ears the words sounded normal enough.
"Only thoughts of what we might find further towards the mountains. The king tells me that the spiders and the other creatures of the shadow are gone and yet I wonder where to and if they are simply hiding until such time as the world is more favourable to them."

The elf beside him nodded and responded as if his concerns were to be expected..
"Thoughts we all share." He said gravely."Each year we have made this trip we have wondered whether we will find the nests repopulated or the trees once again twisted in pain. But you have been away and have not yet seen how the trees recover, for you the fears must be stronger. Unless something has happened to call them back since last we made this journey then you need not worry, it appears that they have departed or are too wary to return above ground. At least down to the mountains."
They had reached the fire and Legolas sat down upon one of the fallen logs that had been dragged into a rough circle around it. With a smile of thanks he accepted the bowl that was placed into his hands, the scent of the steam rising from it like smoke on the chilly air rousing his hunger and calling up thoughts of happier days. The other elf sat down beside him and after a quick mouthful of the broth Legolas continued their conversation..
"So the king tells me and yet it seems strange that they would depart so quickly. Unless it was the power of the Lady of the Golden Wood that despatched them. Though neither she nor Lord Elrond mentioned any efforts to do so when I met them.."

Legolas felt a wave of tension run through the group elves clustered around the fire and wondered if it was the mention of his own travels that caused it or the long standing bitterness that the elves of Lothlorien and Imladris and had offered them so little help in the darker days. But in the blink of an eye the feeling was gone and his companion of the shadows was answering him.
"It may be so for they vanished swiftly enough. The trees recover most quickly near to the kings fortress but even further south the changes could be seen last summer."
Legolas reached out an took the bread being offered to him.
"Perhaps if this remains the case then this summer we might push further south and pull down the fortress now that Sauron is banished." He said thoughtfully before biting into the bread.
He felt a ripple of something again run through elves gathered around the fire.
"The king is in favour of this?" the elf closest to him asked slowly.
Legolas looked towards him and shook his head.
"At present no, but if the darkness continues to retreat then he might view matters differently."
The other shook his head.
"There are few that would advise him to do so, at least few who know anything of the matter." he said softly. "The chance to do so was past long ago."
"Have you ever been to Dol Gulder my Lord, or seen it at close quarters." the lady to his left joined the conversation

Memories of land days and nights spent watching the place surged into his mind and Legolas forced them away impatiently, turning to look towards the speaker as he replied..
"No, I have seen it from the Golden Wood and from the foothills of the Misty Mountains to the south, but no more than that, the king issued the decree that it was not to be approached before I had completed my training."
She inclined her head towards him.
"I thought that was the case, though I am sure you know of the history of the matter. I was in your father guard when he attended the Council that first debated on its destruction of Dol Gulder, at that time he was of Mithrandir's view and much in favour of the action proposed, fearing that to leave it would give time for the evil to tighten its hold. But as you know Saurman was of the opposing view, believing that any assault was unnecessary and that it might serve to awaken the lesser evils that slept there to the detriment of all, and his view prevailed. Both the Lady of the Golden Wood and Lord Elrond supported Saurman and it was decreed that the fortress should be left untouched. Your father was clearly angry believing that all would come to rue the decision, as indeed they did, but he agreed to be bound by the will of the others.

The Lady stared into the fire.
"But on our return journey it was obvious to all that the King chafed at the inaction and he commanded that we turn aside from the road we entered into the forest in the south, riding towards the fortress for several miles. We halted on a small ridge at some distance and made camp within sight of it's walls but with much land between us still. Yet even there we could feel it, a wind of hate and pain seemed to blow from it and the air danced and crackled with the power of old and dark spells. I recall there seemed to be no day or night as we camped upon that ridge, just a sense of darkness barely held at bay. There was a strange sense of enticement too, promises whispered into the mind of what it would grant to those who came closer. We closed our eyes and ears knowing what such promises would cost any foolish enough to listen."

The elf beside Legolas nodded.
"Aye, I was also there and I recall it well. The King stood away from the company for many hours, alone, just staring at the place with grief in his face and anger in his eyes. For a little while we thought that the king might ignore the Councils order and attack any way. Each of us prayed that he did not, and that he was not seduced by the whispered promises as many kings might be, for we could feel the teeth of it nibbling at our very souls. When the second day dawned and he came back to the camp and ordered us home there was not one who was not glad. Just as most of us wondered what it had promised him and what he had turned his back on. I was glad then that he had known the evil of old for I could not have borne for our realm fall under the sway of such a thing."
Legolas inclined his head.
"Then he is wise not to disturb it until we are sure that what lingers there can be defeated. Let us hope that day is not so very far away. But that being so do our people fear to return to their villages north of the mountains?"
He felt rather than saw the other shrug.
"Most do not, though there are few who have moved more permanently and have located themselves closer towards your father protection. Many know that the king believes that the darkness will come again, that is why he extends his halls and prepares to set traps within the wood,"

That comment came from across the fire and through the haze Legolas could not make out the speaker without it being obvious that he was looking to,
" Most of those who knew it of old agree with him. It make take a few turns of the year, or many centuries but it will come, all thanks to the greed and foolishness of men." A hint of bitterness seeped into the last words.
"Perhaps, and yet some of our own kind have shown no more sense or restraint where the shadow is concerned." Legolas replied mildly.
The one across the fire snorted his disgust.
"The Noldar! Their pride has brought nothing but grief to all of Middle Earth and yet they wonder why we do not want any part of their affairs! The same will be true of men. Worse maybe for they have even less sense and more arrogance."
Legolas looked down into his bowl wondering how to reply to that and if he was expected to.

"There was a time when it was not so. When the children of men were our allies." The Lady to his left took the task from him, her voice mild and thoughtful. "Perhaps such a time will come again.!
"Would that be to the good? That alliance cost us dearly," the other responded.
"Yet would any of us have left the evil unchallenged?" Legolas asked, "I know my father would not, for all his grief and regret at our losses."
The one across the fire sighed and there was resignation in the reply.
"No, for the grief would be all the greater should the allies of Sauron get a grip upon the world. But there is no fault in wishing it need not be so or that those who might have prevented it in ages past had done so."
"Then let us all pray that any further battle proves to be the last one." Legolas added quietly.
Another elf to his left spoke up for the first time.
"For many there will be no last battle from what we hear from the wider world. They say that most of the Nolder are travelling west to take ship, that few remain to defend the Golden Wood or Lord Elronds vale should it prove necessary Though maybe you know differently, for you have travelled there and seen for yourself."

Legolas was not sure how best to reply, for it was true that he had been a little taken aback by the reduction in their numbers away from Mirkwood. Was this what they thought he had been doing, reviewing the strength of eleven forces in the wider world? A good enough reason for his journey, and who was to say his father had not had that in mind when he had let his son leave. He smiled grimly to himself, indeed may have been on his fathers mind once the opportunity presented itself for his father was not a King to waste such things. But how to reply? How best to speak the truth without giving rise to worry. He chewed another mouthful of bread as he reviewed what he had seen then nodded.
"It is true that some have left to sail west, called by the sea as any of us might yet be. But those who would defend Elven lands remain strong enough in number for me to have no doubt those lands would be defended and held should the need arise."

As an answer it must have been good enough for the air of tension that had developed around the fire melted away and off to his right a little further from the fire he heard the strains of a harp soon followed by gentle voices that drifted out on the night air and ran over the darkness like a soft caress.

Legolas finished the rest of his meal in silence, the low muttering of the others around him fading into the background of the song, the familiar sounds as soothing to his mind as his father's voice had once been to his childish nightmare. Finally he rose and took his leave of the company with a light reference to the work he had still to do.

He retired to his tent to write a little more of his report in a more easy frame of mind than at any time since they had left his father on the road.

If only he had stayed there.