A/N Complements of the season to all. I hope those of you on holidays are having a wonderful time, and those who are working are not too frazzled, May you all have a wonderful new year.
Arrival
They had trekked down several narrow pathways in single file and with the scouts keeping to the trees and soon they were deep in shadowed avenues of towering beech and oak. Trees which seemed untouched by the darkness for their leaves were green and full and glowing with life. To the left of them a river babbled, the sound a cheerful bell peal on the still woodland air, and all around them birds chirped and squabbled. Elrond found it hard to believe that evil lurked here, for the trees looked at ease and the sounds of the wood seemed undiminished.
"Would you not expect it to be silent if the shadow had returned?" He asked quietly when they came to a wider way and he was once again riding beside the elf lord.
That earned him an approving smile
"I would, which is why I am content that we leave your party more lightly guarded whilst we explore and that you ride with us. There is no other sign of concern but the tracks and there might be many reasons for them. The trees speak of something wolf like but they cannot tell us any more for their minds do not work in that manner
Elrond nodded; though he lacked the sylvan connection to the trees he could feel the awareness of the forest around him
"Perhaps a forest wolf?" He ventured
The other elf nodded
"That is my hope, for the forest wolves departed when the wild wolf came nearer and it would be a source of joy if even one of them has returned. In the days before the shadow fell upon us this land was forest wolf territory, and a large pack lived within these glades and beneath the hillocks beside the river, they hunted in forest fringes and out on the open land. My hope is that one or more has found their way back to their ages ago home.
He gave Elrond a warning look
"But have a care for we must pass one of the spider nests to reach our goal, empty some twenty five seasons but still tendrils of their webs remain and can catch at hair and cloak. They are hard to remove and they irritate the skin if touched, though the venom that once coated them has been washed away."
Elrond nodded, drew his cloak closer about him and followed in silence staring around him in curiosity trying to imagine the size and malice of the creatures that had invaded this peaceful scene. It was hard to do for shafts of the morning sun danced between the rustling branches, patterning the leaves with a golden glow, and flowers peaked from beneath every bush and fallen log.
Yet despite this calm and beauty he could see the pain they had inflicted as they drew close to the old nest, for the leaves were smaller and wore a dusty and tattered appearance whilst the grass was dark and tangled as if the blades were twisting in some silent turmoil
"Once the trees here were black with venom," the elf lord said quietly as he caught the others look, "and the grass was blood red, twisted and brittle and sharp as glass.
Elrond nodded his expression somber
"It is well that it recovers so quickly.
The elf lord smiled"The king spent much energy on speeding its release from hurt, for this part of our Realm was badly afflicted and it pained all to see it. It grieved him that he could not have spared it the years of suffering, and if truth be told he gave more of himself than perhaps he should have done, for it drained him at a time when he needed both strength and rest."
Elrond felt the other elf suddenly draw away from him as if he had said something, betrayed something that he had not intended to, which was probably the case. He recalled the sad demeanor of the prince during his visit and the tales of the rift between the son and father and gave an inward sigh, and then he ignored those last words as if he had not heard them. With another look around him he changed the course of the conversation.
"Was it here that Thorin Oakenshield was taken? Forgive me if I seem to pry in matters that do not concern me but he and his companions stayed a while in my home and I cannot help but be a little curious about their journey after than. Mithrandir has told me some part of it but there is much he did not know. Not least how they came to leave the road when he had told them many times that they must not do so.
His companion shook his head
"No it was not here, but closer to the palace. Had it been here they would have perished without ever their presence being known.
He looked around him with a reminiscent smile
"It was the last feast of the autumn moons when they came amongst us disturbing our merrymaking and frightening the young ones. A rare clatter they made too, no wonder they were pursued by spiders, though the spiders closer to the palace were fewer and smaller and more careful in their dealings with us, knowing their fate should they provoke us to attack. But the dwarfs were foolish creatures and emboldened them to follow where usually they would not go and to venture closer to our parties, so bringing danger to us where there should have been none.
Elrond nodded.
"They made a noise in my house as I recall."
The elf lord laughed
"Then perhaps their lack of sense does not surprise you." His smile faded. "The king halted the feast and sent out patrols to discover what it was that brought the spiders closer, for at that time we knew nothing of the dwarfs. The patrols discovered them quickly enough and took them, Oakenshield first and then the others; though at the time of taking them we did not know if they were the masters of the spiders come for some nefarious purpose or simply their prey.
Elrond smiled in sympathy
"Ah, disturbed your gatherings did they? I wondered how you came upon them in such a throng of trees. No surprise then that the king viewed them with distrust. But why did they venture so far from the road for I doubt they found a warm welcome?"
The other smiled slyly
"No welcome at all, for the king was angered by their intrusion and lack of care and much concerned as to their intent. Nor did their conduct help the matter, indeed it seemed that they wished to increase our suspicion of them rather than allay it. As for leaving the road, we never knew why for they never gave a fair answer to the question.
He sighed
"Oakenshield, as I believe it was, was surly and belligerent and refused to give any account of his doings at all, foolish beyond measure though it was for he had seen the threats that dwelt with in our lands.
Elrond frowne
"No account of himself at all? Taken in such manner he must have known how his actions might be seen.
"Indeed, for what else could any one of sense expect when caught in a place they had no just cause to be? Does a burglar expect to be offered a seat by the fire and a hot meal when caught?" He laughed. "But then he was a bombastic creature, full of his own importance; thinking of nothing but his treasure I expect and determined not to risk betraying it. Foolish as I say, for how could he think we would not know of the mountain and Smaug's hoard? But the king is patient and fair, some would say he treated Oakenshield too kindly for once he had him secure he was content to do nothing more than wait for the dwarf to come to a better sense of the situation. So he had him locked up to let him think the matter through, but it changed nothing still he refused to give account of himself.
Elrond smiled in memory.
"No he didn't seem the most reasonable or wise of his race. But I would not have said he was that much of a foo not when he had been warned by the wizard too.
The elf lord grimaced
"Perhaps we should have treated him more harshly, given him bread and water only, or left him bound, but the king ordered that they were to be fed and cared for." He shook his head sadly, "yet I doubt it would have altered anything. When his companions were taken they were no better in their sense or manners, rude and arrogant they were for all the trouble they had caused us. So the king set them to cool their heels too.
He frowned
"They claimed that they were starving and lost, but what travelers would venture into Greenwood without sufficient rations and other necessities? Though later we wondered if that were more truth than first we thought for they had little enough with them. We expected that they had weapons and food concealed and the king sent out for the areas around their capture to be searched, hoping that we might get some clue as to their purpose in coming here, but we found nothing. Yet they must have had help of some kind to hand for they escaped and made their way to the mountain, with dire consequences for many, not least Oakenshield himself."
Elrond nodded somber faced
"Aye so I have heard, he perished in the fight.
The elf lord nodded
"He died of his wounds, alongside his younger kin. He fought bravely it is true having thrown off the gold sickness, or so it seemed. Dain now rules under the mountain.
"Is he a good lord?
"That remains to be seen, but he is not struck by the gold sickness to any degree that I can see. He has been fair with the men of Dale and the Lake and dealt the treasure well and wisely, returning that which was not dwarf wealth to those it was stolen from, which Oakenshield had refused to do.
"There will be peace between you then?
"So it is hoped, but where dwarfs are concerned who can say, the story of the past tells that they cannot be trusted where gold or gems are concerned. Nor can they be relied upon to tell the truth, even to their own, or to keep faith with any other peoples. None have cause to know it better than my kin. Our king is wise and will wait to judge how much Dain can be trusted, but he will give him no cause or justification for complaint while he decides."
By this time they had arrived at the edge of a wide glade where a small rocky outcrop hid a chamber below the tree roots. An elf was backing away from the entrance, his hand raised to prevent others approaching. He turned his head and spoke softly to the guard nearest to him, who turned away and approached with a smile
"Four young cubs my lords and mother not far away I'd surmise. Best be gone when she returns for I'd not cause her to feel the need to defend her young ones.
"Forest wolf then?
"Aye my lord and a fine tangle of little legs and tails. We have not woken them but best we go quickly for they d
not know us now, so long have they been gone, and they will give voice if they wake and catch our horses scent.
The elf lord nodded and the party turned and headed back towards the ones they had left
"Life returning then, that is good to hear." Elrond said softly.
"Yes.£
That was the only response but there was something in the accompanying look that left the lord of Imladris feeling chastened and they finished the ride back to his party in silence.
xxx
The reassembled party had ridden for an hour or a little more when Elrond first realised that the nature of the forest had changed. Now they rode through glades where grass was lush and the leaves on trees glowed with life and light. Flowers in delicate spring colours still bloomed in great profusion and some of the trees were also sporting flower alongside their leaf. Bird song filled the air and the scent of burgeoning life was all around them. At this moment he could understand the passion for their forest that had kept Thranduil's people fighting for most of this age.
Elrond turned to their guide with a look of wonder on his face.
"It does not seem as if anything has ever been amiss." He breathed as if afraid to break the spell of the great trees.\\
The elf lord smiled.
"Here there has not been, for we are now within the influence of the king and within that the shadow never prevailed. No spider ever dwelt here, nor warg. No orc has ever entered these glades. Those who ventured near were soon dispatched."
Elrond, well aware that they had more than a days' ride remaining to the Kings Halls, felt his eyes widen in surprise as he stared at the other elf.
"The Kings power stretches here? I confess I had not expected his influence to reach so far, nor for it to be so complete."
The elf lord's smile widened.
"He is our king, the lord of the wood, and has been for many circuits of the sun, his links to the forest are strong and deep and his power is great."
A shadow crossed his face.
"In the darkest of days he spent much of his energy in protecting our home by the quickness of his mind, the power of his sword arm and the strength of his light. It is one reason why Oakenshield's intrusion was so grave, for he and his companions placed a greater burden upon the king at a time when, as the seasons turned towards winter, the declining life force within the forest made it more vulnerable to the darkness."
Elrond sighed softly.
"Yet Oakenshield would not have realised that."
The elf lord inclined his head in acknowledgement.
"Perhaps not, but from all that I know of that event I do not think it would have changed matters if he had. The lust for gold must have already had a firm grip upon his throat; why else would he think to risk the dragon's wrath?"
Elrond shook his head.
"I cannot say, though we spoke of Smaug a little and Mithrandir seemed to bless his venture. He had a map with runes that he wished me to resolve for him, I thought no more of it than that. I don't pretend that I approved of his intentions, much though I dislike dragons, but I did not think that he would do anything as truly foolish as he did. But then I did not know that the wizard would need to abandon them to carry out their plans alone. Had I suspected that would be the case I would have warned your king, but I did not."
The elf lord said no more but was taken by a sudden stillness before he raised his hand signalling them to halt. As they did so Elrond caught the sound of others approaching through the trees, he looked towards his guides but none seemed perturbed and so he settled himself to wait and see what was ahead.
Within a moment or two another party emerged from within the shadow of the trees. This group numbered no more than six but was led by one whose face was familiar, the king might still be otherwise occupied by the prince had found an opportunity to greet them. As they approached Elrond looked closely at the king's son noting with considerable interest and relief that the cloud of darkness that had hung around him during his brief visit to Imladris was considerably reduced, though not fully dispelled. At the time of his visit Elrond had taken that cloud, and the dimming of his light, to be nothing more than grief for the losses of his kin at the battle, only later had he come to think it might have another cause. Now he was sure of it, though grief there had no doubt been there was something more, something that was still unresolved and at war within the prince. Yet the blue eyes that met his as he greeted them were unclouded and welcoming enough, the hint of reserve that Elrond felt could be explained my many things and yet in his own mind he was sure it was related to the battle and his visit of that time.
The prince came forward of his escort and inclined his head in welcome.
"My Lord Elrond, welcome to my father's Realm, welcome to Greenwood."
The words were formal enough but prince's voice was warm and light.
"I trust your journey had been without mishap. My father would have come out to meet you here but the events that prevented him from greeting you at the forest gate still are not resolved and his presence is required at the Palace. I regret that I too will be unable to ride with you but neither my father nor I would have you go further without one of us greeting you."
Elrond returned the greeting with a bow and replied as formally.
"Prince Legolas, it is kind of you both to show such concern but I well understand the weight of duty and would not have you drawn from it for any need of ours. Your people have been most careful of our safety and comfort, the welcome has been more than generous."
Legolas smiled and moved closer, his guard waiting where they were.
"I am glad that you have found all you needed and that no danger has assailed you."
He waved a hand at the forest behind them and spoke softly.
"Most of the creatures of the fortress in the south have been killed or driven away but there are some whose tenacity is great and who try to return when they think we are otherwise occupied. Orc are little trouble since the battle it is true, my father's information is that the few who survived the hunt have withdrawn to Gundebad to lick their wounds, and a careful watch is now kept upon those mountain passes." He met Elrond's eyes in long straight look. "We will not be caught unawares again."
Again Elrond felt the faint hint of reproof and hid a sigh. He nodded meeting Legolas's look with a faint depreciating smile.
"I would hope that none of us will be." He replied equally softly.
Legolas held his gaze for a moment then his smile widened slightly.
"Indeed, I would join you in that hope."
Elrond felt a momentary surprise, for it had seemed for just a second that he was facing Thranduil again on the slopes of Mordor. Then the impression was gone and Legolas's look and tone was his own again."But come, we have a small camp close by with tea brewing and bread if you would have some."
"Tea sounds tempting indeed," Elrond responded. "We would be most glad to join you for a while if it meets with our guide's approval.
"The prince laughed at that.
"We have fresh baked sweet bread and the first spring teas sent by my father for your refreshment and enough of them for all, so I doubt that they will disapprove of the halt."
A new voice came from behind Elrond and the surprise of the tone suggested some disbelief on the speaker's part.
"Enough for all! Your father treats his warriors well then?"The prince did not miss the implication it seemed for there was there a frown between his brows as he looked towards the owner of the voice.
"Of course, why would you think otherwise? My father may be king but he is also a warrior of centuries standing, he has stood in battle beside many you will meet here and knows well the difficulties and dangers they face in defending our Realm and kin. If there is aught that he can do or give to make their lot easier or less harsh he will do it with a grateful heart."
"My Lord, no criticism of your noble father was intended." Elrond broke in quickly suppressing another spurt of irritation at his companions, glad that it was not Estel that had spoken in such a manner. "Though I confess I marvel at how he contrives to supply such delaines so far from his stronghold. I look forward to discussing the management of supply lines with him for no doubt he has learned much in recent centuries that we could benefit from, if he is happy to share the lessons." He smiled ruefully. "Indeed Lord Glorfindel will berate me for many years to come if I do not make the most heartfelt pleas for such learning. He, like your father, understands the need to provide for those who defend our lands and of the hardships and difficulties they face in doing so.
The frown faded from the prices face but a hint of reserve entered his voice and his responding smile was faint.
"My father and Lord Glorfindel would find much common ground I am sure. I do not doubt that my king would be happy to such share lessons we have learned in our years of fighting the enemy on our doorstep that might be of assistance to him."
For a moment it was Thranduil who was before him again, the Thranduil he had last seen at the Council meeting when they had discounted his claims that the Necromancer was Sauron returned. Elrond found himself wondering what the Thranduil who had fought the shadow of evil for more than half an age since that meeting would be like when they met. He inclined his head with a smile.
"For which I can offer his thanks in anticipation."
Legolas looked at him for a long moment then his smile widened a little and he inclined his head in return.
"Then let us test how well our supply lines have fared this time."
He looked towards the elf lord who sat in silence beside Elrond with a far warmer smile.
"Come, we will lead the way. Not far and you will smell the bread for yourselves."
With that he turned and returned to his guard. The elf lord indicated for Elrond to precede him and the two parties moved towards the pleasure of tea and honey bread as quickly as the trees allowed.
xxx
Estel rode in silence, ignored by his companions from Imladris and too uncertain to begin any conversation with their guides. Elrond was riding beside the prince as became the leader of their party and truth be told Estel was glad of it for the disapproval of his guardian for the most recent breech of his instructions had been painfully obvious. How many times he had warned them to be on their guard? Too many to excuse any for forgetting, and he was glad that he had not been the one at fault. His mind slipped back to the gathering called by Elrond several days before they left wondering at the recent incautious remark for he had been blunt enough in terms if his expectations of those who traveled with him.
"You may have heard stories of Thranduil that do him no credit, that paint him as harsh and proud and quick to anger. You may think this to be true for none of you here have ever known him. But I have known him, in both war and peace. I stood with him before the gates of Mordor at the end of the last age when he was first Prince then King. I stood in his Halls when they placed the crown upon his head and walked in his forest at the time of the Watchful Peace. Having known him I tell you to put those stories from your mind, for that is all they are, childish stories, told by the foolish to impress an audience who know no better and whom they also take for fools. Told too by those less able than he, those with a grievance, those he has thwarted or bested, and there are many of those for Thranduil is as strong and quick of mind as he is of body, and he is a warrior of some renown amongst those who truly know of such things."
He had looked around him, the firelight glinting red upon his hair and deepening the shadows of his face, the sorrow of memory haunted his eyes and his words had been as grim as his appearance at that moment.
"He knows the Enemy well and has fought him across two ages of the world; for much of this age he has waged that war almost alone, much to my regret. Had we minded him better when he told us of the danger within his forest Sauron would have been taken whilst he was still weak, he would not have escaped to the east and our situation now would be less precarious. But we did not listen and some of the things that were said of him and his people at that time have the power to drawn shame from me even now. I would have nothing more added to our roll of offence against him. If you ride with me then you must put all ill that you have heard about him from your minds. You need only to remember is that he is a king chosen by his people to whom he is unswervingly loyal."
He had looked each of them in the face and his normally kindly voice was hard as winter frost as he continued.
"Thranduil is a great king whose leadership has kept his Realm whole and happy despite the battles that they have faced. I would have you remember that at all times, remember too that any insult to him is an insult to his people and any slight to them is a slight against him. If you cannot set aside whatever slurs you may have heard then tell me now and I will excuse you this duty. If you still chose to travel with me then guard your tongue. Keep silent if that is proving hard for I would not have him given any further injury or cause for complaint against us. I have chosen you because he does not know you and because I trust you to be mindful of my words. If you fear that my trust may be mistaken then tell me now and there will be no offence."
None had stepped aside of course though it was now clear that at least one of their number should have done so. No wonder Elrond was angry, for it did them no honour and there could be no saying how it might influence the King in the matter of what ever boon it was that his guardian sought. Estel wished that he knew more of that for it was his abiding fear that he might be the one who roused the Kings anger.
A fear that was not eased by this meeting with the Prince.
He had met Legolas just once before this, during his visit to Imadris some five or so years ago. Then he had seemed approachable enough if a little more reserved than most who visited them. Nor had the power of the last homely house eased whatever burden he laboured under, a fact that marked his visit out as unusual in Estel's mind. That he had carried a burden was betrayed by the way that Elrond had watched him and the look of sorrow and despair that settled upon the prince's face when he thought himself unobserved. He recalled that he had come upon him once beside the great waterfall so lost to his thoughts and this unspoken pain that he had not heard the approach and Estel had been sure that much of the dampness on his face was from tears not the spray.
Yet there had been times when he was companionable enough, evenings in the Hall of Fire when they had talked of music and dance, of art and poetry and of Estel's growing proficiency in weapons. On several occasions Legolas had joined him in practice and the prince's skill with the bow had left him speechless and with a burning desire to improve. He had tried to express his admiration but his stumbling words had brought the sadness back to the prince's eyes as he had waived the praise away saying that his skill was naught beside his father's and his lords. Estel had pondered long on why the sadness had returned then but never found an answer, and his tentative question to his foster father on the matter had brought a kind but firm rebuff. But in all his moods in those days at Imladris that prince had not been this prince. This one had an air of authority about him that had not been there in that other one, a calm certainty of bearing that verged on power. A dignity too that in some way reminded him of Elrond, and it suddenly came to him to wonder how many circles of the sun the Prince of the Greenwood had seen. Far, far more than his own eighteen, perhaps more than those of their own party. What, then, must he have made of a mortal who had lived so little and all of it in the shelter of Elrond's power?
As he watched the straight back before him, the graceful turn of his head as Legolas looked towards Elrond, Estel found himself wondering, 'if this is the Prince what, then, is the king?'
xxx
It was the middle of the next day that they finally approached the Palace. The ground had started to rise not long after they began the mornings ride, and it continued to rise gradually but inexorably as they wended their way through the trees. The sound of a river and of falling water grew louder as they progressed, and the trees thinned a little allowing more sunlight to filter through the bright green leaves of the beech and oak that towered above them.
The prince had left them at dawn to attend to other business in the forest realm and they continued under the protection of their escort and the dark haired elf lord who still had offered them no name. All of them had wondered at that and what, if anything, it might mean for their reception amongst the Sindar populations of the forest; for all of them knew the difficult history between the Noldar and Sindar and the strained relationships that persisted even to the current day. Estel frowned as he thought of it. Some of the Sindar, so Elrond said, considered all Noldar complicit in the kin slayings and many who did not had little desire to live in any proximity to them, considering them subject to the same arrogance and weakness that had driven Feanor's brood. He looked towards Elrond chatting quietly with their escort and wondered what he thought on the matter given that he had been raised by two of them, and what part that played in his dealings with Thranduil.
The road became wider as they grew closer to the kings Halls and the sound of rushing water drowned out the birdsong. Finally they turned a bend and there stretching before them was an avenue of trees, beeches as tall as any Estel had ever seen. At the end of it, a quarter of a mile or so before was them, was a clearing in which the sun danced. At the far side of it a river wound its way around the foot of a great hill clothed in trees, the sun flashing all the colours of the rainbow above the water that tumbled down its slopes. A bridge spanned the river giving access to the foot of the hill where wide stone doors could just be seen guarded on both side by armoured figures. The elf lord raised his had for them to pause and behind them Estel heard the sound of a horn...
He saw the guards before the doors change their stance and on the slope immediately above them archers appeared. The horn sounded again and this time another answered it from the hill, and their guides began to move forward. As they entered the avenue he heard the horn sound from behind him again and as the responding call sounded the guards across the bridge stepped back and the doors swung open.
On reaching the clearing his own party halted as a group of elven guards appeared from within the stronghold and marched forward to line the bridge. Estel drew a deep breath for these guards moved like none he had seen before, graceful as deer and in perfect step, moving as if they were part of each other. When they had taken up their positions the horn on the hill sounded once more, a different note this time, and from within the shadows behind the door another group of elves emerged, first four more guards then four elf lords, richly cloaked. For a moment they stared towards the party approaching before the horn sounded another note, different once again, and the group parted to allow another figure through, a figure followed by two more elf lords and four further guards who ranged themselves at his back. The horn behind him sounded again and the call was returned at which point the central elf moved forward and halted at the edge of the bridge, the elf lords ranging themselves at his back and sides. The sun glinted on his golden hair and sparkled in the white and green gems that edged his pale green tunic. With a sudden tremor in his stomach Estel realised that he was looking at King Thranduil.
Slowly their party moved forward, their guides falling back to allow Elrond to advance to the front of them, and at a gesture from his guardian Estel moved to ride behind him. At the edge of the bridge they halted and Elrond bowed his head in acknowledgement of the waiting figure. Thranduil, for Estel would not have doubted his identity even without the crown of flowers upon his head, acknowledged the bow.
"Welcome Elrond Lord of Imladris. We are pleased to see you within our Realm again. I trust that your journey has been uneventful and that your time within in my Halls will be both peaceful and merry."
The voice was deep and musical and carried without any apparent effort on the part of the speaker.
"Thank you, O King of Greenwood." Elrond replied formally. "Uneventful enough and I thank you for your care on our passage through your lands, for I doubt we would have made so speedy a journey unaided. Might I make my companions known to you?"
Thranduil inclined his head and Elrond turned and indicated each elf of his party as he named them, and though his voice was calm and easy they all felt his eyes upon them as he presented them to the watching king. But nothing was said or done other than he had ordered and each of them bowed in silence to the king who answered their salute with a small inclination of his head.
As the introductions were conducted Estel sat with his eyes respectfully lowered, but not so much so that he couldn't observe the figure before the palace gates from under his lashes. What he saw caused his heart to race and sweat to form on the palms of his hands, for while he did not know what he had expected of this king he was sure it was not the lord who stood before them. Estel had thought the prince of Greenwood to be one of the fairest elves he had seen and yet the son's beauty was outstripped by that of the father, and it was with considerable shock that Estel realised that the King of Greenwood reminded him greatly of Lord Glorfindel. Like him Thranduil was tall, even for a Sindar lord, probably more than half a head taller than Elrond, he was also wider in the shoulder than most elves Estel knew and his neck was long and strong. Nor could the rings upon the slender fingers that curled around the carved wooden staff in his right hand disguise the tell tale signs of a powerful grip. 'A swordsman then as well as an archer like his son,' some distant part of his mind noted. Yet despite the kings size and the many hints of physical power he displayed he had all the elegant grace of the Eldar. If his father had been from the same mould it was less strange that the scattered woodelves had sought him, a prince of the Sindar, for their king, nor surprising that this son had been given the father's crown upon Oropher's death at Dagolad.
Yet Thranduil was unlike other Sindar Estel had seen in that his hair was gold rather than silver, not the blazing August sun gold of Glorfindel but the paler tone of an earlier sun, spring rather than full summer. Fitting, then, that his head was circled by a crown decked with woodland flowers and the robe that trailed behind him was woven with a pattern of new leaves. But what set Estel's heard pounding more than any particular aspect of his look was his stance, for all the glorious robes and sparkling gems could not hide the sense of danger about him, an aura that was also reminiscent of Glorfindel and the few other elf lords of the previous age that he had met. Yet he was more regal than they, more reserved and distanced than they, the mark of a king as Elrond had told him and one that would have singled Thranduil out amongst any crowd of elf lords however noble. Even at this distance Estel could sense the power within him.
Elrond waived Estel to come to take his place beside him and he realised with a sinking heart that all of the accompanying Imladris elves had been introduced and his turn was upon him.
"This is my ward Estel."
Elrond said, turning towards the king, dark eyes meeting blue ones with a look of meaning that none of the others saw or would have understood if they had.
Estel rode forward and halted beside his guardian, his heart hammering so hard that he was sure that all the elves could hear it. He drew a deep breath and raised his eyes to greet their host as firmly as he could, though he knew himself to be terrified; in that moment Thranduil seemed to fill the world for there was a majesty about him that spoke of years of rule and responsibility. Now that he could see him better Estel saw that the Elven king had a fey look that sat strangely with the hints of physical power, though he could not be sure from where the impression sprang. The king's eyes were large and luminous it was true, and the same blue as his sons, the shade of a summer sky, yet there was nothing hazy or dreaming about them and meeting them Estel felt the force of an intelligent, powerful and enquiring mind. Whether it was from that mind or the light of him, stronger than the younger elves of Imladris, that the sense of authority originated, he could not tell but it was strong, so strong that Estel felt that a word from this king would freeze his blood and shrivel his heart if that was his intent. With some effort he gathered his wits and bowed, speaking the words that Elrond had given him to say at this time wanting only for the king's eyes to turn away from him.
"My king, I thank you for allowing my visit to your Realm and for your welcome."
Thranduil looked at the youth closely seeing a slim figure dressed in the colours of Imladris. 'He looks as if a sudden wind would blow him away; and frightened too' he thought as the boy's words drifted on the breeze. 'Was Isildur ever this vulnerable, this untried? I don't recall him being so, have I forgotten or was I too young and untried then to see it? No matter though he is not Isildur and what Elrond's purpose in bringing him here is I will learn it soon enough.'
The king inclined his head in recognition of the greeting words, the gesture somehow emplacing that strange fey look, before turning his eyes towards Elrond again.
"Come," he made a graceful gesture towards the waiting doors, "refreshments await you and your horses, and no doubt you will wish to cleanse the dust of the road from yourselves before you partake."
He turned in a flurry of robes and led the way towards his Halls.
