A/N
Recreating this chapter after losing laptop and flash drive has been a bit of a nightmare, and a difficult period in RL hasn't helped. No matter what I did the last section wouldn't come right, in the end I decided it was because I was trying to put it in the wrong place. So I have ended the chapter, and this section, in a slightly different place to the one I think I intended, I hope it works. As before anything of value comes from JRRT.
If any one is still reading my apologies for it being so long in coming. As before thanks to those who have commented to whom I cannot reply in person, it is greatly appreciated.
In the Elvenkings Halls – End of Spring
Elrond and his party left the Halls of the Elvenking just after the sun rose on the third day after the last spring feast. It was a gentle dawn with only the hint of a playful wind rustling the tree tops and high above the great forest the early morning sky was a kindly blue. In every tree and bush birds sang, hopping happily from twig to twig their feathers glowing in the early light, some swooping from branch to branch of the closest trees as if to get a better view of the gathering party.
On such a day it was difficult to imagine that evil had so recently been near at hand, or that it might soon be so again.
Much against the inclinations of his advisors both king and prince were to ride with their departing guests to the southern boundary of their Realm and see them out of the forest and on the road towards Lothlorien, the home of Elronds' wife's' parents. Though he was unwilling to put the thought to word Thranduil had the feeling that he would be chained to his stronghold once again before many circuits of the years, and he would use his current freedom of action to visit as much of his Realm as he could before events drove him to caution once again.
He smiled to himself as he watched Legolas arrive with a small guard made up of archers. His sons' mood seemed to be in company with the day, mild and sunny, for his smile was quick and easy and, as far as his father could judge, genuinely untroubled. He felt a surge of joy as he saw Legolas laugh at some comment made, shaking his head as he made his way towards his mount his face alight with amusement. For the moment the shadow was as far from him as it was from their forest and the coming of Elrond had not summoned it back. Thranduils' smile dimmed a little and a cloud of worry drifted through his eyes, he still had little knowledge of what had passed between his son and the lord of Imladris when Legolas had visited there in the winter depths of his despair. He pushed the thought away, it was all in the past and he was happy to leave it there if his son could.
But Thranduil could not deny that he was relieved that the visit was ending, but it seemed that it had helped his son a little further along the road back to himself, though he was not sure as to why or how. For himself he was finding his patience was wearing thin with the self importance of some of Elronds' party, though it was true that he could not fault their Lords behaviour. Nor were all of the visiting party a trial, but it could not be denied that amongst Elronds' companions were some he would be very pleased to see depart. Most of them had guarded their tongues well enough, at least after the first day or so, but their faces had often betrayed them. He was finding increasingly difficult to restrain some of his more forthright lords from making clear their views of those who lazed in a sheltered haven whilst the rest of the world struggled with the evil once again.
For himself he had passed through anger and disgust to indifference, let them keep their comfortable sense of importance it was of no matter to him, no more was their apparent indifference to the plight of their kin. In truth if the elves of Elronds' sanctuary were to be judged by his current companions then Thranduil doubted they would be of much use as allies against the coming evil, however skilled in Lore or poetry they might be.
But he felt some unexpected sympathy for Elrond whose disappointment in his companions was often obvious, though he said nothing on the matter. At least not where others might hear him. Thranduil suspected that some of them would find that he expressed his displeasure in a more open manner once they had left the lands of their hosts.
He was surprised that they had not been more eager to set upon the road given their disdain for their hosts, for it was already close on the hour set for leaving and there was no sign of them. He only hoped that some of his more resentful retainers had not chosen the day of their leaving to take some subtle revenge on those he suspected had treated them slightingly. Yet if that was the case he could hardly complain given that his sympathy lay entirely with his people, indeed he didn't wish to know about it. Yes he was relieved the visit was all but over.
With a sigh he turned back to his equerry who waited patiently at his side with some last minute questions that required his response.
Legolas watched as his father turned his attention to some final detail and sighed, the kingdom would hardly fall apart in the time they would be away yet the Council behaved as if the king would never return! Odd it seemed to him given that but a handful of years past they had seen that same king ride out to the lonely mountain and he did not recall that there had been so much concern then. But perhaps that was why, for at that dark time they had found a battle fierce and violent where they had not expected it. His father was both a true king and a warrior, skilled and strong, he would never command from behind and for the first time since the last alliance there had been a real chance that he might fall; had he done so then the Realm would have left bereft.
A shadow of the familiar guilt and shame drifted across his mind at the thought and for a moment the day grew colder and darker, but then his father looked across the stable yard and met his eye with a faint apologetic smile. Legolas felt the grey shadow shift and fade and he pushed the remnant of it away, he would not allow it to claim him this day for his father would see and would grieve. Legolas would not have him so affected, particularly in Elronds' company.
Elrond. The thought gave his mind something else to feast upon. For some reason that Legolas could not fathom the Lord of Imladris had seemed less enthusiastic about the coming visit to the Realm of his wife's family than might have been expected, particularly as his daughter was currently living there. When they had spoke of it at the feast there had been some undertone in the Elf Lords voice, a shadow in his look that spoke of unease, not unwillingness exactly but as if some concern was attached to the coming visit. It had intrigued him and as they waited for the visiting party to assemble he was determined to know more of the matter. He left his horse and crossed to where his father was finishing his instructions to his equerry waiting patiently until the other elf bowed his head quickly and turned away.
His father turned towards him his brows arched in query.
"Have you changed your mind about accompanying us my son? Is there something that needs you to remain here, other than the Councils grumbles? Or is it I you would have remain?"
Legolas smiled, for he had been privileged to hear many of those grumbles and had been waylayed on more than one occasion with entreaties that he persuaded his father not to join the escort.
"No on each count. My interest at this moment is concerned with those departing." His lowered his voice. "I would not pry into matters that are delicate but I have noticed a certain reluctance to make this visit in Lord Elrond and wondered why. For he will be seeing his daughter again and surely that must make the visit of great value to him?"
Thranduil was silent for a moment as if considering the matter; then he sighed and shook his head, replying softly so that no other heard.
"He has reasons for any doubts he may have, good ones I think if I understand him correctly, but they may yet prove unfounded; though that cannot be certain given the nature of his line. Perhaps the matter is of his own making though, for it might have been better for all if he had made the journey ten summers ago. That or called his daughter home twenty springs ago."
Legolas looked at him in surprise.
"Arwen herself is the cause of his concern then? How so for she is grown to be a fair and noble lady by all that I have heard?"
His father inclined his head with a slight smile.
"Indeed she is, most fair and most noble I have heard. Luthien come again so some say, and that may prove to be the true cause of his worry."
More than that his father declined to say and Legolas found that surprising for the king was not usually so reticent on the matter of Elronds' foibles. More than that and there had been something in his look that suggested to his son that matters he considered more weighty than Elronds' comfort might also be involved. Yet Legolas could not imagine what they might be. Then again it might just be respect for a guest and old ally that meant the king did not wish to discuss the matter in the presence of so many, for the Woodland escort was fully assembled even though none of the visiting party had yet arrived.
Yet seeing the faraway look in his sires eyes he doubted that was the case and a faint and unexplained unease settled upon him.
At this moment Elrond entered the stable yard with his ward at his side and Legolas put all speculation, and the unease, to one side, inclining his head in welcome to them both before turning away to answer a question from one of the archers that formed his guard.
Elrond noted with a sense of resigned frustration that though the Woodland escort was well assembled, even down to the presence of the king and his son, there was as yet no sign of his companions, Why that should be he could only speculate for all had known of the appointed hour and the meeting point, more than that most of them had been present when he had broken his fast. He swallowed a sigh; it appeared that they had not overcome their need to demonstrate their disregard for their hosts. He had hoped that they had moved past that sense of superiority, yet it seemed that they had not; for all his warnings it seemed that it was as Glorfindel had feared. But he would deal with that later. He could only hope that the king was as unmoved by their actions, or as disdainful, as he appeared to be.
He cast a quick glance towards Estel and suppressed a smile, for the same charge could not be levelled at his ward. As Estel turned towards the gathered elves Elrond saw the widened eyes and heard his indrawn breath, watching as his wards wondering gaze drifted across the party until he caught sight of the king. Then he froze for a moment before drawing in another deep breath as if to steady himself. So far the boy had seen Thranduil the king, the elf and possibly the friend, but now he looked upon Thranduil the warrior and it was easy to see that all his first fears and hesitancy in the face of the Elvenking had returned in force.
In fact Elrond had to admit the sight of the Woodland king had caused a slight sense of shock to him too, and he was one of the few remaining elf lords in Arda who had known Thranduil as a warrior prince and in his early days of kingship when he took his fathers place at the head of the Woodland host in Mordor.
Until this moment they had only seen the king dressed in fine court robes or linen and leathers but for this journey he was arrayed in battle armour topped off with an ankle length cloak of velvet and fine mail. His fine tooled boots had been set aside for ones much plainer and sturdier and beneath his breastplate he wore a coat of fine worked mithril. His crown of spring flowers, something that had caused many a sly smile amongst his guests, had also been set aside, replaced by a diadem of silver links with a gem set upon the brow. The hilt of a sword could occasionally be glimpsed as the cloak moved around him and a dagger was just visible in the top of his boot.
Armour suited the king, indeed he seemed at complete ease wearing it, so much so that for a moment it was hard to recollect that they had ever seen him dressed differently. But it could not be denied that it also highlighted that aura of power and authority that always hung around him and made him appear even taller and broader in the shoulder than his formal robes. Elrond was not surprised at Estels' silence for if Thranduil had been intimidating arrayed in the silken finery of court robes then it was magnified many fold here. This martial appearance clearly caused his ward some considerable unease and Elrond doubted that Estel would be able to frame a coherent sentence in the kings presence for some while.
Around the Elvenking clustered his personal guard, all in armour too and with long swords at their belts, and gathered around them a further guard of archers and spear men of the Forest host. Elrond wondered at this display, was it that the king feared the road they travelled more dangerous than he admitted? Had he decided that his visitors were less able to defend themselves than he had previously thought? Or was it just that, display, intended to remind the visitors of the differences between the two Realms? Elrond suppressed a wry smile, probably none of them, more likely this was the work of his advisors who would have much preferred the king to stay behind.
Nor was the king and his guard the only shock to Estel for even Legolas, standing in quiet conversation with his father, now had an air of competent menace about him that seemed at odds with the easy natured prince of these last weeks. He was dressed in what Elrond assumed was the uniform of a forest archer, in greens and browns with a bow on his back and knives at his belt. He was also accompanied by what seemed to be a personal guard, each one dressed in a similar manner and armed in the same way with bow and knife. Estel had transferred his startled gaze from the king towards his son and was casting him sideways glances, uncertainty written in his eyes and posture as if a favourite hunting dog had suddenly turned into a wild wolf.
To Estel this sight must seem as if his favourite songs and stories had come alive before him, but he was not a fool and a shadow in his grey eyes suggested that for the first time in his short life the danger of the world had become real. A useful awakening given his likely future it must be admitted.
For Elrond the sight of father and son was another painful jolt, yet another insight into the dangers of life in this Realm, even for those who ruled it. He felt a sudden sadness, for it came to him that whilst he had not grasped a sword in anger in an age it had been but as yesterday that Thranduil had wielded it in defence of his people and his own life.
He wondered what his companions would make of the sight of this company for they would not have seen the like of it at home. Elrond rarely left the valley, nor did Glorfindel, and when they did it was usually to go further west where the country was peaceful and the threat of encountering the creatures of darkness was small. Imladris was a peaceful place, protected by an Elven ring and hidden from the world by in a manner that meant that few arrived without invitation, or prior agreement. Attacks upon them were unknown in this age, the mountains that surrounded their valley might host the occasional troll, as Bilbo had discovered, but packs of orc and wild wolf did not roam the peaks and valleys as they had done the Wilderland until the Battle of the Five Armies. It had been a long time since Imladris had needed warriors to defend it, it was a refuge and for those who dwelt there more time was spent with a harp than a bow and few had donned armour or wielded in this age.
Except for his sons, and that was by their choice.
Elrond pushed the thought away, for it brought him sadness and regret as it always did. But the sight of Thranduil and Legolas attired for battle reminded him that that for them the war had never truly ended, that the most the king of the woodland realm had ever known was few centuries of uneasy peace. Centuries in which he had learned the lessons necessary to become the king he was. He, like his people, remained prepared and ready to fight should the evil return; something Elrond was less sure those who called him Lord would be ready or able to do.
He dropped a hand briefly on Estels shoulder as he passed him before moving forward to greet his host with a smile.
"I trust your presence, and that of your son and your guard, is not an indication that you expect the need for us to battle our way out of the forest."
Thranduil inclined his head.
"Not at all, but it has long been the custom that we go ready to fight if we venture any distance from my Halls and particularly so if we travel to the edge of the southern border. In the days of the occupation of Dol Guldor all manner of foul creatures congregated on the south face of the mountains and would attack any they considered unprepared."
He paused a moment as if debating whether to continue, then he sighed.
"Though Sauron has been driven from the dark fortress, and the creatures of evil fled as a consequence, I do not expect to it remain untenanted for long, perhaps no more than another fifty seasons if that. But this winters' viewing of the mountains suggested that the evil is quiet, at least for the present."
A look of sadness drifted across his face, then he continued.
"Though the trees further south may still be unfriendly to my people we can hope that some sense of how the forest there progresses. Legolas wishes to scout beyond the mountains, and though I agree this to be a wise and worthy venture I would also assure myself that we have sufficient understanding of what might await there. I would not send anyone towards the south forest unprepared or ill equipped."
Elrond frowned.
"Do you ride on south then, when we part ways? I thought you planned to be in Dale for the summer festivities?"
The king smiled slightly.
"No, we do not travel south, at least not to the southern forest, for I have learned that caution is always wise in the face of the dark one and his doings, and yes I will soon travel to Dale. But summer approaches and the trees around the mountains will be at their most vigourous and I may be able to learn more from them than was possible in the depths of winter or in the seasons when the poison leaching from the fortress was still flowing freely."
Elrond nodded.
"Then I hope that the forest is friendly and that you find your answers in peace. For I agree that if Sauron begins to regain his strength then his servants may well return to the fortress to await his return."
A noise behind them disrupted the conversation and Elrond turned to see his companion advancing down the path towards the muster point. Elrond felt rather than saw the unease that rippled through his party as they saw the king and his attendant guard. Few of them would have seen such a sight before as few of those who travelled with him had stood at the last alliance, and the one or two who had been there would have seen nothing similar since. The shock must be as great for them as it was for Estel and the sideways looks cast towards the king clearly betrayed their surprise and uncertainty, though it was certain they did not wish that to be seen.
"It is as if the past has come alive again." A soft voice said at his shoulder. "Figures from the days of our kins great struggles against evil once more amongst us."
Elrond turned his head and met the eyes of Landial one of the few who had stood at the last alliance. She was watching Thranduil and Legolas with a strange look in her eyes, a mixture of pain and wistfulness. He nodded, his own eyes drifting back to where the king stood his head inclined towards his son with whom he was conducting a low voiced conversation.
"Yes," he said softly, "a timely reminder, perhaps, that the battle is not yet over. Glorfindel has long been concerned that we have become too willing to believe that the danger is past."
She nodded, her eyes never leaving the king and his surrounding guard
"Glorfindel was a warrior too, long ago perhaps, and yet like the king before us I think he has not forgotten. Perhaps too many of us have done so."
Elrond sighed.
"It is but eight turns of the seasons since Thranduil battled an army of orc and other creatures of the shadow, neither he nor his people will have forgotten. It is only to be expected that the sense of a Realm at war lingers. But even before that they lived daily with evidence of a creeping evil, more than perhaps we were willing to give credence to. No wonder Thorin got short shrift when he refused to explain himself. He was fool to expect ought else."
Landial echoed his sigh.
"I confess that since we arrived here I have felt a sense of unease, seeing this Realm has stirred old memories. Now, looking upon these warriors and their king I find myself wondering, should Sauron rise again how would we fare, what part could we play, could we even defend ourselves?"
He nodded.
"Something else that concerns Glorfindel."
She turned towards him.
"Perhaps that is why some of our companions find being here unsettling. A sense that they were seeing the spirit of our past amongst those they see as uncultured and wild. For myself I am glad that it survives amongst some of us."
With that she gave him a small bow and went to claim her mount. Elrond watched her merge into the throng as Thranduil and Legolas parted and turned towards their separate guards. Estel was already beside his horse waiting for the King to mount, still subdued and wrapped in his thoughts. Elrond pulled his gloves from his belt and began to pull them on as he moved towards the party, the exchange with Landial echoing in his mind.
The party was now fully assembled and Thranduil swung himself onto his mount, a tall black that looked as if it would bite off the head of a dragon should one be foolish enough to cross its path. His guard and Legolas mounted as soon as he was astride falling into place around and behind him. Elrond took to his own mount and joined the king's entourage, his own outriders taking their place behind the princes guard. At a command from the king the party moved forward and towards the forest.
Elrond looked around him feeling a strange sense of familiarity amongst the martial group despite the centuries of secluded peace that had been his since he had last ridden with such a company. For the first time in a millennia the sense that his battles were done overtook him and he felt a sudden certainty that whatever part in the world remained to him he would not face the enemy again. But Thranduil would, Legolas would and their people too. In this age it would be these Woodland elves, and perhaps the Celborn's Galadrim, who carried the Elven standard against the evil. His own kin would continue to leave for the West even as Sauron strengthened. Elrond did not know whether to be glad or to grieve the thought.
