Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess
Author's Note:
This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)
~ XL: Truths of Mirkwood ~
Halls of Mirkwood, 3019 TA, January 15
The Elvenking sat on his wooden throne, his brow furrowed in anguish and his mouth biting in dread. The elves who had accompanied his son to Rivendell had returned and handed Thranduil bad news. He had sent a battalion of loyal elves commanded by his son to report Gollum's escape to Lord Elrond. His son, on the other hand, was now a part of the vital and perilous journey to destroy the ring of power and assist Middle Earth. Sending his son on such a mission enhanced the king's honour, but worried the father. Everything was not well. He was aware of it. Legolas should never be sent to Rivendell. He had sparked a chain of events that would bring Legolas nothing but darkness and suffering.
To be honest, Thranduil was preoccupied with more pressing matters. Orcs, goblins, and numerous other evil creatures had upped their assaults to the point that he was forced to re-establish old ties. Glóin and his party seemed to have visited his Halls after the return of his son's party. After a few days of deliberation, Thranduil and Glóin decided to unify their forces and combat the evil spreading throughout Mirkwood. Glóin emphasised the need to include Dale in this arrangement. Additionally, the Elvenking concurred.
Indeed, dwarves, humans, and elves all have a pretty shady history. However, when the adversary became stronger, they were forced to join their forces or perish. The Elvenking's allies included the moonlight elves. He wasn't sure how long he could continue to trust them. Dínenion paid periodic visits to Thranduil, reminding him of the blood pledge. However, war was now upon them, and marriages and oaths had been temporarily forgotten, or at the very least postponed.
The woodland remained always inhabited, and the soldiers of Thranduil were still protecting the eastern end of the Forest River's Elvenking's Halls. The remainder of the troops scouted the remainder of the boundaries, slaying any evil creature that stood in their path. His troops were without their leader, who had been replaced by Tauriel. The Elleth had made a triumphant return to Mirkwood.
Tauriel had several detours and adventures before locating Kili's mother. She kept her word and presented the dwarf lady with the stone. She revealed that her son gave his life in order to rescue her. She informed her that she had fallen in love with Kili and that he would have her heart for the rest of her life. Until the day she would join the rest of her clan on their voyage. Years later, when she found herself with nothing else to go, she returned to Mirkwood. Thranduil, on the other hand, stated she was barred from Mirkwood. She was imprisoned after a few months of punishment. The Elven-King changed his mind, and the Elleth was reinstated as captain.
Thranduil stood tall, his silver cloak concealing his slim body, a crown of berries and scarlet leaves adorning his head, and he motioned Tauriel to approach his throne. "Was it your desire to see me, my Lord?" Tauriel inquired as she approached the throne, her gaze fixed on Thranduil.
"I asked of you," he added, his gaze dropping to hers, "have you talked to the men that accompanied Legolas to Imladris? Is there any update?" He bent over his seat and took a cup of Mirkwood wine in his hand.
"Yes, I have," Tauriel answered studying at the Elvenking who was now sipping the wine of his cup so fast, "Legolas is part of the Fellowship of the Ring. They were chosen to help a hobbit to bring the Ring to Mount Doom, where it will be destroyed."
"Then the One Ring was discovered? And Elrond decided it should be destroyed?" Thranduil inquired thoughtfully, scratching his jaw.
"Yes," Tauriel assured him, "it has been discovered in the possession of a Hobbit, Frodo Baggins. That is why Elrond desired the council. I think you made the correct choice, my lord."
"Who is Frodo Baggins?" Thranduil inquired once again, "Does he has any kinship with Bilbo Baggins?"
"He is his nephew," Tauriel scowled. "It was Bilbo who handed Frodo the Ring. I think the Hobbit brought the Ring into our domain."
The Elvenking motioned one of the maidens to refill his glass with wine once again. "I knew that," he said, his voice irritated. "He was a cunning Hobbit, liberating the dwarfs right under our nose."
"I assumed you had pardoned Durin's folks for their impudence, My King, haven't you?" Tauriel's tone became softer. When she returned to Mirkwood, one among her requests was that the Dwarves be allowed to live in peace. Furthermore, Thranduil had accepted.
"I have," he remarked drily. "However, it is not because we are friends."
"I am aware of it, my Lord," she said.
"I hope my son remembers this as well and avoids befriending humans and dwarfs," he lamented. "The prince has altered Tauriel; I doubt we will ever see him again."
"You freed Legolas," Tauriel observed. "Why would you want him to return, particularly now that the Moonlight elves are nearby?"
"Do you think, Captain, that I am a decent King?" Thranduil inquired abruptly, remaining crossed-legged against his seat.
"The best I am aware of," Tauriel said. "However, my Lord, you are capable of cruelty..."
"At times, I am compelled to. You cannot defeat this evil alone by compassion, Captain," he said. Tauriel nodded, and he added, "And as a father, do you feel I've been a decent parent?"
"Most of the time, you do," she said. "However, you have also been unkind to Legolas. I felt you had changed, but I am no longer certain."
"How is that, Captain?" asked the King of Mirkwood.
"Because you let the moonlight elves stay and agreed to pay the oath. You're going to place Legolas in a position to marry Amethyst?" Tauriel inquired, her brows pinched together in anticipation of his answer.
"I should have resisted him, Dínenion and the blood oath," Thranduil said, looking at the brimming cup of Mirkwood wine, one of the most potent wines in Middle Earth. "I should have accepted the blood oath!"
Tauriel seems taken aback. "And what, have you married this time, my Lord? Even traitors such as Dínenion would not accept such a proposition. You were already bound to a maiden."
"How can I leave Legolas to suffer for my deeds?" Thranduil said sadly.
"You calculated that he would not return," Tauriel observed, understanding why the Elvenking accepted the offer. "Did you desire that your son would continue to disrespect his king?"
"A fool's dream," he admitted as he drank more wine. "However, I am depending on my son to honour his pledge and never return to Mirkwood."
"How about the oath? What is the case with Amethys?" Tauriel wondered.
"I will provide her a place in my court and give her authority, but neither I nor my son is capable of marrying her," he said solemnly.
"Then why haven't you said that, my Lord?" Tauriel questioned.
"Because I need allies, I must ensure the safety of Mirkwood," he said, "and until that occurs, I will consider every alternative available, even if it means dwarves or traitors of my kin. You see me as frail, Captain."
"No," Tauriel grinned. "You're just being your usual vicious self, my lord."
Thranduil looked at her and grinned as he swallowed the last drop of wine. Large apartments were provided to the daughter and father along the hallways of the Throne Halls. Finally, the door opened to show a light-faced damsel who had been waiting for him. She sat on a large armchair, drumming her fingers in a dark, rapid pattern.
"You're late," she replied, raising her eyes to his.
"I need you to know that I attempted to persuade him... However, it is becoming tougher these days " Dínenion acknowledged.
Her face was pale as she slammed her heels on the ground; she seemed enraged now. "You make an attempt... You constantly attempt," she said, "but attempting is insufficient! We need your presence out there to safeguard our way. It would be simpler if Thranduil remained mired in his sadness. However, he is not!"
"I apologise, daughter," he sobbed. "I feel he is improving..."
"Are you unfamiliar with the phrase 'we're out of time'? Perhaps you've forgotten about your last encounter?" Amethyst inquired, "If the Elvenking had been more circumspect, he would have recognised that he had already admitted another adversary to his halls. Despite the fact that he is not. He should never ascend to the throne. You ought to."
"Yes, he did," Dínenion said as he approached. "He desired Mirkwood and attempted it several times, but it was now impossible. Darkness is spreading, and he must stay ahead of the onslaught. However, it is not impossible!"
Her eyes became very steely as he locked his sight on her. "That may be feasible, but not when he is riding out and participating in wars. He deceived me. And the darkness is gradually dissipating. I'm not sure how long it will take until Mirkwood is gone. We must assemble the soldiers and plan the assaults."
"This expedition is going to be a success. And upon Legolas's return, you shall marry him. You must ascend to the throne of Queen!"
"I think, as you said, that Thranduil tricked you. Legolas will never be seen again. And I am not going to be his partner!"
"What are you saying, daughter?" he inquired incredulously.
"I'm telling you, father, that we need to rethink our strategy," she grinned. "Because Thranduil is not a fool. And keep in mind that he has a realm, whilst you do not. This indicates that he was a more competent ruler than you."
"We will," Dínenion said with a short bow as he exited the room, shutting the door behind him. His own daughter's last words wounded him, but she was correct. He needed to reconsider and develop a new strategy. It would take time, but one thing was certain: Mirkwood was set to enter a period of darkness.
((Upcoming Chapter Forty-One))
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