A/N!! Good lord guys – So Dot was so very kind to point out to me that many of the names I was using were famous historic elf names. I did not realize how famous and historic until I went out and bought myself the Silmarillion today. Well, I hope that didn't irritate anyone too much… So sorry really, I was completely clueless (anyone remember that Friends episode when a completely clueless Joey called himself Joseph Stalin? Hehe… yes that is me) Anyway, I went back and changed all the names, including Legolas's brother, since as it turns out Cirdan was a very important guy who had one of the three rings, along with Gil-galad & Galadriel *cringe*– if you notice this change & it feels bizarre to you, sorry, but you get used to it quick – I did. If you didn't notice then forget I said anything. So anyway, now Legolas's brother is Cièdron and his dead brothers & sister & servants are no longer historic elf lords and leaders (hehe- a classic soap opera style switch in actors– but only the name)… And for anyone out there using an elvish name generator – be warned! Those are not originals! (*readers can now roll their eyes at me*)
Before I forget, as I usually do (and to think, I'm going to be a lawyer)….. They are not mine. I am stealing these characters.
Ok, so now that that's taken care of, on to Chapter 6…..
Gandalf's Revenge
"Do you ever feel Mithrandir that the world around you is burning and you are the only one who knows it?" Thranduil sighed heavily after briefly greeting two elven nobles who had come to pay their respect to the Istari. They had bowed pompously to the wizard, flattering him with lavish compliments and welcomes.
Mithrandir smiled. "Thranduil, not only am I the only one who knows the world around me is burning, I often feel I am the only one who is aware others' worlds are in flames as well."
The two made their rounds of the throne room, which now flaunted excessive decoration of colorful streamers and glittering candles, burning within the protection intricately molded glass casings. Mountains of food, including fruits, candies, bread, and pastries overwhelmed their platters. Elves were scattered haphazardly throughout the throne room, many perched on branches and a few in chairs, while others stood or danced. A small group of elves played an array of musical instruments, including fiddles and woodwinds. Many sang bawdy or comical songs as goblets were rapidly drained only to be refilled by an endless flow of wine (we are running short on wine, indeed! Cièdron would later note bitterly.) A group of young elves raced up to Gandalf and pulled on his beard.
"Gandalf, can you make the stars fly again, can you??" one begged the wizard, his eyes wide with his pleading.
Thranduil frowned and shot a warning glance at Gandalf, who chuckled at the child's eagerness.
"Not tonight, I'm afraid. Do you not remember the last time someone released fireworks within the palace's walls?"
Thranduil snorted at the easygoing tone of Gandalf's voice. Do you remember indeed… when my entire palace nearly exploded from 'making the stars fly…'
The child pouted, but gave up quickly when he glanced at the stern face of the king and dashed off to his friends with the bad news.
Thranduil sighed and gazed out the high window as the stars began to peak through the darkening sky. He would have preferred to hold this feast outside, but at night, though the elven realm still remained relatively secure, he had doubts about the safety of so many elves, including children, outside the palace walls.
"I am pleased my people still retain their humor and light. But it worries me they have grown so used to the darkness. They accept it now as a normal part of life."
"What other choice do they have Thranduil?" Gandalf asked.
"I wish I could answer that, Mithrandir."
"Ah… here they are," Gandalf cheerily said as Cièdron, Legolas and Aragorn entered the throne room. "I do believe, Thranduil, that Aragorn may have been spending a little too much time with your sons…" Gandalf mused as he beheld the sticky, purple remnants of grapes on the three's clothes, faces and hands.
"Aye, for the love of Elbereth…" the fair king grumbled upon seeing his two sons and Aragorn enter the throne room. They look like weather-beaten donkeys, he thought lazily. Even worse, Legolas flaunted as many purple stains on his hair, face and hands as Cièrdon which of course could only mean they were at it again. I wonder what or who started it this time…
"Mithrandir, are you sure you don't yet want Legolas's services? Why, I can even throw in the other one as well. Two elven princes, Mithrandir - I bet even Lord Elrond is not so generous. They are all yours," Thranduil smoothly offered as if he were bargaining away his emeralds.
"Actually I do think Lord Elrond would pay me to take away his two sons…"
Thranduil glanced at the bright purple blotches on Legolas's cheeks and his once silver tunic.
"I will double whatever Elrond offers," he replied rather seriously.
Gandalf smiled. "Well I am afraid I must decline Thranduil. There is a reason I only visit for short periods at a time you know…"
Though Gandalf said this in jest, Thranduil did not seem to recognize the humor and replied seriously.
"Aye, I do not blame you Mithrandir."
The two elves and human approached the king and wizard purposefully, their eyes steely and mouths grim. Thranduil crossed his arms and gazed warily at them, his stance tall and forbidding like an angry bull ready to trample whoever pressed his miniscule patience. Cièdron glanced surreptitiously at Legolas. In return, Legolas silently mouthed the infamous phrase about to be uttered by their irate father, who unknowingly repeated word for word his tirades and chastisements in his fiery fits of fury. Cièdron nodded slightly and sighed. The as of yet unspoken phrase was the phrase used whenever they were tardy for some grand feast or celebration, always reiterated in a moment of utmost irritation with enough thunder to embarrass the two in front of all the bemused guests.
As predicted, in a booming voice with stringent articulation of each scathing word, the king made it clear to his sons and to everyone else in his presence his patience was now wearing dangerously thin.
"You are late. And you look terrible. Explain yourselves."
Cièdron cringed faintly at the icy tone in his father's voice. Legolas remained expressionless and latched on to his father's gaze. Though Aragorn boldly stepped forward, it was Legolas who answered.
"It was a spider that kept us. A spider not far from the foundry, Ada. Cièdron fought one off yesterday." Legolas's voice was steady and inexpressive except for the hint of frustration that was out of the elf's self control. He stared hard at his father, daring him to scold them and challenging him to respond to this ominous news. Aragorn watched the elf as he spoke then turned his attention to Gandalf.
"It had no fear of either of us. It fiercely fought back – this was no stray. It had no qualms about traveling through elven realms."
"Aye," Cièdron softly agreed, the memory of the spiders still haunting his cerulean eyes. "Nor did the one I killed yesterday seem to fear the presence of elves."
"That is because we are weakening." Thranduil stated simply, dropping his hands to his sides and turning away from his sons. A moment passed during which none of them could be certain of what thoughts and ideas journeyed through the King's mind. Not anger, frustration, nor sadness succeeded in revealing itself through his actions. He passively stood with his back turned to Legolas, Cièdron and Aragorn and observed the other elves around him as they sang and drank merrily, unaware of the darkness that awaited them just outside these very walls.
"This is no news to me," the king finally spoke, his voice taking on a strange, foreign tone. His head dropped, allowing his silky, cornhusk hair to fall over his face like a veil.
Legolas and Aragorn exchanged confused glances and Cièdron grasped his father's sagged shoulder.
"Ada, were you already aware spiders dwelled within our own home?" he asked carefully.
Thranduil turned and faced them again, but avoided meeting his sons' eyes. Instead he focused on Aragorn, who stiffened in response.
"No, Cièdron, but it does not surprise me that they do," Thranduil answered steadily all the while locking in the ranger's gaze. Gandalf observed quietly, showing no surprise at the king's impassiveness. "Aragorn, there are a few warriors I should like to introduce you too, if you do not mind," Thranduil continued, as if the issue of the spiders was now settled.
Aragorn nodded respectfully. "It would be an honor, my king."
Now Legolas and Cièdron exchanged confused glances. Thranduil's reaction was rather odd. Indeed, it seemed as if he had no reaction at all! As Thranduil beckoned for Aragorn to follow him, Legolas spoke up, failing to hide the irritation in his voice, which rapidly developed into a passionate rage.
"You mean to ignore this then? Is that your response? To ignore these creatures and hope they go away? You accuse us of not being aware of what Mirkwood is facing, yet tell me Ada, what is it you actually plan on doing to fight this? Perhaps it is no surprise to you these foul creatures dare to wander so close to our home, but it certainly surprised Cièdron and me! We have killed two spiders in two days, Ada. What is it you intend on doing about this? Continue polishing your jewels within the safety of your palace walls, counting your silver coins, amassing more gold? Is that it then? Your collections will mean nothing soon! We will all perish at the hands of Sauron, just as Maegren and Feáner did! It will not be long…" A powerful, biting slap prevented Legolas from finishing. Cièdron caught his brother as he fell back in shock and breathlessly held tight to his uninjured forearm.
"How dare you…" Thranduil seethed, his eyes bright with fury and face pallid from the lividness that swept over him like a tidal wave. "HOW DARE YOU!" Thranduil bellowed as a hush fell over all the elves. Gandalf stepped forward and placed a hand on the king's shoulder in an attempt to placate the enraged elf.
"Thranduil, he knew not what he was speaking of… one cannot always control their tongue after such events…"
"I knew exactly what I was speaking of!" Legolas spat back, struggling against Cièdron's grip. He gingerly rubbed his tender cheek which still throbbed from his father's blow.
"Peace Legolas." Now Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas's other arm, grimly noting his wince as his fingers grazed the elf's wound. But the ranger seemed to have a calming effect on him nonetheless, and Legolas's muscles relaxed slightly.
"You do not tell us anything Adar. You keep us in the dark like birds trapped in a cave. Think you that this darkness has no effect on us? You tell Mithrandir and Aragorn more than you tell us and we are your sons!" Legolas's voice quavered with fury, though he was no longer shouting.
"That is enough Legolas! You will end this childish tantrum now! DO YOU HEAR ME!? NOW!" Thranduil roared. The king then turned brusquely to Aragorn. "You will come with me now ranger."
Aragorn hesitated, not appreciating the curt, rude way in which Thranduil just ordered him to follow, but knowing it would not bode well for anyone to further enrage the king by disobeying his command. With a gentle squeeze of Legolas's shoulder, he followed the elf king to meet whatever other warriors he had assembled for him.
When the two left, Gandalf sighed as his judicious eyes rested on the elves in front of him. Cièdron, still gripping his brother's arm, now had his other hand behind Legolas's head, gently massaging the back of the elf's neck and examining his bruised cheek. He spoke softly and soothingly in elvish, the melodious words offering a meditative effect.
"Peace, Legolas, peace. You know Ada is not ignoring this, you know that. He does not tell us everything because he wishes to keep us safe. 'Tis all it is brother." Cièdron frowned at the prince's darkening, burning cheek. Did that heat emanate as a result of the prince's fury, the slap, or poison delivered to him from the spider?
"Cièdron, does it not bother you he neglects to tell us anything? Does it not bother you he had no response whatsoever to us telling him we just killed two deadly spiders? That instead he takes Aragorn away for some….secret meeting?!?" Legolas ripped his arm away from his brother and began to march towards the other end of the throne room.
"Legolas wait!"
"You are as bad as he is Cièdron! Why did you not tell me yesterday you killed a spider! Instead you take out your anger on Alasse!" Legolas shouted back over his shoulder.
Cièdron's eyes flashed and he gritted his teeth. "You are a fool Legolas. You know not what you speak of."
"Don't I?" Legolas challenged.
Cièdron briskly caught up with his brother and roughly pulled him to a far corner of the room, sheltered somewhat from the surrounding festivities by a cluster of shadowy birches.
"I know what is happening Legolas," he hissed. As Legolas raised his eyebrows questioningly, he continued in a hoarse whisper. "I know because I can be as stealthy as you, brother – you think you are the only one who can remain hidden in the trees, unnoticed by even the best of our guards? Nay, brother, Ada may not tell me much more than he tells you, but I have spied much more than you have. The Nazgul have reoccupied Dol Guldur, Legolas and in case you have not noticed, Velsier and Reanur and a host of other warriors have yet to return from their patrols of southern Mirkwood. That is why the darkness has grown so sharply as of late and why Ada has called on Mithrandir. I suspect that is also why he has requested the service of the Lord of the Dunadain and is now introducing him to our own warriors. He is planning something, Legolas. He is planning a scouting mission I suspect, perhaps even more."
Legolas tensed. "You know this for sure, Cièdron?"
"Aye, I do. And the reason he has not told us is because he fears we will want to join Aragorn…. Which is absurd, of course. Why would either of us join him when we have some of the finest warriors willing to accompany him…" Cièdron paused as Legolas quickly looked away, staring distractedly at the ground.
"Legolas! Legolas look at me! Do not get any ideas brother! You will stay out of this!" Cièdron grabbed Legolas's arm and started when his brother winced in pain.
"Your wound! Ai! I had forgotten!"
"It is nothing Cièdron! Leave me be." Legolas walked slowly away to a nearby birch where he slid down against its smooth white trunk into a sitting position, his head in his hands. Cièdron followed suit, and the two sat in silence, as music and dancing filled the tense air around them.
Gandalf had been watching the two closely, but vacillated over joining them. It was rare the two brothers did not fight bitterly and he wished to give them some time to discuss between themselves the troubles that plagued them.
Legolas's outburst had stunned the wizard. Thranduil's youngest was well known for his calm, lighthearted countenance. True, the elf had some bitter conflicts with his impervious father, but never had he seen him so incensed. Gandalf would have expected such an outburst from the short-tempered Cièdron perhaps, except that Cièdron was much more fearful of Thranduil's wrath. The wizard sighed. The darkness is taking its toll on Legolas as well. He and Aragorn have changed much in these past few years and I fear the oncoming battles will strain their spirits more than they could have ever imagined.
Watching as the two elves leaned against a birch, Gandalf decided it was time to speak to both of them. Grabbing a goblet of wine as he headed towards them, he was suddenly stunned by a projectile flying into his chest, causing him to drop the goblet to the floor where it shattered to countless sharp pieces in a pool of red wine.
"Well, what in Middle Earth…" Gandalf grumbled as he searched the ground for the mysterious weapon, too distracted to even notice the broken goblet. Instead, his eyes rested on a carrot, resting innocently on the ground next to the shattered goblet.
"Hmph… that is most peculiar…" Gandalf scanned the room for a possible suspect, but not one elf seemed to take notice of the perplexed wizard too busy they were in their own merriment.
"Wood-elves…" Gandalf muttered contemptuously under his breath as he continued on his path to where Cièdron and Legolas were reclining.
Cièdron turned to Legolas, a shocked look on his fair face. "Legolas! I can hardly believe it! You actually got through to Alasse! Why, she made a perfect shot at Mithrandir with that carrot!"
Legolas dully looked up and studied Alasse, who for someone who just made a perfect shot, looked rather baffled. She was struggling to explain something to a young elf beside her.
Following her brisk glances towards Gandalf and Alasse's older brother, Ulinor, standing approximately five meters to the left of Gandalf, he was able to surmise the cause of the young elf's confusion.
"Nay, Cièdron, she was aiming for Ulinor. But her arrows, or in this case, carrots, always fly towards the most important person in the vicinity no matter where they are standing. Should we ever bring her into battle, it would be wise for us to have Glorfindel or Galadriel stand as close as possible to the enemy. If they can jump away swiftly enough, she will be a great success indeed."
Cièdron looked quite bemused by this, but did not have a chance to reply as Gandalf suddenly appeared before them, still scratching his chin in bewilderment at the unexplained flying carrot. He then gave up on that mystery and gazed down at the two elf princes.
"Well, well, well… That was quite a scene you made there Prince Legolas," the Istari noted flippantly.
When neither one answered, Gandalf continued in a more solemn tone, "Neither of you should be offended by your father's reticence on these issues. You have my word, he is not standing idle as this foul fate befalls us and he intends on telling both of you everything. He holds back out of concern for you, for you have both seen so much evil already. He does not wish to lay anymore burden on your shoulders."
"But the burden is as much ours as it is his! Rightfully so, because we are as much attached to this land as he is! And Cièdron is the crown prince! What if something should happen to Ada! Cièdron should know everything Ada does!" Legolas argued heatedly, the passion rising in his normally soft spoken voice.
Gandalf eyed Legolas closely, barely giving notice to the elf's resurging fury. "Aye, that is true Legolas. And what of you? Cièdron stays because as crown prince, he must, as long as he can. But that does not explain you young elf. Why do you choose to stay and why should you share the same information as your father?"
Cièdron stiffened and peered at Legolas. 'Mithrandir, what are you doing! Do not put it in his head to sail West!' he thought anxiously to himself. Truly, Legolas's and Cièdron's relationship was a most odd one. Though they fought endlessly, neither wished for the other to leave Mirkwood. Perhaps they worried they would no longer have anyone to fight with, but more likely, deep down they knew they only really had each other.
Legolas cocked his head and gazed placidly at the wizard, his fury inexplicably draining from his tired body at Gandalf's serenely composed question. "I do not know why I choose to stay Mithrandir. It is inevitable I will one day sail West as that is the fate of all the elves, but for now the thought of leaving Middle Earth is unbearable to me. There is too much left for me to see, too many woods and lands I long to visit."
Gandalf nodded as if he had been expecting this answer all along. "Aye, that is what I thought Legolas. And though you speak of this for the first time to me now, do you know that I have always known this about you? Since I first met you, I have known you would have a part to play in Middle Earth's fate. So you need not be upset by your father's current reluctance to involve you in her affairs. That will change very soon Master Greenleaf."
Legolas's expression still retained the same placidity as when he answered the wizard before though his bright eyes focused on Gandalf's as if trying to read further into the Istari's mind. Cièdron furrowed his brows and stared gapingly at the wizard. Whether he was envious of Legolas or frustrated by the wizard's enigmatic words, he did not reveal.
The three did not notice as Thranduil returned to the room without Aragorn, and went straight to his throne where he fell into his seat. He had just brought Aragorn to meet with Bratherond, one of his best archers, after of course Legolas. The two seemed to hit it off fairly well, despite the fact that Bratherond as usual, was his most 'charming' self.
"I do not like humans generally, but since you were raised by Lord Elrond, perhaps you will be less of a cad than the rest of them." This had been Bratherond's snappish greeting to Aragorn.
"I do certainly try my best to not be a cad." Aragorn had wryly replied.
"That is funny human. Come show me if your archery skills match your wit." Bratherond then tersely replied, without the faintest hint of a smile gracing his lips.
'Yet Aragorn did go with him. So that must be a positive start to a relationship...' Thranduil thought hopefully. His eyes darkened when he noticed Legolas, Cièdron and Gandalf speaking softly on the other side of the room. The nerve of his son accusing him of idleness when night after tortuous night he lay awake, feverishly contemplating the darkness and how to fight it! How dare he accuse him of indifference after all he had lost and with all that was now at stake! Just the memory of his son's piercing words caused the king's heart to race and his hands to tensely curl into tight fists.
When Legolas noticed his father's return, he began to rise. "I think I will leave now…" But as he stood up, a rush of blood drained from his head and he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness overcome him. Swaying slightly he grabbed on to the birch to steady himself. Gandalf raised his eyebrows and Cièdron jumped to his feet.
"Legolas, you fool! Your wound!" he gasped, grabbing his brother. But the dizziness rapidly ebbed and with it Legolas regained his stubbornness.
"Cièdron, I told you! Leave me be! It is nothing!"
"What is nothing, Legolas?" Gandalf queried reaching out for the elf's arm.
Legolas snapped his hand back, not allowing the wizard to see it. "It is nothing! Please, I only wish to be alone now!" But upon glimpsing the worry etched into Cièdron's face and the grimace of pain in Legolas's as he pulled back his arm, the wizard straightened his back and his eyes gleamed dangerously.
"LEGOLAS GREENLEAF, YOU WILL NOT ACT THE FOOL. NOW SHOW ME YOUR ARM." Cièdron cowered slightly as the wizard appeared to grow taller with his wrath, his powerful voice reverberating throughout the room. A few elves fell silent, but most continued with their conversations, having grown used to the multiple outbursts by the members of the royal family this evening.
Legolas's jaw tightened and he backed slowly from the wizard.
"I promise you, if I feel ill, I will go to the healer, but now I only wish to be left in peace," he said sternly through clenched teeth as he turned towards the door.
Cièdron grabbed his brother again. "Legolas this is absurd! Clearly you are not well!"
"Cièdron, you oaf, get off of me!"
Gandalf glowered as the two gravitated towards yet another scuffle. Studying his staff, and then Legolas, and then Legolas's wound which revealed itself when Cièdron seized him and was now sprouting unattractive purplish-green lines underneath the elf's fair skin, Gandalf made a quick decision.
"Legolas, you will come voluntarily with me to the healer…."
Legolas did not answer, but continued to glare at his brother. As he wrenched himself free from Cièdron's iron grip and turned again towards the door, Cièdron leapt at him and once again Legolas struggled vehemently against his brother.
"…Or I will take you there by force," the wizard finished, thinking ironically how in a way though he was about to save the elf's life, he was also getting his revenge. Two birds with one stone…
A sudden sharp pain ripped through Legolas's head causing blackness to settle over his eyes as he fell in an unconscious heap at Cièdron's feet.
Cièdron froze and gaped at his supine brother. Then he looked up to see Gandalf slowly lowering his staff.
"You… you…" Cièdron's eyes darted from the wizard to his brother.
"Yes I struck him," Gandalf answered Cièdron's unspoken question (or rather accusation). "That wound is serious Cièdron, and there is no time for such childish brawls when in but an hour's time, Legolas will find himself in an eternal sleep from the poison in that spider's venom." As Gandalf spoke, he bent down to lift the limp elf. "Now you will take us to the healer."
Thranduil had been watching his sons disdainfully as they began yet another squabble.
"By orc and warg!" Thranduil hollered when he saw his youngest son collapse after being walloped by Gandalf's staff. In a blink of an eye, he was at the wizard's side as he carried Legolas towards the door.
"Mithrandir! By the Valar! You… Why… By Elbereth, Mithrandir, you just struck my son!" the shock of this act of violence by the wizard against the very son he claimed to have such high hopes for left the king speechless and caused his voice to practically squeak.
"I saved your son's life Thranduil, for the poison in this wound will soon overtake him if he is not healed promptly, and being as obstinate as you are, he would not let us treat it." Gandalf took no time to wait for Thranduil's answer, but instead hastened to the door.
Thranduil's feet grew heavy and he found himself rooted to the ground. Gandalf's words seeped in heavily, their meaning like poison to the already beaten king. As the wizard retreated through the doors, he caught a glimpse of his pale son bruised by his own hand, sodden with grape juice, scratched and disheveled by his struggle with the spider and worst of all – the web of spidery green, yellow and purple arms reaching away from the pus that oozed from a gaping wound on his son's slender arm. How had he not noticed this before? Had I not blew up at him, had I paid more heed to his concerns about the spider, had I not so quickly diverted my attention to Aragorn, perhaps I would have noticed – perhaps he would not have felt the need to rebel so stubbornly against the offerings of help by his brother and the wizard…
Cièdron tentatively approached his father. "He will be fine Ada. Once the poison is retracted Legolas will recover rapidly – I predict he will be flying out of the healer's room in but a few hours, as if he merely had a splinter removed."
Thranduil faced Cièdron, his face drawn with worry. "Nay, Cièdron this is only the beginning. I fear worse will soon befall him."
TBC
RainyDayz: Thank you thank you thank you! You crack me up! Thank you for such flattering reviews… *grins sheepishly*
Dot: You are also too kind! Thank you!
Lyn: thanks for the info! I had a gut feeling it went something like that. Where did you get that info from? (I will never cease to be amazed by the amount of Tolkien scholarship out there).
Maranwe: A pre-emptive review? Hehe… Well, that's different, but thank you!
And thanks to everyone else who reviewed as well! I'm too tired now to go back and re-read the reviews so I could respond, but I do appreciate them so much. Nothing works better to get myself to keep writing.
