Author's Note: RL is good and not so good. Good because my parents managed to come visit (yay!) and if all goes well, I'll be going to see the rest of my family next month. Not so good because I came down with covid (a mild case, nothing to worry about) and work and sometimes it so feels like the grind is unbearable.
Which may just be the flu talking.
Here's the next chapter… enjoy!
Part IX
Legolas was up before dawn, making certain he had everything he needed. His pack was light enough. Bregolien had given them a short list of supplies with the dire warning that anyone who either failed to bring something on the list or brought anything that was not on it could expect a week of dawn drills when they returned.
One spare tunic. ("Choose an old one," Rochendilwen had advised.) The small pouch containing bandages and packages of herbs that the healers supplied to all warriors. ("I knew it," Eredhion had muttered under his breath. "Bregolien is going to stab someone and he wants us to be prepared.") One sheaf of spare arrows. ("Exactly one sheaf," Bregolien had said, "and if you run out of arrows, I will know that you lack both the judgement to know when to use them and the skill to hit your target the first time.")
Legolas made certain of his weapons – his bow and knives in their sheaths, his quiver full, and the dagger in his boot that his father had insisted he take, Bregolien's list notwithstanding, since the Men would be with them.
"Eat something," urged his mother, who had risen as well and was watching him. "If I know anything of Bregolien, you will not stop for meals until late tonight."
"I wish this were well over," growled his father, from the corner of the room, where he was wearing the same scowl that had graced his face since the previous night, when he had accepted that this expedition, in the company of Armad and the other Men, was inevitable. "I know that that miserable wretch –"
"Thranduil," Lindariel said reprovingly. "You must not refer to the brother of the Lord of Dale as a miserable wretch."
Thranduil scoffed. "If you only knew what I wanted to call him…"
"You are setting a poor example to your son."
"Legolas is not a child anymore. He can see for himself that Brynn is a miserable wretch."
"In his defence, my King, he has been politer, these last few days." Legolas closed his pack and strapped it. "Indeed, he was practically complimentary about my archery yesterday."
"No doubt he was trying to lull you into a false sense of security. Do not let down your guard, Legolas. At all. I do not trust Brynn an inch. I do not trust Armad, either, come to that. I will be happy when they are both out of my realm and on the way back to Dale."
"I suppose this must be done." Lady Mídhaer eyed Rochendilwen's pack, far more full than that of any of her charges would be. "If Norgalad were not such a fool as to insist on pandering to the passing fancies of every Mannish idiot who visits the King's court… Where is Bregolien? Should he not be ready?"
"He was ready an hour ago," Rochendilwen's mother responded. "He has gone already, to see about the horses."
"You are taking horses, Rochendilwen?" Mídhaer said, surprised. "In this weather?"
It had stopped raining, that was true, but the ground was still wet, and the clouds hung low and threatening. Even the Elves' surefooted horses would have to go slowly.
"That was not the plan, regardless of the weather," Rochendilwen said, hefting her pack. "That is another grudge to bear against Lord Norgalad. The Men will not be able to keep up on foot. At least, if everyone must ride, everyone must keep to the horses' pace. We will not be able to go as far as Bregolien intended, which may not be a bad thing. You need not worry, Aunt Mídhaer. It is only an exercise – and such an exercise as we have conducted countless times before."
"Not with outsiders. I would not have chosen Bregolien to guide Men into the forest."
"You are unfair to him," Rochendilwen protested. "You and Lord Thorontur, both. Bregolien is stern, but he is doing his best. Warriors need discipline."
"I do not deny it. An unpleasant weapons master never did anyone lasting damage. All I say is that Bregolien is not suited to diplomacy." Mídhaer shrugged. "However, Armad has insisted on this, and if he and his companions all fall into the river he has only himself to blame… I only hope there is no trouble. Make certain you watch Brynn."
"You think he will try to attack Legolas?" Rochendilwen said doubtfully. Brynn's dislike for Legolas was well-known among the Elves by now. It was so unusual for anybody to take a dislike to the merry and blithe Elven-prince that some had even placed wagers on how long it would last. "Surely he would not be that foolish… and if he were, Legolas is more than capable of defending himself against Brynn, or any Man."
"I do not say Brynn will try to attack Legolas directly. I have seen too little of him myself to judge. But Ellaurë dislikes him intensely. Lindariel does not much care for him, either – which is hardly surprising, under the circumstances. She has been hard put to it to keep Thranduil from banishing him outright." Suddenly changing the subject, Mídhaer said, "I have noticed Saeldur and Legolas getting along much better now."
"They are," Rochendilwen affirmed. "Bregolien thought I was a fool to make them partner each other, but I thought they might be friends again if they were given the opportunity. It is good for both of them… for all of us," she went on, with a mischievous grin.
"Legolas hardly lacks for friends," Mídhaer said, though she was smiling. "Neither does Saeldur, if it comes to that."
"Arahael," Rochendilwen said contemptuously. "He is a born troublemaker, and Saeldur will learn that to his cost if he is not careful. Legolas does have friends aplenty, that is true. All the same… Nobody lacks courage, but Saeldur exceeds everyone else in his inability to back away from a fight."
"You think that is good?" Valadhiel said, half laughing.
"I think it is good for Legolas to have someone who will take up the arguments he cannot." Rochendilwen hefted her pack. "Now I must go. I can hardly berate latecomers if I am among them."
Arahael, running into the stable yard only a moment before a watery gleam of sunlight appeared over the edge of the fence, stopped, panting, and looked around. The horses were being led from their stalls. He just managed not to shudder. Going out in this weather was bad enough, but they would have to spend half the night rubbing down the horses and finding them some shelter against the rain. Folly, to go riding on a day like this.
He was the last to arrive. Everybody else was waiting in three long lines, two of Elves and one of Men. Arahael slipped into his place between Brethil and Saeldur.
"How do you always manage it just in time?" Brethil said under his breath.
Even if Arahael had been foolish enough to want to respond and draw further attention to himself, he had no chance. Bregolien stepped out of the shadows of the stable building and took his place at the front of the gathering.
"Now that Lord Arahael has finally deigned to grace us with his presence," Bregolien said mockingly, "Allow me to tell you what you will be doing today. This is only an exercise, but when you are serving in real patrols – and that is by no means certain, since some of you will never be worthy of it – you will be expected to work well with others."
Arahael fidgeted.
"Stop it," Brethil hissed. "You will bring him down on us."
"Not I," Arahael said softly. "He has his eye on Legolas."
Saeldur shot him a swift, sharp glance at that, but said nothing.
Arahael's brows drew together. It was all very well trying to be on good terms with Legolas – Arahael certainly understood the need – but there was such a thing as taking matters to extremes.
"Who can blame Bregolien if he is harder on Legolas?" Arahael went on, softly enough that only Saeldur and Brethil could hear him. "Legolas, however undeservedly, might command him one day – might command all of us one day. I overheard Lord Thorontur say," he went on, "that he thinks Legolas will make an excellent commander for the archers."
"So he will," Saeldur snapped, forgetting to whisper. Bregolien paused in his instructions to glare at them, but took no more notice than that.
Arahael subsided and considered the situation.
Saeldur always said that he did not resent Legolas' reputation as the most promising of the young archers. Saeldur was not famous for tact… or for being able to conceal his emotions. If he said it, as often and as confidently and carelessly as he did, it must be true.
That was wise. There was no point resenting the inevitable. But…
Arahael glanced to the side, at Legolas, who was meeting Bregolien's cold gaze with an expression of polite attention. Legolas certainly looked the part of the warrior-prince he was expected to become. There was no denying that. Whether or not he equalled Saeldur as an archer, he certainly outdid all the others.
Arahael's mouth twisted. There must be some way of reminding Saeldur that Legolas was not, however much his father's position might constrain them not to acknowledge the fact, truly one of them. He might have inherited Thranduil's golden hair and blue eyes. That meant nothing. He had inherited also too much of his mother's Silvan nature. He was as strange as any of the Wood-elves, and more prone than any of them to odd fits of sitting in the trees staring into nothing.
Bregolien startled him out of his reverie by beginning his listing of their groups with the announcement that Arahael, Legolas and the man Brynn would be together for the exercise.
Arahael's first instinct was to protest. Then he thought better of it. It would be a good chance to observe Legolas… who, Prince or not, would never be a true Sindarin lord.
"He has done it deliberately. Bregolien has not a drop of pity in him. He wants to make it difficult for you."
Rochendilwen was standing near enough to hear Eredhion's whisper, although he kept his voice low. Her first instinct was to reprove him. Certainly it would not be pleasant for Legolas to have Arahael and Brynn for company, but this was an exercise and it was meant to be testing. In any case, it was not Eredhion's place to criticise Bregolien's decisions.
She held her tongue, recognizing that, as young as they were, it was unsurprising for Legolas' friends to resent his difficulties on his behalf. Legolas himself had said nothing. He had made no sign or motion or expression that might give away his thoughts. The long days spent in the king's court, with its rigid disciplinary requirements – far more rigid, in some ways, than those of the warriors – were beginning to show their effect.
"It is just as well, all the same," Legolas replied to Eredhion. "Better that Brynn should say what he wishes to me than to any other."
It did not escape Rochendilwen's notice that Legolas, who normally had a good word for everyone, had not even attempted to say that Bregolien had not meant to be unduly harsh. She wished, not for the first time, that her brother could be persuaded to soften his manner. She knew he meant well, but it was too much to expect everyone else to understand his motives when he did not give an inch.
"And Arahael," Voronwë muttered. "Be careful, Legolas. He will make trouble for you if he can."
Rochendilwen padded away, properly out of earshot, not wanting to hear anything she would have to notice.
She looked around at the young Elves arranging their packs and the Men saddling horses, and noted that there seemed to be invisible boundaries not only between the Men and the Elves, but between the Elves of the first and second classes.
Bregolien had been right. The Men were none of their concern, but the Elves had to learn to work well… even with those they did not like.
A rumble of thunder sounded overhead.
It is ill weather to be venturing from your home, Elfling, one of the trees said.
Legolas shot a quick glance at Arahael, to his left, but he appeared to have noticed nothing. Legolas knew, of course, that some Elves were less sensitive to the voices of the trees than others, but surely Arahael could not be so oblivious as not to have heard the trees' incessant muttering through all the long hours since their departure.
I know you cannot reply, the tree said, sounding distinctly smug. That one will make trouble if he hears you. He cannot hear us. He is as deaf as a stone.
Which one? asked another of the other trees. The Man or the Elf?
The Elf, of course, fool. Men can never hear us in any case. They cannot even hear Elves when they talk to us.
Men have ears, protested a third tree. How can they not hear?
Men have small round ears. Mannish ears are only good for hearing loud sounds. That is why they make so much noise when they walk.
Despite himself, Legolas' lips twitched into a smile.
"I see nothing amusing about this situation," Arahael growled. "Here we are, leading horses through this miserable mire when we could have been warm and comfortable at home, to spend the next four days doing whatever tasks Bregolien has devised for his own entertainment."
"Surely it is not as bad as all that," Brynn said smoothly. "A little rain cannot be so oppressive to Elves. Indeed, I greatly admire your weapons masters for continuing training despite it. I wish I could see such enthusiasm in the warriors of Dale, but, alas, there is little hope of that. Do you think your weapons master might give me some advice?"
"Do you mean Bregolien?" Legolas asked, when it became clear that Arahael was not going to respond. "I… I suppose he might. It might be better to ask Rochendilwen."
"His sister? The Elf-maiden?" Brynn pursed his lips. "We have very different ideas of the responsibilities to which women are suited, Prince Legolas."
Arahael scoffed. "Whatever your scruples, Master Brynn," he said, putting mocking emphasis on Brynn's title, "It is better to ask Rochendilwen than Bregolien, if you must ask one of them. I will say for Rochendilwen that she attempts to be civilized. You ought to have spoken to Master Bainion or one of the other weapons masters in the stronghold. They know how things should be done… how they were done, before these dark days."
When Brynn spoke, Legolas could see him striving for control.
"Although I expect you are older than I am, I cannot imagine that you are old enough to remember an Age other than this one, Lord Arahael."
Arahael laughed. "No, but I know that those who guarded the great Sindarin strongholds in the days of the High King are better suited to guiding the defence of a realm than the Elves of the darkness… or their children," he added.
Legolas was too accustomed to this to rise to the bait.
We could arrange an accident, one of the trees offered helpfully. During the exercise. To both of them. It would be the easiest thing –
Why wait? We can do something this very moment –
"No," Legolas said quickly, aloud, before anything could happen.
Brynn looked startled. Arahael simply rolled his eyes. "The trees again?" He went on without waiting for an answer. "Despite the absence of the weapons masters, I expect you will gain some benefit from this experience, Master Brynn. You will see Saeldur's archery – and it is my opinion that he is unrivalled. Do you not agree, Legolas?"
"Saeldur is one of the finest archers I have seen," Legolas said cheerfully. "He might well outdo Lord Thorontur one day."
"Experience," Arahael said. "That is all that he lacks. But he is the finest archer you will see in the next few days."
"Undoubtedly," Legolas said. He quite agreed that Saeldur's archery was exceptional. He could not see why Arahael was so insistent on telling Brynn about it. "I have seen that there are also many skilled archers in Lord Armad's company," he added.
He wondered why both Brynn and Arahael rolled their eyes at that.
Arahael did not demur when Legolas volunteered to be the lookout. He was the best suited to the role. No matter what Bregolien said, the trees would warn him if someone was approaching. Meanwhile, it gave Arahael a chance to speak to Brynn out of Legolas' hearing.
He barely waited for Legolas to be safely in the uppermost branches of the nearest tree before he began.
"Saeldur told me he spoke to you," Arahael said quietly.
Brynn, who was making valiant efforts to light a spark on the wet wood that was all they had managed to gather, made no response at first.
Arahael did not dare raise his voice. If Legolas had any sense at all, which admittedly he seemed not to, he would be listening. He considered lighting the fire himself, decided against it – he did not want to antagonize Brynn – and, instead, settled down to watch.
At last Brynn persuaded a spark to catch enough to produce a faint red glow accompanied by smoke and an unpleasant smell. He looked remarkably pleased with himself for having made such a disastrous fire. Arahael, deciding that this might be his best change, repeated his statement.
"Lord Saeldur?" Brynn said. "Yes, I did speak with him."
"About Legolas." Arahael leaned in on the pretext of warming his hands at the pitiful fire, and dropped his voice. Legolas ought to be out of hearing now, but there was no point taking foolish chances. "There are some things you should know, Master Brynn… about Saeldur and Legolas. You might understand Saeldur's position better than any of us."
Brynn looked startled. "I know Lord Saeldur's brother was the King's heir –"
"King's heir," Arahael said impatiently. "What does that matter? If such danger arose as took the Elven-king from his throne… well, in that case, it would not have been Candnaur the realm looked to for a successor. He is no warrior. That is not the point at all. No… Saeldur would never say it to an outsider – but I know how he feels. He did not realize, as a child, how much he might lose by an accident of birth."
"Who would?" Brynn said heavily.
"But once we began our warrior training – Saeldur and I began together, ten years before Legolas, so we truly have been brothers in arms – he realized then. He is the finest archer the Woodland Realm will produce in this Age, but he will never be allowed to command ahead of Legolas. As the King's son, Legolas will be given a command, and since he has a fancy for the bow and can manage to shoot one –"
"In fairness to your Elven-prince," Brynn said, "I must say for him that he can do better than merely shoot a bow. Whether he outdoes Lord Saeldur I will not presume to know, never having seen Lord Saeldur shoot, but Prince Legolas was undoubtedly the best of those we competed against."
"Perhaps," Arahael said dismissively. "That is not my point. I would not want you to take offence at anything Saeldur said to you, so you should know…" He glanced around and lowered his voice further. "Once Saeldur realized what… what must happen, you can imagine he wanted little to do with Legolas. He could not trust himself to be courteous. Saeldur is not the most diplomatic of Elves… and he was grievously disappointed."
"I can imagine that," Brynn said bitterly.
"But, now – Candnaur, you see, and Lady Celephindeth, Saeldur's mother, encouraged his friendship with Legolas as a child – and I think, though he would not so betray his family as to admit it, even to me, that they have been… I will not say they are forcing him to spend time with Legolas. Saeldur is an adult, after all. But he does have a strong sense of duty, and if it were put to him in that way…"
"Duty? What could duty have to do with it?"
"Saeldur is a true lord of the Sindar, and will be a high-ranking member of the King's court, if he so chooses. It would be… difficult… for Legolas, if it were to become common knowledge that Saeldur does not… entirely like him."
"I see."
"So anything he said to you…"
"I do indeed see, Lord Arahael."
You see? The tree said, after it finished repeating the entire conversation to Legolas, with, Legolas did not doubt, sundry embellishments of its own. You see? I told you, nobody is to be trusted –
Legolas sighed. Arahael is only speculating. He said as much himself.
But he knows Saeldur now, as you do not. Oh, Saeldur was fond enough of you when you were children, I have seen that for myself… and so I know how many years ago it was that you played together under my branches, Elfling. Many, many years.
Saeldur is not evil, another tree added. We have known the great darkness of the past. We would know if it were in him –
You cannot have known any such darkness, Legolas said, amused. You are barely older than I am, both of you.
Aye, but the forest itself… the forest has a life apart from the trees and the grass and the deer, Elfling, and the forest knows. But none of that now. That is not the point. If what this one says is true –
Even if Arahael believes it, Legolas insisted, I will not… not on such flimsy evidence. Candnaur would never force Saeldur to do anything he did not want to, and Lady Celephindeth has far too much sense than to think it would help anyone.
But Saeldur never tried to be friendly with you before the Men came. You know it! Perhaps his mother and brother thought that you needed help –
Even here, we have heard how difficult that Man is –
And they might think it their responsibility to persuade Saeldur to help you, since it is at their request that you have so much to do with the Men in the first place. You might have avoided seeing them altogether.
"I suppose so," Legolas murmured reluctantly, aloud. "But if that is the case… Saeldur should not be forcedto do something abhorrent to him, no matter what his mother and brother think his duty is."
That was not what I meant at all, the tree said. Let him help you. It will build his character. I only meant that you should be watchful.
Hush! said another tree abruptly. He comes.
The trees had given Legolas ample warning. It was several minutes before Saeldur actually reached him. He leaped from a nearby tree onto a lower branch of the one Legolas was perched in. Legolas reached down to help him up.
"I thought you might be keeping watch," Saeldur said. "Rochendilwen sent me around with a message. Everyone is to report to the main camp at dawn. We will have sword drills if it stays wet – Lord Maeglad's orders – and then archery practice."
Legolas nodded. "Thank you."
"Truth to tell, I volunteered to come. I wanted to make certain… you are not having any difficulties, are you?"
Legolas flushed suddenly. Perhaps Candnaur had asked Saeldur to help him. "None to speak of. Brynn does not like me," he said, trying to sound merry. "But he has been far pleasanter than he has ever been. I suppose I have you to thank for that."
Saeldur, instead of acknowledging the remark, was frowning at him.
"Legolas, is everything all right?"
"Of course. Do you want me to ask the trees to send your message to the other groups? It will save you time –"
"I have spoken to them all. You are the last. Legolas." Saeldur reached out to lay a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "You forget I have known you since we were children. Since you were a day-old babe, if it comes to that. We might not always have been on the best terms, but… I know when something is troubling you. You can trust me, whatever it is."
Ask him if it is true that his brother and mother are making him be friendly with you, one of the trees prompted.
Saeldur might not have heard what the tree said, but he did not miss Legolas' quick glance at the trunk.
"What is it?" he asked. "Legolas –" He cut himself off as Bregolien's voice rose above the night noises, haranguing someone who was not keeping watch alertly enough to suit him. "This is not the time for this conversation," Saeldur said ruefully. "I must go back before Bregolien thinks to look for me. But, Legolas, if Brynn grows too much for you to handle, tell me, and I will deal with him."
He gave Legolas' shoulder a squeeze before he swung himself down.
I think you can trust him, one of the trees volunteered as Saeldur dropped to a lower branch and ran lightly along it.
I do not doubt it, Legolas replied. All the same, if he sees looking after me as an obligation, I will find a way to release him from it. Saeldur should not have that thrust on him. And now, he added, forestalling any protest, I had better go and tell Arahael and Brynn what to expect tomorrow.
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