A/N: Welcome back everyone! Hope life is jolly and merry in spite of being broke as a result of Christmas shopping :)
Reviews are joy - and without further ado...
The sheer force with which the grand double doors were flung open caused them to both ricochet off the walls and back again, pronounced dents now marked on both sides.
Ashryn took several steps to steady herself as she recovered from the speed with which she dodged her uncle's blow, and as a result was much slower than the rest of the room to focus upon the newcomer, to whom the attention was now drawn: Cassian was dripping all over the hardwood floor, so saturated in water it was uncertain whether it was sweat or rain which had soaked him. He seemed quite unable to speak, chest rising and falling rapidly as he gasped for breath, a hand on the edge of the left door. Even from her significant distance, Ashryn could clearly see his pupils, so dilated that only the barest hint of grey was shown.
"What is it?" Only a millisecond seemed to pass before Candor disappeared from her side and materialised before Cassian, both hands on his shoulder and shaking so hard that droplets scattered through the hair. "What is it?" A repetition. "What is it?" Again. "Speak, Cassian!"
The sound of his name seemed to shake the protegee out of whatever horrified reverie which had consumed him, and Ashryn could almost see him take a firm grasp on his thoughts as he released to door to stand without support. "The king suspects this meeting, but he has no proof of what is occurring. The prince is leading a party to question intentions."
For a second, the lord appeared almost frozen, before letting out a booming laugh at absolute odds with the situation. "He sends the prince? Of all people…" Another chuckle, almost involuntary. "What in the world were you so afraid of, boy?"
Cassian shook his head, utter seriousness writ on every feature. "He is not alone. Lord Mecheneb and Lady Lithuin ride with him. And a score soldiers follow them."
"He suspects Legolas?"
"No, he fears for him," Cassian corrected. "That's why Lord Mecheneb accompanies him."
"And Lithuin?"
"She stands high in his favour. He trusts her."
Candor was grinding his teeth together. "If she thinks she can usurp my position, she's very much mistaken."
Hasn't she already? Ashryn approached warily, not quite daring to voice the thought which would quite surely earn her a punishment.
"Your guests should leave," Cassian urged, glancing around the room at the multitude of elves present. "If there's nothing to find -"
"Are you daft?" Ashryn's snap caused Cassian to flinch, both of them still reeling somewhat from their earlier fight. "Fleeing suggests guilt. You have nothing to hide."
"Oh, so you aren't part of this now?" The comment was laced with vicious sarcasm.
"You mistake my intentions," Ashryn replied slowly, fighting to keep her tone steady. "Disbanding now not only implies that this was a treasonous gathering, but also jeopardises whatever source you received this information from." They all knew plainly who had informed Cassian. "The wiser path -"
Three loud knocks rung clearly from downstairs.
Her uncle's face darkened, and he instantly departed from their sides, stalking with impressive speed for the stairs.
Swinging around, Ashryn gesticulated at the quartet of musicians. "Keep playing!" It took several more moments of startled silence, but the harpist led with a few tentative notes, before his companions joined him. Turning back on her heel, she, too, exited the room.
Cassian was ahead of her, descending quickly (most likely to get away from her), Ashryn following at a slower pace. It would be all too easy to give up the whole plot to those who waited outside, but despite the clear tensions drifting between her, Cassian, and her uncle, she had not lied in her assertions that Candor was family. And whilst their methods were far from satisfactory, she could not quite say that their ideas were without merit.
And so, when she reached the bottom of the staircase, seeing the fury which immediately alit upon her uncle's face at the sight of Lady Lithuin, Ashryn adopted her most charming smile, hurried forwards merrily, and tugged insistently on his arm (elbowing past Cassian as she did so). In doing so, she positioned herself squarely in the doorway, Candor just behind her as she curtseyed awkwardly to the three figures before her, all the while keeping a firm grip on his arm. "My apologies, my Lady Lithuin; my lord Mecheneb; your highness. I'm afraid my uncle is drunk."
This was not the welcome they were expecting: Legolas had at least the tact to maintain a neutral expression, but blatant shock registered on the general Mecheneb's face, and Lady Lithuin looked genuinely taken aback at the lack of confrontation.
"Perhaps I could offer you some refreshments? We have red wine should you wish to taste some, and I would be most honoured if I could perform a short musical piece to welcome you to my uncle's hall. Our curtesy would surely not have been so lacking if we knew you were coming." Pulling hard, Ashryn cleared the doorway for the three, stepping to one side.
The prince wore a strange smile as he gestured for Lady Lithuin and the general to enter before him. "My lady, we will not stay long. It was never our intention to intrude upon your hospitality, but we were hoping to speak with your uncle."
"It is not a problem!" Ashryn assured with suitable cheeriness, waving for Cassian to show them up the stairs. "Some light refreshments, and we will be honoured to join you." A bashful look at the other two guests. "My presence may not have been required, but as I said, my uncle is quite drunk, but Cassian here and I may be able to provide whatever information you lack." The benefits of keeping to herself throughout the years meant that the general could not quite gleam the fact that she was acting quite significantly out of character, and the lady Lithuin had not crossed paths with Ashryn for quite some time.
General Mecheneb was too polite to reject her presence or her instructions, and Cassian led the party into the stairwell.
In the end, Ashryn decided against serenading the trio with a tryst on the piano (that masy have been a bit much), instead directing them into a small chamber, a more intimate dining room of sorts. Cassian produced a bottle of wine; Ashryn lit the candles; and they sat on either side of Lord Candor, facing their guests.
"Why do you think we are here, my lord?" General Mecheneb wasted no time as he leaned forwards from his seat across from Ashryn, directly addressing her uncle. The general looked almost weary, the famed greatsword which usually sat across his back leaning against the side of the table.
Lord Candor gave a lopsided shrug. "On the orders of the king?"
"Let us not dally," Legolas spoke up, bracing his elbows on the table. "We are, indeed, here on behalf of my father the King. You crossed a line today, my lord. You may be a senior member of the nobility; however, this does not excuse your conduct. In fact, some would argue that your position makes your transgression all the more serious." His blue eyes were frozen, the blue of deep ice." He paused, but neither his companions or Lord Candor moved to fill the silence. "But our objective tonight is to compromise." Nodding to the Lady Lithuin seated to his right, Legolas waved a hand absently.
As if on cue, the lady began to speak. "You may not like me or what I am about to say, my lord, but I hope you would listen."
The lord nodded. Grimly, reluctantly, but nodded nonetheless, and Ashryn relaxed her clenched fists from underneath the table. (Given her uncle's behaviour, perhaps she needn't have played up his drunkenness).
"You are perhaps the most powerful advisor in this kingdom," Lady Lithuin began, speaking softly and swiftly. "You hold land, troops, and influence, disproportionate to your fellow councillors. There are those who would argue that you hold too much power."
"How is this relevant?" Candor blustered, "does my power somehow negate the validity of my arguments?"
Lithuin held up a hand. "I am not finished," she replied so evenly that Ashryn felt a rush of admiration (and no small amount of vindictive delight) as her uncle grudgingly fell silent.
"Your power does not in any way detract from your counsel, but what it does generate is unease. You are the only lord or lady in our kingdom who commands military, economic, and significant political power, and you are the only person apart from the king who had sufficient influence to single-handedly make decisions with widespread repercussions. This, my lord, is not conducive to a fair system of governance."
"So, what you're saying is that I am too powerful, and thus my suggestions are met with mistrust?"
"Let her speak," the General snapped.
The Lady smiled grimly. "I am merely outlaying the situation. You complain that your plans fail because they are altered by the court, but have you considered what may come to pass if you are not weathered by your equals? How much would your power grow? How would the rest of the nobility ever have a say in our governance?"
"It is not my fault that I am powerful."
"No, but it is when you refuse to allow the input of others. Which brings us to our objective tonight – you are the champion of the interventionist faction. You know this, I know this, and the King knows this. Intervention, however, if synonymous with interference. Our jurisdiction ends with these forests, and Middle Earth is home to various kingdoms, all of which hold power over their own lands. We are not responsible for these lands and straying into them can very possibly bring troubles onto our own doorstep.
"We are not a significant military power, my lord, as General Mecheneb would tell you. We are far from densely populated, and we are a largely peaceful people. War has dogged our history. I would hope to prevent it from defining our future."
Ashryn watched her uncle pause, drumming his fingers on the tabletop. "You talk of violence, but what of trade?" The question was lilting in its challenge. "Opening our borders promotes prosperity."
"Opening our borders promotes dependence," Lithuin responded, "and reliance upon the stability of these partners."
"But keeping them shut prevents the possibility of expansion!"
"Which returns us to our original discussion," Lithuin took a small sip of wine. "What if we initiate once more trade with Laketown? What if we build a strong relationship, and are honour bound to defend them upon the threat of attack? Again, my lord, we are not a significant military power. The age of the elves on Middle Earth is over. Why not let it pass? We can be self-sufficient, self-contained, not drawn into continuous conflicts of men. I, for one, would like to sail and see the Undying Lands. I would like my son to experience the same, instead of perishing on the battlefield in a fight that we could have avoided."
There was a long silence, before Cassian spoke up tentatively. "But, my lady, we are still defenders of the light. And orcs are raiding along the plains."
"The men are the defenders of the light, now. Prince Legolas and the lords Elladan and Elrohir paid tribute to the apex of the elves' power by fighting in the War of the Ring, but the majority of our peoples stayed home. Greenwood fought, yes, but our regiments were sent out against direct threats to our lands." Lithuin's stormy grey eyes flashed, and for just a moment, her presence seemed to overshadow even the silent general. "This is not our fight."
Lord Candor opened his mouth to refute her, but the lady stood up somewhat abruptly. "I know what you will say, my lord, but it is late, and we have a long ride ahead of us." Both the Prince and General stood with her. "I ask only that you think on what I have said. The King welcomes you back to court."
Candor laughed darkly. "His Majesty is ever so gracious."
"Careful, my lord," Legolas warned. "His Majesty is your King, and he seeks only the best for his people."
Ashryn could tell exactly what sardonic remark was itching to burst from both Cassian and her uncle, so she rose hurriedly to her feet. "Allow me to show you to the door," she inched past Candor (who made a habit of pushing his chair back far enough to stretch his legs) and waved the three into the hall.
The General wasted no time in heading into the stairwell, but both Lady Lithuin and Prince Legolas slowed to walk beside her, the lady in particular wearing a weary smile. "I am grateful that he listened," she sighed, "but I do not expect him to be convinced."
"Perhaps I am not the one you ought to be saying this to, my lady," Ashryn replied lightly as she stopped by the door.
Lithuin laughed. "I knew both your parents, Ashryn, and your father in particular would have said the same. You are their child, not your uncle's." She did not wait for a reply before slipping out of the door and heading immediately for her horse, whose reins the General was holding out.
"A moment, please," Legolas waved to his companions. General Mecheneb shot Ashryn a mistrustful glance, but obeyed.
For a moment, only the wind whistling across drying leaves filled the silence. Suddenly uncomfortable, Ashryn leaned against the doorway, eyeing the prince with uncertainty.
"Family," Legolas breathed out finally, "does not guarantee loyalty."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Ashryn replied instantly.
The Prince crossed his arms. "We are very much the same, my lady, and yet somehow different." (Had Ashryn not know better, she would swear he seemed somewhat intoxicated.) "I love my father. He is my only remaining kin. Perhaps I can simultaneously defy and respect him because I do not depend upon him."
That stung. "Your crown does."
He chuckled. "In a way." Again, the whisper of leaves. "The world is not so much black and white as it once seemed." He tilted his head up at the stars. "If I didn't know better, I would almost say that everything is easier in war."
"Is that why you've brought Greenwood back into one?"
Ashryn did not expect the laugh that followed. "I should have listened to Cassian when he told me to tell you it was a training mishap."
"You are playing a dangerous game, my prince," she replied lowly.
"I am not playing games at all," Legolas shot back.
Ashryn shook her head. "I do not want to be involved," she said tiredly, "my mother died fighting away from home. My uncle seems determined to do the same, and you should not be confiding in my family." Especially not behind your father's back.
"My lord," Lady Lithuin called out, both she and the General mounted on their horses.
"A minute more," Legolas requested, holding out a hand. "Your uncle is a dangerous ally, my father a dangerous enemy, but I – we - have our duties."
"We have already discussed duty. It is subjective."
"I do not trust Cassian," Legolas plunged on, seeming to disregard her interruption. "I trust your uncle less, and I am very much uncertain about you. Duty. Family. Even Honour. Think of it, my lady."
Ashryn shook her head. "If you do not trust my uncle, you should not trust me."
Legolas shrugged with nonchalant confidence. "Think of it, my lady." He repeated as he bowed neatly, drawing her left hand forward to press a soft kiss against its back. "Duty, family, and honour."
Ashryn watched him leave for his snowy white mare, brushing a hand through her silky mane as he swung onto her back, raising a hand in farewell before leading his two companions back into the woods.
His kiss lingered against her hand like a promise.
Duty, family, honour. The wooden doorway dug unforgivingly into Ashryn's back, the dull pain only just registering against her spine, but she couldn't seem to move. Duty, family, honour. There, in the velvet night, Ashryn felt the words swirling with the leaves, and knew -maybe even lamented - that they were as incongruous as oil simmering on water.
This chapter felt so awkward to write, and I sincerely hope it didn't read as such (I've reread it so many times nothing registers in my brain anymore). I did my best to illustrate the nuance in opinions and policies, as well as the lingering mistrust which defines the factions of the Greenwood court.
Let me know what you think!
Until next time,
Silver
