Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
December 14, 2019
Chapter 23 – Searching
Kélion marched up to the gates of the palace, face grim. The two ellyn guards at the gate snapped to attention as the prince approached. They all knew to avoid getting on any of the royal family's nerves when they were in such a dark mood.
"Open the gate!" the Sinda demanded as he strode across the Welcoming Hall.
At once the guards gave a quick bow before moving to open the great door. As the great stone entry slowly opened, sunlight began to spill into the hall. Kélion stepped to the entrance and looked out at the surrounding forest. There was no one in sight.
Anger filled his heart. Why had Êmand and Meldir left? Or if they had to leave, why had they done it without him and without telling him? He felt betrayed. First Legolas had abandoned him and now his closest friends.
The prince took a step out of the gate, he was going to have to find them on his own; for he could not, would not, leave them to face danger alone. He would not leave them to suffer the same fate as his youngest brother. To lose them would be the death of him and he felt like he needed to do something. He needed to get out of the palace and away from the memories that haunted his every step.
"My prince," Kélion paused just outside of the gate, "Will you not take a guard out with you? It would be unwise to leave the palace grounds alone, especially at a time such as this."
The Sinda did not even turn as he addressed the Silvan, "I am not in need of any protection mellon. I just need to be alone. I pray you understand."
Kélion did not need to see him to know that the eldar had understood. The crown prince continued towards the trees on the far side of the clearing, yet once again a voice called out to him,
"My Lord Êmand and Captain Meldir took the path south. If you are not back by sundown I shall alert the king and send out a search party."
A soft smile graced the Sinda's face. It seemed he could not hide his true intentions from anyone anymore. Without a word, Kélion quietly slipped into the forest, disappearing instantly into the shadows.
The guard watched the prince vanish. He knew that the elf was not simply going for a walk. Turning back to Welcoming Hall, the Silvan walked away. He needed to go and talk with the king. Behind him, the gate closed with a hollow boom and a smile crossed his face. The royal family was falling apart. If all went as planned, the crown prince would return as king of the Greenwood; if he returned at all.
Kélion brushed through the thick undergrowth. He did not notice the trail he was leaving his wake, nor the soft whispers of the trees that were all around him. Anger was consuming his heart, anger and frustration.
The prince pushed through the brush and came upon a small opening in the trees. He stepped into the tall grass and froze. A hooded figure stood in front of him, aiming an arrow right at his heart. The Sinda started to raise his hands to show he posed no threat, however stopped as quickly as he had begun. He knew that bow and arrow. His arms lowered and he crossed his arms.
"Kélion?" the figure brushed his hood back, "Valar, you scared me half to death. What are you doing crashing through the forest like an orch?"
If the Sinda had not been furious at Meldir he would have laughed at the startled look on his mellon's face, yet no joy was left to fill his heart. Instead, he glared at the elf.
"Why did you leave the palace?"
"Why did you follow?"
The two friends looked hard at one another; icy blue eyes boring into brown ones. A second later Meldir sighed and looked away.
"Êmand asked for my help."
"And you did not think to come and tell me? Does our friendship mean so little to you that you would not come to me for advice? Did you not think that I would desire to know where you were going? I could have helped."
"I tried to tell you," the Silvan cut in defensively.
"Obviously not very hard."
Kélion did not miss the hurt look that flashed in his mellon's eyes.
"I tried to tell you," Meldir said again, his voice as cold as steel, "But Thalion refused to let me see you. He said that you were grieving in the garden with your adar and that I could not interrupt you. Our friendship means enough to me that I did not intrude on your moment of grieving. What more did you want me to do mellon nín?"
The last two words were forced out through clenched teeth causing the crown prince to take a step back. The anger radiating from the commander surprised him and the words his friend had said struck at his heart. How had he come to be fighting with Meldir? Where had this anger come from?
"Goheno nin. I did not mean to be so harsh with my words. My heart is full of anger and frustration, but it is not fair for me to take these emotions out on you."
The Silvan smiled sadly. He stepped forward and put his hand on Kélion's shoulder.
"There is nothing to forgive, however, now that you are here perhaps you can be of some help. Come, let us go and check on Êmand. Perhaps he has had better luck at finding something."
Êmand frowned as he found the deep cut in the soft bark of the young sapling. He had prayed that the arrow would still be there. He remembered seeing it stuck fast in the tree after grazing Legolas's neck. Whoever had fired it was obviously very careful about who saw them. The weapon was gone.
The Silvan let out a low groan. He had already looked over the arrow that had been pulled from his leg the day of the attack. It had been that of an orch. The clumsy design and crude material used left no doubt of that, however, the projectile that he had seen graze his charge's neck had not been that of any yrch. It had been smooth and well built. The arrow of a highly skilled archer.
The eldar's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Meldir calling out to him. He looked up and caught sight of his companion and a certain blond elf. For a moment the ellon mistook the silver-blond hair and stern face for that of Thranduil.
"I am here mellon and it appears that you have found someone else," Êmand walked away from the tree, smirking at the sullen look the prince shot his way, "A lost elfling it seems."
The lighthearted taunt did not bring the usual smile to the Sinda's face; instead, Kélion demanded,
"Did you find anything?"
The Silvan sighed. Things would never be the same now that Legolas was gone.
"The arrow is missing. It appears as though whoever shot it at your brother was very thorough in cleaning up after himself."
Kélion walked slowly behind Meldir as the elf scoured the surrounding undergrowth.
What is the use? Whoever was here is now long gone. All traces will likely just lead us on some wild chase that will go nowhere.
He leaned against a tree. He had never felt so useless before; so defeated. The prince closed his eyes and let his frustration radiate off of him.
Mae Govannen, Prince of the Greenwood.
Kélion's eyes flew open and he stumbled away from the oak. Meldir looked back at him, but the eldar paid him no heed.
Your heart is full of anger, deep sorrow… and dispair. Why do you lose your hope, penneth? For hope is not lost.
The prince found himself slowly sinking to his knees. He had never heard the trees speak so clearly. Was he in a dream? Had he fallen ill?
You need to return to the palace, for something evil is at work and the trees here have begun to grow dark. They are hiding something.
The ellon looked around at the trees surrounding them. How could the forest this close to the palace be going dark?
You must leave.
Kélion frowned as he got picked himself up off of the ground and stepped over the tree he had leaned against. Putting his hands to the bark he let his inner light flare.
I am here to find out what happened to my brother.
You must go back to the palace, for you have all been betrayed, the intensity of the voice startled him, the little green leaf has left this forest, but do not despair yet. Now go, for things are happening that cannot be undone. Farewell, my prince.
The gentle voice went silent and the Sinda pressed his hands harder against the rough bark.
No! Do not leave. What of my brother? What are you not telling me?
There was only silence.
A hand on his shoulder, a moment later caused Kélion to jump.
"Peace mellon nín," it was Meldir, "What did you hear?"
The intensity of the azure eyes that met the Silvan elf could not be ignored.
"We need to get back to the palace."
"Why?" The Silvan commander watched confused as the crown prince took off back the way they had come, "We may never get this chance again. We may never know what happened to Legolas."
Kélion turned and looked his friend in the eye, "Something has gone ill at the palace. My brother would want me to care for those who still yet live, before avenging those who do not. Come with me if you want or stay here and continue to search. It matters not to me."
Something the tree had said had distressed the Sinda greatly and Meldir suddenly felt torn about what to do. Leaving now would mean that they may never find out who had attacked Êmand and Legolas that fateful day. Yet how could he leave his friend? He had sworn an oath to protect the crown prince.
"Êmand!" the Silvan called even as Kélion continued to walk away from them, "We must leave now."
Elvish Translations:
mellon nín – my friend
mellon – friend
orch – orc
adar – father
goheno nin – forgive me
yrch – orcs
mae govannen – greetings
penneth – young one