Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
December 28, 2019
Chapter 25 – Elrond's Tale
The giant spider's bulbous red eyes. The unconscious elf laying to the side of the clearing. A quiet voice saying his name. A silver tear sliding down a pale cheek.
Estel shook his head to dispel the flashes of memory that flooded his mind. So much had happened in the past couple of days and it had all originated from them venturing into Mirkwood. If they had never found Maerhow greatly would things have been changed?
The young human glanced over at his ada. Elladan had joined the group of ellyn after checking on the horses. He had figured his brother would do this but still, it stung. Here he has an outcast, not only in the world of men but also in his family.
Frustrated, Estel reached down and ripped up a handful of grass. He was tired, bored, and irritated. Why could they not for once treat him like the man he was, not the child he used to be? What were they talking about that they felt he could not be included in?
He tossed the grass up, but the air around him was still, no breeze passing through it. With nothing to carry it away down the hill the torn pieces of grass floated back down to land on Estel and the young elfling lying next to him.
Grumbling the human spat out the bit of grass that had gotten into his mouth. Sometimes he swore that arda itself hated him.
"Toron, you have grass in your hair."
Estel groaned at Elladan's voice as he quickly ran a hand through his tangled, brown locks to remove the bits of green vegetation.
"What were you doing? Rolling around in the grass?" Elrohir chuckled, "You have not done that for many years. Why did you not invite me?"
Estel turned to glare at the Noldi. He was in no mood for his brother's teasing.
"So, you finally decided to come back and join me. Did ada finally stop talking or did he decide not to let you in on any more of the conversation either? I thought it was just me who got this special privilege," the sarcasm dripped from the edan's words, "Is anyone ever going to bother…"
His words faltered as he saw his ada appear from behind Elrohir. The young human felt his cheeks turn red even as the elf lord spoke,
"No ion nín, it is not fair. I have kept you in the dark for far too long. Elladan has told me of your frustration. You are not a child anymore; I just cannot see it," Elrond paused for a moment as he glanced down at Maer, "Pray tell why does he have grass on his face?"
"There are many things I should have told you all sooner," Elrond looked at each one of his sons, "I have left you in the dark about many things, but most of all you." The Noldor's dark eyes came to rest upon Estel, "You deserve to know the truth. I must admit that I have hidden this past from even myself, for the shame and guilt is great."
"Do you not want to wait until we have traveled from this place and made a camp for the night?" Elladan was looking down the hill at the yrch corpses.
"If I do not tell this now then I fear I never will."
What had his ada done that had been so terrible? Estel felt his heart quicken as the elf lord started his tale.
Flashback - 2,600 years earlier in Imladris
"My lord Thranduil, what brings you here to the peaceful valley of Imladris? We were not expecting you," Lamonir bowed deeply to the menacing figure in front of him.
"I come to see Elrond and I believe that my coming is only a surprise to you for I did not come on my own desires. I received a letter," with this the elf king jumped down gracefully from his white horse and brushed past the young Noldo soldier. He was quickly followed by those in his personal guard.
The elf lord stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard and sighed as he witnessed this. Half of him had hoped that Thranduil would not come for they only brought trouble with them.
As the last of the Greenwood elves vanished into the hall below him, Elrond turned away from the beautiful view. It was not good to keep his company waiting, least of all these particular guests.
"Welcome to Imladris my Lord Thranduil. I trust that your journey was uneventful."
"Uneventful and I hope not unnecessary. Why have you summoned me here?"
Elrond let himself groan internally even as he said calmly, "It will be worth your time, I assure you. However, let us not speak of such things here and now. Allow me to escort you to your rooms; I am sure you are tired."
Thranduil did not look pleased but followed the Noldo nonetheless.
"Hîr nín, why have you called them here? What purpose do you think this will serve?"
Elrond smiled gently at Lamonir, "Darkness is spreading over all of arda. The eldar cannot remain divided. I believe much good will come of this. We need to unite and fight together. That is why I sent the letter to the Greenwood."
The young soldier did not look convinced but followed the elf lord into the Hall of Counsel. Thranduil sat near the head of the table, his trusted guard Tamír, sitting next to him eyeing everyone with an air of suspicion. The very atmosphere of the room seemed ripe with tension.
The Sindarin king's steely blue eyes cast a judgmental gaze on Elrond as he took his seat at the very head of the table.
"I trust you have rested well?"
Thranduil's eyes darkened slightly, "Pray skip the formalities. I desire to get back to my kingdom as quickly as I can and do not want to waste time on such pointless talk."
The Noldo bit back a harsh retort. "Of course. I know how difficult it is for you to leave your kingdom especially in such a dark time we now live in."
"Do you think that my wife and advisors are not capable of taking care of the Greenwood while I am away?"
The other ellyn in the room started mummering amongst themselves at this remark.
"No not at all," Elrond stuttered, "I meant only that…"
But Thranduil stopped him, "I care not. Just get on with the treaty, for that is no doubt why you have called me here," this was not going at all as he had hoped, "You wish for the aid of my kingdom if Imladris is ever attacked and if we are in need of aid you will help us?"
"Yes, we must unite. Have you not felt the darkness growing?"
The Sinda's eyes grew suddenly guarded, "The Greenwood can protect itself. We have no need for aid or unity with you."
"Yet, I have received news that armies of yrch are massing at Dol Guldur."
"And why should I care about that evil place? It is beyond my borders."
"Because if the evil continues to grow then you will be the first to be attacked. We must band together if we are to survive this. You cannot be so arrogant as to have not seen this warning and not accept help from us."
The hall went completely still as if all of the air had been instantly removed from it. When Thranduil spoke next his voice was as cold as ice,
"I will agree to this only on two terms. One, you must guarantee me that you will not betray my trust, and two, you must also guarantee me you will come to our aid should we call for it."
Elrond glanced over at Glorfindel before saying, "You have my word."
"If you break this…"
Thranduil trailed off the unsaid threat left hanging in the air.
"Legions of yrch are amassing at Dol Guldur. They are preparing to attack the Greenwood."
Elrond set his pen down gently, gazing up at Glorfindel calmly, "And has Thranduil called for aid?"
"You know he never will. He is too proud for his own good and will never call for our help unless forced to," the Noldor lord looked back down at the letter he was writing and remained quiet, "So, we mean not to go to their aid? Elrond, you signed a treaty."
"I do intend to help them," Elrond said quietly, "I will not stand here and see the Greenwood become overrun by evil all because of one arrogant elf."
"Then what do you intend to do?"
The Noldo picked his pen up again and signed his name at the bottom of the letter with a flourish. He then folded it and handed it to Glorfindel,
"Seal it and then find someone to take this to Thranduil. I am going to call the council."
"You knew," the Glrofindel smiled at his friend, "I should have guessed. What did you say in the letter?"
"I told him to prepare his army and that I would send another letter as soon as we arrived at the western edge of the Greenwood. I told him that he is not alone in this fight."
"Have you sent the letter to King Thranduil?"
"Yes, hîr nín. We also sent several of our riders to ensure that it will reach the palace."
"Mae carnen Lasbelin," Elrond watched as the soldier nodded sharply before walking out of the tent, "You have remained strangely quiet mellon nín. What is on your mind? Do you not think this shall work in our favor?"
Glorfindel placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I believe the yrch will be caught by surprise. They will not expect an attack from both directions, however, there is still a great worry in my heart."
The elf lord stood up and put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "We will not fail. Before noon today, we will attack from the west and Thranduil from the east. The battle will be over before nightfall, you shall see. Alone we both would fall but together we are stronger than they."
"And if things do go ill today then I am happy to have fought on your side for all of these years gwador. Berio ven Eru."
"Sy telir!"
Elrond and Glorfindel jumped from their seats in the tent as frantic cries began to echoed through the encampment. Lasbelin stumbled through the entrance, brown eyes filled with horror.
"A company of new yrch traveling to Dol Guldur found our camp. We are under attack!"
Both ellyn stood still for a moment as they now began to hear the cries yrch. Glorfindel looked his friend,
"Send a letter to Thranduil. He must call off his attack for we cannot fight two battles at once and the Greenwood cannot win the fight if they attack on their own. They will be slaughtered."
Elrond rushed over his bags and grabbed out a piece of parchment. He could hear Glorfindel speaking softly to Lasbelin as he hastily scribbled a note to the elven king. A moment later he handed the hastily addressed letter to the Noldo soldier.
"Take this to King Thranduil. He must get it soon."
The ellon bowed before rushing out of the tent.
The cries from the yrch grew louder as both Elrond and Glorfindel drew their swords and prepared to fight.
"If Thranduil does not get that letter in time then he will attack; if he does then we will not be there to help him. He will think we deserted them and forsaken our treaty."
The elf lord gripped the handle of his sword tighter,
"Then we shall just have to hope that Lasbelin reaches them quickly."
Together the two friends stepped out into the battle.
Not long after, further to the west, the Greenwood army began their attack, not knowing that their allies would never arrive. They were alone.
As the sunset that night Elrond looked around at the injured ellyn. The battle had been long and they had suffered many casualties, yet they had been victorious in the end. Thranduil would likely be angered that they had called off the attack but he would worry about the Sinda later.
Unknown to them several leagues away a young Noldo soldier lay dead, an undelivered letter still clutched tightly in his hand.
Elvish Translations:
maer – golden
ada - dad
toron – brother (Noldorin)
ion nín – my son
yrch – orcs
hîr nin – my lord
mae carnen – well done
gwador – sworn brother
berio ven Eru – may Eru protect us
sy telir – they are coming