Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
April 25, 2020
Chapter 38 – Escape into the Night
The night was still and silent. The cold, harsh winds that had blown down from the pass had died down to only a breeze that rustled the long grasses that surrounded them. It had been several hours since Legolas had walked away from the fire and laid down on the bed prepared for him. Though his body felt sore and drained, his mind was alert and active, pushing sleep far from his mind. Instead, the young prince lay still on the thin blankets, his back facing the fire. He had not moved for quite some time for he wanted the Noldor to think him asleep.
The elfling's mind would not even focus on the escape plan ahead but instead on the words that he had spoken around the fire. Had he said too much? The surprised and pained look that had crossed each of their faces had startled him, though he would never show it. Had he gotten this all wrong after all? Did they truly not know who he was?
His hands tightened into fists. No. He refused to think of such things. He would not begin to question himself now, not when he was so close to escape.
But another thought entered Legolas's mind. If what Elrond had said was true, then would the company make chase after him once he was gone? Or was he truly free to leave? He figured that fleeing on the back of the Silvan's horse would not make any of them pleased however this was the only way for him to ensure his safety.
Elrond stood several paces away from the slowly dying fire. The night was still young and the stars were out in all their glory in the sky above. Yet unlike most nights when the elf lord would have eagerly looked up into the heavens, he found himself continually glancing over at the young Sinda.
The words of anger that the young ellon had spoken had startled them all, but it had also made something very clear to the Noldo. Maer must be a descendant from the Greenwood realm. It made perfect sense. The elfling's mistrust, the anger, the harsh words… all of it.
"I know what it is that you are thinking of."
Elrond glanced over at Tamír who stood next to him looking intently at the Sinda.
"He must be related to Thranduil. There is no other option."
The elf lord once again said nothing.
"Perhaps Kélion survived the attack, perhaps he wed and this is his child."
"Or perhaps it is something else entirely that we have yet to discover. You must not jump to conclusions to easily mellon nín. For Maer could in fact be the son of Thranduil himself. You have no way of knowing until he tells us of these things."
"He cannot be the king's son," The Silvan turned his back to the resting elfling, "I watched Thranduil die. I watched him get slain by an arrow at the gates to the palace; even if he had managed to survive such a grievous wound then why did he not search for me? Why did he not tell you he still lived?"
Elrond could see the obvious hurt and anger in his friend's eyes and reached his hand out in comfort as the eldar continued,
"If he were to have lived, why would he choose to live in the shadows for so many years?"
Legolas could hear the quiet murmuring of elvish voices behind him and his jaw muscles tightened in anger. It was at this time that he cursed the sleeplessness of elves. He had hoped that Elrond and the Silvan would at least choose to lay down as the twins had. Now instead they had presented another obstacle and he could not wait much longer or he would not have the time to get far enough away before daylight.
Escape tomorrow was not an option as he could not risk getting any further away from the Greenwood. Already he would have to cross over the pass before he would see the outskirts of the forest. It had to be tonight.
As softly as he could the prince rolled onto his back so he was looking up into the starlit sky. Off to his left, he could make out two dark shapes on the far side of the fire. Elrond and Tamír. To his great relief, they both had their backs turned to him as they looked out down the grassy slope and into the darkness beyond. They continued to speak to one another in hushed voices, yet Legolas was too preoccupied to try and decipher what it was they were saying. He had no doubt it was something about him and he had not the care to hear what it was.
As a particularly strong gust of wind rushed down the valley and the young Sinda made his move. While the tall grasses around him fluttered wildly in the breeze, he pulled himself into a crouching position on the blanket that lay under him. He had to time his next move perfectly, lest someone hear as he passed through the grass. He could be as quiet as he wished to be, but even his movements were not undetectable. Elves were notorious for their sharp hearing and even his soft footfalls would be heard as clear as day.
Legolas heard a soft snore from one of the dark bundles that lay next to him and could not help but smile and he recognized the long dark hair as that of Elrohir.
As another strong gust of wind blew through the small camp, causing the dying light of the fire to flicker, the elfling took this opportunity to leap gracefully off of the makeshift bed and into the darkness. He landed softly in the tall grass, couching low, his heart was racing as he waited to hear an elven cry announcing his departure. But none came and the camp remained silent.
After that the prince did not waste any more time as he made his way toward the horses that stood grazing nearby.
It was easy to pick out the dark shape of Gwa-sadron as the mighty steed stood several paces away from the other horses. The stallion snorted as Legolas crept up beside him and placed a warm hand on his flank.
"We are going to get out of here mellon, but you must come with me quietly. You must trust me. Tolo hi."
The whispered words in Sindarin seemed to calm the steed as the young eldar began to lead him slowly away from the flickering light of the dying fire.
The rustling of the tall grasses against their legs and the soft hoof falls of Gwa-sadron sounded like thunder in Legolas's ears. Every time the horse snorted or let his hoof fall loudly it made the Sinda's heart leap into his throat, each time expecting to hear a shout. However, none sounded, and as the two figures moved farther and farther from the small group the prince began to get more confident.
Hope began to fill his heart again. He would see his adar soon and everything would be back to the way it was before. That was if his adar would accept him back.
Elrond faintly heard the sound of soft hoof beats as a horse and rider slowly began to ride away up towards the Pass of Rohan. Iaron and Maer. Whilst he had been talking quietly with Tamír he had felt the presence of the young Sinda begin to fade away. He had no doubt that if he were to turn his head to look behind him, he would be able to make out the glow of the eldar that surrounded the elfling in its pale light as the young ellon made his escape.
It was not the fact that the Sinda was leaving that worried him but rather the direction that he was traveling in. He had thought that when Mear made his escape he would have set out in the direction of Mirkwood, back across the plans. Yet instead, the eldar was heading up and over the Gap of Rohan, towards the Dunland and Imladris.
As much as he had wished to stop the young ellon from leaving Elrond knew that in order to gain any trust from the elfling he must let him find his own way back to them; and based on the direction Maer had gone, the elf lord had a feeling that a reunion would happen much sooner them the Sinda would expect, for the idiotic young elf was now riding alone on the open plains in the dark, with no supplies and weaponless. There was no way for him to protect himself against whatever predicament he found himself in.
Yet Elrond was calm for he knew in his heart that if anything ill became of the Sindarin rider, his faithful friend Glorfindel was not a day's ride ahead of them, on the other side of the pass, with a company of elven soldiers with him. Maer would be quite safe, in fact, more so than the young ellon would ever realize.
Instead, the Noldo stared out into the dark plains, wondering about how he was going to explain his actions to Tamír in the morning when the Silvan found his horse missing.
As soon as Legolas felt that he was a safe distance from the group, he leaped gracefully onto the back of the horse. His heart was still pounding rapidly in his chest, his hands shaking from adrenaline.
"Come mellon," the young prince whispered into Gwa-sadron's velvety ear, "We must make haste; take me home."
This seemed to be all the encouragement the steed needed, for the elfling immediately felt the powerful muscles of the beast surge under him as the horse leapt forward.
The glow around the elven rider made him shine out brightly in the darkness of the night, making him a beacon. However, the young prince did not notice and rode on unaware that with every step the horse made he was being carried farther away from the Greenwood and from his adar.
Legolas was alone and unprotected heading deeper and deeper into unfamiliar land.
Glorfindel turned away from staring at the darkness that coated the top of the pass like thick paint. They had crossed it yesterday, yet he had halted his riders from continuing on. Elrond had commanded him to wait for him on the other side of the pass, however, if the Noldo did not arrive soon he was inclined to leave and make excuses later.
"My lord!" the eldar turned at the breathless cry from one of his scouts, "There is an elven rider approaching. He is at the top of the pass."
The Noldo captain looked back up towards the pass and saw a faint glow. This was not Elrond or Tamír nor any of his soldiers, for no elf that he knew glowed with such a bright inner light. This was a stranger.
"Did you know who it is?"
The guard shook his head. "Nay. But Êgon has just returned from his post farther up the pass and reported that this stranger rides Tamír's steed."
Glorfindel felt his heart grow cold. If this elf had done something to either Elrond or Tamír…
"Put out the fire," the command came through gritted teeth, "And get your weapons ready."
"What is your plan hîr nín?"
The silver-haired elf put a hand on the hilt of his sword, "We go find out how it has happened that he came to be riding on the steed that is not his own."
Elvish Translations:
maer – golden
mellon nín – my friend
gwa-sadron – forever the loyal one (another translation is: together with one who is loyal)
mellon – friend
tolo hi – come now
adar – father
iaron – ancient one
hîr nín – my lord