Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
August 8, 2020
Chapter 53 – The Escort
Elladan and Elrohir sat on either side of their ada looking critically at the ellyn gathered in front of them. Each of the twenty-five or so soldiers had been hand-selected by Glorfindel, both for their skill in battle and their unbiased opinion of the Woodland Realm. If approved by both the twins and Elrond, these elves would serve as the bulk of Legolas's escort. Four had already been approved to go along for the task of returning the prince.
Elladan would serve as the leader of the group and Elrohir as his second-in-command. Tamír had volunteered immediately, but Elrond had been reluctant to give him the approval to go. Nonetheless, the Silvan's persistence in the matter had earned him a spot. Estel too had insisted on accompanying the prince back to Mirkwood, which in Elrond's opinion was wise due to the young human's fondness towards the Sinda. Even now Estel sat with Legolas in a separate tent attending to the elfling needs after having refused to leave his side.
The older twin smiled at this thought. Whether it was due to his younger brother's age or protective nature, the prince had taken an obvious liking to the human. Whenever Estel was present the Sinda would visibly relax and become more open and allow his emotionless mask to slip, if only a little. If Legolas was aware of this, Elladan did not know, but he felt hopeful about it regardless. Anything that helped encourage the young elf to talk felt like a small miracle.
After the strange attack, Legolas had seemed to close himself off from everyone even more refusing to speak to anyone but Estel.
Elrond had told his sons that the attack had not been a result of any physical ailment but rather a warning of some kind. He had taken the time to assure Estel that the pain the prince had felt had come from Legolas's súlë, not his actual heart; but even this did not seem to comfort the young human any even after Elrond had examined the elfling and found nothing.
This had let Elladan and his twin have an opportunity to chuckle as they watched their youngest brother dottle over the elven prince like a mother hen. Estel had learned well from being on the receiving side of this kind of treatment for so many years.
"Mellyn," his ada's quiet but commanding voice broke through Elladan's musings, "My Lord Glorfindel has doubtlessly already explained much as to why I have called you all here this day so I will not repeat it again. All of you have graciously volunteered to delay your return to Imladris to help our young guest be reunited with his people in the Greenwood. This will be a very difficult, yet equally important task."
There was a brief pause.
"I am certain that your arrival will not be seen as welcome and I will warn you that as a result you may be dealt with with hostility and anger. However," Elrond hesitated for a moment, "No matter how they treat you when you deliver the prince and after the task is complete, you must never raise your weapons against the elves of that realm. They are your kin as much as I am, but they are also friends so you will treat them as such."
There were grim nods all across the small room.
"King Thranduil has, for some reason unknown to us, seen it wise to seclude his kingdom from the rest of arda. Therefore, I do not now know what you will encounter upon entering those woods. Be on your guard and fulfill the task I have given you which is to deliver the prince safely to his people. Whatever else happens, for good or ill, will be up to the king and queen."
As his ada finished speaking Elladan felt a rush of excitement fill him. He was to meet the famed Sindarin King. His group was to be the first outsiders to step foot in the Woodland Realm in millennium. Regardless of how Thranduil reacted to their arrival, he would show only honor and respect to the king and his people. Valar willing this trip would help start to restore good feeling and trust between the two elvish lords. The worst thing that could happen would be that Thranduil forced them out and kept his kingdom cut off and hidden from them.
"Yet there is one more thing I fear I must tell you of," Elrond spoke again, " It has come to my attention that a large garrison of yrch may be marching on the Greenwood and her people as we speak. While I have not the evidence to back this up, I feel in my heart that the messenger who delivered this news was speaking the truth. But where his army lies and how many in number they are I do not know."
A murmur spread through the elves present and Elrond waited for it to die down before continuing,
"You are all highly skilled in battle and I have no doubt that should the need arise, many of those foul creatures will fall prey to your blades."
The elf lord looked at Tamír who stood at the door to the tent.
"If the Valar is gracious I shall meet you all again soon for I shall not be accompanying you on this venture. My sons will go in my stead. Tego le i Melain am mand mellyn."
Tamír waited until everyone had quietly filed out of the tent, leaving Elrond standing solemnly off to one side. As the Noldo's gentle gaze found his friend's Elrond gave a soft smile, yet it was so full of sorrow that the ellon felt a wave of grief wash over him.
"Come mellon nín," the elf lord beckoned for the Silvan to join him, "I would greatly enjoy your company for I wish to speak with you."
Tamír obliged the eldar's request. As he came to stand beside Elrond the ellon said,
"You have a gracious heart mellon and you have been by my side for many years. You shall always be welcome in Imladris."
The elf blinked in confusion at the elven lord,
"Why do you say such things?"
Elrond placed a hand on the Silvan's shoulder,
"You are to accompany Legolas to the Greenwood. The elves there are your people, your rightful kin. I would not be so selfish or foolish as to think you would not choose to remain there with them."
"Not so my Lord!" Tamír protested loudly, "I shall return to Imladris for I fear that I shall be a stranger to those who still dwell in the Greenwood. I doubt that even Thranduil would yet remember me still. Nay, my home is not there any longer. There is nothing left for me in Mirkwood."
"Still I can see it in your eyes that there is a yearning for those woods. There is no great shame in longing for your people."
Tamír's brown eyes darkened in sorrow at his friend's words,
"You see the truth mellon nín. There is no point in my denying it. Yet my heart seeks only one in the whole of that forest and I know she will not be there when I arrive. I wish only to pay my last respects to her memory, nothing more do I wish to do in that place."
"So be it," Elrond dropped his hand to his side, "Narril would be pleased if she could see the ellon you are today, for she married one of the bravest and kindest of all the eldar that have ever walked this land. But when the time comes do not let our friendship come in the way of your heart's desire. Now come let us dwell on this no longer for the time for goodbyes has not yet arisen. We should see to the young prince for no doubt he has many questions for us."
Legolas was sitting sullenly on the small cot in Elrond's tent. The elf lord and his twin sons had left several hours ago leaving Estel to care for him. Ever since then the human had not left his side for a single moment. Even now the human was asking if he was feeling any pain for the umpteenth time.
The young elf sighed exasperatedly.
"For the last time, I am not in any pain. I am not hungry nor thirsty nor tired and no I do not need anything else, thank you very much. Now can you stop talking?"
Legolas heard a chuckle and sent a fierce look at Glorfindel. The Noldo had been tasked with his protection, yet at the moment he seemed to be more interested in the Sinda's frustrating situation than guarding the tent.
"Fear not penneth Estel will not leave you alone even for one second when he has been charged with your care. He learned too well from his adar."
Legolas inwardly groaned. This was the last thing he wanted at the moment. All he desired was some peace and quiet to think.
He had never before felt anything like the last attack, and it worried him greatly. The pain had felt as if someone had taken a knife and was cutting at his very súlë. This had been confirmed by Elrond who had looked him over and verified there was nothing wrong with his physical heart. But then there had been the vision that had occurred before the pain hit: dozens of yrch marching through the halls of the palace, the Greenwood in flames, his adar's powerful barrier of eleven magic crumbling. They were in trouble. Something was not right or he would have never seen this. He knew it.
Legolas unconsciously clenched his hands into fists. He needed to be there right now. He needed to warn them of the danger. Instead, he was sitting on a cot being treated like a sick elfling. It was infuriating and Legolas knew he would not be able to take much more of it. If Estel said one more thing the young elf swore he would strangle the man.
And where was Elrond? Where had the blasted elf gone off to? If he had truly promised him an escort to take him to the Greenwood where in the Valar was it?
"Are you alright Maer?" Estel's concerned voice came again, "Your face is looking paler than usual."
But before Legolas could jump up and punch the human in the face, Elrond and Tamír stepped into the tent.
"Before you ask, I am fine," the young prince threw a furious glance at Estel as he said this, but the man ignored him.
Elrond raise and brow,
"I have actually come to tell you of the plans for your departure tomorrow morning."
Legolas shook his head.
"I need to leave now. I cannot wait till the morrow. My adar needs to be warned of the danger that approaches. You keep me here and their blood will be on your head."
The elven lord nodded slowly.
"I understand your distress in this situation, but I cannot let you leave yet. Not only are the plains dangerous at night but I also cannot have your escort ready in time for you to depart today. You must have patience."
"You speak as though you were not to join the company. Are you not also part of the escort?"
To Legolas's surprise, Elrond shook his head almost regretfully.
"I shall not be going with you to the Greenwood. My path lies elsewhere for the time being."
"You are scared and are running away," the Sinda's blue eyes bored into the ellon, "You do not wish to look my adar in the face and explain your actions. I should have thought as much."
"Actually penneth, I do intend to see your adar for there are many grievances between us, and I seek to dispel it as best I can. However, now is not that time. There are urgent matters in Imladris I must attend to and I believe my presence will only delay returning you to your people."
Now it was Legolas's turn to raise a brow, but before he could respond Elrond spoke again,
"My only goal is to deliver you back to your home. Nothing more. I have thought long about this matter and I see this as the best course of action. Eru willing I shall see you again. However, for now, all you must do is rest. You leave at dawn."
Elvish Translations:
ada – dad
súlë – spirit
mellyn – friends
yrch – orcs
tego le i Melain am mand – may the Valar lead you to safety
mellon nín – my friend
mellon – friend
penneth – young one
adar – father
maer – golden