Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
August 22, 2020
Chapter 55 – Strengthening the Barrier
For a moment both ellyn just stared at Thalion as though he had suddenly turned into a dwarf. At last, Kélion shook his head and frowned,
"My adar did what?"
"He called for the army to assemble," Thalion did not look pleased to have to repeat his words again a second time, "The king has summoned both you and Meldir to meet with him in the Welcoming Hall by the front gate."
The advisor turned and marched out of the room before either of the eldar could ask another question. As the ellon walked out the prince turned to Meldir, a confused look on his face,
"What in Eru's name has gotten into everyone? Not twenty minutes ago my adar seemed to have given up on his will to live and now he is mustering the army to prepare for battle? I do not understand what is happening this day."
Meldir just shrugged.
"Well you did want him to get up and fight did you not?"
"I did but I never expected him to actually listen to me," the elf sighed, "But come let us go and meet the king before he makes any more decisions without us."
The two friends stepped out into the hall in time to see several royal guards hurrying past heading in the direction of the armory. Their faces were hidden by their intricate helmets, but their quick pace made the prince worried. What had Thranduil said to make the palace be in such an uproar? How much had he already told them? Already Kélion could hear shouts and the sounds of feet running from further down the hall.
The Sinda took off in the direction of the front gate wondering what he was going to find as soon as he arrived there.
The usually empty and desolate Welcoming Hall was now full of the clamor as soldiers and guards hurrying about bringing out weapons and armor from the storerooms. Dust and cobwebs littered the normally immaculate marble floor of the great room as the battle gear was pulled from the rooms which had been opened in millennium. Standing at the very front of the hall by the gate were Thranduil and Êmand talking with several high-ranking Lieutenants. The elven king, though paler than normal, looked every bit as cold and intimidating as ever. His gaze was hard and he had a fierce look in his eyes. This was the true Thranduil, not the weak ellon that had almost been stabbed the night before.
This scene of activity and controlled chaos was what Kélion and Meldir discovered when they walked into the room. As the elves in the room caught a glimpse of the crown prince and commander the noise immediately died down and each soldier saluted their lead general and offered a quick bow to their prince. Kélion smiled shallowly and nodded his head wishing that they would just ignore them and get back to work.
"Ion nín, come for I have many things to discuss with you."
Thranduil's voice rang out in the large room and caused several of the younger ellyn to flinch noticeably at the commanding tone. A moment later the room was back to its busy state.
Meldir led the way through the bustle of activity until they, at last, came to stand next to the king.
"I was surprised to hear what you had done adar," Kélion looked the Sinda up and down, "Are you sure you are well?"
"I am fine but let us speak of this matter later in private," the elven king's eyes were shadowed so the prince could not make out what he was truly feeling.
Kélion watched Meldir hurry out of the Welcoming Hall. Being one of the top commanders in the Greenwood he had been anxious to see how he would both outfit and arm his men. The discussion by the front gate had been brief as the exact position and number of yrch was not known so there were not many things to plan. It had been decided that all patrols were to be halted and the army had to be ready to march at any moment. Their goal was to lead their attackers away from the palace to protect any that were unable to fight. No one wanted to remember how the last attack had ended.
The prince had said very little during the entire talk, yet he felt a great sense of responsibility being placed on him. Though no one would say it Kélion knew they were relying on him to find out more about the yrch. He after all was the only one who had witnessed the vision and could strengthen the barrier.
So as the Sinda observed the activity of the soldiers around him, he found his mind drifting to how he would discover this information. His adar had not told him anything about what power had been passed on to him and the ellon had retired to his rooms soon after the meeting was over. This left him in charge of everything; a task he was greatly concerned about.
Several minutes later Kélion walked slowly out of the hall. He felt lost and confused about what to do next. He had never actually fought in a battle before, having been too young to fight in the First War of the Greenwood and he needed to find Meldir and speak with him.
As the prince walked quickly towards the armory to find his friend, he stopped suddenly as he heard soft voices coming from one of the many rooms that lined the hallway.
"This is all folly," Thalion's voice came from behind the thin wooden door, "We have not the numbers nor strength to win any battle no matter how small an army of yrch there may be."
"And what of Prince Kélion?" the prince did not recognize the voice that spoke now, "He had never been in war and has no idea what he is doing. You can see it in his eyes. And what of the king? He is still ill. How can he hold up the barrier let alone lead us into battle?"
"Thranduil spoke to me and told me that he has passed on the protection of the Greenwood to the Kélion for he does not have the strength to sustain it any longer," Thalion's voice came again, "We must accept the fact that the barrier is lost. The king said that he does not believe Kélion has the power nor the skill to strengthen it, so we cannot rely on its protection."
On the other side of the door, the prince's eyes grew dark with frustration. They did not think he was able to protect his adar's kingdom, but he would prove them wrong.
Kélion cast a glance behind him to check and see that the hallway was indeed deserted before he slipped through the door. The room he had entered was elegantly decorated with old tapestries and images of trees and forest animals were carved into the large table that took up much of the room. A cold fireplace stood opposite the door having not been used in many years. Dim sunlight filtered through a small window that provided the only illumination to the entire room giving it a gloomy look.
This had once served as a meeting place for the king's advisors to discuss things with Thranduil. Kélion had remembered sneaking in here and hiding under the table on many occasions as an elfling to listen to these talks. He had always been caught though. The memories in this room served as a reminder of a happier time. After the battle of the Greenwood so many years ago, Thranduil had never had the heart to enter the room again. All of his advisors had been killed along with his closest friend, Tamír. They had never found the poor elf's body. And though his adar would never admit it, Kélion knew how much Tamír's death had left a great hole in the king's heart. Thranduil had never trusted another ellon again, well at least never as much as he had trusted Tamír. Because of his death, Narril was left heartbroken and had almost faded before giving birth to their son three months after the battle. Nalledir had never known his father.
The prince's sigh echoed around the room as these thoughts filled his mind. He was not going to let any more of his adar's people die if he could help it. Kélion leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. His adar may be unable to strengthen the barrier to delay the attack, but he could.
We must accept the fact that the barrier is lost. The king said that he does not believe Kélion has the power nor the skill to strengthen it, so we cannot rely on its protection.
Thalion's words rang in his ears. He was not weak. He would find a way to strengthen the barriers even if it killed him.
The Sinda forced his mind to be clear of all thoughts. He needed to focus if he were to succeed at this.
For several minutes nothing happened then Kélion felt it. He felt the presence of the Greenwood all around him. He felt the darkness that had taken over the trees and he felt the chill of the evil creatures that had taken over much of the woods. There was so much evil everywhere, how had this happened?
As his súlë looked at the projection of the Greenwood in his mind, Kélion looked sadly at the blackened forest; he would have to deal with that later. The prince turned his attention instead to a pale silver wall that stood nearby. Already the elf could see the cracks in it. This barrier had once surrounded all of the Greenwood, now it only encompassed a thin circle of forest around the palace; this was not good.
Kélion forced himself to walk up to the barrier and as he drew near the fragility of the wall became all too clear, but so too did the dark waves that seemed to press against from the outside. This was going to be harder than he had thought.
Taking a deep breath Kélion reached out and touched the wall of elven light. It shuddered under his touch and for a moment he worried it would collapse. The prince held his breath as the barrier stilled under his touch and then he let loose his inner light.
The result was instantaneous. The wall flared with a bright silver light as Kélion's power passed into it. The Sinda gritted his teeth as he felt the energy being drained from his súlë, yet he forced himself not to pull away. He needed to do this. He needed to protect his people.
An agonizingly long minute later Kélion felt his legs tremble beneath him and he knew he had given all he could. The prince pulled his hands away from the wall and stepped back. The barrier was now pulsing with energy, yet it still seemed frail against the ocean of darkness surrounding it, but there was no more that he could do now.
Kélion frowned as a great shudder ran through the barrier. The prince staggered back. What was going on now?
He glanced to his side and gasped as he saw a single elf standing at the wall on his side of it. Kélion was about to call out at the mysterious figure when a great blast of darkness swept out from the ellon and attacked the barrier. Immediately a great portion of it turned black and started to crumble.
"No!" The cry left Kélion's lips as he threw himself at the dark shape.
He could not lose the barrier; not now, now when he had been so close. But deep down the Sinda already knew it was hopeless.
The dark elf turned to eldar at the prince's cry and smiled, black eyes watching the eldar run towards him. As Kélion reached the ellon the evil being let out a hoarse laugh.
"You have already lost my dear prince. Do not fight for what cannot be saved."
Anger flared up in Kélion's body but as he lunged for the elf only to feel cold, claw-like fingers tighten around his neck.
Back in the dim room, Rívorn smiled at the shuddering body of the crown prince. It had been so foolish of the Sinda to think he would be able to strengthen the barrier on his own. Yet he had tried nonetheless and now he was going to pay for it.
The dark elf closed his eyes and tightened his grip on Kélion's arm and felt the younger ellon's power flood his body. It was a marvelous feeling.
A second later Rívorn's eyes snapped open and he dropped the prince's arm, watching as the Sinda's body crumpled to the dusty floor.
"Right where you belong," the eldar smirked, "At my feet and I will make sure you stay that way."
Feeling the power coursing through his body Rívorn stepped over the prince and walked towards the door.
Elvish Translations:
adar – father
ion nín – my son
súlë – spirit