Chapter 7
Aragorn observed Thranduil closely as he stood flanked by the twins, amid a sea of elves and men, at the foot of the dias in the throne room awaiting the kings pleasure. They had been brought here by a pair of border guards he did not know except by sight and was confused and a little dismayed by their apparent hostility. In fact, all of the realms inhabitants seemed unfriendly and most unwelcoming in their demeanours
"How much longer do you think he will keep us waiting here?" he whispered, barely moving his lips, watching the imperious elf as he conferred with one of his advisors.
"With Thranduil it is impossible to say," the low reply came from Elladan, on his right.
"' twould be far easier to guess when the moon will cease to rise," Elrohir added. "He will do as he will, as ever."
The king turned his head then to glare pointedly in the brothers direction, as if perceiving their words, before waving yet another petitioner forward from the crowd. Aragorn thought he saw the brief lift of a smirk at the corners of his mouth before he bent his head to listen to the man now before him but it was so quick to disappear was unsure it had ever been there.
Allowing the voices to wash over him the young man wondered again where Legolas was. Surely if he was within his fathers halls he would have come to meet them by now, the whole palace would have known of their presence as soon as they passed the border. He could only surmise that the prince was out on patrol and therefore ignorant as to their arrival, although he was certain he had caught a glimpse of Doronor in the corridor as they were shepherded along and usually the lieutenant was not far from his captains side. He sighed unable to hold his frustration in check much longer. If Thranduil did not speak to them soon he would march up to the king and take matters into his own hands, formality and protocol be damned.
"Estel!"
The young man felt a tug on his sleeve as his oldest brother pulled his arm. Thranduil had finally condescended to mark their presence and was regally indicating them to approach the throne.
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~o~
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Peace, blessed peace.
All else fades away to nothing and I float. No sight, no sound, nothing but the darkness and I.
Tendrils of midnight gossamer trail softly across my vision then slowly drift away waving gently as if to lure me on. I follow without hesitation the sense of belonging rising within my insubstantial chest.
My mind wanders as I am drawn along, a sense of familiarity, of belonging growing stronger as I move deeper and deeper into the dark.
Peace. I know I need this but can not tell why. All I know is here and now and that is enough.
Whispers begin to flutter at the edge of my hearing. Soothing. Caressing. A balm to aching heart and spirit. Carrying me away yet deeper into bliss.
Suddenly a flare of angry red appears within the tranquil inky black and I recoil, my mind confused, my heart trembling with some emotion I can not name.
I tumble, falling upwards as the crimson fire grows, surrounding me, caging me and I am lashing out with limbs I can not feel, needing to grasp a lifeline as insubstantial as smoke, fighting hard to quell what I remember now is called fear before I become engulfed and burn.
Then nothing.
No pain. No feeling. No colour. No sound. Just nothing.
I am lost.
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~o~
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"So." Thranduil was towering over the brothers at his most majestic. His rich crimson silk robes shining with the spark of a myriad crystal diamond chips embedded within its fabric. "You have decided to grace us with your presence in the Greenwood once more." A hint of disdain threaded through the words like a creeping vine insinuating itself amongst fairer blooms.
The king maintained his regal facade whilst he descended slowly from his raised throne to stand before them and Aragorn experienced the usual tremor of unease he felt each time he was confronted by his best friends father. He always had the impression that, try as he might, he would always be just another 'adan' to the quixotic elf and would never come up to his exacting standards. No matter what he did or what his lineage was.
"What is your business in the Greenwood?" Sharp and staccato the question was fired out imperiously.
"We thought to come and visit with your son hir nin, my lord." Elladan made himself the spokesman, speaking calmly and with the slight bow protocol dictated when dealing with the lord of another realm.
"Hmmph," the king snorted regally, "It has been long since you last 'visited'," his dark brows lifted in emphasis as if to remind them of the tenure of their last sojourn within his kingdom.
"Aye, events have overtaken us of late," the twin replied cooly. "and we have been unable to spare the time for more pleasant pursuits until now."
"We also have been rather ... occupied, lately,"
Thranduil stared at the three brothers in turn as if trying to see into their thoughts and feelings then his eyes glazed over, as if he gazed straight through them and into a distance only he could see. The brothers shared an anxious glance. The quixotic king was just as likely to throw them out as welcome them if his mood was such that he felt the need.
"Come."
As suddenly as the word had left his mouth Thranduil had turned and in a flurry of crimson silk marched out of the room without looking back. Elrohir met Elladans eyes and raised his brows in mute query then both looked to their human brother before rapidly following in the kings footsteps.
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~o~
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Sky blue eyes fluttered and opened slowly as if reluctant to face the world. A muted groan issued from between bloodied lips as a slender, grimy hand swept across a mud streaked brow sweeping way tendrils of tangled, once golden hair. For a moment the elf experienced a wave of disorientation as he felt hard, stony ground beneath his body instead of the lately, more familiar comforting bulk of a tree limb. Then memory came flooding back, bringing all the self disgust and loathing he had felt at his bodies unwanted reactions and if his stomach had had any content, he would have lost it there and then.
Swallowing bile rapidly he managed to force himself to his feet and fumbled the waterskin free from his belt. Taking a sparing draught from the almost empty vessel he scanned his surroundings, amazed at the fact that he had lain, for what must have been a good few hours out in the open, completely at the mercy of any passing creature without coming to any harm. Maybe he wasn't quite completely forsaken by the Valar yet.
The aches and stings of the various new cuts and bruises received in the previous skirmish began to make themselves known but he pushed them aside vigorously. He did not have the time or inclination to deal with the injuries now, finding water was a priority closely followed by safe shelter in which he could check his injuries and plan his next moves, and in this forest that was easier said than done.
With a sigh he decided upon a direction to follow and headed off down an insignificant path which would have been invisible to all but the most experienced of elven trackers, he had only a few hours of daylight left to him and it would do to waste none. As he moved he felt something tug at the corners of his mind, a vague dreamlike, shadow but the more he tried to take notice the further away it skittered, just out of reach and he soon gave up the attempt. If it was important it would make itself known eventually. He switched his attention to the track before him and the surrounding forest, melting silently into the shadows, his senses once more alert for danger and possible attack. The forest was no place to relax your guard for long.
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~o~
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Standing before the desk in the elven kings study the brothers felt like younglings once more, called before their father to account for some mischievous prank and Aragorn found himself looking down at the intricately designed woven rug, fingering the hem of his tunic and shuffling his feet nervously. He could feel the twins, on either side of him doing the same and it made him smile to think that these two great warriors could be reduced once more to elflings so easily by the irascible monarch. If the orcs could see them now they would never be intimidated by the ones they called The Ravens again.
"So," Thranduil at last broke the uncomfortable silence, his voice calm and measured. "You have come to visit my son."
Aragorn raised his head to find the king had taken a seat behind the desk and was perusing them with his icy stare, chin resting on long, slender steepled fingers.
"Aye, hir nin, my lord." The twins voiced in unison.
Aragorn nodded in agreement and was surprised to see the sudden slump of the kings shoulders and the pained expression that replaced his usual cool mask. A long, weary sigh passed Thranduils lips and for the first time the young man saw a hint of worry in his usually steely blue eyes.
"Has something happened to Legolas?" Aragorn blurted out as his heart turned over in his chest. "Where is he?"
His anxious eyes raked the room as if the archer would suddenly appear from behind one of the intricately carved stone trees that rose from the floor and arched over the ceiling, their malachite inlaid leaves so realistic as to appear to be rustling in a light, summer breeze.
"That, I was hoping you could tell me." Thranduils voice was unusually quiet and halting.
His pale hand trembled slightly as he reached out for the decanter of ruby wine that had become a permanent fixture on his desk in recent months but withdrew it, balling his hand into a fist as if afraid that if he should once taste its heady contents he would not stop.
"He left these halls some three years ago and there has been neither sight nor sound of him since."
A/N
Sorry this is a short one guys but It just seemed like the right point to end on. I will be going away next Monday but will try to post another chapter before I go if not it may be 2 weeks before I can update again I'm afraid.
Must just say a big thanks to BlackMinx17 and LegolasLover2003 for putting fingers to keys and being kind enough to review. Also thanks to alphaomega27 for the favourite and kind words.
Thanks also go to anyone who takes the time to read and I hope, enjoy my scribbles. Hey! Why don't you let me know if you do. Or even if you don't. Constructive criticism is always helpful. :)