Chapter 38

Galion stood beside the door of the great room watching the king's lonely figure as he paced back and forth before his throne. He had done as the king ordered and informed the captain of the royal guard that they would not be needed, that he himself would show the prince and his party to the king's presence but had also suggested that the captain should perhaps remain within earshot to allay his own sense of unease. That Legolas would arrive soon he never doubted. King and Prince had had a very close relationship from the first and always seemed to know when the other was near.

There was something very amiss about his lord's reaction to his son's return this time however. Usually when Legolas was returning after any length of time away from the halls Thranduil would be full of energy, almost as if he were excited to see him again. Oh yes, there would be the usual cold mask on his beautiful face, the curt words of welcome from king to subject which almost managed to hide the twinkle of fatherly love and pride but never quite did. But this time his reaction was unlike one Galion could ever recall before.

"If you have all you need I will retire to the gates to await your son, Aran nin." The butler said softly with a slight bow.

He stood still for a moment, not really wishing to leave his king alone in this strange mood but knowing he ought to keep his promise to meet Legolas then reluctantly opened the door to leave.

"Galion."

Turning back sharply at his name Galion could not help the small gasp of surprise that escaped his lips at the look of dread that briefly adorned Thranduil's face.

"Whatever happens when they are here you will not interfere." The king spoke quietly, his face back under control, his eyes filled with ice. "Whatever happens. Galion." He stressed. "Do you understand?"

"Aye, Aran nin." Galion bowed. "I will do naught unless you…"

"I SAID DO NOTHING!" Thranduil thundered and the butler quailed under his stony gaze. "No matter what Galion. Even if my life seem under threat." The king continued in a softer yet no less firm tone. "Promise me or I will personally force you to leave."

Galion took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He would never willingly allow Thranduil to face danger alone and although he could not understand how danger could threaten from Legolas' company he was not going to leave his king alone now.

"I hear you, Aran nin." He replied reluctantly. "I will do as you wish."

For a highly charged moment the two elves stood fixed and Galion felt Thranduil's steely gaze burn into him as if searching for the lie in his last statement before finally giving up and relinquishing his gaze.

"Hannon le."

A surge of such intense sadness washed over Galion at Thranduil's soft words that tears sprang, unbidden to his eyes and for a moment he had the urge to rush over to take the king into his arms and hold him tightly before Thranduil turned away, waving towards the door in dismissal. Knowing there was naught else he could do the butler slowly walked through the open doorway and down the corridor with a heavy heart.

~o~

The light had changed heralding the onset of early evening and Aragorn wondered how much further they had to go. Although he had been through the forest before with Legolas the paths appeared to alter with every visit, giving the impression that sometimes he was taken directly to the halls yet on others they followed a more circuitous path thus taking much longer. He felt, from the way the path twisted and turned, that this time was one of the latter and sincerely wished it were not so.

Since the incident with the stag the group had travelled in an uneasy silence. The silvan patrol had become silent and grim faced. Appearing to view him with more hostility than ever as if they felt he were somehow to blame for what had almost happened. As for Legolas, he had once more withdrawn into himself. Gone was the lively chatter that had accompanied them since meeting the guards to be replaced by a cold expressionless mask once more, with eyes that held a gleam of something feral and anticipatory. Sadly he followed on, flanked by his brooding brothers and hoping beyond hope that once they reached his home Thranduil would be able to set things to rights.

The elf walked amongst the company of silvan's deep in thought. How had he forgotten his betrayal, his torment and banishment? He glanced around at those surrounding him noting the stony expressions on their faces, sensing the anger and mistrust that emanated from each and every one and allowed his mind to wander back to his humiliation at their and the cursed peredhel's hands. How had he allowed himself to be snared within the eyes of that beast, lulled by unspoken promises of love and forgiveness when he knew that would never come to pass? He had almost fallen for the lie, almost allowed himself to hope but that life was past, gone, dead. He had a new life now. A new father, a master, who would never cast him out, no matter what. A new way of life. Even a new name. Duathion. He allowed the name to whisper from his lips, savouring its taste. Son of Darkness. He remembered the first time his master bestowed the name upon him, leaning over his freshly torn and bloodied shoulder, the taint of his own need filling his nostrils, warm breath caressing his ear as the word was mouthed softly into it before there came the bite of sharp steel drawing a line from neck to buttock as the name was repeated, over and over, growing in volume as the knife moved on its downward journey until his need grew so great he could not hold it back and he spasmed, the name spurting explosively from his own lips in tandem with his physical release. He smiled at the recollection, feeling himself harden at the memory and turned his mind to the task his master had entrusted him with and the reward he had been promised. He would not fail. He would see this through. Or die in the process.

~o~

Watching the gathering horde in the courtyard beneath him the Witch King smiled inwardly. Those wretched wood elves would not stand a chance against this army. A sudden movement caught his eye and he turned to the left in time to see a gnarled, dismembered head fly over the throng as its erstwhile body collapsed into a crumpled heap, the result of some trivial disagreement between the beasts no doubt. A cacophony of growls and snarls rang out as the nearest orcs began to fight over the separated pieces until a loud horn rang out effectively silencing them all and bringing them to a ragged kind of order once more. With a nod to the dark skinned captain standing as overseer who had blown the instrument he turned his attention back to the waiting beasts and drew on the power from the metal band encircling the memory of his finger. Satisfaction filled him as he watched their bestial faces fill with dread and awe as the ring did its work, enlarging and enhancing his form until it towered over them all, casting a deep, shadow that seemed to suck up the light, heat and air leaving them shivering, breathless and shaking in fear.

"Now is the time long awaited." His voice effortlessly boomed over the throng and held them in its spell. "Now will we take the forest." He paused as they began to nod silently." Now will this realm be ours."

A few feet shuffled but still the orcs remained silently fixed upon his words, the air charged with a fell sense of portent.

"Now you will glut yourselves on elven flesh." A low grow began to ripple through the crowd. "Now will the elven king die."

With the last word a huge roar went up and the beasts began to stamp their feet.

"DÛMPUGA! DÛMPUGA! DÛMPUGA! "The chant went up in accompaniment, weapons of every size being brandished in the air as the orcs worked themselves up into a frenzy of bloodlust.

"Silence!" The Witch King finally called, the spell of the ring enhancing his voice to carry it over the cacophony and the noise stopped as abruptly as if he had doused them with cold water.

"We march in silence until the horn blows." He indicated and the dark man held up his long instrument for all to see. "And the Prince is mine." His malevolent gaze swept them all. "Any who fail to obey, die by my hand."

He appeared to grow even larger with these words and he orcs shuffled nervously, nodding in agreement, they had seen how their master killed and each had no wish to suffer by his hand in that way.

Releasing the power from his ring reluctantly the Witch King gestured to the burly captains who began to issue orders, brandishing their long poleaxes and whips to reinforce their guttural speech and the army began its march, issuing from Dol Guldur like a huge black stain and flowing over the ground in an almost oily mass until it disappeared into the trees. Mounting another of his huge, black horses the witch king followed the horde, a warm tingle of anticipation growing within his core with each step they took as he contemplated his waiting prize.

~o~

Thranduil waited in the silent loneliness of the huge throne room and felt the weight of his many years settle upon his shoulders. He had tried hard to fill his father's large boots, to take up the kingly mantle and lead these wild and wonderful silvans well, to be a son Oropher would have been proud of and had thought he was doing a reasonable job. He had thought the same about his son. He had tried to be a good father, tried to show him love and affection, show how proud he was of all he had achieved, how proud he was to call him son, but sometimes duty got in the way, sometimes he had to place the realm and it's people first. Ensuring their health and safety had at first meant curtailing the irrepressible elflings freedom, then later often sending the warrior he had become into danger and for that he was truly sorry.

If only the youngster had had a mother to turn to, to soothe him and assure him that he was loved, to kiss away his hurts and tenderly sing him to sleep at night, but it had never been so. The wild forest foundling had grown up without that luxury and Thranduil had tried so hard not to let it make a difference but in the end it had.

Legolas. His beautiful little green leaf. His savior. A lump came to his throat and he swallowed hard. He could not falter now. He need be strong to see this through and reclaim his son from whatever darkness had seeped into his heart. This much he had seen, this much he knew and the fight would not be easy but this time his son would come first. This time he would think of nothing else, just the pure, sweet light that dwelled within his golden child. He sighed, feeling the creeping dark as it approached. He would not give in, until his son was back in his rightful place at his side in the Greenwood or until they both stood together knocking at Mando's doors.

A sudden pulse of energy raced through him and he turned to face the throne. Taking a deep breath he climbed the steps before it then turned, seated himself regally and faced the door. The darkness was here and he was just about to let it into his realm willingly for the first and last time.

~o~

It was with some relief that Aragorn stepped from under cover of the trees and saw the imposing stone doors to the king's halls across the stretch of clear grass in front of him. Waiting with baited breath he wondered if they would open to admit their small party. He had never been told exactly how they worked but knew that it was only on the will of the king that anyone was allowed admittance. If Thranduil wanted to keep you out, the doors would remain resolutely closed, no matter how much you tried to force them open.

The silvans, with Legolas, a slyly satisfied smile playing round the edges of his lips, firmly enclosed within their midst, walked slowly across the greensward until they were within touching distance of the huge, sparkling granite blocks then stood to attention, their heads cocked as if listening to a sound only they could hear. Then, there was a low rumble, less heard than felt, and the doors began to slowly open revealing the ornately carved entrance and a single, solitary elf, obviously awaiting their arrival.

A/N

Translation

Dûmpuga = Die (Wiki Black Speech)

Well the reunion is almost here... I'll try not to keep you waiting for it for too long.

Thanks to those of you still here and especially to AdvisorOfImladris and Teapot of transformation for taking the time to comment. It is much appreciated guys. :)