Chapter 45

Elladan felt rather than saw a slight shift in the air around the long blade now allowed free access to Thranduil's throat and for one, horrible moment thought the King had made a fatal mistake. Time stretched out as his mind flew through all his possibilities, rapidly working through moves and calculating outcomes then discarding each idea as it arose. There was nothing he could do. No way in which he would reach the pair in time. If that knife fell all would be lost.

It fell.

Clattering onto the stones beneath the royal pair's feet with a dissonant jangling sound that resonated loudly through the silence. All movement in the room stopped as eight pairs of eyes were drawn to the shining blade in stunned disbelief then rose again as, with a heart wrenching cry of anguish, Legolas collapsed to his knees and remained at his father's feet with his head bowed, his body wracked by silent sobs.

It was Gallion who moved first, rushing to his king's side as Thranduil swayed almost imperceptively before reaching out to grasp the butler's proffered shoulder.

"Hannon Le." The king whispered into his trusted servant's ear then turned as Aragorn's feet began to move.

"Hold!"

Aragorn stopped still in automatic response to the command as Thranduil, who was once more the cool, authoritative figure he knew, stepped forward to place himself between the young man and his son.

"You are needed elsewhere." His words at first curt, softened as his gaze moved between the three brothers and fixed upon the twins. "I would ask another favour of you if you are willing."

Elladan and Elrohir shared a puzzled glance then looked back at the king.

"My Lord?" The twins spoke as one.

"My captains are sore in need of aid against a dark and powerful army almost upon our doorstep." Thranduil's voice was soft yet firm. "You have helped bring back my son. Will you now assist in protecting our home?"

Aragorn watched as his brothers eyes flicked from each other's to the kings, then to himself and back to each other's again before each gave an imperceptible nod, answered by Thranduil's own.

"Aye, we will." The pair answered in tandem as Thranduil moved to the edge of the dais and knelt to place his hand upon a carving in the stonework of the steps.

There was the sound of rock, grating on rock and Aragorn gasped as an opening began to appear in the stonework behind the throne.

"None other except my family have ever before seen this." As he spoke quietly, Thranduil's eyes bored with silent command into each of the four pairs now staring at him. "But in times of need we must sometimes bare our secrets and place our trust in those we do so with."

Moving back to where Legolas remained shaking silently on his knees, apparently unaware of what was happening in the room, the king smiled softly down upon his son before looking up to the, now fully exposed, dark, passageway.

"That will lead you straight out to the forest beyond my halls." He said thoughtfully, as if listening to an inner voice. "Have care as you reach its end. You will find the battle very close by. Too close…"

With the last words he looked back sharply to the twins, who nodded back in acknowledgement then turned to Aragorn.

"Come, Estel." Elrohir smiled at his human brother. "Let us go and kill some yrk."

Drawing his sword he moved towards the dark hole in the wall.

"But…" Aragorn looked over at Legolas, his heart torn by seeing his, normally so stoic friend, reduced to such a forlorn state.

"He needs his father now, Estel." Elladan said softly with a squeeze of the young man's shoulder, before making to propel him after the other. "Let us go where we can do more good."

Aragorn looked into his brother's eyes and read the order behind the compassion before nodding in assent and moving to follow Elrohir with a last, fierce look, full of the promise of retribution at Thranduil, should he cause further hurt to his son.

As Elladan disappeared into the dark behind his brothers Thranduil finally let go of the Elvenking to become the father, sinking to the floor to gather Legolas into his arms in a fiercely protective embrace.

~o~

The passageway from the throne room was surprisingly airy and if not well lit, was illuminated enough for Aragorn to be able to make his way safely along for set into the walls were a myriad of small stones that glowed with an inner light giving the appearance that the stars had come down from the heavens and taken up residence here instead. If his mind had not been in such turmoil their beauty would have caused him to stop and stare but he spared them no thought, trying instead to make sense of all he had just witnessed in the room they had left behind.

Elven magic. He knew it existed of course, no one could live in Imladris for more than a few months without realizing that there was some influence beyond the ken of men in use there, keeping it hidden, safe and somehow timeless, but what he had seen here went far beyond anything he had previously thought possible. Although uncertain of exactly what had transpired between the royal pair it had been obvious that Thranduil and his forest were a force to be reckoned with and far more dangerous than most ever thought possible.

They sped on, feet flying over the stone floor as they rushed towards their goal and it did not seem long before they began to hear the faint sounds of battle ahead. The brothers slowed their pace slightly as the ring of metal upon metal grew louder along with the accompanying snarls, cries and grunts of pain and effort until at last Aragorn felt a cool breeze ruffle through his hair and they stopped completely. They had reached the end of the passageway and through the densely packed greenery now before them could just make out the movements of combatants ahead. With a motion of his hand Elladan bade his brothers wait and he sidled silently forward until the greenery closed in behind him. Aragorn waited with baited breath, counting silently in his head until his brother reappeared, his reconnoiter complete, a huge grin on his face.

No words were needed. A few hand signals and meaningful looks were all it took before, with one last shared nod which spoke volumes the three burst from the bushes and into the midst of the violent melee.

Breliond barely registered the arrival of the three newcomers as he continued to stab and thrust, continually pushing forwards, his mind only upon one thing. To reach the circle of orcs. Reach it and breach it. For he knew, with a certainty he felt deep inside, that the key to winning the battle lay within its ring, just as he knew in his heart that whatever was there would most probably claim his life. Another limb flew as he drew his long blade down in an arc through a goblins shoulder, closely followed by its owners head as he continued the motion fluidly, switching to an upward movement with a twist of his wrist and flipped himself up and out of the way of another of the foul creatures. It took barely a heartbeat for him to realise that he now stood right before two of the grotesque sentinels that formed the very goal he had been so determined to reach. His eyes sparkled with anticipation and mischief as he spun his blade point down and stabbed hard onto the bridge of one huge, bare foot twisting his knife as he felt it pierce the orcs thick, horny flesh. With a howl of pain and anger the beast swung his mighty fist in an effort to dislodge the blade and fling the elf away only to feel naught but air as Breliond ducked down, dragging on his weapon to cleave the foot almost in two then rolled to avoid the questing fingers as the orcs hand returned to grasp at his tormentor.

The ring of steel above his head made the captain look up in time to see a mighty sword clash with an ugly looking, jagged edged scimitar that had been aiming for his head and fling it away into the melee, a clawed hand still wrapped tightly around its hilt. Thick black blood dripped onto his face and he raised a hand to wipe it away with a quick nod of thanks to his peredhel saviour before leaping into the gap that had now opened before him in the wake of the injured sentinels momentary distraction. He was inside the inner ring.

~o~

For long moments Thranduil held Legolas, murmuring soothing noises as he had when he was a young elfling crying from some childhood hurt, his own heart aching as the tears continued to flow from his sons eyes in a silent torrent. The king had never felt so helpless, so unsure and so full of love for the child of the forest he had called his own since that bleak day so long ago when grief had so very nearly cost the Greenwood its protector and heart. That it had been that babe, now full grown, who had almost brought him to an end again had not escaped his notice, yet he did not have it in his heart to hold it against him. After all, there had been an outside influence at work. He had felt its malice, its dark intent and had been hard pushed himself not to fall under its thrall. His beautiful, naively innocent son had stood no chance at all.

At last the sobs subsided and Legolas rested limp and still in his arms. Placing a finger under his son's chin Thranduil gently brought his tear stained face up to meet a gaze filled with remorse and abject sorrow.

"Goheno nin, hir nin." The words were haltingly spoken in a voice broken and hoarse as the prince closed his eyes in an effort not to see the loathing he felt sure would be etched into his father's expression.

"Oh, my child." Thranduil felt as if his heart would break.

Gathering his quiescent son up and rising in one elegant movement Thranduil nodded towards the room's entrance.

"I will take him to his rooms. Ensure the passageway is clear."

Galion nodded and walked over to the great doors, unhooking the key that dangled from his belt as he went. Resting his head against the wooden portal he listened carefully before putting the key to use in removing the padlock and lifting the heavy bar. Grasping the handle of one door he gently pulled, allowing it to open just enough for him to see one of the pair of guards who had remained outside.

"The king relieves you of your stations." He whispered urgently as the sentry looked over in surprise. "You may go and join your company."

Easing the door wider open, the butler watched as the two shared a glance then walked away leaving the corridor empty. Not for the first time he gave thanks for the rigorous training undertaken by Thranduil's militia which meant his commands were carried out promptly and without question.

"Now, Hir nin." He turned back to the king with a slight bow. "The way is clear."

Thranduil smiled his thanks, moved out through the doorway bearing his son easily in his arms and walked swiftly, yet without apparent haste, away down the corridors towards the royal quarters. Gallion followed silently on his heels and gave thanks for the fact that the fortress seemed momentarily bereft of staff.

~o~

The few seconds it had taken Breliond to realise he had made it to his goal were enough for the cloaked figure before him to strike and if it had not been for the quick reactions of Elladan, who had followed him into the enclave, in pushing him out of the way, he would have been struck between the eyes by the slender, black dagger which was now buried up to its hilt between the shoulder blades of one of the large sentinels. For the second time in as many minutes Elrond's son had saved his life but there was no time for thanks. Leaping to his feet the captain prepared to face this next enemy but found himself suddenly transfixed and engulfed with despair. The dark figure before him appeared to grow in stature, rising above him and all else faded into the background. Silence fell and all that mattered were the two pin pricks of light emanating from under the dark cowl that seemed to pierce through to his very fea. Fear raced through him, a numbing, desperate hopelessness that clawed at his heart with icy fingers. Who did he think he was to confront such as this? Who was he to dare face the might of this great lord?

With a silent cry of anguish he fell to his knees yet still the creature would not let him look away. Images of fire and death, of tall towers crumbling to dust and the great forest aflame from end to end flooded into his mind. He saw kings kneeling before a figure with a face so beauteous it hurt to look upon and wizards fighting each other ignorant of the damage being wrought by their magic on the landscape around them. He saw the seas rise up to engulf the shores and mountains crumble into the valleys below and above the turmoil he saw an eye. A great, malevolent eye which watched and absorbed it all with a joyful gleam.

"You think you have won?" A silky, sensuous voice echoed through his anguished mind and suddenly Breliond found himself laying in a soft bed under a silken sheet.

"You think you are free of me, little one?" The voice grew sharper as the captain tried to think through the confusion that deepened as he saw the worried face of his king lean into his vision.

"You will never be free of me, Little Leaf!"

The world suddenly crowded back in as pain hit Breliond like a burning brand across his throat. He heard Elladan cry out as he fell backwards to lay, staring up at the sky and trying desperately to draw in breath but drowning in the blood welling from his wound. For a moment he struggled then stilled as his mind realised the truth and his fea rose with a song to carry him away from battle and into peace.

~o~

Thranduil sat on the edge of Legolas' bed and gazed down at his motionless body. He had sent Galion away on the pretext of needing food and drink so that he could at last be alone with his son. There was so much they needed to speak of once Legolas regained consciousness and he wanted none to bear witness to their words.

As he watched, Legolas began to grow restless, raising his hands as if in supplication and as the king leaned forward to try and catch the words seemingly forming on his son's lip Legolas' eyes suddenly flew open in terror and a single name forced its way out in a harrowing cry.

"Breliond!"

A/N

To anyone left who is still reading this story.

I can not apologise enough for keeping you waiting this long for an update but I just went through the longest period of writers block I have ever had and lost all confidence in my writing ability.

Eventually I have decided that whatever anyone feels I owe it to myself to at least finish what I have started and after starting with a couple of drabbles have picked up the threads here again.

I don't know if anyone out there is still interested in this story, or it's outcome but all I can say is here is the beginning of the end. I hope you enjoy.