Chapter 8

The sky outside had turned dark as time passed quickly. I was nearly asleep when I heard the click of the door being opened. Looking up from the old tome, I saw Thranduil enter the room, carrying a tray of food. He glanced at the tome in my hands before setting the tray on the small table in front of the fireplace.

"Learning anything, princess?" He asked as he looked at the book.

"Can you read Valarin?" I asked. "I didn't think that most even bothered to learn the language of the gods."

"Unfortunately, I cannot. The tome was passed down to me from my father and his before him." He replied.

"There is a ritual for a barrier spell. It requires a dragonscale, starlight, blood from ten people, and the blood and flesh of two Maiar. It says that two Maiar are required to perform the ritual. There is also mention of power as payment to the Valar in return for their protection in this way." I replied. "If Mithrandir accepts your request, we will still need the aid of another."

"It is my understanding that the Dorian are descendants of the Maiar."

"Indeed, but the bloodlines have been mixed. We are not as powerful as Arien and Eönwë. The Dorians only helped to maintain the barrier. We didn't create it, and, as such, I am quite unsure that I would be successful in that endeavor."

I went to my knees and stretched my arms above my head. It was only then that I realized that my shoulder was feeling much better than it had this morning. With a yawn, I stood up and sat in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. I glanced at the food on the tray. It was a mixture of vegetables, meat and fruit. Living in Rivendell, I had grown accustomed to not eating meat. It was something that many of the elves there did not do because the lush landscape provided the perfect place to grow vegetables and fruit. Similarly, in Lothlorien, meat was reserved for special occasions or for those that had the particular taste for it. Galadriel had lived with her brother, who was considered a great hunter, for many years before her marriage to Celeborn. She had grown accustomed to the taste of meat and found it quite difficult to only eat plants of the earth. Here, in Mirkwood, there was no doubt that eating meat was a necessity. The dense forest did not have much decent farming ground to offer. The vegetables and fruits that they did have were usually the result of trading. Only the royal family and those that lived in the palace had access to food that was grown here in the soil. In my kingdom, our diet was fairly well-balanced. We enjoyed fruits and vegetables, but we also enjoyed fish from the river and meat from the various wildlife that lived on our land. Of course, we had many rules and regulations regarding hunting. Each family was only allowed one big game animal every month, and they were given as many vegetables and fruit as they desired. If they desired fish, they were allotted the appointed amount for the month and no more. It was a system that had worked for centuries. None of my people ever went hungry because the kingdom and my father provided for all. I picked up the fork from the plate and used it to take a piece of the meat, which I assumed to be venison. I placed the meat on my tongue, and, immediately, the rich flavor of the meat exploded in my mouth. It had been so long since I had eaten venison, and I was grateful for something of greater sustenance than the water-filled vegetables and fruits alone. After carefully chewing and swallowing the meat, I looked to Thranduil, who was sitting in the other chair.

"I appreciate you seeing to it that I am fed, but what I don't appreciate is being caged in this room like an animal." I said.

"I do not see a chain around your neck nor do I see you in shackles." He replied. "However, if you would prefer it that way then I am sure I can have it arranged."

"You have no right to keep me here." I replied. "I have done nothing to warrant this. I am only trying to help restore the barrier and end Viistan's wretched life."

I turned my attention back to food and finished it in total silence. I stood from my chair and grabbed my cloak that was hanging on the back of the chair. Fitting the hood atop my head, I looked to Thranduil.

"Take me to the barrier. I need to know just how much damage has been done to the barrier's foundation and the guardians." I demanded. "If the damage is too severe or if the Amanaišal have gone, I do not think we will have a chance to rebuild it."

"It is nearly nightfall. It is too dangerous to be outside of the walls during the night." He replied.

"If the Amanaišal are still there, there will be nothing to worry about. My blood will call to them. Even the spiders would cower at their light."

"And if they are not?"

"If they are not there then I am afraid that we should fear far worse than a few rogue spiders." I replied. "The Amanaišal would not abandon the barrier even if it fell unless something forced them to leave. Have you or any of your men reported seeing them recently?"

"I have not seen them for many years, and my men have not reported coming across them either." He answered.

"And, as such, it is very important that we determine if they still roam the forest. Without them, the hope of restoring the barrier could be all but lost."

"I will agree to take you, but we will be taking guards along with us." He said firmly.

"The Amanaišal will not show themselves if they feel threatened. We will have to go alone." I said crossing my arms. "You need not worry. If they are alive and well, there will be no harm come to us in their presence."

With a sigh, Thranduil grabbed his cloak and his weapons. I smiled to myself as I grabbed my own weapon—opting for my bow instead of my elbow blades that I typically use. They would do no good with the shape that my shoulder is in. I'm not even certain that I could draw back the bow, but I had a much better chance of doing so than using the blades. We made our way out of the castle and to the stables, where the mounts were kept. My mare whinnied and swished her tail happily as she saw me from her stall. I opened her stall door and ran my hand down her braided mane.

"I have missed you, my darling Aribelle." I said with a smile as I placed the bridle on her head.

She nuzzled her nose into my hair as I fastened the buckles. I quickly saddled her and turned to find Thranduil already atop his elk.

"Interesting choice of mount, Thranduil." I said with a slight smile.

"Your mare seems to be of fine lineage." He replied studying Aribelle carefully.

"As I would only expect from a gift from the king of Rohan. Their horses are unmatched throughout Middle Earth." I smirked. "Diplomacy has it perks sometimes. Offer knowledge and that knowledge is often rewarded."

I climbed into her saddle and gave her a soft tap with my heel. She moved forward slowly out of the stable. She was much more content running rather than walking, but I knew that she would, inevitably, be too fast for Thranduil to keep up on his elk. "Speaking of your mount, what possessed you to choose an elk? Surely, a horse is a more formidable creature."

"He is more formidable that you give him credit for. I can assure you that." He answered with a raised eyebrow.

"If you say so."

The ride to the barrier was a very uneventful one. The main center of the barrier was located near one of the streams that ran its course through the forest. Being Dorian, we drew our power from the elements, and a natural source always improved the chances of success. As we entered the small clearing, I heard the rushing of the stream as it rushed over the rocky soil. I closed my eyes as I felt the remnants of the power left long before my time. The many spirits of my people who shed their blood here to create and maintain the barrier assaulted my senses in a calming way. It was here that my mother drew her last breath. It was here that she had taken her life to fulfill the conditions of the pact forged long ago between my father and Oropher. Taking a deep breath, I dismounted Aribelle. I looked to Thranduil, who was still atop his elk.

"The atmosphere here is far different than any other in this wood." I replied as I felt the memories of my people and their spirits ghost over my skin. "Tell me that you do not feel their conviction as they gave a part of themselves to protect your kingdom."

Thranduil said nothing as he jumped from his elk. "Tell me that you do not feel the sheer sense of honor that my mother felt as she took her own life to honor the agreement made by our fathers." I drew a shuddering breath as I approached the stream. Leaning down, I let the cool water rush over my fingertips. "The amount of comfort and peace that this place brings me is unparalleled. Their sacrifices here were more than worth it to them. They did not care that they were giving a part of themselves to the barrier but rather the honor of doing something so outstanding even outweighed their own debilitating fears. No amount of evil can undo what good they did of their own volition. Their life forces still preside over this place. Can you not feel them, Thranduil?"

Thranduil closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and gazing back at me. "Perhaps I am not as attuned to my senses as you are."

I furrowed my brows, and I felt a frown form on my lips. "You simply do not want to realize what lies here…the feelings and emotions that led them to perform this duty." I replied. "None of them were forced to give a part of themselves to this place. Yet, hundreds of my people did so willingly and without regard to their own desires."

With no regard to my health, I went to my knees in the middle of the chilly stream. This would be the best place to judge the remnants of the barrier. The natural power of the stream only increased the power of my people's sacrifices. Thranduil looked at me as if I had grown two heads as he regarded me in the stream.

"On your knees, Thranduil. Pay respect to the memories and sacrifices of my people. You are no king here but rather a normal elf. To honor the dead is to understand that what they were in life was not important but rather their accomplishments and sacrifices during their lifetime." I commanded as I looked at his face.

With slight hesitation, Thranduil's knees hit the damp ground with a soft thud. I extended my hand towards him from his place on the bank of the stream. "Hand me your dagger."

He pulled a silver dagger from his boot and placed the hilt in the palm of my open hand. "In order to interact with the barrier, it requires blood of those that were sworn to protect it and the blood of those that it protects." I said as I looked at him. "Would you be so kind as to give me your hand?"

"You are asking me for a blood sacrifice?" Thranduil asked incredulously.

"It is you and your people that the barrier protected. Without a sacrifice, I can do nothing with the barrier itself. Oropher offered his blood to create the barrier, and it took far more than I am asking of you. I need only a drop to access the barrier's memory and to determine if the foundational magic is still here. If it is not, we will have a far more complicated process even if Mithrandir agrees to aid us." I answered.

With a sigh, Thranduil extended his hand to me. I placed the tip of the dagger into his palm and sliced it—his blood dripping onto the ground beneath him. I quickly did the same to my own and took his hand in my own. As our life forces mixed, a soft blue light was emitted from our joined hands. I closed my eyes as I tried to focus on sifting through all of the memories that that this place held until I managed to reach the very bottom of those—the moment that the barrier was created and the magic that had ensured its survival. In my mind's eye, I could see the original ritual being performed. My mother, my father, Oropher, and many citizens of Mirkwood and Dorian alike were gathered here when the ritual was completed. I was entranced by being able to see my mother and father again, but this was not what I was here for. I was to determine if the barrier could be regenerated or if a new creation ritual would have to be performed. I felt a hard tug in the back of my mind, and I searched through the memories for what had caused it. I saw Viistan and an unknown cloaked figure knelt on the bank of the stream. This must have been right before the barrier fell. They were performing a spell in Black Speech. One that I could not entirely understand, but I knew that the damage that they had intended had been done when the barrier's power could be felt no longer. I watched as they gave their own blood sacrifice, and I saw the usually invisible barrier shatter as it flickered from the destruction that their spell had caused. There was nothing to be learned here either. I needed to access the magic that created the barrier and determine if it was salvageable. It was then that the cloaked figure looked up, and I saw the lower half of her face that wasn't obscured by the hood of the cloak. It was a female, but I didn't recognize her face. Her skin held the same markings as did Viistan when I had come across him in the dungeons, which suggested that she was a necromancer. There was, however, one quality that she had that hit me like a slap to the face. Judging by the ring that she wore on her left hand, there was no doubt that she was of Dorian ancestry. The Dorians had created jewelry and weaponry that was instantly recognizable and that which could not be created by any other than those that had the knowledge passed down to them. I felt myself being tugged in an entirely different direction. This time somewhere deep within the memories of the barrier. As the memories flitted across my field of vision, they suddenly stopped on one memory. In this memory, my mother and father were testing the barrier's strength. Suddenly, Thranduil's hand slipped from my grasp, and the connection to the barrier was broken. My eyes opened quickly to find him peering into my eyes with concern.

"Are you alright, Ileana?" He asked with furrowed brows.

"Why did you break the connection?" I asked with a slight hint of anger in my voice.

"Your skin had grown cold." He said. "From my own experience watching the ritual take place many years ago, it was not what was supposed to happen. You were cold as ice and as pale as the snow atop the mountains."

"I still need more information about the barrier. I have to reinstate the connection." I replied. I wanted…no…I needed to learn more about the female necromancer and her role in all of this. I needed to know if what they had done had destroyed any chance of resurrecting the barrier.

"No. You have probably learned all that you can tonight about the barrier. It is getting late. We should head back." He replied.

"We have still not seen the Amanaišal. That is also what we came out here for." I said firmly. "I will not leave this place until what we set out to finish is done."

"I will not allow you to stay out here any longer. Being outside of the walls at night puts us both in danger." He said with a scowl.

"Be that as it may, I told you that we needed to see if the Amanaišal were still here. If they are, that buys us more time to worry about completing the barrier ritual. If not, you are going to have to double if not triple the number of soldiers that you have stationed both on the walls and at their perimeters. There would be panic among your citizens if that was to come to pass, and that is, most definitely, not something that you need right now in light of the recent spider attack."

"The Amanaišal would have already come if they were still here." He huffed.

"Not with that attitude, they wouldn't. Forget about the potential danger for just a few moments and relax. If harm were to come to us here, the spirits of my ancestors would protect us. This place is all that remains of their magic, and this is where parts of their spirits would go once they passed through the Hall of Mandos."

I extended my hand to him again and looked at him expectantly. "Allow me to connect to the barrier again, and I will attempt to call the Amanaišal. If they are wandering here, they will heed my call."

"You have 10 minutes to try to call to them, and after that, we will be returning to the castle." He said as he placed his hand in my own.

"Please help me by closing your eyes and clearing your mind. I cannot rush if you are not focusing with me." I said. "And do not break the connection for any reason. I will stop when I need to."

I waited until he closed his eyes before closing my own. Around me, I heard nothing but the gentle breeze rustling through the trees that surrounded the clearing and the gentle rush of the stream. I set myself to calling for the guardians—using the remnants of the barrier's foundation to broadcast my call throughout the forest of Mirkwood. The guardians would come if they were well enough to do so. We waited in silence for only a few minutes before I heard the sounds of hooves beating against the ground to my right. I tightened my hold on Thranduil's hand and slowly opened my eyes. Thranduil opened his eyes moment later—clearly hearing the same thing that I was. The Amanaišal were alive and well, and they were heading this way. Aribelle whinnied from her place feet away from us. We waited for a few moments before a flash of white in the tree line caught our attention. I waited with bated breath for the guardians to reveal themselves to me. Seconds later, one of the male guardians stepped out into the clearing—being careful to observe its surroundings. The Amanaišal were the white stags that had been rumored to live within the forest, and very few knew why they existed and what their purpose was. Their existence was considered merely a myth by most. Even the citizens of Mirkwood would not know the significance of the white stag if they had managed to see one. As the male stag approached us, a female entered with a fawn trailing on here heels. The sight forced a sigh of relief passed my lips. The guardians were alive and well, and they were still comfortable enough her to keep reproducing. I looked to Thranduil as he gazed at the new arrivals in sheer awe. The fawn meant that all hope was not lost where Mirkwood was concerned. I carefully stood up from my place and extended my hand to the male. Its dark eyes twinkled as it studied until it lowered its body and pushed its forehead into my hand in an almost bowing manner.

"You have done well for yourself, guardian." I said with a smile. "Your mere existence means that Mirkwood still has a chance and that whatever harm was done to the barrier is only temporary."

It raised its head to look at me before it nodded its head up and down in what seemed like agreeance. I smiled as I looked at the family of guardians, and as I scanned the woodline, I could very clearly see fragments of white fur splattered throughout the trees. The Amanaišal, or the Unmarred, had continued to be just as pure as they were when they were created. It was dangerous to have them all collected in one area for an extended period of time in case something could potentially endanger them. With that in mind, I ran my hand down the stag's face and stopped calling to them through the barrier. With the call lifted, the guardians scattered throughout the trees to continue to protect Mirkwood and to hide from those that could cause them harm.