Idhrenion followed his King at a distance whilst Maeglin (who had keeping well out of all this) and Anié helped Legolas up. He seemed fine but he rubbed the side of his head gently, trying to nurse the pain. Legolas was pale naturally, but now he was practically white and almost shaking. Anié was worried for him but he did not seem to be in the mood for talking, so all three of them too continued walking down the tunnel, for the same reasons as Thranduil had done.
As they walked, all were silent. Thranduil made sure he was nowhere near Legolas, and Legolas had no great desire to be in the company of his father, due to the awkwardness and the fear of his father's wrath. Rather, he stayed with Anié and Maeglin, who gave each other the occasional glance, but otherwise were also silent and in their own thoughts.
"Who will be next, I wonder?" asked Maeglin cautiously.
Anié's heart went suddenly cold at his words, desperate for her not to be next. Although, she thought, maybe it would be best, because then she could get hers off her chest and out of the way … whatever her secret happened to be …
"It's you" Idhrenion replied.
He was someway ahead of them and the blue glow of the next magical portal reflected on his face. Anié's head shot up, terror on her face, but sighed heavily in relief as she realised the guard's eyes were not looking at him. His eyes were fixed on Maeglin, who stood next to Anié. Unlike Legolas and Thranduil, Maeglin did not seem afraid of confronting his secret. He seemed very calm as he accepted his fate, almost as if he had been expecting it. He sighed to himself and strode forwards towards Idhrenion, glancing ever so slightly at Anié before doing so. He passed the Royal Guard and stood in front of the memory that had already begun to form in front of him, straight and soldier-like.
"This one arrived quicker than the last" Idhrenion said as Maeglin passed him.
"There was some distance between the last two".
No-one responded. Anié did not have an answer and Legolas and Thranduil were not speaking. There were certainly not standing anywhere near each other (Thranduil deliberately stayed the most away from Legolas as he possibly could) or giving each other any eye contact, Legolas out of fear, Thranduil out of what seemed to be hatred.
"Maybe it is being merciful to me" replied Maeglin after several seconds of silence, briefly looking over his shoulder, a quick smile fleeting across his face. Anié smiled back and was relieved that Maeglin was treating this most awkward situation with such good grace. It was also possible that he was right. It seemed that the memory sensed his acceptance to admit his faults and was therefore willing to deal with Maeglin swiftly.
Deadly silence filled the underground stone room once more as the memory began to take shape. Eventually, an image of Maeglin's home was formed before them. Maeglin had a very knowing look on his face – he recognised the scene before him and he knew very well what was coming. Anié stood just behind Maeglin and watched as everyone was doing, her friend's silhouette before her seeming greater and more dominant now than she had ever seen it.
Maeglin dwelt in a secret realm just beyond the borders of Mirkwood that could not be found on any maps, for it was a fairly new realm, built and populated only recently compared to most other realms in Middle Earth and although it was not hidden to such levels as the great city of Gondolin of old, it shared the same principals of secrecy. Occasionally, servants of the Dark Lord would stray upon it and threaten it inhabitants by attacking those on its borders, but Maeglin and his men made sure that once they knew of its existence, they told no-one else of it and made doubly sure they would never return to threaten his people again. Due to his determination, charisma, kindness and his huge contribution to building up the realm for the people to live in in safety and peace, the people elected him to be their leader, which with some persuasion, he accepted. He refused to be a King, as he wanted only to be one of the people and to care for them, but when he is in his own lands, he holds the title of Lord. Anié had visited it once or twice, but she was only allowed to leave because Maeglin had such great trust in her. It was a beautiful realm to live in, mostly made out of wood and stone and everyone there was friendly and cheerful, happy to live in such a pleasant, protected place under such a good leader.
The image that formed before them was of a private chamber of sorts within the Great Hall in which councils were held and where Maeglin's privates rooms were found, within which Maeglin dwelt. In that room sat Maeglin, writing reams of things on parchment – notes from the council or a letter to someone or something. After a few quiet moments, there was a knock at the door. Maeglin swiftly turned around and called out to whoever was at the door. The door opened and a woman walked in, carrying several objects and items in her arms.
"Ah, Melli …" he shut his eyes temporarily, pausing for a moment in thought.
"…Mellimeldisiel!" he finally said.
The woman laughed.
"Well done, my Lord!" she congratulated him.
Maeglin took a fake bow and she laughed again. Mellimeldisiel was one of Maeglin's personal assistants, cleaning, tidying and generally helping Maeglin wherever and whenever she could. As a leader, he had to know everyone's name and he had learnt them all quite well, but it took him some time to learn how to pronounce hers and he still had difficulties occasionally, as was just shown and which never failed to make Mellimeldisiel laugh.
He apologised, but she would have known of it – she found it most amusing and she didn't mind one bit.
"And don't call me 'my lord'" Maeglin added.
"I've had enough of titles and 'my lords' for one day".
"Very well, my L…"
She stopped herself, realised what she was about to say and laughed again, as did Maeglin.
"I've brought you some things" she continued. "Some of the council members have written proposals and letters to you since the last council, you've received a letter from your friend, Anié…"
At this piece of information, Maeglin showed sudden interest, stood up and took the letter from her.
"You can leave the rest on that table there, I'll go through them".
She bowed slightly and did as Maeglin asked. Maeglin loved receiving letters from Anié and his face showed it.
"I also brought you this" she said, holding out a glass of wine to him.
He turned his face from the half-open letter and was touched by the sight he saw before him. He stood up again, smiling and took the glass from her, thanking her gratefully. She smiled, her heart warmed to see him content. The wine was of excellent quality with a very fruity taste and Maeglin enjoyed it immensely. But he could not help but notice that as he drank, Mellimeldisiel's eyes never left his face. Deep inside her heart, she plucked up some hidden courage.
"You know what I've come to say?" she asked, honesty and a streak of hope running through her words.
Maeglin's hand was stilled. After a slight pause, he swallowed heavily and placed his goblet down on the table, lifting his dark eyes to meet hers. Hers were round, shining in the candlelight and almost pleading. A hopeful smile illuminated from her face.
"Mellimeldisiel…" he began.
"Please, my Lord Maeglin, hear me! I do not come to you in a search for money or publicity or to be … elevated in society in some way. I have served you for many years now and I have never served any man as kind and humble as you. I come to you, because…"
She was almost shaking. She spoke simply and quietly, yet her voice was filled with truest emotion.
"…because I love you".
Maeglin remained still and silent, looking at Mellimeldisiel. She was a beautiful woman, very beautiful, a woman he could see himself – and most men of the realm, in fact – spending many happy years with and bearing many children. She was hard-working, kind, fiercely loyal – the ideal wife. Maeglin knew well that she would not profess her love to him simply for her own ends, she was not that kind of woman, and that knowledge warmed his heart even more.
"Mellimeldisiel…" he began once again, holding her hands in his, "you have shown great courage coming to me this evening. Many men and women fear greatly of showing such emotion and feelings to another, but you have not run from that challenge. Your words touch me deeply and your presence never fails to warm my heart".
Her smile increased in its width and warmth.
"You will make a wonderful wife, for you are such a strong and loyal woman to this realm. I see you with so many happy children, and I certainly see a delighted husband! As you say, you have served me for many years and I know your emotions to be true, and I could ask for no greater friend … or cleaner".
She laughed.
"Your love deserves true love and your loyalty, true loyalty in return".
Her heart fluttered. Her eyes never left his and her smile showed her happiness.
"Which is why I must say no" Maeglin finished.
Her smile faded gradually as the shock slowly but surely sunk in. She could not believe how she could be denied this, after such kind words and compliments… she had considered the thought that he would say 'no', of course, but after all he had just said and confirmed?
"What do you mean, my Lord?" she asked, her voice beginning to shake a little.
"You deserve better than I" he replied in a low, quiet voice, "and I am not one for you to take".
He let go of her hands and turned from her, walking back to his desk. She remained there, still, silent, heart-broken and holding back tears.
"That will be all, Mellimeldisiel" Maeglin said finally, his voice calm yet authoritative.
Mellimeldisiel bit her bottom lip to hold herself together, curtsied to the back of her lord and master and left the room, her heart in tatters and her dreams destroyed. As Maeglin heard the door shut, he sighed deeply and his heart strained within him. He gingerly opened his letter from Anié and read its contents. It contained nothing of immense interest – just news of the kingdom, wishing him well, that all was well there, that she and Legolas were both fine – but everything word Anié had hand-written herself, Maeglin read and handled as if it were treasure.
Maeglin rested his head in his hand, clutching his forehead, his eyes once again shut:
"Damn you, Anié, why are you so beautiful and fair…"
(In the tunnel, Anié's eyes widened and her mouth opened as she realised the reality and the entirety of this terrible situation).
A single tear rolled down Maeglin's cheek as he sat at his desk. He could have released more, but he was stronger than that. He had to be. He wiped it away and pulled himself together. It was here that the vision faded and again, silence fell on all of them. Anié walked up to Maeglin, who had watched every moment of the memory and who now hung his head.
"Maeglin…" she almost whispered, still in shock.
"I never knew … I never even thought…"
She paused for a moment, thinking for words. A thought then came to her:
"Why did you never tell me? All those years we spent together, and you never said a word?"
Maeglin remained silent and did not make eye contact. Suddenly, Anié's emotions changed.
"How could you do that to her?" she asked, touching on anger.
Maeglin opened his mouth slightly as if he were about to say something, but no sound was produced.
"You've destroyed her. She came to you, bearing her love and affection openly to you, and you turned her away just because of me?"
After a moment of silence, Maeglin lifted his head and stared deep into Anié's confused eyes. The only words he could think of to say were:
"I'm sorry, Anié, my dearest friend…"
He stroked her cheek with his fingers and he smiled as he told her:
"… I have loved you for centuries".
Anié did not know how to react to these words. She loved Legolas with all her mind and heart, she loved Maeglin as a close friend, and now after what she had just seen…
"I'm sorry" she stuttered after a pause.
She then shook her head: "How could you…"
Confused, upset and still quite shocked, she walked away. Then, for the first time, Maeglin suddenly raised his head, his mouth open as his brain desperately thought for the right words to say:
"Anié … Anié, please…"
But it was to no avail, she had gone. He knew he had done wrong, but it would be a fate worse than death to him to loose Anié as a friend. He dared not make eye contact with Legolas, who stood just a few feet away from him, for fear of starting a conversation. Thankfully, Anié's sudden cry brought their attention away from him.
"There's a light!" she cried.
The company swiftly moved down the corridor where Anié had just exited. Eventually, Maeglin slowly followed after them, though he kept his distance – he was in his own thoughts.
The light that Anié could see was not the same blue-ish light they had seen before when they were approaching another secret memory, but a darker blue light, more natural. They moved towards it and came out into a larger clearing, the moonlight illuminating the stone walls. They were relieved to feel the fresh, cool wind again and they all inhaled many deep lungfuls.
"Well, my friends" a voice said from behind them all, "I congratulate you on coming this far".
They all turned to see the mysterious stranger who had originally led them here. He was smiling at them and he had remained in his simple clothing. But Thranduil was having none of it. He glared at him and took an authoritative step forward as he spoke:
"Why have you brought us here? We have no authority of us – let us leave this place!"
The stranger replied, as calmly as ever:
"The tunnel continues that way" – he pointed towards another dark tunnel some way away from them.
"If you wish to continue, no-one shall stop you, but you may wish to rest here for the night first".
Thranduil was furious. He advanced towards the stranger (who did not move and took no action to defend himself), drew his sword and stretched out his hand to grab the man.
"You said you would lead us to our men – where are they? TAKE ME TO THEM THIS…"
Everyone gasped. As Thranduil grabbed the men in order to threaten him into speech, as if he was never there, the man disappeared without a trace, and that was the last time they ever saw him.