Chapter 6, everyone!

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The italics in the beginning and the end of a chapter comes from either one of the Lord of the Rings-books/movies or from any of The Hobbit-movies/book. All of them will have some sort of connection to Elves. So I do not own them as well.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Searching

"The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin."

It was when exploring the village, gathering information about the everyday life and asking questions about the founders and the group of plant-students that Legolas truly came to realize how reserved their race was. He asked all he wanted to know with a polite tone and smile, choosing a more charming approach then his father would have recommended, but while the answers he got was just as polite, if not a bit short, there was suspicion in their eyes.

The second day of his arrival, he snapped up the theory of that he was one of the Guards and that he was there on a secret mission for the King. He did nothing to indicate that the rumors were wrong, though he noticed that some of the inhabitants – the older ones with much more wisdom in their clear eyes – were watching him with thoughtful faces. Legolas wondered if they drew the true connection or if they had once attended some festivities with his father, since the two of them had some striking resemblance to one another.

There were not many Elves that lived in the village, which Tatharon had explained was the reason because of its far distance to the heart of the realm and because of the lack of work, of interesting events. The older Elf spoke of it as if it was nothing, but Legolas could see in his eyes that it did bother him that the beauty of Bendaeenorod was overlooked by so many.

After three days of walking around the village – secretly hoping to run across the red-haired woman, but with no such luck – and trying to get a better picture of it, he decided to visit the House of Green as the place was called where the studying of plants happened.

The house was covered with vines and moss so well that Legolas wouldn't have guessed that it was a house at all had not Tatharon informed him that it was. Oval-shaped windows stretched across the roof and provided the inside with a dim, shimmering light. Everything smelled strongly of earth and a musky scent, mixed with something sweet. It made him slightly dizzy.

"Quite fascinating, is it not?" Tatharon asked him and smiled knowledgably as the doors closed behind them. "I dare say you would not find a place like this in neither Imladris nor Lothlórien."

He sounded like a proud father and Legolas could only nod as he took in his surroundings. In the middle of the room were tables full of pots with different plants in them. Small fountains of stone stood in the corners, providing a sense of humidity and a homely sound. Instruments Legolas had never seen before laid in neat rows upon shelves and at the far end of the room; there was the beginning of a tunnel where a light flickered. There were a couple of Elves working at the tables and desks, inspecting a yellow plant Legolas had not been aware existed. They talked in quiet voices, barely looking up as the two males entered the house. Legolas felt as if he had arrived to a place that would suit his father; calm, quiet and organized. He felt out of place there, as if he was taking up too much space.

Tatharon gestured for him to follow and he did. They passed the working Elves, who barely acknowledged them, and went into the tunnel. It was not a very long walk, but Legolas longed to be out in the open again.

"Haeronor work further inside", explained Tatharon in a quiet voice as they walked. "They have their lair deeper underground, where they perform their experiments."

"What hall did we pass before then?"

"That's where they study the plants and keep their records. But it's in here the real magic happens."

Tatharon smiled and in the dark his eyes gleamed like jewels. They had arrived to a door, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, and Tatharon opened it.

"After you, my Lord."

Legolas stepped inside and a small noise of surprise escaped him as he took in his surroundings. The room was rather large and with no windows. A fire burned in a grate and torches was lined up on the walls, amongst something like hundred shelves. Kettles and bowls, glass bottles with liquids in every color imaginable, scattered notes written in black ink that had not yet dried and tools of wood and silver all was spread out on the different tables. From the ceiling hung a couple of black, dry plants that smelled of blackcurrant. The room was warm and energy flowed in the air in waves. Legolas was certain that he had entered the heart of the house.

"Magnificent, do you not think so?" came Tatharon's voice to Legolas's right and he could only nod.

The Elves down there – it looked to be around two dozens – wore the same, brown uniform, their hair was braided the same way and some even wore gloves. After a life at court, Legolas had become good at distinguish who held the most power, who was in charge, and it became clear there as well when he looked around the room, glancing over the different Elves. One stood out in particular, with long, golden hair in a messy braid and he was running around between the different tables, talking loudly and inspecting bottles, while scribbling down words in a handwriting that wasn't as messy as his appearance. Legolas knew he was Master Haernor even before Tatharon called out to him.

Haernor glanced up as the two visiting Elves descended the stone steps. He bowed quickly to Tatharon and spared Legolas barely a glance.

"Lord Guardian", he said to Tatharon and his voice was gruff for an Elf's. "What can I do for you? I am quite busy as you can see…."

"Oh, I won't bother you for long", promised Tatharon. "Young Legolas here, however, wants to ask you some questions. I believe I informed you of this?"

Haernor nodded and regarded Legolas with cool, light-green eyes that looked slightly eerie. Legolas stared back, waiting. In the end, Haernor broke out into a small smile.

"Of course", he said amiably. "Any interest in our research is welcomed. Spread the word at the castle, if you wish! You are from the Elvenking's Halls, are you not?"

"Yes", answered Legolas. "Master Haernor, I believe you are the founder of this place?"

"That is correct. My wife and I took our interest for the forest and its life to a new level and created House of Green for others sharing our interest and beliefs. I work down here, where we experiment. My wife – Lady Amarbes – is in charge of the part where the results are being studied. Her sister is supervising the first progress of our work, when all plants and flowers are brought in. You passed through there before you arrived here, though you cannot have been seeing her." He turned to Tatharon. "She is staying home with her son since the accident down the river."

Tatharon hummed and expressed his sympathies. Legolas felt out of place, like a total stranger and he did not know how to behave. There was a different behavior here than how people acted in the castle.

"A family business", Legolas mused out loud and continued: "Master Haernor, I will speak clearly with you. Are you aware of that there has occurred a series of thefts these past months around the realm?"

Haernor blinked and frowned.

"No, can't say I have been privileged to that knowledge. That's outrageous! What are being done about it?"

Legolas explained a short version of the thefts, detailed, but to the point. He told Haernor about the ivor galas that had been stolen and he thought he saw the other Elf's eyes flash with a brief look of panic, but he could have imagined it. When he was finished, the older Elf looked grim and muttered:

"Not here."

Legolas arched one eyebrow, but the other Elf did not elaborate. He gestured to another Elf and raised his voice a bit to overpower the noises of working:

"Landor, if you could please oversee the progress for me? I will be back soon."

Haernor turned back to Legolas and Tatharon, gesturing for them to go.

"Come. We shall speak in private and I suppose my wife should be present."

"I could fetch her", offered Tatharon, who had been quiet for a long time. "I know the way."

Haernor nodded his consent before Legolas could provide a 'yes' or 'no'. It irked him, the way the elders seemed to look over him as if he didn't know what he was doing. A tiny voice in his head whispered that his father would've never allowed someone to treat him like that. It did not take much willpower to force it away. Legolas had chosen to keep his identity secret and Tatharon was only helping playing the part.

Tatharon disappeared down the dark corridor and Haernor led Legolas to another room, a much smaller room and less grand. A round table was placed in the middle, with three wooden chairs around it. Legolas guessed that this was where the three Heads of the House must have their meetings.

Neither of the Elves spoke to each other. Haernor lit a couple of candles and offered Legolas a seat with an inclination of his head. Not soon after that, Tatharon returned with a woman that could only be Haernor's wife. She was tall and fair, though her features were sharp and her brows shaped in a way that made it look as if she was frowning.

"Thank you, Tatharon", said Legolas politely. "I do believe that your services are no longer needed."

"Of course", smiled Tatharon and his eyes gleamed strangely from the light of the candles. "I wish you my best. Master Haernor, Lady Amabres."

With a last nod, he turned on his heels and walked out of the room, closing the door as he did so. Legolas straightened up and made himself smile ever so slightly.

"Please, LadyAmabres, have a seat."

The woman obeyed, looked him over with eyes that was scarily blue. Legolas mentally shook himself and told her about the thefts, the same story he had told her husband. She did not speak, only stared. It was effective, Legolas admitted, and a couple of times he was about to lose his nerve to continue the story. When he was done, Haernor managed to speak before he could say anything else.

"I know what you are going to ask", he said and his mouth curled into a bitter smile. "You suspect us of being responsible for the disappearance of the ivor galas. Does the King not trust in his own subjects anymore?"

Legolas recognized that he was out on thin ice and had to trade carefully. Haernor was tapping his forefinger against the table, creating an annoying sound that reflected the annoyed expression he was wearing. His wife just watched him with those blue eyes that never seemed to blink. Legolas spared her a brief glance, but found that he could not keep her stare for long. He cleared his throat and addressed Haernor:

"The King does not like when things are being stolen from him. It is an insult to the Realm, disrespectful." He took a deep breath and looked both Elves in the eye when he continued: "Since you are both well-versed in the lore of plants, you know that when a weed starts to grow, you need to cut it before it spreads and infect the rest of the garden."

Neither of the Elves spoke after that. Legolas waited, folding his hands in his lap. Haernor's mouth became a thin, white line when he pursed his lips together. His wife put a hand on his and looked at Legolas with her unnerving eyes. Then he heard Lady Amabres speak for the first time, in a voice that was like the wind running through the leaves of the trees:

"Ask what you want to know. We will answer truthfully."

Her eyes never left his and somehow, Legolas could hear the unspoken 'My Lord' in her words. It made him weary.

"They're less wise and more dangerous."

So, that was that! Any thoughts?

For the next chapter, I dare say that Legolas will run into our favourite red-haired Elf again...

Next chapter should be up in a week or so.

Thanks for reading!