Aradan was still in surprise as the crowd cheered in excitement. Ithilwen had been good but their commander was still the best. He looked at her calm face in confusion. She was bowing to him. "Why?" he whispered. She had not lost her footing. That had been done on purpose.
"You are the commander, Aradan. You can't be defeated in front of all of Mirkwood. Your soldiers must never doubt your skill, strength and prowess."
"Spoken as a Queen, my lady," replied Aradan as he knelt before her.
"Have you gone daft, Aradan?" she asked furiously.
The crowd was still cheering. "They would think I am being valiant. A charming Commander, aren't I, Erienne?" Aradan smiled smugly.
"Thranduil is watching," Erienne did not feel victorious at all.
In fact, Thranduil had come down to address the crowd, Galaden behind him. The latter was not looking happy. "Your winner stands before you. Elves of Mirkwood, what can be a worthy prize for such a winner? I present him, from the vaults of Mirkwood, the … Queen's jewels. They are his to present to whomever he pleases." This time, the crowd buzzed with excitement. The Queen's jewels were worth a fortune.
This time, both Erienne and Aradan were startled. Thranduil came before Aradan. "Thranduil, you can't give away the Queen's jewels," Aradan had decided that his King had lost his mind.
"You sure sound as if you don't want them, Aradan." At Aradan's confused look, Thranduil continued,
"You have won them, Aradan. They are yours to present to whomever you wish." Thranduil turned to Airion, Aradan's lieutenant, who handed Thranduil two boxes, one was an oblong box, made of the wood of red cedar. On it was the carved the emblem of Mirkwood. Aradan gasped. That box did not contain mere jewels. It was far more priceless. The other was a mere spherical object, it did not contain jewels but something far more ancient and powerful, it was the King's seal.
Airion bowed and left, leaving the foursome together, alone. Erienne and Aradan looked at Thranduil quizzically. Galaden looked away, not meeting their eyes. None understood what was happening.
"You could just have told me that you wanted them, Aradan. It would have been yours," Aradan only looked more confused.
"What do I want, my lord?" he asked.
"We shall discuss this at the castle. I want all three of you in my study," Thranduil left with that order, waving to the crowd, doing all the Kingly, regal things.
The two elves looked at one another, an unpleasant feeling in their stomachs. Neither understood what was happening.
They rode home in silence. Aradan on his horse with Erienne and Galaden on another horse.
When they arrived at the castle, they were greeted by Glorvethor, who informed them that the King had left instructions for them to wait in his study.
Erienne was nervous. The study was Thranduil and Aradan's personal place of discussion. She looked down at first as all three found no words to share with one another. Suddenly, Erienne gasped. "Aradan, why is there no seal on Mirkwood's colours? One is with you now, where is the other one?"
Aradan looked up. There were supposed to be three, one each for the King, Queen and Commander. He looked at Erienne, who took hers out. She had held on to it, protecting it with all she could. Thranduil had just given Aradan one; that left one unaccounted.
"Thranduil could have taken it," Galaden said.
"There was no need to. The seal in not removed unless during an emergency. The last it was removed was during the War of the Second Alliance."
As the three stared at one another, they turned to see the door open. Thranduil entered the study, waving the soldiers away. "We will not be disturbed," he informed Airion, who had followed him back. The soldiers bowed and left.
Thranduil sat down and looked at his Queen, Commander and Healer. "You ought to have realised what the problem is?"
"The seal is missing, Thanduil," Aradan was more than worried.
"Let us be more specific, Commander Aradan. It is the King's seal that is missing."
"It was here, Thranduil. I checked it before I locked the room," Aradan was getting frantic. Erienne was silent. Thranduil's words did not bode well. Galaden did not dare open his mouth.
"The King's seal protects the ruler of Mirkwood. With its loss, should something happen to me, who will benefit? Legolas is not here. We do not know if he intends to return. Should he not return who will earn the right to the throne?"
Aradan's eyes widened. What was Thranduil talking about? The King's seal was just a legend. Its loss was significant but nothing would happen to Thranduil? And what did he mean about who would benefit? What benefit could there be to Thranduil's death? He looked at Erienne, she was not looking worried. She was looking furious.
"Do not spill your words, my lord. They cannot be taken back," she warned softly.
Thranduil looked at her and at the seal in her hand. "At last, we meet, my lady, Queen Erienne of Mirkwood," he bowed to her mockingly, ignoring the hurt in her eyes. "You have always had a soft spot for Aradan. Aradan's loyalty and service to the Woodlands are beyond doubt in all of Middle Earth. With my fall, you are free to return, to rule, with Aradan by your side."
Thranduil ignored Galaden's gasp as he drew his sword and looked at Aradan. The latter was frozen in shock. As Thranduil brought his sword to Erienne, his own hand rested at the hilt of his sword, trembling. He fell to his knees in front of his King. "You cannot believe this, Thranduil. I have pledged my life and loyalty to you. The seal is but a symbol. What cause is there for doubt now? My lord, I am yours to command," Aradan was in tears. Galaden was by now trembling.
Thranduil was unmoved as he traced Erienne with his sword. She met his eyes fiercely. Unlike Aradan, she was incensed. "I cannot believe this, Thranduil. You doubt him? He, who gave up all for you? He has none to call his own but you as his friend. He spent his life in service for you. You talk of the throne of Mirkwood? What throne is there to speak of without him? Do you forget that you entered the Woodland Realm with naught but a few elves to call your own? I will not disrespect King Oropher but do you not as a King know what it took to redeem Mirkwood? Could you have done it without Aradan? I could have killed myself but all these years in Dol Guldur, I endured all just to ensure that one day, I would escape and return to Mirkwood the medallion. The throne, the jewels, what are they worth? Do you know how it feels to be flogged daily, branded, mutilated and raped? More than that, I let my blood flow, Thranduil, my babe died before my eyes, washed away as mere dirt in the depths of hell and you dare say I came back to rule?"
Thranduil looked around, glad that the windows were shut. The wind was blowing strongly outside and the candle flame had extinguished. Erienne was looking at his sword. "I was once told, my lord, that your sword does not act faster than your mind. If your mind is set, then, let me fall first. I am still glad to fall under your sword than to succumb to the dirt of Dol Guldur. But, know, that you can never earn back such an able commander or loyal friend. A kingdom shaken can be strengthened, Thranduil Oropherion, but trust broken can never be replaced."
There was silence as Erienne finished. She was not looking up, her eyes on the floor as she bristled in anger. And then, she started crying. There was only so much she could take. Erienne cried. For her babe, for her lost years, for her elves who had died so loyally and so valiantly. Most of all, Erienne cried for herself. Why did she have to come back to this? She would rather be back in Dol Guldur.
Thranduil turned as Galaden gasped. Erienne's clothes were burning. So angry had she been that she had summoned the fire unknowingly or had she wished it upon herself? Thranduil quickly went to her. "Do not wish foolishly, my lady. I ask your pardon for my words," Thranduil's words were soft as he attempted to put out the small flames with his hands.
"You are hurting yourself, my lord," it was Aradan coming to offer aid as reflexively as he always had. He turned to see Galaden handing him a wet cloth and gave it to Thranduil who used it put out the fire on her clothes. Aradan saw Thranduil's hands trembling as he wiped Erienne's tunic.
"What is happening, my lord?" he asked tiredly.
"How long could this go on, Aradan? I had to know why, why she was not claiming her right. Why live her life in the shadows and leave us to suffer as well? Do you not know, Aradan, how I have longed for her?"
Erienne looked up, her anger disappearing as quickly as it had come. It was only sorrow and shame left on her face now.
"Seeing Galaden with you itself was enough for me to realise it, Erienne. Especially when he sought your help today. Aradan looking so confident and …and the way you fought, it was so telling. Your nana called you the bringer of light amongst darkness. You never mentioned your Ada, were you not his little Erin, the wood that grows and endures? Would you not always tell me that you would ever be a part of the woodlands? You asked Aradan to bury you here."
Aradan looked up weakly. "Forgive me, my lord. I should have told you about the medallion. I saw it on the day my lady was bathing by the stream. I just had to be sure first and I wanted to speak with Galaden first. I had to be sure for Sauron's threat is not to be ignored, either."
Thranduil looked at Aradan and then at Erienne, his trembling hands reaching for hers, "I owe Aradan many things, Erienne. The list has just gotten longer but I knew no other way to force you to show yourself. Am I not worthy of you, Erienne? I know I have failed with Legolas," Thranduil's softly spoken words, completely unsettled Erienne, Aradan and Galaden. Aradan and Galaden bowed in silence as Erienne looked up, fear and uncertainty on her face.
"My lord," she whispered, finally finding her voice.
Thranduil met both Erienne and Aradan at eye level, his right arm across his chest, "You are right, Erienne. But your mate is not a complete fool. Kingdoms can be built but friendship and love are a gift. Do not deny both to me. Forgive me if I have wronged."