Dedication: This one is for mille libri. It might take a while before you get to these, but I hope you know how much I love your reviews, and how amazing it is that you spot almost everything I meant to do with my chapters! :o
Six: Sigil
"How long has it been?" Meginor asked as they walked towards the gate. "How long since you arrived?"
"Almost two years," Tauriel answered beside him, without looking back.
"How can you remember?" Meginor asked, his voice amazed.
"How can you not?" she replied, her lips curving to a soft smile.
Legolas glimpsed at him shrugging carelessly. "One day is rarely different from the last, and so for the months, and for the years. It is the men's responsibility to count the days. They do it so religiously that it has made me too lazy to do it myself," Meginor laughed.
"You're often too lazy to do anything," Aegnir commented and Meginor laughed all the more.
The gate opened before them and the elves who were on guard made way as they walked past. There were six of them, Tauriel and Filarion at his side, while Aegnir, Meginor, and Irima followed.
"Are they far from here?" Irima asked, as the first shadows of the forest fell on them.
"They are at our western borders," Aegnir answered for him. "They are of great number, and there are not only orcs. The scout said they ride wargs."
"Ah," Meginor exclaimed. "Now I see why there are many of us, and why I have the pleasure of going with you."
"Yes," Legolas answered quietly. It had become a norm to attack in groups of four at the most, since Tauriel and the other elves came. But Legolas was anxious about the group they were to attack, it was why he had requested the company of the elves who were with him now. He needed experienced fighters—orcs on wargs were not easy to contend with.
The deeper they walked into the forest, the faster their steps became. No one spoke again, and their journey passed in silence. For hours, they ran, until simultaneously, the smell of evil greeted them and they took out their weapons. The snarls of the orcs' speech could be heard even from a great distance, but even without their noise, Legolas could see their shadows moving here and there. The orcs were in a once grassy glade that bordered by great trees. Now the grass lay dead on the ground, and wet mud squelched beneath the boots of the orcs. "Wait for my signal," he whispered loud enough for them to hear. Then Legolas gave a nod to the others and they dispersed, leaving him alone under the cover of the trees. He knew that in a matter of time, the enemy would be unknowingly surrounded.
Legolas climbed the thick branches before approaching the congregation of the orcs. His scent would be more difficult to catch from a great height.
At first, his eyes took note of the orcs. They were heavily concentrated on one side of the glade. On the other side were the wargs, great beasts that, at the moment, were sleeping noisily. Even in their slumber, they snapped at unseen enemies. "Good," he whispered, as he brought out his bow, and aimed it at the orcs. From his vantage point, he could see that because of the close distance on which they stood next to each other, he would be able to fell two orcs with one shot.
He pulled the string, preparing to fire the first of their attack, but as he squinted, he saw what he had missed to notice earlier. In the middle of the gathered orcs was a hooded figure. He was kneeling and it seemed that all the orcs' attention was on him. It was the same figure that he and Tauriel had tracked down almost two years ago. The owner of the Lothlorien knife. Like before, he could not see the person hiding underneath, for his face was hidden by his hood. But he also saw that his hands were tied behind him.
The orcs spoke in their brutish language, but Legolas could discern their laughs as they pointed knives at him, while others jabbed and kicked.
Legolas realized then that they could not risk battle, for it would mean harm to the hooded figure. Whoever he was—friend or foe—they needed him alive to answer their questions.
He turned around and aimed instead at a tree a few distances away. If he could but distract the orcs just enough to get the hooded figure to safety...
He spared one last glance at the glade below and saw that one of the orcs had placed a knife to the figure's neck. Quickly, Legolas pulled his bow, ready to shoot—
A startled shriek from below, and Legolas turned to see a familiar dagger dig into the head of the orc who had been holding the knife. The other orcs screeched in surprise as an elf swooped from the trees. "Tauriel," he said angrily, not needing to see her to know. The orcs swarmed towards her, while others moved to the captive. Legolas shot his arrow at one who had attempted to stab the captive with a sword. Almost immediately, four other figures jumped from the trees, recognizing Legolas' signal for the attack.
Aegnir, like Legolas, seemed to have seen the importance of the captive. They stood at both sides of the hooded figure, killing the orcs who came near. Meanwhile, the other elves had brought down four wargs, even before the beasts could awaken. Legolas pulled his dagger when one ran towards them. Legolas simply had to hold out his dagger and the warg ran straight to him, embedding his own forehead on the blade. Blood streamed through its face, and it fell with a great thump on an injured orc that had been struggling to rise.
Two more wargs approached, and it was while Legolas battled with them that another orc slipped past him, bringing down an iron sword at the captive who stood between him and Aegnir. The blade was aimed for his chest, but a dagger met its strike, effectively detracting it from its course. Legolas recognized it as the twin to the first knife Tauriel had thrown. The sword veered from the captive's chest but still managed to slash through his legs, and he exclaimed in agony.
Legolas, finishing with the two wargs, quickly turned to the orc responsible, killing it swiftly with an arrow to the neck.
When their enemies thinned, Legolas left Aegnir's side and accompanied Meginor to remove the last of the wargs. With the number of foes, he barely had time to check on his companions. Borrowing a sword from Meginor, he slashed through the last of the beasts, severing it's head. He was returning the sword to his friend when he heard the outburst from behind.
"Tauriel, what was that?" Filarion shouted in anger as he walked towards Tauriel. She ignored him and bent to pick the dagger from the first orc she had killed. "Our orders were clear," Filarion continued, narrowing his eyes. "Why could you not—"
Legolas placed a hand on the elf's shoulder, silencing him. Tauriel stood, but she did not meet Legolas' eyes. "Not here," he said simply, and Tauriel's lips thinned as she gazed at the blood stained ground. He, as well, felt exasperated by her actions, but he knew judgment was not theirs to pass, nor would he allow another to admonish her so openly.
Legolas moved towards the captive, who was being held by Aegnir and Irima. He was struggling, seeming to disregard the wound on his leg.
"Now, finally, you will show us the face you so desperately hide beneath the shadows," Legolas walked closer while Meginor, Tauriel, and Filarion followed. Even at a close distance, the figure's face was obscured, the shadow even deepened by the darkness of the forest. Legolas stopped a few paces from him, and nodded at Aegnir.
Aegnir pulled the hood roughly.
When the captive was revealed, Irima gasped. She loosened her hold on him, as she stepped back in surprise, her eyes widening in disbelief. Behind Legolas, Filarion whispered, "It cannot be." He walked slowly forwards, passing Legolas, as if to better gaze at the captive.
Legolas himself stared in confusion, for standing in front of him was an elf. He had long, dishevelled hair, and his face was thin, as if food had been scarce for him to have. He had a crazed look in his fair face as he watched them. His eyes were unfocused and he was breathing heavily—Legolas had seen the look before, from panicked men and dying warriors, but never from his own kin. "You know him?" he asked, as Irima continued to shake her head slowly.
Filarion then tore his gaze from the elf, his face pale. He nodded. "He is my cousin. His name is Gobelion."
Legolas then understood their shock, for he recognized the name. Gobelion was the elf who had disappeared when the elves from Lothlorien and Imladris travelled to their kingdom, more than ten years past.
Legolas turned his back to them, and took the first step towards their kingdom. "We will take him to the King."
"This knife, do you recognize it?" Thanduil, asked, for the third time as he held the dagger in front of Gobelion.
The elf in question did not react, but this no longer surprised Legolas. Gobelion seemed unattached to the happenings around him. For the whole journey back to the realm, Filarion had tried to speak with him. Yet still, the elf remained both deaf and mute. His eyes had continued dashing left and right—never focusing on one thing, and his lips were pulled tightly together.
"The King spoke to you. Answer," Aegnir said, as he stood beside Gobelion, restricting his left hand. Tauriel held the other.
"You have visited these forests already once before. You were tracked by my son, yet you ran from him. What were your intentions?"
Gobelion still did not speak, but a second passed where consciousness looked to be inhabiting his eyes.
Thranduil saw it as well, and his eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to him. "You are not yourself," the King said softly, realization in his tone. He stepped away. "Answer me. Where did you disappear to, years before? Why have you never shown yourself?"
Gobelion still kept silent, but now his eyes watched the floor intently. So quickly, the former character he exhibited was replaced by a quiet individual. Slowly, his lips curled into a smile. It was as if he knew a secret he would not share to anyone else.
Legolas could now clearly see his father's patience wearing thin. It did not show in his face like it would on others, but his eyes flashed anger, and he stepped closer to Gobelion. "You will answer me," he said in a quiet voice. "Or you will face death."
Gobelion then laughed. It was a quiet laugh, nothing more than a chuckle, but the king's eyebrows furrowed as he watched him. Then finally, the elf raised his eyes from the floor. He glanced at Legolas before focusing on the king. He stopped laughing, but the smile did not leave his lips. "Death," he whispered. "Death, death, death. Your wife..." Legolas froze as he listened to the words, and he could see Thanduil's eyes widen in horror. "Dear King, would you want to hear of her death?"
The floor seemed to tilt below him as flashes of nightmares passed before his eyes. His mother, dying, blood staining her clothes, murdered by the elves she had loved. Legolas moved to pull the bow from his back, but before he could even raise his hand, a loud slap resounded through the room.
Tauriel stood in front of Gobelion, her shoulders heaving with each breath. "How dare you," each word was heavy with Tauriel's wrath. She pulled Gobelion's collar, as Aegnir struggled to keep them apart. "How dare you," she repeated. He could see her hands shaking. "Do you—the Queen—"
"Tauriel, enough," Thranduil seemed to have recovered from his shock. He waved his hand. "Leave us. Take him to the dungeons. Let him rot there until he decides to speak with sense."
Aegnir moved to pull Tauriel, who was still gripping Gobelion's collar. But he did not need to, for as soon as the King spoke, she dropped her hold on him and walked quickly out of the door, banging it behind her. Aegnir followed her, leading Gobelion away with Meginor and Irima.
Yet again, Legolas envied his father's impasiveness. When only they remained, the King made his way to the throne, and watched the door with disinterest. Legolas could still feel his hammering heart and he struggled to speak, yet the King almost looked bored. Legolas cleared his throat before walking nearer to the throne. He meant to ask about the elf, of why he had been acting strangely, but the words that left his mouth were different. "What did he mean? About mother?"
Thranduil looked at him. "Those were words spoken in derangement, meant to confuse us," his eyes narrowed as he considered something. "His mind is clouded."
Legolas nodded, as he felt himself calming down. He willed himself to forget the images of his mother. They were demented words. For how would an elf from Lothlorien know of his mother? "Yes," he said. He remembered the unfocused gaze, the quiet but unsettling laugh of one that did not own his mind. "Has he been poisoned?"
"It is a possibility. But I will not waste my time on him. He is quiet harmless. A crazed elf, nothing more," he dropped the knife that he had been holding, and it clattered loudly to the floor. "But tell me, what of the orcs? Meginor spoke to me of Tauriel's disobedience, but I trust nothing uneventful happened."
"Nothing. They were careless and weak. When we arrived, their attention was on Gobelion. They must have believed him a prized target, judging by the way they laughed to have him in their captive," he remembered the fight clearly, all thoughts of his mother pushed back.
"How wrong they were. But I grow tired of these disturbances. It is about time these wretched beings left the forest," Thranduil sighed, then nodded at Legolas. "Very well, you may leave."
"Tauriel," Legolas said, not turning away.
Thranduil raised a brow questioningly. "What about her?"
"The others are starting to question this... treatment you have for her. Others would have been punished, had they did what she had done."
"Are you asking me to punish her?"
"No," Legolas said, quickly, desperately.
Thranduil watched his son curiously.
"No," Legolas repeated, not looking away. He frowned. "But others will question, you cannot deny that. And when that time comes, she may be at the blunt of their blows."
Thranduil looked amused. "They fear her, as they should. Other elves are less brave and loyal than she is. She is one of the best fighters we have now, and they should strive to be like her, despite her... unpredictability."
"Yes," Legolas said. He gazed at the king once more before finally turning away. "It is about time they recognize that as well," he said. Without sparing another glance at his father, he walked out.
His feet took him to the Training Grounds, before he himself realized where he was going. He knew also, that she would be there, for it had become a habit for them to meet there in the dusk. Tauriel insisted that he teach her, but they both knew there was little left for him to teach; Haldir had taught her well. Although he had refused to teach her short range combat before, she had already become greatly proficient with the daggers, almost better than himself. So instead, they would spar or practice archery every night, or simply watch the stars.
When he arrived, she was not shooting arrows, nor was her gaze on the heavens. She was seated on the grass, under the shade of a birch tree, at the side of the flat lawn. Beside it was the boulder she had sat on, where she had watched the elves train years and years ago.
"Did you come to reprimand me as well?" she asked, when he was near her. She looked up from the dagger that she twirled in her hand. "For I would prefer if you did not, as I've had quiet enough of that."
He did not answer her, but stood beside her, his back leaning on the trunk.
She sighed after a moment. "I know I stepped out of bounds. But you saw it as well, the orcs were about to kill him, back in the forest. And I—I needed to act. I could not do... nothing. And as for what happened in the throne room," her eyes flashed. "I do not have to explain myself. I only regret that I could not hurt him more."
Legolas sighed as she dug the dagger deep into the wood behind her. It seemed her anger had not abated. "Who told you?" he asked, understanding now that she had heard the truth of his mother's death, else she would have reacted otherwise.
"Aegnir," she answered quietly. "I could not allow him to speak about your mother like that, mellonin. I could not."
"No," Legolas agreed, remembering how he had almost pulled for his bow. "But the King was speaking with him, and you know well enough to keep your emotions to yourself."
She pulled back her dagger, but did not answer him.
Legolas then bent, sitting beside her. Their shoulders touched, and he leaned his head back, watching the dark sky past the leaves. "I did come to reprimand you, but for reasons different from what you think."
She looked at him curiously.
"How could you jump so carelessly in the middle of a horde of orcs and wargs?" he gave her a wary look. "Why do you always have to be so careless?"
She looked away. "They were far from being a horde, and the wargs were asleep."
"You could have been hurt," he told her.
"But I was not," she said, then she looked at him as her eyes softened. "I am not a child, Legolas. And I knew you were there. I knew you would follow."
His blue eyes met her green one's and for a moment neither of them spoke. He then glanced at the dagger she still held. "When you returned to me my dagger, I did not want to take it. But you insisted. Do you remember what you told me?"
She followed his eyes and she turned the dagger in her hands. "I told you I had no need for three daggers, that two would be enough for my use..." she said softly. "That I would be careful."
He gave her an exasperated smile. "Twice, you have already given me that promise. Yet time and again, you look for ways to break it," he turned his attention back to the skies. "Must I force you to promise a third time before you start following it?"
"Maybe," she smiled back at him. "Or maybe you and I have different views on what being careful means. You worry too much, Legolas," she said softly. Following him, she leaned her head on the tree as well. "They tell me Gobelion has lost his mind. But I do not believe that is so," she said quietly, as they both watched the stars.
"Nor do I," he replied.
"Will he ever give us answers?"
Legolas sighed, wondering the same. "We can hope," he closed his eyes, but the twinkling lights persisted in his mind.
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: Note on Kylis. Many of you have been asking about the fate of Kylis and whether she will appear again. I didn't want to release any information about her, but it seems that I have to, if I want to assuage many of you. In a gist, yes, we will be seeing the mean elf lady soon (maybe sooner than you think). :)
I know we're running a bit slow on the romance, but please keep in mind that there is another plot to all of these words, aside from the romance of it all. And I do hope you guys can be patient. Oh and btw, we'll be entering the Hobbitverse in the next or next two chapters, so look forward to that! :)
Sigil = Dagger
Thank you again for everyone who dropped a review! I hope everyone's doing well!
Love,
Vee
