Dedication: A big thank you to Conjectured who has been my reviewer for a time now, thank you for all your lovely words and encouragement!
Seven: Novaer
"And Addassir took the spear and pierced it through the troll's eyes," Aegnir narrated.
Legolas smiled as Tauriel's eyes widened in amazement. "And the other troll?" she whispered.
"He—or was it a she, Legolas?—was too busy deciding on whether to attack Glines or I, that he did not realize Legolas had been aiming three arrows at his neck, until they were thickly buried under its flesh," said Aegnir.
Tauriel shot him a quick smile before pausing. She looked as if she was considering something before she spoke again. "Adassir must have been very brave. He was the Captain of the Guards before you, was he not?" she asked Aegnir.
"Yes," Legolas was the one who answered.
They were gathered in one of the smaller chambers of the Kingdom. Aegnir and Tauriel were seated, cross-legged on the carpeted floor, while Legolas watched them, standing by a square window. Outside, he could see the snow falling lazily, covering the grass in a furry blanket of white. In the opposite side of the room was a crackling fireplace. It was their only source of heat in the cold of winter.
Tauriel had been inquiring about the spears in the armoury and somehow reminded Aegnir of a particular ambush they had done on a band of trolls outside of the forest, when Greenwood was still its name.
"He and Aegnir were very good friends, such that it felt almost natural for Aegnir to take his place as Captain of the Guards when Adassir..." Legolas hesitated, gazing at the whiteness outside the castle. "...when he left."
Tauriel smiled warmly at Aegnir. Then she stood, dusting her pants as she made her way to the window, stopping beside Legolas. "I am sure he is safe, wherever he is now," she said as she looked outside.
"It has been years since he disappeared ," Aegnir answered her.
"That does not mean there is no hope," Tauriel said. "Is it not possible that he left voluntarily and found his home elsewhere?"
Legolas glanced at her, wondering if she had found this home that she spoke of as well.
"He would not have left without telling us anything," Aegnir shook his head. "But if it is true that he has found another home, then my heart envies him."
It was Legolas who answered him next, frowning at his friends' sentiments. "Why is that?"
"Because I think it would be more thrilling to be outside of these walls, not knowing how the days are set to become." A melancholic look covered his face. "And I do not think I can stay here much longer," he whispered so softly, almost that Legolas did not hear him.
"But is there not a value to stability as well?" Tauriel asked him, tearing her gaze from the window. It seemed she did not hear Aegnir's last remarks.
"There is, if the heart does not suffer to stay," Aegnir said, also seeming to disregard his own words.
But Legolas watched his friend curiously. Aegnir was not one to utter words just by mere consideration. He was tempted to ask Aegnir about it, but also he feared what he would answer him. They were silent again before Tauriel made another inquiry about the weapons in the kingdom, but her question was cut short when Irima pushed open the door to their chamber, slamming it in urgency.
"Irima?" Tauriel paced quickly towards her, recognizing the distress in her friend's face.
"Gobelion," she said, her voice breathless. "He—you must come," she said, disappearing again.
They exchanged worried looks before Legolas rushed out, the footsteps behind him telling him that Tauriel and Aegnir were close behind. "What has happened?" Aegnir asked, as they descended the steps that led to the lowest corners of the kingdom.
"We cannot tell," Tauriel answered him. "But something must have happened to him. Irima has rarely left his prison since we placed him there."
Legolas agreed silently. He only wished no hurt had come to the prisoner, or, that the prisoner was still there.
When they reached the dungeons, Legolas realized that his fears were unfounded. Gobelion was still, clearly, in his prison. But he did not look as he once had. He was down on his knees and his hands were pressed to his head, as if he was trying to suppress an unseen pain stemming from his forehead. His breaths sounded long and laboured. Outside his cell, Irima and Filarion watched him worriedly. Standing between them was the King, his long hair shining even in the dark of the dungeons.
"He spoke my name," Irima said, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. "And he said—he said we were in danger, but he..." she watched Gobelion with wide eyes as Legolas walked closer to the cell. Irima and Filarion stood to the side. Filarion looked away, pained to see his cousin in the state he was in.
"Gobelion," the King called out, and the elf raised his head. He met Thanduil's gaze with pain in his eyes.
Gobelion gasped, as if he was trying to formulate words but could not speak them. "I—," he gasped. "They poisoned me," a force within him silenced him. After taking a few more breaths, he clutched his head again, and his eyes closed in invisible torture.
"Who did it?" Legolas asked, his hand touching the cell's bars.
"He—," he panted. "—an elf," he managed to say out loud, before his hands flew to his head again.
"Who?" Legolas persisted.
Gobelion quivered as he stood, but his laboured breathing was all that answered them. And then he raised his head, facing Legolas. "I do not... know his name," he paused. He breathed heavily before answering again. "Cave. They've hidden in a cave," he gasped out, before his hands slackened again, and they dropped to his sides. The same, blank stare Legolas had first seen on his face returned, and he spoke no more.
"Gobelion? Irima asked unsurely, but the elf still did not answer.
Thranduil was the first to move as he swerved in his place, and continued to the steps exiting the dungeons. "Call the army to the hall, but speak of this to no one else," he commanded, his voice echoing in the emptiness. "I will await all of you there."
Legolas and his friends followed quickly, while Tauriel came far behind them Irima sobbing beside her.
When everyone had been called for Legolas found himself in the midst of a small crowd, the king standing in front of them in a raised dais. The hall in which they stood in was the same one the council had conferred in more than a decade ago, the very same day they found out Gobelion had disappeared. Legolas considered how strange it was that both meetings be focused on a single person.
"What will we do, hir nin?" Legolas asked, when all had come to silence. The other elves who had been called stirred as he spoke. Tauriel was standing beside him, but she had not spoken since they left the dungeons. However, he could see in the paleness of her face that Gobelion's actions had deeply shaken her. Yet her eyes burned with determination, as she looked towards the king, awaiting his answer.
"Do?" Thranduil looked at him. "I do not see why any action is needed."
Nobody spoke.
"I told you, and I stand by it today, that Gobelion speaks in derangement. You saw it as well, in his eyes—he is not himself. His words are nothing but the ramblings of a threatened mind."
"But what if they are not?" Tauriel questioned. Legolas gazed worriedly at her, knowing that even he could not stop the fire that was now ignited in her heart.
"Tauriel," Thranduil acknowledged her but did not answer.
"If he spoke truly, they there is an enemy abroad that is poisoning our kin," she said, stepping forward. "There is someone who is a threat to our very existence. Will we simply allow him to roam freely, hir-nin?"
Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder, startling her. But she bowed before returning to her place beside him. "Will we not at least search for these caves Gobelion spoke of, my Lord?"Legolas asked. Tauriel shot him a grateful look. Many times in the past, she had questioned the Kingdom's indifference to the events of the outside, but he knew that her insistence was more difficult for her than what she projected it to be. He had not missed her fierce respect and loyalty to the king. And it was no secret that she greatly admired his father.
The same could be said for the King. In the few years of her dwelling in their kigdom, he had always shown his favour for her. Even now, he did not answer her outburst in anger. Instead, he simply looked at her as if he had been expecting her words. "I told you that I cannot trust him. And I will not risk the safety of my people, no matter how few they may be, for this enemy. The search may take days, but also it may extend to months and to years. For Middle Earth is a wide universe, Tauriel, and we do not know what to search for but this vague idea of a cave. There are too many risks."
"But what if the elf in question is willing to brave these risks, hir nin?" a voice asked from the crowd.
Legolas turned to see the crowd parting and Aegnir stepping forward.
"What if someone volunteers?" Aegnir continued.
Thranduil watched Aegnir and for the first time, surprise registered in his face. "Do you mean to tell me that you wish to lead the search?" he asked, after a moment of pause.
"Yes, my lord," Aegnir bowed. "If you would permit me, I will go."
"Aegnir," Tauriel whispered beside him, but Legolas could not speak, could not move. In his heart he knew that there was nothing he could do. He remembered the conversation they had earlier that day, how he had spoken of the thrill of the unknown, of how he could not find happiness where he was now. Aegnir's decision had been made long ago, and nothing would change it.
"I, as well," Filarion also stepped forward, and two others followed behind him. They stood on both sides of Aegnir, and bowed before the King.
The other elves stirred, but everyone was silenced as the King raised his hand. "Then it shall be so," Thranduil said. "Aegnir, Filarion, Tiatha, Eloen, you are tasked to search for the cause of the madness that has come over Gobelion, and put an end to it. You will search the south, east, west, and further north. You will search in cold and in heat, for how long it will take." Thranduil stepped forward. "Our blessings go with you."
The four were still as statues, three of them looking tense, but Legolas saw in Aegnir's face that a kind of peace had overtaken it.
Legolas stood by the end of the bridge, where he and Aegnir had stood guard countless times in many centuries past. Yet now he was alone. The air was crisp and cold, but the sky whispered of a warm day, now that the snow had melted away. It had been less than a day since Aegnir and his group had volunteered to set out. Tauriel had spent most of the evening with Aegnir, but Legolas was yet to exchange words with his friend.
Yet also he knew that Aegnir would not leave without speaking with him, neither would Legolas have allowed it.
The sun's crown peaked through the top of the trees when the gate opened and the four elves stepped out of the Kingdom's heavy gate.
"Ernil," it was Filarion who greeted him first.
"You have only just arrived, and now you are leaving us," he replied, shifting to face them.
"Maybe not for long," Filarion replied. "And I cannot stand by and idly watch while my cousin suffers in his cell." They walked until they faced Legolas, and Filarion smiled at him. "Novaer, prince," he bowed.
Legolas smiled in return as he bowed back to them. Then he nodded to him and his two companions. "Farewell, and may the stars see you to safety."
"I will follow," Aegnir said as the three walked ahead to the forest. He stayed behind, pausing just beside Legolas.
They watched as the three elves' forms were slowly swallowed by the forest. "I did not think you would really leave us," Legolas spoke, finally.
Aegnir gave a small smile, "But somehow, you expected it."
"I was surprised, like everyone else," Legolas said. "But yes, my heart knew."
"Tauriel suggested she come with us, when I spoke with her last night," Aegnir told him after a moment. "But I told her to stay. However much she wanted to avenge Gobelion and offer her assistance, she could not have come. Her heart would have grieved."
Legolas did not miss the quirk in Aegnir's lips as he mentioned Tauriel's name, but seeing it did not pacify Legolas' heavy chest. Instead, it made his fears grow even more. He could not admit it, but something whispered to him that he had played a part in Aegnir's departure, even if he had never meant to.
"But I... I could not have stayed here much longer," Aegnir continued, when Legolas did not answer.
Legolas had seen it as well, the change in Aegnir: like he had resigned himself to a pain that no one else could see. Like he had accepted a fate that he would rather have changed—what it was, Legolas could not uncover. "Why, mellon?" he asked, finally. "What is hurting you so much that you cannot stay?"
"You will understand, someday. Though I do not know how far in the future that will be," Aegnir faced him. "You will take care of Tauriel?" he asked.
"Of course."
Only then did Aegnir smile. "I will miss you, mellon," he placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"And I, you. We will await the day you return," Legolas answered, returning the gesture. "Always take caution, mellon."
Aegnir nodded, and walked away. He turned to leave, but stopped as he looked back at Legolas. "Tauriel wanted to say goodbye, but the King called for an audience with her this morning. I thought I should tell you," he then continued walking further away. And then, without looking back, he called out, "You should tell her soon, Legolas."
Legolas did not answer. But he watched his friend disappear into the forest, wondering. So Aegnir had known that his feelings for Tauriel had not changed. But Aegnir, Legolas thought, had yours?
The sun had revealed itself fully when Legolas withdrew into the castle. Remembering Aegnir's reminder of Tauriel's whereabouts, he made for the King's chambers.
Yet when he entered the room, Tauriel had gone.
Thranduil, however, seemed to have expected his arrival. "Ah, Legolas. I was about to call for you," he said, sitting straighter in his throne.
"Yes?" Legolas answered, pausing a short distance from the dais. He knew he had to postpone his search for the she-elf.
"Do you remember the Lady Kylis?" Thranduil asked, much to Legolas' vexation.
"Yes, hir nin," he answered coldly.
"She was to visit us, but problems arose, it seems, and she could not leave Imladris," Thranduil continued, ignoring the change in his son's tone.
"That is unfortunate," Legolas forced himself to say, remembering the bold she-elf. He could still recall clearly the way he had to spend his days touring her around the castle, while her hands flitted to touch his every now and then. He knew what she was trying to do—what his father was trying to do, and he wanted no part in it. "But she has visited us twice already before. It seems she has a fondness for our halls."
Thranduil remained sitting, but his lips pressed into a thin line. "You know why she visits," his eyes bore into his son's.
Legolas did not look away.
"You know," Thranduil continued. "You may delay it all you want, but you can never run from this Legolas. You will marry her."
"I did not come here to speak of marriage," Legolas said, his voice rose with his temper. "My friend has just left the kingdom, and I will not allow anything else to make this day any blearier than it already is."
Thranduil levelled his gaze on his son for minutes, before waving his hand dismissively, saying, "Very well. We shall speak of this in another day. This favour, I will give you." Thranduil rose. "I trust Aegnir's departure went well. But pray, what did you want to speak of?"
"I wished to speak to Tauriel. Aegnir told me that you called her here."
"Yes, I did," Thranduil told him. "But she is now at the guards' quarters. I told her to go there."
Legolas forehead furrowed. "Why?"
Thranduil gave a small smile. "Tauriel is now the Captain of the Mirkwood Guard."
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: I PROMISE there will be enough fluff in the next chapter to make up for the lack of it here. But hey! We're getting even more closer to the Hobbitverse now! We may even get to see some dwarf action soon (no promises though. Lol).
Novaer = Farewell
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! It was difficult for me to write, and I hope to get back to editting it sometime in the future. Thank you to everyone who left a review for the last chapter! Much love to you guys!
Vee
