The Woodland Realm

Chapter III – Introductions

Year 3429 of the Second Age

The clash of swords and shields sounded all about him as the tide of orcs swarmed their ragged battle line, the hated foe throwing themselves upon the elven spears and swords with a maddened bloodlust. Over the deafening roar of battle came a horn that sounded the call to fall back, and either side of him he saw as his warriors heeded the call and began to withdraw slowly. He felt his feet move on their own accord, slashing through the gut of an orc who sort to block him, before a sharp pain erupted from his side causing him to grunt in pain and run the offending orc through. He staggered slightly and observed his wound, a shallow gash just above his hip.

"Ada!" came a desperate call, catching his attention. An ellon with white-blonde hair called across the battlefield as he tried desperately to reach him, his eyes full of wild energy. There was a sudden flash of pain that erupted down his back, before the feeling went numb and his vision began to slip away. The ellon still rushing towards him.

Thranduil awoke with a shout of alarm, his hand reaching for his hip as he bolted upright. Nothing. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom he noted that he was in his chambers, safe and sound. Not an orc in sight, and so he rose from his bed and headed to his bathing room, seeking to wash away his nightmare. His dreams had been plagued with horrors of battle for some months now, some battles he remembered vividly such as the day that cursed dragon took to the field, and some that he did not recall, warriors garbed in armour he was not familiar with, banners he had never seen before.

It was an early rise for him, and with it being the morning after the welcoming feast of his and his mother, he assumed that the halls would be silent, and the only ones awake would be the guards. He had bathed, dried and combed out his long fair hair and donned beeches and knee-high boots of earthen brown and a fitted tunic of cream that he used for his sparring sessions, the prince was eager to locate the sword halls and get a feel of his new blade. He slung his sword belt around his waist and tightened it to fit, before then heading for the doors of his chambers eager for the mornings exercise and rid himself of the nightmare. As he opened the large heavy oak doors he almost walked straight into an ellon who stood on the other side, his hand raised as if he were about to knock.

"My prince!" The ellon exclaimed in surprise and leapt back, narrowly avoiding a headlong collision. "Forgive me!" the elf exclaimed once his wits returned. Thranduil paused, he too had been caught off guard and his training and reflexes had caused his hand to fly to the hilt of his sword, an old twitch that he seemed to be plagued by.

"Nothing is to be forgiven, has my father summoned me?" Thranduil asked calmly.

"No, my lord, but your father the king did request I attend to you this morning, he advised you were an early riser" the elf replied with a smile, before straightening himself. "My name is Galion, son of Gelathon. I am to be your guide and assistant" Galion stated proudly. Thranduil felt pity for Galion, if roles were reversed he would rather not be attended to a Sindar prince so early in the morn.

"I apologise for your orders then Galion, I assure you however I am quite fine exploring by myself" Thranduil replied gently as he stepped out of the chambers and closed the door behind him and made to move past the ellon before him.

"I don't mind my lord, honestly it would be a pleasure and these halls can become quite complex" Galion countered, his voice betraying nothing but patience. Thranduil paused for a moment, amiss at what to say. He could not dismiss the ellon without appearing rude, and he did not wish to offend his fathers' people only on his second day. Your people too he chastised himself.

"Very well, I had wish to locate the sword halls. Could you show me the way?" he asked, causing Galion to smile and nod.

"Of course, right this way my lord!" he spoke calmly and started to walk down one of the many branching pathways. Thranduil followed just behind as he observed the surroundings of his father's halls, he had been truly inspired by the great halls of Menegroth and built his own dwellings in their likeness, though not as deep or vast. Then a thought crossed his mind, he could still not understand why the Silvan people had been so accepting of his father to become their king. Thranduil loved his father greatly, yet he could not grasp why they would accept a stranger to live among them, let alone rule them.

"Galion, would you speak freely to me if I asked you of it?" he asked, watching with mild amusement as the ellon seemed somewhat perplexed by his request.

"My lord?" asked Galion.

"The question was simple enough, and it meant exactly what I asked. No hidden agenda or desire to trap you" Thranduil explained calmly, his smooth and powerful voice carrying around the cavernous halls.

"I would if that is what you ask of me" replied the dark haired ellon.

"My father, why do you all accept him as your king. You had little knowledge of him, save that he arrived at a dire time and saved your father. Noble as that is, it is hardly grounds for kingship?" Thranduil questioned, though not unkindly. Galion smiled and nodded slightly, keeping his pace steady as he led the prince to the sword halls.

"A wise question my prince" Galion started. "The Silvan people have always been simple at heart, no grand armies or halls of splendour like that of the Sindar or Noldor" he continued honestly, his hands held casually at his side whilst his brown and bronze robes brushed along the polished floors. "We were not blind to the war of wraith and truth be told the people were frightened, should the valar have failed to bring Morgoth to heel we would all have perished" Galion narrated.

"It was a battle like no other, I doubt its like will be seen again" Thranduil added sombrely, so many good elves had perished in the conflict, many of whom were his friends. Awaiting in the Halls of Mandos they lay now.

"Many spoke that we needed a leader, someone that could unit the wandering bands to one people. When your father came, not only did he rescue my own father, but he bore a great wisdom that even the most stubborn of my people heeded" Galion continued, sparking a burning pride within Thranduil at the mention of his father. "He took the time to understand our culture and way of life and even embraced parts of it himself" he spoke before turning to Thranduil and smiled. "We were in need of someone to lead us, and your father was in need of a people to protect having lost much of his own, in the end it seemed an obvious choice" he finished. Before Thranduil could reply he heard the quiet pattering of feet and a soft giggling, followed by hushed whispers and a steadier tread. A moment later a young elleth elfling with ebony coloured hair, no older than maybe six summers ran around the corner with a book in hand, giggling as she did so, which caused Thranduil and Galion to halt at the sudden appearance. Not a few seconds, later an elleth rounded the corner with her hands gathered at her gown so she could give chase more easily.

"Elleina, come back here right now. Eylerion will not be impressed if he finds you have taken his record book!" her musical voice sounded in a hushed whisper, clearly to keep quiet at such an early morning. The child shrieked with laughter and bolted away from the older elleth, before her pale green eyes found the two ellon watching her, one with brown hair stood with a bemused grin on his face whereas the tall and majestic looking blonde looked at her with a quizzical expression. The elfling appeared stunned and promptly dropped the modest size book on the floor with an echoing thud. The second older elleth finally catching up to the small girl, went wide eyed as she saw whom stood before them, she swiftly composed herself and curtsied before Thranduil and Galion. "My prince! I apologised profusely for the scene you have just witnessed, it is unbecoming of the king's subjects to run amok in the halls!" the elleth quickly spoke, clearly mortified. "Elleina, where are your manners. You stand before the prince" she gently admonished her. The little elleth looked up at the older woman before turning back to the Thranduil and curtsied herself.

"We are all elflings once my lady" Thranduil began speaking to the older elleth. She was beautiful, even by elven standards as she wore a gown of crimson, her hair was a more golden hue of his own and her eyes of a light shade of blue compared to his. He moved on from observing the elleth and turned his gaze to the little girl by her side, perhaps her daughter he thought, yet her black hair and green eyes betrayed such a notion. "I seek not to rob a young elf of their mischief, no matter the hour" he spoke gently, yet his voice still carried easily. Galion smiled at the child and leaned down to collect the fallen book.

"What has Eylerion done this time Elleina, for you to pilfer his log book I wonder?" Galion asked with a raised eyebrow. The little elleth's eyes darted between all the grown elves around her, before they settled on Thranduil again.

"Did he perhaps not allow you to read a book that you wanted to?" Thranduil asked with a tilt of his head, he was not well versed in dealing with elflings and this little one's stare did not aid him in his quest to change that. "The librarian in Doriath would never let me read about the dragons, no matter how often I asked" he added lowering himself to his knee, suppressing the shudder at the mention of the beasts, perhaps if he had listened to the older ellon back then, he may be more whole now. The little girls' eyes lit up at his words and he could see the tells of excitement coming to the fore.

"Eylerion says that little elleth's don't need to read about dragons my lord, he says that I should read the Mouse and the Stag! But Alarielle has read that to me thousands of times my lord!" Elleina exclaimed, her hands flying out to the sides to enhance her exaggeration.

"Thousands you say?" he exclaimed as he played along as he smiled at the child, perhaps the first genuine smile that graced his face in many years outside of the realms of his father and mother. Elleina nodded quickly to re-enforce her point and out of the corner of Thranduil's eye he could see the one he assumed as Alarielle smiling fondly at the girl.

"You have seen a dragon haven't you my lord!" the little girls excitement taking over, much to the horror of Alarielle who made to step in and apologise to the prince.

"Worry not my lady, it is natural for a child to question" he reassured her, causing the elleth to somewhat relax a little. Thranduil turned his eyes to the young girl before him. "Perhaps when you are a little older I will tell you of the dragon I saw, but perhaps I can lend you one of my books for lady Alarielle to read to you, how does that sound?" he asked. Elleina bobbed up and down on her toes and held her hands together as she looked up to Alarielle as though seeking permission, and upon seeing the older elleth's smile she looked back to the prince.

"Would you like to burrow on of mine too Prince Thranduil?" the little girl asked.

"It would be my pleasure, though would what you suggest little one?" he replied with keen interest, which excited the elfling.

"Um, have you read the Mouse and the Stag?" Elleina asked after a moment's intense thought.

"Why no I haven't, but it must be a wonder for you to have read it thousands of times over" he chuckled quietly. "I will bring you one of my childhood favourites, the Shrew and the Nut how does that sound?" He added. Elliena looked excitedly at the prince and nodded with a beaming smile. "Very well I will come by later to exchange the book with you little one, if Lady Alarielle has a suitable time in mind?" Thranduil spoke to the elfling first before directing his last few words to the elleth besides her, seemingly catching her off guard.

"A little after lunch perhaps my prince? You can bring the book to myself, I have chambers on the upper levels or I can meet you at a place of your choosing my lord" replied the lovely elleth before him, her voice wavered but a little before steadying.

"I am afraid I am still learning the many ways of these halls, perhaps we could meet by the sword halls this afternoon for I will know the way to there by mornings end" he offered, truth be told he did not want to intrude upon the elleth's personal dwellings.

"That would be agreeable with me my lord, I shall meet you there just after noon?" She asked.

"That is agreeable with me" he replied before turning to look at Elliena, whom studied both elleth and ellon with interest. "I will look forward to reading your book, perhaps we can discuss your thoughts after you are done?" He offered kindly, the little elfling seemingly thrilled by the offer as she jumped up and down with glee.

"What do you say to the prince little one?" Alarielle said gently.

"Thank you Prince Thranduil" the little elf said and curtsied. With that Alarielle gently placed her hand on the little girl's shoulder and encouraged her to walk past the two ellon after curtsying herself to the prince before she left. Thranduil and Galion watched them leave and smiled as Elleina turned around and waved to them, Alarielle too looked over her shoulder and her eyes met Thranduil for a moment, before a small smile graced her lips and she continued down the winding path. Galion whom had stood silently through most of the social engagement turned to the prince with a smile.

"You appear to be a natural with young ones ... and the elleth's" he observed, still clutching the book that the little elfling had pilfered.

"Truth be told, I have had very little interaction with either, for I spent most of my adult years honing my skills with a blade. Much to my mother's anguish" he smiled at the last words, his Naneth had often tried to entice him to more courtly ways, yet his calling and heart drew him to the military, he had not found an elleth to call his own, not through lack of attentions however.

"Yes, the king speaks very proudly of your prowess with a sword and many of the guards and soldiers here are keen to spar with you my prince" Galion added.

"That is good, I feared my status as my father's son would leave me limited with my sparing options. Shall we go then to the halls?" Thranduil replied. Galion nodded his agreement and held out his arm in gesture of the prince to follow, both ellyn making their journey once again to the sword halls.

Meanwhile, overlooking the many walk ways of the halls was the royal chambers of the king and queen, and stood on the balcony that faced inwards to the halls was Lalaith who had observed the scene with a brilliant smile. For her son, her little spring had smiled for the first time in the company of others and before an elfling no less, her keen ears could not pick out the words spoken but her eyes did not fail to see that smile. The little scene reminded her of a time in Doraith when Thranduil was about the same age as the little elleth whom he conversed with a moment before.

Lalaith walked slowly within the gardens of Menegroth, her little elfling tottering beside her as they explored the lush and vibrant flowers and trees that grew in the sheltered cavernous realm, the sunlight spilling through a large opening in the ceiling. It was Thranduil's sixth summer to the day and he proudly wore a crimson day robe that his father had made for him, whilst strapped to his little belt was his toy wooden sword, refusing to go anywhere without it. I will protect you nana, he would say. She led Thranduil to a seating area within the centre of the gardens which was raised slightly to grant a lovely view of the colourful garden. As she reached the steps she gathered her gown and lifted the front slightly so as not to trip on her feet. Seeing this Thranduil paused for a moment at the base of the steps and looked down at his robe, before he too took a fistful of the soft material and copied his mother.

Lalaith turned to see her son holding up his little day robe and burst into musical laughter at the scene. Thranduil paused and looked as his mother in confusion, was she not doing the same as he?

"My son, whatever are you doing?" She laughed, a soft and beautiful sound that echoed about the garden, her radiant smile gracing her face.

"I'm copying you nana?" He replied.

"I can see that my little spring, but why? Your robe is split at the front so that you do not need to worry about falling" she giggled and reached the top of the stairs and held out her hand for him to take.

"Why is mine like this but yours and other elleth's like yours?" The little elf quizzed his mother.

"Elleth wear gowns and dresses Thranduil, ellyn wear robes and tunics" she replied as she took a seat on the nearest stone bench.

"We look the same nana" he exclaimed, clearly baffled and earning another laugh from his mother.

"I am wearing a dress my son, you are wearing a robe. See, yours splits at the waist were as mine does not" she explained as she touched the soft fabric of her gown.

"Why don't you wear a robe like me then nana? You wouldn't have to do this" Thranduil proceeded to hold up his robe at the front and mimicked her movement on the steps, earning a round of laughter from Lalaith again at her son's antics.

"The boy is not wrong" came a deep voice from behind Lalaith, who stood instantly and turned to face the owner of said voice. Elu Thingol stood at the other end of the raised platform, in a resplendent golden robe whilst his golden hair hung freely down his shoulders and back. Lalaith bowed deeply. "Perhaps the elleth's of our realm should listen to the young one"

"My king" she spoke softly as he approached, his eyes studied her for a moment before turning to face Thranduil, whom stood awestruck by the powerful elf lord before him.

"Lalaith, I must apologise for keeping Oropher away from you both this morning, we are just going over perpetrations of the feast of starlight" spoke Thingol kindly before finally addressing the elfling. "I believe that your name is Thranduil?" He asked. Thranduil merely looked up, seemingly speechless that the king would be addressing him.

"Thranduil, it is rude to not reply when spoken too" Lalaith spoke.

"Sor-sorry nana, yes my king, my name is Thranduil" he spoke quietly, causing Thingol to smile gently at the little elf before kneeling to his level.

"Vigorous spring, very apt for you from what I have heard from your father" the king spoke, before his gaze drifted to the wooden sword at Thranduil's hip. "Do you like swords little one?" He asked.

"I do, nana doesn't though" replied the elfling, his mother chuckling slightly.

"I would just prefer I kept my elfling innocent and childlike as long as I am able" she interjected, coming to stand beside her son and brushing her hand across his head.

"I understand Lalaith, we all want to keep the young as that for as long as we can, I am the same with my daughter. Yet I confess it is best that he be learned by the blade and not need it, than be in need and not be learnt" advised the king, the last line he whispered as not to encourage the boy. Thranduil watched as his mother frowned slightly, her brow furrowed in thought before the king spoke again. "What if he learns from my personal guard, all are well versed and Thranduil would be in safe hands"

Lalaith looked down at her son whom was staring back with interest, she knew that he would seek out his own training when he came of age but she, and perhaps selfishly, wanted to keep him to herself for he was her greatest gift and the fear of losing her little spring terrified her more than anything.

"Thranduil, perhaps you can go find your nana her favourite flower? Would you do that for me?" She asked her child gently, who beamed with excitement and bowed to Thingol before drawing his little sword as he ran off into the garden, pretending he was a hero on a quest. She smiled sadly after her son before turning to the king. "Only once he becomes of age and not a day before" she relented.

She still regretted the day she agreed for her son to learn the sword, for his prowess was great among the Sindar and even some of the Noldor and great warriors often only met there end one way. She hoped to the Valar that her son would avoid such a fate.

…

Thoughts? I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Imagining a young Thranduil is quite enjoyable, and I do enjoy writing his mothers character.

Thank you to those who have reviewed thus far!