Chapter 8
I Am So Sorry!
Thorin's POV
Lin and Bilbo had saved us from the spiders! But now they were after us again. I kept Lin close to me and killed any spider that dared try and harm her. As we ran an elf came down from the trees, killed the spider and then aimed an arrow at me.
"Do not think I shall not kill you dwarf! It would be my pleasure."
Lin glared and tried to go forward but I kept her back.
"No Lin. Stay behind me."
She nodded and held onto my hand. I heard Kili shout and Fili called his name. Lin ran right past the guards with a knife in her hand.
"LIN NO!"
I tried to run after her but the elves would not let me. Soon enough she came running back but the first elf grabbed her.
"No! Leave her be! She is just a child!" I shouted.
"Take your hands off her!" Fili snarled.
She bit the elf's hand and ran into my arms. I glared at the elf.
"If you ever touch her again I will kill you." I snarled.
He looked confused and offended. They searched us and the first elf took my sword.
"Echannen i vegil hen Gondolin. Magannen nan Gelydh." (This is an ancient elven blade. Forged by my kin.)
He looked at me with a glare.
"Where did you get this?"
"It was given to me." I answered.
He held the sword at my throat and Lin let out a little squeak.
"Not just a thief, but a liar as well. Enwenno hain!" (Take them away!)
I would not let them take Lin from me. I kept her close at my side and we were brought to the halls of Thranduil.
Caladhiel's POV
When I regained myself I shook my head and came out. I was so worried about my daughter, I knew I was not thinking clearly.
"Daro!"
I turned and aimed an arrow.
"~Move and I kill you!~" I hissed.
The elf was alone and he did not move.
"~I am looking for my daughter and a company of dwarves. Where are they!?~"
"~You have no authority here!~"
I narrowed my eyes.
"~You obviously do not remember me. I am Caladhiel Greenleaf!~"
His eyes went wide and he bowed immediately. I lowered my bow and had him stand.
"~Please, my daughter is all I have left and the dwarves are my dear friends. The leader of the dwarves would have been keeping her close to him.~"
"~Did this dwarf wield an Elvish blade Lady Caladhiel?~"
I nodded and he smiled a bit.
"~Come with me. I shall take you to her.~"
I nodded and followed him back home.
Thorin's POV
Lin and I were brought before Thranduil. I still had no idea where Caladhiel had gone, but I would keep Lin safe.
"Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive or something of that ilk." he said.
Lin rolled her eyes and I smirked.
"You have found a way in." he said.
I remained silent and kept Lin away from him.
"You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule. The king's jewel, the Arkenstone. It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that, there are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems! Of pure starlight. I offer you my help."
He inclined his head slightly. Lin was glaring at him.
"Liar!" She snarled.
I gasped and Thranduil stared at her.
"You would do well to teach your child respect."
"She is not mine, she is my friend's. I promised I would protect her." I said.
He smirked. He reached his hand towards her and I threw Lin behind me.
"Do not touch her!" I snarled.
He glared at me.
"She seems old enough to defend herself. How old is she? Nineteen?"
"She is sixteen years of age! And if you lay a finger on her I shall remove it!"
"Interesting. And where is her mother now?" he asked.
I did not even have to answer. A very loud and angry voice answered for me.
"WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER!?"
I smiled.
"She is coming for you." I said.
Caladhiel's POV
The guards were too surprised to stop me. They knew who I was and they let me pass. Lin was with Thorin, and both were with Thranduil.
"Mother!"
I smiled in relief and Lin ran into my arms. I hugged her and kissed her then ran to Thorin. I looked at him.
"Did they hurt any of you?"
"No, no." he said.
I nodded in approval and then looked at Thranduil. His eyes were wide and his mouth was hanging open.
"C-Caladhiel?"
I nodded my head.
"~Send for Legolas.~" He said.
My eyes widened.
"NO! He cannot know I am here." I said.
Thranduil seemed confused.
"~He must see you! You know not what he has been like these past hundred years.~"
I sighed and let the guard go. Thranduil looked at Lin.
"~I did not know you would have taken another mate.~"
"~I have not. I adopted her.~" I said.
He nodded and I felt a presence I had not felt in a long time.
"Adar."
Legolas walked past me and looked at his father. Thranduil nodded towards me and when he turned I sucked in a breath. He gasped as he looked at me.
"Is it really you?" He asked.
"Yes." I breathed.
He slowly walked forward, then reached out to touch my face. I closed my eyes as his soft, warm hands caressed my face.
"~After all these years…your face is still as soft and beautiful as I remember. My Caladhiel.~"
"~I am so sorry Legolas.~"
I opened my eyes and found tears in his. I knew there were tears in my own. He shook his head and wiped them away.
"Lin." Thorin called.
I felt her go to him and I stared into Legolas' eyes.
"I know you are furious with me. So if you are going to yell…please just yell." I said.
He smiled lightly.
"After the longest hundred years of my life…I too thought I would be angry. And maybe somewhere I am. But I never thought I would get you back. Now that you are here…..I….."
He stopped. I waited for him to continue but he never did. Instead he pulled me into his strong arms. I closed my eyes and could not control my arms as they wrapped around him. I had missed him so much.
"I missed you Legolas. I am so sorry I left. I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. But after perhaps 50 years I knew I had made a terrible mistake. I had no way of getting back to you and I am just….so sorry."
I had started to cry. Legolas stroked my hair like he always used to.
"Shhh-hhh! Caladhiel I am not angry with you. I am just happy you are back."
Though I did not want to, I pulled away.
"I cannot stay. At least not yet."