"Mayhap the Sword-that-was-Broken may still stem the tide – if the hand that wields it has inherited not an heirloom only, but the sinews of the Kings of Men." ― J.R.R. Tolkien
It was evening when the escort arrived. Galion's eyes hesitantly rested on the hooded figure. The elf was shorter than Thranduil more like prince Legolas in his built though a tad less slender. He carried a bow but not enough arrows to suggest it as a main weapon. An elven blade hung from his side, long and of fine craftsmanship. Elven knives hung on his back as well. He was dressed in dark green and greys the cloak a deep brown of a ranger.
The elves parted and the hood was cautiously removed. His hair was short falling barely below the ear. It had an odd texture not a perfect straight as was custom among the elves but not in waves like the human's. His skin was darker, an olive sheen to it. The jaw was more defined and Galion could see some traces of Legolas in his face though more of Thranduil.
A deep set of dark blue eyes caught his silver ones. He was young, too young, it was in his eyes. Though he carried himself with grace and with a steadiness it was easy to catch the slower steps the tension in his limbs begging to collapse under him from the long ride, they had not stopped once it would seem. Only centuries past elves his age learned to first wield blades. Wrote poems and pined for elven maids not knowing what love truly was, singing, dancing, and carefree of the sorrows of the world. The elves eyes had little laughter in them only a sad wariness and a strange hope.
The elf made his way to the dais and kneeled shakily before the King. "Adar?" His voice had an odd accent as if he was unused to speaking in elven or in this dialect. His eyes rested upon the King as he spoke.
"Who are you?"
Galion who stood at the left of the dais released a breath he did not realize he had been holding in. "My lord this is your son." The eyes of the King had less light then they had only this morning. The King rose and glided toward the younger elf lifting his chin with the index finger. Silver-blue met dark blue. The Kings eyes widened fractionally as if in recognition of such a color from a time long past.
"Arrai, my king, I am your son." Arrai whispered shakily as his Adar looked into his eyes. Galion prayed to Valor fervently hoping Thranduil would let his son reach him. But the King turned in a fluid motion the moment gone, broken.
"My son is gone. Taken from me. My wife gifted me with only one." Unseeing eyes wondered listlessly over the kneeling elf as the King resumed his seat upon his throne.
"Lady Ingwe was my mother." The throne room was plunged into an even deeper silence if that were even possible.
"She had no child." The Kings tired voice trailed off his darkened eyes studying Arrai.
"She hid me, on behest of Lord Elrond."
"Who is Elrond?" Galion's eyes widened in horror, this was happening too fast.
"Your friend Adar" These words were spoken more hesitantly confusion evident his face.
"I have no friends," was the hesitant reply. The entire throne room suddenly felt colder. This was not Thranduil. Galion had expected an angered Thranduil, enraged at Elrond's lie regardless of their strong friendship. He had even dared hope this would wake the king from this dream he was walking. But this? The blow hit home. Too close to heart in many elves. Elves who had lost everything but their faith in their King and a better future. If only Glorfindel had come. But he was away a warrior. Even he would not be able to rouse the spirits of the elves. What they needed now was not some prince. They needed their king.
The eyes of the prince were lost searching his own. Galion's broken expression was well concealed but the eyes caught the hesitance. The eyes turned cold on his clear blue ones, accusing.
"Why was I called here Galion? Where is prince Legolas? Where is my brother?"
A sigh escaped Galion's lips as he lowered his head in shame. It was by his order that the messengers bring him simply under the pretext that the King found of his existence. To show weakness, to tell the other elven realms of the state of their king was not even a question. If the orcs somehow found out that it was the prince they had killed. If anyone found out of the Kings state, they, Mirkwood would feel the brunt of the darkness. And only over his dead body would the darkness see a weakness in the armor of the elves.
"Dead my prince." It was as if the entirety of Mirkwood was watching the conversation so packed of elves was the throne room. Elves who feared for their lives, their king. Many were still in shock at what had occurred. The death of their prince was a sudden blow. He had been wounded countless times but always he had recovered throwing himself into battle. To them he was not just Prince Legolas he had been a symbol of hope and endurance.
The calm mask of the prince shattered into one of horror. "Dead?" The features suddenly shifted as he took in the King's state as if seeing him for the first time. "And you told no one?"
"No my prince. The repercussions would be devastating. I hoped with your presence the King would come back to us." To Galion it seemed that the prince had a great many things in response to that statement his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides but he settled for only one realizing that all other questions would only instill uncertainty among the elves at his rule.
"Why have you called me here?" He had realized what was occurring. But it had to become official.
Galion had been a captain before becoming the Kings butler as well only a century ago. That and him being the Kings closest friend gave him a say. Perhaps the only say that mattered. The elves were looking to him for guidance. It was ironic, Galion having the power. He could have proclaimed himself king but he hadn't. Could have done a great many things but…perhaps it was a last mercy of Ilúvatar that the darkness had not whispered in his ear. Galion looked upon the elf. An elf too young and yet thrusted under such a burden, but he was not alone, were Legolas here he would have wanted Mirkwood to stay strong. "King Thranduil is ill. His son is…in the halls of Mandos… It is with a heavy heart that I now crown prince Arrai regent of Mirkwood until the time comes that King Thranduil is whole again."
The hall was plunged into silence. The elves had never seen the youth much less heard of him. And what more though no one pointed it out he was still half Vanyar cursed and turned orc. But Galion knew he was all they had. How would he rule? Was his decision fair? Or had he brought a tyrant unto the throne or Mirkwood? Would it have been better for him to have taken the crown?
The prince rose unsteadily and turned to him the shock and many other emotions flitting in his eyes but not his face grim understanding of elven custom and what he must do.
"I would speak to you before you go…" His eyes flickered to the crowd. His eye caught Galion's as the unsteady words were said.
"Of, of course you are acting regent now my lord."
"Thank…Thank you." The voice faltered forcing a frown on Galion's face. Why Eru? They needed a strong King! Slowly the prince turned and faced the elven warriors.
"I, I am not my brother." The voice evened as he spoke. "I am not my father. And I had never thought of wearing the crown. I know little of Mirkwood and its people but I have heard from Lord Elrond that you are the proudest realm of elves. You bow to no one. You are the fiercest for you have survived without a ring. You have survived of your own strength and hope. I know little of you but I will learn for I too am Sindar. I do not wish to lie and say that the road ahead of us will be unperiled. But the beauty of the moon and stars is that they give light even in the darkest of nights." The voice grew stronger taking the hall with it. Arrai drew his sword pointing it at the ceiling. "I cannot promise that there will be no death no sorrow. But I will stand and fight the any darkness for it is better to be dead then free and a slave corrupted and twisted. Who will stand by me?" Galion's face was inscrutable but he too drew his sword as one with the other elves in silent respect still not willing to admit that this elf not even a quarter of his own age was bringing something he had lost only days earlier, all the elves had lost, when they lost their prince.
The prince sheathed his sword "You may all go." The voice was barely audible and only the utter silence made it echo in the halls. The elves filed out each returning to their task. It was only after the last elf left that Galion released a breath his eyes searching the Kings still distant ones. He would have kept staring but a sudden noise made him rush to the prince's side. He was keeled over on his knees barely able to stand.
"My lord regent! Are you well?" A hand waved away the title. "Just Arrai please." He whispered.
Galion gripped him under the arm. "Were you wounded?" He asked fearfully.
"No just tired." Dark blue eyes met his as he steadied the prince and for the first time he could see how utterly won out he had been. "S..Sorry for the trouble." The wan smile was endearing he had to give it to the prince for trying.
"Ai Valar you are just as bad as prince Legolas." Surprised at himself for how easily he had used the reference he allowed the prince to lean on him as he led him to the prince's chambers trying to ignore the pain that welled up in his heart. To truly accept that the prince had died…Arrai stumbled it seemed the elves had really pushed the ride. Three days on horse was harrowing. But they needed a King. No one wanted that burden in such dark times. It was simple to throw the reigns into the hands of others knowing if they failed it was them and not you who would be blamed. But this time Galion would not fail in his duty to protect the prince.
"That was a good speech." Galion tried to break the silence. Arrai grimaced in a half smile all effort on putting one foot in front of the other. "That was nothing you must have missed out on Lord Glorfindel's eloquent ones they range from a single sentence and can go on for pages."
Galion laughed at the memory evoked. It was hard not to miss the elder elf and it was always a comfort to know that there was someone older around. Someone you could turn to for words of wisdom.
Arriving at the chambers the prince slipped of his boots and riding cloak and weapons and collapsed onto the bed.
Galion not wanting the prince to get lost or feel unwelcomed began listing off his usual drawl as butler, the familiarity of the job giving him some comfort. "The extra sets of clothes are behind the smaller door, you seem to be the same size as prince Legolas but we can make you more clothes if you prefer your own sets. The great hall is a few doors down from the throne room. The doors are huge it's hard to miss and it is used only during celebrations, though recently it has been turned into a war council of sorts…."
"My Prince?" Noticing a lack of curiosity questions or response of any kind he walked over to the bed. The prince was in a deep sleep eyes shut utterly worn out. His face looked strange in sleep. Older from the shadows that fell onto his face.
A bittersweet smile crossed Galion's face and for a moment it was prince Legolas lying on the bed sleeping utterly exhausted from another skirmish. The likeness was remarkable but the illusion dissipated and the elf was Arrai once more. A sigh escaped Galion's lips. It was unfair this comparison he was making. The prince was young, too young for the burden for losing a brother he never knew a fading father he had only just met but he had stood with it all. And spoke though he was tired though he was expecting the welcome of a father but walked out with a welcome of a King which he had not wanted. Perhaps Galion thought he should give him a chance. He closed the door only as well as a seasoned warrior, butler and close friend of the King would. He was not prince Legolas not by a long shot but he fulfilled the hole Galion had not realized had been made when prince Legolas died. "Sleep well my prince."
At this point I am literally updating faster than I can type more chapters. Regardless updating every day is rather harrowing. I will try to post daily but I don't know weather I will be able to update as often as every day.
Read and Review!