Chapter 06

Untold Stories Part 1

More days went by. Every morning it was the same: Erestor would wake up with a smiling Erynlith at his bedside, offering him new flowers. During her explorations around the forest, she found different flowers, but she always ended up giving him bluebells. Then, they would talk; Santien would redress his bandages and offer him the medicinal tea. They shared breakfasts and luncheons and dinners together; Erestor was very satisfied with it. Their companion had also awoken, Caladhir, and he spent most of his time attended by Santien and the other healers.

Erestor's wounds faded into scars. The one on his shoulder was already healed, albeit it still hurt at times. The wound on his thigh was greater, a deep puncture that had him bed-ridden for the days. The pain lingered sp painfully that it kept him awake during the night. But the presence of Erynlith had always reassured him.

"Are you brother and sister?" Santien had asked Erynlith one day; her curiosity got the best of her.

Erynlith looked up from Erestor's bedside as he slept peacefully. She was taken aback by that question, and it took her longer to respond than she expected. Were they brothers and sisters? She could not remember if they actually were. It had been too long for both of them to remember how it all began.

Somehow, some centuries ago, Erynlith remembered spending time with both her father and mother in Rivendell. Elrond, Celebrían, Gildor, and Erestor were all there to witness her childhood. Things took an unexpected turn when her parents suddenly did not return from a journey. And Erestor was with them back then. She remembered running out into the valley's bridge one rainy day, excited to greet and ask her father about their journey. But Erestor came. All alone. His silver armor was daunted and scratched; the once blue and white banner he held was deep with crimson. His dark eyes were blank and disheartened. His scouts rushed and took the banner from him; but he did not speak even as Elrond and Gildor asked of him what happened.

Erynlith remembered Celebrían holding and obscuring her view of the downfallen Erestor, falling into his knees without a word. She was but a child back then, too innocent of how the world worked. Elrond tried to snap Erestor out of it, using small words to know what had happened, and why he returned alone when he journeyed with more than thirty elves. Erestor wavered then, lifting his head and locking his blank gaze at Erynlith.

"Penneth," he had whispered weakly. In that call, Erynlith removed Celebrían's arms around her and knelt in front of the captain. All of a sudden, Erestor wrapped his armor-plated arms about her small body, pulling her closer to him as he buried his face in her hair. Erynlith was in daze, but she melted into his embrace and kept silent. She was scared for some reason. She felt Erestor shaking beneath his cold armor as the rain began to pour harder.

"Mellon nin," Erynlith whispered back, trying to calm her friend. She looked at him in the eyes and said: "What's wrong? Where is everyone? Where are Father and Mother?"

Erestor shook his head in dismay; his grey eyes now glinted in tears. He embraced her once more, tighter this time as if he would never let her go. He began to sob; his tears cascaded onto her dress like the rain, and she became more scared for him than for herself. "I am sorry," he whispered; his voice was trembling with the sobs. "I am so sorry, little one. I have failed you. Forgive me… I am so sorry."

She did not understand what he meant. All she knew was that Erestor was overwhelmed with grief and regret, and that her parents would never return to her. Tears fell silently as she bit her lip; there was much crying in the valley that day. Erestor kept his hold on her, firm and sure, as he mourned for their loss. From the embrace, Erynlith remembered looking up to see Elrond. Lady Celebrían was in his arms back then, crying and sobbing onto his chest. Elrond sighed and closed his eyes, also yielding to his grief. Then, Erynlith looked around for Gildor. The golden-haired Ñoldo cast his eyes on the marbled courtyard, not caring if the rain drenched his white cloak or himself.

Soon after that fateful day, Erestor came up to Elrond's council chambers and boldly announced that he would take Erynlith as his daughter. Everyone was shocked, and Gildor almost fell from his seat.

"Do you even hear yourself?" the Ñoldo demanded. He glanced at Elrond before continuing: "You do know that the King of Lórinand is on his way to reclaim his niece, yes?" He hoped the answer was yes.

"I do," Erestor had answered sternly, his eyes ever focused on Elrond. "Even if the King claims Erynlith, I want her to stay with me, here in Rivendell."

"And why should that be?" Elrond said as he hushed Gildor back to his seat.

At that question, Erestor lowered his eyes and he turned solemn. "I feel responsible," he whispered. "I wish to set things right. And although I know Erynlith in Lórinand would be for the better, I simply cannot ignore that I have become too attached to her." Then, he had looked at Elrond again. "You know I am fading, Elrond. That was a mistake that I am willing to live with for the rest of my life. With Erynlith, I feel more alive. So, please… let her stay with me."

Elrond's dark eyes softened upon hearing those words. Erestor had been Erynlith's mentor as a child, whenever her father would go out hunting or her mother weaving with the other elf-maidens. He had basically been with her for the majority of her life, and they were inseparable friends. Ever since Erestor's lonely return, it was Erynlith who always visited him in his room, with one or two stories to share. At night, she would return to her own room and spend the cold night alone, without her parents to bid her goodnight.

Reluctantly, Elrond nodded, much to Gildor's surprise. "Very well, then… I will have to talk it over to the King if he would allow Erynlith to stay. But I should warn you that the King is quite territorial, especially with his family members, and would not hesitate to retaliate at your claim to his kin."

Erestor looked dauntless. "I will fight for my claim on her."

Two weeks later, the King of Lórinand and his son arrived in Rivendell. With them came a great entourage, and the golden-haired King was received with honor. He instantly demanded to see his niece, the daughter of his lost younger sister, but Erynlith did not come. She was latched onto Erestor's legs like a leech, her grip too tight on his pants. But Erestor faced the King courageously. As the two elves seemed to defy each other with blank looks, the King's son emerged from behind and invited his cousin elsewhere. At this, Erynlith remembered herself smiling and happily following her older cousin out into the courtyard.

The King of Lórinand and Erestor had a long talk. It took them hours to come into resolution. Apparently, Erynlith had chosen to stay with Erestor, whether the King would like it or not. Before the King could say something, his son agreed with Erynlith, his support had been with her from the start. With a heavy heart, the King also agreed and left back for Lórinand, after making Erestor promise that he and Erynlith would visit the forest every once in a while.

Everything was renewed. She was now considered Erestor's daughter, and everyone outside of Rivendell was convinced that it was really the case. Erestor did not fade anymore; he had someone to hold on to, after all. Elrond interpreted it as her love for Erestor. When he asked her why she chose to stay, Erynlith remembered telling Erestor: "I will never leave you behind."

Santien asked the same question again, and Erynlith was snapped back to reality. She realized she was staring into nothing as the auburn-haired healer passed by her. Santien placed a bowl beside Caladhir's bed and pressed a damp cloth on his forehead. She repeated the same question, now impatient, and she wondered if the other elf was listening at all.

"Are you brother and sister?"

Hearing the same question being asked for the third time, Erynlith smiled and nodded. "Yes, we are," she whispered. "It is a very long and interesting story, but Erestor and I are brother and sister, and maybe even more than that, tra-la-lay… I could sing the story if you want…"

"No, thank you." The auburn-haired healer wanted to spare herself from another eccentric song.

Erynlith smiled. Too many years were already spent since that day. They had come a long way from mentor and student, captain and admirer, father and daughter. Now, as the years passed, she was no longer the child Erestor had to keep an eye on. She grew into the elf he wanted her to be, although eccentric and immature at times. Whenever someone regarded their strong bond with each other, they were always Erestor and Erynlith. Brother and sister.

"I'm going out for a walk, tra-lo," Erynlith sang as she headed out. "Want me to get you something?"

Santien smiled at the younger elf's thoughtfulness. "No, I am good. Just be back early so I can check your right wrist. It doesn't hurt anymore, does it? Well, if it's not, I'll still see you later. And don't get in trouble, especially with Thranduil."

Erynlith nodded and went out, wondering who this Thranduil person was. She did not remember being introduced to someone named Thranduil. At first she guessed it was the friendly dark-haired Captain of the Guards, but then she remembered his name was something else… Raithon, was it? Perchance it was the relentless blond elf guard who bullied her since day one. But his name was… Lascalen, right?

Shrugging, she entered the palace. Few of the Silvan elves already knew her; they had heard from their King a great deal about the newcomers. The Silvan greeted her cordially, something very heartwarming for her. And she would greet them back and move on to her business. Speaking of the King, she had never met him since they had arrived in the Greenwood.

I suppose the King was too busy for commoners, she thought.

Thranduil's eyebrow twitched as the Captain of the Guards smirked at him, and he did not even know why he was smirking. Somehow, it made him inferior. He was Thranduil, Prince of Greenwood the Great. How could his friend make him feel lower than he was? As Raithon went ever closer, Thranduil took away the sketch he was working on and waited for his friend.

"Don't give me that look," he said as Raithon curled up on the seat next to him. They were in the library, Thranduil's favorite place to doze off. "What do you want? And what are you doing here?"

Raithon tapped the wooden table absentmindedly. "I just visited the infirmary to see how Santien and the others are doing."

Thranduil yawned lazily, clearly uninterested. "Great. Where do I come in?"

"I wanted to ask how things are going with you and the other injured one," Raithon said. When Thranduil raised his eyebrow in inquiry, the captain sighed and groaned. "You're quite slow today, aren't you? You know… that strange minstrel you keep talking about the other day."

"Oh," was all Thranduil could say; realization dawned to him late. He shifted in his seat so that his legs were above the table. "I haven't visited the infirmary for days. Work keeps on getting to me, you know. Why are you even asking? And I don't think she's a minstrel; just a very confused elf who took a blow on the head, maybe."

Raithon laughed. "Well, minstrel or not, I heard from the other guards she sang for them last night. Everyone was cooped up in the outpost just to hear her sing."

"What?!" Thranduil jerked up and fell from his chair.

"Are you alright?!" Raithon instantly stood up, checking if his friend was fine.

Thranduil emerged beneath the table and glared at the captain. "What do you mean she was at the outpost last night?"

"How should I know?" Raithon shrugged, returning to his seat. "I was out patrolling the forest last night. The wargs are lingering near the mountains. Anyway, aren't you supposed to be updated with the things going on the palace?"

"Apparently not," Thranduil scoffed. "Who would even invite such a strange elf in the outpost? And why would she even come?"

"Thranduil, I don't know everything, okay?" The captain sighed. Then, his smirk turned sly. "Why don't you ask her?"

The elf prince tilted his head to the side questioningly. Raithon rolled his eyes and said: "Oh, come on, Thranduil. Don't tell me you don't know she is in the palace even as we speak."

"What is she even doing here?" The prince growled and went for the doorway. "She's supposed to be in the infirmary!"

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to give Santien a piece of my mind!"

Raithon waved a hand. "Good luck with that. Make sure she doesn't slam the door before you could even speak!"

Thranduil hurried back into the infirmary; the fact that Erynlith was in the palace was lost in his mind temporarily. What part of 'watching over the injured' did Santien not understand? She could keep Caladhir and Erestor on check, but not Erynlith? He shook his head in disbelief, pace getting faster as he reached the end of the hallway. An arched corridor connected the palace to the infirmary and other buildings. When he arrived there, he was surprised that Santien was not around. The younger healers were there to greet the elf prince, and they asked what he wanted. Thranduil only shook his head and smiled a little. Then, he went over to Erestor's bed to see how he was doing.

As he was about to leave, his eyes caught two white daggers on top of the bedside table, just beside the red vase of bluebells. His smiled widened. She kept picking out the flowers despite my warning, he thought in amusement. He reached out for the daggers and remembered seeing them before. When he rescued Erynlith in the forest, he saw these daggers strapped behind her back.

"My lord," one of the healers asked.

He turned around swiftly and hid the knives within his jerkin. "Yes?"

"Is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Again, he only shook his head in response. "No, I'll get going now. If Erestor wakes, send him my regards. And to Santien, I'll have a word with her when she gets back." He turned his heels and then left.

As he marched back towards the palace, quite in dismay for not seeing Santien, he twirled one dagger between his long fingers, skillfully as had always been with weapons. The blade gleamed under the sun and suddenly, he smirked to himself. Now that he was free, he could do something to pass the time. He remembered Raithon telling him that Erynlith was in the palace.

I have to find her, he thought and went on.

Erynlith grunted and stretched out even more. She swore she could hear her skin tearing out for reaching too much, but she did not care anymore. Somewhere in the palace, she stood upon a wooden chair, her right arm reaching out of the window. On the other side, there was a tree and a bird nest. When she walked in these corridors earlier, she heard the birds chirping and singing. Quickly, Erynlith searched for a chair. And now, she was trying to touch the birds.

"Just… a little… farther…" she told herself, fingers twitching to pet the birds. It was a surprise they had not flown away yet.

On the other side of the dark and quiet corridor, King Oropher walked. He used this pathway as a shortcut into his throne room. It was a relief for him that it was rarely used. The walls around the corridor were carved with stories and songs, of ballads and of legends. Few round windows were there to provide sunlight in the morning as lamps did during the night. Oropher blinked at the sight of Erynlith, her back turned against him, leaning out the small window. He peered behind her, wondering what it was that she was reaching for, but could not come into conclusion.

And so, he asked her.

"What are you doing?"

Erynlith yelped and slipped her footing from the chair, falling into the floor. Oropher quickly rushed towards her but she stood up before he could get to her. "I'm okay, tra-lay… oh, I rhymed!" she exclaimed happily, dusting her borrowed green dress off. As she lifted her head up, she blinked at the familiar face. "Have we… met before?"

King Oropher chuckled. He knew it would be hard for her to remember him given the state of shock she was in during their first meeting. He was clad now only in his casual brown and red robes, in appreciation for this month's autumn. On his head was a round silver circlet, and in his hand an oakenstaff. He thought he did not look kingly at all.

"We have," he said gently. "But I will not try to keep you from… whatever you were doing before. Are you sure you're alright?"

"A hundred percent, tra-la," Erynlith chirped and the King laughed.

"Well, excuse me. I have thi—"

"Adar!" Thranduil called out and his smile was broad. He was yet to notice that Erynlith was also there. He almost ran to greet his father, but when Oropher gestured over to Erynlith, Thranduil suddenly paused from his tracks, his eyes widening. Did he just call the King his father in front of her? He could slap his forehead right now; Erynlith was still unaware that he was the son of the King, and that his name was actually Thranduil, not 'Lascalen'.

"Um, I…" Thranduil thought for an excuse. "My Lord," he finally said, bowing politely and Oropher quickly joined his game of dramatics. "Please, excuse me for taking Lady Erynlith now. She needs to be admitted back into the infirmary as requested by the healers."

Oropher nodded. "Of course, Lascalen," he said, already knowing what his son would have introduced himself. Thranduil had always loved that name. He smiled at Erynlith and said: "It is nice meeting you today, Lady Erynlith. I will see you around the palace."

Thranduil eyed the Elvenking sharply, and Oropher leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Have fun with your minstrel," the King said, and then winked mischievously. Turning to the female elf, he gave a broad grin. "Lady Erynlith, could you keep my elf guard occupied for a little while? It seems he loves your company."

The Prince gawked at his father.

Erynlith nodded a little, still confused of the happenings. "Um, okay, tra-la…"

With a last wink, Oropher left them be, humming a tune as he walked away.

"What were you doing?" Thranduil demanded sharply when his father was already out of sight. He stomped, almost angrily, towards her. "Do you know who you're dealing with?"

She shook her head honestly. "No, tra-la… Who was he, by the way? He seemed friendly, tra-lo."

"He seemed friendly?!" Thranduil repeated. He could not believe this elf! He grabbed her by the elbow, careful to be gentle not to hurt her, and led her out of the once-silent corridor. Erynlith followed him though, a sour expression on her face.

"Why are you even here?" she asked as they reached a much lighter hallway. "Lady Santien told me not to talk to you, tra-la. You are troublesome and a bully. Let go of my arm, tra-lo." But her threat did not seem to worry him, as she spoke queerly in her singsongs.

"Well!" It was his turn to sneer at her. "Excuse you! Do you even know who you're talking to?"

She huffed. "I don't know, and I don't care."

Thranduil could swear something right now. He had always regarded himself as a patient elf, no matter what happened. Here he was, arguing with an elf he barely knew, and his patience was once again tested after the years. Still, he remained his composure, glaring at Erynlith instead. Perhaps he should have anticipated some sharpness of tongue; she spent years with Erestor, someone who was quick-witted and sharp enough to even go against Elrond in debates.

"Very unbelievable!" Thranduil said exasperatedly and walked away. A small smile crept up on Erynlith's lips as she followed him; the red string of fate already drawing them closer.

Next Chapter: Thranduil plays a game with Erynlith. Troubles brew.

Author's Note: Why, hello to our little flashback. Hoped you guys liked that bit; it was pure narrative and stuff. But hey! We've got another mischief going on here, and King Oropher likes to tease his son when the chance strikes. Thranduil may have inherited his sass there.

Who's looking forward for the next chapter? *raises hand frantically* I am, I am!

*She Elf of Hidden Love - Thanks so much for the many reviews! I'm glad you like the story. Hope you stay here with us!

*DeLacus - Can't say if you like the Oropher mischief, since it was short, but I tried my best! With an update now, can I have some cheesecake? I'll probably add some more with Amdir and Amroth in the next two chapters. #TeamSindarinElves

*Rousdower - Let's always be random! *throws party* Thanks for the review by the way!~

*xummy10 - I'll try to make their relationship more interesting for you! Thanks for stopping by!

*Guest - Thank you! Stay with me, it gets better. LOL

P.S. I am trying to work on a new Haldir/OC fic. Yeah, my imagination whirled this morning and now I have a plot in mind. What kind of OC would you like to have this time? We've got the childish, troublemaker Arestel from A Long-Expected Adventure, the weird singing Erynlith in this one. Let me know if you have suggestions. Haldir needs more love. #TeamGaladhrim could work... but ok.

P.P.S. Reviews are always appreciated. Laters!~