By the time Thranduil reached the council chamber, his temper had risen back to boiling point. The blank faces of the council members, military representatives, including the commander, and witnesses of the scene of battle that greeted him did little to help matters. He strode into the room, yanked his chair away from the table and sat down, trying to keep himself under control, desperately wishing he had a drink.
"How fares the prince?", Avornion asked in greeting. It was meant politely, but only served to anger Thranduil further. Probably, anything anyone had said would have.
"Poorly", he snapped. He folded his hands and rested his head on the crest of his fingers for a moment. He needed to settle down. This was important. He could not let his mood interfere with what was essentially a military tribunal for his son – during which he would be substituting for him. He had to accurately convey Legolas' account.
He took several deep breaths, then unfolded his hands and lifted his head. "Let us begin."
Avornion opened the meeting and began by questioning Fairnathad, Neniel, and the members of the patrol who had accompanied them on their retrieval mission. The other unit had piled and burned nearly seventy orc corpses and four dead trolls. The horses that had not been carried off by the surviving orcs they had burned as well. Then they had brought back the remains of fifteen elven warriors.
The elves who spoke before the tribunal were grave in their manner. They had seen with their own eyes the tragedy that had taken place, had been personally charged with taking the deceased elves to be given their last honor. They were warriors themselves; casualties were not unknown to happen on patrols, but for an entire unit to be slaughtered like this … it was unheard of, even in times of open war, which they had not experienced since the Necromancer had been driven from Dol Guldur. He had been blind, Thranduil realized. Though he had been saddened by the deaths, he had been far more interested in the wellbeing of his son, and had not truly grieved for his warriors. His warriors, who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of his forest and his people. Listening to these testimonies, he suddenly felt their loss deeply. Worse, he realized that most of the grieving warriors reporting had likely not known the members of their sister patrol particularly well. Legolas had been in charge of his unit for years - he was ashamed to say he did not know how many - with few changes in its members. These were the elves he had spent most of his time with, far more than with his father. They were more than his subordinates; Thranduil had known even before Legolas had confessed to his relationship with Tuialeth that his son preferred to maintain relatively flat hierarchies. These elves had been his closest friends. The witnesses' grief was likely nothing compared to his son's. And now he was on trial for his part in their deaths.
"Aran Thranduil", Avornion addressed him. "You have been appointed to relate the testimony of the unit's captain and only surviving witness to this tragedy. The witness has been questioned separately before the present council members as his health does not permit his presence at this tribunal."
The words were not spoken unkindly, but still Thranduil felt like he had been punched in the gut. He looked around the room; here was the counterpart to the guilt Legolas was feeling. Maybe he was imagining it, but the faces looked reproachful. Legolas had been in charge, and he had survived while those subjected to his commands had not. Just like he had said. Thranduil had thought it was all in his son's head, that nobody would truly blame him for what had happened; but it appeared to have been all in his head. Thranduil cursed himself for only now truly grasping this.
He took a deep breath and related to the council the testimony that some had witnessed earlier.
"The witness asked me to relay his wish to be reduced in rank", he added after he had finished. "He accepts full responsibility for this tragedy."
The entire room stared at him for a moment. Avornion cleared his throat.
"Commander Beleghîr", he said, addressing the elf to his right. "This decision falls to you."
Beleghîr stood up. He looked strangely formal in a blue tunic, his dark hair loose instead of braided back like it usually was. Thranduil did not know the comparatively young elf all that well, having, though of course frequently, only ever dealt with him in official capacity; he had taken over the position as commander of the guard roughly a yen ago from Thranduil's old friend Mecheneb after he had departed to the Undying Lands. Thranduil had wanted Legolas to take the position, but he had claimed he was not the best qualified and did not want to be promoted on account of being the king's son. Thranduil suspected he just hadn't wanted to give up his active patrol duties, which, as commander, he would have had to. Which, Thranduil had to admit to himself, was the main reason he had wanted Legolas to take the position in the first place. Beleghîr, though, had been Mecheneb's first choice for the position, and so far he had proven himself very well suited; the young elf was very serious and diligent, was well-liked among the members of the guard and had never disappointed. He had a calm and clear manner about him that Thranduil liked. He also knew the elf to be quite a strict superior when he had to be; he had witnessed his formidability a select few times, and thought him to be appropriately intimidating.
Now though, Thranduil thought, he looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable.
"With respect, aran-nîn", he said. "I am glad to hear that the captain has recognized the mistakes he made. But I do not think they are such as to warrant a reduction in rank. At the very least, if they are, then I am as much at fault as the captain. Both his command and his unit have always been rather … impulsive. Unconventional. But I judged his unit to be highly effective, as did my superior before me, and we did not interfere."
Thranduil was surprised to hear Beleghîr speak so frankly. He was also touched; then he really had been imagining that everybody blamed Legolas for the deaths of his subordinates.
"I believe that he used to agree with you", he said to Beleghîr, and the board. "And that recent events have changed his mind. He wishes to show respect and regret to the families of the deceased."
"I do not agree", Beleghîr said, quietly but firmly. "The best way to show their families respect is to keep doing the work that their loved ones perished for, especially now that it seems the darkness is gaining force once more. To show them it was for something important. That is how he should honor his fellow warriors. I cannot endorse his idea."
"Well", said Thranduil, still surprised but not displeased. "The decision is yours. In that case, I believe the captain will wish to surrender his rank."
"He is welcome to speak to me about this", Beleghîr said. With that, he sat back down, signaling that that aspect of the session had been dealt with. They continued on long after, speaking mostly about the memorial services for the fallen warriors, and how they would be honored, and what part the king and king's guard would play in them. Thranduil decided he would visit each family personally to express his gratitude and condolences, and to bring them the news of the exact circumstances of their loved ones' deaths.
When the meeting was over, Thranduil felt weary and saddened. He stood slowly. Tomorrow, he was going to start paying visits to those who had lost their children in his service. Until then, he would go and hold his ailing son as he shook and cried out in fear and pain in his sleep. The forces of evil had dealt them another hard blow by eliminating fifteen, nay sixteen, dedicated elite warriors on a simple patrol. The darkness was growing again; he had hoped it would remain weak after the enemy was driven from Dol Guldur, but something was happening, he could feel it. So far, the battalion that had killed his warriors was the only large, organized orc party that had been seen roaming through their forest, but Thranduil was sure it would not be the last. And this business of the trees betraying wood-elves, the keepers of the forest, their friends …
He made for the door, but of course there was an onslaught of elves who wanted to speak to him.
Avornion was the first of the usual suspects to accost him. "Thranduil –"
"Avornion, if it is not regarding urgent matters, I would prefer to speak with you tomorrow", Thranduil interrupted him wearily.
"As you wish, aran-nîn", Avornion conceded, stepping back. Fairnathad was already behind him.
"Come, Nath", Thranduil said, beckoning for him to follow. He did not want to linger in the council chambers any longer, or speak to anyone in particular, but the gratitude he still felt toward his friend was strong enough for him to make an exception. The healer was also one of the few whose visits Legolas did not object to, so he might as well bring him along. Fairnathad fell into step with him.
"I am worried about Legolas", he said quietly, as they exited the council chambers.
Thranduil gave a dry bark of laughter. "Yes, well that makes two of us then", he said.
"I do not think –"
"Aran Thranduil?"
Thranduil stopped and turned toward this next interruption. To his surprise, it was Beleghîr. The commander walked over to join them, slightly hesitantly.
"Goheno nin, aran-nîn", he said. "I do not wish to keep you long. I was wondering if I might see Prince Legolas."
Thranduil stared at him for a minute before answering. Truly, this elf did not beat around the bush.
"The prince is indisposed", he answered slowly, because he had to say something. But, on closer consideration, he felt he himself was strangely unopposed to the idea. He did not know what Legolas would think; in fact, the day's events had reminded him that, though he loved him more than anything, he did not actually know that much about his son. Perhaps a visit from a fellow warrior would do him good.
"What is it regarding?", he asked Beleghîr, who had not reacted in the slightest to his initial dismissal.
"I wish to discuss this matter of rank reduction", the commander answered. "But in truth I would have asked to speak with him even if it had not come up. I have some idea what he must be feeling, and I do not feel right leaving one of my captains alone in a situation like this without at least offering my support. I understand that he is injured, but perhaps if he is well enough to discuss his future in the guard, he is well enough for a visit from his commander."
Beleghîr said all of this calmly, but rather quickly, as though he were afraid of being cut off before he could get his point across. Thranduil found himself liking the young elf more and more. Not many of his subjects dared to speak frankly with him, and those that did were at least as old as he himself, often relics inherited from his father's reign. Beleghîr somehow managed to do so without antagonizing him, which, he considered, was no small feat. Or perhaps it was just that he seemed to harbor some goodwill towards his son. Either way –
"I can think of no medical reason to oppose a visit", Fairnathad answered for him. Thranduil glared at him. Here was one of those frankly-speaking relics. "Why don't you accompany us, and we will see if the prince is up for it", the healer continued, unperturbed.
Beleghîr glanced at him and gave a slight nod of thanks, but returned his eyes to Thranduil, waiting for his verdict.
Thranduil sighed, hoping Legolas would not take this invasion as a betrayal of trust. "Come, Commander", he said. "The more, the merrier."
"Hannon le, aran-nîn", Beleghîr said. They set off in the direction of the king's chambers.
"Might I enquire as to the nature of the prince's injuries?", Beleghîr asked carefully. Thranduil recognized that he was not trying to be inquisitive, but rather respectful; he wanted to know whether there was anything he needed to be mindful of.
Fairnathad glanced at Thranduil, who curtly nodded his permission to answer.
"His legs are broken", Fairnathad said. "Badly. Apart from that, he suffers from lingering weakness from recently overcome infection. Physically, that is all. But I believe …" Here he glanced at Thranduil again, unsure how much he was permitted to share. Thranduil ignored him, past caring. "He is deeply distressed, and it is not helping him to heal", Fairnathad finished quietly. "I am sure any comfort you could offer him would be greatly appreciated."
Beleghîr gave a brief nod of acknowledgement. They continued down the tunnels and passages in silence. When they got to the king's chambers, Thranduil strode into his son's makeshift bedchamber. Legolas was holding a half-empty bowl of the broths the healers were making him drink, looking thoroughly miserable. Tawaren, an old friend of Thranduil's who had helped care for Legolas as an elfling, was sitting with him, as she had often done over the past days when Thranduil was forced to leave him.
"Legolas, your commander is here to see you", Thranduil announced briskly. "I am sending him in. Come, Tawaren."
Legolas' eyes widened, but Thranduil had already decided not to stick around for his reaction. He turned on his heel and went back into his study. Tawaren got up and followed him.
"Saes, Commander", Thranduil said, gesturing for the waiting elf to enter the connecting room.
Beleghîr went in. Thranduil left the door open and made straight for his wine cupboard. He got out three glasses and a bottle, uncorked it and went over to his desk. Then he sank down into his chair and poured the drinks, gesturing for Tawaren and Fairnathad to join him if they wished. Tawaren excused herself, but Fairnathad followed him. Thranduil took a swallow of wine and then leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment.
They sat in silence for a while. Thranduil was glad to have surrendered control of his son's every interaction. It had been bound to happen, and now it was done. He was only now realizing how drained he felt. And judging by the fact that he could hear the soft voices conversing in the next room, Beleghîr had not been met with the same silent rebuttal as most elves that had tried to speak to Legolas since the incident. He took another sip of wine, trying not to eavesdrop.
"This is good for him, Thranduil", Fairnathad said encouragingly, taking a large swallow of wine. "That is what I wanted to speak with you about. Legolas should not be kept hidden away, and he should not be forced to spend all of his time with his father and his ancient companions."
"You mean allowed", Thranduil corrected him.
"Yes, well he only thinks he wants to do that because he is in pain", Fairnathad said, shrugging.
"And I am not hiding him away", Thranduil continued, slightly irked. " You are the one who ordered him to stay in bed."
"That I did", Fairnathad conceded. He leaned back and took another sip of wine. "I was not blaming you", he said. "I am trying to help."
"I know", Thranduil said wearily.
The two old friends sat drinking in silence. Thranduil was grateful for his friend's presence, even if there really was nothing he could think of that would actually help. It was beginning to dawn on Thranduil that this situation might last quite a while. The immense strength he had felt to be there for his son was not gone, but it was certainly waning. The real challenges still lay ahead of him, he realized.
After about half an hour, Beleghîr reemerged from Legolas' room. By that time, Thranduil had managed to soothe his nerves enough to be impatient to return to his son. The commander bade them goodnight on his way out, and Thranduil emptied his glass.
"That is my cue", he said to Fairnathad, getting to his feet. "Loro vae, mellon-nîn."
Legolas looked relieved to see him when he entered the room, but he noticed, as he helped him get ready for sleeping, that he seemed slightly more himself than he had since his return. He spoke a bit more, and it was a little bit lighter, if not yet quite back to their usual bantering. He did not mention the tribunal, and neither did Thranduil, figuring he had probably been filled in by Beleghîr and not being at all in the mood to rehash it himself. He was simply reassured by his son's behavior, and relieved that his impulse to stop shielding him from the outside world had apparently been the right one. He felt his drained weariness take a more comfortable shape, but was nonetheless content to once again slide into bed behind the younger elf.
"Ada, you know you do not have to keep doing this", Legolas said when they were settled. Even as he said it, he turned his head and pushed his cheek against Thranduil's chest.
"I know, ionneg", Thranduil answered, giving him a fond squeeze and tipping his head to rest against his son's, once again enjoying the closeness that had once been so rare. "I know."
Goheno nin - Forgive me
aran-nîn - my king
Hannon le - Thank you
Saes - Please
Loro vae - Sleep well
(I'm sure I forgot some but I tend to just reuse the same ones)
