CHAPTER 14
"Well there's a bridge-"
"No there is not."
"And there's a river-"
"Not for a while now."
"That I still must cross-"
"Eventually."
"As I'm going… on my journey…"
"What?"
"… I thought you were going to interrupt me again."
"Well-"
"Though I might be lost."
"Oi! Come off it!"
"Master Spymaster, you mustn't be so rude to the Queen."
I do not waste my breath on respondin' to the half-breed's words, simply continuin' to lead the group into Mirkwood. We are enterin' enemy's territory, even if they claim to be our allies. While I would have much rathered the lass to use her gift an' place us on over to the other side, it is best not to over-exert her yet. In addition to that, with my experience with her last time, I cannot bring myself to ask her. Nor will she offer it apparently; instead singin' tunes I have never had the misfortune of hearin' before.
How am I to listen for possible threats with the woman bellowin' like a furnace the entire time? 'Not even a day in an' I grow tired of this.' Thorin ordered me to secretly follow his little wife on her trip an' it was astonishin' to us both when she picked me out as a guard herself. I was to be the cavalry, not on the front lines. It also would have made seekin' out LongArm much easier from a distance.
I know he has an interest in the woman, but what he hopes to seek from her is unknown. It is like his origins; none know exactly from where he came, just that he's here now. LongArm has always caused trouble for us in Erebor; sticking his nose in all sorts of business. However, the moment the lass shows up he, an' his trouble-makin' ways, disappear. Or rather, he stops being seen. It must have somethin' to do with her an' intend to find out.
"This is close enough." my thoughts are interrupted as the woman shrugs off her pack, halting the group's progress "We can pop in for the night, I'll have a word with Thranduil, and we can leave refreshed in the morning."
"Do you mean to enter the Elvin kingdom?"
I snort watchin' as the young prince whispers into his mother's ear. The lad refuses to speak outright, the opposite of his loudmouthed sister who refuses to be silent. It is difficult to believe that they house Durin's soul, even more, so that it has been split into separate bodies. Yet, on the occasion when their eyes find my own, I know there is no doubt
"Did you discuss this with your husband?"
"Yeah Theodore, he's the one who gave me the bracelets but I won't give him the chance to do it again." apparently she has spoken to her children about her past adventures. Why then has she not been made aware of their ancient soul? Whatever the King's reasons are, he neglected to share them with me. Malcolmson turns to me with an answer, while pattin' her lad's hair "Yes Nori, I do plan to visit and what Thorin and I speak about is between us. All you need to do is get me to the Shire and back; everything along the way is unspecified."
"My task is to keep you safe. Visitin' the Elf King is. Not. Safe."
"… I'm going." She answers stubbornly, gesturing for the children to attach themselves to her and they do so without a fuss "Are you coming?"
"... Yes, majesty." I say with a snarl, watching as her mouth turns into a frown at the title "Not like you're givin' folk much of a choice."
THIA POV
It isn't hard to find Addasser. It's nearly evening and he is thankfully taking a siesta in his room. Poor guy is slightly shocked when five people and a dog show up at the foot of his bed. He takes it well, however, and only lets out 2 curses. After I explain the situation to him, he agrees to put us up somewhere for the night as long as I speak with Thranduil immediately. Concurring, I stick around long enough to get the children settled before I 'jump' to the King's location, hoping he's decent this time around.
"It has been over half a century since I saw you last, my little seer." Thranduil sits in an armchair, elegantly sipping on a large glass of wine. He doesn't appear to be disturbed in the least by my appearance after so long but then again, I'd doubt that I'd notice if he was "You have married the dwarf king and birthed two of his children. Are condolences or congratulations in order?"
"Thranduil…" I feel my temper flare and I stomp forward until I'm standing before the king "You wouldn't allow Kili and Tauriel to get married. How could their union possibly affect you in any significant way?! Was it for Legolas? What was your reason?"
"My, aren't you a curious thing." he whispers lowly, greatly annoying me further "Is this how you greet your loving Father?"
"I'm not in the mood for your games." dragging a hand down my face, I push my braids behind my ear and try to ignore the ringing that has been getting more frequent lately. It's a little too late to go to an ear doctor "Explain this to me."
"…Though Legolas did have feelings for the captain of the guard, his childish feelings have long subsided." he sighs distantly, almost uncaring "I'm sure you know that he has gone from my borders."
I frown deeply because while I guessed, he shouldn't be. It's like the years are all squished together. It started with Gloin and Gimli going to Rivendell before I even arrived. I'd made the assumption when Nori mentioned them without even taking the year into account. Once I came to realize my mistake, I knew the rings were already offered to the mountain. Thorin knew that I knew so he neither hid nor spoke of it, just leaving me without any additional knowledge but now? Now I know that even Legolas is on the move. It means I'll have to be extra vigilant. I mean to ask Thranduil a few more questions but his next words blank my mind.
"As for why I refused to allow the marriage... I was simply attempting to keep the two from having any useless children."
There is a cracking sound but it isn't until I feel a stinging in my outstretched palm that I realize that I just struck the Elven King. His head has been forcefully turned to the side and a bright red Thia-sized handprint marks his pale cheek.
We remain quiet, neither moving, each deciding our next move. Though slightly worried about his response, I do not regret my action. He deserved it and hence, I can't feel bad about hitting him. Lifting my chin, I glare at the elf as he stands and finally turns his head back to stare down at me with a glacial glower.
"Too little too late, Thranduil." I growl out, balling my hands into fists to keep myself from hitting him again "Their son now has to grow up without either of his parents-"
"-or a sister." he interrupts cruelly, lighting a few extra candles and brightening the room "However that is more your fault than mine, wouldn't you say?"
"I did nothing to that child!" I furiously yell. How dare he suggest that I had anything to do with her murder "Her death was-"
"Her death was meant to transpire for the reason that she was born before fate had written her existence possible."
"I don't-"
"Then I shall educate you, young seer." he turns without warning and reseats himself before gesturing to the empty chair across from him for me to take. Slowly lowering myself into it, I listen "My sources express to me that your two children, Theodore and Thoria, are a mere 3 years of age even though you became with child 60 years ago."
"Time runs slower where I'm from." I respond vaguely, however, he doesn't appear to even be listening
"Factoring in the time of your pregnancy it can be deduced that a single year in your home world measure the equivalent to fifteen in ours. Meaning your children were born 45 years ago in this world's time." I do the quick calculations in my mind and find his math correct. I hate public math "The first halfbreed was birthed in TA 2956, a year before your children."
"OK but…"
I suddenly remember the reason Mahal gave Thorin for why I had to leave. 'Fate has written death on your line and until it is amended, demise awaits all you children.' If Kili's baby was born before mine, she would have still been subject to her line's fate. That means whether it had been murder, sickness, or an accident... she was going to die. I place my hand over my mouth, feeling as though I'm about to be sick.
"S-S-so it's my fault…?" I ask quietly, and my voice sounds so fragile that it could break "That Kili and Tauriel and Kiliel… and the baby-"
"It is not, do not blame yourself." the elf king pours me a glass of his funky wine and I take it without question "I only meant that you had more of a hand in her fate than I."
"That's the same thing!"
"It is not. Had you birthed your children earlier, they may not have survived at all and that would have been the true end of Durin's line." I allow his logic to seep into my ears, needing to know I wasn't the cause of such pain "We played our parts, but it was simply the outcome of a predestined state of affairs."
"Predestined…." If I was in charge of fate, I wouldn't kill infants. Not even baby Hitler. I'd wait until he was an adult or something but not baby Hitler. I glare down at the contents of my glass and sigh "I'm sorry I hit you."
"Hn. Yes well, you are of the fairer sex and are thus more prone to emotional outbreaks." The statement makes all remorse fly right back out the window. I watch as he taps the table lightly with his goblet "That coupled with your time spent with the dwarves mark your previous action as predictable."
"And yet, you didn't dodge." I begin writing my name on the table using the condensation from the glass. When it is bold and clear, I continue " Even if you didn't support their union, you could have taken Kiliel in..."
"I would do me no good to suffer the presence of a child doomed to die." I frown deeply at his eery disregard for another life but I'm not surprised. He gazes down at my work for a moment before asking "What have you written?"
"My… name?" I look down at the clear water marks on the tablecloth and then back at Thranduil "You can't read this, can you?"
"Is that surprising?" he responds, sounding nearly offended "Being that you are one of the only people who can read that strange language you write in, it is not worth knowing."
"You're absolutely right!" I blurt out, gaining momentum even as he looks at me like I've lost my mind "I was sure that none of you could, yet when I came to put off the marriage you claimed to read my ID-"
"I did no such thing." he interrupts, smoothly crossing his long legs. I secretly hope he pinches a nut or something "I simply handed it back to you."
"So how did you know my real name?"
"Knowledge is a great and driving force. It can easily build or ruin kingdoms." Thranduil lifts the decanter and pours himself another glass of the luminescent liquid, not bothering to top mine off. The pale liquor held little appeal to me after the first sip anyway "Immortality provides a surplus of instances to gain information. As such, all the names of those who interest the Valar, as well as each Vala themselves, are known to me."
"That's all fine and dandy, but you aren't immortal."
"You would be the only one to say thusly."
"Immortal means to live forever without dying or decaying."
"So it does."
"Your magic may hide your face but I know what lies beneath that pale mask. You can be killed, thus you just live a really long time. Your like... A sentient jellyfish. Regardless of that fact," I gesture to myself flippantly "last time I checked I wasn't one of the Valar. Either way, my importance to them should have expired the moment they brought me back here, right?"
"Yet, your name continues to be whispered amongst numerous creatures in this world. Perhaps..." he suddenly moves much quicker than I thought he could. His hand strokes down the side of my cheek before he grips my chin firmly "Perhaps, you should check again."
"Let-"
"Leave my chambers."
"But-"
"Now." he drops his hand and walks away from me with a swish of his robes "Lest I am compelled to offer you another set of bracelets, hm?"
See. I can update! Sometimes. I should slow down though. I need to write some more chapters on the backend... Meh, we'll get there.