The Elven horses move swiftly and sure through the night, bringing us to the gates of Mirkwood, when I arrive at the borders of Mirkwood, thirty-six days after Gandalf and I separated our ways. My weary body rocks and sways with the motion of the horses and my exhaustion proves to be a blessing for I do not need to think about relaxing my muscles. The rhythm of the hooves are so smooth and so perfect that I find myself drifting on the border of sleep. My mind dances in shallow half-waking dreams and I know nothing of my progress save that the torches still dance before me and behind me and besides.
When the mare's hooves clatters suddenly on stone, I'm startled back into the waking world to find that we are crossing the broad stone bridge that leads up to the gates of Thranduil's subterranean palace. Before the gates we halt and other Elves come forth to greet us. The two who have lifted Gollum up come to hoist him down again and the unwieldy bundle writhes as unintelligible cries come from the creature's cloak.
,,Hush!" I snap, my patience breaking almost at once. Shifting my weight with care I slide down from the horse's back, clutching the strong locks at the base of her mane to keep from sibling to my knees as my weary left leg trembles and my useless right one dangles. At my feet the Elves are unwrapping Gollum. When I see Gollum trying to bite them, I grab the rope and yank upon it with all the strength left in my arm. Gollum's body jerks and springs free of the cloak with a harsh choking noise. He lands on the balls of his feet, crouching as if to do battle with flailing arms and clawing nails, then looks from one fair face to the other and bolts towards me. He shrank against my leg, scratching at my left boot.
,,Elves, terrible Elveses!" He wales. ,,Touches us, burns us, gollum! We'll be good, precious: we promise it! Ever so good, only don't let them touch us!" I shake my head and give the rope a brisk crack.
,,Silence." I say hoarse. Gollum's mouth snaps close, but his scrabbling hands continue to worry at my lame leg. The gates are opening now, slow and majestic. One of the guards comes forward with a silver-headed pike, handing it to me.
,,Perhaps this will serve as a staff, at least for a few steps?" He asks. ,,You may have my arm to lean upon if you will take it, but in your place…" He gestures vaguely, but I understand and nod. One soldier to another, they agree upon this. It is far better to move under my own strength if I might be able to. Accustomed to the coarse bark of my makeshift stave, my fingers slip a little as they close upon the smooth shaft of the spear, but it's stout and strong and I'm able to shift my weight onto it with little difficulty. I disentangle my fingers from the horse's mane and let my right hand bolster up my left. I hobble to the horse's head and reach to strike the bridge of her nose.
,,Thank you for carrying us, fair one." I say. ,,I know how tiresome the duty was and I am grateful." The horse makes a soft noise in acceptance of my thanks and then trots off after the other horses. They disappear from sight and I set my eyes upon the gate. My steps are awkward and stilt, before I move between the angle pillars and under the great lintel. Into a passage lined in torches I'm led, with Elves behind me and before and the captain close by my side. Gollum, looking wildly from side to side, and back and forward and up and all around, went slinking after me and does not dare to lag too far behind. As we walked, several of the guards went away, some to vanish down lesser passages and two swift runners sent forward to inform the king of the arrival of a long-awaited guest. The remaining guards hang back when we come to the great door that opens on the throne room and the captain steps forward to open the door. I set my crutch before me and swing painfully over the threshold into the splendid cavern. The vault ceiling is held aloft by pillars exquisitely carved of the living stone and the polished walls are hung with tapestries and arrases or rich and beautiful colors. All the trees of the forest are represented in their turn in these woven pictures and the great deeds of the king and his long-departed father have been stitched in silken threads upon vast rippling canvases. There are statues of woodland creatures in the alcoves, their eyes of glittering gems, and the torches hanging in silver brackets from the walls. In the middle of all this richness sits Thranduil upon his carven throne. His raiment is of rich green velvet and cloth-of-gold, and upon his golden hair sits his winter crown of holly-berries and snowdrops. His expression is impassive and patrician as he raises his arm in greeting.
,,Welcome, Neuma daughter of Aragost, captain of the Dúnedain," He says grandly. ,,Long have I waited for the day when your pledge should be fulfilled and your target should be found. I have kept ready the lodgings that are arranged and -" Suddenly the cool aloofness fades from the face of the Elven-king and his brow furrows. The wafting arm falls to grip the ornate wood of the chair and one foot in its jeweled slipper slides forward as he leans to the edge of the throne. ,,Are you wounded? Are you unwell?" He asks, anxiety apparent in his voice. ,,What misfortune has befallen you?" I take another swaying step into the hall. Gollum is sheltering now in a fold of my cloak, quaking and hiding his eyes from Thranduil.
,,I have had some misfortune. I shall have need of care when my duty is discharged -" I say, getting interrupted by someone I have missed so much the last few years.
,,Neuma, cin're back ( Neuma, you're back )!" She says happily as she rushes over to me, wanting to throw her arms around my neck, but she stops when she sees my leg. ,,Cin are negr- ( You are hurt )." She says and lays her hand against my cheek. I close my eyes for a small moment, enjoying her touch.
,,Cin tur- heal nin after im gar- talked na cín adar ( You can heal me after I have talked to your father )." I gesture to a waiting Thranduil. Lostariel apologies but doesn't leave my side. I turn to Thranduil. ,,I shall have need of care when my duty is discharged. Yet, I have brought you the creature Gollum, as was long agreed."
,,So I see," Thranduil says, rising to his feet and stepping down off of the dais. He tilted his head to one side, trying to catch a better sight of Gollum. ,,Yet, where is Gandalf? Did he not travel with you?"
,,He did not," I say. ,,but word has been sent to him of my success. I have hope that he will come as soon as the tidings reach him."
,,Well, you have done what you set out to do, however long it took you." Says Thranduil, watching Lostariel taking a comforting hold of my hand. A protecting glare is sent from her eyes to her father. ,,And it seems that you have walked strange and wretched paths to do it. Let us take charge of the thing, that your hurts may be put right."
,,With your leave, my lord, I would sooner see him to his quarters," I say. ,,not until he is locked fast within your dungeons shall I be able to find my rest." Thranduil frowns.
,,You may not remember after all these years, Dúnedain, but the cell that is chosen is as deep and secret as any cavern in my palace. The way is long: a mile or more. Surely you would be wiser to lay by your cares and let the healers tend you."
,,When I see him safely imprisoned." I say. ,,I have come so far, I can walk a little further." And walk I do, though my left leg cramps and my right leg burns from exhaustion. Thranduil leads the way and I follow him, with Lostariel at my side while Gollum is whimpering and sniffling at my heels. We walk even deeper within the hillside. The torches light our way and the air remains pure. My thoughts turn to Bilbo. Turning another corner and passing through another sloping corridor I can imagine my dear friend, alone and frightened and miserable, stumbling through these same passages to find his companions; stealing food where he could, snatching a few shallow minutes of sleep now and then, and managing despite everything to escape undetected with thirteen dwarves in tow.
At last Thranduil comes to a heavy wooden door and gestures to his captain to come forward. The captain produces a heavy ring of keys from his belt and fingers through them until he finds the one he wants. He unlocks the door and leads the way into a little guard-room. There is a table and a trio of chairs, a sideboard and a washbasin, and an unlit charcoal brazier. The Elf takes one of the waiting torches and steps back into the tunnel to light it, then moves forward to illuminate the room. Three more wooden doors opened off of it: each leading to a small cell furnished with a low wooden cot set with a straw pallet. The innermost one is made ready for a prisoner. There is a blanket folded neatly on the simple bed and a brass pot tucks into one corner.
,,Here it is,' Thranduil says. ,,you yourself have tested its impenetrability: you were satisfied then, and I trust you are satisfied now." I lean heavily against the door of the cell and look around.
,,Yes. It is all as we agreed." I rest my body against Lostariel. ,,Lock it. It must always be locked when the cell door is open, and the cell door must be locked when the other is not." Thranduil's captain chuckles.
,,I know how to secure my prison."
,,Your predecessor did not." The words come out flat and cold and I feel a rush of heat rising in my cheeks. ,,Your pardon, my lord, I did not intend -" Thranduil waves me off.
,,Think nothing of it." He says. ,,Thirteen dwarves hidden in empty barrels. We had a pretty good time puzzling about how they managed it and it will not occur again. While this thing is with us, there will be a constant watch kept on the water-gate, even as we will set one in this room. I fear that will be the more pleasant duty, with the story-rooms and the kitchens so near at hand, but we will find folk for both."
,,Now, let me take him." The captain says, coming forward and drawing his knife. ,,Your duty has ended and mine only begins." I let my full weight fall entirely upon the door and grab the pike with my right hand as I hold out my left. There is a glint of polished steel and a soft snick of severed rope and the bond is cut. I seize the improvised crutch and drag myself hastily out of the way as the captain drives a writhing Gollum into the back corner of the cell. Relieve sweeps through my body as the cell door is shut fast. It's over at last. Gollum is secure in the cell. The last desperate shred of strength vanishes all at once from my body. My left knee trembles and buckles. I feel myself falling, powerless to do anything to arrest my descent. Then a strong arm slips around my body: Lostariel. Bearing me up, not caring about the blood still sticking on my garments.
,,Forgive me, I cannot walk back." I mumble. After saying that, Lostariel doesn't think twice as she caresses me in her arms.
,,A little further, Neuma. Only a little further and you may rest. I won't leave your side." I feel the change in the air as we pass into a narrower room, but before my torso is lowered onto the thin mattress, I lose consciousness by exhaustion.