Chapter 34
Summer passed and autumn came, and though hard the elves searched for Gollum, all trace of him was lost. Disheartened and disappointed by this failure, the Elvenking called his councilors to decide what should be done next. For there was also news that the Ringwraiths, in the guise of Black Riders, had been sent out and tasked with finding and retrieving the One Ring for their master. And the council deemed that Elrond of Rivendell should be notified of this news.
Now Thranduil called for his son in his chambers, and Legolas came and stood before his father. The King was holding a glass of red wine and seemed thoughtful, as he gazed at the yellowing leaves that swirled and fell on the balcony, lazily dancing in the light breeze.
"My lord, you called for me. How can I serve you?" the Prince asked.
"Legolas, you need not stand up to ceremony. It is but Daenerys and myself here", Thranduil replied, gesturing towards the armchair the mother of dragons was sitting in.
Legolas looked at her. She was wearing a dark green gown and had her hair done in a long braid, not unlike the manner of the Wood-elves. She smiled at him and he bowed his head slightly in turn.
"What is it then, adar? Why have you called me?"
The King filled two glasses with wine and handed them to his son and to Daenerys. "I held council this morning concerning the issue of our failure to find the creature Gollum. Long we have searched and still nothing we have found. But the wretch cannot have just vanished into thin air. It is my persuasion that he thought to seek refuge in the Misty Mountains, and perhaps he is now lost there in the dark crags and dank caverns. No one can tell. But the fact remains that the creature is gone, searching for the One Ring, and the Nazgûl are unleashed, searching for him, and also searching for the Shire." He made a small pause, swirling the wine irritably in his glass. "We cannot remain idle. The council decided that Elrond must be made aware of this news. I know Elrond well, and a wiser elf-lord there is not. Perhaps he will advise us on what should be done."
"I see. Then let me take the news to Elrond, father. Send not another messenger but me", Legolas offered keenly.
"But the road is beset with danger, and you are the heir, my Prince", Daenerys spoke.
"If I do not make it to Imladris, then none will", said the young elf with unyielding determination.
Thranduil sighed. "I expected no less from you, my son. You may choose freely the companions you wish to take along in this journey. Take Tauriel, too, for she loves you deeply, and she will do everything she can to keep you from harm; in that I trust her. Take with you the ones you trust most, for the days have grown darker, and the foul creatures in the forest have multiplied and grown bolder. Your skill with the bow is unmatched, but as your father I will always worry, my child."
Legolas gave his father a sad smile. "I know. But worry not. I will deliver the news to lord Elrond."
"Then you must make ready, Legolas, for the journey to Imladris is a long one, and you must cross the Hithaeglir. The weather is still mild, but those mountains are treacherous", Thranduil said.
"Give me a day's time and I shall be ready to depart."
"So be it."
Then the Elvenking took his son in his arms, and the two ellyn shared a brief embrace. Daenerys watched this display of affection with tenderness in her heart. If only I could give him a child…
"Farewell now, Legolas. I will see you once you are ready to leave."
The Prince nodded, and then walked out of the room. Thranduil turned to Daenerys with a frown, and drank deeply from his wine.
"Legolas will be alright. Do not worry", she said, rising from her seat to come closer to him.
"I do not doubt his skill with a blade or bow. But it pains me to be parted from my only child so soon after he returned to me", he confessed.
"He will be back before you know it. He only goes as a messenger, after all", she tried to soothe him.
Will he? Something in Thranduil's heart told him that it might not be so, a voice whispered in his head that Legolas was setting off to meet his destiny, which did not include his father or the Woodland Realm.
"I hope you are right", he murmured. "The fates stir in Middle-Earth, Daenerys. Evil tidings reach us from afar. Saruman has abandoned the path of wisdom and betrayed us, siding with Sauron and becoming his servant, and is amassing orc forces in Isengard. It will fall upon the people of Rohan to face him. But Théoden King is old and weary…" He shook his head. "And it seems that Mithrandir has vanished. I wrote to Celeborn, asking if he has any news of the wizard, but no reply has come as of yet. And the cesspits of Dol Guldur are overflowing with monsters, orcs and wargs and spiders, in numbers as we have never before seen. How long before these forces are organized and ready for war? How long before they unleash an attack against our borders?"
Daenerys touched his arm. "I will burn them all for you", she whispered to him with fervor, and he turned to look into her eyes. "I will burn every foul creature that will dare set foot in your realm."
"Daenerys…"
"They may have great numbers, but I have dragons. Let us see how they fare against them."
She turned and walked to the balcony. A crisp autumn wind was blowing, and it tousled her silver hair, causing locks to escape her braid. She looked into the distance, imagining her dragons setting the battlefield aflame. I will burn Thranduil's enemies to ashes. No one will touch us here. If Sauron thinks we will be easy to conquer, he is gravely mistaken.
Thranduil came and stood behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Your words do give me courage, I wish you to know that."
She turned her face to him and smiled. "Have I not promised to be your ally?"
"You have."
"And have I not agreed to be your Queen? What kind of Queen would I be if I did not defend my people?"
"Yes, you will be my Queen. But, Daenerys…" he hesitated. She turned to him fully and gave him a questioning look. "I fear we will need to postpone the wedding", he said mournfully. "It cannot happen while Legolas is away."
"Oh… Of course. I understand. Your son must be present. We shall wait for him to return, then", she assented.
He nodded. "Thank you, beloved." And he dropped a feathery kiss on her lips.
She smiled. "Now, would you like to see the dragons? It has been long since you last saw them up close."
He stood thoughtful for a moment, but then he said, "Alright. I suppose I need to see how much they have grown."
They left then the Halls and she led him uphill along a winding path, until they reached the craggy eastern side of the hill, where the dragons nestled. They found Drogon dozing in the sun, while his brothers were finishing off some prey they had hunted earlier.
"There you are, my children", Daenerys said happily, and approached the black dragon. He sleepily lifted his head and snorted, accepting his mother's caress.
Thranduil gazed at them, taking in their sheer size. "They have truly grown into majestic beasts", he said in awe.
"They are not beasts to me. No matter how large and terrifying to the others they might grow, to me they will always be my children", she said, stroking Drogon's nose.
He smiled and went to her. "You are their mother", he said, acknowledging the truth in her words.
"I think Drogon is nearly large enough to bear a rider, and fly to battle", she said.
"Do you think you can ride the dragon?"
"I will", she responded firmly. "But the day has not come yet. It will, though."
He touched her chin and kissed her lips. "I love how your eyes shine with determination. I love my brave Queen."
She chuckled. "You have a way with words, my King. You know how to win people over. Such a charmer you are."
It was his turn now to laugh. But the sound of his laughter attracted the other two dragons' attention, and, having consumed their meal, they crawled towards the pair. Viserion craned his neck towards his mother, seeking her touch. "Oh, Viserion! Always you are the most playful", she said with a smile, and stroked the cream dragon between the eyes. He folded his wing around her, covering her protectively.
"They are grown so large", Thranduil noted.
"Two years have passed since they hatched. I could hold them in my hands then, but now… I could climb onto their backs and they would barely feel my weight. And they will grow much more, Thranduil, now that they are free to fly and hunt at will."
"You spend many hours with them daily. Have you managed to train them at all? Do they obey you better now?" he asked, remembering how rebellious they were a few months past.
"They are fierce, yes… But they are better behaved now", she replied with a smile. "I try to give them commands, and they more often than not obey me. Drogon is the one who responds better to my calls. My bond with him is the strongest, and I feel he will be the one I will one day ride", she said, turning her attention from Viserion to the black dragon. He blinked as she touched him and snorted a puff of smoke.
Rhaegal then approached Thranduil, growling low in his throat. "What is he doing?" the Elvenking wondered.
"I think he is complaining that he is not getting enough attention. Try and touch him, as you have done before", she suggested.
He gave her a look of disbelief and chose to stay where he was. But the green dragon flapped his wings and whimpered once more, and Thranduil was at last persuaded to do as Daenerys had proposed. Rhaegal lowered his head and Thranduil reached with his fingers and touched the dragon's nuzzle. There was again the feeling of the hot scales under his fingertips, which shot a shiver through his body. Encouraged by the dragon's stillness, he stroked his nose, and reached between his eyes, as he had seen Daenerys do. Rhaegal blinked and let out a snort of contentment, but the sudden sound scared Thranduil and he retracted his hand. The dragon blinked at him once more and then crawled away, reaching the edge of the cliff and then taking off to the sky.
Daenerys, having observed the exchange, went to Thranduil. "You know", she started, "it is quite uncommon for a dragon to let you touch him. And Rhaegal seems to have taken a liking to you from the start", she remarked.
"I believe he senses something… Perhaps it is the magic that connects us. Dragons and elves are creatures in which magic in inherent."
"Yes, you have told me that. You must be right. It is a good thing that you are somehow bonding with him, and you have overcome your fear and hatred of dragons", she said.
"Not of all dragons", he corrected her.
"But these are the only ones that matter", she said.
"Them, and their witty mother, who is a dragon as well", Thranduil told her lovingly.
She laughed. "Yes, and their mother also."
He drew her in his arms then and kissed her deeply. "Tell me that we will win this war", he murmured.
"We will, Thranduil. We will." She kissed his cheek. "Not because we have dragons, but because we are in the right, and our cause is just. We will not let evil prevail. We will not let Sauron dominate and destroy this fair, magical world."
He looked far into the distance, where the green dragon flew before the sun, and he whispered, "We will."
More than a month went by, and autumn was now well in its course. The leaves on the trees had turned red and golden, and the days had shortened. And though some warmth still lingered under the daylight, the nights were cold, harbingers of the coming winter. And still no news reached the Elvenking of his son's mission, for he had gone to Rivendell and not yet returned.
One such afternoon he was in his chambers and dining with Daenerys, and the matter of the Prince's absence was in their discussion.
"I wonder what is going on in Imladris, and why Legolas has not returned yet. They should have at least sent a messenger to us", the King said.
"Important things must be taking place there. Legolas surely has a reason for his delay", Daenerys offered.
"It must be so. I trust Elrond. He will not be keeping my son lightly. Certainly events have occurred that we are not yet aware of", he surmised, trying to listen to reason, and not his worrying heart. "The Nazgûl are rumored to have crossed the Isen and to be heading for the Shire. They may have already discovered it, for all we know", he said.
"Lord Elrond surely knows all this. He must be considering what is to be done", she said.
"Yes…"
A knock on the door disrupted their conversation, and the Elvenking allowed entrance. His butler Galion appeared, and handed him a letter.
"What is this?"
"It is from lord Elrond, my lord", Galion said, and then bowed and left.
"A letter from Elrond, at last!" exclaimed Thranduil, and hastily broke the seal and unrolled the parchment.
For the next few moments he was reading the letter with a furrowed brow and great intensity in his eyes that only grew as he read on, and Daenerys dared not interrupt him. When he was done, he dropped the paper on the table and said, "The One Ring has been found."
"What?"
"It is in the possession of a hobbit named Frodo Baggins. Aragorn of the Dúnedain accompanied him and his fellows to Imladris, and there came also Mithrandir, who was for a time imprisoned in Orthanc, and thus his traces had been lost. Boromir, the son of the Steward of Gondor also arrived in Imladris bearing news of Sauron's attack on Osgiliath, and also seeking counsel for a strange dream he and his brother both had. And dwarves were there too, Glóin and his son Gimli of Erebor, seeking Elrond's counsel as well, for a messenger of Sauron had come to Erebor and inquired about Bilbo Baggins. And Elrond held a council at his house, where the fate of the ring was decided. A company of nine was formed, and Legolas joined this fellowship in their quest to bring the ring to Mordor and destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom", the Elvenking concluded with a sigh, and cast his eyes low. "My son, my tender-hearted son, ever willing to aid those who would seek his help… And his restless spirit, ever unable to resist the call of adventure."
"He is young, Thranduil. In his age you would have done the same", Daenerys observed.
He stood thoughtful for a moment, and then picked up his fork. "Perhaps", he said, taking a bite of cheese.
Daenerys took the letter from where Thranduil had abandoned it and read it herself. What lord Elrond wrote was of grave importance. It meant that the fates of the world were stirring, and war had already begun.
"We are officially at war, then", she murmured, as she lifted her eyes from the parchment.
"Indeed."
"I guess this wedding will truly have to wait", she said with a sad smile.
Thranduil sighed. "So it seems."
"We must look to fortify the realm."
"Fortifications have already been made; I have seen to it months ago. But I must relay the news to the council, and then go and inspect our borders. Attacks may be expected at any time now, even though I do not think we shall be Sauron's first target. His black hand touched Osgiliath first, and that fair city of Gondor now lies in ruin. But Minas Tirith must hold; it has to stand strong, otherwise it will be much more difficult, nigh impossible, to keep Sauron's forces in check. Gondor is the main defense against the Shadow of Mordor."
"Gondor might be the most obvious target for Sauron, and they will surely suffer the worst of his attacks. But Dol Guldur lies to the south of our borders, and is, too, a stronghold of Sauron. I would not be surprised if he chose to attack simultaneously on both fronts", Daenerys opined.
"I do not disagree. We have the black fortress under sleepless watch, and scouts report to me daily of its state. We are ready for an attack, but it may not come for some time yet", Thranduil said.
"Then we must use all the time we have to our advantage, and prepare as best we can. And I think my dragons are almost ready to fly to battle", she said.
"This is good news. The mere sight of the flying dragons is bound to terrify the orcs", he commented with a small smile.
"I hope it will not terrify the elven soldiers, too."
He reached for her hand across the table. "Come with me south, and inspect the fortifications with me. And take Drogon along. Let the soldiers see you and the dragon", he proposed.
"You would really take me with you?"
"Of course. You are my Queen", he spoke in a deep voice.
"Thranduil…" she breathed his name and squeezed his hand. "I will gladly come with you."
He smiled, and kissed her knuckles. "My Queen. My dragon Queen."
They rode through the dark and dense woods, the Elvenking with Daenerys and their retinue. They wore heavy garments and fur-lined cloaks, for winter had come, and snow covered the forest floor. Daenerys was dressed in white and grey, and her hair was done in a long braid. Thranduil's attire was deep blue in color, and on his head was his wintry crown of twigs and frosted leaves. He rode first of the column on his great elk, and behind him followed Daenerys on her white horse. For many long days they rode, and further south and west they went, until at last one morn in late December they reached the westernmost outpost.
The Wood-elves had made their fortifications along the Old Forest Road, which was very long ago built by the dwarves, but was very seldom used now. The forest was less dense there, as the road cut a straight line through it, traversing it from east to west. And though now it was overgrown, the path was still visible, and it could provide the elven outposts with quick correspondence, in the case of an attack. Such outposts were built every few miles, and barricades blocked the way in-between. Guards patrolled the line continuously, and made sure to keep the threats at bay.
But now all soldiers gathered to greet their King, as he rode into the camp and dismounted. The leader of the soldiers came forth and bowed.
"Le suilon, aran nín Thranduil. We had received message of your impending arrival and were expecting you. I hope you will not find our defenses lacking. Le nathlam hí", he said.
"When last I visited this outpost everything was at place. I trust it will be no different now", Thranduil responded. He then gestured for Daenerys to come and stand by his side. "This is Daenerys", he said to the guards, "of whom you have heard. One of the dragons has flown along. You will see him soon. Be not alarmed, for he will not harm you. The dragons are here for our defense."
"Yes, my lord. We are aware of the lady Daenerys and her dragons", said the leader, and then turned to her. "Welcome, my lady."
He then led the pair and their companions to the small camp, which was well-hidden in the forest, and located just north of the road. A quick look around informed Daenerys that this camp housed a force of around fifty elves, give or take, which struck her as a small number. When she asked Thranduil about it, he answered, "It might seem small, but it is enough. Many are the outposts along the way, but the numbers of the Wood-elves are diminished. The Kingdom is not as populous as it used to be in the time of my father's reign. After the great war at the end of the Second Age our numbers were devastated, and we have not recovered since."
"But more than three thousand years passed…"
"Yes, but we elves are an immortal race, and we do not tend to reproduce very often. And many of the eldest ones have chosen to depart for Valinor, weary of their long lives and the endless battles, which bring only more sorrows", he explained.
Daenerys listened to him carefully, and a sadness filled her heart. Often had Thranduil spoken of the fate of elvenkind, but it seemed even bleaker now in the face of war. Humans were mortal, but they multiplied fast, and even after devastating wars their numbers soon managed to recover. She could see now it was not so with the elves, and what few remained in Middle-Earth were destined to either die in battle, sail to the Undying Lands, or fade. Soon this magnificent race would be all but lost from the world, its once illustrious deeds and glory to remain only as threadbare legends and tales of yore, to be narrated as fairy tales around the fire or sung as lullabies to children.
Daenerys' musings were interrupted by a soldier who came and brought them water to drink and bread and cheese to eat. They were now in the leader's tent in the camp and sat on low wooden stools. "Forgive the modest meal I offer you, my lord and lady. Our provisions are scant, and it takes long to replenish our supply stores."
"This will be corrected, Methedir. I will see that you receive sufficient provisions frequently", the King said.
"Thank you, my lord."
In silence they began to eat, but not long passed before a loud roar tore the sky. All the soldiers jumped out of their tents, and those standing guard lifted their bows in alertness. A shadow appeared high up in the sky, as Drogon began his descent.
"Hold your fire!" Thranduil called, emerging from the tent, followed by Daenerys and Methedir. "It is the dragon I told you about. Behold him, but fear him not. He will not harm you, unless you threaten him."
The elves stood still, probably frozen in fear and awe, as Drogon flapped his great wings, balancing in mid-air before landing. He roared again, and the elves shrunk away from him.
But Daenerys walked forth. "Drogon!" she called, and the black serpent turned his head towards her. "These are my people now. We must defend them from the enemies", she told him, reaching for him and touching his nose. "Do not scare them needlessly."
Drogon snorted and shook his head, causing his blood-red spinal plates to shake with the movement, but eventually he yielded to her command, and fell silent. The elves watched her as she spoke with the dragon and touched him without fear, and realized that there was a mystical bond between her and him. Slowly they recovered from their stupor, and made to come closer to the dragon. He noticed them and snorted again, but showed no sign of aggressiveness. Daenerys was always standing next to him, with her palm resting against his neck. "This is Drogon, the boldest and deadliest of my three dragons. We come from another world, and inexplicable events of magic brought us here. But we are your allies, and I have vowed to fight against the darkness of Sauron. With your valor, our King's guidance and the might of my dragons, we will stand against the Shadow, and we will win this war!" she cried, seeking to rouse the elves and bolster their morale.
For a few moments there was deathly silence in the camp, but suddenly the soldiers broke out in loud cheer, lifting their weapons and brandishing them high. Drogon joined in with a loud roar, and Daenerys let out a breath she had not realized she was holding. A burden was lifted from her chest, and she smiled broadly at the cheering elves. They had accepted her and the dragons, and were even celebrating their presence. She glanced at the Elvenking then, where he stood tall and still and beautiful as a marble statue, and his shimmering eyes were filled with pride and admiration for her.
This is my Queen, he thought. A leader born, destined to inspire men. And a smile graced his fine features, as he looked back at Daenerys.
Then Methedir stepped closer to Daenerys and knelt before her. "My lady, you bring great power with you. Thank you for committing it to our cause", he said reverentially.
Daenerys walked away from Drogon, and he flew off into the sky, causing the elves to gaze at his majesty once more before he was lost in the distance. "You have nothing to thank me for, lord Commander. I do as my heart tells me, and I know your cause is just. The Shadow must never prevail. But I must thank you deeply for accepting me, even though I am an outlander, and I bring along dragons, who I know are abhorred in this world."
"Yes, my lady. But we trust our King, and we have also seen with our own eyes that the beast obeyed you and sought to attack none. And so we welcome you and your dragons", he replied.
"Good", she said with a warm smile, and then walked to Thranduil.
He led her towards the barricades. A large tower was built there, and it was mainly made of stone, save for its wooden roof. Archers stood at the topmost floor, watching the forest vigilantly. At the base of the tower was a heavy door, which Daenerys assumed served as a passage to the southern side. Smaller towers stood to some distance from the main one towards the east and west. In-between were wooden barricades built in the rocky ground, and guards walked here and there, dressed in plate armor and armed to the teeth.
"Had we enough time and resources, we could built a proper wall along the road", he said, gazing at the fortifications with a frown. "And still it might not be enough to hold the hordes of the enemy."
At the mention of the wall Daenerys' mind traveled to the stories of the Wall in the north she had heard as a child. The Wall was supposed to protect the realm from foreign invaders, be it wildlings or nightmarish creatures. But the Wall was made of ice and stood several hundred feet tall, and it was also manned and defended by the Sworn Brothers of the Night's Watch. This meagre wall here could not stand against the attacking hordes of Sauron. Thranduil was right.
"It will not be the stone and wood that will protect us from the enemy, but the brave soldiers. Have you not told me that elven fighters have not their equal in combat, and that they are very resilient and enduring?" she said.
"Yes… But still, it pains me to know we cannot protect ourselves better. We are not the wealthiest Kingdom, and yet we are the largest. And I have no Ring of Power to wield and call upon its preserving and protecting powers. All I do I do on my own, with my own powers, and with the aid of none", he said bitterly.
"You have me now as well, and the dragons. And you have allies, Thranduil. Lothlórien and Imladris would answer your call, should you ask for their aid", she reminded him.
"Would they? They have their own troubles to mind."
"They would. They would not abandon their kin to ruin."
He looked at her and took her hand, as they ascended the tower. "You are right, my heart. I am prone to bitterness, forgive me."
She squeezed his hand in understanding, and spoke no more. Thranduil conversed with the archers, listening to their reports, their experiences so far and their complaints. So far few orc raiding parties had approached the borders, and no elf was seriously harmed, but they had need for more blankets, as winter had come. The King promised them their requests would be answered, and then made for the encampment.
Night was falling fast, and a few fires were being lit now. The guards of the night shift took their posts, and others came to eat and rest. Methedir discreetly asked the Elvenking if Daenerys would require a separate tent for the night, raising the subject in the knowledge that she was to be his Queen. For he had announced his betrothal to her long ago, and even the elves at the faraway outposts had heard of the news. When the offer of a separate tent was declined, the Commander led them to the one they had prepared for the King, and they settled inside. An elf brought them bowls of roast chestnuts and winter berries, as well as water. To Thranduil's disappointment, wine was nowhere to be found in the camp.
They sat and consumed their food, feeling thankful for it. Daenerys found the chestnuts particularly tasty. "In Essos, where I grew up, they are a rare delicacy. They do not grow in the warm summer-lands, I suppose…"
Thranduil smiled, and reached to gently caress her cheek. His fingertips were cold, but that did not bother her. "But there are chestnuts, after all. Perhaps our worlds are not too different", he said.
"No… And I have come to love this world, Thranduil. Thank you for allowing me to come with you to the border. It was a relief to see that the guards accepted the dragons. It will make their presence in the forthcoming battles a tad easier, as the soldiers will not cower in fear as they will fly above their heads", Daenerys said.
His fingers now threaded through her hair, as her braid came loose. She leaned against his shoulder, feeling relaxed and peaceful. "I expect the reception will be more or less the same in the other outposts. Have courage, though, for our journey along the Old Forest Road has just begun. I expect it to last for at least a month", he murmured.
"A little bit of hardship does not scare me. I have suffered hardship in the heat, and then I was barely above the rank of a slave. Now it is hardship in the cold, and I am almost a Queen", she commented with a small smile.
"Not almost. To me you are my Queen", he told her tenderly, dropping a kiss atop her head. "When the soldiers cheered for you, my heart fluttered in happiness and pride. The feeling was so deep and immense that words betray me… I cannot describe it properly to you, my love."
"You need not describe it to me. I saw the look in your eyes, and they spoke more eloquently than words ever could", she replied.
They kissed then, and spent the night in each other's arms. And when the golden dawn came, they mounted their steeds and left the westernmost outpost behind, heading now for their next destination, with the sun in their faces and light in their hearts.
Translations
adar = father (Sindarin)
Le suilon, aran nín Thranduil = I greet you, my king Thranduil (Sindarin)
Le nathlam hí = You are welcome here (Sindarin)