Light and Shadows (Thranduil's story post BOTFA)

Memories of Mirkwood

" But there was in Thranduil's heart a still deeper shadow" - Tolkien

Chapter note: I have always imagined Thranduil's late wife to look like Arwen and be just as gentle and ethereal as her. Hence her description later in the chapter. Also, I Googled her name (lol!) to see if there is any officially recognized name that people give her and there isn't, but one particular name appeared that resonated with me so I will go with this one.

600 years before, in Greenwood (not yet turned into Mirkwood)

Thranduil went into the forest with a group of soldiers as there had been reports of orcs crossing the Southern border. Even with Sauron's downfall, there were still shadows of the old horrors that the King had lived and reminders that perhaps evil would never truly go away from Middle-Earth.

They discovered a group of orcs and killed them, however, that was not the only thing they found at the Southern border of Greenwood. As the fight quickly ended, Thranduil and his scouts found a few fellow elves fallen on the green leaves mixed with mud. They had been killed by the orcs. Thranduil's eyes looked at the few scattered bodies as he felt a combination of anger and sadness inside of him. The situation was far worse than he had believed. Peace had perhaps always been a mere illusion as the shadow of Mordor never truly went away. However, he deeply desired to hold onto that fragile peace...

'My lord', he heard the voice of Maldir, the captain who came with him on the raid. 'This one is alive, I believe.'

He went where Maldir was looking down and found a body hidden behind a large tree. It was a Silvan elleth, no more than 100 years old. Her young face was splashed with blood and she was gazing towards the sky, her eyelids half-closed. Her hair was red as fire and her long locks were scattered around her body. Thranduil did not know whether she was conscious or unconscious but the important thing was that she was alive. He bent towards her and she seemingly looked at him, her eyes opening a bit more, a green light shining behind them. She looked as if in pain.

'My lord?', Maldir's voice was heard again.

'She needs a healer', Thranduil said, looking at the elleth.

'I can ask one of my men to carry her on horseback, hopefully, she can make the journey to the fortress.', the captain replied.

'No', Thranduil answered, 'I will carry her.'

His beautiful tunic touched the mud and fallen leaves as he bent to the ground and firmly lifted her body until she was fully in his arms.

'Prepare to leave', he ordered Maldir.

He started walking, carrying the Silvan elleth in his arms as if she were a feather. He did not notice her pained eyes lingering on him all the way to his elk...

Thranduil was in his private meetings chamber. The walls were made of stone and the furniture was beautifully carved from wood. Daylight was coming in strongly from an opening in the wall and the sounds of a nearby river filled the atmosphere. He was holding a letter in his hand. Two months passed since he had no news from Legolas and now finally he was looking at his son's handwriting. The letter was short, Legolas was telling him he had arrived well in the Northern wilderness and found Strider. He was thanking Thranduil for telling him to meet with this young man and he was sending his best wishes. 'His best wishes...', Thranduil thought. So formal, distant and unlike his son. A very short letter but at least he had one. At least he knew his son was safe. For the moment.

As he was folding the precious letter with heavy eyes, a knock was heard and shortly after Feren came inside the room.

'Well?', Thranduil asked with his eyes still on the piece of paper in his hands, 'What news do you have for today?'