Agony • Concealed Memories | | Thranduil

09 • Jewels of pure starlight

From the moment the new light had dawned and Thranduil had opened his eyes, it had haunted his mind. The king regretted the harsh words he had shouted at his wife, the accusations that had wounded her heart. Ideally he would have taken back his words, but what was done was done.

More than anything, he wished her her freedom back, the world that lay at her feet, but he could not risk losing her. The world out there was dangerous, full of orcs and goblins and dragons, robbers and poachers and tempestuous weather. Legolas needed his mother. She knew that.

But his harsh words, however justified his concern, had hurt her deeply. She didn't speak of it, but her eyes were absent for the rest of the day. Thranduil didn't know how to apologize, how to show that he would give her back her freedom the moment it would be possible. When Legolas was old enough, they would travel together. The idea terrified him, but he couldn't lock his family between the walls of his kingdom.

Anything, he would do for her. For her, he would walk for days through seas of fire and face hundreds of dragons. A beauty like her, he had to shower with the most beautiful flowers and the most dazzling jewelry, shining like the stars in the sky on a summers night. And that was exactly what he would give her. A piece of jewelry that would bring back her smile.

'Beloved,' a voice sounded and Thranduil looked up. The door to the sleeping chamber was ajar and Elithien peaked in curiously. Legolas stood at her feet. Giggling, the young elf ran up to him and hugged his legs. 

'I won't be here today, dear,' Thranduil said to his wife. 'I have some business to attend to with the dwarves in Erebor. I will not return until late.'

She nodded and called her son to her. 'Then I shall see you when the moon is high. Be carefull'. She smiled and closed the door again. Thranduil glanced out the window. It was a beautiful day for a ride. He was even willing to meet the dwarves for that.

With wide strides, Thranduil walked through the corridors, down the stairs, toward the dungeons. For there were not only prisons to be found there. In the depths of the earth were the riches of Mirkwood.

Thranduil nodded to his guards, whose stature immediately stiffened when they saw him. They bowed deeply and opened the heavy doors they guarded. Mountains of gold and silver loomed on either side of the room. Gleaming jewels sparkled in the light of the burning lanterns. Thranduil, however, did not bat an eye at the riches of his kingdom. He walked straight to the back of the table, where there stood a table with a small chest on its surface, not much bigger than both his hands.

The treasure chest of Thingol, passed down from his ancestors and eventually ending up in the hands of Oropher. Thranduil opened the lid. Gleaming jewels of pure starlight lay beading in the ancient wooden chest. Thranduil smiled and thanked Thingol for his greediness.

He took the chest under his arm and left the treasure room. He called his men together and prepared to leave. With four of his loyal guards, he set off into the forest. It had been a long time since he had visited the dwarves. They kept mostly to themselves, except for festivities.

At the edge of Mirkwood, Thranduil followed Long Lake toward The Lonely Mountain. Where the river flowed into the huge lake they stopped. Thranduil looked out over the clear, rippling water on which fishing boats bobbed on the surface. His eyes slid across the water to the base of the mighty mountain, to the entrance of Erebor.

The woodlandelves dismounted and made their way to the ferryboat that lay ashore. A human was tying ropes on board.

'My dear fellow, perhaps you could do me a service. I am willing to pay any price,' the king asked the man.

The man straightened his back, continueing to knot his ropes and nodded. 'Of course, lord, it would be my honor. Where do you wish to go?'

The king looked up at the mighty mountain reaching for the clouds in the distance and the man nodded. 'Please, come aboard.'