At first light, Celeborn, Haldir, Rúmil, and Orophin left for Lothlórien with the escorts chosen for them. Fëaluin stood with me as we watched them disappear beneath the forest brush before us.
"I grow tired of war, Fëaluin," I said. "I do not think I can fight another battle."
"You can and you will," he said. "This war is unlike any we have seen or will see again. There is not a creature in this world that must bear arms against this evil."
"It seems I lost my father not more than a day ago and my beloved wife yesterday," I said. "Now Legolas is out there somewhere doing what I must do once more. If I can fall in his place, then at least I will find some peace."
"You will not fall," he said. "You are not destined to fall."
"How do you know this, Fëaluin," I asked.
"My father told me that when you were born, Oropher said that his son would be the last great Elvenking in all of Arda."
"Father said many things," I answered. "Most of which while he had a bit too much miruvor to drink."
"You are still here, are you not?"
"But for how long, Fëaluin," I asked.
Soon Aranduil approached me and lifted his arms to me. I picked him up. He had just awoken and was still in his nightclothes.
"Yes, Aranduil," I asked. "What can I do for you?"
"Hold me, please," he yawned.
Fëaluin laughed.
"Your great-grandson seems to take after his other great-grandfather."
"Which one," I asked. "Elranduil or Nimlos?"
"Must you ask, Thranduil," he asked smiling.
We made our way into the palace just as Aradúlin came to me. I handed Aranduil to her.
"He seemed to have wandered away from the others this morning," she said. "He is rather anxious this morning with all this talk of war."
"How would he know of such things," I asked.
"He wanders everywhere with Nenduîl and Tárimë. Where you go they will follow."
This news disturbed me for I did not wish them to worry more than I knew they already had.
"Where are they now, Aradúlin," I asked.
"I believe Linurial said they were in your chambers," she answered.
"Yes," Aranduil said. "They are in there. Nana, I am hungry."
"Of course," she said. She bowed and went her way with her son.
"I need to have a word with Nenduîl and Tárimë," I said.
"Plenty, I would say," Fëaluin said. He took his leave to my study and I went to my chambers.
I found Nenduîl and Tárimë resting in my bed—just waking for the morning. I sat beside Nenduîl on the bed as he slowly sat upright.
"Nenduîl, have you been listening when you should not," I asked as Tárimë sat up.
"Yes, Ada," He said. "I want to know why you are leaving."
"I am not leaving," I said. "Not for some time. You should not listen to others without permission."
"Why are you going away," Tárimë asked. "Are you going away forever?"
"No, Tárimë," I said. "I will return. But I must protect you, your sister, and everyone in Mirkwood from danger. You must not worry about such things."
YOU ARE READING
Book II: The Saga of Thranduil
Fanfiction"I am Thranduil, I was born to rule." The Saga of Thranduil has been called many things by those that have read it--from Fan Fiction to a Continuation of the stories of Middle Earth given to us by the legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien. It is the story...
