The Forgotten Ring

Disclaimer: All familiar characters of this story belong to the awesome world and works of JRR Tolkien, who is an unparalleled genius of this genre. All unfamiliar and original characters, animals and places are of my own invention. I do not derive any monies from this work and created this story solely out of the love and respect that I hold for all of the works related to this canon.

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The Forgotten Ring
by Sienna Dawn


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ChapChapter 10 - In the King's Audience

Haldir nodded his thanks to the elven messenger as the door was held open for him. Beyond it, two armed sentries snapped to attention at his entry. King Eadril turned and held out his hands toward Haldir, a wide smile on his lips.

"Haldir, mae govannen!" The King shook hands with Haldir and turned toward his son, Prince Ronihim. The Prince regarded Haldir with mixed emotions. Both elves acknowledged each other with a curt nod of the head.

While King Eadril was tall and dark-haired, Ronihim was built somewhat differently. Shorter than most elves, his body was less leaner and graceful. It was rumored that Ronihim's mother may have had dwarf blood in her lineage, but this was so far just a rumor. Certainly, Ronihim did not physically resemble most elves, his body stocky and compact, lacking the sleek movements elves were known for.

Eadril, on the other hand, was the very picture of elven finesse. Dark-eyed like the Lady Eridani, Eadril's physical form was very much like Elrond's, tall and lithe, graceful and grave. It was easy to see the shared bloodline between the great elf lords.

But while Eadril strove to rule his realm with justice and fairness, taking an interest in all events and situations concerning the vast regions that were Thalion Tirion, Ronihim preferred to spend his days riding and doing nothing. His only passion and interest of late seemed to be creating as much havoc as he could for the Lord Commander.

Eadril sighed. He had not desired that this coldness ben hin his son and his most trusted warrior would continue unto this day. He turned calm dark brown eyes toward Haldir.

"I received your message, Haldir." Eadril approached a low rectangular table that was crowded with scrolls, maps and many books. He pushed some aside and opened a large map of Thalion Tirion and motioned for both elves to approach. Each did so in turn, with Haldir standing close to Eadril's right side and Ronihim to his left. Haldir could sense the Prince's thinly masked hostility.

Eadril pointed to the northern marshes of Thalion Tirion, where marauders had often trespassed. "It is here where you first came upon the creature?"

Haldir nodded and placed one hand on the map to hold it open, while he pointed to the larger region to the north of the marshes. "Actually, we were closer to here, within 20 leagues of the Emyn Beriad. Further here," he pointed to the western lands, "are the ancestral homes of the Periannath. We followed the creature for almost three weeks. I think he tried to lose our trackers and coiled back on several loops, hoping to lose us. When we fell back 40 leagues, he thought he had lost us and crossed the western marshes headed toward the Gulf of Lhun, which is now called Half Bay. It is here...."

Rohimim interrupted, "Are there any Periannath left there still?" He looked toward Haldir.

Cool blue eyes met intense ones and Haldir shook his head, "Not so as to make us notice. The halflings deserted their Shire long before the new Middle Earth. There are none now that live to tell what became of them all." Haldir's heart sorrowed for the demise of the race of the little stout and brave people who had single-handedly dragged Men into tourtourth Age and braved the title of "the people who destroyed the One Ring of Doom". He shook his head again.

"I have seen none in all these long years."

Ronihim pressed further, "And so, in this unlivable marsh, where not even the Periannath dwell, where the sea water is a foul, stinking pond, you would have us believe that Yrch have returned to Middle Earth and there have taken up residence?" Ronihim crossed his arms and stared coldly at Haldir.

Walking around Haldir, the Prince pressed again. "And tell us, Commander, how did the Yrch come to Middle Earth?" His eyes mocked Haldir. Tapping his chin with a forefinger, Prince Ronihim continued, "Ah yes, I recall now." He turned cold eyes to his father, "The Valar did it." With a mocking smile directed at Haldir, Ronihim sat and shook his head.

Haldir stared at the elf with a stony expression.

But Ronihim was not yet finished baiting Haldir. "But, let us accept that your story is as you say. One Orch was spared the reformation of Middle Earth. How did this Orch...ahem..." Ronihim cleared his throat with a sardonic laugh. "How did the creature make other little baby Yrch?" His tone was both incredulous and sarcastic. He smiled smugly at Haldir, eyes narrowed with antipathy toward his father's Commander. Ronihim had never trusted this tall elf, not since Haldir first appeared at the right hand of the Lord Elrond.

Haldir did not miss the taunt but chose to ignore it. He instead directed his response to Eadril, knowing this would infuriate the younger elf.

"This of no consequence nor a matter for debate, my Lord. Whether it is a livable or inhospitable marsh, the fact is that we were set upon by a creature that very much carries Orch features and unless I am mistaken, spoke the Black Speech of Mordor. And what worries me greatly is that they have escaped the keen eyes of the Eagles and the Ryders." He straightened away from the table and looked directly into the King's eyes.

"I will be frank, my King." Haldir's eyes were steady and determined, his jaw set. Those who knew him well would realize he stood by every word he was about to say, "The present state of security on Thalion Tirion, combined with the current method of rank-system used to determine and implement defensive and offensive strategy, leave me in doubt of our abilities to quickly secure a fighting garrison if the need arises. Even with the speed of the Eagles, we are still vulnerable."

Haldir stared hard at Eadril. His voice was intense and passionate, pronouncing the last sentence slowly and deliberately, so as to have the greatest effect.

But Ronihim chose the moment to attack. "Is not this strategy and implementation your responsibility, Lord Haldir?" He smirked triumphantly. Looking over at his father, he noticed the older elf seemed tired.

Haldir's eyes flashed for a moment and then his emotions were again under an iron control. "Yes, they are, but I was instructed to seek approval for all changes before their implementation. Unless I am mistaken, my Lord," and now Haldir's voice dropped, "you have instructed all border Commanders to seek approvals to my orders directly from you. This slows down thocesocess if speed were of the utmost. In the case of an attack, your countermand of my orders can prove fatal." His last wordse spe spoken quietly and softly. Haldir's eyes turned cold and hard as he stared at the Prince.

Ronihim shrugged and turned in the chair. He waved his left hand toward Haldir, "This is absurd! I can countermand any order within this realm." His eyes flashed a challenge to Haldir.

"That may be so, my Lord," countered Haldir, "but in such times it is follyexpeexpect..." but he was not to finish his rebuttal for Eadril broke in.

"Enough!" He rounded slowly on both elves. "I will not have you both at each other's throats!" His voice sounded weak. Haldir had not noticed this until now. Was Eadril ill? His eyes carefully inspected the King. He looked weary and could probably use some rest, but Haldir did not like the color of his skin. It shone with a faint yellow pallor and his lifeforce seemed dimmer. Another worry heaped on his heart. If the Lord of Thalion Tirion faded from some unknown ill, it would go very badly for the entire realm, for he doubted that Ronihim was fit to be King.

Eadril was furious at this set of news which had somehow bypassed him. That Haldir's orders were being thwarted by Ronihim was a serious breach of security, but to do so when a dangerous situation presented itself made him wonder, yet again, at his son's ability to govern the realm once he laid down his duty and passed to the West.

Eadril turned to Ronihim, anger evident in the firm set of his jaw. "Ronhim, you will rescind this order immediately. Haldir's orders are to be changed by none other than myself and then upon my absence, by the Council, until a new King is appointed." He glared at his son with meaning.

"So, here it is. Finally," thought Ronihim with disgust. "So he means to pass the realm into the hands of this base-born elf." His eyes ran over Haldir with contempt. He noticed Haldir met his gaze calmly. "Well, we shall see", Ronihim thought.

The silent exchange between Ronihim and Haldir was not lost on Eadril. The King sighed, "When we were given the choice to return to Middle Earth, as it had been reformed and reborn, or stay within the borders of the Blessed Realm, thousands of elves chose to stay in Valinor. But many more chose to return to the land they had loved for centuries, to the forests and rivers that they knew." Eadril closed his eyes and continued.

"But when we came here we realized not all was as before. It seemed newer, cleaner and brighter. The blue of the sky gleamed as no blue we had seen before; the waters of the rivers sang new songs, and even the sad Nimrodel was gone." He looked hard at Haldir.

"And now you tell me that this Shadow has returned? How can this be?" Eadril closed the map and walked slowly away from the table. "Before we left Valinor behind us, we believed that no Shadow would mar the new Middle Earth. We rejoiced that none of the people of Middle Earth would know war again, and we returned to the land we loved, to those who had been chedched from us by war, death and grief. Never did we expect the Shadow of the enemy to stir again. And yet you come to tell me this may very well be happening? How can this be, Haldir?" He crossed the room and sat heavily on a wooden chair, regarding the silent elf gravely.

Haldir realized he was expected to say something. He shook his head, "I know not, my King. When I was returned from the Halls of Mandos a single Orch was returned with me. I do not know if the creatstilstill lives, but it is obvious some sort of Orch survives. It may be that the creatue we found is a descendant of the Orch released with me from Mandos." He turned to the silent Ronihim, who stared back with undisguised suspicion on his face. The sight of that made Haldir stand even more erect.

"I knew not what the Valar intended, my Lords, nor was it within my capacity to force them into any plan of my making." He spoke with a careful and calm tone, but Eadril caught the meaning implied.

"Nor do we imply you have a hand in this, Haldir. For you are like a son to me." Eadril missed the flash of envy in Ronihim's eyes, but Haldir did not. "It is known that you led the elves at the Battle of Hornburg for Helm's Deep, and were there slain by the Uruk." He gazed at Haldir with love and with something that to Ronihim verge ado adoration. What was wrong with his father? he silently raged. Had he too fallen under the spell of Haldir'gic?gic?

Ronihim turned his gaze back to Haldir and found he was being cooly appraised by the elf warrior. Ronihim's face turned surly and he shied away from Haldir's eyes, a message Haldir understood. Haldir hoped that the young prince would outgrow his dislike and petty envy once he realized Haldir had no intention of taking the advantage of the King's favor and wield it in any manner. Such an action would betray the love and trust Eadril had placed on Haldir early on in their friendship. And for his part, Haldir respected the elven King far too much to betray him either by word, deed or thought.

Haldir tried a different approach, for he sensed that his meaning was not being made clear enough, "My King, what I mean to say is that I fear that a new order of Yrch has been let loose on Middle Earth. Somehow Oomberfoot was able to procreate" and at this word his forehead wrinkled with worry, "and must have lived in secret and isolation, skirting elvish lands, for we would have dealt with him at the first hint of trouble." His eyes bored on Ronihim with what he thought was the full intent of his words.

"If we do not stop these creatures now they will rise again and cover the land in Shadow. And this time the Valar will not intercede on our behalf!" Haldir's eyes searched the faces of the royal elves before him. One weary but experienced in statesmanship and not war or battle strategy, and the other far too lost in his own petty cares to comprehend the danger the elves and Middle Earth faced once more.

Eadril spoke first. "Haldir, I will take your words and what you have found to the council and there we will decide on a course of action."

Haldir was taken aback at this. "It is too late for discussion, my King. We must decide now, not later, on what is to be done. For I fear that with each setting sun there may not come a new dawn." Haldir's face was grim.

Eadril sat back in his chair. "It is as serious as that?" he asked without emotion. He had had no idea it would ever come to this, again. "And what of the Dwarves?"

Haldir noted the King's conflict and softened his voice. "Yes, my King. It is that serious. And I do not know if the Dwarves will show an interest unless we can prove Orch activity within their realms. With Dwarves it has always been so. For now, my King, we must proceed quietly so as not to let the Enemy know we suspect, reinforce our borders and inform our allies of our suspicions and we must do this very quickly."

King Eadril seemed to have decided and turned to Ronihim, "Son, you must ride hard and fast to Alasse Imladris and warn Lord Elrond and Prince Elrohir of this new presence on Middle Earth."

Ronihim nodded, "I will father." He looked at Haldir with a look that Haldir could not define. "And what of the Lord Commander? What orders have you?"

Haldir looked toward Eadril and waited for his orders, prepared to carry them to the letter.

Eadril sighed again, "I have no experience in these matters, for I first came to Middle Earth after it was remade and not before." His eyes seemed lost. He turned to Haldir. "I must rely on you, Haldir."

Ronihim bridled at this latest insult. Certainly he came come to accept the fact that his father preferred Haldir to his own flesh and blood, but this? To turn the realm to a mere Commander of the Guard? Impossible! He would not allow this. He came to stand before his father.

"King Eadril," he began in the most formal way he knew and in the manner he usually addressed dignitaries. "It is impossible for you to turn governorship to your Commander. Never once in the history of the elves has this happened."

Haldir ached to correct him, but he let the Prince continue. "As your heir, I should be appointed Commander of the Guard with Haldndernder my command."

Eadril considered the request and then agreed, "Very well, Ronihim, I will grant you this. But first you must ride and see that our kin are told of what he have learned. When you return to Thalion Tirion, then we will make plans and we shall protect our people from further threat."

Haldir fervently hoped that this would be so. He knew that the far vastly experienced Elrond would not agree with Eadril's decision to place him under Ronihim's command, but as Elrond was not master of this realm, there was little save give his counsel, that he could do.

Haldir realized that he would most likely be fighting two battles. One at the edges of the northern realm and the other right here at home. He hoped he had the wisdom and strength to be brave in the face of what was to come.

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Key:

Haldir, mae govannen! = Haldir, well met!

[To be continued...] Feedback appreciated ... :)