The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 13

Legolas smiled appreciatively up at the stars, which were so clear now he was away from the palace. As a very young elf he’d spent most of his nights in the watchtower, which rose above the palace, so that he could watch the stars as they passed over the sky each night. Filgree had always known where to find him when he was feeling lonely or sad; it was a secluded part of the palace, whiarelarely required being used anymore. Since the boarder patrols were set up most battles happened deep within the forest never reaching the palace gates, so the unused watchtower had inadvertently become Legolas’ secret cubby, a place to go to hide and be alone. Even now as he reached his majority the watchtower was still his to hide in if he so ever chose. He had wandered why Thranduil had never objected to him using it, perhaps because of its sheer walls and barely passable labyrinth of stairs and secret corridors. When it had first been built the royal family had used it in times of trouble, they could seal off the tower making it virtually impossible for any enemy to attack them. Now however it lay vacant accept for the spare blankets and stretcher that Legolas left up there for nights when he couldn’t sleep.

Now however they were on the very edge of the forest. The trees had thinned and with no light from the village or the palace every star above him looked like shinny buttons on a black silk blanket. It had taken longer than expected to reach the outpost, they bee been forced to take a longer route, after having met up with a patrol who had reported some orc activity along their chosen path. Legolas had been excited, the prospect of slaying some of the foul beasts that plagued their land made his body tremble with anticipation and adventure. It was not to be however, Filgree had quickly taken them on a different route, leaving the boarder patrol to do any slaying that would be needed. Legolas had pouted for sometime at his tutor’s avoidance of adventure but he couldn’t be angry for long and took up conversation again with his tutor. Quite unusually his tutor was had been quite amusing in his topics of conversation, with retellings of his own childhood stories and that of his brothers. Legolas had found it all quite interesting really. Filgree had hardly ever spoken of his own family and to hear the tutor speak of his family life was quite a treat. Legolas wondered what had caused the tutor to become more animated this night, considering that before they’d departed ways with the two lords of Imaldris, Filgree had hardly said a word.

“Do you wish for some soup penneth, it is warm and will keep you full all night.” Legolas wrapped the blanket tighter around his shoulders as he watched his tutor spoon out two bowls of the steaming broth, he’d been cooking on thee. Ge. Gratefully Legolas accepted the warm bowl and cupped its heat within his hands, inhaling the familiar smell of root and vegetable soup. The outpost was not what Legolas had quite expected. It was merely a suspended wooden platform hung from the bows of a large tree, concealed with leaves, and with only a makeshift roof of twigs and thatch. Admittedly it sported a good view of anything within many leagues or so but it was no comfortable palace. Not that Legolas complained, he had longed to be allowed to join the boarder patrols, and if this was the condition that the guards put up with, then they were perfectly alright for Legolas too. “If you look closely Legolas you can just see the Grey Mountains.” Filgree smiled encouragingly as Legolas squinted hard, out of the from of the outpost in the direction his tutor had pointed. Despite it being dark Legolas could not see any mountain shape objects in the distance, only trees and shadows. Filgree chuckled, as Legolas pouted dramatically having not seen the mountainforefore turning back to the warmth of his soup. “Do no fret Legolas, you will see them eventually, when your eyesight has improved with your age.” Legolas smiled distantly as he tucked his feet under his tutor’s blanket in a cheeky effort to keep them warm. He had not expected the outpost to be this cold but considering it’s exposure out of the forest it was hardly surprising the wind that blew straight through the cabin. Filgree sighed heavily the bright eyes of his young charge taking everything possible in for possible reference. Legolas had never been this far from home and while Filgree saw adventure, excitement and enthusiasm glowing from Legolas features, he also felt the fear and apprehension about what was going on. Perhaps it was time to speak the truth.

“Legolas we need to talk, it is why I have brought you out here.” Filgree’s voice was warm and comforting but Legolas sensed the seriousness of the topic and knew almost immediately what it was about. They had brushed upon it yesterday in the gardens, about Legolas knowing who he was. It had slipped Legolas’ mind until now but the intrigue had been quick to return with its mention.

“It is about my coming of age isn’t it?” Legolas looked not a day over 50 years in that instant and it almost broke Filgree’s heart knowing that innocents would never be replaced, once the truth was spoken. Perhaps that had been why Thranduil had wanted to keep it a secret, so that the last of his youngest son’s innocents was not completely lost. However it was still not fair, Legolas deserved to know, deserved to have the ability to protect himself against the unseen enemy he did not know of. Sighing heavily Filgree sipped from his soup and nodded calmly at his charge.

“Aye that it is penneth, and you must listen carefully to what I will say.” Filgree drained what remained of his soup and waited pntlyntly for Legolas to finish his own bowl before drawing his charge closer to him so that they could share body heat and still be able to whisper to each other above the howling of the wind outside. “Are you comfortable Legolas for this will take some time to explain.” Legolas shifted on his pillow and snuggled into his tutor’s shoulder in an effort to keep warm but still attentive. He had known that this talk was coming, it was said among the villagers that every elf before their coming of age would be spoken to, of life and of things to come. Legolas in his heart had hoped that it would have been his father to speak to him of such things but in reality he knew that Filgree was the much better person to speak to about such matters. His father had not even spoken to Talion or Hale upon their coming of age, leaving it to Filgree to deal with, so Legolas had even less a chance of speaking with his father. Yet Filgree was knowledgeable and would tell him everything he needed to know so Legolas was content in talking to his tutor.

“I am comfortable now Filgree, you may continue.” Filgree chuckled again at the cheekiness of his charge before making sure he heard nothing outside before beginning his talk. It would not do to have people overhear what he had to say.

“Very well.” Taking a deep breathing Filgree began. “I know already Legolas that you understand that with your coming of age there are certain obligations or requirements expected of you, in regards to your family.” Legolas nodded his green eyes sparkling with enrapture as he listened intently to his tutor. “Like your brothers you are expected to marry and produce heirs.” Filgree paused to take a moment to calm himself. He had been preparing all his life for this very moment and yet he could not stifle the tremors the actual event sent coursing through his veins. “You have in your favour what your bothers did not, and that is time. It is not as urgent a need for you to marry as it was for Hale. Now that your father is guaranteed a prosperous marriage for your elder brother there is not the pressure upon you or Talion to do the same, although it is still expected.”

“What if I do not wish to get married? I would like very much to travel before I settle, if indeed I find love at all.” Filgree smiled understandingly at Legolas who looked rather indignant at having been made aware of his obligation. It was not such an unpredicted response from Legolas and Filgree had expected as much. Hale and Talion had had many lovers even before their coming of age and both knew of their duties long before Filgree had spoken with them. But Legolas was not like his brothers, he had been sheltered and hidden away, it was only natural that the elf would want to escape the confines of his fathers reigns to travel and experience things which he had been denied so lso long.

“Yes Legolas that sounds like a very good plan to me…” Legolas smiled triumphantly at hearing his tutor’s encouraging words but the lingering silence at the end of the sentence told Legolas, Filgree had more to say. “But penneth there is a secret you must know before you make any decisions concerning your life.” Legolas nodded blankly before watching intently as his tutor turned to face him so that their noses were barely a hand length away from each other’s. “I have carried this secret since your smiling face arrived in Middle Earth as a new babe in your mothers arms. Only two of us know of this secret but it was decided when your beloved mother past over into Mandos that we would tell you of this burden when you reached your majority.” Legolas was confused but also confounded that his tutor had kept a secret of this seeming importance from him for so long. “Recently you father has forbidden me to tell you of this secret, he has gone back on his sworn promise to your mother but I will not be silenced. It is for you to know your gift even if your father wishes to deny its existence.” Filgree paused as he watched Legolas cock his head slightly to the side his confusion evident as is the apprehension of what is to come.

”Tell me Filgree, tell me what is my fate?” Filgree soothingly placed a hand upon his young charge’s knee calming his student if not himself. For a moment they sat in silence each of them gazing into one another’s eyes, searching for unknown emotions about events so foreign to each other.

“There is an ancient text that is stored in the great libraries of Lothlorien. Hardly anyone knows of its existence anymore having been replaced by tales of much more recent events, over centuries of collection. The wise say the text is a gift from the valar, brought to Middle earth by the very first elves.” Wonder reflected deep within Legolas’ eyes and Filgree took a small hope from Legolas’ attentive nature. Perhaps the young elf would understand this much more easily than Filgree had ever thought he would. “It foretells of a war that tears apart the elvan races, a war which makes kin turn into enemies and divides blood by heritage. It is a signal to our fading time on Middle Earth, a pointer to a time when we will all sail for the west.” Filgree watched as Legolas worked over the information in his mind each new enlightening fact bringing together a much larger puzzle. “The text however tells of something far more important. It speaks of an elf, born among us that possesses the gift to reunite us again, so that when we inevitable all leave for the west, we will leave united again as friends and not as enemies.” The small hope that Filgree had just a moment before died quickly, as confused expression washed over the young prince’s face.

“I do not understand Filgree, what does this text have to doh meh me?” Filgree stifled a sigh in an effort not to confuse Legolas any further. The young prince was looking decidedly pale and although it seemed like he was trying to understand, the concept was just to complex for his young mind to grasp. It is hard to see the future when you have not lived long enough to experience it first hand.

“Do not fret Legolas, I will explain….” Filgree went to continue but was at his feet in an instant as a high-pitched wail screamed through the night. The sound was almost unbearable and Legolas did not know what creature could make such a horrible noise. Filgree however knew exactly what it was an dived stealth fully for his weapons. The scream came again this time accompaniy a y a choir of rampaging feet, grunts, groans and snorts. “Orcs.” The word hard hardly left Filgree’s mouth before a sickening twang echoed into the night and a large black arrow sailed into the outpost barely missing Filgree’s leg by inches and embedding itself into the roof of the hut. Legolas looked fearfully to his tutor who was already at the edge of the guard post loosing arrows at a deadly speed. Instinct had Legolas to his feet in an instantly as he grabbed for his quiver and long knives hastily strapping both items to his body before moving to join his tutor at the edge of the platform. “NO! Stay there.” Filgree caught Legolas’ movement and hastily stayed his charge with a glare. Below him a party of orcs larger than any he had ever seen within the forest were swarming around the base of the tree. Some of them were attempting to climb the tree and reach them but Filgree was shooting them down at each attempt. Filgree cursed himself for not having heard them approach. He had been so in tuned with Legolas that he had missed their foul stench and horrid sounds as they approached. Legolas’ life was endanger and he knew they had to escape rather than fight. Legolas would never be able to fight the amount of orcs below, he just didn’t posses the experience and Filgree would be little help alone against so many.

The situation was becoming worse, Filgree had only a few arrows left and the orcs were beginning to swarm up the tree in threes and fours, too many to kill with just one arrow. Glancing back at Legolas, Filgree saw the fear in the innocent emerald green eyes of his charge. After so long Filgree could not bare to see Legolas’ life end like this, after he’d looked after the young elf for 500 years knowing the secret of the child in his sole care. It was unthinkable and could not happen no matter what. Legolas was the most precious thing in the world and Filgree would be damned if a party of orcs took him away from his destiny. “Legolas, call to the horses. I will distract them and lead them away from the post you must go out through the back and ride to safety and towards help.” Filgree saw Legolas’ fear increase ten fold as the younger elf realised what his tutor was going to do.

“No! You mustn’t, help will arrive, we must stay together.” Filgree was already on the edge of the platform his sword now in hand hacking at anything that came within range, not really caring about the injuries he was receiving from well-placed attacks from below the platform. Legolas pleaded helplessly with his tutor unable to help his eldest friend as he was now forced to protect himself from the advancing orcs up the tree.

“You MUST GO Legolas! Remember, Keep your head up and watch your back, meet their blows but do not retaliate. Run Legolas, Run!” Before Legolas could say anything the vision of his blood soaked tutor disappeared as the elder elf jumped off the platform and down to the forest floor. Legolas screamed Filgree’s name as he heard metal upon metal clashing below the platform, the delighted snorts and grunts of the orcs below grinding on his teeth. It took a moment for Legolas to move unable to comprehend what had just happened, and how such a lovely night had gone so wrong. Turning Legolas struck out instinctively at a wayward orc who’d managed to climb up to the platform. Slicing through real flesh was the hardest thing Legolas had ever forced himself to do and as the lifeless carcass of the enemy fell from the guard post Legolas forced himself not to be sick as the blood from his knives ran down the blade to his hand and began soaking into his tunic sleave. Legolas could hardly breath, years of combat training with Filgree and the other tutors had prepared him for nothing he saw as he lowered himself to the ground below the platform. The dewy, green grass they had arrived to earlier in the evening was now glistening with blood, bodyts ats and corpses littered the forest floor, now more abundant than the fallen leaves. A few meters away a large group of Orcs were gathered around something. A flash of silver blade and emerald green tunic told Legolas that Filgree was in the middle of the group fiercely defending himself and giving Legolas time to escape. Unthinking Legolas turned at the sound of ‘Iest’ whinnying near by to be only narrowly missed by an arrow, which flew disturbingly close to his arm from behind him. Glancing over his shoulder he noticed that several of the orc group had broken away from the fight and were advancing on him. Unwilling to go and leave Filgree behind but forced to Legolas broke out into a run, weaving sharply through the trees in an effort to make him a harder target for trrowrrows, which began flying after him from behind. ‘Iest’ was restlessly pacing in a small open patch of forest and Legolas quickly advanced on her calling her to him even as he continued to run towards her. Sheathing his knives, Legolas reached the brown mare and slipped carelessly as he attempted to spring up onto her back. He lost his footing on a tree root and barely made it atop of her before the stinging pain ripped through his side forcing him to scream in agony. Precariously clutching to the saddle and helplessly in pain Legolas called to his horse to begin sprinting through the forest uncaring of the direction if only to get away from the orcs, who’s foul breath he could feel on the back of his neck. ‘Iest’ hardly needed any encourent ent the horse was at a sprint in seconds weaving her way dangerously close to the trees even as her rider clutched fearfully to her mane. Behind him Legolas could still hear the continued clash of metal on metal and the awful screams of the orcs. Risking a glance over his shoulder the sight made him sick. Filgree could no longer be seen amongst the creatures, their numbers to great as they swarmed all over the outpost. Legolas screamed Filgree’s name over again as Iest raced quicand and quicker through the forest putting more and more distance between the orcs and the prince with each minute that passed. The pain in Legolas side was unbearable and he didn’t dare look down at it for fear he would loose his grip on Iest. Closing his eyes Legolas began to cry, the wind rushing at his face burnt his skin while the rush of the trees around him painfully ached in his sensitive ears. Help would come for Filgree Legolas prayed; the tutor had been like a father to him and it would break his heart if the tutor didn’t survive the encounter.

Tired and Cold Legolas lay his head down on ‘Iest’s’ neck and closed his eyes tightly, wishing to wake up from the horrible dream he was having. Legolas did not care where he was going nor if he ever woke up, Iest would take care of him and deliver him to safety he was sure. The sound of wind rushing in the young prince’s ears slowly dimmed before the world went dark and the pain in his side was forgotten as his whole body fell limp against the horse….

TBC...............

(A/N) Well doesn't the plot get thicker??? I hope this has sort of got you on the right idea of the secret although the entire secret won't be revealed until later and even then there are some surprises you won't see coming. Oh and be assured Night In Shinning Armor aka Glorfindel, will be there to save Legolas soon, so I promise I won't make the little princeling suffer any longer than necessary. *Grins* Hope you're enjoying it......Scream if you want more!!!