Ringspell

Chapter 13.


Welcome...


Still some fifteen or twenty meters away from the entrance to the halls, Kehlios halted them, and he and Legolas dismounted from their horses. The Captain gave his Hunters an order in elvish, and the Fellowship was told to wait, as he and the Prince crossed the short distance that remained, to stand before their King.


Kehlios lingered behind Legolas as the Prince approached his father, gracefully sinking to his knees before the King, his head bowed and his hand over his heart. It was, Aragorn thought, a beautiful display of utter submission.


"Aran-nin*"


The King smiled down at his dutiful child, something close to sympathy in his piercing, blue eyes.


"Legolas, réd-nin.*"


Thranduil's voice was strong and clear, the powerful tone of one who was the master of all he surveyed. Aragorn recognised immediately, why the Silvan Elf was accepted as the leader of these Sindar. He was quite simply, the sort of person you did not dare to question.


Slowly, Legolas rose to his feet, raising his head to look into his father's eyes.


Thranduil was, Aragorn noticed, a full head taller than his foster-child and looked a good deal more solid than the young Prince. Having just realized this, it immediately came to the Ranger's attention that though Thranduil towered above most of the Sindar, Legolas was in fact, of a significantly lighter build than his people and looked somewhat out of place, amongst the powerful Hunters of Mirkwood. A part of Aragorn wondered whether Legolas had not yet finished growing, or if his delicate form was the result of his unique parentage.


Without warning and with lightning speed, the King raised his hand, striking Legolas powerfully across the face, with his open palm. To his credit, the young Prince stood his ground, though shaken by the blow and looked again into his father's eyes, unflinching.


"**Did I not forbid you to go to Rivendell?!**" The King demanded of Legolas.


The young Prince bore his father's harsh gaze only a moment longer, before bowing his head in surrender.


"**Yes, Ada.**"


Thranduil struck the young Elf again, harder this time, causing Legolas to stumble backwards.


"**How dare you defy me? Little snake!**"


The King raised his hand to strike again, and Aragorn could stand it, no longer.


"Wait!" He called to the King, who looked past his child, to fix his eyes on the Fellowship, as though he had just noticed their presence.


"Be silent, mortal!" Thranduil commanded, his tone a clear indication of his feelings towards men.


The King then advanced on the company, having noticed someone he wished to speak to.


"You!" He growled, pointing a jeweled finger at Gandalf.


He stopped just a few feet away from Aragorn, and the Ranger realized that the Elven-King was a good deal more intimidating when viewed from up-close, the sheer power the Elf possessed enshrouding him in an almost tangible aura. It made Aragorn want to back away, though pride would not have allowed him to do so.


"I seem to recall," The King was saying to Gandalf, his common-tongue thick with old-elvish accent. "That you left in quite a hurry, the last time you were here."


Thranduil glared ominously at the wizard, but Gandalf appeared unperturbed.


"Indeed, your Majesty." He replied. "I made very good time, that day. I must say, those Hunters you sent did rush me along a bit."


Aragorn watched the interaction closely, Gandalf seemed to be playing with the Elven-King, and the Ranger doubted the wisdom of such a move. Thranduil, however, seemed willing to play for now.


"Ah, yes. My Hunters. Whatever happened to them, if you do not mind my asking?" Thranduil asked, almost casually.


Gandalf made faint, apologetic noises, avoiding the King's steady gaze.


"Uh, I'm afraid they were involved in a bit of an accident, your Majesty." He mumbled. "Terrible business, really." He added. "Very nasty."


The wizard's words trailed off, as every trace off humor fled Thranduil's face, and the Elven-King leaned in close, to speak slowly and deliberately.


"You will pay, for those lives, Wizard. I will carve their names into your flesh, myself."


Gandalf nodded, slowly.


"Yes, your Majesty, I do not doubt it." He said, matter-of-factly. "But, in light of recent events, you may want to postpone that intention, hm?" He lowered his voice. "You know of what I speak."


Thranduil eyed the wizard critically for a moment, before responding.


"I am aware of the troubles of the world beyond my borders." He declared. "What I do not know, is why you have chosen to bring the danger here."


Gandalf looked around at their huge audience. Hundreds of Elves stood silently, listening to every word that was uttered.


"I must speak with you, your Majesty." Gandalf muttered. "Some place quiet."


Thranduil paused, considering the wizard's request for what seemed like several minutes, before finally inclining his head, in assent.


"In light of recent events," He said, deliberately. "You and your... friends..." He eyed the rest of the Fellowship with barely concealed distaste, "are free to come and go, as you wish."


"Legolas!" He barked over his shoulder.


Legolas approached obediently.


"Yes, Ada?" He asked, his voice a brilliant display of willingness to please.


"**Find rooms for your friends.**"


The young Prince bowed his head in compliance and turned to the Fellowship.


"**And Legolas ...**"


"Yes, Ada?"


"**See that you bathe before dinner. You stink of that rabble.**"


"Yes, Ada."


Aragorn filed the insult away, for future reference, silently promising himself that he would one day bring the self-important Elven-King down a notch or two, if it was the last thing he did.


"This way." Legolas said pleasantly, and turned to lead them, through the dark opening in the mountain, into the great halls that he called his home.


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*Aran-nin – My Lord


*Réd-nin – My child. ( Réd also means 'heir', which is why i chose it from the half-dozen or so translations i found for 'child'. )


To be continued...