The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 18

Groans and wails of the sick, dying and injured echoing around the forest were what led the two Imaldris elves to the former outpost. The scene that greeted them was of utter slaughter. Even though the sun was just peeking above the horizon shining enough light into the edges of the damp forest to illuminate the rescue effort it was not a pretty sight. The stench of rotting flesh was abhorrent and Erestor was forced to cover his nose and mouth with the edge of his cloak to block the smell. Leaving their horses Glorfindel and Erestor began to wander carefully among the bodies littering the forest floor. Healing tents had been hastily erected in the trees above them and the occasional drip of blood fell onto them through the branches of the trees from the tents above. It was hard to tell where the bodies of elves lay beneath the masses of orc carcases that were already beginning to decay back into the earth. Healers ran backward fod forward across the blood soaked ground carrying elves both dead and barely alive. Glorfindel had never seen so many orcs in one place outside the great war and he felt his heart clench in a sense of loss for all those who had died fighting.

“This is terrible my friehey hey did not stand a chance.” Erestor stopped two young guards the lifeless body of a warrior dangling between them. Slowly Erestor passed a hand across the dead warriors face, wiping the blood and grime from his features so that Erestor could see him properly. He was young not more than 1000 years old if that, the deep green eyes were vacant and held no life. The most likely cause of death was a fierce blow to the head, which had obviously broken his skull and neck. Erestor sighed heavily and gestured for the two elves to continue on before he turned back to Glorfindel who had been watching him the entire time. “You know as well as I Glorfindel he would not have survived, he would not have been able to defend himself against so many.” Glorfindel shook his head at his friend but said nothing as a loud scream echoed around the forest from the above healing tent. It was a voice both elves recognised and Glorfindel quickly ascended the rope ladder to reach the tent.

“Tell me Filgree, you must tell me. Where is my son!?” Glorfindel and Erestor stopped dead at the entrance to the healing tent. King Thranduil was slumped over a stretcher a bloody and dirty stained body writing in agony below him as the king continued to shake his shoulders not caring for his injuries.

“My lord he can not hear you his injuries are severe and he will not last the night less we get him to the palace.” One of the healers forcefully pried Thranduil’s hands away from the tutor’s shoulders and helped the distraught king to his feet. Glorfindel was shocked to see the tears rolling down the king’s face. After all that he had seen at the palace in Thranduil’s attitude towards his youngest son, was totally contradicted now. Thranduil barely noticed the two onlookers for a moment but when Erestor coughed the king turned his attention quickly towards them. Slowly the king walked towards them his face unreadable in it’s emotion as he came to a stop in front of Glorfindel. Nothing was said for a long time and the king merely stared directly into Glorfindel’s blue eyes searching for something the seneschal couldn’t make out. Eventually Thranduil let out a sigh of despair and lowered his gaze from Glorfindel’s unable to keep his composure any longer. Not quite knowing what was expected of him Glorfindel reached out a tender hand and placed it gently upon the king’s shoulder in silent support. He had comforted Elrond many times before in this manner and it was all he could think of doing.

“Lord Glorfindel, I do not have anyone to turn to and you find me at your mercy. I do not have enough elves to spare a search for my son, their presence is required in the increased watches on the boarders. Please, I beg of you to help find my son. He is not among the survivors and his body is not among the dead meaning only that he escaped or has been taken.” Erestor could only gawk like a fish as Thranduil all but begged for Glorfindel’s aid. This turn around from the previous evening was almost unbelievable and Erestor was seriously supporting the idea of a trick but the loud groan from the bed behind them was what told him it was reality. Glorfindel hastily pushed past Thranduil and kneeled quickly beside the stretcher that held the frail body of the elder tutor. Filgree was hardly recognizable beneath the blood and dirt and Glorfindel gently soothed the other elf by placing a comforting hand on his cheek and entwining his hand firmly with Filgree’s lying weakly on his chest.

”Shh my friend you are being looked after and we all pray to the valar for your health.” Glorfindel whispered softly in elvish to the dark haired tutor who slowly opened his eyes and stared fearfully up at the elf above him.

“You must…….must find him.” Filgree was struggling to speak in-between lengthy breaths of air and Glorfindel would hardly hear him over the sounds outside. Obligingly Glorfindel leaned closer to Filgree so that his face was just mere inches for the others. “He…..is……the……..one……..” Filgree trailed off as Glorfindel slowly watched the other elf weakly lift his free hand and press it firmly to the coat pocket where Glorfindel had slipped the parchment the ranger had given him at the alehouse. Frowning in confusing Glorfindel leaned closer still to the tutor and squeezed his hand tightly in support as Filgree began to breath erratically struggling to keep his consciousness. “He……..does not…….. understand….. and.…will…… fall…… prey…..to those that do….” Glorfindel could tell Filgree was loosing consciousness and needed desperately to know in which way the prince was taken or fled.

“My friend which way did he go?” Glorfindel pleaded urgently with Filgree as he watched vacancy swim behind the elders green eyes.

“South……. towards…… the river……” Glorfindel barely caught what Filgree had said before the tutor in his arms collapsed and went limp his falling away from Glorfindel’s cloak where it had been tightly clutched only a moment before. Glorfindel was pushed hastily away from Filgree as the healers gathered around and fussed over his wounds and body.

“My lord he is still alive but barely we must take him backthe the palace immediately.” The elder of the healers in the room looked hastily up to where King Thranduil stood by the door. The tears on his face had dried and Glorfindel watched as the anger and determination of the stubborn man he’d first met slowly crept back into his features.

“Then do so immediately!” Thranduil all but screamed at the healers who all qui sec secured Filgree’s body to the stretcher and took if from the tent. Leaving only Thranduil, Glorfindel and Erestor within the tent now surrounded by deathly silence. Glorfindel stared at the pool of blood where Filgree’s stretcher had laid a moment ago before he slowly turned around to face Thranduil.

“So do I take too many liberties asking for the help of a Noldor once again?” Thranduil’s voice had turned cold and unfeeling again and Glorfindel sneered at the king in contempt. An elf so cold hearted would not have brought old feuds into the bargaining of his son’s life and Glorfindel instantly revised his early thoughts of the king again, having seen him change this quickly.

“I will help look for your son Thranduil but if I find him you will freely permit him to travel to Rivendell with me under my guardianship and then upon his majority allow me to court him as a prospective lover.” Erestor couldn’t suppress the shocked gaspt ist issued from his lips at his friends bold declaration of bribery to the Mirkwood King. He did not think Glorfindel was capable of any such forms of negotiation, if indeed it could be classified as that. Thranduil was clearly fuming at Glorfindel’s presumptuous terms of agreement but Glorfindel would read the desperation in the King’s eyes. It was true the King had no one else to turn to if he was to ever find his son again. At length Thranduil sighed and nodded reluctantly.

“Very well on the understanding that he return to Mirkwood every year during the summer so I may see him and assess his health.” Glorfindel nodded curtly and watched as Thranduil turned and moved towards the door of the tent readying to leave. He paused however and glanced back over his shoulder at the blonde warrior.

“My eldest son’s have already been dispatched to search for their brother. I wish I could pray for your success but I find that I cannot in light of this agreement.son son will never be yours.” With that Thranduil left the tent and descend from view down the rope ladder leaving Erestor and Glorfindel standing in front of each other. Erestor shook his head in utter shock as Glorfindel breathed a sigh of relief still in shock himself of what he had just done.

“Have you lost your mind Glorfindel? You have just bribed the King of Mirkwood with his son’s life! Even Lord Elrond would not dare such an act, what madness has over taken you?” Glorfindel could only shrug his shoulders unknowingly as his friend took his temperature and felt his neck for signs of illness.

“I do not know Erestor but Filgree said something that confused me. It was if he knew what was in my pocket beneath my cloak. His fear for Legolas was real as if he had feared it all his life. This attack was something unexpected yes and has caused great fear, but it was not what Filgree spoke to me off.” Erestor frowned at his friend as he followed Glorfindel out of the tent. The grounds below were just being picked over by the guards searching for any survivors and bodies they’d not found yet amongst the decay bodies of the orcs.

“You are making no sense Glorfindel? The young prince is in no danger, you saw as well as I did that he has skill with a bow and sword, enough to protect himself should he need to. The only danger I see him in is that of capturing the heart of an unsuspecting warrior but I believe he has already done that successfully.” Glorfindel huffed a gentle laugh at his friend’s accusations not making any attempt to contradict them. It was true he had feelings for the elf; he had since the moment he saw him at the banquet but that was not the problem at present.

“It does not make sense to me at the moment Erestor, all I know is that we must find Legolas soon for as good his skills are with sword and bow I believe he is fighting something unseen that he does not understand yet and is in very great danger.” Erestor sighed as his friend turned his gaze towards him concern and anguish written in his features.

“Very well we will leave at once in the direction the young prince was seen going. We will have to stop at the village and the palace to get supplies but if we hurry we will be on the road again by tonight. If this troublesome young prince is indeed in danger as you say he is I can not refuse to save his life, even if it means having to take him home with us at the end of all this. He will be your responsibility and I will have nothing to say when Elrond questions why you have stolen Thranduil’s youngest son for you own. ” Glorfindel laughed out loud at his friend’s dark expression and gently patted Erestor on the back in thanks. Erestor grunted and began to climb his way down the rope ladder with Glorfindel following him.

”Your support my friend at times like this is invaluable and your directness is the very think I love about you. What would I do without you?” Erestor reached the ground first and helped Glorfindel the last few rungs of the ladder before brushing the dirt from his cloak.

“You would die on the battle field with your foolishness, that is what would happen my friend!” Glorfindel roared with laughter as he hoisted Erestor up onto his horse before mounting his own.

“Yes you a right Erestor but it would pyou you dearly not to have me around.” Glorfindel spurred his horse in the side and took the lead eager to take the quickest route back to the village. Silently Erestor smiled and internally nodded at his friend’s observation. It was true as much as Glorfindel led Erestor into trouble at times, the dark haired advisor would miss his friends adventures and quick wit if he were gone. Riding together the pair of Imaldris elves disappeared into the depths of the forest their mission of mercy having only just begun.

TBC>.............................