The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 2

It had been nearly five years since the last alliance of elves and men and while Mount Doom had fallen silent of it’s evil whispers Orcs still plagued the far reaches of the land with their foul stench and evil activities. Many elves and men had lost their lives in the campaign, some needlessly because of mistakes made while arguments reigned over battle tactics. There was a rift that existed now between realms of the same race. The Sindarian elves were no longer spoken of in Mirkwood save for cruel curses and whity jokes among drunken patrons of alehouses. Those of the Galadhrim were labelled foolish and simpletons and those in Imaldris, under Lord Elrond’s care were thought of nothing less than half casts. A battle had been won but in turn alliances had been lost and everyone was feeling the pain of it.

The young prince was now just a single season from his majority, his 500th birthing day ceremony seemingly just around the corner. Yet the closeness of his coming of age had seemed to have gone unnoticed by his father, King Thranduil. His sire had been heavily involved in debates with councillors from Imaldris about trade routes. His eldest brothers betrothal to a wealthy maiden from the Woodland’s East of the Misty mountains had seen little talk of his coming of age in respect to his brothers worthy partnership. Not that it had come as a big surprise to the young prince Legolas. He’d been second best to his brothers ever since his dear mother passed over to Mandos Halls when he was just a babe. And now with his brothers returned victorious from war he had very little chance of attracting his father’s attentions. It had been almost by a miracle that Filgree his tutor had returned from battle. While he’d been feared lost for most of the five years just past, he’d arrived safe and well with a messenger from Rohan mere months ago. While he had not spoken to anyone of his ordeal or where he had been no one had dared question the safety of one of the few who had returned after the tremendous war that had assumed on the desolate fields at the base of Mount Doom. To Legolas it had been like a new breath of life when Filgree returned safe. For five years he’d been ignored by most of his family and despite the selfishness of the thought, he felt good that his tutor had returned so that he could again feel wanted and loved.

Now however as his tutor began to recover more fully from an injury down his right side, Legolas’ lessons had begun again, as if the war had never interrupted them.

“You are not keeping your arm straight Legolas. Have you so neglected your training during my absence?” The young prince grumbled at his tutor as he straightened his bow arm as his tutor had instructed before loosing the arrow into the air. The bow hummed loudly and Legolas watched as the arrow missed its target completely, ricocheting off a nearby oak before embedding itself into one of the walls of a guard post hut with a disgruntled twang. The dark haired tutor sighed as he watched his young charge shrug his shoulders uncaringly before reaching to pick up another arrow from his quiver. Since his recovery Filgree had noted with growing dismay how little attention Legolas was giving to his study. While Legolas had never been the most obedient student Filgree had found the youngster had showed interest and focus when it was most needed and couldn’t really complain. However of late something was weighing heavily on Legolas mind and his studies had slipped because of it, Filgree was sure. “You will not hit the target if you do not focus Little Greenleaf…”

“Do not call me that!” Filgree was quite taken back as the usually placid young elfling before him turned around and snapped hastily at his elder, his face creased with anger and his fists clenched in a temper. “I am not little anymore! I am a grown elf!” Legolas dropped his bow to the grass and turned his back to his tutor. His arms folded haughtily across his chest, his lips pressed tense in determination and his forehead furrowed in despair. For a moment Filgree saw the reflection of the King’s defiant countenance in his youngest son’s expression but said nothing for fear of igniting the situation further. Legolas wasn’t known for his temper tantrums like his older brothers were and for the youngest prince of Mirkwood to become so angry must only be attributed to something major. Filgree sighed and rose slowly from the fallen log he had been sitting on. The memory of the pain in his side returned for a moment but he pushed it aside as he walked slowly over to the prince that stood before him.

“I see the problem that has stolen your focus from your studies today Greenleaf.” Filgree reached up and placed a soothing hand upon his young charge’s tense shoulder. “Please sit and talk to me, you will appear an elfling still if you should portray such a temper in company other than mine.” The elder tutor felt Legolas’ shoulder relax under his hand before a sad faced prince turned to face him.

“He does not even acknowledge the season Filgree. He has forgotten me. Hale and Talion were being given journeys and posted to scouting missions in their final seasons into their majority and I have not even been given a responsibility within the household yet save for watching the horses. Tell me Filgree does he wish me to stay a child forever? What must I do to become a part of this family?” Legolas watched as his elder tutor closed his eyes and sighed long and hard, quite an unnatural act for the usually calm and collected teacher.

Filgree had feared this day would come, it was why he’d strove to return to Mirkwood when he’d found himself in Rohan, injured badly but alive. The young prince Legolas would not face this day alone and it had been Filgree who had sworn to protect him from the very moment of his creation. The elder tutor had carried a secret with him for every one of the 500 years Legolas had been alive. The night Legolas had been born the few who had been in the birthing chamber had been sworn to secrecy by King Thranduil. Not even his brothers knew of the young prince’s special gift but now as his majority loomed it was time for Legolas to know his fate.

“There a things you do not know about yourself Legolas. Things, which only a few of us understand but have been sworn to secrecy for your protection.” Legolas self-consciously looked down over himself at his tutor’s words before cocking his head sideways in confusion. Filgree smiled at his charge’s innocent features. Legolas was every inch his mother’s son. Everything from the long golden hair that trailed in glowing locks down his back, to his gentle manner among the commoners. He was said to be the fairest in all Mirkwood and Filgree could not have disputed any such claim. Yet the young prince did not know of his beauty in the eyes of others and simply brushed off any adoring gazes that were thrown his way when he passed through town.

“What things are these you speak of Filgree? Surely if I am to gain my fathers respect as an elf I should first understand myself?” Filgree smiled and nodded easily, the rational thinking of his young charges mind undisputedly inherited from his father.

“Ay, so you should but this is not the place to discuss such matters. The forest has ears and the secret I keep is for your ears alone.” Legolas nodded understandingly although Filgree could see that the young prince was desperately intrigued by what he had to say.

“Very well, we shall go to the library after dinner and you can tell me then.” A familiar smile unseen for the past month graced the princes face again and Filgree basked in the youth’s playful stance as Legolas began collecting his arrows from the grass and replacing them in his quiver, his lesson obviously over.

“Perhaps in the meantime I can talk to your father about your coming of age. I have little doubt that he has not forgotten but all the same I will take the time to remind him of its importance and meaning to you.” Legolas beamed as he slung his quiver over his shoulder and tucked his bow under his arm as he turned back to his tutor.

“Thank-you Filgree. I shall be every bit of a warrior my brothers are. I will show them all that I am no child anymore. I will see their respect of me, even if it takes me a life time.” With a joyous leap Filgree watched as the young prince turned and sprinted back through tardeardens towards the palace. When the flashes of the young princes’ green tunic disappeared among the tree trunks of the forest Filgree sighed and sat slowly back down on his log. How little the prince knew of his fate and how much harder his task would be when he found out about his gift. Without a doubt Thranduil had not forgotten Legolas’ coming of age. Filgree was willing to wager that Thranduil was desperately trying to postpone the inevitable by keeping a tight reign on the ceremony. It had been decided when he was a babe that Legolas would not know his true gift until his coming of age, and until then he would be kept safe and secure away from harm under the canopy of the wood but it was now time for Legolas to decide his own fate.

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