Dark Council- *added Epilogue*

CHAPTER 7


Garand stood just inside the door of the meeting room used by the Council and the King. The morning’s ill-fated meeting was over, and Legolas and his friend had found Thranduil alone, still sitting in the high-backed wooden chair that d thd the long table where the Council members sat to conduct business. When the Prince and Garand entered the room, they stopped short at the sight of the blonde Elven King sitting with his knees apart, elbows resting on his thighs, and his hands clasped before him, as he stared with knittrowsrows at the floor. A flash of anger flitted across Legolas’ fine features at the thought of anyone causing his father such obviously troubled thoughts.

“Adar”, he whispered. Thranduil’s head snapped up at the sound of his son’s voice and Garand nearly wept to see the relief and joy that lit his beautiful face upon seeing Legolas once again. Thank the gods, here was someone who could take the King’s mind off his seemingly insurmountable problems. Garand smiled as he watched er aer and son embrace tightly. He never tired of witnessing their reunions, and he was grateful to be privy to such a strong, enduring bond. After several moments they slowly separated. Legolas looked into his father’s eyes.

“Garand has told me of all that has transpired. What does the Council say? Surely they cannot believe that all these attacks on our people are coincidental! For the past millennia Mirkwood has been a safe haven to all its citizens, and that is because of your leadership, Father. In my lifetime, there has never been a single crime committed here, and suddenly reports of assaults and robberies crop up everyday?”

Thranduil smiled sadly. “The past has apparently been forgotten, my son. All they see now is the present trouble. I cannot understand it, myself. Why is this happening? Why *now*”?

Legolas took the King’s hands between his own reassuringly. “Contrary to what the Council believes, none of these events are random, adar. Garand has something to tell you.” He turned to his friend and smiled encouragingly. The elation the warrior felt at the sight of the King and the Prince reunited again, quickly dissipated. He walked tentatively toward them, unable to look at Thranduil, who frowned in concern to see his lover’s hesitation to approach him.

“Garand?” he asked, confused. When at last the warrior stood before him, Thranduil reached out and cupped his chin with one hand. “Why will you not look at me?”

“I have failed you,” Garand said dejectedly. “I swore to protect you by whatever means necessary, and ‘tis because of me that these problems have been laid at your door.” He raised his eyes to meet Thranduil’s, and began the recounting of all that had happened since he’d discovered the vandalized irrigation pipe, and everything he’d learned through careful investigation and the help of the watchful eyes of Isil-Gar and Vilmaril. He finished by telling his King of all the times Rymir had accosted him with lascivious intent, and all that had been said when Garand confronted him with the truth.

Thranduil’s aqua-blue eyes flashed in anger.

“He means to ruin you, dearest,” Garand added, “because he knows you are *all* to me.”

He fell silent after that, his golden-green eyes pleading for forgiveness.

Thranduil smiled tenderly. “Only by taking away your love and the love of my son, could he ruin me. Has he done that, Garand?”

“Gods, *no*!” he cried vehemently.

The King turned to his son. “Legolas?”

The Prince smiled. ver,ver, adar,” he said adamantly.

“Then, Rymir cannot touch me,” Thranduil said decidedly, “nor can he win this battle. He has left Mirkwood for two days. We have that long to decide what we should do.”

Legolas spoke up, “Adar, before we do anything, I would like your permission to speak to the Council. Someone must at least try to make them stand back and look at this series of events from another perspective. Surely they will realize that a calculated scheme is at work here.”

Thranduil look at his son lovingly. “They will not listen, my son. I believe they are even now trying to conjure the courage to demand that I step down from the throne.” He sat heavilythe the wooden chair again, and to Legolas he seemed to bear the weight of all Middle Earth on his broad shoulders.

The Prince knelt before his father, and laid his hands reassuringly on Thranduil’s knees. “Oh, but they *will* listen, Father,” he said confidently. “I cannot force them to change their minds or even heed my words, but by the gods, they *will listen*.” He stood and leaned down to place a kiss on the King’s cheek. “I will leave you alone. I think you and Garand have much to say to one another,” he whispered in his ear. As he was leaving, Legolas paused to clasp Garand’s shoulder affectionately.

“I will talk to you soon, my friend,” he said. The warrior smiled and nodded, squeezing Legolas’ hand lightly.

After the Prince had left the room, securely closing the door behind him, Garand tentatively turned to his lover. Thranduil sat silent in his chair, regarding the auburn-haired Elf with an unreadable expression. After several unbearable seconds of this, Garand said miserably, “Please speak, dearest. Your silence burns and accuses me.”

“Come here to me, Garand,” the King rep qui quietly.

His head bowed in resignation, Garand walked to the chair and knelt before his lover. Thranduil took his beautiful face between his hands and raised it until Garand met his eyes. “I will listen to no more talk of your being a failure,” he said softly. “I would not tolerate it from anyone else, and I will not tolerate it from you. How, in the name of the gods, can you think that of yourself? You have nearly made yourself sick with worry, trying to protect me from Rymir’s schemes. None of us has asked for this, but the fight has been brought to our door, and we will meet it togethwillwill we not?”

“Yes,” Garand said decisively, “together. Always.”

The blonde King gathered his lover into his arms, burying his face in his thick, cinnamon hair. “My soul,” he murmured, “I had not thought it *possible* to love you more. What you have done for me these past few days, I will remember as long as I live. I can withstand anything, if you and Legolas are beside me. Never forget that, and know that Rymir will answer for his shameful treatment of you.”

Garand remained in Thranduil’s arms, content. His dearest love was not angry with him, and his efforts on the King’s behalf were appreciated. He felt hope stir in him for the first time in several days, and an amused smile even played acrois lis lovely lips, as something occurred to him.

He would not like to be Rymir.