The History of Legolas - The Last Green Leaf

The History Of Legolas – Part III
The Last Green Leaf
By Vendie

Author’s Note: The Lord of the Rings and all associated characters belong to Tolkien and his estate. I am not making any profit off of this story, save the enjoyment I had making it.

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The Last Green Leaf
Chapter Fifteen – Mornië utúlië


Two mornings later, at his father’s behest, Legolas was propped up against the outer wall of Gollum’s cell, listening to Gandalf’s questioning. Though Thranduil had sent Legolas to listen in, his son was barely hearing anything that was going on. His focus was decidedly somewhere else. The interrogation had been going nowhere for quite some time, and Legolas’ mind found reason to wander. However, every once in a while the prince would snap out of his fog with an outburst from Gollum.

A bit of stale bread came flying out of the bars and whooshed past Legolas’ knee, colliding with the rock of the wall across the room.

“Why should we tells YOU anything?!” Gollum hissed at Gandalf. Legolas cast a glance inside the cell where the creature was hunched over in a corner, Gandalf in front of him standing to the side having recently dodged flying breadcrumbs.

“Because as it stands now, I am the only one in a position to find it.” Gandalf replied patiently.

“He wants it for himself, yes he does!” Gollum said in a sinister voice. “Maybe he will brings it back to us!” he replied to himself in a different tone.

“Perhaps I could bring it to you, if you proved to me you deserve it.” Mithrandir said. Legolas gave the wizard a sideways glance. Had he just offered to hand over Isildur’s Bane to this babbling creature?

“We cannot trust it!” Gollum hissed again in his evil voice. More stale bread hurtled towards Mithrandir, who easily dodged the projectile.

The wizard glanced back at Legolas. “Where does all this bread come from?” he asked, sounding exasperated.

“We give it to him along with fish, but he does not eat it.”

“Yes, I can see that.” Gandalf replied, turning back to Gollum. “Would you rather the Dark Lord reclaim it for his own? You would certainly not see it after that.”

“No! He must not get it back! Always watching… always the Great Eye, he watches!” Gollum suddenly spat out in a panic. “He must not have it! We needs it!”

“Then where is it?!” Gandalf finally shouted, seemingly having lost his patience. He was now inches from the wretched creature’s face, which was contorted in absolute turmoil.

“B-B-BAGGINS!” Gollum wailed, writhing on the ground. “Bagginses! Filthy little hobbitses stole it!” The creature continued to wail and sob on the floor while Mithrandir stood completely still, watching him. Legolas was confused, he thought that the wizard would have been a little more joyful after finding out where Gollum saw The Ring last.

“Mithrandir?” Legolas asked after a moment. The Istar stood silent still. “Is this not good news?”

Then Gandalf turned with eyes wide to Legolas. “Indeed, no it is not. I must leave forthwith.” He said, pushing open the bars of Gollum’s cell and striding past the prince.

“Where will you go?” Legolas asked, turning to follow him.

“Westward, over the mountains. There is ill news I bear to the Shire.” Mithrandir replied, not turning to face Legolas.

“Mithrandir, I beg you; your hasty departure will make my father suspicious. Is there something I might tell him to explain your leaving?” the prince asked. He knew that his father could potentially believe that if it was indeed Biblo Baggins who had the Ring, that it could be in Mirkwood. Legolas did not want his father commanding either of his brothers to mount a fruitless search in the darkness of Mirkwood.

Gandalf stopped and turned, regarding Legolas carefully. “You fear the truth will take your father down a dark and dangerous path?”

Legolas hesitated, but answered, “Yes.” He sighed.

“Then, you should tell him that the exact whereabouts of the Ring are yet unknown to me. Gollum gave no sure location, only hinted at it indirectly. You should say that I interpreted his message and left accordingly, though I did not say to where I went.”

“I will do that.” Legolas said, nodding. Gandalf smiled and put his hand on Legolas’ shoulder.

“The sons of Thranduil Elvenking are strong of heart and mind. There may come the time, Legolas Thrandulion, when your compassion and expertise will be called upon by the peoples of Middle Earth.” He said.

Legolas looked puzzled. “But sir, I have no expertise. If it is skill with the bow you speak of, I have had little opportunity to test it.” He replied.

Mithrandir chuckled. “Fear not. My words will make sense in time. Fare the well, Legolas Thrandulion. I must hasten away.” He said, turning and leaving Legolas even more puzzled than before standing in the hallway. However, Legolas had little time to ponder the wizard’s strange words, for suddenly an elf came sprinting down the hallway in his direction.

“Captain! Prince Arthion and some of his brigade are returning! They have been spotted on the road to the halls!” The elf shouted. Before the reporter had a chance to stop, Legolas took off himself, sprinting towards the gate.

“Captain! Wait! There is more!” But the elf’s words were lost on Legolas, who was rather determined to see his brother.

Legolas arrived at the gate just as his brother and ten other elves rode in. Arthion rode at the front of a v-shaped formation of rather frantic looking soldiers. The youngest son of Thranduil noticed immediately the reason for their frenzied faces – Arthion was bleeding rather profusely from his shoulder.

“Arthion! Brother!” Legolas shouted.

Legolas’ older brother looked at him with foggy eyes as he dismounted his horse. “Legolas…? We were attacked…” He started to say. Legolas was at his side within seconds, helping him to stay standing.

“We need to get you to the Healers’.”

“The children?” Arthion asked bewilderedly.

“I will send for them, and Elaneth. Come, Arthion, you’re bleeding.” Legolas turned to one of Arthion’s comrades.

“What injured him?” He asked.

“An arrow shot by Orcs, my lord. Shall I come with you to relay this to the healers?”

“Yes. When you have finished your tale I will ask you to go to the Elvenking, and request he and his daughter-in-law and grandchildren come to the Houses of Healing immediately.”

“Yes, Prince Legolas. I will certainly do that.”

~

Fifteen minutes later, Legolas stood outside where Arthion had been laid to be examined and healed, waiting for the rest of his family to show up so he could explain to the best of his abilities what Nestadriel had told him. The youngest prince paced anxiously. The news that Nestadriel had shared was not altogether bad, but certainly not wholly encouraging either. Before Legolas had much of a chance to brood, his niece and nephew burst through the door, their mother and grandfather close behind.

Erynion and Titheniel seemed to know that their father was behind the door that their uncle stood in front of and attempted to rush past Legolas, who caught one elfling in each arm.

“Uncle Leaf! Let me go see Ada!” Erynion shouted, kicking violently.

“Uncle Leaf! Let go!” Titheniel joined in, thrashing herself.

Legolas hoisted both elflings off the ground, despite their battering. “You will have to wait, little ones. Your father is being looked at by the healers.” He said, trying to manage his niece and nephew’s squirms and protests. Elaneth rushed forward and took Titheniel out of Legolas’ arm and shushed her child.

“Ada is fine, he just needs to be looked at first, tithen-min,” (1) She comforted.

“Why can we not see Ada!” Erynion fussed. Legolas squeezed his nephew tightly.

“Patience, Erynion. You will see him soon.” He said. Legolas cast a glance at his father and met Thranduil’s concerned gaze. The young prince wondered if this was a glimpse of what his father looked like, so many years ago when Legolas himself was in Arthion’s position. At this moment, Thranduil looked very old, and very grave. He could not stop moving, a disposition that Legolas very little found his father in.

“I do not wish to alarm the children,” Legolas mouthed to his father, who nodded. He seemed to understand that Legolas had news on his eldest’s condition. Thranduil stepped out of the room for a moment and returned with a healer that Legolas did not recognize.

“Miss, would you be good enough to take my grandchildren to get some way bread? They have not yet had their lunch,” He said. The healer nodded, and Legolas and Elaneth simultaneously let down their armfuls of children.

“If we go, do you promise that we will see Ada when we return?” Erynion asked, giving his uncle a furious look. He knew he was being purposefully “distracted”.

“We promise.” Legolas nodded as he motioned for his nephew to follow the healer. After a small harrumph, Erynion went and took the healer’s hand as his sister took the other and was led out of the room.

“What news of Arthion?” Elaneth asked almost desperately. Legolas motioned for his father and sister-in-law to sit in the chairs in the room as he did also before he spoke. He leaned forward with his hands on his knees as he relayed his message.

“Nestadriel tells me that the wound itself is not fatal. He was pierced on the top of his shoulder, and the wound did not penetrate any vital veins or otherwise, but the arrow was tipped in poison. It seems as though the arrow did not penetrate far, and so the effect of the poison will be difficult to ascertain. Lady Nestadriel assured me that they are cleaning the wound and administering the antidote as best they can.” Legolas explained.

Elaneth seemed a little less uneasy at this news and smiled a little, and reached forward and put her hand on Legolas’, thanking him nonverbally. Thranduil sighed out of what relief he could find in this news.

“Was he the only in his party injured?” The Elvenking asked.

“Nay, three others were hurt also.” Legolas said. “None dead.”

Thranduil nodded. “The elf who summoned us here said they were attacked near the Enchanted Stream. Have your scouts noticed any activity there?” he asked.

“Indeed they have not, which is what disturbs me most.” Legolas replied. “I sent forth a party of the Interior Guard immediately to scour the area. They will report back at nightfall.”

Thranduil, finding this course of action wise, nodded and made an approving noise. “Is Mithrandir still questioning the brute in our cells?” He asked. Legolas swallowed.

“Nay, he left just minutes before Arthion’s arrival. Gollum said something I could not quite understand, but Mithrandir seemed to have acquired the information he needed and set off right away.” He reported, trying to sound earnest.

His father, too concerned about his eldest paid it little mind, much to Legolas’ relief. “Then we must hope that Mithrandir finds what he is looking for before any fell creatures that are about do.”

“It seems as though the days grow darker as the years wear on,” Elaneth said quietly, not looking at either Legolas nor Thranduil, who were both looking at her. “Indeed, I fear for the lives of my children, for the threats against our home grow nearer every day.”

“Fear not, dear Elaneth,” Thranduil said. “The Elves of Mirkwood remember well the battles fought against the Dark Lord in the open plains of Mordor, and through our losses in those dark times, we have come to learn better ways to defend ourselves. These halls are safe, and the children will always be safest.”

Elaneth smiled at her father-in-law, seeming to be comforted by his words. Legolas noticed the twinge of sorrow in his father’s voice when he spoke of the battles in Mordor and paid it little mind, for he knew that his promises of safety were barely full. Thranduil seemed to know this as well, for the look he gave his youngest son spoke truths unto Legolas, more than words ever could.

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NOTES

1 Tithen-min – “Little one” … If you think that this is a poor construction of this phrase and have a better suggestion, please let me know.