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From Broken Endings to New Beginnings	By : Argleena Category: -Multi-Age > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 747 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The following work is based on the fantasy world and characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien and I do not own them or profit from this piece of work. Original Characters are my own and marked as such (OMC, OFC).

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Erestor learns more details about the story. Can there possibly be another side to what we think we know?
Third Age, 109, Imladris
Late Second & Early Third Age Greenwood
Elrond began, giving an in-depth explanation of what he knew about Lindir and Thranduil at this time. Unbeknownst to Erestor, or Lindir, who were so busy making arrangements for their unexpected guests when the Greenwood party arrived so suddenly, Thranduil had requested a meeting with Elrond as secretly but as quickly as possible. He apologized to Elrond humbly and repeatedly for bringing his problem to him doing this joyful time of celebration, but not only did he require the great healer’s assistance, he wanted to mend the fences his father had broken with neighboring realms.
Thranduil had really started to realize something was not right back home only a few short weeks ago. There had been signs before now that had he known what to look for, he may have been aware of things going on behind his back quicker. One incident really brought things into perspective, however. Apparently, weeks ago, Legolas had fallen deathly ill. Because elves do not normally fall that ill from disease or sickness, Thranduil suspected poison, especially since the effects are still lingering with the poor child. Then it came to light that the source of the poison was most likely in a dessert made for Thranduil when he had his suspicions investigated.
The evening of the poisoning, Thranduil had over indulged on the main course and wine, so he had begrudgingly chosen to forgo the sweet treat, even though it was his absolute favorite, he simply could not eat another bite. Usually he liked this exotic treat so much that it was the one dessert he ate all to himself, denying Legolas extra bites from his portion (because Legolas would have received his own). Every other dessert was often generously shared, as long as the elfling had behaved that day, and he was always well behaved, charming all he came across. Legolas ended up taking a couple of small bites from that special leftover dessert this night, however, as Thranduil for once had to pass it up. The penneth then began falling ill later that evening.
Thranduil then became suspicious of his wife and father-in-law in trying to poison him based on many small details coming together. The first was Erdolliel trying to deny their elfling the extra dessert, citing too much sugar. The thing was, she had never cared in the past, plus it was not as if she ever stayed up when he was being fussy and refused to go to bed, that she left for the nanny. After Legolas had swiftly swiped the dessert Thranduil said was up for grabs and taken only a couple small bites, Nostar had “accidentally” tripped and knocked several dishes, including Legolas’ dessert plate, on the floor. This was very unusual and very un-elf like behavior, especially for Nostar and how graceful he usually is. Thranduil also realized weeks later he never again did see the hound that lapped up the rest of the fallen treat roaming the caves again.
When Legolas was recovering in the healing hall (Thranduil only made his suspicions know to a few close, trusted individuals at that point), Erdolliel was caught twice coming into the healing halls trying to give Legolas “homemade tinctures” to try and help heal him when he was ill, even though she has no healing knowledge. Thranduil felt it was some kind of antidote. Erdolliel didn’t want her son killed, just her husband. She stood to gain more power with Legolas alive and as his guardian if Thranduil passed. It also meant he had to be very careful, especially with what he consumed, as she would probably come for him again. He found a book on poisonous plants, medicines, and antidotes in his father-in-laws office, buried in the back of a bottom drawer. This poisoning incident now made many other incidents stand out to Thranduil that caused him to become very suspicious that something nefarious had been going on for some time now, possibly dating back to a time when Thranduil and Lindir were still together. One of the things Thranduil had asked of Elrond was to check over his son to be sure he was going to be okay and to see if Elrond recognized what was wrong was Legolas, to see if he thought it was poison as well. He wanted Elrond to make sure that it wasn’t a time effective poison, that would worsen gradually as time passed. Elrond had been closely monitoring the boy so far and all seemed well. Legolas was recovering and should continue to do so with the right treatments. Elrond had a good guess as to what the poison was, and if it was so, with Legolas’ recovery thus far, he should be in the clear.
As much as Erestor disfavored Thranduil at this moment, he was relieved to hear the elfling was ok. He was also curious about the other plotting that had been going on behind Thranduil’s back and possibly Oropher’s. While the way Thranduil treated Lindir, the one he should have loved and trusted above all others, was inexcusable, it explained a good number of things Lindir denied doing and brought to light a new perspective on the situation. Erestor knew Lindir and Thranduil had formed some sort of bond in their time together. Even if they were not officially wed and bonded. It was the same between Erestor and his love, Glorfindel. While not officially wed or bonded, when a soul finds it’s mates, bonds just naturally begin to develop. This explained why Lindir came so close to fading when Thranduil ended their relationship and then later when he heard the news of him marrying and starting another family. Would these new revelations change anything?
Erestor had a suspicion that Lindir and Thranduil’s bond was never fully severed when Lindir left. No matter the heartache and pain each had felt at the “betrayal” or “alleged betrayal” of the other, they still loved only one another and their fëar cried out for the other. Thranduil went through a similar period of fading and deterioration of health after their separation and it was only his responsibility he felt for his people that brought him back after losing both his father, many of his people and his soulmate. He never was the same again, becoming a moody and suspicious King much of the time. He thought that maybe marrying and producing heirs would fix things, make things better, heal the hole in his heart. It did not. He felt nothing for his wife. While his son did bring some joy back into his life and he loved Legolas dearly, there was always a piece missing of his heart and of his soul. Thank the Valar Thranduil never bonded with his Queen. With as sick as Lindir had become at the time of the news of their wedding, he would never have survived that kind of sundering, to feel Thranduil’s bond with another through the pieces left of theirs.
Thranduil has not confronted his wife or father-in-law about his suspicions yet. Only a very few trusted elves were in the know. He had to gather evidence and avoid the chaos and potential destruction that revealing his knowledge of what was going on could cause. For now he could only be careful and keep his eyes open and mind about himself. Elrond had promised to help him however he could. Thranduil had heard rumors of Lindir being in Imladris over the years, however, feeling guilty and as if he had overreacted on that day he sent Lindir away based on the lies of others, he never attempted to bring Lindir back to face punishment for the accused crimes against the royal family as Lindir feared, but also never came to him with his newest suspicions as to who was to blame. When he suspected Lindir had been set up to ruin their relationship, he was deeply remorseful for his dark words and hash ways, but decided to let Lindir stay away. Thranduil had caused this destruction and had only himself to blame. He would not drag Lindir back away from his new family and friends in Imladris to try and explain. He should have trusted Lindir in the first place. He made his bed and now he must lay in it. He would not uproot his precious minstrel’s world again for his selfish and destructive desires.
Now that Thranduil was positive that he and his father were duped by certain high ranking advisors and his wife and her family (of which her father, Nostar, was the highest ranking) he worried for Lindir’s safety with them present in Imladris. When Thranduil spotted his beloved songbird at dinner the other day, he knew he had to protect him. Before this point he had not mentioned Lindir or their relationship to Elrond, not even certain of his presence in Imladris, however, after that dinner, when he met with Elrond and while Erestor was distracting the wretched and ill behaved Queen, Thraduil brought all this to light. The Queen and Nostar were to be discreetly guarded as well as Lindir for his safety.
When Erestor found Lindir collapsed, they had searched for clues that it was an intentionally orchestrated event, however, thankfully, it did not appear that at this time. Instead it was Lindir’s exhaustion from the busy past several weeks of planning and working on the wedding on top of his regular workload, combined with the emotional distress caused by seeing Thranduil in person, and not only that, but with a family in tow that did not include him. No matter how many times he had told himself to just move on and to stop loving one who had hurt him so, he never could fully let go.
With everything going on, Thranduil felt he owed Lindir an explanation and an apology for his horrible ways on that fateful day a century past. He was planning on tracking Lindir down the next day to do so, however when he heard the whispers of the minstrels ailing, he had rushed as quickly and discreetly as he could to the Healing Halls. Plus, his heart, his soul, his body cried out for his lost love. Hesitantly, Elrond allowed Thranduil in to visit Lindir last evening for a short time after Lindir awoke. Lindir was too weak and emotionally unstable at that point for all the drama entailed in a detailed explanation as to what had been happening, so Thranduil used this time with his precious songbird to issue an extensive apology and beg Lindir to forgive him, or at the very least get better. Thranduil just knew, somewhere deep inside, if Lindir faded or passed away, he would follow too.
Mistaking their intentions, and believing his worst fears had come true, at the first sight of Thranduil, Lindir cowered in fear, shaking compulsively, his wan complexion becoming even paler. Tears began streaming down his eyes, mumbled and babbling apologies and half explanations came from his tongue, trying to explain a situation that he did not even fully understand. He was begging Elrond, who was present at the time not to send him away, thinking his day of reckoning for running away to Imladris had come and Thranduil had come to punish him. His friends would find out and now would abandon him too. Lindir began hyperventilating. With the frightened minstrel becoming more and more distressed, Elrond prepared a mild sedative and placed it in a tea to help calm him. He reassured Lindir that he was going nowhere and that after Thranduil said what he needed to say to him, which was to apologize, it was his Lindir’s choice where Thranduil stay or he would have Thranduil removed upon Lindir’s request if all became too much. No matter what, Elrond promised he would let no one take him from his new home in Imladris.
Lindir gradually settled with the help of the tea and Elrond’s comforting presence, and only then shakily nodded his okay. Thranduil issued a heartfelt and sincere apology for not believing Lindir and for treating him so disgracefully and abandoning him so shamefully. The noble King got to his knees and begged for forgiveness. He looked absolutely devastated when reaching out to gently take the fragile elf’s hand, Lindir recoiled. A tear wove it’s way down the King’s pain filled face. Becoming very sleepy from the sedative in the tea, Linder could only sit silently, blinking in heavy-lidded confusion as the exhaustion took over. While he did not respond to Thranduil apologies and exclamations, neither did he expel him from the room. Thranduil sat there for the next two hours watching over Lindir, thinking of the long road set before him. When he finally left, he took the more detailed explanation with him, determined to come back the next day and explain things to Lindir, or he may never forgive him, or love him again, but he deserved to know what had caused their rift so long ago and the dangers that were ever present.
After Thranduil left and Elrond guided Erestor in to see his friend last evening, while Lindir still hadn’t said anything regarding the visit, he did appear to be pulling out of the danger area for fading. He had a little color back to his face and the shaking and gripping of his chest had stopped. He had refrained from becoming sick to his stomach as well. Maybe that apology was something he needed and while he still hadn’t acknowledged the King yet, the visit was good for him, if not to just be able to put some closure on the incident.
Erestor shook his head and didn’t know what to think. While this was a difficult situation through and through, he had difficulty thinking of the King in there today, now, again, giving further explanation to Lindir, providing further hurt. He did not want to see his friend hurting or suffering more, and he most certainly did not want to lose him. He began fretting, until Glorfindel laid a calming hand on his, thumb rubbing over his palm in a soothing motion. Elrond gave Erestor a sympathetic look.
“As much as you hate this situation, and want to chase after Thranduil, I need you to stand down and think of what is in Lindir’s best interest. If Lindir is willing to have Thranduil visit, I am not going to stop him. What we need to focus on now is protecting Lindir and Legolas from any possible backlash from the plotting taking place against Thranduil. It is my belief that a group of insiders is trying to get rid of Thranduil in order to overtake the crown. As Legolas is not of age, his nana or daerada would take up regency and basically become ruler of the realm. Who knows what would happen when Legolas hit his majority, they have proven conniving enough already in their bid for power. And with Lindir being near, the Queen may try to be rid of him once more. With her position of Thranduil's Queen threatened by Lindir if Thranduil’s feelings reawaken for him, there is no saying what she may attempt with him. His relationship with Thranduil was not exactly a best kept secret when she was younger, before she married the King.”
Erestor and Glorfindel agreed that that sounded like a good plan to start with. Elrond continued, “I have also pledged my assistance to Thranduil in extinguishing the matter. We will continue to investigate and I will send Glorfindel and a group of our highly trained guards under the guise of another guard exchange in order to sort out all who are involved without biases when Thranduil returns home.” Erestor squeezed Glorfindel’s hand tightly. He did not want Glorfindel to go, however, he knew it was for the greater good, and in a way it was vindication for his dear friend Lindir, to catch and punish the ones to put all the lies and schemes into action that cost him his heart.
“Thranduil will go back home a week after the wedding. In the meantime we will gather as much information as possible. We will meet with him after he is done visiting Lindir or Lindir kicks him out. After the planning session, Erestor, you may go visit our minstrel,” reassured Elrond. “I can feel you chomping at the bit. Can I trust you to be cordial my dear advisor?” Elrond questioned Erestor.
“Yes, I will hold my temper, until at least I speak with Lindir,” Erestor grumped. “Depending on how he is feeling and what he has to say may change my presentation,” Erestor warned. Erestor truly was a faithful and loyal friend. The three continued discussion possible tactics to get the information they needed while also keeping the Queen and certain advisors off their trail.
Meanwhile, another similar conversation was taking place in Lindir’s healing room. Lindir could not believe what he was hearing. Had he hit his head the other night when he felt himself losing consciousness in his room. What kind of twisted fantasy world was he existing in at the moment. At first all he could manage was a frozen stare of confusion as the one he loved and lost so long ago knelt as his side so very gently and spoke words of apology, regret and explanation to him. Where were the threats, the violence, the words of anger? Instead Thranduil's eyes seemed filled with remorse, guilt and terror, with another familiar glint hiding in the background. Lindir could not stop the flutter that rose from his stomach to his heart as he tried to take in all Thranduil was saying.

Translations
nana- mother
daerada- grandfather
penneth- little one
- 9
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From Broken Endings to New Beginnings