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Jewel of Mirkwood	By : Cee Category: +Third Age > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1352 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, or any other of Tolkien's work, nor do I profit from them in any way shape or form. However, any original characters, belong to me. Please do not use them without my permission.

Chapter List
- 1-Jewel of Mirkwood
- 2-Chapter 2
- 1
- 2
Rumil wandered aimlessly from one end of their small room to the other while his brother lay back on his bed with closed eyes. Seeing Haldir's relaxed state did little to suppress the energetic younger elf's restlessness. He'd spent days on a dull journey only to trade the tedium of the road for that of being stuck indoors.
"How can you just sit there and do nothing?" Rumil asked, hating the confined feeling of this underground kingdom. "I long for the trees." He paused. "And a glimpse of one of those giant spiders would not go amiss either."
"If you had any sense at all you would think twice before wishing to meet a spider." Haldir replied, not even opening his eyes.
Rumil was in the process of formulating a scathing response to Haldir when the door opened and a servant entered, carrying trays of food and drink. Placing the trays on a table situated along the far wall, the servant busied himself with arranging the various dishes.
The younger elf shrugged, watching the servant. "If not a spider, then perhaps in the company of a lovely elleth would I find the excitement I crave. I noticed one during our audience with the king, one to whom I would be more than happy to devote an evening." Rumil turned back to his brother. "I caught her peeking out from the tapestry behind the throne."
There was a loud clang of dishes from where the servant stood with his back turned, trying to appear immensely focused on the mess he had just made. Haldir and Rumil shot a startled glance in the direction of the sudden commotion.
"As I was saying," Rumil continued, "she was quite possibly one of the loveliest ellith I have yet beheld."
Haldir rubbed his temple." Would it be possible for you to just once think with your head, instead of your lower regions?" He swung his feet over the edge of the bed and planted them firmly on the floor.
"My eyes are in my head, brother. But to give this elleth's beauty her due, I find both heads are in agreement." Rumil ignored the exasperation in his brother's voice.
"Please, sirs, if I may advise you in this?" The servant stepped forward, wringing his hands.
Rumil turned, his curiosity piqued. Out of the corner of his eye he could see that Haldir had fully risen from the bed and stood waiting for the servant to continue. "And your advice would be?"
"I would advise the young master to forget the elleth he saw."
"Why is that?" Rumil took an involuntary step forward, as though challenged.
"Because the young master has seen the Jewel of Mirkwood, and to look upon her face, let alone to contemplate touching her, results in severe punishment."
"The Jewel of Mirkwood?" Hope of adventure and excitement once more surged within Rumil as his mind conjured up tales of mystery."What, or should I say who, is that?"
The elf glanced around nervously before speaking. "As you know the King's wife died in childbirth. The child, a daughter, was said to have died as well," he paused, "but many do not believe this to be true."
"Why would they have reason to doubt such a thing?" Haldir interrupted, his voice betraying his curiosity.
"Rumor has it that somewhere in the palace there is a secret door that leads to a series of rooms, and it is said that inside these rooms dwells the daughter who supposedly died. Many have reported seeing a mysterious elleth roaming the halls at night." The servant paused, now clearly aware of the interest his words held. "Some believe it to be the princess, while others say it is the spirit of Thranduil's wife come back to search for her lost child."
"And what do you believe?" Rumil asked, enthralled by the tale.
At this the servant sighed heavily and turned back to his duties. "I believe that King Thranduil guards his treasures fiercely, and that a daughter, born even as his wife died, would be one of his most precious."
"Well, well, what do you think of that, Haldir?" Rumil turned to his brother with triumphant excitement. "A hidden princess, or an unsettled spirit! Perhaps this visit will not be a complete waste of time after all."
"I think," began Haldir, "that it is a story made up by those who have too much time on their hands." He stopped and shot a disapproving look at the servant, then turned back to Rumil. "And believed only by those with little or no sense."
"Then how do you explain the mysterious maid I saw? Do not tell me you are not at least a little curious to know if the rumors are true."
Haldir crossed to where Rumil was standing and placed his hands firmly on the younger elf's shoulders. "No, I am not; indeed it would be most improper for either of us to harbor any such curiosity. We are guests of the royal household. I will not have you risking the success of our mission because of some fireside story told by a servant who is in dire need of learning his place." With the last remark Haldir looked back to the servant. "I believe you have done enough for this evening, you may go."
"As you will, sir, but mark my words; Mirkwood guards her secrets well – those of her King all the more so." The servant bowed and left the room.
Rumil watched in disappointment as the door closed. Then he turned back to his brother. "Honestly, Haldir you do know how to clear a room."
"Rumil, when are you going to grow up and realize that this is not a game? You are a warden of Lorien now and as such you are expected to behave with a certain level of decorum."
Rumil shook his brother off and crossed the room flopping onto his bed. "Perhaps if you did not always treat me as if I were no more than an elfling, I would behave with 'decorum'," Rumil mimicked Haldir's tone. "Between you and Orophin I am never allowed any freedom."
"Please, not this discussion again. I am tired of hearing the tale of the poor and tormented youngest brother," Haldir groaned. This was an old and frequent argument. "The simple truth is that you receive the treatment you earn. Were you to take a moment to examine your actions, you would understand why those around you respond as they do."
Rumil shot an angry glare at his brother, but decided that he would let the argument rest for the time being. Sometimes the quickest way to get what he desired with Haldir was to simply feign defeat. He schooled his face into a mask of contrite resignation. "You are right, brother. I will try to comport myself in a manner befitting a warden."
Haldir's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Rumil, you will not go in search of this Jewel of Mirkwood. That is an order. Should I find that you have been poking into any corners in search of hidden doors, mysterious maidens, or anything of the sort, your part in this mission will be over and you will be sent directly back to Lorien. Is that clear?" When there was no response he took a step closer. "Rumil, I have given you an order."
"Yes, Marchwarden. It is clear." Rumil rose from the bed and stood to attention, he knew better than to disobey a direct order from his commander, even if that commander was his brother." I will not search for any hidden doors or otherwise."
"What about hidden doors?" Legolas asked, walking into the room.
"One of your servants has fed my brother a fantastical tale of a hidden princess." Haldir answered quickly. "Perhaps you can convince my brother that it is untrue, as he seems bound and determined to ignore anything I tell him."
Legolas waved his hand dismissively, and when he spoke his tone was casual and unconcerned. "Such tales often float around court. It is merely silly gossip, usually a direct result of someone sampling a bit too much dorwinion."
"There. Now do you believe that this hidden elleth does not exist?" Haldir looked once more at Rumil then turned back to Legolas, dark brows drawn together. "Do you think anyone would miss him if he didn't return with me to Lorien?"
Legolas chuckled. "And leave him here for me to deal with? I think not." Rumil sighed, moving to the table to examine the food that had been brought in.
"As you say." Haldir replied. "What brought you to our quarters this evening?"
"My father asked me to apologize to you for the brevity of your audience earlier, and
to invite you and your brother to dine with us tonight."
"No apologies are needed, I understand that the business of running a kingdom is pressing." Haldir inclined his head.
"He thanks you for your understanding, I am sure." A shadow seemed to pass over Legolas' face for a moment. "Now I must go; there is some business to which I must attend. May I give my father your acceptance?"
"Yes, thank you, Legolas."
Rumil waited until the Mirkwood prince had left the room before speaking, mouth full of some delicacy he could not name. "You know that apology was from Legolas and not the king, don't you?" The younger Warden swallowed, gesturing with a piece of fruit. "Why have servants bring us this if he was planning on inviting us to dine?"
"Indeed," Haldir's expression was thoughtful. "The shadows that grow in this forest lay a heavy burden on his majesty. One must perhaps overlook his manner."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Legolas hurried through the corridors, turning here and there until he came to the part of the palace that housed the family chambers. He paused and looked up and down the corridor; when positive that he was alone, he stepped up to the wall and muttered a brief elvish spell. At once the shape of a door appeared and swung inward. Stepping into a dimly lit hall, Legolas began to stride purposefully towards a door at the far end. He knocked in the rhythm that his father had commanded to be used for the week. The door swung open to reveal the wrinkled face of an old woman.
"And what brings my young Prince down so early in the evening?" the woman rasped.
"Ioraweth, I am two centuries older than you," Legolas reminded the woman.
"Ah, but you are young in ways that I never was." The woman smiled warmly before stepping aside. "I warn you, she is in one of her more difficult moods today."
"Perhaps you should save your warnings for her; I am not in the kindest of moods myself." Legolas stepped past the old woman and into the next room. He glanced around the richly decorated chambers, searching for his quarry.
The walls were carved with intricate forest scenes, the floor covered with a soft carpet of deep red. Situated next to a shelf built into the walls and filled with books, were two tall backed chairs of dark wood and cushioned with silk pillows. Between these was a small round table. To the right was an arched doorway to which Legolas quickly crossed, entering a room containing a large rectangular table with three chairs around it and a setting of fine dishes. To the right of the table was a tall counter with several bottles of wine and glasses situated atop of it. At the opposite side was yet another doorway, this one leading to a bedroom.
"Arienta, where are you?" Legolas asked, annoyed.
"In here." The response came from the direction of the bedroom.
He crossed the second room with purposeful strides until he stood in the doorway of the large and lavish bedroom. Inside a golden haired elleth lay across a large bed, her head propped up in her hands as she read a small book. She was dressed in a deep blue velvet gown, her hair arranged loosely atop her head with silver pins carved into the likeness of butterflies, a few random curls fell gently down her back and shoulders.
"What brings my dearest brother on this lovely evening?" she asked, her eyes remaining fixed on the book before her. "I term it lovely for convention's sake, having no true basis for comparison, as well you know."
"We had visitors today, from Lothlorien." Legolas replied leaning against the door frame.
"Oh, did we?" Arienta continued her determined scrutiny of the pages of her book. "I assume your use of 'we' is also for convention's sake, as they can be in no way visitors of mine."
"Stop deflecting, Arienta. We both know you saw them in the throne room."
At this the elleth flicked a glance at her brother. "I am sorry, brother dearest, but I do not understand what you mean. How can we both know what I saw or did not see? Can you see thought my eyes now?"
Legolas straightened and stalked towards the bed angrily. "Do not play coy with me, Arienta. I saw you, as did one of our guests."
"Oh, what *you* saw. That is a different matter." Arienta looked at her brother with wide eyes and a beguiling smile, ending her game of innocence. She closed her book. "I must say, they were both rather handsome. A nice change from you, from my point of view."
He ignored the barb. "So you admit you were there! Do you realize what Father would do if he knew that you had been out of these rooms, that someone saw you?" Legolas shouted, what little patience he had evaporating. If their father knew, the consequences for his sister would be dire, more dire than she could possibly understand. Thranduil's fabled temper… was no mere fable, as Legolas knew well, and the thought of what the king might inflict as punishment was a fearful thought.
Arienta glared at him. "Do not shout at me, Legolas! You are not the one who must remain hidden away day after day, with only mortals that wither and die! You are not the one who cannot roam the forest paths and feel the wind on your face, or the warmth of the sunlight! Day after day I sit in these rooms alone and watch the world outside pass me by." She stopped for a moment, meeting his eyes with a stormy glare. "Yes, I was there. For just one moment I wanted to feel as though I were a part of the world and not just a shadow!" She grabbed the book and stomped past him out of the room.
She was right. Legolas let out a breath, uncrossed his arms and followed her into the sitting room where she was returning the book to its proper place on the shelf. "I am sorry, Arienta. I know how badly you long to be free. I will speak to Father as soon as the Lorien elves leave."
"How long will that be, Legolas? I have waited for your help in vain already. What excuse will you find to remain silent after they have left?" A tear began to roll down her cheek.
Legolas' throat tightened and he quickly moved to comfort his sister. "There will be no excuse this time, little bird. Despite what you think, Father loves you very much, as do I. He only wishes you to be safe."
Arienta turned and let Legolas enfold her in his arms, burying her face on his shoulder. "I believe you, Legolas, and I do love and honor him. It is just hard to endure this captivity."
Legolas gave her a tight squeeze and then held her at arm's length. "I promise I will talk to him, but you must wait until the visitors are gone. You know as well as I that he will never agree as long as there are strangers within the forest borders." Arienta continued to weep. It pained the Prince to see his sister's lovely face marred by grief. "Come, how would it be if I sneak you out tonight? I cannot promise more than a few hours, but it would give you the chance to feel your much-desired wind upon your face."
Arienta wiped her tears away and smiled. "Legolas, you truly are good to me. That would be more wonderful than words can express."
"Then I will return tonight after father has retired for the evening. Until then, please no more unaccompanied outings." Legolas lifted his hand and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Do we have an accord?"
"We do. I promise, no further outings unless you are with me." Arienta offered her hand to Legolas, who shook it firmly.
"I must go, but I'll return as soon as it is safe for us to leave the palace." Legolas kissed her hand and walked to the door, smiling at her before closing it behind him.
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Jewel of Mirkwood