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Path of Honor-Part II: Far From Home	By : IdrilsSecret Category: +Third Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 4869 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of its characters. I make no money in the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Chapter Four

So long had it been since I came to Mirkwood. I needed to get home, to get away from this place … from Legolas. The day after our mishap on the practice grounds, I opted to stay in my guest quarters. I couldn’t face him after what had happened. What if Thranduil got word that I punched his son. I hoped that would not be the case, and unless one of the onlookers said something, I didn’t think he would find out. I was sure Legolas would say nothing.
Ai, Legolas, what was I to do about that? He wanted me, and quite frankly, I … well, I could not deny the way he stirred my blood. His kiss … he was right to say that it awakened something in me. I wanted to know more of him, of his mouth and his body, what he could do to me, and what I might learn about myself. I felt the flame he spoke of. It was something very ancient that had been subdued, not only within me, but for millennia, reaching back beyond my own birth. It was a need to lose inhibitions, to untie the binds that held me back, and discover something unknown to me. I could hardly understand this … calling. I’d been a soldier my whole life. I lived for order, to tame the chaos. But whatever Legolas stirred in me wanted to swim in disorder, to be untamable and live from hour to hour without any plan or path. Kissing Legolas made me feel like a fallen leaf and he was a warm breeze. Wherever he carried me I would go, take my chances, adapt to new surroundings. I didn’t want to be ruled, neither did I want to be a ruler. I just wanted to … be.
This was all nonsense, though. How could I be so susceptible to someone so unlike me. He was a Wood elf, I was not. Enough said. He played by a completely different set of rules, if you could even say that Wood elves had rules. Live to see tomorrow, that was their principle. Hold nothing back today, could be their code. I thought about that for a moment. It seemed tempting suddenly. Live in the moment. Worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes. What would it be like to live day to day? Being a Captain, I was always thinking months in advance. I couldn’t afford not to. But the Mirkwood elves lived so close to death and danger, they became dangerous themselves. Tomorrow might not be here for them, but they’d be damned if they didn’t put up a glorious fight. It was kind of romantic … in a barbaric sort of way. So it made a little more sense to me why Legolas took me to him and kissed me so boldly. For him, there might never be another chance. It also made sense why women and men fought alongside each other, and why they had no rules against fraternizing. They lived for today, for it might be their last. It was a very courageous, very undaunted way of life, but it was also sad to think that the Wood elves of Mirkwood thought they could become extinct at any given moment. Sure, they were fearless, but did they fear tomorrow? And if so, what an awful thing to have hanging over one’s head every day. All these things rattled around in my head as I fell to my slumber that night. Needless to say, I did not have a good night’s rest.
* * * * *
The next morning, I awoke to pounding on my door. I jumped from my bed, but before I could make myself decent, the door flew open and there stood Corweth, dressed in a hunting outfit, leggings, boots and tunic. Her bow and a full quiver of arrows was strapped to her back, and she was smiling fiendishly. I was in nothing more than my undershirt, which was … thank goodness … long enough to cover parts of me that I’d rather not have exposed. This did not keep her from gawking, and her eyes traveled down to places most uncomfortable.
“Oh, why Captain, such nice legs you have,” she teased.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, reaching for my cape.
“The Prince sent me. There’s been a group of orcs spotted close to the river. Thought you might like to join the hunt. Unless you would rather crawl back into bed and hide yourself away until the King returns. You can do that too. It’s your prerogative.”
“Hunt?” I asked, still wiping the sleep from my eyes. “Do you mean fight?”
She laughed and shook her head. “This is not a fight, nor is it a battle. It’s exactly as I said, a hunt. When it comes to these stupid beasts, there is no contest. Wood elves don’t fight, we hunt. So, are you coming or not?”
“Fine, just give me a moment to dress,” I said accepting the invitation. I wondered why Legolas did not come himself. Perhaps he was still perplexed by our heated exchange, as I still was. I reached for my clothes and started to unbutton my shirt when I realized that Corweth was still in my room. I glared at her.
“You wanted me to wait for you. I’m waiting,” she said.
“Outside,” I commanded.
She laughed and went to my door. “Prude,” she uttered as she left.
I was beginning to learn my way around, at least from the guest quarters, and I didn’t really have to follow Corweth outside, but she gave me no choice. Once out of the palace and in the fresh air, I began to feel revitalized. I would never get used to being underground, away from the trees and the light. If I stayed down there for too long, it started to affect me. Perhaps that was the reason for my solemn mood last night, and my restless sleep.
I looked around the area. There were about ten of us all together. Corweth and her twin sister Messel, Legolas, a few other females and a couple males that I recognized from passing in the corridors. Legolas saw me, smiled and came to me at once. I felt awkward, and tried not to look him directly in the eyes. I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing the disappointment in his . . .
“Captain Rúmil, so good of you to join us,” Legolas boasted, as though nothing happened the other day.
“Prince Legolas, I appreciate the invitation,” I said, mimicking the lightheartedness between us. In truth, I felt very tense being around him, pretending that all was well. Eventually, we would need to talk about it, but not now. “So, Corweth tells me we are going on a hunt.”
“That would be correct. There has been a group of orcs spotted on the opposite side of the river, heading upstream, not far from the river crossing.” He paused and looked at everyone in the hunting party. “Your orders are to capture their leader for interrogation. Kill the rest. Leave their corpses for the spiders. Whoever brings me the leader will get a barrel of Dorwinion reserved in their name.” The group murmured with delight over the prize. Legolas smiled and added, “But I strongly suggest that you consume it with moderation. We all know what happens when you indulge in too much Dorwinion, don’t we, Arthon?”
Everyone chuckled and Arthon’s color deepened a few shades of red. “I’m just fortunate to still have a place within the palace, my lord.”
Corweth shouted over the others. “And so is your friend, Galion. How long’s it been since either of you had a glass of port?” The rest of the party laughed.
“Alright, enough,” Legolas called out over them. “He learned his lesson long ago. Back to matters at hand. The orcs were said to be a group of about twenty or so, not a large group, but dangerous no less. All rules still apply. You’ll take a partner. If one of you gets injured, the other will not leave him or her behind. Safety in numbers as usual. This is not a battle where you only look out for yourself. That being said, these orcs are on the opposite side of the river. There’s spiders lurking close, but they will stick to the trees. The orcs know this. That’s why they walk the river bank. Spiders will not go close to the water. The leader of the orc company is said to have a metal plate covering half of his head, a large scar running from his temple to his jaw, and dressed in a bear skins. I want him brought to me … breathing. The only reason you kill him is to keep from being killed yourself, otherwise keep him alive. Any questions?” Legolas paused and looked around. Then his eyes fell upon me. “Captain, since you are new to this hunt, you’ll partner with me.”
I nodded in acknowledgement, but I wished I could have refused. I didn’t think it was a good idea to be his partner. There was too much awkwardness between us.
“Good,” Legolas replied. “Let’s head out. They should only be about a day ahead of us, and they are traveling slowly. We’ll double our pace and hopefully catch up to them by midday tomorrow.”
I looked around me, and no one seemed concerned that we were leaving for a few days to hunt these orcs. No horses and minimal supplies, this was not regulation, as least it wouldn’t be in Lothlórien. But these were Wood elves. They lived off the land, and made do with what they had.
Everyone teamed up with their partner and we headed out on our journey. Legolas let everyone pass him as he waited for me. Then we fell into step, side by side, silent as we marched on. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know why I even accepted this invitation, except that I thought it would be rude to refuse the Prince’s offer.
“Ever been on a hunt before?” Legolas asked me after we fell far enough behind the others.
“Deer, wild boar, rabbit, elk,” I answered, keeping my pace steady beside him, and my eyes straight ahead.
“Have you never hunted orcs before?” He seemed surprised by this.
“In Lothlórien, we don’t hunt them. We go to war with them.”
“You don’t know what you’ve been missing. Hunting orcs is a great pastime,” he said as though it was a game, and I said as much.
“We do not set out for our borders and attack the enemy for sport,” I said, offended. “No one really wants to be there, but we go because it is our duty to protect our realm and its people, as well as the Lord and Lady of Light.”
“I keep telling you, Captain, things are different here in Mirkwood. Different rules apply, sometimes no rules. Spiders are just mindless creatures. Not much fun in killing them, except that another dead spider is one less tomorrow. But orcs, they have minds. They think for themselves. They are survivalists, and they understand how the game is played. Now, the leader we are trying to capture . . .”
He went on with tactics and their plans for capture, but all I could think of was . . .
“How are you able to completely ignore what happened between us on the practice grounds,” I blurted out. It had been bothering me ever since we started out.
Legolas shrugged his shoulders. “I made a move. You punched me. I tried to explain the reasons for my actions. You told me you loved another. Now I’ve moved on. You are obviously not interested.”
“No, that’s not it,” I said frustrated.
“So you are interested,” he said sounding hopeful.
“No, I … it’s just–”
“Rúmil, you really are a very confusing ellon.”
“My point is … how can you be so nonchalant about all of this?” I asked with a raised voice.
We stopped walking and the rest of the group disappeared up ahead. When it seemed we were alone, Legolas became serious as he captured my eyes. “It is really very simple. I am extremely attracted to you, Rúmil. I’ve flirted, and I’ve made some bold moves, but you have rejected me at every turn. Now, in Lothlórien, you might have the luxury of courtship, or mindless flirting, or whatever you want to call it. But here in Mirkwood, we act fast, we say what is on our minds, and we take immediate action in order to accomplish a goal. There is no time to waste when your whole life feels as though you are living on the run. I figured it would take a little more coaxing to get you going, but when you told me you were in love with someone, I knew I had to back off. I would never come between–”
“I said I used to be in love with someone. We are not together any more. He’s gone away,” I explained.
“But … you still love him.” It was not a question as much as it was a statement.
“I will always have a place in my heart reserved for him.”
“Then there must still be a chance that you will be together again one day.”
I started walking again, afraid that we would fall too far behind, which meant someone would come back for us, and this was a conversation I didn’t want to have with half of Mirkwood. No doubt, word spread through the palace like a bee flitting from flower to flower. “There is always a chance. There’s a chance the sun will not rise tomorrow. It doesn’t mean it will happen in my lifetime.”
Legolas caught up to me, but he didn’t say anything for the next several paces. I could feel that he had more questions for me, and eventually, he spoke. “So, this ellon you love … sorry, loved … where is he now?”
I shrugged and shook my head. “I don’t know. He could be anywhere, I suppose.”
“Why did he leave?” Legolas asked. He seemed genuinely concerned.
“He had no choice in the matter,” I said solemnly.
“It’s the army again, isn’t it?” He gasped mocking surprise. “Why, Captain, did you get caught with your lover? Oh my! The blasphemy of it all!”
“You’re a real arse, you know that,” I said angrily. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this anyways, but just to set things straight, I was not caught, and it is a long story … one in which I will not bother sharing with an insensitive prick.” I marched off ahead of him, but his long legs allowed him to catch me in just a few strides.
“I’m sorry, Rúmil. I meant no disrespect. I just find it hard to understand your army rules. To me, they seem ridiculous, and I wonder why someone like you would want to be a part of something so restricting.”
“I do it because I love being a soldier. That’s it. It’s simple.”
“If it was simple, you’d be a soldier and still have your lover. But instead, you had to send him away,” Legolas noted.
“That was a sacrifice I had to make.”
His eyes drilled into me, searching for the truth. I was good at hiding my true feelings, and he was good at extracting them. “It’s not one that I’d be willing to make.”
“Yet you sacrifice yourself by letting your father keep you hidden away for fear of losing his only heir. That is something I could never do,” I pointed out. I’d hit a raw nerve. Legolas turned his head back straight, glaring down the path.
“You know nothing of it,” he said trying to distance himself from me.
I had the advantage, finally, and I felt the power shift to my side. “I know I wouldn’t let someone restrain me or hide me away like a treasure.”
Legolas stopped and rounded on me. “Do you think I like this? Do you think I like sitting underground while my friends run out to meet the enemy?”
“No, I don’t. I know that you want to be out there every time, because it is in your soul. But I don’t think you fight hard enough. Thranduil is a king to his people, but you are his son. If anyone can make him listen to reason, it is his own flesh and blood. But you are afraid of him.”
“I am not,” Legolas seethed.
“Of course you are. Otherwise, why would you be here now, heading into danger? It’s easy to defy your father when he’s not here.”
Legolas snorted a disturbing laugh. “You think I’ve snuck out without my father’s consent.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “My father sent me on this mission.”
“What?” I said confused.
“Who do you think spotted the orcs and sent word to the palace? The King returns today.”
I was livid at this point, and I had to force myself not to stick him with my arrow. “Thranduil is returning and no one told me? Then why did you ask me to come along on this excursion when you know damn well how important it is for me to speak with him?”
“Because you are not ready to speak with him yet!” Legolas yelled. His jaw was set as he clenched his teeth, and his savage eyes turned to slits. He looked as though he was deciding whether or not to cut my head from my shoulders. Finally, he released me from his murderous stare, turned away and shook his head in disappointment. “Perhaps I made a mistake by trusting your brother.”
“Haldir? Wait. What has my brother got to do with this?” I was completely clueless, but leave it to Haldir to involve me in something that I had no idea I was involved in.
“Come on. We need to catch up to the others. I’ll tell you along the way.”
I planted my feet solidly on the path. “You will tell me now or I’ll go back to the caves alone.”
Legolas sighed deep and gave in to my demand. “Alright. Your brother, Haldir, has been coming to Mirkwood to slowly build trust with my father.”
“That is no secret,” I said skeptically. “Go on.”
“He has not been doing it for Lothlórien alone. There are many of us who want to join Lothlórien in their efforts to tear down Dol Guldur. But my father is a very … very stubborn elf. He says it is our duty to protect our kingdom in the north, and if Lórien wants to attack Dol Guldur, then it’s their own responsibility since they are closer neighbors than Mirkwood. Haldir has been trying to convince my father that a shared effort will mean a better chance at victory, and he was doing a good job of it too. That is, until a most unfortunate thing happened.” At this point, Legolas started walking up the path. I had no choice but to follow. He had me hooked at every word. “During Haldir’s last visit, Mirkwood had an unexpected guest. Do you know Mithrandir, the grey wizard?”
“I’ve never met him personally, but he has come to Lothlórien many times to visit the Lady Galadriel.” I said.
“Well, he does not visit Mirkwood often, and it was rather a shock to see him at our gates. He was not alone. He brought with him a prisoner.”
“An orc?” I asked, and I thought about this hunt we were on.
“No, not an orc. Not a member of any species, really. I’m not sure myself what kind of creature it was, but it was pitiful and lonely, and frightened of elves more than orcs.”
“What did the wizard want with it?” I asked.
“He said he’d captured it, and that it held a wealth of information. He said that the enemy could not get their hands on it, and that’s why he brought the creature to Mirkwood. Mithrandir brought it to us to protect it, not to imprison it. It had done no one any harm, but by being here, it put Mirkwood in even more danger than we were already in.”
“Then why did King Thranduil allow it here?” I wondered.
“As I said, your brother was visiting at the time. He approached my father and helped to convince him to allow the wizard’s request. The creature was put in a cell. Mithrandir left, but said that he would come back for the creature when it was time. My father remained suspicious, but because of the trust he’d built with Haldir, he was put a bit at ease with his decision. And I was put in charge of seeing over the prisoner.”
“But–” I said, drawing the word out.
Legolas bowed his head until his chin rested on his chest. “It was all my fault. Mithrandir warned us not to believe a word the creature said. This … thing … it cried every night and sobbed every day. It said it was dying beneath the earth. All it wanted was to see the stars. I took pity on it. I couldn’t help myself. As I said, we were protecting it, and it seemed unfair to keep it locked away all the time when it hadn’t committed any crimes against anyone. And so, on a moonless night when the stars were at their peak of brilliance, I ordered the guards to let the creature out to breathe the fresh air and gaze upon his desire. They took it outside, but they were careful to let it loose in a glade where there was only a single tree. The creature climbed the tree, saying it only wanted to be closer to the stars. But when it was time to take it back to the cells, it wouldn’t come down. My guards tried everything short of shooting it with an arrow to get it out of that tree. They were distracted and didn’t hear the orcs approaching. My men were outnumbered. They were slaughtered. The tree was cut down, and the creature was stolen from us. When my father found out, he was livid. He blamed Haldir for talking him into it. He blamed me for the kidnapping, and he said he would never trust another Lórien elf for as long as he remained on this earth. Haldir left immediately, and I was told I could not participate in hunts or battles.”
“But he is allowing you on this one. Why?” I was enthralled by this story and my brother’s involvement, but I wondered why I was here.
“He knows when it comes to a hunt and capturing an enemy, there is no one better. And I convinced him to let me prove myself to him once again. The orc leading this company up river was there the night that the creature was stolen. That’s why we need to interrogate him. We need to make things right with the wizard, and we can do that if we can find out where the enemy took the prisoner.”
“That all makes sense, Legolas, but one thing does not. Why am I here if your father wants nothing to do with Lothlórien, especially since I am the brother of the elf he considers the reason for his problems.” I was finally getting to the bottom of this, and I knew Haldir still had a hand in helping the Mirkwood elves who did not agree with their king.
Legolas smiled at me, his blue eyes cutting to my soul. “That’s what I like about you, Rúmil. Always thinking ahead. Nothing gets past you, does it? Do you know how alluring–”
“Out with it,” I demanded. This was no time for his seductions.
“My father doesn’t know you are here. I intercepted the letter of request sent from Lothlórien and answered it, allowing you to come. I had it all planned out perfectly. You would arrive while my father was out performing his duties, and that would give me time to figure out what to do next.”
I was dumbfounded. I stood there, staring at Legolas, unable to find my voice for a moment. I didn’t know whether to punch him again for involving me in his schemes, or to swive him for not being the spoiled heir of a sovereign I thought he was, and actually having a pair of bollocks when it came to defying his father. “Wait, you said you needed to figure out what to do next?”
“There was no time to make any plans further than getting you to Mirkwood. The orc party had been spotted before, but our scouts lost track of them. It was pure luck that my father saw them. Now, we have to think of a way to involve you in this hunt that will force my father to give you an audience with him. Haldir said you had a way with words, and if there was anyone that could convince my father to join in this war, it would be you.”
“Me? I’m not a negotiator. I can hardly talk a kitchen maid into giving me an extra sweet roll, let alone talk your father into fighting a war with Lothlórien,” I countered. What in the name of Eru did Haldir think he was doing?
Legolas smiled fiendishly and came close to me. “Oh, I don’t know about that. If it was me in the kitchen, I’d give you more than a sweet roll.”
There was that seductive voice again. I tried not to let it affect me, but there are parts of the male anatomy that have a mind of their own. “Will you be serious for a moment? I’m afraid Haldir has misled you. There is another reason why he sent me here, and it’s not to join you in this scheme against your father, who … by the way … could have my head put on a stake,” I argued. “I’m only a messenger in all of this.”
Legolas seemed disappointed in my reaction. He must have thought I was here on my own accord. He hadn’t known the real reason I was sent here, which was to get away from my own interrogation and Raenor, who was still on a witch hunt over the whole Túron and Romon scandal.
His face softened. He looked desperate at this point, though he tried to hide it. “Will you help us or not, Rúmil? I believe that if Mirkwood joins Lothlórien and storms Dol Guldur, we could actually take back the Rhovanion and extinguish the black creatures. And I’m not alone in this. There are enough Wood elves who believe this, and who would join the cause if it meant living out from under the threat of darkness.” He was pleading with me. He looked so vulnerable that I found it difficult to resist.
After some thought, I finally answered. “I will help you capture this orc. I will even help you interrogate him. I have no choice but to come back to the palace with you. It will be out of my hands at that point. If your father sends me away without allowing me an audience with him, then I must abide by his rule. He is king here, not you. If tensions are high between Lothlórien and Mirkwood, I will not do anything to make them any tenser than they already are. That is the best I can offer you.”
“Then we’ll just have to make sure my father will let you speak. Now, let’s go hunt an orc.”
* * * * *
We found the orc party, and we captured their leader. The rest were killed and left to rot. The leader was interrogated and … well, unfortunately for him the information had to be forced out. Legolas handled that part of things. For the first time, I saw the genuine savagery of the Wood elves. Revenge was good motivator. After all, it had been Legolas’ own men who died that day when the creature was taken, and this orc had been responsible for the crimes.
Now we had arrived at the palace, and I had never been so nervous. I hid it well. It was not like me to show my true emotions when in a professional setting. Today I would speak with the King, or at least I hoped it would be today. I had my own war to fight back in Lothlórien, and I knew they needed every able bodied elf.
Legolas and I, and the entire hunting party, entered the King’s hall, the center of this Wood elf operation. A stone bridge was all that separated us from King Thranduil. His throne sat upon a dais of rock, high in the center of the main cavern. I gazed across the distance to the regal elf, dressed in forest green robes, gilded edges sparkling in the light. Upon his golden head sat a mithril circlet dotted with jewels, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, I supposed. He was the last of the elven kings, and he radiated a sense of superiority and self-importance that no other leader possessed. It suddenly dawned on me, the significance of Legolas’ role in all of this. The same royal blood coursed through his veins, and I had felt that blood pulsing just below the ivory skin as he touched my own. Legolas was not just another Wood elf, as I had let myself believe. He was the son of the most important person in this extravagant room. He could very well be sitting upon this same throne one day.
“I was not made aware that we had a visitor,” Thranduil’s voiced boomed from the throne.
“I allowed it, Your Grace, while you were away and I was temporary ruler in your stead,” Legolas spoke from my side.
Thranduil moved to the edge of his throne and studied me from across the stone walkway. “I can see by your clothes that you are from Lothlórien. Who are you?”
“I am Rúmil, Captain of the Northern Border Guard,” I announced with pride.
Thranduil observed me carefully before he went on. “Your brother is Haldir, Marchwarden of the North.”
“He is, Your Grace. He has sent me here to speak with you about–”
“I have nothing to say to you, just as I had nothing to say to your brother,” Thranduil commanded. He slid back comfortably in his chair, hands resting on the wooden arms shaped like twisted branches. I could see the gleam of many jeweled rings, one on each finger. He wore his wealth with pride.
“You have a very beautiful home, Your Grace,” I said.
“Thank you,” Thranduil replied.
“You’ve gone to great lengths to protect it, as well as your people,” I spoke again.
“I have and I still do. Now, if you’ll please take your leave and–”
“Pardon my boldness, Your Grace, but I am sure you would like to keep your people safe for as long as possible.”
“My people are well protected and will remain that way until–”
“Until Dol Guldur regurgitates its massive army and they march north, here, to Mirkwood.”
Thranduil’s thick dark brows came together with a deep furrowing. “You dare to interrupt me when I’m speaking?”
“I have new information about our enemy that you should be made aware of.”
“I highly doubt there is anything you could tell me that I do not already know. Nothing you can say will persuade me to fight for Lothlórien. That is the reason your brother sent you, is it not?” Thranduil said with impatience.
“He said you will not heed his advice anymore, and he chose me to carry the message instead.”
“You could send a talking rabbit here to speak with me on such matters, but if it came from Lothlórien, its advice would still fall on deaf ears,” the King scolded.
“Father,” Legolas called across the way. “I think you should listen to Captain Rúmil. Hear what it is he has to say. At least let us approach the throne so we don’t have to shout.”
Thranduil ignored his son’s plea. “Did you receive my message about the orc party?”
I heard Legolas sigh next to me. Obviously, he knew there was no way to force anything on his father. The Prince would submit for now. “Yes, and they have been dealt with. Their leader was interrogated, and there is new information.”
“Come then,” Thranduil called, waving his son across the bridge. “Tell me this news.”
“I’m … afraid I do not have it,” Legolas said cautiously.
“You said you interrogated him, so what did he tell you?” Thranduil asked. I could hear the anger beginning to rise in his tone.
“The orc did not tell me anything,” Legolas informed. “I was the hand that forced him to speak, but it was not my ear that his words fell upon.”
Thranduil was growing impatient, and he was starting to see what Legolas was up to. “Then who knows what he said?”
“The orc would only talk to Captain Rúmil, since he was the only one of our hunting party that was not there the night of the situation,” Legolas said.
“And what was the Lothlórien soldier doing accompanying you on a hunt?”
“I invited him. Captain Rúmil is leader to their archery regiment. He’s very good with a bow, and I … thought he might enjoy a bit of hunting.”
Thranduil glared at his son. “What kind of trickery is this, Legolas?” Each word was carefully pronounced and tinged with danger.
“It is no trick, Father, but if you want to know what the orc said, you’ll have to ask the Captain. He is the only one who knows.”
This had been our plan all along. Legolas knew his father would never allow me to speak with him, and we needed a way to guarantee he would. So, once we killed the orc party and tortured the leader until he was ready to talk, Legolas and the others left me alone with him. Legolas told me what questions to ask once I was alone with the orc. The poor creature told me everything he knew, in order to keep Legolas from coming back and torturing him some more. And Legolas was true to his word. He didn’t torture the orc after that. He put him out of his misery, and ours … a swift death. When it was all said and done, I was the only one who knew the answers to the questions, and if Thranduil wanted to know, he would only hear it from me.
“Now,” Legolas said. “May we approach?”
Thranduil looked livid. I thought that the only reason I was still breathing was because of the information I held. The King would not look at me, but Legolas seemed to be taking the brunt of the King’s deadly stare. There was nothing more frightening than cornering an angry Wood elf.
“You are my son,” Thranduil finally said, an eerie calm coating his words. “You are never denied my attention.”
“And Captain Rúmil?” Legolas asked. I almost wished he would have let me stay where I was.
“Bring your talking rabbit, then,” Thranduil answered. He stood from his chair and turned, his green robes snapping in the air. That’s when I noticed that there was a door behind the dais. Thranduil walked to the door and disappeared inside, his marvelous cloak chasing behind.
Before we crossed the bridge that led to the chamber, Legolas looked at me, one brow raised in mischief. “Ready to face the bull?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I said, but I wasn’t sure this was going to work. Thranduil would want the information first. I had to convince him to hear me out before I would release anything the orc told me. The battle was not over yet.
Once inside the chamber, I realized that I’d been here before. When Legolas first gave me a tour of the palace, this had been one of the places he showed me, but we had come in from another way. There was no mistaking the bear rug or the tapestries covering the walls. This was the King’s private audience chamber.
Thranduil went to a shelf and picked up a decanter of wine. He poured himself a glass, but he did not offer any to me or Legolas. I was receiving his message clearly. Thranduil would only tolerate me until he got what he wanted. After that, he’d be done with me. I had to keep that from happening.
Legolas and I stood side by side as we waited for Thranduil to speak. The King had his back to us as he poured the wine, and then finished half the glass in only a few swallows. He set the cup down rather hard and spun on his heel. Thranduil was flawlessly handsome for someone so intimidating. I could see the likeness between father and son, their hair, their eyes, and it was obvious in the face as well as the way they carried themselves. They could be friend or foe, my greatest ally or my worst enemy, and they could flip as quickly as a coin. But the one great difference that I had only recently come to know was that Legolas’ opinion of fighting the war was opposite of his father’s views, and I needed Legolas on my side.
“Captain Rúmil, perhaps you will tell me how much you know about a prisoner that we held here,” Thranduil said.
“He knows everything,” Legolas answered for me. “I had to tell him about the creature and the kidnapping so that he would know what questions to ask.”
“I see,” Thranduil said cynically. “And does he know that it was your fault that the prisoner was taken from us? Does he know that you disobeyed an order, and let the creature out because you … felt sorry for it?”
I could sense Legolas’ embarrassment, and I intervened. “Legolas has told me everything, and I have to add that I might have done the same thing had I been in your son’s position.”
“Then you would be just as much a fool,” Thranduil said with disappointment. “Mithrandir entrusted the Wood elves with this charge. The creature was not ours to decide what to do with. We were only to keep watch, to keep him out of the enemy’s grasp.”
Legolas took a step towards his father, a pleading look upon his beautiful face. “How many times must I say I’m sorry? How many times must I agree that it was my fault? I lost some of my best men that night. I’ll live with the guilt of my decision for the rest of my days. Isn’t that punishment enough, Father?”
Thranduil looked upon his son with concern. I thought that deep down, he wanted to forgive Legolas, but he was the King, and he had to make an example. “And I have to live with the fact that it was my own son who made that poor decision.”
“Your son has done a good thing to make up for his mistakes,” I interrupted. “By your command, he found the orc party, captured the leader and had him interrogated.”
“A good thing? Really? He let an elf of Lórien question a captive. He let you ask the questions … alone. And now he’s expecting me to beg a Lórien elf to give me the information,” Thranduil seethed.
“I would never disrespect the elven king by making him grovel. All I ask is that, in return for this information, you hear me out, listen to Lothlórien’s warning, and give serious consideration to their pleas,” I said.
“And I suppose I have to hear what you have to say before you will trade this information,” Thranduil said unimpressed. “Very well, tell me.” He seemed very uninterested.
“Your Grace,” I began. “It is about Dol Guldur and our findings.”
“Of course it is. Everything Lothlórien tries to get me involved it has to do with that place.”
“A place that was once home to your people,” I reminded him.
“My father’s people, you mean. And most of them have sailed or perished in war. My father, King Oropher, took us to the safety of the north because he knew what troubles lay ahead in the southern regions of the Rhovanion.”
“And that was the best thing to do at the time. But over the years, the abandoned places have gone unchecked,” I argued.
“Yes, and the Necromancer settled in Dol Guldur. As far as I know, it was Mithrandir and your Lady of Light who abolished him from the broken tower. That place is nothing more than a gathering place for the orc troops.” Thranduil seemed very sure of himself, but I was not going to let him win this one.
“It is more than a gathering place. Orcs are breeding there, growing their armies, and once they have enough, they will march on Lothlórien and Mirkwood.”
“This is nothing new to my ears, Captain Rúmil. But the way I see things, Lothlórien is closest to the danger, and it should be their responsibility to keep watch over any activity and to strike when necessary. I have enough to worry about with the spiders. Any orcs that happen along here are severely out of place, and as you saw for yourself, they are dealt with immediately.”
“Your Grace,” I stated with a raised voice. “There is more in Dol Guldur than orcs. The Nazgûl now inhabit that place, and they are responsible for organizing Sauron’s armies.”
“The Nazgûl?” Thranduil said in a shocked whisper. “So, Sauron has initiated his Black Captains.”
“It is Lothlórien’s belief that they will march soon. They will spread like a plague across the Rhovanion towards my home and yours, and by then it will be too late to stop them. If we go now, to Dol Guldur, and attack them before they are at full capacity, they can be defeated, but it will take both of us to do this.”
Thranduil went back to the decanter of wine and refilled his glass. He sipped slowly, his mind turning over this new information as he considered what to do. He glanced over his shoulder to his son. “And what are your thoughts in all of this.”
“I have always thought we have not done enough, but now is our opportunity to put an end to it all,” Legolas answered passionately.
“You have always been too eager, just like your grandfather,” Thranduil said. “You want to rush in, get blood on your knives, but you have not considered what that will mean for the men who will be slaughtered. I’ve seen it once already, Legolas. I will not watch it again.”
“Oropher rushed into a battle that–”
“I am not speaking of Oropher,” Thranduil said in a threatening tone. I saw some kind of exchange between father and son, something unspoken that only they knew about.
Legolas took a deep breath to clear his mind and bring things back to the matter at hand. “We will be ready, Father, especially if we fight alongside Lothlórien,” Legolas argued the point in a cool demeanor. “There are more than you know who believe in this strategy, who want to fight. They want to go out and meet the enemy, not sit here and wait for them to come to us. By then it will be too late.”
I could see that Thranduil was becoming irritated. His shoulders drew back as he lifted his head. Even with his back turned to us, he was still menacing. Everything hung on his word, and I would have an answer before I left Mirkwood.
“I’ve listened to what you have to say. Now, tell me what the orc revealed about the prisoner they took from us.” He ignored everything Legolas had just told him.
I looked at Legolas nervously, but he gave a confident smile and a nod. Before we came to Thranduil, we had devised a plan, which we achieved so far, but we also had a side plan that would insure I’d have an answer before my departure. It was a risk and a huge move on my part, and I’m not sure I would even try it if it wasn’t for Legolas’ support. I was about to find out how well he knew his father and his wrath, for this would make him very angry indeed.
“Before I do, I’d like to know why it is so important to you. Why is it any concern of yours anymore?” I asked boldly. There was no room for nervousness now. I could not show the slightest sign of fear, or I could not corner Thranduil.
Thranduil considered my question for a moment. “The prisoner, Gollum was his name, he’d been within Mirkwood, within the palace. Now the orcs have him, and I fear he will tell them what he’s seen. I fear they might be looking for a way in.” He spoke to himself as he justified his answer. “I should have known better than to allow Mithrandir to talk me into helping him. He put us all in danger.”
“They do not care about Mirkwood,” I said. “Not as far as the creature is concerned.”
Thranduil was not happy about my inquisition, and I could tell he was getting fed up with me. “Gollum was under my watch and my care when he was taken, and as a symbol of good faith I should have answers for the wizard when he returns for the prisoner and finds he’s not here.”
I watched the King carefully. I’d learned a thing or two about body language, and how to detect when someone was not telling the whole truth. I noticed that Thranduil rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, giving himself away as he tried to steer me away from the real reason. I realized that while Gollum was imprisoned in Mirkwood, Thranduil would have had ample opportunity to interrogate him and find out why a wizard wanted him just as much as the enemy did. “Could it be that you already know why the orcs wanted him?” I dared to ask.
Thranduil very calmly walked to his desk, and placed both palms flat on the wood grain. He bowed his head, remaining still and quiet. I thought that I might have taken the advantage in our game, and I glanced at Legolas to see his reaction. But before my eyes even had time to see my abettor, the silence was violently broken by Thranduil’s fist slamming onto the desk. His head slowly came up, his ice blue eyes glaring at me through his thick dark brows. “We had an agreement, Captain. I listened to your pleas, now just tell me what I wish to know.”
“You have not given me an answer yet, Your Grace. Do so, and I shall tell you everything the orc admitted to,” I said coolly.
“You do not fool me. If I say no to joining you on some suicide mission, you’ll not tell me a damn thing.”
“That’s not true, but if you say no, you might change your mind after hearing what happened to the prisoner,” I argued.
Thranduil knew he was trapped. He couldn’t let me leave without knowing what I had to tell him, and I could not leave without an answer. We had come to a stalemate and one of us would have to fold first. So he offered me a truce and I accepted.
“Will you at least tell me where they took him?” Thranduil asked softly.
I paused and waited until the King looked me in the eyes, and when he did I answered. “Dol Guldur.”
His shoulders slumped as he looked down at his desk. This was the one place that Thranduil had wanted to avoid, and the focus of Lothlórien’s next move.
“Why do you want the prisoner, Father?” Legolas asked. “What do you know?”
Thranduil scowled at his son. “Why don’t you ask your Lórien friend? He seems to know everything. Maybe you can drag it out of him.” Thranduil brought himself up to his full intimidating height, and looked at me with rage dancing behind the ice blue eyes. “I need time to consider your plea for help. You’ll have an answer come morning. One more day in Mirkwood will not hurt your campaign. Now go, both of you.”
“I wish to stay and speak with you,” Legolas said.
“Go,” Thranduil said without hesitation. Legolas started to take a step forward to confront his father, but I put my hand on his arm to stop him. I could see by the look on his face, he just wanted to know what his father was thinking, but Thranduil wanted to be alone to think. Not even his own son could sway him in this decision.
Legolas gave in and abandoned his thoughts for the moment. We left Thranduil’s audience chamber, and crossed over the stone archway. Legolas seemed restless, and my nerves were rattled to the core after all that. The Prince took a deep breath and looked at me. “You seem to have come out on top,” he said.
“Ahead of the game, but not unscathed. Your father is unreasonable and stubborn, and I somehow managed escape without ending up in your prison cells.”
Legolas smiled and gave a huff of a laugh. “Well, there’s nothing else to do for today. Let’s go unravel those nerves.”
“Do you have a tavern hidden away in one of these dark corridors?” I asked jokingly. Actually, I could use a strong drink at the moment.
“Not what I was thinking, but I’ll have wine sent.”
“Sent where?” I wondered.
“To the hot springs, of course.”
“You have hot springs in Mirkwood?” I asked surprised.
“Better. They are within the palace. My father struck a deal with the dwarves long ago. They tapped into a natural source and built custom baths where the water remains at a constant tantalizing temperature.”
“You really do have everything under this hill, don’t you?”
Legolas smiled infectiously. “Come on. Time to relax after our harsh trials.”
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Path of Honor-Part II: Far From Home