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Feud	By : narcolinde Category: -Multi-Age > General Views: 27149 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Feud
www.feud.shadowess.com
by erobey, robey61@yahoo.com
beta'd by Sarah AK

Disclaimer: The recognised characters and settings used in this fiction were created by JRR Tolkien. The words, other characters, and ideas here surrounding them belong to erobey alone. No infringement is intended or monies earned through this work.

Chapter 71: Ben'waeth [According to the Wind]

The table was not set with white linen and fine silver, crystal goblets or fragile china. No artistic arrangement of greenery or branches bearing bitter autumn berries of red and orange graced the centre of the board. Instead the sturdy square of lovingly crafted and smoothed golden oak was covered in a simple cloth of humble flax, unadorned with embroidery or lace. A collection of utilitarian earthenware plates and bowls clustered near the middle where a squat pitcher carved from tight-grained seasoned cedar held sweet water within its aromatic bounds. Cups to match sat within arm's reach, two of normal size to fit an adult's grasp and one smaller and wider at the base with two large handles adhering to either side like ridiculous ears.

In fact, the redwood mug was painted with a silly grinning dwarven face and had a cover formed in the shape of an absurd little pointed cap. A thin slit in the rim of the lid situated just above the artfully rendered expression of mirth permitted fluid to be sipped from the container. The implement was indeed designed to charm and entertain a child's eyes and belonged to the chestnut-haired princess of the Woodland Realm.

The royal family dined together in the nursery since Meril's discovery of an uninvited guest within the heir's rooms. The table, the same gracing the royal couple's private balcony and upon which they broke their fast each day, was crowded near the fireplace and had supplanted the rocker for the duration of the meal. No nt ont of reassurances from Thranduil relieved his wife's mind and despite four guards stationed in the halls leading up to the sequestered chambers the agitated mother was not appeased. She remained unconvinced of the efficacy of her husband's soldiers given the ease with which the outcast had eluded notice previously.

The King of the Woodland Realm occupied one side of the square and his beloved consort sat opposite him. Their vivacious toddler sat between her parents in a tall chair and primly handled her miniature wooden spoon as she concentrated on bringing the brimming soup to her lips without spilling a drop. The dark red mouth opened and in went the broth and the child looked to her naneth for approval. Meril smiled warmly and Gwilith glowed, dipping the serviceable utensil down into the nourishing concoction as she turned this enchanting expression upon her adar. She demonstrated her exceptional skill for his edification.

"That is very good, Echuiross, you did not dribble any over your chin this time," Thranduil chuckled and reached out to brush back some of his elfling's wispy hair still too fine to remain bound in the ribbons and clasps designed to restrain it. "Soon you will not need to use the cawesgal [top cover, bib] at all." He tapped the clean vest tied over his hterhter's clothes to protect them fher her still developing co-ordination, for the child was not yet three years of age. She was obviously very proud that the stark white bib was still as fresh as when Naneth had secured it round her, and he was pleased for her. The King glanced up to exchange his joy with his wife but found her gaze rather less than warm. He sighed the smallest amount.

"Meril, the butter, if you please?" he said.

"Of course, Hervennen. More sweet bread?"

"Nay, but I thank you."

Silence ensued disrupted only by the normally unnoticed scraping of fork and knife, chewing and swallowing, the muted thump of a cup set down, all the nondescript noises that formed the background accompaniment to every meal, exaggerated by the lack of conversation. There was too much to say and none of it could readily be spoken.

"Oh!" the princess suddenly exclaimed and gained the immediate attention of both her parents. "When Limlas come play?" she asked brightly, facing her mother. "What Limlas like to eat?"

"Gwilwileth, I do not know the answer to either of those questions." Meril forced a smile as she spoke and controlled the flash of rage that tempted her to veto Thranduil's hasty compliance to his daughter's wilful manipulation. "Adar and I will discuss this and tell you later."

"Yes, yes," the elfling answered impatiently; her Ada had promised and so she was not concerned too much about the answer. Ignoring the undertone of agitation in her mother's statement she imperiously tossed her head. She wanted advice on what to demand from the kitchens when her grown-up friend visited. "But what for tea? What Limlas wanting?"

"I know not, child!" her mother snapped and Gwilith was wise enough to discern the subject was not to be broached again if she wished to avoid her Nana's icy, silent, uncompromising anger.

"Do not worry about it, sell dithen [little daughter]. Limlas will enjoy being with you and not care about tea," Thranduil assured her kindly. He sent a defiant look into his wife's darkening visage, daring her to challenge his right to make this decision. Meril's stubborn attitude was beginning to irk him. If he chose to let the wild elf visit his child, then she must accede to his wishes.

"I read the book to Tauron, Ada," Gwilith said, excitement in her words. She recognised her father's reaffirmation that the consent given would not be retracted but was confused and worried to sense her parents at odds. As yet she did not comprehend that Legolas was the focal point of their contention and actually thought she was changing the subject. She wanted to tell her Ada all about the big event and plunged right in. "Limlas said was perfect!"

"Perfect? Why I am not one bit amazed at that, hêniell [girl child]," he smiled and patted her head delightedly. "Would you like to show me? You may read the book to Taurant again when he wakes."

Meril held her tongue and instead bided her time. She was not about to follow in Ningloriel's footsteps, pushed into a power struggle with her husband over the fate of the disgraced archer. She had already heard the results of the Council's conclusion and knew the outcast had been cleared of every charge. She was aware that the Judgement was under review with further decisions postponed until Maltahondo was fit to be questioned. She was likewise fully cognisant of Tirno's rash defence of his foster father and Thranduil's forgiveness for even that grievous infraction.

What she lacked was insight into the rationale behind this sudden turnabout in the King's perception of the former heir. Until she had some further information as to the causes for this change of heart, she refused to be drawn into disputation. She was a Wood Elf and fell naturally into a pattern of necessary stealth; never enter into a dangerous situation without a fair idea of the strength of your opponent's forces and the depth of the enemy's resolve. She found her appetite soured and rose to clear away her place at table. She smiled rather complacently at Thranduil's wary scrutiny.

{Aye let him wonder and worry.}

She held fast to her maternal indignation over the fact that the fallen archer would be spared punishment for his trespass and his brash and ugly threats regarding her children. She was virtually seething with wrath from her husband's failure to support her claims and insist on the complete removal of the criminal from their homeland. {Instead the child of Ningloriel is to be welcomed as our daughter's guest at tea!}

Yet despite her anger the royal consort was the one fretting. What had happened? Had the condemned elf spoken new charges against her? {Nay or Thranduil would not be quite so calm.} Had some facts been uncovered of which she had not been aware? {A possibility, but if so they were not made public.} She compressed her supple lips into a narrow band of vivid disapproval as she quietly cleaned up.

All the while Thranduil and Gwilith had been chit-chatting away about the picture book escapade and Meril's eyes grew wide in alarm as she focused her hearing upon their conversation once more.

"…so dark and dirty and I not see Limlas! Limlas swallowed by the black air!" Gwilith shuddered as she narrated the tale.

"What dark?" demanded Meril at once. "Where did Limlas take you, hênnen [my child], and what did he do to you there?" Images of the gloom in the dungeons below the kitchens loomed up to crowd her mind.

"Nay, Lind'on and me follow Limlas into a hole in the bathing room wall. Go up and up and Limlas held a light. Nothing happen; Limlas swallowed by the dark!" the girl repeated for her mother's benefit. "Then he crawled out the cabinet, there," she pointed to the object standing solidly against the rock wall on the far side of the chamber.

Now both parents were speechless but for different reasons. Thranduil knew of the escape tunnels of course and was simply amazed for them to have served such a purpose. He had assumed Lindalcon had granted entry to the rooms through the outer parlour door. The archer must have been completely determined to see Taurant to make use of the hidden passages for Tirno did not appreciate darkness in the least. Thranduil remembered well the day the youth had somehow stumbled down into the Vestibule of the Three Doors and the resulting unholy sound of misery and terror that filled the screaming voice saturating the stronghold.

But Meril was aghast to learn her child had been dragged through the filth of some airless chute and frightened unnecessarily all to satisfy the outcast's stubborn insistence to insinuate his presence where he was neither wanted nor needed. And even more intense was her fury against Lindalcon for having permitted such an event to take place. Not for the last time did she regret the decision to encourage her eldest's friendship to the disgraced warrior.

"Nay, Echuiross, Limlas was not lost in the darkness," Thranduil recovered his tongue first and sought to console his frightened child. "Those tunnels are for our safety. We can always get free of the mountain if need be, should something block the main doors and stairs. Limlas just wanted you to see this could be done. Did he not find his way right to this very room?" Gwilith nodded solemnly but a residual shiver worked its way through her.

"But, Ada, I go on garden stairs instead," she announced firmly.

"There will never be such need to choose," said Meril testily. "Limlas should not have taken you there. If this is the sort of activity he means to supply for my daughter I will certainly not give my consent!"

"Indeed, I do not think it was a fitting place to play either," Thranduil said with a tone of warning. He would not argue this in front of Gwilwileth. "Yet I believe I understand his reasoning for the choice."

With that the King rose and lifted Gwilith from her chair, untying the over-vest and laying it on the abandoned seat as he held her close. He could feel the tension in the elfling's body in response to the barely veiled hostility growing between her parents and Thranduil was resolved to spare her any further upset. He would not be the cause for a fresh supply of tears from Echuiross' shining eyes.

"I sorry, Nana,ell ell Limlas to show Tauron book," whispered the child.

"It is all right, Gwilith, I am not angry with you," her Nana smiled gently and leaned forward to kiss the worry away from the pensive features. "Go with Ada and get ready for bedtime. You may read the book to your baby brother tomorrow, alright?" Meril, too, desired to shelter her young ones from distress and transferred her gaze to her husband to communicate that wish. She also transmitted her promise of complete opposition over the matter of the outcast archer.

Thranduil acknowledged the silent volley with the arching of a single golden brow. Reserving his ammunition for the real sortie, he left, trotting away in a fine imitation of a prancing pony with Gwilith, giggling happily, perched upon his right shoulder.

"Ellon darianc! [Obstinate male!]" Meril huffed out as she gathered up the rest of the dirty dishes, setting them neatly in a large woven basket of river reeds. She took up the cloth, catching all the crumbs and particles of food within its folds, and laid this atop the plates and bowls. The table now stood barren and looked even more out of place in the infant's nursery.

The royal consort stepped across the room to the cradle where Taurant continued to sleep soundly, never having stirred throughout the course of the dinner, exhausted from his long bout of weeping. Meril adjusted his blanket and lightly caressed his hair, her features transformed with loving endearment.

Then the softness departed and in its stead a fierce and unyielding determination to protect her babe's auspicious future as heir to the Woodland Realm filled her eyes. She turned from the crib and found the bell pull next to the mantle, yanking it twice with undo force. It would be a few moments before her attendants reached the high chambers and so she carried the basket out to the front parlour and then returned the chairs to the balcony, setting them outside nursnursery rather in than their usual place beyond the royal couple's boudoir. The servants would do the same for the table.

Three domestics arrived and two took care of rearranging the furniture in the nursery, stealing adoring peeks at the tiny prince as they passed, while the other carried away the basket. Once the rocker was back next the hearth and the fire nicely stoked, one of the servants bowed himself out. The inu remaining smiled at Meril and the two exited the child's room and entered the royal consort's private study.

They sat before her fireplace and clasped hands together, for these two had been friends from childhood. In fact, this worthy retainer was Meril's principle source of inside information regarding the royal family and had been for centuries. Ben'waeth [According to the Wind] was her name and she worked in the kitchens. The fact that Meril was now part of that family had not altered their close relationship.

"What news?" asked Meril.

"There is nothing of import. Except the outcast has beeen oen on the forest paths with the Noldo Lord, letting the gódhel [deep elf, Noldo] make love to him," Ben'waeth replied with a twinkle.

"Well even Thranduil possesses that secret!" scoffed Meril and her friend giggled. "There must be something more going on. The King seems almost solicitous toward his former heir this night."

And for the first time Ben'waeth, her long Woodland nose notwithstanding, hesitated to reveal what she had heard from one of the gardeners who had received the tale from one of the grooms who had been crossing the stable yard when the warriors surrounded their King.

"I knew it!" gloated Meril. "Tell me, for it must be important if you must consider so carefully before you speak."

"Aye," the elleth breathed a deep breath. "Talagan and his warriors were on the verge of ousting Kin King this day."

The sharp gasp that fled the royal consort's lips would normally have pleased her friend and fellow quidnunc, for theirs was a running game of one-upmanship in the gleaning of gossip, each one's goal to nonplus the other. This time no gleeful laughter followed Meril's obvious shock.

"What is the meaning of this? What happened?"

"It seems that Sylvan and Sindar alike have made their decision to back the Tawarwaith. They respect the wild elf's it ait and the upholding of oaths sworn to friends in need. They honour the defender of the trees and the grandson of Oropher."

"Yes, 'Hîl od Oropher', so I heard also. But why now and what stemmed the flux of mutinous intent?" asked Meril, though already her clever mind thought she had the answer. Thranduil would make the Tawarwaith his ally rather than lose the support of his troops.

"They heard the voice of Tawar today," her friend shrugged; it was the truth. "The King has forgiven the outcast and all that remains is for the Council to undergo the formality of completing the hearing and reversing the Judgement, for none now think the archer guilty. Suspicion has fallen upon Maltahondo instead."

Meril got up and paced across the elegantly appointed room, frustrated to hear this though it was no more than she had surmised. This explained the abrupt felicity Thranduil had for his first wife's child. How to deal with it, that became her immediate concern. She could not allow the disgraced archer to resume his place within the stronghold and supplant her son's destiny.

"Yet he cannot be the heir of the Woodland Realm," she said, as though her thoughts had been voiced aloud, "for Ningloriel departed and renounced all her claims by formal decree to the Council," she relaxed and smiled as she returned to her seat. "The Council may clear his name but cannot restore his title. Ningloriel, foolish inu, stripped her child of his birthright in her selfish and cowardly act of desertion!"

"Indeed, but Tirno does not care about that anyway," Ben'waeth had no difficulty comprehending what chain of speculation had generated these remarks from her life-long friend. "Truly, you were mistaken to feel he meant harm to his brother," her nd rnd remonstrated.

"I heard what I heard! You surprise me; there is no proof of his kinship and we perceive why there never will be. It was you who informed me of Maltahondo's affair with the Queen, after all!" retorted Meril.

"Aye," said Ben'waeth and tears filled her eyes as she realised how much worse the situation was for Legolas if such suspicions were true.

"Dear Ben'waeth!" Meril exclaimed and embraced her friend warmly. "What ails you?"

"You and I have been like sisters all these many centuries!" she said and shook her head where it rested on Meril's shoulder. "But I find my taste for this tale has changed; it is unsavoury like butter gone rancid. I wish no harm to you and your children, but neither can I hope for any more ill-fate to dog the Tawarwaith. I would have you speak of Erebor."

Meril held her friend away at arms' length and studied her intently, reading there the signs of words held back and information kept secret from her. She dropped her hold and frowned in hurt reproach.

"So. We will not speak of it then. As for Erebor, I cannot leave Taurant during these early days. You heard his tears today, how much worse would it be were I to desert him to attend this sordid event?" she said coolly.

A silence like the deadened quality in wr's r's air before laden clouds dumped drifts upon the lands below extended between them and if it was not the first storm the two had weathered in their friendship it boded to be the most severe.

"And where is Maltahondo? What is amiss with him? Is he g heg held because of this purported complicity at Erebor?" Meril picked up the former tone of their conversation and if the conspiratorial camaraderie was less convivial both chose to ignore that.

"The guardsman was nearhokehoked to death, set upon by the Noldo Lord. He is in the healing wards under guard. The Imladrian had news of Maltahondo we would never have guessed." She paused, seemingly to savour her undeniable victory in their game this night, but in actuality she was trying to concoct a plausible lie to tell and thus refrain from repeating the corpsman's real crime and betraying the Tawarwaith.

"Ai! You are terrible! Speak!" admonished Meril, throwing up her hands in exasperation.

"You know of the guardsman's long tenure among the Galadhrim whilst in Lorien with Ningloriel? Well it would seem the unworthy warrior took advantage of a youth." Now both the statements were truth, but spoken side by side they presented an image that was nonetheless entirely false. Ben'waeth cared not; she had heard the voice of Tawar also. Even more, she had served in this stronghold while the illicit affair was going on. In retrospect, many small events that had been merely odd at the time now pointed to the horrid acts perpetrated upon the fallen prince, and her guilt was accumulating.

Meril had thought she could not be surprised further, but this was not what she had suspected. She could only stare in disgusted denial that any elf could behave so foully to another, and an innocent at that.

"Oh Eru! And the Noldo, is he kin to the child? Will Maltahondo be removed to face charges in Lorien?" She hoped this was the case, for she was uncertain what the guardsman might say about the Battle of the Five Armies.

"I think the relationship between the victim and the Noldo is not of blood but deep friendship. The Imladrian learned of it only lately, according to words spoken by his friend, the human, in converse with the wizard. Truly I cannot say howlearlearned the ugly secret." Ben'waeth dared supply no further hints, for Meril was adept at deciphering the underlying message encoded in the spaces between the words.

The servant, who knew the fullness of events that had transpired in her friend's life, felt it unlikely for the royal consort to change her mind regarding Erebor and she did not want to give Meril more hearsay to use against the Tawarwaith. The situation between the guardsman and his charge might easily be used to establish the presence of distraction to Legolas, or of protecting Malthen to the exclusion of the rest of the warriors. The less informed Meril was, the fewer such conclusions would arise among the general population. Ben'waeth waited patiently to learn how this half-truth would be received.

"I see," Meril did perceive her friend was holding back and this spurred both her curiosity and her anger. Nothing more would she hear of use tonight and so she stood, holding out her hand to Ben'waeth. "Do not fret, I will try to uncover more. I will be certain to inform you of what I find. I must go and tuck Gwilith in for her reverie."

Ben'waeth rose and clasped Meril's hand. The dismissal was clear; she would not have further chances to sway her friend's opinions this evening. {If only Meril was not so stubborn and could admit she is wrong!} Ben'waeth smiled thinly and left, bidding the royal consort a good night, saddened to find herself torn between friendship and faith.

Tbc

Reviews:

Thalionwen: I did get this wonderful review and thank you for it! Thanks also for referring a fan of your story to me, that was most kind! I hope this chapter sheds a little light on Meril, but also leaves some doubts. I too needed to show Thranduil has some sense in his head and is not just driven by his feelings of powerlessness, though that certainly underlies much of his reactionary behaviour! He is capable of real love for his children.

MourningElectra: ah, a new reviewer! Thank you! I am pleased you have endured the way I skewered poor Thran's c's character for this story. It is true he has been rathlindlinded by his emotions for much of the time but hopefully he can begin to deal with reality and find respect for the people he governs and the Tawarwaith he shunned so long. Thranduil will have to do alot more soul-searching before this is done, and old habits do die hard.

Crystal: you are right! This will not sit easily within Legolas' soul! He has never even been able to confront his anger toward Malthen openly, and his dark imaginings of destroying his lover he has not confided even to Fearfaron.

Giggle: hehe! Thank you for this review! That was an enjoyable chapter to write, and that tree will be remembering this bonding night for many a long year, I'll bet! Yes, Legolas needs someone to help him unleash all the pain that has built up over the years. I am working on that even as this new chapter posts. I do not think he can wait for Aman if he is to find a way to overcome all this. I have to find someone to help him come to grips with it all before the ring quest. Hope my solution will prove plausible! Thanks again for your continued support!

DragonLady: Oh I am so pleased you are out there and still enjoying the tale! It has gone on quite a bit longer than I originally thought, but hopefully the end is in sight.

Cesca: wow, this blows me away! I am glad if this story has been helpful. I commend your courage in bringing it out in the open. Such abuse is very difficult to endure and yet even harder to confront specifically because it comes from someone so close, someone loved. Your compliments are very kind and I hope I can live up to them! Thank you!

MorierBlackleaf: thanks for reviewing, I know what you mean it takes this page forever to load. I do not have the heart to remove any of the reviews, however, so I guess I am terribly vain! Thranduil is finally coming around, but I doubt Legolas will feel anxious to become part of his life. The King is still a pompous ass, and has done some very nasty things in his time that have yet to be brought to light. Yes, Legolas will not be pleased if her learns everyone in the whole Realm now knows about his sordid past. I have to find a way to help him deal with it. As far as soon, I don't know if this qualifies, but it is a long two-part chapter. But don't procrastinate too long! I am eager to find out what is happening in your story too!
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