Chapter 2

Disclaimer--once again, I own nothing. Rated PG-13

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Fifteen minutes later we were all sitting in the stateroom with Ada at the head of the table. Legolas had insisted that I stay, much to Ada’s chagrin. He was also keeping me completely out of his thoughts, which he seldom did. Needless to say, I was very angry. I had no idea what he was planning, and that made me nervous.

Legolas sat on the right side of the table to Ada’s left, with me to my husband’s left. Across from us were Mellossë and Arahil, with Nurhoth, the captain of the Mirkwood guard, next to Arahil.

Captain Nurhoth and the search-party had found not one trace of the creature Gollum, whom Mirkwood had been charged with keeping. He was a foul, miserable creature who spent all day moaning about something called his "preciousss." He seemed to have multiple personalities. I had never heard anything creepier in my 2,927 years on Arda than that creature carrying on a conversation with himself. It was enough to send chills up one’s spine.

The Istar Mithrandir had told me some things about Gollum, or Smèagol as he called him, last time he had been in Mirkwood. Mithrandir was a friend to both Ada and Lord Elrond of Imladris. It was he who had asked Ada to keep Gollum, because he knew it would be very hard for the creature he called a "fallen halfling" to escape from our well-guarded lands. And he had been right, until now.

"This is grave news indeed," Ada said, rubbing his temples.

"We know he must have had help, sire," Nurhoth said. "But from whom or what we do not know."

Mellossë snorted. "As if we do not already have enough problems," he muttered bitterly. "With these foul spiders everywhere and orcs traipseing about as they please. I am tired of this darkness that is swallowing Mirkwood!"

"DO NOT CALL IT THAT!" Ada thundered, causing us all to flinch. "Mirkwood!" he spat. "To me this place will forever be Greenwood the Great, no matter how dark it becomes.

 No one dared say a word as my foster brother turned red. We all knew how our father felt about the matter. Our kingdom had been called Greenwood the Great for thousands of years. Only in the past few hundred had it come to be called Mirkwood, as the strange darkness had started to fill the southern part of the kingdom, letting in foul wolves and giant spiders, as well as vile, miserably evil and somewhat intelligent creatures called orcs. Ada, however, refused to call his kingdom this new name and unleashed his wrath upon anyone who dared do so in his presence.

The tension in the room was palpable until a young elleth entered the room. "My lord?" she said, hesitantly, her eyes downcast.

"Yes?" Ada said crisply, angered at the interruption.

"A messenger has just arrived from Rivendell, sir. He says it is a very important message from Lord Elrond and Gandalf."

"Gandalf?" Ada said, his brow furrowed. "Rivendell" was the Westron way of saying Imladris, as "Gandalf" was Mithrandir. "Show him in."

The messenger came quickly into the room and saluted all of us with the traditional elvish greeting. "Your majesty," he said, breathing hard.

" Mae govannen ," Ada said. "What brings you to Greenwood in such haste?"

"I have urgent news to report. Lord Elrond has requested a secret council with representatives of the free peoples of Middle-Earth. It seems the wizard Gandalf has something important to discuss involving Mordor."

We all shuddered at the mention of Mordor. It was an evil place where nothing grew and despair and evil filled the land and air. It had been the stronghold of Sauron the Destroyer in the First Age, until he had been defeated by an alliance of elves and men. Ada’s father and many other elves had died in this war.

The elf continued. "I have brought this message from my lord, and he requests a representative from Mi-Greenwood attend the council."

He handed Ada a letter. " Hannon-le, mellon nîn ," Ada said. To the elf-maid who had showed the messenger into the room, he said, "Please escort our friend to the kitchens, and prepare a room for him to sleep in this night. I am sure he is hungry and tired."

"I will do so, King Thranduil," she bowed and left the room. The exhausted-looking messenger did the same and followed her out of the room.

As Ada broke the seal on the letter, Arahil said, "I wonder what would be so important that Gandalf would—"

 He had stopped speaking because he had seen the look on Ada’s face. All elves are quite pale, but Ada’s face had suddenly gone chalk-white, a look of utter horror present on his face.

"My lord, what is wrong?" Nurhoth asked, his voice frightened.

Ada’s mouth opened and closed, searching for the words. "This cannot be," he muttered, almost inaudibly.

"Adar," Mellossë said softly, placing a hand on Ada’s arm.

Ada gripped his son’s arm tightly. "Elbereth help us," he said, closing his eyes slowly. When he opened them, he looked more frightened than I had ever seen him in my life. "Gandalf believes he has found the One Ring."

Every single one of us flinched so hard it seemed as if we had all been slapped in the face. We sat there for a moment, in utter shock, until I finally found the power of speech again. "Ada," I said, "wh-where? And how?"

 My father allowed himself a bitter chuckle, though he seemed on the verge of tears. "It seems that Master Bilbo Baggins has had it in his possession for some sixty years."

Legolas started as if he had been shot by an arrow. "Where in the name of Eru and all the Valar did that hobbit get the master-power ring of Sauron of Morgoth?" Legolas and I were both remembering the halfling’s stay in Mirkwood. He had been accompanied by over a dozen dwarves, and through a great misunderstanding, had been imprisoned by Ada until Mithrandir arrived to explain him.

"From Gollum," Ada said quietly, to which we all nearly fell out of our chairs again.

Ada held his hand to his chest for a moment, recovering himself, then said, "Apparently it is a long and complex story which they will explain at the council." He sighed. "I do not know how am I going to leave the kingdom at this time." Ada no longer seemed angry, just exhausted. He rubbed his temples again.

"If you will permit me, I will go," Legolas said quietly. "It would give us a chance to relay the news about Gollum, as well as allow me to see Estel and Lord Elrond’s twins again."

That made sense. Legolas and Aragorn, who was called Estel in the elvish tongue, had had many adventures together with Elladan and Elrohir over the years. Estel was the lord’s foster son and a mortal man of great bravery and skill. Legolas and I both liked him immensely, and I knew they would be thrilled to see each other again.

Ada considered, then smiled sadly. "All right. You may go, my son," he said. I noticed that Mellossë was glaring at Legolas, though I did not know why. He saw me looking and looked away.

Legolas was still guarding his thoughts from me, so I did not anticipate what he said next: "I would like my wife to accompany me."

Inwardly startled, I just looked at him. He patted my hand and thought "Trust me" but said nothing out loud.

"Certainly not," Ada said firmly. "It is much too dangerous."

I did not have to say anything; my husband did it for me. "Why, Ada? It is no more dangerous for her than it is for me. She knows how to defend herself; you yourself have made sure she has had all the same warrior training as her brothers. She is better with long knives than I am, and can use a bow efficiently enough."

I smiled despite myself. I had never heard him admit, even in his mind, that he thought I was better than he when fighting with elvish long-knives.

"Someone else of the court should go with him, Adar," Arahil put in. He smiled at me. "Besides that, I am sure she would like to see the Lady Arwen again."

He was right. I had not seen Lord Elrond’s daughter for over fifty years, not since the last time I had been in Imladris. It would be nice to have a female to talk to again, as I had not had much female interaction since Naneth Aranel had sailed to Valinor, some twenty years before. It got rather lonely surrounded by male elves all the time.

I felt I should speak. "Please, Ada, it would mean a great deal to me."

He sighed, considering again. "All right, you may go," he said reluctantly. "But only if Captain Nurhoth accompanies you both."

Nurhoth said, "I will do anything you ask, my lord."

Ada said, "You are my most trusted companion after my family. I trust you with my children’s lives."

Nurhoth nodded. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that no harm comes to them."

"It is done then," Ada said, sighing again.

Mellossë was glaring at Legolas and me again, anger twisting his handsome features into almost a snarl. "Adar, I hardly think—" he began.

Ada held up his hand and Mellossë immediately fell silent. "I have spoken."

What is Mellossë’s problem?

  I do not know Legolas thought back. It was tinged with worry.

Ada looked at us all. "I want you to know," he said to Legolas and me, "I do not like this. I do not like this at all."

I stood and walked to him. I massaged his tense shoulder blades and said, "We will be all right, Ada. We will all watch out for each other."

He touched my right hand with his own. "I know you will, daughter. I just hope it will be enough."

He stood, and everyone else joined him. "Now I am going to bed and I suggest you all do the same. Good night, sellin nîn ."

We all murmured our good-nights, and Ada kissed my forehead. He walked out of the room, and Mellossë stalked out after him.

I turned to Legolas. " Hannon-le, meleth ," I said. "But please do not guard your thoughts from me again. It frightens me."

He touched my face. "I promise I will not do it again."

Nurhoth touched Legolas’s arm, smiling. "Do not forget, you two have a lot to pack."

"I will help you," Arahil offered.

I thanked him, and Nurhoth said good-night. Arahil, Legolas, and I made our way to our bedchamber to pack, seeing no sign of Mellossë anywhere. We were all concerned about him and did not understand his strange attitude toward our grim business in Imladris.

Ada’s attitude I understood all too well, and from Legolas’s thoughts I knew he did, as well. Though he would not show it or tell us in words, we knew Ada was afraid. King Thranduil was not often afraid, but when he was, it was for good reason. Legolas and I agreed without speaking to be extra careful, to be on our guard even more than our warrior-training would have had us be on our trip to Imladris.

Our Ada was frightened. He was afraid that history was going to repeat itself.

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_____Elvish translation

Adar --father

Ada --dad, daddy

elleth --elf-maiden

Mae govannen --welcome, well-met

Naneth --mother

Hannon-le --thank you

Meleth --love