Ok, so one of two things has happened. One; you clicked on this story as
the title seemed to appeal to you, or two; you clicked on it as you know it
to be the name of a book by Michael Crichton or more commonly know as "The
13th Warrior" staring Antino Banderas (Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan Ibn Al Abbas Ibn
Rashid Ibn Hamad. Lol) obviously making this an AU.
Ok, now, keep in mind, if you are like me and can quote the movie and book, then, I must warn you, this story is going to VERY DIFFERENT!!! It is NOT going to be one of the "oh, I thought I would do a story based on so and so movie so I just copied and pasted the names of my new characters into the plot!" so do not fear about that. As you will soon see, it starts out differently, the roles are different (but there is an ambassador in this) and the whole story will be different. I have also left Mirkwood as being called Mirkwood else I screw it up later on when I forget hat I changed the name to Greenwood as I was going to.
Disclaimer: Anything used that is Tolkien created, is obviously that - Tolkien created; though I do own most Elves in this chapter. Anything along the lines of The 13th Warrior is obviously from that - it does not take a rocket scientist to work that one out.
Please let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy it. Both the prologue and the first chapter are up, but the prologue was too short to have as a chapter on its own. Also, there is no real timeline to this, so, for your own sake and sanity, don't try to fit it in with the books.
*****
The Eaters of the Dead.
Prologue.
Fire. It winded its way down the mountain, coming closer and close to the human village that stood at its base. Men ran back and forth, yelling at each other and shouting out orders to anyone who would listen as they worked frantically to build some form of protection from the doom that they knew was about to descend upon them.
A lone rider, a mere boy, jumped his pony over the small excuse of a fence and raced off into the night, heading in the opposite direction of the line of flame that shone into the night and blacked the sky with smoke.
His aim, Mirkwood, and the diplomat rumored to be able to stop wars with a mere word.
*****
The Eaters of the Dead.
Chapter One
Council of the Great Wood.
*****
"Why should we help them?" a strong voice called out, its tones bellowing around the great hall of Mirkwood as the talking figure rose from his seat. "They are mere humans and have done nothing for us!"
"They may be humans," a lighter and yet more dangerous voice interrupted as the blond speaker rose to his own feet, "but they are still a part of this land! They were still created by the same one as us! And that is why they deserve out aid, Culdôr!"
The Elven warrior and chief advisor known as Culdôr scoffed at the younger Elf's words as he retook his seat, his fine features twisted into a half snarl, "created by the same, maybe, but you know as well as I, Legolas, that they are more of a hindrance to Ilúvatar then a thing to be proud of. They are of the mind of Melkor!"
Rolling his eyes, Legolas, the sole price of Mirkwood turned to plead his case to the rest of the council of the Great Wood. "If the fact that they are breathing is not good enough for you, then why not consider the notion that, if we can not stop these villages from being destroyed, it is only a short distance to the Havens. Now that concerns all of you in this very room!"
A soft murmur spread through the seated council and it was with a smug smile at Culdôr that Legolas took his seat, gesturing with his head to the nodding Generals of his father's Kingdom. Culdôr, chief advisor to Thranduil, King of the Mirkwood realm and father to Legolas, sent the prince a warning look that Legolas easily brushed off, not caring of the command in the elder's eyes. The young prince held no fear of Culdôr like most of the other Elves residing in his father's Kingdom and it was with a light heart that the tall, blond dismissed the dark-haired advisor's glance.
It had been three days since a young human boy had arrived in Mirkwood, seeking aid from the Elves concerning a threat to all the human villages bordering the west coast and the Blue Mountains near the Icebay of Forochel. He had arrived alone, covered in blood and almost raving about a nameless evil that had descended upon his home, whilst begging for help in overthrowing it before all the human civilizations in the area had been destroyed.
Immediately Legolas had felt that they should help, but he was the only one. Even his father was hesitant to go so far as aiding the humans that lived so far away, yet he had called this council at the request of his son. Legolas had pleaded with his father and king for a chance to convince the other official Elves of Mirkwood into aiding the villages, and, Thranduil, like most that walked the earth, was unable to resist.
For some years now, Legolas had been serving as prominent diplomat to his father's kingdom due to the fact that he could always manage to talk anyone into something. He had a gift with words beyond that of most Elves and a way of conducting himself that called for attention and respect while being able to put even the nastiest insults into a sugar coated, irresistible manner.
"If what you say is true, prince Legolas, then indeed we would help." An older Elf known as Lómëndil said from his seat, "but until a threat is known, I see not the point in sparing warriors that we need for our own protection." Again the council murmured their agreement, obviously seeing the logic to his words - logic that all but one shared.
Getting slowly to his feet again, Legolas quickly thought of the best way to address the statement made by one of the most influential Elves in all of Mirkwood without offending him or offering insult. "My good Lómëndil," Legolas began, offering the wizened Elf a slight bow. "I will not deny that what you say does seem to be of wisdom, but I beg you, think upon it again. What is the point of allowing village after village of innocent people to die before we take up arms against this evil? Would it not be wiser to strike now, when it is not expected so that we may have the upper hand? Also, if we aid them now, they will still be alive to aid us. We can not hope to expect that, after the humans are all destroyed, we will receive word of an attack on the Havens and be able to muster a strong enough army to fight, let alone get there on time." Legolas inwardly smiled at his tactfulness. The last thing that he needed at this moment was to bring shame upon himself for hasty words when he so needed their support.
"Your highness," Culdôr addressed Legolas as if he were but a child and a simpleton at that. "When you are commander of your father's army, then it will be fit for you to give advice upon such matters, but until then, I strongly recommend that you no longer talk upon subjects that you have not the understanding of as others around you do." Culdôr smirked at the red flush that spread across Legolas' face, reaching the very tips of the Elf's ears as he continued his rebuttal. "My Lords', surely you can see the folly in the princes' words. He is young, brash and only seeking a way to prove himself in battle. Listen to him and it will bring ruin upon us all," turning to the prince he added, "no offence intended."
Knowing that to fly into fury at such a comment would only serve to prove Culdôr right, Legolas bit back the sharp remark that had formed in the back of his head, and merely nodded his recognition to the advisers' statement of no ill offence.
"Nay," Legolas said out loud before allowing Culdôr to say any more, "I seek not for fame in battle as Culdôr has sort to tell you - I already have that - but only to do what is right." The last word was said whilst whirling his head to face Culdôr, giving him an angered glare.
"Arakáno," Legolas questioned, turning his head to the commander of the army, "since I have been respectively advised not to speak on such matters, perhaps you may be able to aid me in this topic. How long, roughly, do you think it would take to fully arm the entirety of Mirkwood's army for such a trip as to save the Havens from an unknown threat?"
Silence fell upon the room except from the sigh that came from Culdôr. "Your Majesty," he breathed, this time directing his question to the king, who had, up until this time, sat quietly at his throne observing the council.
Raising his hand to silence his advisor, Thranduil looked to Arakáno, "please answer my son's question," he said, looking to Culdôr to stress the point that Legolas was his son.
"As you wish, your Majesty," Arakáno muttered while bowing to his king. "My guess, having not had to do such a task before, would be that it would take a few weeks, two at the least. That is to properly arm, equip and pack provisions for the entire army."
"Thank you," Legolas smiled, "and Talran, you have once journey to the Havens, have you not?" when Talran nodded his answer, Legolas stalked closer to him, a large smile upon his face. Leaning over the small railing that ringed the audience floor of the Council Hall, the Elven prince looked the man straight in the eyes. "Would you mind telling everyone just how long it took you to get there?"
Shifting under the princes' gaze, Talran looked to Culdôr and then back to the prince. "It took a month, twice as long on the way home as I crossed the Misty Mountains via the Southern Pass."
Smiling in triumph, Legolas once again turned to Arakáno, ignoring the harsh glare that he received from his father's advisor that hovered at the borders of the railing nearest the king. "Now," Legolas began, "as previously said, I know nothing of the way of commanding an army, so, Arakáno, please tell me if I get anything wrong. Likewise with anyone else who's specialty to this court I may misinterpret.
"Upon receiving word that the Havens are under attack, provided that we do get the word, it would have already been at least a month since the rider rode out of the bay and to Mirkwood, would it not? Then, as Arakáno put it so wonderfully for us all, it would take a further two weeks to assemble the army, and, if I am not mistaken, it is near on impossible to lead an army over the High Pass. This would mean that we would have to take the Southern Pass, which adds on another two months until our time of arrival.
"So that is, let me see, a month for the rider, two weeks to prepare and a further two months to travel, totaling three and a half months before adequate help could reach our fair Havens." Legolas turned to the council, "have I made an error in my calculations yet? Math is not my specialty." He received the small, collective laugh that he was seeking for, and, feeling encouraged, he continued.
"My Lords', surely you can see that this is no good, unless seeing the Havens burnt to the ground is what you want? Chances are, by the time the rider is halfway here the place will no longer exist, so what good is sending out a war party then?" Moving up to the small, raised pedestal that stood in the very center of the round room, Legolas jumped up on it, using his hands for emphasis on his words. "The time to strike is now, while we have the chance, and good for us if we manage to save a few human villages along the way, for they will make excellent allies in the far West should anything else unseemly happen!"
Another member of the council stood up and faced the gathered people of Mirkwood. "He may speak the truth, and he may speak it prettily, but why should we sacrifice the peace that we are in to fight someone else's dragon?"
"'Twas never said that it was a dragon, and, Dúelen, when was the last time that you stepped outside the comforts of the palace? We are not at peace! We have spiders bigger then you and I put together practically knocking at out door, Orcs' zigzagging through our forest that has turned dark with evil and ill intent. We are far from peace - just because it has not been openly declared does not mean that we do not constantly battle foes in our very homeland."
"Did you not listen to the boy, my prince," Dúelen demanded, "he said that a great fire came down from the mountain upon them!"
"Your point being?" Legolas asked, starting to get frustrated at the plain idiocy of the council.
"My point being, your highness, that if you did not spend so much time living in a world of folly beliefs, you would recall the problem with Smaug in the Lonely Mountain and the havoc that a dragon can bring upon anyone that dares to stand against him!"
"First of all," Legolas sighed irritably, "I do recall that we currently have a dragon living in the mountain to the North of us. Second, I object to your remark upon my beliefs, for what is wrong with wanting to help others that are not as fortunate as us? And lastly, never did the boy - who has a name, mind you - never did Maysarn say that it was a dragon. He claimed that it was a line of fire, and if I am not mistaken, no dragon - at least not in my world of false beliefs - spurts fire from its scales."
Dúelen glared at the prince, his eyes full of hate and malice of the young Elf that dared to think himself as worldly as his elders. Dúelen was not the only one in Mirkwood that disapproved of her prince, and it was obvious at this council. Legolas was rash, daring and extraordinary quick to speak up against any of his seniors, never doing them disrespect but enough to anger them. It was folly in the eyes of the older and wiser Elves; that this young Elf who had not yet even seen his three thousandth birthday, sort to contradict them on what was right, prince or no. It was with this in mind that the seniors had convinced Thranduil to make his son Mirkwood's envoy, thus keeping him away for most of the year, and, while they must admit that he did a very good job, it was still infuriating that he still sort to provide advice on things that he should not.
"My prince, could it not be that there are other fo- "
"If I may finish?" Legolas interrupted Dúelen while taking his place at the raised platform of seats and crossing his legs, a rather smug and yet forged stupid look upon his face. "Let me get this one last thing straight, Dúelen. You say that it is foolish to seek to cross paths with a dragon, and yet, you are more then happy to if the Havens are attacked?"
"Yes, but that is a diff-"
"A different story?" Legolas butted in while rising his right hand to his chin in a look of deep thought. "I do not really think so. I mean, crossing paths with a dragon is crossing paths with a dragon no matter what way you look at it, is it not?"
"Yes, I guess it is but-"
"Then is it possible that all you have just said held no meaning? That you merely got up and spoke meaningless words without justification in order to make me look defective in the eyes of the council? Also, is it not true that you, Culdôr, wanted the position that I now hold as diplomat to the lands of the South and East? That you have, on more than one occasion tried to prove me invalid of my rank and have me excused, and, as a last question, is it not true that you, more then once, had dealing with a certain assassin that, only this year, made an attempt on my life?"
A volley of shouts came from the seated nobles as most flew to their feet in objection of the princes' brash words. Legolas just looked from them to Culdôr, his right brow raised elegantly in a sign of amusement.
"Enough!" Thranduil's voice reverberated off the walls of the round room, throwing everyone into an embarrassed silence. "That is enough, all of you!" He commanded as the people of the council retook their seats, their heads bowed in their shame. "I have heard enough of this talk. Legolas, that last comment was completely uncalled for, and it was you who then spoke without justification."
Legolas bowed his head in a sigh of admittance to his mistake, successfully hiding the smile that had crept upon his lips. If there was one thing that he knew better then the grain of his bow, it was his father, and he knew what was about to be said.
"It is my decision on this matter," Thranduil proceeded, "that we send a conversing party to Rivendell, leaving this afternoon. Legolas, you will lead that party, and Culdôr, I want you to go with him." A soft sigh came form Culdôr at the command, but he did not voice his complaints.
Legolas on the other hand smiled, bowing his head and touching his half closed right fist to his forehead in a sign of thanks and respect to his father.
"You will leave as soon as possible and Legolas, I leave it up to you to chose your companions," Thranduil continued, "this council is dismissed."
The Elves quickly got to their feet and exited the room, not wishing to be chosen to go all the way to Rivendell on such short notice. Sighing, Legolas looked to who was left; Culdôr, Dúelen and another Elf who had remained silent throughout the whole council, Rastur.
"I guess it is you three then," Legolas said with a smile even though his words betrayed his true feelings, "we leave within the hour."
Exiting the room himself, Legolas took a deep breath of the forest air, glad to be out of the hall and have all that over and done with. The sun was just reaching its zenith and the forest was alive with the sound of small woodland creatures as they went about their business. The palace was no less cluttered and abuzz as people hurried this way and that, making ready for the warriors that would set out to Rivendell within the hour.
Once he had packed a few belongings and was prepared to go, Legolas made his way to his horse and made sure that it was well fed and watered.
A hand clasped his shoulder, causing the Elf to jump slightly at the touch and Legolas spun around, on the defensive, only to be faced with his friend, Gilnen.
"You did well in there, my friend," the Elf said. He was about Legolas' height yet slightly sturdier in build with green eyes and hair that boarded on dark blond and brown.
"I could have used your help actually," Legolas admitted to his long time friend.
A small laugh was all he got in reply as Gilnen went to his own horse, readying him for a ride. "How do you do it, Legolas? How in Ilúvatar's name do you do it?"
"Do what?" Legolas questioned while eyeing Gilnen suspiciously as he fed his horse some of the grain put aside for the ride to Rivendell.
"You knew all along, did you not?" Gilnen asked while looking the prince in the eye. "You knew exactly how to play them to get the responses they gave you, thus leading to your father's decision, 'tis as if you could see the future!"
At this Legolas just laughed, "nay, my friend, 'twas no act of sorcery that got the conclusion that I wanted. They are just simple, easy to play with and to twist. The trick is to make their words turn against them, and, given the fact that they all disapprove of me anyway, it is an easy job!" That was how it had been, and Legolas was thankful for it. Countless councils' had gone much worse in his time than that one, and it was a relief that he was able to play them so easily. Nothing that had been said by him, or one of the others, had come as a surprise to Legolas, thus proving how well he was able to read people and play upon their weaknesses. The statement about Culdôr and the assassin had been his closing since he had stepped into the Hall. He knew that it would send the council into the frenzy that it did, thus forcing Thranduil to intervene, the benefit being that Legolas' words had been the last heard and the most likely to stick in ones head when forced to make a final judgement on the spur of the moment. Right from word go, Legolas had played them, dragging them into his plan to get his way and see what he thought right done, and once again it had been a success, proving why he was known as the best envoy that Mirkwood, and the rest of Arda, had ever had representing them.
"Will you be accompanying us?" Legolas changed the subject, as the other three Elves that were to leave with them came into the stables. Without even looking to Legolas, they mounted their horses and rode out, leaving the crowned prince and his friend behind.
Rolling his eyes, Gilnen leaped onto his own horse, closely followed by Legolas. "Stay here and miss another show down between you and Culdôr, let alone Lord Elrond? Why in the world would I miss that?" Gilnen laughed, his face lighting up with the prospect of seeing Legolas beat Culdôr yet again in a war of words. "I would not miss it for the world!"
Legolas shot him a deadly look and let out a slight hiss as he spurred his horse on, leaving Gilnen far behind. The prince knew that this was going to be far from a pleasant journey, even if it was what he had wanted his father to conclude, and the only hope in his heart was that Rivendell might offer their support easier then Mirkwood.
*****
Tbc.
*****
Well, I hope you liked that.
Please review,
Minka.
"When I get outta here, I think I'm gonna get laid!" Rain.
Ok, now, keep in mind, if you are like me and can quote the movie and book, then, I must warn you, this story is going to VERY DIFFERENT!!! It is NOT going to be one of the "oh, I thought I would do a story based on so and so movie so I just copied and pasted the names of my new characters into the plot!" so do not fear about that. As you will soon see, it starts out differently, the roles are different (but there is an ambassador in this) and the whole story will be different. I have also left Mirkwood as being called Mirkwood else I screw it up later on when I forget hat I changed the name to Greenwood as I was going to.
Disclaimer: Anything used that is Tolkien created, is obviously that - Tolkien created; though I do own most Elves in this chapter. Anything along the lines of The 13th Warrior is obviously from that - it does not take a rocket scientist to work that one out.
Please let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy it. Both the prologue and the first chapter are up, but the prologue was too short to have as a chapter on its own. Also, there is no real timeline to this, so, for your own sake and sanity, don't try to fit it in with the books.
*****
The Eaters of the Dead.
Prologue.
Fire. It winded its way down the mountain, coming closer and close to the human village that stood at its base. Men ran back and forth, yelling at each other and shouting out orders to anyone who would listen as they worked frantically to build some form of protection from the doom that they knew was about to descend upon them.
A lone rider, a mere boy, jumped his pony over the small excuse of a fence and raced off into the night, heading in the opposite direction of the line of flame that shone into the night and blacked the sky with smoke.
His aim, Mirkwood, and the diplomat rumored to be able to stop wars with a mere word.
*****
The Eaters of the Dead.
Chapter One
Council of the Great Wood.
*****
"Why should we help them?" a strong voice called out, its tones bellowing around the great hall of Mirkwood as the talking figure rose from his seat. "They are mere humans and have done nothing for us!"
"They may be humans," a lighter and yet more dangerous voice interrupted as the blond speaker rose to his own feet, "but they are still a part of this land! They were still created by the same one as us! And that is why they deserve out aid, Culdôr!"
The Elven warrior and chief advisor known as Culdôr scoffed at the younger Elf's words as he retook his seat, his fine features twisted into a half snarl, "created by the same, maybe, but you know as well as I, Legolas, that they are more of a hindrance to Ilúvatar then a thing to be proud of. They are of the mind of Melkor!"
Rolling his eyes, Legolas, the sole price of Mirkwood turned to plead his case to the rest of the council of the Great Wood. "If the fact that they are breathing is not good enough for you, then why not consider the notion that, if we can not stop these villages from being destroyed, it is only a short distance to the Havens. Now that concerns all of you in this very room!"
A soft murmur spread through the seated council and it was with a smug smile at Culdôr that Legolas took his seat, gesturing with his head to the nodding Generals of his father's Kingdom. Culdôr, chief advisor to Thranduil, King of the Mirkwood realm and father to Legolas, sent the prince a warning look that Legolas easily brushed off, not caring of the command in the elder's eyes. The young prince held no fear of Culdôr like most of the other Elves residing in his father's Kingdom and it was with a light heart that the tall, blond dismissed the dark-haired advisor's glance.
It had been three days since a young human boy had arrived in Mirkwood, seeking aid from the Elves concerning a threat to all the human villages bordering the west coast and the Blue Mountains near the Icebay of Forochel. He had arrived alone, covered in blood and almost raving about a nameless evil that had descended upon his home, whilst begging for help in overthrowing it before all the human civilizations in the area had been destroyed.
Immediately Legolas had felt that they should help, but he was the only one. Even his father was hesitant to go so far as aiding the humans that lived so far away, yet he had called this council at the request of his son. Legolas had pleaded with his father and king for a chance to convince the other official Elves of Mirkwood into aiding the villages, and, Thranduil, like most that walked the earth, was unable to resist.
For some years now, Legolas had been serving as prominent diplomat to his father's kingdom due to the fact that he could always manage to talk anyone into something. He had a gift with words beyond that of most Elves and a way of conducting himself that called for attention and respect while being able to put even the nastiest insults into a sugar coated, irresistible manner.
"If what you say is true, prince Legolas, then indeed we would help." An older Elf known as Lómëndil said from his seat, "but until a threat is known, I see not the point in sparing warriors that we need for our own protection." Again the council murmured their agreement, obviously seeing the logic to his words - logic that all but one shared.
Getting slowly to his feet again, Legolas quickly thought of the best way to address the statement made by one of the most influential Elves in all of Mirkwood without offending him or offering insult. "My good Lómëndil," Legolas began, offering the wizened Elf a slight bow. "I will not deny that what you say does seem to be of wisdom, but I beg you, think upon it again. What is the point of allowing village after village of innocent people to die before we take up arms against this evil? Would it not be wiser to strike now, when it is not expected so that we may have the upper hand? Also, if we aid them now, they will still be alive to aid us. We can not hope to expect that, after the humans are all destroyed, we will receive word of an attack on the Havens and be able to muster a strong enough army to fight, let alone get there on time." Legolas inwardly smiled at his tactfulness. The last thing that he needed at this moment was to bring shame upon himself for hasty words when he so needed their support.
"Your highness," Culdôr addressed Legolas as if he were but a child and a simpleton at that. "When you are commander of your father's army, then it will be fit for you to give advice upon such matters, but until then, I strongly recommend that you no longer talk upon subjects that you have not the understanding of as others around you do." Culdôr smirked at the red flush that spread across Legolas' face, reaching the very tips of the Elf's ears as he continued his rebuttal. "My Lords', surely you can see the folly in the princes' words. He is young, brash and only seeking a way to prove himself in battle. Listen to him and it will bring ruin upon us all," turning to the prince he added, "no offence intended."
Knowing that to fly into fury at such a comment would only serve to prove Culdôr right, Legolas bit back the sharp remark that had formed in the back of his head, and merely nodded his recognition to the advisers' statement of no ill offence.
"Nay," Legolas said out loud before allowing Culdôr to say any more, "I seek not for fame in battle as Culdôr has sort to tell you - I already have that - but only to do what is right." The last word was said whilst whirling his head to face Culdôr, giving him an angered glare.
"Arakáno," Legolas questioned, turning his head to the commander of the army, "since I have been respectively advised not to speak on such matters, perhaps you may be able to aid me in this topic. How long, roughly, do you think it would take to fully arm the entirety of Mirkwood's army for such a trip as to save the Havens from an unknown threat?"
Silence fell upon the room except from the sigh that came from Culdôr. "Your Majesty," he breathed, this time directing his question to the king, who had, up until this time, sat quietly at his throne observing the council.
Raising his hand to silence his advisor, Thranduil looked to Arakáno, "please answer my son's question," he said, looking to Culdôr to stress the point that Legolas was his son.
"As you wish, your Majesty," Arakáno muttered while bowing to his king. "My guess, having not had to do such a task before, would be that it would take a few weeks, two at the least. That is to properly arm, equip and pack provisions for the entire army."
"Thank you," Legolas smiled, "and Talran, you have once journey to the Havens, have you not?" when Talran nodded his answer, Legolas stalked closer to him, a large smile upon his face. Leaning over the small railing that ringed the audience floor of the Council Hall, the Elven prince looked the man straight in the eyes. "Would you mind telling everyone just how long it took you to get there?"
Shifting under the princes' gaze, Talran looked to Culdôr and then back to the prince. "It took a month, twice as long on the way home as I crossed the Misty Mountains via the Southern Pass."
Smiling in triumph, Legolas once again turned to Arakáno, ignoring the harsh glare that he received from his father's advisor that hovered at the borders of the railing nearest the king. "Now," Legolas began, "as previously said, I know nothing of the way of commanding an army, so, Arakáno, please tell me if I get anything wrong. Likewise with anyone else who's specialty to this court I may misinterpret.
"Upon receiving word that the Havens are under attack, provided that we do get the word, it would have already been at least a month since the rider rode out of the bay and to Mirkwood, would it not? Then, as Arakáno put it so wonderfully for us all, it would take a further two weeks to assemble the army, and, if I am not mistaken, it is near on impossible to lead an army over the High Pass. This would mean that we would have to take the Southern Pass, which adds on another two months until our time of arrival.
"So that is, let me see, a month for the rider, two weeks to prepare and a further two months to travel, totaling three and a half months before adequate help could reach our fair Havens." Legolas turned to the council, "have I made an error in my calculations yet? Math is not my specialty." He received the small, collective laugh that he was seeking for, and, feeling encouraged, he continued.
"My Lords', surely you can see that this is no good, unless seeing the Havens burnt to the ground is what you want? Chances are, by the time the rider is halfway here the place will no longer exist, so what good is sending out a war party then?" Moving up to the small, raised pedestal that stood in the very center of the round room, Legolas jumped up on it, using his hands for emphasis on his words. "The time to strike is now, while we have the chance, and good for us if we manage to save a few human villages along the way, for they will make excellent allies in the far West should anything else unseemly happen!"
Another member of the council stood up and faced the gathered people of Mirkwood. "He may speak the truth, and he may speak it prettily, but why should we sacrifice the peace that we are in to fight someone else's dragon?"
"'Twas never said that it was a dragon, and, Dúelen, when was the last time that you stepped outside the comforts of the palace? We are not at peace! We have spiders bigger then you and I put together practically knocking at out door, Orcs' zigzagging through our forest that has turned dark with evil and ill intent. We are far from peace - just because it has not been openly declared does not mean that we do not constantly battle foes in our very homeland."
"Did you not listen to the boy, my prince," Dúelen demanded, "he said that a great fire came down from the mountain upon them!"
"Your point being?" Legolas asked, starting to get frustrated at the plain idiocy of the council.
"My point being, your highness, that if you did not spend so much time living in a world of folly beliefs, you would recall the problem with Smaug in the Lonely Mountain and the havoc that a dragon can bring upon anyone that dares to stand against him!"
"First of all," Legolas sighed irritably, "I do recall that we currently have a dragon living in the mountain to the North of us. Second, I object to your remark upon my beliefs, for what is wrong with wanting to help others that are not as fortunate as us? And lastly, never did the boy - who has a name, mind you - never did Maysarn say that it was a dragon. He claimed that it was a line of fire, and if I am not mistaken, no dragon - at least not in my world of false beliefs - spurts fire from its scales."
Dúelen glared at the prince, his eyes full of hate and malice of the young Elf that dared to think himself as worldly as his elders. Dúelen was not the only one in Mirkwood that disapproved of her prince, and it was obvious at this council. Legolas was rash, daring and extraordinary quick to speak up against any of his seniors, never doing them disrespect but enough to anger them. It was folly in the eyes of the older and wiser Elves; that this young Elf who had not yet even seen his three thousandth birthday, sort to contradict them on what was right, prince or no. It was with this in mind that the seniors had convinced Thranduil to make his son Mirkwood's envoy, thus keeping him away for most of the year, and, while they must admit that he did a very good job, it was still infuriating that he still sort to provide advice on things that he should not.
"My prince, could it not be that there are other fo- "
"If I may finish?" Legolas interrupted Dúelen while taking his place at the raised platform of seats and crossing his legs, a rather smug and yet forged stupid look upon his face. "Let me get this one last thing straight, Dúelen. You say that it is foolish to seek to cross paths with a dragon, and yet, you are more then happy to if the Havens are attacked?"
"Yes, but that is a diff-"
"A different story?" Legolas butted in while rising his right hand to his chin in a look of deep thought. "I do not really think so. I mean, crossing paths with a dragon is crossing paths with a dragon no matter what way you look at it, is it not?"
"Yes, I guess it is but-"
"Then is it possible that all you have just said held no meaning? That you merely got up and spoke meaningless words without justification in order to make me look defective in the eyes of the council? Also, is it not true that you, Culdôr, wanted the position that I now hold as diplomat to the lands of the South and East? That you have, on more than one occasion tried to prove me invalid of my rank and have me excused, and, as a last question, is it not true that you, more then once, had dealing with a certain assassin that, only this year, made an attempt on my life?"
A volley of shouts came from the seated nobles as most flew to their feet in objection of the princes' brash words. Legolas just looked from them to Culdôr, his right brow raised elegantly in a sign of amusement.
"Enough!" Thranduil's voice reverberated off the walls of the round room, throwing everyone into an embarrassed silence. "That is enough, all of you!" He commanded as the people of the council retook their seats, their heads bowed in their shame. "I have heard enough of this talk. Legolas, that last comment was completely uncalled for, and it was you who then spoke without justification."
Legolas bowed his head in a sigh of admittance to his mistake, successfully hiding the smile that had crept upon his lips. If there was one thing that he knew better then the grain of his bow, it was his father, and he knew what was about to be said.
"It is my decision on this matter," Thranduil proceeded, "that we send a conversing party to Rivendell, leaving this afternoon. Legolas, you will lead that party, and Culdôr, I want you to go with him." A soft sigh came form Culdôr at the command, but he did not voice his complaints.
Legolas on the other hand smiled, bowing his head and touching his half closed right fist to his forehead in a sign of thanks and respect to his father.
"You will leave as soon as possible and Legolas, I leave it up to you to chose your companions," Thranduil continued, "this council is dismissed."
The Elves quickly got to their feet and exited the room, not wishing to be chosen to go all the way to Rivendell on such short notice. Sighing, Legolas looked to who was left; Culdôr, Dúelen and another Elf who had remained silent throughout the whole council, Rastur.
"I guess it is you three then," Legolas said with a smile even though his words betrayed his true feelings, "we leave within the hour."
Exiting the room himself, Legolas took a deep breath of the forest air, glad to be out of the hall and have all that over and done with. The sun was just reaching its zenith and the forest was alive with the sound of small woodland creatures as they went about their business. The palace was no less cluttered and abuzz as people hurried this way and that, making ready for the warriors that would set out to Rivendell within the hour.
Once he had packed a few belongings and was prepared to go, Legolas made his way to his horse and made sure that it was well fed and watered.
A hand clasped his shoulder, causing the Elf to jump slightly at the touch and Legolas spun around, on the defensive, only to be faced with his friend, Gilnen.
"You did well in there, my friend," the Elf said. He was about Legolas' height yet slightly sturdier in build with green eyes and hair that boarded on dark blond and brown.
"I could have used your help actually," Legolas admitted to his long time friend.
A small laugh was all he got in reply as Gilnen went to his own horse, readying him for a ride. "How do you do it, Legolas? How in Ilúvatar's name do you do it?"
"Do what?" Legolas questioned while eyeing Gilnen suspiciously as he fed his horse some of the grain put aside for the ride to Rivendell.
"You knew all along, did you not?" Gilnen asked while looking the prince in the eye. "You knew exactly how to play them to get the responses they gave you, thus leading to your father's decision, 'tis as if you could see the future!"
At this Legolas just laughed, "nay, my friend, 'twas no act of sorcery that got the conclusion that I wanted. They are just simple, easy to play with and to twist. The trick is to make their words turn against them, and, given the fact that they all disapprove of me anyway, it is an easy job!" That was how it had been, and Legolas was thankful for it. Countless councils' had gone much worse in his time than that one, and it was a relief that he was able to play them so easily. Nothing that had been said by him, or one of the others, had come as a surprise to Legolas, thus proving how well he was able to read people and play upon their weaknesses. The statement about Culdôr and the assassin had been his closing since he had stepped into the Hall. He knew that it would send the council into the frenzy that it did, thus forcing Thranduil to intervene, the benefit being that Legolas' words had been the last heard and the most likely to stick in ones head when forced to make a final judgement on the spur of the moment. Right from word go, Legolas had played them, dragging them into his plan to get his way and see what he thought right done, and once again it had been a success, proving why he was known as the best envoy that Mirkwood, and the rest of Arda, had ever had representing them.
"Will you be accompanying us?" Legolas changed the subject, as the other three Elves that were to leave with them came into the stables. Without even looking to Legolas, they mounted their horses and rode out, leaving the crowned prince and his friend behind.
Rolling his eyes, Gilnen leaped onto his own horse, closely followed by Legolas. "Stay here and miss another show down between you and Culdôr, let alone Lord Elrond? Why in the world would I miss that?" Gilnen laughed, his face lighting up with the prospect of seeing Legolas beat Culdôr yet again in a war of words. "I would not miss it for the world!"
Legolas shot him a deadly look and let out a slight hiss as he spurred his horse on, leaving Gilnen far behind. The prince knew that this was going to be far from a pleasant journey, even if it was what he had wanted his father to conclude, and the only hope in his heart was that Rivendell might offer their support easier then Mirkwood.
*****
Tbc.
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Well, I hope you liked that.
Please review,
Minka.
"When I get outta here, I think I'm gonna get laid!" Rain.