Chapter IX: Last Days in Eryn Galen (Part IV)
Looming south of us beyond the southern borders of the Rhovanion was a faint orange glow that from it came a blackness that would fall upon Eryn Galen for centuries. My time in my kingdom was coming swiftly to an end. Soon I would leave to fight a war. Behind I would leave my mother, my wife and many faces and things that I grew up knowing.
As I stood looking out at the falling of evening my father approached me. Upon his face was a solemness I would never forget.
“There was a time I thought I this evil had fallen long behind me,” he said leaning against the rail beside me looking into Mordor. “I see that it was not to be.”
“It is not your doing, Father,” I said. “I just want to be here. In peace. As it was before.”
“It never was before, Thranduil. Your mother and I kept it from you as long is it was possible. We had hoped that you would never have to fight that which our kin have been fighting for generations in one form or another.”
All the years I had known my father, to hear him sound so unsure of anything worried me. Time seemed to have taken from him more than an ageless soul. His eyes seemed empty.
“I am not afraid to die,” I said. “If I must.”
“You will not die, Thranduil,” he said, smiling. “You are far different than the rest of the elves, so Nimeithel has said since the moment you were born. Something in you I have never seen in any elf.”
“I do not feel any different than any other,” I said. “I do not feel special. I hardly feel worthy of nobility.”
“You were born of nobility,” he said looking at me. “But it does not come from a throne or a crown. It comes from within. There is far more in you than you know. You will see an age far beyond this one. In time, my words will find their meaning.”
He began to leave.
“Ada,” I said. “I am proud to be your son.”
He smiled. He looked down for a moment then to me once more.
“There has been for me far more an honor to have been your father, Thranduil. You are the greatest thing I have given to this kingdom.”
He turned and went down the tower stairs, meeting Eldôr on the way. Together they disappeared down the spiral staircase.
I looked one last time into the vast forest. It was dark now. And the shadows from Mordor faded into the night, though the fires glowed brightly from its evil.
I turned away and went to find Êlúriel. Our time together was coming to an end. I thought of what my father had said. If I did return, I would be with her again. Though it seemed something promising, the fear of never returning still lingered in my mind.
*** *** *** *** The next day found many elves spending their last moments with one another. We would leave at dawn the next day. Êlúriel had risen early and left with several servants. I had yet to see her again. As walked toward the court room, I was met by Elranduil.
“First of all,” he began. “Your wife is with my wife and our mothers. And Amdir has not seen his son for a time and would like very much to find him.”
“I have not seen him since that night,” I said softly. “In the garden.”
Elranduil smiled and nodded. I turned to see Amroth walking toward us.
“Well, what was lost has now been found,” Elranduil said. “How are you this day, Amroth?”
“Do not answer him,” I whispered. “It is best to keep quiet.”
“You mean he would like to know how I have spent my time,” Amroth said. “It has been sacrosanct. I trust my father has been inquiring about me since after inspection?”
“Yes,” Elranduil said. “And I told him exactly where you were.”
Amroth look at him in horror—his eyes growing larger as his mouth fell open. Suddenly, his father approached us looking at his son, puzzled.
“Amroth,” he said. “Stand up properly. You are a Prince of Lórien. And what is with this look? You did not think I would find out what you have been doing? Well, you are a young man in his prime. It is hardly something to worry yourself.”
Amroth seemed more horrified as he looked at his father.
“Father,” he asked. “I beg your pardon?”
“Elranduil told me that you have been spending your time with your new friends. I find them respectable enough, though the sons of Nînuir I find a bit odd. Well, I must speak with Oropher before tomorrow. Carry on.”
We bowed as he walked past us and down the hall into father’s study. Elranduil started laughing as Amroth looked relieved but slightly angry as he turned me.
“Your cousin is horrible,” he said.
“I know. I have spent over 3200 years with him.”
“Well, at least he had the fortitude not to say where I truly have been,” he answered. “Elranduil, for you I have no words except thank you.”
Elranduil smiled at him and made his way toward his chambers.
“How is Nimrodel,” I asked in a whisper. “If you do not mind my asking.”
“She is as well as to be expected,” he said. “She will leave me before the sun rises. She is stronger than I am, I am afraid. She does so much on her own and I am unable to anything but allow it. I have decided to ask her hand tonight. I do not care what anyone says. I love her. Enough of my sad story. How are you?”
“I am quite well,” I said. “Just a bit anxious. I have not seen my wife today.”
“I have,” Amroth said. “I just left her in the garden with your mother. She comes this way and I take my leave.”
I turned to see Êlúriel approaching me. When I turned again, Amroth was gone.
“Thranduil, come with me,” she said. “I would like a moment with you.”
By her tone, I felt I must have done something wrong. Before I could say a word, she was walking toward our chambers. I followed her—fearing her anger. Once inside, she turned toward me and looked at me with a gaze I could not fathom.
“What did I do, Êlúriel,” I asked. “I have not seen you since last evening. What have I done wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said, he gazed fixed on me. “But you have not done anything right.”
My mind began to race with what I had or had not done. I was completely confounded until she walked to me and looked me in the eye.
“Tell me, please,” I said. “I am afraid I do not remember what I have not done right.”
She looked down for a moment then back at me. She stared for what seemed forever until I realized she had embraced me, her eyes fixed on me. As I held her I realized I could feel the small of her back and it was bare.
“I think you know well what you have not done right today, Thranduil. I think you know well how to make it right.”
So I kissed her and we spent some time together.
*** *** *** ***
“Êlúriel,” I said as I lay next to her. “There are no words for you.”
She smiled at me, then her expression turned to sadness.
“I love you,” she said. “More every day. The thought of you leaving me is tearing me apart.”
“I know. It is the same for me.”
“I was sent by your Mother, to tell your father wishes an audience.”
I sprang from our bed looking for my clothes.
“Êlúriel,” I yelled. “Are you mad? My father is will be furious that I am this late! How could you do this to me?”
“Are you angry with me,” she asked.
“Yes, I am,” I said. “You know my father. He has a ferocious temper when I am not in audience precisely on time. If the battle does not kill me, he most certainly will. I cannot believe you did not tell me.”
“I did not tell you because he requested to see you now.”
I was nearly dressed when I stopped abruptly.
“What?”
“If you do not hurry, you truly will be late,” she said smiling at me.
I leaned over her and just looked at her. I kissed her.
“You are incredibly irritating,” I said. “And I love you anyway.”
I kissed her again and took my shirt and walked out the door, fastening it on my way to court.
I noticed the silence of the court upon my approach. Coming down from the throne was my father with Eldôr and Finëar. They went their way as father approached me.
“There has never been a formidable way to prepare for battles,” he said to me. “I have seen many in my lifetime over many centuries and everyone of them could have been avoided had just one warrior had the fortitude to put behind him his own needs for another. Wars are the construct of greed, Thranduil. Morgoth feeds upon the desire of want to grow.”
“Yes, Father,” I said. I was now hours from leaving the only world I ever knew to fight a war for its preservation.
“Did you see Amroth today,” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “He is doing well as to expected.”
“Did he say how Nimrodel was handling his departure,” he asked nonchalantly. “I trust it would be hard on her.”
“Pardon, Father,” I asked in shock.
“Thranduil, if you have not noticed, I am married to your mother. Nimeithel is as subtle as as a thunderstorm. Between her and her sister Valdúril, they could not keep a secret from each other if they had the desire. which they never have. Though I must say, they kept her away from Amdir quite well.”
“Mother told you of Nimrodel?”
“Your mother tells me everything,” he said laughing. “Never has she ever kept anything from me. I have never kept anything from her. We keep our own secrets to ourselves though I am quite sure some have made their way to Valdúril. None I have much of a care.”
“He spoke of her today,” I answered. “Then he took his leave for her.”
I was amazed that my parents had such a closeness. As a child, I often thought they were rather horrible. I did not understand love as adults. Now, I was speaking to my father as his equal—grown up with a wife of my own.
“Father, are you afraid,” I asked. “Of going off to fight this war?”
“Fear is always there, son,” he said pouring a cup of wine. “You cannot fight if you do not have fear. It is the very thing that gives you courage. Drink?”
“No, thank you. How can fear bring you courage?”
“Because one who thinks he is great is farther from greatness than one who does not think it at all. I know I am a great warrior, Thranduil, but the reason I know this is not because of those I have felled, but the battles I survived. There is no honor is killing—not even those vile glamhoth, for they as we are living creatures. Honor comes from knowing when to fight not how to fight. Morgoth fights because he has no choice and he made that choice for himself. We must fight against this evil because the further is spreads the more souls it will take.”
“We are not fighting Sauron,” I asked. “Is he not the one in Mordor?”
“He does the bidding of Morgoth,” he said, his demeanor turning darker. “There is nothing good or evil that does not move us to do what is right or wrong. We are of light. First born of Ilúvatar, awaken under the stars from heaven, as it is told and told again. That is what shines through us. For the servants of darkness, it is no different in their hearts. Darkness is light to them. They cannot see anything beyond destruction. That is what we face, Thranduil.”
I began to think of Êlúriel. I wanted nothing more than to be with her at that moment. As if my thoughts were heard, mother came into the hall. She was radiant but expressionless.
“Thranduil, your wife asks for you. I need to speak with your father.”
As I began to leave, she stopped me and embraced me. I could feel her sadness run through me.
“Do not worry, mother,” I said. “Please.”
“You are my only child, Thranduil,” she whispered. “That request I cannot grant you.”
She released me and I saw tears in her eyes for the first time. I kissed her forehead and quickly left before I began to cry. My world was changing not by years but hours and I could not stop it from rolling upon me like thunder.
I went to the door of our chambers. As I entered our room, Êlúriel was standing by the window looking into the night sky.
“I will die without you,” she said without looking at me. “Life would have no meaning anymore.”
“I will return,” I assured her. It was not a promise I knew I could keep for this was a war unlike any other.
“What if you do not come back to me, Thranduil? How can I go on? You do not know how I feel right now.”
She turned to me and her eyes had a sorrow I had never seen before. I went to her and extended my hand.
“Come, Êlúriel. Come with me.”
“Where are we going,” she asked, a tear falling down her face.
“Just come with me, Êlúriel. For me, please.“
She reluctantly took my hand and I led her out of our room and out into the coolness of the night. Hand in hand we walked in silence until we reached the place that meant the world to us. It was where we first met, where we had our first kiss, where we were married and now it was where I had to say goodbye.
“Why are we here, Thranduil,” she asked through tears. “I do not want to be reminded of happiness when tomorrow I could lose it forever.”
“I do not want to leave without telling you how much I love you in the place where our love began and will continue to grow.” I was desperate to see her smile, but even I found not one reason to do so.
“Of all the things in all the world, I treasure nothing above you. You are the greatest gift Heaven gave to me. If I left this world tomorrow, I know that I have loved with the greatest passion the most beautiful soul. I could never love another as I have loved you nor will I ever be loved so deeply than I have been loved by you, Êlúriel.”
For the first time that night she looked at me and I saw her again as she had always been to me. She moved closer to me and she kissed me. There are no words to describe that moment. At the moment of our release, I was washed with a wave of indescribable emotion.
“I need to be with you right now, Êlúriel. I cannot say it any other way.”
“Thranduil, I want to be with you. You are my only love and my greatest love and if this is my last night with you, then I want it to be here,” she said. Her voice, the only song I memorized, was a powerful lament.
Love took us over, stronger than ever before. I forgot myself as I kissed Êlúriel passionately. I never wanted anything so much in this world. We fell into a deep embrace beneath the stars our ancestors had awakened. So beautiful was our love, not even time wanted it to end.
As we lay under the most perfect night sky, Êlúriel looked at me and gave me the ring I placed on her finger when we were married. It was a silver meril. Delicately made for her. She had placed it in on chain and fastened it around my neck.
“Take this with you, my love. For should you die, you take with me my heart and my soul and I wish to have no reminders of such a loss. When you die, I will follow for there is no forever without you nor would I want it.”
I looked at her and kissed her again.
“When I return, I will give it back,” I said and I meant it so much, I felt tears running down my face.
“Should you return, Thranduil, I will have gotten back the only thing I love in this world. You. I will take it back but it will be you to put it on my finger. Come back to me, my love.”
“I will,” I whispered. “Nothing will ever keep me from you.” When we kissed again, I knew I would return. Somehow, her love would keep me strong. It was a love that would not die; not even when time cruelly took her away from me. I would never know love like this again. Only Êlúriel had my heart and I knew it would always be where it belonged.–Excerpt from TKWR:BII The Saga of Thranduil by J.M.Miller.
Images: © 2012, 2013, 2014. Warner Brothers Pictures. The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. All Rights Reserved.
Warning: A wife plays a trick on her husband on their last full day and night together. Tender moments--and I'm not talking about husband and wife. I'm talking father and son, mother and son. Chapter X, the romance ends and blood of elves, men and dwarves will fill the plains of Dagorlad. It is time to know who you are dealing with--Falas, Anor, Gondor, Eryn Galen, Imaldris, Moria and Lórien against the evil of Sauron at Mordor.
