Fan Fiction ❯ The Sorrows of Tomorrow ❯ Sorrows and Revelation ( Chapter 3 )

Title: The Sorrows of Tomorrow

Summary: Trouble brews deep in the heart of Mirkwood and the darkness thickens. Friends will be pitted against each other and only hope can save them.

Chapter 3: Sorrows and Revelation

Time passed as it must and 2 years had gone by. It might have seemed like a long time for a mortal but for the Elves it was only a blink of the eye. And yet when one felt grief, time could feel like decades.

King Thranduil paced his study and thought about his wayward son. It felt like only yesterday that he had seen his son smile after playing a practical joke or training with his bow. But now he was always grim faced and rarely showed any emotions. It was as if his son had become a stranger and he didn't know what to do. Someone quietly knocked on the door and taking a deep breath to clear his thoughts, he told them to enter. One of his scouts entered the room and dropped to one knee.

"Sire we have discovered Orc activity near the borders of Mirkwood and there appears to be a human with them."

Surprise briefly showed in his deep blue eyes before Thranduil lowered them in thought. It was not rare for Orcs to be roaming Mirkwood, but quiet strange for a human to be traveling with them.

"And do you know why this mortal is traveling with them Esendal?"

Esendal grimaced slightly and shook his head. "It appears that he leads them sire."

Now that was a shock since they usually followed their own kind or Sauron himself. Thranduil gazed at the elf for a moment before coming to a decision. Walking over to his desk, he quickly scribbled a note and sealed it. Walking over to the elf, he handed to him and hoped he was doing the right thing.

"I want you to deliver this to my son as soon as possible."

Esendal bowed to the king and nodded. "I will my lord."

Watching the scout leave the room, he hoped that he was doing the right thing. Perhaps this human would know who this lady was and help put an end to all theses problems. Maybe then his son would return home and be the elf he once was.

~

Elrond strolled through his garden and smiled sadly. They still hadn't been able to find Estel's body nor the lady who had taken him. His sons along with Legolas had searched all around Mirkwood and her borders, but hadn't been able to find a single clue. It appeared that the Orcs and their mysterious lady had vanished and he sometimes wondered if someone powerful was behind it. It still baffled him as to why any would want his son's body when the boy was dead and no threat to anyone. Slowing to a stop he heard voices nearby and recognized the twins. Glancing around a few bushes, he noticed his sons sitting on a bench and they appeared in deep conversation.

"Do you think we will ever find who took our gwador?" Elrohir asked quietly.

Elladan shifted next to his twin and gazed down at his hands. He had been thinking the same thing for a long time now and yet didn't want to say it. It was hard not finding their brother's body and not knowing what was being done to it. Rage flashed in his grey eyes briefly, before he closed them and took a deep breath. It wouldn't do for his distraught twin to see him in a rage and he needed to be calm.

"I believe we will Elrohir as long as we do not give up. Someday we will find Estel and bring him home."

Elrohir wanted to believe his twin's words were the truth and yet he couldn't. He would never believe it until they finally brought Estel home and laid his body to rest. He felt his twin gather him into his arms and leaned back into the comforting embrace. Elladan rested his cheek on Elrohir's hair and closed his eyes.

Elrond watched his sons for a few more moments and sighed. The death of his youngest had affected them profoundly. The twins were not there normal selves anymore and Imladris seemed quieter now then in the past. Taking a few steps back, he turned and walked away. He knew that his sons need this moment to be with each other and he didn't want to disturb them. A few tears slipped down his cheeks as well and he stifled a sob.

"My Lord?"

Raising his head, Elrond noticed that his seneschal was looking at him in concern. The other elf took a few more steps and then he was in his arms. Laying his head on the other elf's shoulders, he gripped his tunic and cried softly.

"What am I going to do Glorfindel? My youngest is still missing and I don't know were he is or what they are doing to his body? And the twins are sinking further into there grief and I cannot help them"

Glorfindel clutched Elrond to him more tightly and rubbed his back soothingly. He hadn't seen his friend this distraught since his wife had sailed for the Undying Lands. It was a horrible situation that they were in and there family was falling apart because of it. Something needed to be done soon or he feared that Elrond and the twins would die from grief.

"Do not worry my friend. I swear to you that we will find your son. Perhaps you should ask Galadriel and Mithrandir for help? They more then anyone might be able to help you in finding Estel or even locate who took him."

Elrond released his friends and took a step back. Now that he thought about it the Lady and Ishtar had taken the death of Estel pretty well. This was pretty odd since he was the hope of Arda and needed to defeat Sauron. He wondered if she had seen something in that mirror of her's and had not told him for some reason. The more he thought about it the more suspicious he became. Whatever the reason, he needed to journey to Lothlorien and find out the truth.

"Thank you my friend, you have just revealed something that has slipped my notice."

Glorfindel looked at his lord in puzzlement but didn't like the look in his grey eyes. It was a look of undetermined rage and revelation of something, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

~

Legolas gazed dispassionately down at the dead Orcs who lay around him. Over the last few years they had been growing a lot bolder in Mirkwood and were attacking more frequently. Rumors were flying around that there was someone leading them but the question was who. They did appear more organized theses days and he wondered if maybe one of them would know of this lady. So far none of them but he wouldn't give up hope just yet.

"My Lord?"

Turning around Legolas gazed at his captain. "What is it Telindel?"

"A scout has brought a message, my lord."

The scout was Esendal and he walked up to him. Bowing over he handed the prince the letter. Seeing his father's seal, Legolas wondered what his father wanted and opening it, he quickly scanned it. He and his guards were to spy on a group of Orcs on the southeastern borders of Mirkwood. There was a human leading them and his father wanted to know why. He wondered what a human was doing with the Orcs and maybe he could tell him who this lady was. Folding the letter, he held it and glanced at the two elves.

"Tell my father I will carry out his orders Esendal and tell him thank you." He watched the scout bow to him before taking his leave. Turning to his captain, he smiled grimly. "Telindel tell the others that we will be leaving in an hour."

"Yes my prince."

Looking down at the letter, Legolas hoped that this was the lead he was looking for in order to find Estel. If it was then soon he would be able to take his friend home and perhaps everyone would finally be at peace.

~

TBC