Thranduil had intended to leave shortly after they arrived from Ithilien, but with the attack and the life of his son endangered, he decided to stay one more month. In two weeks Legolas recovered, the other three weeks were just precautionary, as Thranduil still couldn't shake the image of his son lying on the ground, his blood on their hands.
Elarinya's bond to Legolas was the best kept secret of Minas Tirith. Legolas had no idea, and their friends would only talk to her about it if they were sure to be alone. If it took four days for Elarinya to visit Legolas, it would take four decades for her to find the right moment to confess to him. She had been giving it much thought, too many sleepless nights, and figured a decision.
Elarinya arrived home from a small hunting job. She opens the door of her house just to find the elven king inside, sitting in a chair, waiting for her with his classical hard gaze. She looks at him and greets in Sindarin "My king," and then places the small coins' bag on a coffer.
He states coldly "You have been avoiding me."
"Perhaps because I know what you will ask and I've been figuring out an answer," she corrects quickly her behaviour "Your highness."
Thranduil angrily waits for her to continue. Had it been any other person provoking him like this, he would have arrested them without a second thought. However he had grown unexplicabily fond of the woman. There is still no answer from her mouth, he insists "So, you already have an answer. Go on."
She looks at him and then looks away "I'm not telling him."
Thranduil furrows his eyebrows, speaks sternly "He has the right to know. You're lying to my son."
"No, I'm just hiding the truth," Thranduil is about to say something but she speaks first "This bond doesn't affect him, does it? No, it only regards me. So it will stay like this. He is too good and kind and respectable, and I know that in the moment I tell him he will guilt himself into returning the bond or- or making me-" she stops her thoughts and sighs "Life expectancy for my kind isn't long, even less being a mercenary. I won't live many more years, at least not an amount that is important to an elf. What are fourty more years to you, after all? One breath? A blink? I will be dead before he ever realizes it. I will maintain and nurture our friendship as it always has been until the day I die, it won't hurt anyone."
It has been decades since Thranduil had felt sorry for anyone, but he does for this woman. Never in a million years would he allow his son to unite with a Silvan elleth, not nearly appropriate for his position, but now here he stands, conflicted as this woman truly loves his son, just as strongly as his wife had loved him. Thranduil's voice is surprisingly gentle "It will hurt you."
"It doesn't matter. As long as he lives."
Her response only warms his heart even more. Thranduil always considered humans to be too proud and greedy, and once a thought got deeply entailed into their minds, one could not scratch it away. Too much like dwarves. This woman still had her own flaws, but was selfless and her bond for his son was so strong, so sacred, that it was enough to keep his son alive. He respected her very much for her sacrifice, for her purely unconditional love.
For a moment, Thranduil wished his own cold nature, acquired with his wife's death, had disappeared long ago, at least in order to reignite his connection with his son. He wished Legolas had opened up about his feelings for this woman. With Tauriel, the subtle hints were there for centuries, but Legolas had never seem happy or free during those years, not like he was with Elarinya. It had become something intense in such a short period.
But his son had loved Tauriel, so he couldn't love again, he could not respond to this woman's feelings. Thranduil was sure she didn't know about this previous relationship, and was too afraid her heart would shatter if he told her. Perhaps this decision was the best for all of them. He raises and speaks "The bond remains a secret as long as you wish, of that I guarantee you. None of your friends will betray you, and neither will I."
Elarinya nods and lowers her head "Thank you, your highness."
He places his hand over her shoulder solemnly "I owe you my own life, Elarinya. Legolas is the only thing that keeps me in this world. If you ever need anything, I won't deny."
Knowing she would say nothing else, the king left silently.
In that afternoon they were to discuss any plans for how to deal with the orcs, a matter that had been postponed due to Legolas' almost death. They all wait in the library for Gimli to arrive, but when he does he doesn't step beyond the door "Elarinya, your sister calls for you. There's a mercenary in the Houses of Healing that wishes to speak to you. Something about a letter."
Elarinya wides her eyes and raises. She turns to her friends "You should come too," and leaves right away.
"You do not have a price on your head, do you?" Aragorn asks as he follows her.
"No. I mean, I don't think so," she explains as she walks "I've been leaving letters in taverns that I know are visited by other mercenaries, expounding what has been going on with the orcs and ask the network to respond with any clues. Most were attacks on villages, but for someone to come here and wounded... He might have something important."
"Network?" Legolas asks, curious.
"Yes, we are fourty seven, scattered around. It is a mess sometimes when two head for the same prize."
He smiles "You seem their leader by the way you talk."
She looks over her shoulder "Leader is a very strong word to describe it. I'm the only woman, I keep things organized."
They reach the Houses of Healing and Athelas appears out of a room "At the end, left bed."
Elarinya peeks who it is and turns around "It's safe. He won't kill any of us."
She reaches the bed, touches the man's arm. His leg is hurt and there are cuts on his face. The man looks at her "Umbra," and then at her friends "You brought quite the entourage. Two kings, one prince. You could be rich."
She stiffles a laugh "They are my friends. They know my name."
The man, over his fifties but with a strong young body, looks at them "Elarinya's friends get to know mine too. My name is Deormod. I was a soldier of Gondor and exiled by Denethor, like her father. I lived in the same village. And I appreciate what you have done for my people, king Aragorn."
Aragorn nods "Like your people, you will find a home here if you wish."
The man nods in return and turns to her "We've read your letters. Me and Silver found a group of orcs near the Beornings, they were heading north unlike the others, returning to their chief."
"You followed them?"
"Gundabad," his expression turns somber, worried, scared "It's war, Ela. They are thousands, just as we saw in Mordor decades ago. They are prepared to attack once autumn begins. They will follow down the Anduin and kill whatever stands in their path, they will burn down the woods. With their numbers, whatever they want to do, they can."
Elarinya looks at her friends. They all have the same look on their face. War has returned to these lands. They must call everyone, settle a place to fight. She looks at her friend again "You spoke of a chief. Did you see who it was?"
"We infiltrated the palace. It's a she-elf. She looks young and has fair hair, but seemed angry and sad. And she had a dark walking cane."
"Where's Silver?"
"He didn't make it."
Elarinya sighs "I'm sorry."
Deormod looks at the kings "They will take everyone on their way. You must fight them before they reach too far south."
Athelas appears "We have to treat your leg, Deormod."
The man smirks "Your sister has grown very bossy."
"You don't tell me," Elarinya comments, winking at her "I've been under her wrath a couple of times. She even has a boyfriend now."
Athelas blushes "Alright, out of my infirmary now."
Deormod laughs and holds both their hands "Girls," he speaks solemnly "Your parents would be very proud of you two. It fits you, you know? Walking among kings."
Elarinya squeezes his hand "Rest now, heal. My sister will take care of you."
Athelas smiles at her. Elarinya and the group walk outside. Things have changed. They head to the library.
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