~Lúthien's mysterious escape leads to disaster for Thranduil and Aerneth.~

oOo

Thranduil by Moliko

Accused

The next day when Thranduil got home, he found Aerneth pacing to and fro in their room, looking very worried.

"What is wrong?"

"It's Galadriel. She has been experimenting with her visions in the water all day, and found she could see her loved ones through it. Not the way I do, where I can communicate with them, for her it's only pictures but she does not need them thinking about her to find them. And so of course she summoned up her brother, and saw horrible things!"

"She saw his battle with Sauron?" Thranduil spoke in a low voice to make sure his parents could not overhear.

"Aye, but that's not all, she saw him suffer in a dark prison, while one by one his companions were eaten by a werewolf, until only he and the mortal man remained. And then she saw Finrod grapple with the monster, killing it with his bare hands, but he got so badly injured he died too. He gave up his life for a human!"

"Whyever would he do that?"

"Don't ask me. And also, Galadriel did not know if this had actually happened, or if it was a vision of a potential future. Her words."

"Please do not say she wants to go fight Sauron too now?" Thranduil groaned.

"Well..." Aerneth bit her lip. "I may accidentally have told her that Lúthien and Queen Melian saw nearly the same thing, and now she has gone to ask the king for warriors..."

"Aerneth! You promised!" Thranduil all but shook his wife, frustrated and angry. How could she be so disloyal? What would Thingol think when he realised the secret was out?

"It was just... she looked so miserable when she saw her brother die, and I wanted to give her hope that he still lived, because in Melian's vision he did..."

"That was several days ago, he may well be dead now, and the human too," Thranduil hissed. "Sauron is a bloody Maia, and he has werewolves! Do you really want Thingol to send elves there? Because it could be me, Aerneth."

She blanched as understanding dawned.

"I am a warrior. I full well know I might be killed in action and I would not hesitate to go where my king would direct me – but the prospect of a suicide mission does not appeal."

Aerneth shook her head. Her eyes were moist.

"Oh, please do not cry." He turned his back so he would not have to look.

"I'm sorry I told her." She sniffed.

His anger slowly drained off. He felt bad for making his wife worry – of course Thingol would not send out his march-wardens, not for a Noldo and a human he hated. Thranduil's outburst had just been melodrama; he had wanted to scare her although he did not really know why. Perhaps as a punishment for betraying the secret.

Turning back to her, he drew her into his arms and wiped away her tears. "It will not happen. The king is not that stupid."

"Don't ever leave me, Thranduil."

He kissed her instead of replying, for how could he promise something like that? Even though it would not be now, it could happen some other time; as a warrior Thranduil would face danger and death, that was part of the deal.

oOo

After Galadriel had spoken to the king – who naturally refused her any aid, just as Thranduil had predicted – the news began to spread throughout the city, both about what had befallen the unlucky questers and that Princess Lúthien had been locked up, although nobody yet knew where her prison was. That the king would do such a thing to his daughter caused discontent among his subjects, a brewing unrest, and people were also concerned about the proximity of Sauron and his werewolves. His tower in the river Sirion was less than thirty leagues to the northwest of the Doriath border, and though his breeding werewolves had been known, it was worrying that there were such large numbers of them now.

Galadriel was wiser than Lúthien in the respect that she did not try to leave Doriath alone. Instead she sent a bird to Nargothrond where her nephew Orodreth ruled in Finrod's absence, asking him to organise a rescue party.

As far as Thranduil knew, she received no answer. Perhaps Orodreth wanted Finrod to die so he could keep the crown? With the Noldor, everything was possible.

The days following Galadriel's audience with the king, Thranduil feared Thingol would summon his march-wardens and demand to know who had leaked the secret. Even if Thranduil held his tongue, Amroth might not – he knew that Thranduil had told his wife and that she had spent time with Galadriel, and it did not take a genius to put the facts together.

During their next guard duty together, Amroth thankfully calmed him in that department. "Really, Tharan, who do you take me for?" He gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. "I would never betray a friend, even one as foolish as you."

"Thank you." He returned the punch, smiling awkwardly. His friend's loyalty gave him a warm glow within.

"Don't mention it."

A bit more at ease, Thranduil raised the ladder and climbed up with Lúthien's supper. As always, he knocked once before entering her house, but this time the door seemed stuck.

"Do not come in," came her voice. "Just put the tray outside."

"Are you alright?"

"Aye!" she snapped. "Go away."

"But..."

"Just go! I do not want to see anyone for a while. Can you at least respect that wish, if you cannot respect my freedom?"

"Aye. Of course. Well, good night then, my lady."

As he climbed down, Thranduil pondered over the princess' odd behaviour. Had somehow the rumours reached her too? Maybe she was mourning her dead lover. Either way, she had the right to be alone if she wanted to.

Lúthien isolated herself for several days, but since she ate the food they brought her and always answered through the door, nobody worried about it.

After about a week, Thranduil and Amroth had the night shift, and as usual Aerneth came along with a basket of food and wine to keep them company during the evening.

"What if she is fading? Mourning herself to death, just pretending she is eating to fool you," Aerneth suggested when Amroth returned down with Lúthien's empty tray.

"Her voice sounds as strong as ever, and she blocks the door if we try to enter. If she were fading she would be weak by now. I think she just wants to be alone."

They shared a pleasant meal of venison, rounding it up with almonds and dried berries. The strong blueberry wine cheered their spirits and made the hours go by much faster, and when Aerneth left to walk home well past midnight the ellyn felt both relaxed and sated.

Thranduil picked up a piece of wood and his knife and began to whittle. He was making a seagull pendant for Aerneth, thinking it could be a good Yule gift. Since he had spent all his earnings on a necklace for her begetting-day, it would have to be something inexpensive.

There was a slight movement behind him, and the unfinished gull fell from his limp fingers as Thranduil sagged to the ground, fast asleep.

When he opened his eyes, it was dawn. Bewildered and afraid, he scrambled to his feet. Why had he slept? He never slept on his guard.

Looking down, he saw Amroth just waking up as well. How could they both have fallen asleep like that?

"What happened?" He looked as confused as Thranduil felt.

A chill trickled down Thranduil's spine. The wine. Had Aerneth put something in the wine?

That was when he saw it. A shiny, black rope hung in the tree, from the now very empty prison. The ellyn stared at each other in horror.

Lúthien had escaped.

oOo

When Thranduil entered his home a few hours later, his fear had turned into white-hot fury. How could she? How dared she?

Storming inside, he yelled Aerneth's name. She was in the sitting room with his parents, and they all jumped up in surprise at his sudden appearance.

"Thranduil?"

"Why did you do it? Why? Why?" he growled, clenching his hands into fists to stop himself from wringing her neck.

"What did she do?" Oropher's face had quickly clouded over.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Aerneth's lip trembled and her eyes were wide with shock.

"Of course you do, you lying little witch. Was it the wine? Or the food?"

"Calm down and tell us exactly what happened." Oropher took a step closer, piercing him with his stare like he used to do when Thranduil was young.

Like then, it helped him focus.

Forcing himself to breathe calmer, and turning his features into an expressionless mask, he told his father everything; how he had been guarding Lúthien on the king's orders when Aerneth had brought food and wine to him and Amroth, sedating them, and then helping the princess escape. As a consequence, Thranduil had now lost his place among the march-wardens, his good grace with the king and his income.

When he had finished, Aerneth and Oropher both looked like pale ghosts, the former with fright and the latter with rage.

"You," said Oropher, slowly advancing on Aerneth.

"It's not true," she whispered, vigorously shaking her head. "I-I-I went home. I've been sleeping. I put nothing in the wine or food, I promise!"

Thranduil felt a flicker of doubt. Either she was a very talented actor or she was telling the truth. But who else could have done it?

Oropher had Aerneth trapped in the corner. "Ever since you snared my son, you have been nothing but trouble." He grabbed her arm, shaking her. "Can't you see what your actions have brought upon us? Ruin. Disgrace. I will lose my position at court, and our family will be blackened forever." He shook her again.

"Adar." Thranduil tried to pull him away but was forcefully thrown aside and nearly lost his footing as he stumbled over a chair.

Aerneth said nothing, she was staring at Oropher like a trapped animal.

Hardly believing his eyes, Thranduil saw his father lift his hand.

"No!" He jumped forward but was too late to interrupt the strike. Clutching her jaw, Aerneth tumbled to the floor, with blood from her cut lip trickling between her fingers.

"What have you done?" Now it was Thranduil's turn to shake his father, pushing him into the wall, trapping him with his body. "She is my wife! If you ever touch her again I'll..." He broke off. He wanted to say he would kill him, but knew he would never do that.

Beside them, Eiriendîs helped Aerneth stand and led her out of the room.

"Sorry Thranduil. I did not mean to hit her." Oropher looked ashamed. "I lost my temper. You know I struggle to control it, but sometimes one just cannot..."

"Stop making excuses."

"But look at what she did! She has crushed our family."

"Just shut up." Thranduil let go of his father. He felt his arms encompass him but evaded the hug. "Don't touch me."

Turning his back to leave, he suddenly felt sick with worry. Was Aerneth badly hurt?

He dashed upstairs and found the ellith in his room. His mother was hugging her trembling daughter-in-law, her gaze locked on the sea painting as silent tears streaked her cheeks.

Thranduil gently pulled Aerneth from her, tilting her chin to assess the bruise. She whimpered when he felt along her jaw. It was swollen, but not broken, and her teeth intact. He breathed out with relief. There would be an ugly bruise, and it would hurt for a few days, but it could have been much worse.

Aerneth was shaking more violently now, and her breaths had become shallow. "I want to go home," she forced out between clattering teeth. When she moved her lips they began to bleed again.

"Shh, don't speak." He pulled her to him, stroking her back soothingly.

"I am going with her," said Eiriendîs. Her eyes had not left the painting.

"Don't... Let us not be drastic now. We can settle this. Adar will never touch her again; I shall protect her."

"Like you have protected me?"

He did not know what to answer. What did she mean? He could not go between his parents; their arguments were theirs to settle, and he had no business meddling in their affairs. But at his mother's words he felt a twinge of insecurity. Had he been wrong? Should he have interfered?

Eiriendîs started to sob; loud, ugly sobs that pierced Thranduil's heart like daggers.

"Naneth, I'm sorry. I..."

Her weeping grew louder and she hurried out of the room, burying her face in her hands.

In his arms Aerneth began to cry as well. "I can't... I can't do it anymore. I tried so hard, but no matter what I do...he..." she paused, and then repeated: "I want to go home."

❈ ❦ ❈

A/N:

I'm not sure who I'm most sorry for in this chapter... Aerneth, who is blamed and punished harshly without evidence, and whose husband doesn't believe her when she says she's innocent?

Or Thranduil, who may lose his job, his wife, and his mother – all on the same day – and who is unfairly blamed for not protecting his mother from his father? A child is not supposed to protect their parent, it's the other way around.

But believe it or not, even though things look dire and dark right now, there will be a happy ending to this story. The characters have a long journey ahead of them, and a great deal of redemption.

Image Credits:

Thranduil by Moliko on DeviantArt, https://www.deviantart.com/moliko