Hall of King - The Woodland Realm

"Where is Nana?" Ferion sobbed as he pawed at his sister's tunic tails, "I am frightened...I want Nana now...please..."

"Hush Rín," Celairiel scolded impatiently, for her eyes were drawn towards the fray of the elves running around like chaotic hens - like a fox was set among them. She pressed her body tight to the wall, one hand placed on her baby brother's shoulder so he did not move from her side.

This was how she passed her time since her return in the early hours before dawn - sneaking around corridors listening for news.

She had delivered the unconscious elf lord to Calanon and sought her Adar. He had immediately dispatched a team of warriors to find Naneth and bring her home, he was about to leave with them but the council prohibited it. He vowed that if she was not returned by nightfall that following day he would leave in search of her without their consent, and as far as Celairiel knew, a band of Legolas warriors returned by sunset and were escorted immediately to the throne room - her Adar had refused to leave his station until news was brought to him of his wife's safety.

Celairiel had presumed the worst when all chaos had appeared to break loose.

"The King has left his throne." She overheard a servant whisper to a sentry.

"What was his mood?" the guard asked cautiously.

The servant hesitated before answering; "Foul...he was headed to the Healing Halls...perhaps the Queen is-."

"Hush, even to suggest ill fate is treason - Valar forbid such a travesty." The sentry warned with a hiss.

"What will befall us? Oh Elbereth, save us from this tragedy..." the servant's sob trailed off into a muttering prayer.

Celairiel backed away from the wall and captured Ferion up in her arms, that was all the information she needed. She would go to the Healing Halls and find her Naneth. Perhaps her Adar was angry because Nana had been bold again, putting the lives of others before her own, choosing to ignore safe instruction and being a little reckless. These were not exactly flaws to Celairiel, she admired her Naneth's compassion, and that strength of heart to defend those in need was something she hoped she could possess. Sadly, Celairiel found that she was often too carried away with her instincts, to filled up with the essence of the forest, often drunk on the euphoria of running free and as far away from the responsibility of court as she could possibly be.

In this moment she lamented her uncaged and selfish heart as she hurried along the halls of her home. Her little brother's sad eyes reminding her that she had a duty to her family too, and instead of fear over her Nana's condition she needed to be brave - courage would see Ferion through his fear and she had to show it for him.

The Healing Halls were just as chaotic as the servants corridors. Their were guards, red-faced healers, and much noise - the majority coming from her Adar. His anger was tangible, and even she recoiled from the madness she felt radiating off him when she eventually found him in the centre of the main pavilion. Before him was held a barely conscious Glorfindel, his features drawn, his eyes an echo of untold horrors as he seemed to fold under her Adar's seething words.

Celairiel quietly drew closer to the scene, cautiously cuddling Ferion to her chest, petting his silvery wisps of hair to soothe him. She listened to her Adar's words, realisation hitting hard - her Naneth was not found.

"You bring nothing but evil to my home you cursed being!" Thranduil growled, his face contorted in vehement hatred. "I should have known that your presence would seal Clara's fate...I should have ignored my daughter's pleas to adhere to her stipulation to aid you...I should have left you to suffer!"

"Thranduil, I never meant to...I had no knowledge she would be that far from your protection...you must believe me...you know I would die before I would allow harm to come to her...to any innocent life..." Glorfindel pleaded, his tone drenched in pain, his heart was worn so visibly that all could see how it bled in grief for his failure.

"Then why aren't you dead!" Thranduil shrieked, the sound so dark yet so grief stricken that Celairiel breathed in sharply.

"I would rather be if it would save her from her fate," was the strange lord's devastated reply, his head hanging. "She is dear to me, you know this, we are alike...like kin...my dearest friend..." The elf's eyes glazed over momentarily, a painful burst of elvish pouring from his lips, an old language that few could understand.

"What prayer can save her now?" Thranduil's voice fell to a deathly whisper. "She is captive to the shadowed orc that haunt these forests like a curse. They are filled with a dark energy, their magic is strong, they feed off the ancient power of this forest like the devouring insects of the East. How long to do you think a light as precious as hers will be allowed to breathe before it is consumed?"

Celairiel gasped, her hand reaching to cover her mouth. Ferion stirred in her arms and glanced up at his sister, his wide silvery eyes dancing with recognition. Those soulful eyes held in them a deep understanding that was much too old for his young age, his features fell into sorrow as he buried into his head into his sister's chest and quietly sobbed.

The sound caused both Glorfindel and their Adar to turn to the intrusion. Celairiel found her Ada's eyes hallow, they held nothing in them but a pain that was hard for her to endure looking at, she instinctively turned away from his gaze only to be met with the guilt of Glorfindel's. His eyes were strange, the emotions in them were many and she found no words to describe them aptly save only that it was like he carried her grief as though it were his own.

Thranduil glanced momentarily at the elf lord in his presence, it was a cold and uncaring look, like he had lost all desire to care and merely gestured for the guards to haul him to his feet and take him away.

"Hold him prisoner," Thranduil answered bitterly, "he has nothing useful to offer me."

"Sire, he is an elven lord, and wounded, he cannot be held in a cell," it was Calanon who entered reason to the debate.

"Then keep him here under guard," Thranduil spat as he lurched away from the pleading advances of the healer. "If I lose her, if she bears a scar, I will hold him personally responsible...he is no friend to your Queen...he is a curse!"

With all said Thranduil strode from the scene, armour clad and carrying his sword - Celairel knew he was ready for war. She was almost certain he would have brushed straight past them in his madness, his mind was only focused on saving their mother, and so she threw herself in his path.

"Ada!" she cried as she held her hand to his chest. "Ada, it is not just orc in the woods. There is a shadow that bound up the voices of the trees so I could not hear them. The forest is frightened, it is retreating from the darkness. It came like a wind, a hallow dusty breath, I felt its nature...Ada...it seeks a refuge...a foot hold to draw its strength."

"Do not fear," was her Adar's empty reply as he touched her cheek, no familiar love lighting his worn eyes. "I will bring your Naneth home, you and your brothers will be safe. A shadow has no power in my Realm."

"Ada," she pushed gripping his arm before he could leave. "Ada let me go, let me speak with the trees, they will help me...I know they will...I can expose the shadow, the forest's wild nature will draw it out..."

"You will do no such thing!" Thranduil snapped bitterly, his rage turning on his child as he gripped her arm and pushed her back towards the crowds of her people. "You are my daughter, my treasure, you will stay in the confines of my Kingdom where I can protect you."

"But Ada...please...I can help, I-."

"I will have you confined to your bed chamber Celairiel - do not defy me this day child, or so help me you will sorely regret it!" Her Adar lashed his rage over her, in her heart she knew it to be misguided, the frantic pain in the very depths of spirit gave testament to that...still, it hurt.

She watched as he turned his back on them without so much as acknowledging his sobbing son, something utterly alien to her. Her Adar was full of love for them, he openly lavished them with his attention, spoiled them with gifts, and patiently attended their grievances with tact. Biting her bottom lip she withheld the fear and grief that bubbled up from her chest and sat as an uncomfortable lump in her throat. Her Naneth would survive, she would not believe she couldn't, but her Adar was lost to vengeance and pain, his madness would walk him into a trap and she had to know what such a trap could be.

"Celairiel, dear Valar I have been running the length of this Kingdom looking for you!" Oliel's voice was light, but it cracked at the end, giving away her true emotions - she was just as broken by the news as every other soul in this place.

"Ollie!" Celairel cried as she turned and toppled into the elder's elleth's waiting arms. "Oh Ollie, its not true, I know it is not true...Nana is alive...she will be alright."

"Of course she is," Ollie gave a pitiful sob as she clutched the Princess's cheeks in her hands, a forced smile spreading across her lips like a hard white line. "If I know my Clara she will be outwitting those idiot orc with ease," Ollie gave another forced chuckle as she reached for Ferion and took him into her more maternal arms. "Your Nana is brave little one," she promised the child as he blinked and wiped his tears, "she is coming home to you...I know she will always fight to come home to you."

"Nana is here," the little child petted his chest with his small hand, "I feel her."

"Yes," Ollie confirmed with a sob in her voice, "your Nana is with you always, just you hold onto her tight." The elfling nodded solemnly before glancing warily to his sister.

"Ollie, promise me you will keep him safe?" Celairiel suddenly heard herself speak her plea, and being met with the elleth's confused gaze - an elleth who was her dearest aunt and in so many ways reminded her of her Naneth.

"You will come home with me, now, Celairiel," Ollie spoke commandingly reaching for the girl's arm.

"No," she breathed as she stepped away from her grasp. "I am no child, I cannot be ordered from place to place. My Naneth - your Queen - is captive! I will not sit idly in these halls and let my Adar run blindly into a trap...you were not there...you did not feel what I felt!"

"Celairiel you are clean mad if you think I am letting you out of my sight! If you even think I will allow you to leave these halls," Ollie snapped, her temper flaring.

"I will not be ordered!" Celairiel replied with a commanding authority that she did not realise she possessed, the tenor in her voice making Ollie step back and look more closely at the young elleth in her presence. "I am your Princess," she continued holding her chin high, "and in the absence of my parents and my brother, responsibility falls to me to do as I see fit. Now either help me or hinder me Lady Oliel, but I will not be dissuaded from my cause."

A moment of silence elapsed as the two ellith stared each other down, the elder eventually bowing her head in respect of her position.

"You have your Adar's authority Princess, I hear his strength in your voice," Oliel murmured quietly, a small smile playing on her lips, her eyes glazing in memory of a time long ago. "But you have a dose of your Naneth's determination - a free-willed heart - who am I to attempt to understand it?"

"Will you help me?" Was all Celairiel could bring herself to ask, her gaze hard as she held her aunt's own with such conviction.

"What can I do?"

xXx

Celairiel stood before the doors flanked by guards wearing her most sombre of expressions, Oliel at her side, a grave look in her usually bright features, and beside her stood her own father - Olban.

The guards observed the three with much confusion.

"The princess wishes to speak with the prisoner, it is believed more information can be sought," Ollie spoke first.

"By who's authority?" The first guard asked as he eyed his partner cautiously, "the King commanded that no further communication was to be had with this elf."

"I bring command from the King," Olban answered the warrior with an innocent smile, "you are to join the guards on the inner perimeter, I will attend your shift. I can assure the Princess is very much safe with me and my daughter, you know that we hold personal council with the King. Do you think I - an elder of my brethren - would break my King's command?"

The two guards stood dumbstruck for they had no answer to that. Certainly the direct descendent of the chieftains would be upholding the King's law in his absence, but the situation was most peculiar.

"My good sirs," Celairiel began sweetly, her eyes heavy with remorse. "I believe this elf to have more information that could save our Queen, he has been in deep council with the our kinsfolk in the Southern Woods of Lorien. I wish to know what council he took before coming here. It would please the King. Now please, allow me entry by his Majesty's orders."

Another uncertain look was shared before Olban threw the weight of his position before them.

"You have been commanded to be elsewhere in protection of our city, do I assume that your reluctance is due to your belief that I am incapable of guarding this door? I am a chieftain of the blood, with the King's favour, you will heed my message - instruction from your King."

This seemed enough to make the two guards take notice, and with a quick bow they left. There was a moment of a collective sigh of relief as Olban procured the key given to him by the retreating guard.

"You are going to need to hurry," Olban warned as he reached for the lock, "it won't be long until they figure out my little fib. Well, technically I do have the right to exercise commands in the absence of the King...with the council's support of course...best not mention this to the other council lords."

"Don't worry," Celairiel promised with a jerky bob, "I know what I need off him, I just hope he agrees."

"Hurry," Ollie ordered as her father pushed open the heavy door. "We will be right here," she continued, "just shout to us if you need help."

"He is not dangerous," Celairiel sighed as she slid into the dimly lit room, rolling her eyes at the maternal anxiety in the elder's elleth's voice.

The room was small, with nothing but a single cot tucked in the corner, and a small fireplace. The coals were dying and although wood had been left to feed the flames the rooms inhabitant had obviously left it to die away.

Her eyes followed the shadows of the cold room, lighting on the elf on his knees in the midst of the room, his eyes closed and lips uttering silent prayers. He was as still as stone, what little light there was in the room seemed to envelope him in an ethereal light...he glowed...like the words he spoke took him somewhere beyond the realms of this world...like someone heard. She was drawn to that light, she remembered it form somewhere in the crevice of her memories, her spirit recognised something kindred about it - something binding in love.

She opened her mouth to speak but before she did his eyes snapped open and his muttering ceased, he only continued to watch her patiently, though she wasn't quite sure what her question was entirely.

"You feel it...the sound of our spirits singing in tandem with our Creator?" he spoke first, his eyes softening, crinkling around the edges...teasing almost.

"I hear the will of Eru through the heart of creation," she replied earnestly, "but I cannot sing the way your soul does."

"Yes you can," he answered cryptically, his head tilting in consideration, "just in a different way...the way that is made for you to tread."

"Then you know why I am here?" Celairiel arched a challenging eyebrow as she came to kneel beside the prisoner. "What I felt in the woods, you did also, you know what I need to ask of you?"

"What you are asking is too dangerous," Glorfindel answered swiftly, his eyes filling with anxiety as he beheld the elleth, who was no more than a youth, in his presence. "I cannot possibly endanger your life, I will not ask you to do this."

"You will not be asking me, I am making this decision of my own volition," she snapped in reply, drawing herself tall, her shoulders squaring in defiance. "The shadow is the breath of a wraith that cannot gain power here, the ghost of such evil frightens even the trees into retreating. The heart of the wild of this forest is brewing in contempt, I can unleash its wrath through me, I can draw the devouring wind to me...it will come to draw power from me...and that will allow you the chance to bind it, and send it back to the shadows of the unseen where it belongs!"

"What you are asking is beyond dangerous, there will be only one opportunity, and if I should fail then my mistake could cost you your life," he answered with just as much of a warning edge to his voice.

"And if we do not act then my Naneth will die, perhaps even my Adar, my brother," Celairiel urgently pushed the evidence before the defeated elf lord. "Whatever moves with that dark shadow is hidden under its cloak, that is how the orc passed my notice, the voices of the trees were choked off before any warning could reach me. My Adar now moves with an army to claim back the Queen...you need not tell me that is not a trap?"

Glorfindel fell silent, for he knew this to be the truth. He had been chasing the shadows for so long, he had been following the trail of destruction Northward; small villages destroyed with their inhabitants claiming the foul creatures escaped the notice of their defences, no alarm could be issued, nothing could be done, He had come face to face with the breath of the wraith on the outskirts of Greenwood, his own spirit goading him out of darkness. The fear Glorfindel had felt in that moment of recognition pushed him to flee. He was seeking the Woodland Realm, to warn Thranduil, to seek his help in securing the forest, for the great essence of the wood would be a deep source of ancient power for the darkness to feed off and poison. Never had he imagined his plan would have embroiled Clara, that she would be held to ransom, a threat or a promise should Thranduil not give up his kingdom and hold on the North - the last defence between a foothold in Angmar - then innocent blood would stain the soil of the Woodland. The King would be broken, and his Kingdom easily snared, such a devious plot, a lucky turn of hand.

"I will aid you," Glorfindel spoke his promise aloud, "for I fear if I do not then I will have the blood of your kin on my hands for eternity, and I could not bear such a fate. I will fight to my last breath to prevent it."

"Then come, we don't have much time," Celairiel hauled the elf to his feet, the two sharing a moment of stern resoluteness for their part to play. Celairiel glanced to the door, then back to her new found comrade; "Adar sent mercenaries ahead of the army, led by Aradan, they are to retrace as much as Naneth's trail as possible. The last Tauriel saw of the route my Naneth was taken was South...I reckon that this is our safest bet."

"South?" Glorfindel questioned in alarm, "Celairiel, there is an old elven stronghold of your kin in the Southern Wood, yes?"

"Yes but it was long abandoned, during the early wars of my people, my grandfather and the chieftains felt it unsafe...that ill intent lay upon it," Celairiel answered, confusion suddenly melting to realisation as she shook her head, "evil wights, spirits of the corrupt dead, they take form in the remains of noble dead...that stronghold is littered with the tombs of the chieftain ancestors...steeped in the old magic."

"A perfect place for darkness to settle, hallow halls steeped in grief," Glorfindel hissed his eyes hardening, "Celairiel, if your Naneth is taken hostage there then she will suffer under that dark sickness, your Adar will feel her every torment...if he enters that fortress with such darkness surrounding it he will be in great peril."

"Then we draw the shadow away, we bind it and weaken it before it has a chance," Celairiel muttered urgently, gripping the other elf's hands tight in hers. "We must give them a chance."

"Yes," was all Glorfindel could reply with, for his heart was greatly moved by the courage in the depths of the ellleth's spirit. She was ready to risk all to save her family, to take on an ancient power which she had no knowledge of, because in her heart she felt it was within her fate to do so...why else would she have such beautiful gifts?

"Well...come on then!" Celairiel grumbled as she stalked towards the door, "I am breaking every law by getting you out of this predicament, the least you could do is hurry it up a little before we are caught!"

Glorfindel managed a slight smirk in response to the elleth's crassness. She was a bold young elf, a trait he knew her Adar had long held in his youth, and it appeared the apple did not fall far from the tree. He was certain that it would not be she that had difficulty keeping up with him but vice versa.

He had faith in her courage, but he only doubted his ability to protect her, and such a doubt filled him with a terrible grief. He felt a fate about the elf, a fate marked by choice, and he worried that her choice today could seal her fate, and if not hers then her parents. He resolved he would not let her bear the weight of such a burden, she - a rare beauty - deserved his protection, it was the least he could do in penance for his grave mistake.

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AUTHOR NOTE
HI MY LOVELY READERS, thank you so much for continuing to support and read TLA even over my hiatus - returning to so many votes and comments was a nice little surprise 'cause I kinda thought all would go quiet...really glad it didn't.

Okay, a few things to mention;

1) I just reached 500+ followers!!! So hello, welcome to my crazy world of pure imagination (don't lie, you sang that phrase didn't you?). This is kind of epic because frankly I never expected to do well on wattpad...and I think that equates to doing pretty well, right? Well, truly, from the bottom of my cold, cold, heart (lmao jk) thank you for being my tribe of awesome supporters.

2) *drum roll* To Live Again won the RBLS People's Choice Literary Star award. That was pretty cool and nice and really unexpected - so thank you everyone who voted! #TeamThrandara - okay maybe not hehehe.

3) I'M PUBLISHED - lol - well kind of. So, as a supporter of the official-visible organisation I was asked to join the team as a writer. So, I now have a regular digital article published monthly on their official Facebook channels. You can check them out and support them by heading over to Facebook and liking/following their official page, and on wattpad by following official-visible.

4) Lastly, thank you to the lovely people on wattpad who, during my time off, sent me wonderful messages, kind words, and hopeful prayers. My family and I are so grateful, and I am so privileged and humbled to have felt that warmth of love and genuine care from people quite literally all over the world. I am still very much in a period of shock and major readjustment so bear with me on updates and coming out with new chapters or future projects - it's sometimes a feat just to get through the day - but #fistpump I got this!

And that's my long spiel...remember PLEASE, VOTE, COMMENT, SHARE...and welcome back to the rollercoaster XD