A little bit of everything Multi Fandom Imagines

Thranduil and the Dark Elf - Part 1

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Thranduil stood on his balcony as his advisors ran around attempting to ensure that everything was in place for the arrival of the envoy that evening. The days had gone slowly but Thranduil had spent his time constructively in his library studying what he could about the dark elves. Most of what he read he believed to be mere invention on the part of the writer, nearly all of it must have been imagination, too extreme to be real. The truth was probably boring, the envoy would turn out to be nothing more than another elf causing him to slip back into his usual boredom.

Now their arrival was just a short time away and the king wandered in his own mind. How different could dark elves be; their origins were not dissimilar from other elves so physically there must be many similarities, he thought to himself.

Thranduil was shook from his thoughts as a horn sounded in the distance notify all that the envoy and their entourage were at the entrance to the forest. 

"Your majesty, we must prepare you for your guest." Nevarth bowed, hoping that the king would go into his rooms to change. Thranduil turned slowly watching with amusement as the servants made sure that the throne room was decorated perfectly to receive such an important guest. Finally seeing the concern on his chief advisors face the king made his way to change into his formal attire. 

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One of the guards sounded the horn to let the palace know that their guests were arriving at the rendezvous point. Legolas and the other guards watched as three black figures on horseback appeared through a strange mist which had descended over Mirkwood Forest. Strangely he felt a deep sense of dread creep through his body, a feeling as if something bad was going to happen. The rider at the front was obviously the envoy he thought to himself; as the three rode nearer it became clear that they were covered from head to toe in cloaks that were as black as the night, hoods concealing their features.

The night was moonless and without the lamps that Legolas and the other guard held there would have been no light at all. As the riders got closer the night seemed to get darker, the incessant noise of insects stopped and the temperature in the air seemed to fall causing Legolas to wrap himself tighter in his cloak. Finally, the horses stopped as the three riders drew up in front of Legolas.

Legolas bowed deeply. "Greetings envoy, I am Legolas son of the Elvenking Thranduil of Mirkwood. My men and I have come to escort you safely through the forest."

He waited for an answer, but none came just a slow nod from the envoy. Legolas noticed that the envoy carried no weapon; no sword, no bow, just a staff made from twisted black wood with a huge white crystal at its top which had an eerie glow. Legolas and the other guards mounted their horses and lead the visitors into the forest.

The atmosphere was thick and silent apart from the occasional noise from one of the horses. The forest was always dark, especially so at night but the mist that seemed to surround the visitors made it all the darker. The journey was proving uneventful, but Legolas was not letting his guard down, particularly not tonight, not with this feeling that lay in the pit of his stomach. 

Suddenly Legolas whipped his head around as he heard a strange noise come from high in the trees, it was a noise he knew all too well.

"SPIDERS!" He yelled out as he reached for his bow. He and the other guards dismounted and prepared themselves to fight the menace that was descending upon them.