Chapter 5: Bad influences

Galithil strode through the Great Gates alongside his father and tried not to smirk too obviously as the night watch hastily silenced their idle conversation and saluted when the troop commander passed by. Outside, the Green was lit with lanterns and torches as always, but a good many more elves than normal were dancing and singing or sitting in groups drinking and talking. The reason why was immediately obvious: uncle Thranduil was on the Green. Galithil saw his cousins and their parents were gathered around him, along with Barad and his brothers. Even a good many Silvan elves, who were not normally interested in foreign visitors, pressed in close enough to hear the men who spoke Sindarin telling tales. And it appeared Rodonon was still dragging stories out of poor Barad. If Barad was still able to speak, given how Rodonon had drilled him all day long, Galithil thought it a testament to Mannish endurance.

Maidhien stood and waved to him the moment she spotted him as he hopped off the bridge. Her brother and cousin, sitting on the edge of the crowd around the men, stood as well. When Galithil turned and followed his father along the river, clearly going to the Oak rather than to join the others on the Green, Maidhien gestured for Galithil's cousins to go catch up with him. Galithil was not surprised when Legolas shook his head and stayed in place. He would not dream of going to the Oak right under uncle Thranduil's eye, even if he was invited by an adult like Galithil's father. And even if uncle Thranduil had not been there, Legolas did not like going to the Oak very much. Maidhien, Anastor and Noruil did though. All three of them ran across the Green. Galithil grinned when his father's friend, Dollion, also stood, kissed his wife and daughter on the cheek and pursued Aradunnon.

The children reached them first.

"Are you going to compete in the games? Can we come too? Our parents would not mind," Maidhien begged, running up to Aradunnon.

"I imagine they would not," Aradunnon said, holding out his hand to her. Maidhien smiled up at him and took it between both of her own, skipping to keep up with his long strides. Galithil grinned at the way his father doted on Maidhien. She adored him. "You may come to watch,"  Aradunnon continued, addressing himself to Anastor and Noruil, "but you may not compete and you may not bet."

Their only response was to look at him levelly. When he turned his back to speak to Dollion, Anastor rolled his eyes while Noruil silently mimicked Aradunnon's admonition. Galithil glared at them and walked faster to leave them behind.

"So I am finally to have that rematch you owe me," Dollion was saying to Aradunnon. "I hope you have enjoyed the knife you won from me the last time we played..."

"Oh, I have," Aradunnon interrupted. "The carving on the hilt is exquisite," he teased as he produced the knife in question from his belt and made a dramatic show of admiring it.

Galithil laughed. That knife, and a few other choice items, had changed hands back and forth between Dollion and Aradunnon for as long as Galithil could remember.

"...because I intend to have it back from you tonight," Dollion concluded, smiling.

"Well, you will have to remember to aim at the targets this time then," Aradunnon said as they walked under the broad branches of an ancient Oak.

The oak's canopy was enormous--large enough to shelter a decently challenging archery contest, as well a few tables and barrels. The tree's branches drooped to the ground in many places, most importantly on the side of the oak that faced the Green. This largely obscured all that took place there from common view and, for this reason, the younger and more adventurous elves gathered here to play foolish and more dangerous games than they would feel free to play on the open Green. Worse, most of the participants in these games placed much more serious bets on their outcomes than Dollion's long-standing bet with Aradunnon. Combine all that with the fact that the realm's warriors could often be found sleeping in the oak's shade when they failed to report for duty in the morning and you would have the explanation why uncle Thranduil, and indeed many adults, did not approve of the activities that took place at the Oak. Galithil loved that his father regularly gamed here.

"Stay here at this table," Aradunnon said as they walked by a long wooden table that someone had dragged here from a feast on the Green long ago. "And mind how much wine you drink," he added, pointing at Anastor and Noruil. Then he patted Maidhien on the cheek, took his bow from Galithil with a wink and strode out amongst the warriors that were cheering his arrival.

Galithil watched as his father's friends clasped his hand, clapped him on the back and pulled him over to the targets. He did not really understand why, but it was satisfying to see how easily these warriors played with his father tonight, while knowing they would follow him into possible battle in the south tomorrow.

Maidhien, Anastor and Noruil settled on the benches on either side of him.

"What did your adar say about you going south with him?" Anastor asked as they formed a tight little group. "I know you asked if you could go."

Galithil scowled and looked away from him. "Adar said no," he admitted quietly.

"But you have been south before when you were little?" Anastor asked quickly.

"That does not mean Adar will let me go now," Galithil answered back, expecting Anastor to say next that his father's decisions did not make any sense.

"No, of course not, because your adar never does anything that makes any sense," Anastor said. Galithil automatically drew a sharp breath to argue before he realized Anastor's tone had been dismissive, not teasing. "But you know what it is like in the south?" Anastor continued, before Galithil could voice his protest against Anastor's criticism.

That shift in subject caused Galithil to look at Anastor warily. It was completely unlike Anastor to admit Galithil had done anything he had not, even if Anastor had been there to see Galithil do it. "Yes, I know what my adar's village is like, at least" Galithil answered cautiously, trying to find the trap that he must certainly be walking into.

"Tell us about it," Noruil said, leaning towards him eagerly, as if Galithil were showing him some stolen treasure he had to share. Even more surprising, Anastor nodded with equal enthusiasm. Maidhien, on the other hand, shook her head and turned her back on them to watch Aradunnon make his first shot in the contest he and Dollion had bet on.

"Well," Galithil began slowly, "The village itself is not so different from the village here--cottages under the trees and telain in the trees for summer. But almost no one has children in the south, so I had no one to play with. The only other boy there that was not of age was Galasserch, and he was almost thirty. Far too old to play with me, because I was only five."

"But what about the trees?" Anastor prompted impatiently. "Ada says they are dark. Not green, like here."

Galithil nodded. "That is true. When Galasserch did play with me, he always liked to take me to this old tree. It must have been huge once, but all that was left of it was the rotted out trunk.  It was completely hollow in the middle and there was an opening where you could crawl inside. When you did, it was so big that Galasserch used it as a house to hide from his parents. He had a bench in there and an old sword hilt with a bit of the blade still attached and a knife that he swore was an orc's knife that he had found in the forest. I admit, I have never seen another knife like it, so it might have been made by orcs." He paused and looked at Anastor mischievously. "You would have liked Galasserch. He was a lot like you." Galithil laughed as he watched Anastor trying to work out if he should be insulted or not. "But, yes, most of the trees were darker and twisty and gnarled. Only the trees that the elves had telain in were even a little green. And all the trees' songs were very sad, not like here where they sound content. Living there made me sad, honestly."

Anastor and Noruil looked impressed by that story. "There were actually orcs around the village? Close enough where you could find their weapons in the forest?" Noruil asked.

"I was five, Noruil. I was not often allowed to play on the forest floor. My naneth kept me in the talan. I do not know if Galasserch's stories about seeing orcs were true or not. Adar seemed to think they were not. He said if Galasserch had seen an orc, he would not be around to tell me about it."

"But he had an orc knife," Anastor said. Then he looked at his cousin excitedly. "We are going," he said and Noruil nodded eagerly.

Galithil frowned. "You are not. Your parents said you were staying here to help your naneths." When Anastor and Noruil only grinned back at him, Galithil's eyes widened and he shook his head. "You cannot go south by yourselves. It is too dangerous."

Anastor looked at Galithil as if he were still five. "It is too dangerous," he mimicked and he and Noruil laughed.

Maidhien turned around to glare at her brother.

Galithil bristled. "It is too dangerous, but maybe that is best. If an orc kills you, it will spare your parents the trouble. Because when your naneth tells your adar that you disappeared for part of the time he was gone, he is going to kill you."

Anastor laughed and sat up straighter so he could look down at Galithil. "We are going to follow our adars south. If we show up in Selwon's village a few hours after adar does, we will be safe enough traveling because we will be fairly close to our parents, and once we are there, it will be impossible for them to send us home. They may be angry at first, but if we are helpful, they will calm down fast enough. Regardless, we still get to see the southern forest so we get what we want, even if adar punishes us later."

Galithil stared at Anastor for a long moment. "That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard," he finally exclaimed. "First of all, if you are a few hours behind your parents, you will see every orc and spider that escapes every battle they have on their way. Second, when you get to the village, your parents are going to do one of two things with you: either send you straight back with the guard that escorted them south or lock you in a talan to keep you safe. Either way, all you will get is punished and that is assuming you do not get killed on the way there."

Anastor crossed his arms and scowled at Galithil. "You sound just like Legolas," he said.

Galithil blinked at that. He did. Well, in this case, Legolas would be right, he thought. Then he turned to Maidhien. "Please tell me you are not doing this."

Maidhien shook her head, but Anastor pulled Galithil back around to face him with a hand on his shoulder. "You heard what Adar said earlier. You leave Maidhien alone."

"Not if you are trying to make her do something stupid, I will not," Galithil said.

"They would have to tie me up in a sack to make me come along on something as stupid as going south alone," Maidhien said.

Galithil nodded at her with obvious approval.

Anastor loosed a scathing laugh. "It is one thing for an elleth to be too scared. It is entirely different for you to be too scared, Galithil." He paused for emphasis. "Coward."

Galithil clenched his fists and stood, glaring at Anastor. In response, Anastor stood as well and took a step back from the bench. Galithil smirked at him. Anastor and Noruil had never failed to 'take it back' on demand since the time Legolas had pounded some respect into them many years ago. From the shadow of fear in Anastor's eyes as he tensely faced him, Galithil had no doubt he would quickly take back the comment he had just made.

Before he could speak, Anastor looked over Galithil's shoulder and up, as if an adult were behind him. Galithil laughed. He certainly would not fall for that trick!

"My brother is not a coward," Dolgailon said coolly. Galithil jumped at the sound of his voice and spun around. Dolgailon was scowling at Anastor with his hands on his hips. "Indeed, when I compare your character to his, I much prefer the thought of having Galithil under my command, either in the training program or in a patrol, to the thought of having you."

Anastor said nothing. He and Noruil glared at Dolgailon silently for a moment, glanced at Maidhien and stalked off to another table on the opposite side of the Oak. Galithil watched them go and then turned back to look at his brother.

"Thank you, Dolgailon," he said softly, studying him to try to determine if he had really meant what he said.

Dolgailon seated himself on the bench across the table from Maidhien and Galithil. Maidhien was looking at  Dolgailon cautiously, poised to run after her brother if it seemed she were not welcome. Galithil reached over and took her hand to hold her in place as he climbed back onto the bench himself. He was relieved when Dolgailon smiled at her. She smiled back, but still leaned a little closer to Galithil.

"Do you really mean what you said?" Galithil asked.

"Of course I do," Dolgailon responded easily. Galithil puffed up a bit, despite his best effort not to. "The Men were just telling us on the Green that you and Legolas were very clever when you were trying to get them to release Maidhien."

Galithil smiled and leaned forward. "They were?"

Dolgailon nodded. "I do not think uncle Thranduil was very impressed, at least not positively so, when he heard you shot an arrow at Barad's feet," he said airily.

Galithil's eyes widened--he did not doubt that uncle Thranduil would be angry about that, and he would definitely tell adar, who would be equally angry.

"But Barad argued that your actions were justified because he and his brothers did appear to be attacking Maidhien. Then Berior quickly changed the subject to tell how you were the one that figured out how to defeat the spiders by shooting them in the head and eyes, so Uncle was largely appeased," Dolgailon continued.

Galithil stared at him, trying to determine how much trouble he was going to be in.

Dolgailon grinned. "It truly was very cool-headed of you to notice a good tactic against the spiders under pressure as you were. I was very impressed when Legolas and Berior told us about that and I am sure adar will be too."

Galithil let out a long breath and grinned back at his brother. "You truly think so?"

"Yes, I do," Dolgailon confirmed.

*~*~*

Galithil waved to Maidhien standing on the other side of the bridge and watched as she turned to skip across the Green to the path that led to her cottage. When she disappeared in the shadows of the trees, Galithil turned on his heel and walked through the Great Gates and into the stronghold after his father. Aradunnon was looking at him closely--so much so that Galithil stopped in his tracks and involuntarily raised his eyebrows.

"I did not do anything, adar. I did not bet and I do not even have my bow--it is still in your room, just like you told me--so I could not have competed. I did not even have any wine. Not even a sip," he said a little defensively. Then he thought of something. "Did Dolgailon already tell you about the arrow I shot at Barad? He promised me that he would tell you how I figured out how to kill the spiders too."

Aradunnon laughed and shook his head. "Your brother told me about both, just as he promised. In fact, he emphasized to me how pleased he was that his younger brother seems to take after his adar with his natural insight into tactics. It was a very transparent attempt to mollify me and I told him so," Aradunnon said, drawing Galithil to him with an arm across his shoulders and leading him towards the family quarters. "Even if I do agree it is true."

Galithil looked up at his father and smiled. Then his expression grew more serious. "Adar, can I tell you something about the spiders?"

"Of course," Aradunnon replied.

"I felt really proud when Dolgailon said all that about me, but I am not sure I deserve it. I was afraid of the spiders. My hands were shaking so badly when we were fighting them that I could barely draw my bow," he confessed, looking anxiously at his father. He released a long breath when his father only nodded.

"That is very understandable. Every warrior is nervous in his first battle. And often many, if not most, battles after that," he replied with a matter-of-fact tone that did as much to relieve Galithil's embarrassment as his words did. "The measure of a good warrior is how well he controls his fear and does what must be done. You and your cousins apparently handled yourselves very well, given that you lived and the spiders did not. I would have very much preferred for you to have a bit of training before your first battle, however, so I hope we can agree that will be your last one for quite a while."

Galithil nodded when his father's expression seemed to require some response, but his focus was on the idea that most warriors were nervous in battles. That had never really occurred to him. He would have never thought his father and brother and uncles were ever nervous. He had been raised on stories of their heroism. He wanted to ask how his father dealt with his fears, but he suspected he would get the 'you will understand when you are old enough to be a warrior' answer, especially given the way his father had concluded his last little speech. They walked in silence for a few moments, passing into the family quarters, as Galithil tried to think of a way to approach his question to elicit a proper response.  

"Galithil, may I ask you about something?" Aradunnon asked, breaking the silence and steering them into the empty family sitting room. The rest of the family had already left the Green by the time Galithil and his father left the Oak.

"I suppose," Galithil responded, sitting next to his father by the fireplace. He frowned when his father seemed to be struggling to formulate his question. That could not be a good sign.

"You and Maidhien have known each other for some time now?" Aradunnon finally asked.

Galithil nodded. "Since about the time her adar started serving Golwon," he answered, trying to imagine the point of that question.

"You and she are good friends?"

Galithil studied his father. He was obviously driving at something, but Galithil could not even guess what it could be. "Yes, she is almost as interesting to spend time with as Legolas, Berior and Brethil. She always has been." He grinned a little, despite his confusion. "She can do almost everything as well as Legolas and I and even better than Berior and Brethil sometimes. She can climb to the top of the tall beech faster than either of them and she has to do it wearing a dress."

His father seemed to relax a little. "She is a pretty maiden," he ventured, watching Galithil closely.

Galithil made a face, finally catching on. "I had not noticed. I am only thirty-five, adar. I am too young to be noticing if maidens are pretty," he said, hoping that going on the offensive might forestall this conversation. He and Legolas had spoken briefly earlier this summer about whether Aewen was pretty at all and the conversation had left both of them feeling very odd, so neither had ever brought it up again. This was definitely something he did not want to discuss with his father.

Aradunnon leaned back and laughed quietly. "You admit you are too young to do something. I never thought I would see the day!"

Galithil only scowled disgustedly and mercifully his father took the hint and sobered himself.

"Maidhien is a pretty maiden, Galithil," he said after a moment. "And she seems like a very nice child, despite her parents and brother. But I would like to tell you one fact about maidens and then give you a bit of advice. First, the fact: you should be aware that ellyth often notice how handsome ellyn are long before ellyn notice the same of ellyth."

Galithil's eyes widened in shock at that. "Maidhien has not noticed anything about me or any of my cousins, adar, except that we are better company than her brother," he declared firmly.

"Perhaps," Aradunnon responded. "And you certainly are better company than her brother and cousin, so it is to her credit that she realizes that. I like Maidhien. But I cannot ignore who her parents are, and that leads me to my advice: be mindful of how you behave with Maidhien, so that you do not give her any reason to think that you have noticed how pretty she is. You do not want to hurt her feelings later when you cannot reciprocate them."

Galithil leaned back, away from his father, with a face that made him look like he had swallowed vinegar rather than wine. "I have not done anything..." he stammered, not even sure what he should deny having done. Then his face screwed up even more as a thought occurred to him. "I certainly have not kissed her or anything like that!"

His father smiled patiently and for some reason that made Galithil angry. "I believe you, ion nin. But I have seen you holding her hand and...well...if you were slightly older, I would have been very concerned about how you and she were arm-in-arm under your cloak in the Men's camp..."

"She was cold! The Men had frightened her!" Galithil protested, his voice rising.

"Just remember what I said about ellyth tending to notice ellyn before ellyn notice ellyth," Aradunnon said quietly. "Maidhien is a nice girl, but she is not suitable to be a member of the King's household and she never will be due to who her parents are."

"Why not?" Galithil demanded before he thought.

"You know perfectly well that Dannenion is under arrest in the capital, Galithil," Aradunnon responded. He was studying Galithil again.

"Her adar, not Maidhien," Galithil countered.

"But marriage is between families, ion nin. Not just between two people. Dannenion would not be a suitable member of the King's family even if you could win his consent to marry his daughter."

Galithil stared at his father until he realized his mouth was hanging open. He closed it but continued staring, wondering if that was what Dannenion had meant when he said he did not want to see Galithil's arm around his daughter again. "I do not want to marry Maidhien or anyone else adar! I am only thirty-five!" he finally managed.

"I understand. And I understand how uncomfortable this conversation was. But part of being older--old enough to carry weapons and hunt...or fight spiders--is recognizing that eventually you will no longer be able to deny that ellyth are pretty. So you must be careful to treat them in a way that respects their feelings. That can be very difficult and confusing because you may not even realize what sorts of things--like holding their hands or sitting close to them--makes them believe you have more serious feelings than you truly do. An elleth's feelings are far more difficult to understand than your own when you are fighting spiders with shaking hands. Right now you more interested in fighting spiders than determining which elleth is the prettiest and that is fine. But I want you to know that you can talk to me about either subject and I will help you as best as I can."

With supreme effort, Galithil refrained from squirming. "In the future, may I please be the one to start the conversation?" he pleaded.

Aradunnon smiled and stood. "Provided that your behavior does not require me to say something in the interim, yes, we can agree to that."

"Then I will never even look another elleth in the eye," Galithil muttered under his breath as he followed his father towards their private quarters. He did not look up to confirm that the choking sound his father was making was a poor attempt not to laugh. He did not want to know.

*~*~*

Galithil flung the door to Legolas’s bedroom open, slamming it against the stone wall hard enough to make it rebound back towards him as he dashed through it. Legolas tensed. Not because he was startled by Galithil's entry. He had to be very accustomed to this manner of greeting by now. He tensed because Galithil was about to launch himself onto the bed. Legolas dragged the wooden box next to him onto his lap and began to quickly toss his charcoal pencils into it lest they be snapped in two. The ones he was not fast enough to grab flew into the air when Galithil landed on the mattress, laughing at his cousin's panic.

"What are you drawing?" Galithil asked, leaning over to look at the paper Legolas had tossed to his opposite side for its own protection. "Barad?" he exclaimed, answering his own question. "You are really taken with those men. You spent the whole evening talking to them." He drew himself into a kneeling position and leaned towards Legolas. "You should have come to the Oak. Adar beat Dollion again. It was incredible!"

Legolas finished gathering up his pencils, put his sketch inside the box, and closed the lid. "If my adar caught me anywhere near the Oak, I would not be allowed outside the stronghold until I came of age," he said, finally looking at his cousin. Galithil's shoulders were shaking with quiet laughter. Legolas frowned. "As it is, it was only the presence of the men that spared me the lecture you deserved on places that are not appropriate for children."

Galithil nodded, grinning. "I know. Adar is getting that lecture from your adar as we speak." He paused, waiting for Legolas to join him in laughing. Legolas only returned his gaze evenly and in response to that, Galithil rolled his eyes and leaned back on his hands. "Did your adar expect you to lecture me? Forget it, Legolas. My adar invited me to go with him, so you have nothing to be angry at me about."

Legolas slid off the mattress and pulled the wooden box with his drawing pencils towards him. "I could not care less if you went to the Oak or anywhere else tonight," he said coolly, bending to store the box under his bed. When he stood, Galithil was scowling at him severely.

"Then what are you angry about? Whatever it is, out with it so we can have the argument and be done with it, because I have something really interesting to tell you."

Legolas crossed his arms across his chest. "The 'something interesting to tell' tactic is not going to work tonight. I am angry at you, Galithil. I am tired of you leaving me hanging over your lies." He paused and waited for his cousin to say something, but Galithil only looked at him, confused. Legolas blew out a frustrated breath. "We were only gathering yarrow?" he quoted, reminding Galithil of their conversation with their parents earlier.

Understanding dawned and Galithil blew out a long sigh. "You are still angry about that?" he asked, incredulously. "You cannot be serious! We went twice as far as we are allowed to go. We were out hours later than we are allowed. We fought spiders and men. And the only consequence was that we lost our bows for two weeks? And we get to go hunting with our parents when they return from the south? How can you be angry about that! Legolas, I was afraid we would lose our bows permanently. This was nothing."

Legolas shook his head. "You are right. That punishment was nothing. I cannot imagine why our adars let us off so lightly, except that they are more focused on the troubles in the south than they are on us, so we are lucky. None of that is what I am talking about. I am talking about the fact that whenever we get in trouble it is always because of something that was your idea. Something that you then tell some half truth to try to excuse, and when my adar asks me if it is true, you never speak up with the rest of the truth. So I either have to lie or betray your lie. I am tired of that Galithil and I want you to stop doing it."

Galithil put his hands on his hips. "If you are not willing to stand up to our parents, then why do you keep going with me? You are always willing enough to follow along and then you are sorry you did."

"I am not 'willing enough' to go along," Legolas said, beginning to raise his voice. "I did not want to go to that clearing last night. Neither did Maidhien..."

"But you went!" Galithil interrupted, now shouting himself. "Why not go back with Eirienil and Aewen if you did not want to go with me?" Then he stopped, looked down quickly and when he looked back at Legolas, he forced his tone to be calmer. "You know, if you think I would make fun of you for going back with Eirienil and Aewen, I would not. You already shot a deer, and even if you had not, we are cousins. I would not make fun of you." Then he grinned. "At least not in front of Anastor and Noruil. We have to stick together around them. In private maybe I would tease you, just a little." He became serious again. "But I do not want you to do things if you do not like doing them."

Legolas watched Galithil go from angry, to concerned, to amused, to sincere, flitting from one emotion to the next like a bee in a bed of wild flowers. When Galithil stopped speaking, Legolas gave his head a quick shake. "I do not go with you because I am afraid you will make fun of me if I do not. I go with you to make sure you do not get yourself killed. Fifty spiders, Galithil. Adar said they fought fifty spiders. Do you grasp how lucky we were. At all?"

Galithil grinned. "Yes, I do. But it has been thirty years since Adar thought I needed a nursemaid, so do not feel obligated to keep watch over me."

"I will not," Legolas said, exasperated. "But just remember, if I am not with you, I will not be around to make your apologies for you either. Or to lie with you while making them, which suits me just fine. That is something I simply will not do any longer."

Galithil stared at Legolas for a long moment, his mouth turned downward. "You know, if you are so concerned with honesty, maybe you had better go tell your adar about all the times we hid behind that tapestry and listened to discussions he told us we were not allowed to hear," he finally said softly.

Legolas drew a sharp breath and turned on Galithil ready to argue. Then he shut his mouth and glared at Galithil silently, clenching his jaw when his cousin raised a single eyebrow in triumph. "You are correct, of course. That is also dishonest and a betrayal of Adar's trust," Legolas admitted, looking down. "We should not do it. If Adar caught us, it would be a long time before we earned his trust again."

Galithil nodded, grinning. "Dolgailon and I were talking at the Oak while adar was gaming. He told me that when he got caught spying on Uncle, he was not allowed to attend another meeting until he came of age."

Legolas's jaw fell open and he leaned forward. "Dolgailon did it too!" he said. Then he looked a little panicked. "And Adar barred him from council meetings again until he came of age?" He paused as Galithil nodded. "I am never doing it again," Legolas declared swiftly.

Galithil laughed. "Of course we will do it again. We will just be more careful.."

Legolas glared a warning at Galithil, but then the panicked expression returned. "Wait. You did not admit to Dolgailon that we spied on the meeting with the Men, did you? Galithil, confessing that would be a very poor time for you to suddenly decide to be completely honest."

Galithil laughed. "No, I did not tell him. He figured it out when I mentioned that we knew how Arvedui got his name. But he said he would not tell on us." Legolas looked at his cousin warily, but Galithil never paused. "Listen to what else he told me: it is not just my adar that is going south to move the village. Your naneth and mine are going with him to help," he said, starting with the piece of news that annoyed him the most. If ellyth could make the journey safely, he did not understand why he could not.

Legolas shrugged. "I know. Adar mentioned it on the Green."

"Well, that is not all. Uncle Celonhael and Aunt Ollwen are going to try to persuade Leithor to move his village, uncle Golwon is going to Pellion's village and his assistant is going to Maethorness's village."

Legolas nodded. "Yes, he mentioned that too."

Galithil's brows drew together. "Did he also mention that he is going to the southwest border, with Dolgailon, to see for himself how bad the situation is there?"

Again, Legolas nodded.

Galithil deflated a little. He had expected at least some of his news would be a surprise to Legolas. Surely this last bit would be. "Well, did you know that Dannenion and Dolwon are going to Selwon's village?"

Legolas's looked up sharply and Galithil's face lit up as he nodded. "Anastor and Noruil asked to go with them and their parents told them they have to stay home and so, of course, they want to go anyway."

Legolas did not appear to have heard a word about Anastor and Noruil. "But they are only allowed outside the capital with uncle Golwon and he is going to Pellion's village. They must be going there too."

Galithil shook his head. "No, think about it. Maethorness, Leithor, Pellion, Selwon and Nindir--those are all the villages still south of the mountains. Nindir is already moving his village and someone, including Dannenion and Dolwon, is traveling to speak to each of the other village leaders." Galithil watched as Legolas thought about that. It obviously bothered him. Galithil sighed. "Legolas! That Dannenion and Dolwon are going alone to Selwon's village is not the important part. Did you hear what I said about Anastor and Noruil?"

"Yes," Legolas answered dismissively, "but Dannenion and Dolwon are the important part. They cannot be trusted to go south alone." Then he fixed Galithil with a stern look. "Did you tell your adar that you saw them in the storage rooms last week when the barrels came from Esgaroth?"

"Yes, I told him. That is why I had to spend that evening helping to unload the barrels and then dump them through the trapdoor into the river--he was angry because I was not allowed down there either," he said. Then he crossed his arms across his chest and glared at Legolas. "Tell me what Dannenion and Dolwon did that makes uncle keep them here in the capital," he demanded.

Legolas looked down. "You know I cannot. I told you before. Adar said I could not discuss it with anyone that was not in the room when he told me. I told you to ask him yourself if you want to know."

Galithil continued glaring at his cousin steadily. "I want to know, Legolas. Adar said something to me about Maidhien tonight too that had to do with her adar. I want to know why."

Legolas broke into a grin. "Your adar said something to you about Maidhien? What did he say?"

"That is not your concern," Galithil responded, but he found he could not meet his cousin's gaze and he knew Legolas would notice that.

Legolas snorted softly. "Barad said you fancied Maidhien..." he began.

"What!" Galithil exclaimed. His voice was loud enough that it echoed against the stone walls.

"...and Dolgailon almost spit a mouthful of wine when he said it. So I think your brother told your adar that you fancy Maidhien and your adar told you to stay away from her," Legolas concluded, laughing quietly.

"I will murder Dolgailon in his sleep," Galithil vowed. Then he fixed Legolas with a look that he hoped would turn his cousin to stone. He did not relent even when Legolas looked down guiltily.

"Barad only said it because he had mentioned that you shot an arrow at his feet and that made adar angry. He said it was natural for you to defend Maidhien since you fancied her..." Legolas trailed off when Galithil still did not soften his expression. "I am sorry, Galithil," he finally said.

"I do not 'fancy' Maidhien," Galithil said coolly.

"It is not my affair if you do or not," Legolas said without looking at him.

Galithil put his hands on his hips. If Legolas had believed him, he would have said that. And he would have looked at him. "And I want to know what Dannenion has done that makes Maidhien 'unsuitable' to be a member of this family," he added.

Legolas did look up at that, a revolted look on his face. "Your adar told you she was not suitable to marry? Is that what you are saying? Galithil, I thought you said you did not even like her! And your adar was talking to you about marrying her!"

"I do not like her!" Galithil said, emphasizing each word. "It is not my fault if adar over-reacted like he always does. But what could her adar have done that is so bad that her whole family has to be punished for it?"

Legolas drew and released a long breath. "I cannot tell you. Ask adar. If you tell him that you fancy Maidhien, I promise you, he will tell you. I do not know if I agree that Maidhien is not suitable to be part of this family, but Dannenion definitely is not. There is no doubt about that. The only reason adar could be allowing them to go south is if he hopes to catch them at something."
 
*~*~*

Thranduil pushed the stone door shut and slipped out from behind the tapestry and into view on the dais that held the throne in the Great Hall. The Hall was silent and dimly lit. Only one of the two torches by the main doors was lit. Thranduil scanned the room, finally finding the dark form of the person he was here to meet--one of his spies--standing near the back of the Hall, studying the first of the series of tapestries depicting the history of the Woodland Realm that decorated the room. The King stepped down from the dais and silently walked the length of the Hall.

The spy turned away from the tapestry and bowed when Thranduil had approached within a few paces. "Forgive me, my lord. I did not hear you enter," he said.

Thranduil smiled at him as he straightened and gestured for him to join him at a table. "You do enjoy that particular tapestry," he said as they both seated themselves. "Every time we speak in this Hall, I find you looking at it."

Thranduil had meant nothing by that comment. It was only an observation. But the other elf frowned slightly and averted his gaze. "It is a day I remember quite well," he said quietly. Thranduil glanced at the tapestry. In it, Oropher, with Engwe and Hallion riding on either side of him and followed by a large host of elves, were riding under the eaves of the forest. "I am surprised your lady wife captured this moment so well, given that it occurred an Age before her birth. Indeed, she never met lord Oropher."

Thranduil looked away from the tapestry. "My lady mother wove the tapestries on this side of the Hall," he responded. The tapestries on the left wall of the Great Hall showed the major events of Oropher's reign, while those on the right wall told the story of Thranduil's reign

The spy looked up at Thranduil, clearly surprised to hear that. "Well. That explains why lord Oropher is so perfectly captured."

"Naneth said weaving them was at once bitter and joyful for her, but she wanted to record Adar's life in this manner," Thranduil said, responding to the other elf's expression.

"Then I admire her all the more. Even if I had talent for any art, I doubt that I could bear to use that talent to render any sort of depiction of my wife. Even now, an Age after she left these shores." Then he shook his head and looked at the King apologetically. "Forgive me again, my lord. You did not ask me hear to speak about tapestries or history long past." He leaned forward slightly. "I assume that I am here because the rumors I have heard are true and you are indeed sending Dannenion and Dolwon to carry a message to Selwon's village."

Thranduil nodded and watched as the spy made a largely successful effort to mask his concern over that decision. "The information you have recently supplied hints that Marti might be in or at least near that village. I am hoping that if they are allowed to travel there alone, under the guise of delivering that message, it might draw her into the open."

"You have been able to place someone in the village to watch for her then?"

"No," Thranduil replied. "I am sending you."

"Me?" the spy responded, his voice rising in pitch slightly. "If I go with them, or appear in the village, my presence would seem most out of the ordinary, under the circumstances. They will suspect  something."

"You will follow them without their knowledge," Thranduil explained. "Keep a watch over them throughout the journey, in case they arrange to meet Marti somewhere along it. And keep an eye on them in the village, once they arrive, in case Marti is there. If you see her, you have the authority to use any means necessary to arrest her. Dannenion and Dolwon too, if they do indeed deal with her, but she is the priority. I feel certain that if Dannenion and Dolwon are caught dealing with her, but evade arrest, they will eventually return to the capital because they will not permanently leave their families here. But I have waited a long time to finally catch Marti. If you see her, I want her arrested at any cost."

The spy was frowning. "My lord, I am honored that you would trust me with such a mission. And I will execute it as faithfully as I am able, you have my word. But to do so will require watching them day and night. I understood that they intend to help move the village and that they expect to be gone nearly a month. This is something I cannot do alone."  

Again, Thranduil nodded. "Lord Aradunnon and I discussed who you might best take with you to help you. My first preference would be two of my guards, since they already are completely familiar with Marti's crimes." The spy looked at the King tensely, but remained silent. "Lord Aradunnon suggested that arrangement might be too complicated for all parties involved, however," Thranduil continued. "The problem is, I do not care to share the nature of Dannenion, Dolwon and Marti's crimes with just anyone. Moreover, most of the officers that I would entrust with this information are needed in the patrols that we are taking to the western and southern borders. Aradunnon suggested Tirithion and Pathon could go with you. The training program's activities will be very limited with Dolgailon in the south and most of the older students temporarily serving the patrols in the capital. So Aradunnon believes, and Dolgailon agrees, that Glílavan, Hebor and Langon could manage the training program alone in Tirithion and Pathon's absence. If that arrangement would suit you, I will send a message to Tirithion and Pathon to meet with us tomorrow morning before my departure, so that you can explain the situation to them and any plans you might already have for the best way to approach this mission. What are your thoughts?"

The spy looked at the King cautiously. "So that I can explain the situation and my plans," he repeated. "So I am to command this mission?"

"Of course," Thranduil responded. "No one is more familiar with Dannenion and Dolwon's dealings than you. There is no one I would trust more than you to manage this."

"I am honored, my lord. I will not fail you," he said.

*~*~*

AN: Marti plotted with Dannenion, Dolwon and Tulus to drive Thranduil from his throne in Part Three of this story. She was never found to be arrested.

Adar/ada - Father/dad
Naneth/nana - Mother/mum
Ion nin - My son
Elleth/ellyth - Female elf(ves)
Ellon/ellyn - Male elf(ves)