Chapter 7:
At King Thranduil's Camp
After they had buried Elenluin, they then
went back to the cave to think about their situation. It was decided that
they should return to the woodland elves' camp. Soon they packed their
things and were riding back to the path to the camp, leaving only the traces
of the burnings.
But two people noticed the smoke from the
ceremony. One, by a solitary man named Marlon, who was in need of
directions. The other is more dangerous, Maldread, who has a darker plan for
the group. He then called on Xia, one of his assassins, for a secret mission
-- to kill the King of the Woodland Elves, Thranduil.
While Glorielin, Theomer, Marawyn and
Karla rode, they noticed that they seem to have been straying from the part.
Glorielin used her psychic abilities to call on Thranduil to know what had
happened. It seem that the Elves had news that evil forces were stirring
against them and so they reinforced the unseen but very powerful screen
which was made by Gandalf that shields their kingdom against any invaders.
Thranduil called on Firiel to escort the group to the camp. Then Glorielin
saw a vision that something different but very much pleasing to her. That
her beloved, Glorfindel is arriving to Thranduil's camp and is looking for
her!
On the path, they noticed a strange black
bird that was spying on them. Upon arrival, Firiel said aloud what everybody
was thinking--that the bird is evil. One of them then shot it with an arrow
but the bird only flew away, wounded.
It alighted on an unknown place, on the
perch intended for him by his master Maldread. Indeed the bird was evil but
magical. Maldread had attached a magical device on it, to record everything
that it sees and hear. And now it had seen and heard the group...
The group arrived in the elves' camp.
Almost immediately, they were ushered into King Thranduil's tent. There,
they met Aymar, one of Aragorn's Rangers. He was sent to gather news on
Aragorn as well as warn of the dangers that had been going on in the War
outside of Mirkwood. They then tell their story as well as the sad news of
Elenluin's death.
Meanwhile, in the forest, Marlon had lost
track of the smoke trail that he had been following. He had almost accepted
his fate he will be forever be lost in Mirkwood when suddenly he saw a rider
rushing towards him and then slowing down. It was Xia. He then begged her to
take him to any place except where he is now. Xia reluctantly agreed seeing
him as a ticket into entering the elves' camp. Surely, with this man being
honestly lost, the Elves might take pity on them and take them in, she
thought.
In the camp, while everybody had been
talking, Glorfindel had arrived. Thranduil then called on for a feast. That
night, while everybody is rejoicing, Glorielin and Glorfindel had become
engaged.