From the Desk of the King
of Greenwood the Great

Part Five

Written by Zhie.
Rated PG.  Work In Progress;
The main characters are Thranduil, Legolas, Ilmendin, and Haldir.

"You are going to be a king in less than a day. A king! Even Ada never really got that far. I'm proud of you, Halli."

Haldir smiled across the desk at Orophin, who had taken to sitting in one of the chairs and letting his long legs drape over to the next. The desk resembled the counter of a bar at the moment, with a few bottles and many glasses upon it. The two of them, with Ilmendin, had taken to trying a few of the possibilities for the next day's coronation. Unlike Haldir and Ilmendin, who had specific choices in mind, Orophin thought it would be just lovely to offer them all.

"You should consider staying here, Oro," Haldir attempted, but Orophin shook his head.

"Every time you offer, I shall turn it down. I love you, Haldir, but I love my wife as well. And she loves being Captain. I shall not think to take that from her."

"But you will visit?"

Orophin spread his arm around. "What do you think I've been doing all week?"

There was a loud knock upon the door, and Orophin swung his legs around so as to get up to answer it. The door opened before he could reach it, however, and Thranduil came into the room, along with another Orophin did not recognize. "Mae govannen," he greeted her. He had spent the better part of his time exploring the caves, as well as getting lost in the caves, and speaking to Haldir about anything and everything, mostly ignoring the elves around him. It would be nice to be able to match names with faces, and he looked expectantly to Haldir.

"Orophin, I should like to introduce my advisor to you." Haldir stood and came to the door. "This is Anovariel, head of the finances, and now with so many leaving, chief advisor here in Greenwood. Anovariel, my brother, Orophin."

Anovariel and Orophin nodded to one another, but Anovariel kept the door slightly ajar. "I regret to inform you I shall not be serving as your chief advisor. I have always been best with numbers, and as head of finances I shall remain unless you have another in mind whom you wish to name for the post."

Haldir was about to protest, for he had believed that in the time he had spent in Greenwood, Anovariel had more than proven herself at the task. All such thoughts were dispelled when a third elf entered the room and closed the door soundlessly behind him. He was easily the tallest of the group, save for Orophin, likely the eldest, and without doubt the wisest. Haldir could not help embracing the elf as Orophin flopped down in the chair once more with a groan, pouring himself yet another drink. "My friend, have you traveled all the way from Rivendell to see the coronation? I regret to tell you it shall be most boring."

"I am not here only for your coronation," replied the elf, and Haldir realized why his mentor of old was now in Greenwood. "I told you once that I have few regrets and that I do my best to clear them up as time passes. One such regret is that I never attained the status of chief advisor here in Greenwood before moving to Imladris. With your permission." The elf bowed his head. "Erestor of Doriath, at your service, my lord."

Haldir shook his head. "No, please, never do that again." Erestor blinked in surprise as he looked up. "I would like nothing more than to have you here as chief advisor, but I am also in need of a seneschal. Whoever takes one position shall have to take both, though I am doubtless that you would be capable of such tasks, I do not know if you wish the burden."

"If you don't take the position," added Orophin, sipping his drink, "I may apply for the job."

Erestor swallowed back a horrified look at the thought of Orophin running Greenwood. "If for no other reason than to keep him out of the affairs of Greenwood, I accept."

"Thank you, Erestor." Haldir hugged the advisor – his advisor, now – once again.

"No, thank you," Erestor smiled and folded his hands in front of him after Haldir pulled away. "Imladris is much too quiet and has had enough of me for now, I think. At least, Glorfindel has made such a claim over the last few centuries, and finally I am making good on my promise to leave if he mentioned it one more time."

"Things are not ill between you and Glorfindel, are they?" asked Haldir with a worried look.

"Not at all. Elladan and Elrohir are in need of some time to adjust to their new roles, and neither is in need of a chief advisor when they can consult with one another. They are young; their views differ greatly from mine. This will be a good change for all of us."

"What of your library?" Haldir doubted Erestor would leave the library, or what was left of it after much of the collection was moved to Gondor and Elrond had departed and, in the hands of Glorfindel.

"Nenniach shall keep things under control."

Haldir nodded, uneasy that nothing had yet been said of Rumil. "And, my brother?" The youngest of his siblings had been expected a week earlier, and Haldir hoped that Erestor's arrival meant that the delegation from Imladris had arrived.

"I am sorry, Haldir, Rumil was unable to come-" Erestor quickly finished his sentence, mentally kicking himself for his choice of words as he watched Haldir's face fall, "-without bringing his son with him, as well. They are in the main hall. Shall I have them sent for?"

Breathing a sigh of relief, Haldir nodded. "Yes, please. Just Rumil.  Celebdreth's first time in Greenwood was not under the most pleasant circumstances, I should think he is likely wanting to explore the caves."

Erestor gave a nod. "Then I shall have Rumil retrieved."

"I should like to accompany you, if you do not mind. It has been long years since last we spoke without the need for diplomacy and decorum." Thranduil had been silent until now, and had spent more and more of his time observing Haldir's actions and listening to him. He said little, in fact, unless he was asked questions, which were fewer and fewer. He smiled fondly at Haldir, knowing in his heart that he had made the right choice. Motioning to Anovariel, he left the room behind his former Minister of Education, hoping to catch up on a few bits of news before Erestor became too engrossed in his new position to spend time talking of the past.

Haldir noted that Erestor had smiled warmly to Thranduil, and he wondered why the advisor had ever left Oropher’s service. Orophin was pouring wine into four large glasses, but Ilmendin shook his head and held up a hand.

"I think I shall leave you brothers to your business," he said politely, turning to leave.

"Well now technically, if Legolas were here," said Orophin, "he would not have minded helping himself to a glass whether it had been poured for him or not."

"But Legolas is not here, and I do not wish to be an interloper."

Orophin gave him a bit of an angry look. "Please, Ilmendin. If you were unwanted, you would have been told. His majesty is not one to soften his words." Orophin grinned at Haldir, recalling many incidents of wanderers coming into the Golden Woods to be scared half out of their wits by his brother.

Haldir scowled and motioned for Orophin to keep his voice down. "I am not king yet."

"Yet. But soon." Orophin sipped wine from his glass, then refilled to the top with giddiness. "Oh, this is so exciting! You are lucky I love you so much, or I'd be staging an uprising so that I could claim your throne!"

"Wouldn't that paint a pretty picture," mused someone from the doorway, and all three elves in the office turned to see Rumil, dressed in the finest Imladris had to offer.

Haldir was at the door in an instant, close to crushing his brother in a hug, and Orophin soon joined in. They did not notice Ilmendin slip from the room until after they had settled themselves around the desk. "In some ways, I feel badly for Ilmendin. I think he is torn in two, between wanting to stay and fulfill his duty to be his father's heir, and the love he has for his father and want to go to the West."

"It is a difficult choice," answered Orophin from over his glass of wine.

Rumil nodded. "I feel his pain. I sometimes look toward Mithlond, wishing I had gone with Nana. But then, my heart is sad to think of not being able to see either of you with ease."

"If it is so easy, why have neither of you come to see me until now?" joked Haldir, knowing the answer. They had all found their places in this new age, for a time at least, though they still remained as close as ever. Rumil now served in Imladris as one of Elladan and Elrohir's advisors, while Orophin had `retired' from the forest guard, choosing to immerse himself in the planning and building of the city of East Lorien.

"And why haven't you come to Lorien?" Orophin asked. "Adar says you never write enough and you should have the decency to let us know how you are more often."

"And why hasn't Adar come to Greenwood?" countered Haldir.

"Because he is a busy old elf who does not have time to come watch you play King of Mirkwood."

Continued...

Notes