Chapter Fifty-four

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"You can't be serious; Legolas talk to him! He's your father." Willow paced the throne room glaring up at Thranduil. Her sapphire gown billowing behind her. He returned her stare from his perch with a bored, vacuous look, unbothered by the murder in her eyes.

"Say what you will, Urwendi, the decision has been made. This cannot be undone." Thranduil replied in his typical drawl and monotone voice. 

Tension filled the silence as the color drained from Willow's eyes as she balled her fist and marched defiantly towards Thranduil. Galadriel decided to intervene before the council session turned into a melee.

 "Urwendi," She stepped forward placing comforting arms around Willow's slender shoulders. Willow stopped her pacing to face her, "This is will not be forever, but it is the best way to protect us all for now."

"I don't care!" Willow's voice bellowed, "No one is taking my child."

"What do you propose we do then?" Elrond interjected, "This foe is beyond our ability. The elves cannot hold back this storm," Elrond said drawing the attention of the crowd. "We have not known a threat to our freedom such as this since the first age. We are without the protection of the Valar." Elrond grew frustrated by their inability to defend against the combined power of Ungoliant and Morgoth. Willow's noncompliance was a selfish act, that risked all their lives and the future of this world.

"Quit your groaning Elrond. Why else would we pool our strength in Thranduil's domain if not to keep the cur at bay," One of the dwarf lords in attendance made known his displeasure. The remaining strength of Middle Earth; dwarves, elves, and men, gathered within the fortress of Felegoth, Thranduil's halls. All in a desperate hope to defeat a powerful foe. 

"Urwendi, my dear, consider this, without Turin we are doomed. We must protect her at all costs. Right now, we are hardly capable of that. Ungoliant is not a foe we here have the strength to defeat. We've sent an envoy to beseech the Valar. If they do not come to our aid, we shall make our last stand here before the ending of the world." Gandalf's eyes were wary. She could see this had taken a lot from him. She regretted doing anything that caused him further pain, but she would never agree to this plan.

"How dare you all presume that this is your right! You are asking me to live without my daughter! You would deny me the right to raise my child." Her anger swelling coiling inside her belly like a snake ready to strike at the next person to dismiss her rights as materfamilias.

"You misunderstand, Urwendi. We only seek to protect her. Sometimes to achieve a goal sacrifice must ensue." Galadriel said, gentle clasping Willow's hand.

Willow shook Galadriel off, "No! I can't and I won't accept this! Find another way!" She ground out angrily before turning to storm from the hall. 

Legolas gave a deep sigh while pinching the bridge of his nose. He did not look forward to the headache that awaited him in his rooms when he met his wife, "Gods, I wish I didn't have to be here for this," Legolas whispered to Gimli but it was Eönwë who responded.

"I could beat you unconscious and wake you when it's over," He said with his usual cocksure grin. Legolas leveled a glower on him that would have frozen the fire pits of Mordor.

Ilmarë snickered, "Eönwë you're a terrible person." Shaking her head in disbelief. Eönwë seemed to enjoy trying the prince's patience but she would not save him from the Legolas' wrath if it came down to it. She needed him on their side. 

With his arms folded, leaning against the wall, Eönwë replied sarcastically, "It keeps me awake at night." 

"Come on, jackass, you know what we need to do." Ilmarë gave him, then Legolas, a very pointed glance and proceeded to leave the hall with Eönwë following silently behind her.

Legolas hated Eönwë. He understood the reason for his presence, but he'd rather pitch him over the edge of a cliff. Pity, he'd likely survive the fall. Gimli placed his hand over Legolas' balled fist. "Not worth the trouble, Lad. We have bigger fish to fry." He pointed his head towards Willow marching down the long pathway.

"You're right, Gimli. I need to go to her. With the council's decision to send Maia to Valinor, she's inconsolable. She sleeps in Maia's rooms. She had fired all Maia's attendants. She's grown paranoid that someone will take her child." Legolas' concern over Willow's emotional health grew. As her unreasonable suspicions increased, her power became unpredictable and dangerous. 

"Perhaps, they've given her reason," Gimli answered his eyes fixed on the arguing crowd in front of him.

A scream cut through the throne room, silencing all other sounds instantly. The fortress walls quaked and quivered as the high-pitched wails continued. Someone remarked that thunderclouds gathered, brewing over what had previously been a clear blue sky. Legolas knew that something had befallen his wife. Willow's heartrending cries called out to him, demanding his immediate attention. He ran to Maia's room find her sitting on the floor near the crib, clutching the baby's blanket. Willow's body racked by sobs. She need not say it, he knew their daughter was gone.

"Willow," He called from the doorway. The others followed close behind him but hesitating to enter, loitering before the doors.

"Our baby! Our baby Legolas, she's gone!" She clutched the blanket tighter, as another scream tore through her body, forcing those in attendance, including Legolas to clamp their hands over their ears. Lighting struck just outside the window and gale force winds howled. It was obvious that Willow would tear this place apart to find her daughter.

"Willow, how do you know she was taken?" Legolas asked cautiously approaching her. She reached for his hand and stood to collapse in his arms. 

"I can't...I can't feel her anymore.  Do you think Morgoth took her?" Her glassy eyes stared up at him. Being in his embrace seemed to ebb the tide of her fury if but only for a moment she found solace.

"No, Urwendi, the magical protections have not been breached. Someone inside the palace took Turin," Gandalf responded.

"Where is the braying ass, that follows you like a lost pup?" Gimli pushed through the crowd to ask Willow.

"Brom? I mean, Eönwë? I don't know I have not seen him or Ilmarë since I left the hall," she said wondering why Gimli should be asking about Eönwë and Ilmarë at a time like this. "Legolas, we have to find her now. Every minute gives her captures advantage."

Legolas pulled her closer to his chest. Heavy-hearted, Legolas knew what had to happen, but he also knew Willow would never accept it. She might hate him for the rest of her life for this, but he had to do what he thought was right. Maia had to be taken to the Valar for protection until she came of age. 

"Willow, let's leave now, we may yet catch up to them," Legolas said, regret darkening his fair features. Gimli's knowing stare fixed on his face. He knew a plot was afoot. He'd needed to make time to speak to Gimli, but Willow was not ready for the truth. 


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