Chapter 44 - The Broken Thunderer

Chapter: The Broken ThundererTaranis had come a long way from the peaceful life in the Shire, and now, after years of training, he found himself standing at the edge of the dark and foreboding Mirkwood. The shadows of the trees stretched long and deep, and the air felt thick with the ancient magic of the forest. Taranis had always heard of the beauty and danger of Mirkwood, but he had never fully understood what that meant until now. The weight of the journey and the knowledge that Aredhel had been here—had been here for years—hung heavily on his heart.As he ventured further into the forest, he was approached by a group of elven rangers. Their eyes were sharp, their movements swift and silent. At first, they seemed wary, but as they looked closer at him, something shifted. There was recognition, even awe, in their expressions. Taranis hadn't expected such a reaction, but it was clear these elves had heard of him—of his exploits, of his role in the battle against the dark forces, of the legendary Thunderer. He had heard the whispers, but he hadn't expected them to follow him so far.One of the rangers, a tall elf with piercing blue eyes, spoke.Elven Ranger: "You... You are Taranis, the Thunderer."Taranis didn't say anything at first. He had grown used to the idea that his name had become a legend in some circles, but now, standing in the midst of these elven warriors, it felt different. It was like the weight of his past actions and the expectations that came with his name were settling heavily on his shoulders.He nodded slowly. "Yes. I am."The elf's expression softened slightly, but there was still an edge of caution in his voice.Elven Ranger: "Come, you must meet our king. We will take you to him."Taranis didn't argue. He had traveled too far, and after all this time, he felt he was nearing something important—something he had been searching for. He followed the rangers through the dense forest, the silence of Mirkwood pressing in on him. The only sound was the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional rustle of branches in the wind.Eventually, they arrived at the grand hall of Thranduil, the Elvenking. The architecture was unlike anything Taranis had ever seen—great stone arches, intricate carvings of nature and elven lore, and the overwhelming sense of age and wisdom that filled the space. As they entered the hall, Taranis felt the gaze of countless elves upon him, their eyes filled with curiosity, respect, and some measure of wariness.At the far end of the hall sat Thranduil, the Elvenking, his regal presence radiating power and authority. His golden hair shone in the soft light that filtered through the hall, and his eyes, sharp and cold, fixed on Taranis as he approached.Thranduil (coldly): "So, the Thunderer has arrived."Taranis stood tall, meeting Thranduil's gaze. There was a weight to the silence between them, but Taranis refused to be intimidated. He had faced darker forces than this—he could handle an elven king.Taranis: "I have come to ask about Aredhel. Where is she?"Thranduil's expression shifted in a way that made Taranis's heart drop. The king's lips curled into a bitter smile, and he leaned back in his throne as if he were savoring a secret that he knew would wound Taranis.Thranduil (with a laugh): "Aredhel? She is with her husband—Elrohir, son of Lord Elrond."Taranis felt the blood drain from his face. His legs weakened, and he had to brace himself against the stone wall to keep from collapsing. He had been prepared for a lot of things, but not this. Not this.Taranis: "What do you mean? How long... How long have they been married?"Thranduil's cold smile deepened as he leaned forward slightly, watching Taranis with an almost cruel amusement.Thranduil: "Nineteen years. They were married soon after she left your precious Shire. I am not blind, Thunderer. I knew what you meant to her, and I watched as she walked away from this place. From me. From her home. And now you come, as though you have some claim on her."Taranis stood motionless, the weight of Thranduil's words crashing over him like a wave. Nineteen years? Aredhel had been married less than a year after she had left him. His heart, once so sure of the love they had shared, felt like it was being torn apart.Taranis (whispering): "I... I had no idea."Thranduil: "Of course, you didn't. She did not tell you because she knew you would be nothing but an obstacle. You have no place here, Thunderer. You are nothing to her anymore."The words stung like a thousand daggers. Taranis had spent so many years believing that he could return to Mirkwood, to Aredhel, that somehow, they could pick up where they had left off. But now, it seemed that dream had died, shattered by the cruel reality of Aredhel's choices. His heart felt as though it had been wrenched from his chest, and he had to fight to keep himself from crumbling in front of the elven king.Taranis: "I... I came to see her. To understand what happened."Thranduil's expression hardened once again.Thranduil: "You should have thought of that before. Now, you will leave Mirkwood. You are no longer welcome here."Taranis didn't move. He stared at Thranduil, fighting the anger, the heartbreak, the confusion swirling inside of him. For a moment, he thought he might lash out—he had the strength, after all—but then he realized it was not the answer. The King of Mirkwood had spoken, and his word was law.Taranis: "So, that's it? I came all this way for nothing?"Thranduil didn't even flinch at Taranis's words.Thranduil: "Yes. You came for nothing. Now leave."The rangers who had escorted him into the hall stepped forward to usher him out, their eyes filled with pity, but also with a clear warning. They didn't want to be in the way of their king's wrath. Taranis turned and walked toward the exit, his heart heavy and broken. He had come to Mirkwood seeking answers, but all he found was the cruel truth of Aredhel's life without him.As Taranis left the halls of Thranduil, his mind reeled. Nineteen years. She had married Elrohir, the son of Lord Elrond. Taranis felt a burning anger rise within him, a storm that he couldn't contain. He had been a fool. All this time, he had held onto the hope that Aredhel would return to him, that they would have a future together. But now, the truth was clear, and it cut deeper than any blade.The anger inside him grew stronger, turning to bitterness and hatred. He found a tavern on the outskirts of Mirkwood, and without hesitation, he walked inside. He needed to drown his sorrow, his rage, and the pain that throbbed in his chest.Inside, the tavern was dimly lit, filled with rough travelers and locals. The air was thick with the smell of mead and wine. Taranis walked up to the bar and ordered a drink, then another, and then another. The alcohol burned down his throat, but it didn't dull the pain. It only made it sharper, more raw. His mind replayed the conversation with Thranduil over and over, each repetition making him angrier, more consumed by the feeling of betrayal.Taranis (muttering to himself): "Aredhel... how could you do this to me?"He drank, and as the night wore on, the sorrow twisted into rage. He cursed Aredhel, calling her names he never thought he would say. A whore. A traitor. A liar. His words were slurred, his mind clouded by the alcohol, but the anger burned bright. He didn't care anymore. He didn't care about anything.Eventually, the tavern keeper approached him, a look of concern on his face.Tavern Keeper: "You've had enough, friend. You need to sober up."Taranis (slamming his fist on the table): "I'm not your friend, and I'm not leaving."The tavern keeper hesitated, then shook his head, signaling to the other patrons. Taranis was too far gone now, and the others began to murmur among themselves. The keeper called for the guards, and before long, Taranis was forced to leave, stumbling out of the tavern into the cool night air.As he stumbled down the path, the weight of the world bore down on him. The forest felt suffocating, and the stars above mocked him with their distant beauty. He didn't belong here anymore. He didn't belong anywhere. And so, in a moment of pure despair, he found himself at the edge of a cliff.The wind howled around him, a bitter reminder of the storm inside his chest. He stood there, staring down at the dark abyss below, contemplating the only escape that seemed left to him.Taranis (to himself, quietly): "It's all over. There's nothing left."Just as he stepped forward, ready to end it all, a great shadow swooped down from the sky. Gwaihir, the Lord of the Eagles, landed before him, his powerful wings lifting the air around them. The eagle's keen eyes fixed on Taranis.Gwaihir: "What are you doing, young one?"Taranis froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know why, but the eagle's presence brought a flicker of something—something like hope.Taranis (weakly): "I... I can't take it anymore. It's too much."Gwaihir (with wisdom in his voice): "You are stronger than this. You are not alone, even when it feels like you are."Taranis was too far gone to resist. He felt the eagle's talons grip his shoulders, lifting him from the edge of the cliff, pulling him away from the darkness.And as the wind howled around them, Taranis finally allowed himself to cry.The great eagle carried Taranis far away from Mirkwood, the shadows of his grief and anger finally beginning to lift, even if only a little. He had a long road ahead of him, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a spark of hope—a chance to rebuild, to find his purpose again.And maybe, just maybe, he would find the answers he sought, not in Mirkwood, but elsewhere.