User:Destail

Bio

   Destail is the Second Son of King Thranduil of the Greenwood otherwise known as Mirkwood. Brother to Desoli and Legolas. Destail grew up in the glory day's of the Greenwood. The forest was green and lush with stars as clear as sunlight in the sky. He grew up close with his brother Desoli and was always protective for his brothers. Destail's mother is not known to history as Thranduil became fiercely isolationist after the heavy losses that the Silven elves faced during the battle of the second age. Destail, Desoli, and Legolas all became captains of Mirkwoods armies stationed at 3 borders of Mirkwood. Destail guarded the Western edge of the forest toward the Misty Mountains, Desoli the Eastern edge towards the dwarven kingdoms and the men of Dale and Legolas guarded the southern edge of Mirkwood which grew ever more dangerous as time moved onward.
   
   Destail was trained by a strong and well respected High Elf named Alltherian. His master was one of the best living Elves to learn the martial skills of combat. His master Alltherian became a close friend and mentor to the young elf and they would train and fight side by side very often as Destail grew up. Tragically this friendship and apprenticeship ended when his master and friend was presumed dead after the tragic battle of the second age. Destail blamed himself for not participating in the battle despite knowing he would have fallen right alongside his master in the battle as many of his Kin did that day. Destail gained an important view on the fragile and great gift of life that day and swore to do his best to make his master and friend proud. 

   Mirkwood became an area of legend and fear. The elves secluded themselves away from the world and stooped believing in the outside world. They would protect their own and only their own. However Destail did not believe in this philosophy. Destail guarded the western edge of Mirkwood from Goblins coming out of the Misty Mountains and many more cruel and unimaginable evils the world could come up with. But more than just Mirkwood's suffering he saw the suffering of the Beornings and the Dwarven merchants that lived there. They had no protections and not even a kingdom to protect them. Destail secretly left his post in charge with his second in Command Destol. Destol was Destails first child and was old enough to take command of an army. Destail would venture out into the lands of the Beornings and Dwarves and help them organize and learn to fight for themselves. Just small towns here and their but he felt that he had to do something to help these poor people. One night while Destail was out in the R. Rhimdarh Destol and the elves suffered a major attack by Orcs that were larger and stronger than any that had come before. Destol bravely held the line with the elves of Mirkwood pushing back the Orc's advance. Destail heard the horns of war and knew that his home and his son were under attack. He mounted his horse ready to leave when a dwarf grabbed his arm. This dwarf said "This battle you do not fight alone Master Elf. You have helped us and now the Dwarves of the Misty Mountain will stand by your side.". Destail and his new allies rushed to the aid of Mirkwood. The combined might of the elves and small company of Dwarves desimated the enemy force, but sadly Destol would not make it out of this battle unscathed. Destol fought with a large cave troll and brought the beast down however died from the injury's he sustained while fighting it. Destol was only 300 years old. Far to young for an elf to die such a death. 

   Destail nearly died from the grief of losing his only son but a light shown through the darkness. His beautiful wife, Gwenethere, was confirmed to be with child about a year after the tragic loss of their son Destol. With new focus it helped Destail recover from the grief of the loss. Desilo was born and Destail now had new hope for his future. About 50 years after Desilo's birth Gwenethere tragically died of grief over the loss of her son Destol. Gwenethere gave all she could to her son Desilo but she did not have the strength to continue on in this world without her son Destol. Destail and Desilo were crushed but found strength in each other. That year many an orc was slaughtered in the name of Gwenethere. 

   Destail continued to stay in contact with the Men and Dwarves of the lower Misty Mountains and developed a strong friendship with a dwarf named Nokad. Due to this friendship that began to blossom Lady Galadriel asked if Destail could assist the elves of Lothlorien in a mission of peace with the Dwarves of Moria. Destail knew that the elves needed allies as even in the Western end of Mirkwood the darkness could be felt rising like a tide. He left his command in charge of his new son Desilo who at this time was about 1,700 years old. Destail then traveled to Lothlorien and from there he ventured into the Mines of Moria. The mines of Moria were vast and great. The Dwarves may have been rough and vile but they knew how to build in stone and metal. The creation they had made was astonishing. High king Durin VI lead a party of Elves and Dwarves on a grand tour of the mines but something was wrong. As they went deeper Destail and the other Elves began to sense a dark evil presence. Even the Dwarves could sense the unease and dread setting in. At the bottom Durin VI showed them the great mines. The Dwarves were all mining and working and it was magnificent but all was not well. A rumble and shake and the ground exploded sending Elf and Dwarf alike into the sky. Destail rose to face this new menace however the other Elves fled. Destail stood alongside Durin VI as they faced a giant flaming Demon that flared and snorted at them almost like it was amused. Destail recognized it from the story's his Master had told him of Glorfindel the great Elven Warrior who faced down a Balrog and perished at its hands but not before felling the beast himself. This enemy was a Balrog. Destail urged king Durin VI to flee but Durin turned him aside and said, "leave elf. This battle is ours and ours alone. Moria will not be taken by this foul beast. Durins folk are strong and we will endure. Get my people to safety, that is all I ask of you." and with that he charged the beast, axe and shield in hand alongside a small company of loyal Dwarves. Destail wanted to help them but knew that their fate was sealed. He turned and gathered the remaining company of Dwarves and attempted to flee. Many made it out of the ruins but far more stayed behind to find their king and protect their home. Destail found that 3 of the 5 Elves that had entered the mines now found it their tomb. This defeat was great and the relations of Dwarf and Elf were forever shattered as both sides blamed each other for what happened. 

   Destail returned to Mirkwood where he continued to train his son and his little brother Legolas in the ways of combat and war. Destail did not experience the fight against the dragon or the battle of the Five Armies. However Destail was in charge of the band of Elves that captured Bilbo and his crew of Dwarves attempting to cross Mirkwood. He believed his father was in the wrong to imprison them as spy's of the enemy but his younger brother Legolas believed it to be the right thing to do. Ultimately the Dwarves and Hobbit escaped custody and Destail did not pursue them. 

   Around the year T.A. 2950 Sauron reveals himself in Mordor and starts to rebuild Barad-dur. This realization begins to spark fear for the Elves and many begin to leave Middle Earth in droves. Thranduil sends Destail, Legolas, Desoli, and Desilo to Rivendell to broker a solution at the council of Elrond. Legolas is chosen to join the Fellowship of the ring at this time and Desoli and Desilo return to Mirkwood however Destail travels westward with a dwarf friend named Tokald to see Thorin's Hall and learn more of this foreign culture. Tokald's father Foral sadly died while they were travelling back to Thorin's hall and Tokald's Grandfather Durlak also passed not long after they arrived back in Ered Luin. Destail had developed a strong friendship with Durlak back in the day when Durlak ventured up and down the Misty Mountains and they had fought many a time together. On his deathbed he asked Destail to promise to look out for his family and to protect and preserve the Toughbeard line. Destail vowed to stay with Tokald and protect him and his family just as they had tried to do all those years ago in Mirkwood.

   Destail and Tokald had many adventures following the footsteps of the fellowship of the ring. Destail was worried for his brother and Tokald had a strong urge to watch out for Gimli as he was important to Tokalds people. Through their travels that faced many perils and saved many lives. They fought hard to protect middle earth and its people and even helped bring about the end of Sauron and his one ring for good. Destail and Tokald spent their remaining years putting the Toughbeard line back together. As the years pressed on Tokald grew older and older, till one day Tokald knew his adventuring days were coming to a close. The two ventured west to the grey havens where due to their bravery and heroism Destail and Tokald were allowed to sail to the west to live out their days in peace. Thus ends the story of Destail's life in Middle Earth but the beginning of his life in the West.