The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 100

“Legolas!” Legolas could only stand perfectly still as Haldir leapt from his horse and pulled his son into an unexpected hug, in front of the entire patrol and party from Lorien. They had ridden hard from the glade that morning to the ford of Imladris but even their fast pace hadn’t insured they were there before Celeborn arrived. When they came down the course way to the river Celeborn and his company were already lounging on the opposite bank having been there since early morning. Elladan had been embarrassed at being late to meet his grandsire and had quite unnecessarily taken his anger out on the poor messenger that was supposed to have found them two days agoh thh the message. “Aye you have grown little Greanleaf.” Legolas smiled as Haldir held him at arms length to survey his appearances. Self-consciously Legolas blushed and lowered his gaze from his fathers, which seemed to be scrutinizing him. “Perhaps you have put on a little weight too? Is Glorfindel keeping you so inactive? He should know better if he is.” Legolas swallowed nervously as Haldir patted his stomach cheekily causing all those around to giggle a little at Legolas’ expense not knowing what torment it caused the young prince. Elladan however saw Legolas’ fear and instantly stepped into the conversation drawing the attention away from his friend’s weight.

“Haldir be kind to your son he willingly takes the place of his husband on this trip, Lord Glorfindel is ill and father has confined him to his chambers. Legolas has quite proven himself on the field of battle, can you not see the wounds he still carries?” Legolas smiled thankfully at Elladan before blushing profusely as Haldir scowled and turned him forcefully around to inspect the wound beneath the bandage on his shoulder, having pulled his tunic out of the way a little.

“I am sure Lord Glorfindel is not happy about being confined, it is not in that elf’s nature to rest.” Celeborn’s warm voice filtered into the conversation as the elvan lord descended from his horse and greeted both his grandson’s with a warm embrace.

“You are right Lord Celeborn he is driving Lord Erestor insane with his moping” Legolas spoke softly to Lord Celeborn as the elder Lord of Lorien came over to stand in front of him and softly caressed his face before smiling widely. The contingent around them laughed heartily all familiar with Erestor and Glorfindel’s ability to irritate one another after such a long friendship.

“You have become quite a mature warrior Legolas. I am happy to see you looking so well.” Again Legolas blushed under Celeborn’s gaze as the elf lord patted his uninjured shoulder softly and smiled at him in pride. “Now come along let us organize ourselves for the last ride to Imladris, there will be time enough to reacquaint one another once we have dealt with this men. At Celeborn’s command everyone began helping one another prepare for the short journey back to Imladris.

The elvan slaves freed from Gondor looked positively ill some of their wounds infected and their clothes torn to shreds. If Candolin had claimed this was looking after them Legolas hated to think what abuse looked like. Paying particular attention to those worst injured Legolas helped two of the slaves up onto his own horse willing giving up his seat to walk like many of the other warriors.

“You should not walk Legolas, here take Haran and ride with Lord Celeborn I will walk.” Legolas rolled his eyes as Elladan draped the blanket back over his own horse’s saddle before gesturing for Legolas to take the seat. Elladan had only whispered his concern but as Legolas glanced to his left he realized that Lord Celeborn had heard it all the same.

“No, I am fine. Besides my rear is sore from this morning and it will do me good to walk, I might lose the weight my father has kindly pointed out I have put on.” Desperately trying to sound as if Elladan’s comment was nothing Legolas turned back to stroking Iest’s mane reassuring her that the two unfamiliar elves now on her back were friendly.

“Legolas I insist that you ride.” Elladan did not take no for an answer and Legolas sighed heavily as he turned back around to face the elder twin. Already the pair were attracting attention from those around them including Lord Celeborn and Haldir who were watching the argument with growing confusion.

“Nay Elladan I will be fine to walk and that is the end of it.” Legolas ground out determinedly from between his teeth as Elladan put his hands on his hips defiantly and shook his head.

“I will not have you walk in your condition now get on the horse!” Elladan’s voice was an angry whisper and Legolas glared at the elder twin, not believing that Elladan was making such a big a deal over his walking. It wasn’t like Legolas was completely invalid. Before Legolas could send an angry retort Celeborn butted in.

“What condition is this?” Legolas swallowed hard as Celeborn glanced from his grandson to Legolas and then back again looking for an answer. Cautiously Legolas glanced at Elladan who only now realized what he was on the verge of saying.

“He passed out with exhaustion yesterday and he has an injury on his foot from slipping on a rock in the river.” Elladan spoke calmly putting enfaces on Legolas’ other injuries and making them worse than they really were.

“Elladan! Legolas is fine, the wound on his foot as quite healed over and the rest last night has cured any fatigue he might have been suffering from. He is well to travel on foot.” Elrohir who had been listening to the entire conversation moved hastily in to scold his brother. He had looked over Legolas that very morning to insure his health, and the prince had seemed in perfect condition. Elladan nervously bit his lip as he stared at Legolas ignoring all the confused looks from those gathered around him.

“Fine walk then.” Not knowing how else to finish the conversation Elladan turned on his heel sharply and disappeared back into the party insuring everything was ready for their departure. Legolas swallowed again around the lump in his throat as he turned back to his horse and smiled sheepishly up at his father and Lord Celeborn who were now suspiciously glancing down at him.

“Are you sure you are fine to walk Legolas?” Legolas rolled his eyes at Haldir and nodded in confirmation. Legolas was half expecting Haldir to question him again but any suspicion died on the march warden’s lips as he turned his head sharply back to the ford. “I hear horses approaching fast, I can not tell where they hail from. HIDE!” Haldir screamed his order to the gathered group who scrambled and spread themselves into the cover of the forest; some leaping up into the branches of the trees while others cowered behind bushes. Legolas was in confusion as Iest took off into the forest with her two injured riders knowing well that the time had come to make herself scarce. Legolas felt suddenly dizzy in the mayhem and could only stand in the middle of the open course way in disorientation and unable to move. For a moment he lost his vision and just as he was beginning to fall towards the ground something hard hit his body and he was instantly lifted the the air and swung onto the front of a horse. Legolas felt the horse being pulled to a halt before someone wrapped a hand over his mouth to stop him breathing so heavily. The blow to his body seemed to pool in his stomach making him double over in agony in his captive’s arms. A scream of pain threatened to escape his lips but a whisper in his ear told him to bite down on the hand, which was covering his mouth. Without being asked twice Legolas did just that the bite muffling his moan of pain but causing a grunt of pain from his captive. Legolas was sure he could taste the tangy flavour of blood and he was pretty sure it wasn’t his. After a while the pain seemed to subside leaving his stomach twisted in knots. The restbite allowed Legolas to relinquish his tight bite on the hand in front of his mouth and almost in relief his saviour pulled his hand away and gasped at the purple bruise and the clearly defined set of teeth marks now branding his skin.

“Sorry…” Still unaware of whom his saviour was Legolas went to apologise but before he’d even got the words out the elf behind him pressed a finger to hips lips to keep him quiet.

“Shhhh they approach the ford.” Almost instantly Legolas recognised Haldir’s voice and the prince stiffened in realization that his father was holding him tightly around the waist and could probably feel quite easily the laces of the belt beneath his tunic. Slowly Legolas’ vision began to come back to him as the dizziness subsided, until finally he could clearly see the banks of the ford in front of him between the tree trunks. For a while Legolas could only stare at the ford listening to Haldir’s steady breathing behind him. As if from nowhere twenty or so riders dressed in Mirkwood’s colours burst out of the forest on the opposite river bank. Behind him Legolas heard Haldir gasp in shock as the riders pulled their mounts to a halt and lowered their hoods revealing their identity.

“Ada!” Legolas was a little shocked to see the faces of his father and his elder brother among the guards. Even though they had parted on such bad terms back in Lorien Legolas could not contain the happiness he felt at seeing his father after so long a time. Before Haldir could stop him Legolas had slid from the horse and was running blindly towards the edge of the river, calling to his father. Immediately the guards surrounded Mirkwood’s king at the sound of someone coming towards them, their weapons drawn and their arrows firmly pointed in Legolas direction.

”Legolas!” Thranduil’s warm voice rang clearly back to him across the river after a few moments and Legolas smiled as the guards lowered their weapons and allowed their king to ride forward to the edge of the river just as Legolas had done on the opposite side. For a moment father and son stared at one another smiles upon their faces but Legolas’ happiness soon began to waver as he felt his dizziness take hold of him again. Before he could react Legolas felt the familiar taste of vile rising in his throat and without thinking of his audience Legolas dropped to his knees beside the river and threw up violently onto the smooth rocks. Up until now Legolas had managed to quell his morning sickness and had thought himself cured of it but now as he continued to heave up breakfast he realized his stomach was repaying him for the break it had given him. On the opposite side of the bank Legolas heard Thranduil’s frantic calls to him before there was splashing as a horse attempted entered the river crossing.

“Don’t come any further Thranduil before you first tell us your purpose here.” Legolas winced as he heard Elladan’s voice booming over him as several hands came down to his person and began rubbing his back in a soothing motion.

“Your father knows of my purpose in coming here elfling now get out of my way so I may see my son.” Legolas weakly collapsed on his side as his nausea finally passed only to find himself being cradled in Elrohir’s arms as most of the patrol positioned their horses and themselves along the riverbank blocking Thranduil and his men from coming ashore. Through the horses legs in front of him Legolas could just make out his father angrily shouting at Haldir, Celeborn and Elladan, who were all defiantly standing their ground.

“I see you have lost none of your arrogance Thranduil. Perhaps a little tact might not go astray when addressing the person who will ultimately decide your entrance into these lands. And Legolas is our son, not yours alone.” Legolas heard Haldir snort in mock amusement a few horses down and could only watch as Thranduil’s face turned slightly feral. Legolas knew that look on his fathers face and was well aware of the mouthful Haldir was about to receive.

“And I see you are still playing lap dog to Lord Celeborn, Haldir. Perhaps I had assumed to much in hoping you would grow out of your foolish ways.” Legolas heard the growl that left Haldir’s throat at Thranduil’s nasty retort. Celeborn stepped in quickly silencing the bitter argument between Legolas’ two fathers.

“Enough both of you! If you say Elrond is expecting you Thranduil then you will travel with us back to Imladris and I will hear no more of these taunts. You may be welcome Thranduil but that welcome can easily by overstayed. Now come along.” Celeborn’s word was final as he dismissed the troops to go back to preparing for the week-long trek back to Imladris. “Elrohir is Legolas well enough to travel?” Celeborn then turned his attention to where Elrohir was still holding Legolas against his body, the prince weak from the exertion of his stomach.

“Aye but he must ride with one of us. I may have overlooked how fatigued he really is.” Legolas winced as he heard Haldir mutter a curse of Elrohir for overlooking his son’s health but it seemed Elrohir had no heard it and for that Legolas was thankful. Elrohir had looked after him since the beginning and he did not want his father upsetting his best friend with nasty comments.

“Very well he will ride with me.” Before either Haldir or Thranduil could offer their horses to Legolas Elladan had already jumped in. All of the elder elves were clearly in shock as they watched Elladan help his brother to lift Legolas onto the horse before he climbed up behind the prince. Legolas was too tired to be bothered with all the attention he seemed to be receiving and so merely relaxed into Elladan’s familiar body as the elder twin wrapped his arms protecly aly around his waist. Considering the alternatives Legolas was glad that Elladan had come to his rescue, at least he didn’t have to worry about Elladan finding out about his situation and could relax thoroughly on his way home. Elladan however seemed to face the full weight of the elder’s suspicious glances but instead of acknowledging them Elladan held his head high and turned to head back into his group of men without another word leaving the elder to just stare at one another without answers.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>