The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 114

Legolas lay on his back beneath the willow staring silently up at the twisted branches above him and the creatures that lived within them. It seemed like so long since he’d had time to himself, to just sit and gaze up at the clouds in the sky. Until a moment ago he’d been out on the lawn finding shapes in the clouds above but the sun had become to hot and so he’d retreated under the willow by his favourite little stream.

He had felt more than a little worse for wear after last night’s lovemaking session with Glorfindel and so he had declined offers of breakfast for the sanctuary of the garden. Since his arrival in Imladris it was the first day that was actually peaceful. There was no men to foul the sweet smelling wild flowers, there was no jilted ex lovers trying to kill Glorfindel and take him as prisoner and there was no pregnancy cramps or sickness to ruin his day. It was as if Imladris had woken from a nightmare and was lazily stretching itself in the sun. For the briefest of moments Legolas could close his eyes and pretend he was back in Mirkwood, running swiftly between the trees of the forest home he loved. When he had first seen Glorfindel walk through the gates of Mirkwood’s palace, Legolas could not have imagined the places he would go or things he would do. It seemed like only an hour ago that he was travelling to Gondor or meeting the Lord and Lady of Lorien for the first time. Unlike he had predicted his majority had come and gone within the blink of an eye his innocence lost to an elf three times his age. Yet in all he’d seen and done there was a part of him that still wished he was back in Mirkwood without the knowledge and wisdom he had now. Things seemed much simpler back then.

“So this is where you are hiding little one.” Legolas sat up abruptly at the unexpected voice above him, making him cringe at the pain that swept through his lower back. The changes in his body were still a little hard to get used to, and on occasions he forgot about his situation completely. “Legolas! Be careful my son.” Legolas screwed his face up in pain as he began to sooth his back with a gentle hand, as Thranduil sat easily down beside him under the willow. “Come here and relax against me, I did this for your mother when she was carrying Talion.” Slightly put out that his father had interrupted his solitude Legolas reluctantlyd acd across to sit between his father’s outstretched legs as indicated. Awkwardly Legolas leant back against his father’s chest and closed his eyes, as he felt Thranduil sliding his hands beneath his robe to begin massaging his son’s round belly. Although Legolas was a little uncomfortable as soon as Thranduil’s soft hands began massaging his stomach all the tension fell from the prince leaving him to recline totally relaxed into his fathers arms. “You are becoming quite round Legolas, tell me, when are we to expect the new arrival?” Legolas hardly heard his father speaking, too wrapped up in the distinctly Mirkwood scent that surrounded his fathers person. Never in his life had Legolas ever been hugged by his father and it felt strange to have the kings strong arms wrapped tightly around his body in protection.

“Elrond says I still have many months ahead of me. He predicts that the winter still to come will welcome the birth of my child.” Thranduil nodded silently as he softly blew stray pieces of hair from his son’s face as he continued to rub Legolas’ stomach in slow relaxing circles.

“And what do you predict little Greanleaf? Is the lord of Imladris correct in his reasoning?” Legolas knew what his father was asking and although he had a small urge to just agree with Elrond’s prediction, instead he told the truth of what he felt inside. There seemed no point in lying anymore to his father, an elf who until recently was as distant as a stranger to him.

“I feel it here.” Legolas reached for Thranduil’s hand and brought it down to rest above the bump of his stomach, just below where his heart lay. “There will be something that happens an event that none of us have foreseen. My child feels it Ada and it will wait until the event has passed before greeting us with the coming of spring.” Thranduil nodded silently against his son’s shoulder gently cradling Legolas’ hands in his own on his swollen stomach.

“Aye I knew you would have your own opinion on the subject Legolas.” Legolas glanced up at his father who sat distantly staring down at him a strange pleasant smile dancing on his lips. “Filgree said that Haldir would give birth to you in the summer, Elrond and Celeborn agreed with him. Yet Haldir was unrelenting in telling us that you would not arrive until the end of Autumn after the last of the patrols had returned from the borders in Lorien. We did not believe him, his belly so big it was as if he would burst.” Thranduil chuckled, a sound Legolas had never heard from his father before. For some reason Thranduil was different today than he’d even seen his father, it was if he was shining from the inside, and it was a magnificent sight to behold. “He was right of course, we spent two whole months of summer in the palace, pacing the halls awaiting a birth but you did not show. It seemed you shared your father’s worry for his men and it was only after the last two patrols of Lorien returned to the safety of their talons at the end of Autumn that Haldir finally went into labour. I should have known then that you would turn out to be just as stubborn and determined as he is.” Legolas frowned in mock anger as Thranduil smiled apologetically down at him.

“I hope I am right then Ada, for we will all be very shocked if my child arrives in Autumn will we not?” Thranduil laughed heartily at his son’s joke and nodded understandingly.

“Aye that we will Legolas but all the same I will have the weavers make blankets for all the seasons just in case.” Legolas smiled and snuggled into his fathers arms content to hear the difference in his fathers tone to what he had heard when he was a child back in Mirkwood. Whatever or whoever had changed his father so dramatically was a well deserving elf that Legolas would be glad to thank.

“Thank-you Ada.” Legolas pressed a thank-you kiss on the side of his father’s cheek before sitting up and stretching having finally soothed the soreness in his back and unrest in his stomach with Thranduil’s skilful hands.

“You are welcome my little greenleaf, I hope you will come to me often when you seek reassurance and comfort. I have been very foolish during your growing years and have not truly realised what harm and pain I have caused you. You have always been special to me greenleaf I have just never showed you for fear of my heart breaking should your fate take you away from me. I lost Haldir I did not want to lose you too. Forgive me Legolas.” Legolas sniffled back unshed tears, cursing the day that he’d lost his emotions to his unpredictable hormones.

“You are forgiven Ada, my heart has always loved you even if my mind has thought nasty things of you for all that has happened.” Legolas blushed a little as Thranduil dropped a series of precious kisses to the top of Legolas’ golden crown, making the prince squirm as if he was only just an elfling. “Ada! I am not an elfling any longer. I am Glorfindel’s husband, what will others thing if they see you kissing me so.” Legolas flushed an even deeper shade of red as Thranduil continued to press cheeky kisses to his son’s head and face as he would a child, all the while gently tickling his sides making Legolas squirm despite his restricting stomach.

“Legolas! You worry too much about what others think, you are bound now and carry the Legendary Balrog Slayers child. Your name will be written in gold along side his on the parchment of elvan history, for all who come after us to read about. Yet you still fret like a shy maiden on her wedding day over such things as loving affection from your father.” Legolas squealed as Thranduil tickled his sides a little harder making Legolas begin giggling like the maiden Thranduil had just described.

“Ada! Stop! I will burst if you do not, my body will not take such teasing.” Legolas squirmed uselessly away from his father who finally relented having seen the awkward ways Legolas was twisting and knowing that it would not be good for the child Legolas carried. Breathlessly Legolas collapsed on the soft grass a few steps away from his father still chuckling to himself at the memory of his father’s fingers tickling his sides. Thranduil sat up and admired his grown son, the blonde elf sharing the same facial features as Haldir, who Thranduil had left in bed back in his room. At the memory of Haldir Thranduil became serious again and crawled slowly over to sit cross legged beside his son who was still lying on his back catching his breath.

“Legolas I must tell you something.” Having heard a familiar seriousness sweep into Thranduil’s tone of voice Legolas pulled himself up a little to rest on his elbows so that he could face his father better. Thranduil hardly ever told Legolas something that was not important and so Legolas knew that he should listen closely. “Haldir and I, we have reconciled our differences of the past and apologised to one another for the grievances we have caused.” Legolas was confused by the look of sadness that swept across his fathers face, sure that such reconciliation was cause for celebration.

“That is wonderful news Ada. I hoped that you would find happiness again and I knew in my heart that the rift between our realms would end. You will be together and through your connection the war between the realms will be ended.” Thranduil saw the shining sparkles of hope glistening in Legolas eyes having heard the news, and although reluctant to take the ray of sunshine away from Legolas, Thranduil knew he had to relay the truth.

“Aye it feels wonderful to Haldir and I but you are skipping a little ahead of yourself Legolas. It is only Haldir and I who have reconciled not the entire elvan population of middle earth. The wounds that have caused this war between the realms are not as easily fixed with a single union, as you have already found out.” Thranduil looked seriously at Legolas knowing his son had experienced all the pain and anguish of trying to overcome the hatred between the elvan realms. “While we may have seen the error of our ways in encouraging such hatred between our people and since sought to mend our broken alliances, the people we serve are not so easily forgiving. While I wish now the alliances had never been broken I am powerless to change the past. My reconciling with Haldir is a step in the right direction as is your marriage to Glorfindel but we must not rush this. Our people seek the trust that was broken so long ago and although we cannot force them to mend the alliances we can however lead them in the right direction with our actions and deeds.” Thranduil paused watched as his son took all the information in and processed what it all meant. Legolas was smart like Haldir and Thranduil was sure his son knew what was going to happen.

“You and Haldir will not rebind then?” Legolas looked a little lost and Thranduil reached out his arm and wrapped it comfortingly about his son’s shoulder.

“We have already done so last night Legolas…” Legolas let out a shocked gasp at his fathers gentle whisper, unsure whether he should be happy or appalled that his father had told him such an intimate detail. Thranduil smiled at his son’s shock and shook his head in amusement. “We are unofficially together again but we are sensible enough to realise that acceptance of our binding will not come easily, so it is to be our secret until such time as the alliances between the realms are reunited again.” Legolas smiled understandingly at his fathers reasoning knowing well that Thranduil knew what he was doing. “In the meantime there is darkness creeping into middle earth that threatens the survival of all and it is that which we must concentrate on conquering first.”

“When are you leaving?” Legolas knew that eventually everyone visiting Rivendel would have to leave for their own realms again but he had not realised it would be so soon. Thranduil sighed as he saw the sadness in his son’s eyes and soothing nuzzled his nose into Legolas cheek.

“I leave with Celeborn in two weeks when the last of the scouts have returned with news on our common enemy. The time has come that we must protect our own borders from the darkness that has ravished the realms of men.” Legolas frowned as he wrapped his arms around Thranduil’s waist only now realising just how serious the threat of darkness the men had spoken of had become. “Hale will leave with me, but Taselion will remain here with you and Filgree in Imladris. The times for travel have become too dangerous for even the most skilled warriors let alone a defenceless babe. Haldir will go back with Celeborn to defend Lorien’s borders, and perhaps when we have conquered the darkness then we can reunite again.”

“Will you return to Imladris for the birth of my child?” Legolas looked a little fearful across at Thranduil who smiled comfortingly in return, mildly surprised that Legolas had asked so blatantly for his presence.

“If you wish me here Legolas when the time comes, I promise I will try my hardest to make the journey in spite of what foes Mirkwood faces but in return you must promise me something.” Thranduil paused and watched as Legolas considered the prospect for a moment before nodding in acceptance of whatever promise his father was about to ask of him. “You must solemnly promise me Legolas, to stay away from the borders and the patrols….” Legolas opened his mouth to verbally protest but Thranduil held up his hand instantly silencing the prince who could clearly read the steely determination of his father’s expression. “You will not argue with me greenleaf. You will refrain from joining the patrols and will restrict your accompanied travel to within the immediate area of Imladris unless Glorfindel deems it necessary for you to travel further for your health or other reasons. I have lost one son to the evil that has crept into Mi Ear Earth I will not allow it to take another from me. Now promise me Legolas you will do as I ask.” Legolas knew that argument was futile and although his heart longed to fight aside his kin against this common enemy the truth behind his fathers concern for his safety was well founded.

“Very well I will do as you ask but it will be difficult knowing that you are all out there fighting while I can do nothing to help and besides I am pretty sure I will not fit into my hunting leathers even if I tried.” Legolas looked a little angrily down at his plump stomach knowing that it was the reason behind fat father’s decision to make him stay in Imladris. Thranduil smiled at the stubbornness of his son but was relived that Legolas had agreed to obey his promise.

“You are strong Legolas, I am sure you will cope somehow.” Thranduil paused and tilted his head upward towards the garden beyond the willow tree and listened for a moment. “Ah, I think I hear Glorfindel calling you, he was looking for you earlier.” Legolas did not mean to groan but the irritated sound left his mobefobefore he could stop it, causing his father to look at him strangely. It wasn’t that Legolas did not want to see Glorfindel it was just that he wanted some time to himself especially knowing that Glorfindel probably wanted to go to their room and make love again. “You do not look happy that your beloved searches for you, have you two fought?” Legolas rolled his eyes and shook his head at his fathers concern knowing that he could not lie about the real reason he was avoiding Glorfindel despite how embarrassing it was.

“Nay I just want to be alone for a little while and I am sore from last night still.” Legolas lowered his gaze to the grand tnd twisted his fingers awkwardly in his lap. Never had Legolas ever spoken of something so private with his father having always gone to Filgree first, knowing that the tutor’s reaction would always be supportive and helpful. Thranduil raised his eyebrows in surprise but remained silent as Legolas nervously continued. “He hurts now and does not know how to support me. It is either too hard or not hard enough to hold me but I do not want to offend him by telling him what to do Ada, he is nearly 2000 years old.” Legolas glanced sheepishly up at Thranduil who was barely restraining a smirk that threatened to break across his face.

“Even elves as old as Glorfindel need to be taught lessons every now and then Legolas. Just because he is old does not mean he knows everything and it is your right as his mate to tell him what you like and don’t like.” Thranduil was being diplomatic in his reply and Legolas could almost hear Filgree saying the same thing to him if he’d asked his tutor instead of his father. “If there is something that pains you tell him, and then guide him to a more pleasurable way or position. Show him what helps you enjoy the encounter more. You must remember Legolas, Glorfindel has never had a fertile lover before and knows nothing of how different things feel when you are pregnant but you must tell him so that an lan learn.” Thranduil watched as Legolas twiddled with a piece of grass in his fingers before blushing and glancing up again to his father.

“But how can I tell him what is better when I do not know myself.” Legolas shyly looked away as all of a sudden Glorfindel stepped under the branches of the willow tree smiling brightly at both Thranduil and Legolas.

“Well I have finally found you, after a morning of searching. Did you know King Thranduil that your son was so good at hiding?” Glorfindel bowed respectfully to Thranduil who acknowledged him with a short nod of his head. Legolas did not look at Glorfindel as the elvan lord offered a hand down to Thranduil who took it as support as he stood up.

“Aye Legolas was always good at hiding, I believe it took Filgree nearly three days to find him once after he’d locked himself in the cooks personal pantry.” Thranduil brushed himself off as he glanced down at where Legolas was still staring at the grass totally ignoring Glorfindel. “When we found him, he was asleep in a pile of cheese cloth having eaten all the cooks best sweet cakes.” Thranduil and Glorfindel laughed together but Legolas merely sat where he was. It was only as the laughter died down and the silence continued that Glorfindel realised Legolas had not greeted him.

“Legolas? Are you well my love?” Glorfindel went to crouch down beside Legolas but the prince merely shuffled away from him before awkwardly lifting himself from the grass and stepping over to a small bed of roses that grew beneath the shade of the willow his back turned to the other two elves. Confused Glorfindel looked to Thranduil for explanation of what he had done to cause Legolas not to talk to him but the king merely shook his head and smiled reassuringly at the seneschal.

“Legolas and I were discussing an important issue before you arrived Lord Glorfindel, would you be so kind as to give us a few moments more so we may finish?” Glorfindel looked suspiciously from Thranduil to his mate but Legolas still had his back to them and so his expression was unreadable. Sighing Glorfindel looked back to Thranduil and bowed lowly.

“I apologise your highness I was not aware I had interrupted such a conversation, please forgive my intrusion. I shall return to the kitchens to continue helping Lindar with arrangements for tonight’s ceremony.” Having heard the hurt tone of his lovers voice Legolas glanced sadly over his shoulder to watch as Glorfindel again bowed to Thranduil before turning and disappearing back across the lawn towards the house. Legolas watched Glorfindel’s figure disappear before turning back around to face his father.

“That was childish and uncalled for Legolas, you are punishing him for something he does not know he has done.” Legolas winced at the familiar chastising tone that Thranduil spoke with back in Mirkwood returned to his voice. “You will apologise immediately to him when you return to the house.” Legolas nodded understandingly having already felt the guilt at what he had done eating away at him. He had been angry with Glorfindel but the anger had been over nothing but a small matter that was easily resolved. “Glorfindel is your husband Legolas and as such deserves respect from you as you do from him. Do not turn your back on him ever again it is the height of disrespect especially considering how understanding he was when I asked him to leave.” Legolas could feel tears welling in his eyes knowing how atrociously he had just acted. There had been very little conversation on what was expected of him as Glorfindel’s mate and for his father to so blatantly lay down one of those expectations for anyone to hear was humiliating for Legolas. Legolas choked back a sob as he lowered his head to his chest and began to cry. For a moment Thranduil merely let his son cry before reluctantly he pulled the young blonde into his chest for a hug. “Shhh Greenleaf there are many things you still have to learn about and it is only through your mistakes that those lessons will be remembered. Considering yelf elf lucky that there are always second chances in relationships unlike the battlefield which is not so forgiving.” Legolas sniffled and dried his tears on the sleave of his robe.

“I just want it to be perfect and it’s not. It’s never been perfect no matter how hard I try, something always messes it up for us. I’ve never spent a night with him where something hasn’t been wrong.” Thranduil smiled fondly at his son in his arms and gently brushed the stray pieces of hair from thende’nde’s face.

“Things are never going to be perfect Legolas, it’s just the way they are. You just have to try and make the good things in the situation more memorable than the bad things. Now come I will help you solve this nightly problem of yours with lessons I have learned from my own experiences with Haldir, but you must promise me not to speak a word of them to anyone else less Haldir will hate me for another 600 years” Thranduil rolled his eyes as Legolas chuckled softly knowing that his father was over exaggerating a little as he was prone too in such situations. Linking his arm with Legolas Thranduil led them out into the lawn to take the long path back towards the house.

“What lessons have you learnt then Ada?” Legolas walked closely to his father his arm entwined with Thranduil’s while the other supported the movement of his bump during the slow walk.

“I have learnt that particular love making positions when pregnant can hurt and even cause the unborn child injury, believe me when I say that Haldir was very vocal when it came to tell me what positions hurt the most and more often than not I had bruises in the morning to prove it.” Legolas scrunched up his nose shaking his head in order to clear the images of his father and Haldir making love from his mind. Thranduil laughed at Legolas expression mildly amused at how his son blushed, as he was still innocent.

“I thought Haldir was in Lorien during his entire pregnancy because you hated each other, yet here you tell me the two of you were making love during this time? How can that be so?” Thranduil smiled cheekily and shrugged his shoulders blatantly ignoring Legolas question as he continued.

“We found that the best position was when he was on top. It prevented any unnecessary pressure on the babe, I could support him as needed and it allowed for a more pleasurable deeper penetration…” Thranduil was cut offLegoLegolas pulled away sharply from him and stuck his fingers into his ears and began singing some ungodly song that repeated ‘I’m not listening, too much information’ over and over again. Thranduil rolled his eyes at his son childish behaviour, which after a few moments removed his fingers from his ears and glared pointedly at his father.

“I do not want to know that Ada a mentioning of the position would have been suffice in making your point.” Thranduil laughed out loud and shook his head in amusement as his son, who looked decidedly put out that he’d just heard the intimate details of his two fathers coupling. “Besides Glorfindel I have not done that and I doubt very much if he would allow it. I think he enjoys being….”

“Legolas, even the strongest warriors must learn to accept submission either to their superiors on the battle field or in bed with their mates. Glorfindel is no different and if that is the only position that you can use to make love he is going to have to come to the party or stay celibate for the next eight months you have before the child is born.” Legolas closed his mouth sharply knowing that what his father had just said made complete sense. If Glorfindel wanted to make love to him then there would have to be compromises. “I am sure that Glorfindel was not the dominate in his relationship with Echthelion and perhaps because of its nasty outcome he is nervous about relinquishing his position again, so you must sweeten the deal with your charms and assets. Give him the offer of something better for the exchange of the position, you’ll be surprised how far a good reward can get you, especially when the reward is someone as beautiful as you my little leaf.” Legolas blushed as they reached the open doors of the house and walked quietly in, Thranduil placing a kiss on his son’s head just as a servant walk passed carrying a tray of food.

“Ada! I have told you about that!” Thranduil laughed heartily and untwined his arm from Legolas’ as he stepped towards the entrance to the main study.

“Sorry Legolas. Now I believe you have a husband to apologise to and some seduction to organize, so I will see you tonight at Gwendolyn’s last rights.” Legolas smiled as he watched his father step up to the study where surely Elrond and his advisors were with Celeborn probably discussing issues of border security.

“Thank-you Ada!” Smiling to himself Legolas turned and began down the hallway towards the kitchens to apologise to Glorfindel. There was so much to do and so little time and Legolas was excited about playing out his father’s advice. There was obviously two ways you could play in a relationship and Legolas was about to turn the tables of his lover. Thranduil watched as his son all but skipped down the hallway, his steps lighter than they had been in weeks, despite his growing girth. For the first time Thranduil felt as if he’d truly made a difference in Legolas life, for the better rather than the worst

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

(A/N) Sorry it's been a while updating but work bites and I'm packing to go overseas with a friend so I've been in between houses. Anyway to make up for it here are some big chapters.