The Jewel of Mirkwood

(A/N) Soooooooooooooooo sorry this update has been a long time coming but..........*tries to think of plausible exuse*........nope sorry I can think of no exuses for my lack of updates accept the truth which is......after a week in Sydney with my friend and a few bottles of vodka later we decided in all goodlyness to go and see Orlando at the premier of ROTK in New Zealand.......to cut a long story short it turned into an all week thing of which I spent most of it drunk like a bum in some of New Zealands best watering holes. Saw a hobbit and elf or two had a perve and got an autograph for the effort.......oh and got a tattoo of something I probably shouldn't have..........Moral of the STORY........... Vodka makes you do some strange things but Damn it makes for a good holiday......anyway on with the story.


Chapter 121

Legolas sat quietly on the steps of Imladris’ last homely house. All around him servants and warriors scuttled to and from the house, carrying baggages, parcels weapons and leading horses aplenty. Legolas had not really taken much notice of just how many warriors his father had brought with him from Mirkwood when they first met each other at the ford but now as he stared around at the masses of green tunics and silver weaponry it was clear that his father had brought with him half of Mirkwood’s army. Of course Lord Celeborn had done the same and so the courtyard of the last homely house had become a sea of silver and green tunics, only the small flashes of dark hair amongst the waves of golden locks indicating that they were still in the golden valley at all.

Word had come last night of attacks intensifying around Mirkwood and Lorien the respective leaders of each realm eager to return to protect their lands. Legolas had awoken to a cold bed Glorfindel having already been summoned to help the departing armies prepare for their leave. Quite unnaturally Legolas had sat alone in the great banquet hall and ate breakfast quietly by himself, while outside chaos reigned. With everyone attending to the departing lords, Legolas had been left to serve himself and while he found it relaxing to not have servants hovering about him he also found it a little sad.

Having drawn his own bath, Legolas had promptly soaked in the warm water all the while listening to the madness outside. Up until now Legolas had suppressed his sadness at his fathers leaving but as he watched both Haldir and Thranduil mounting their steeds dressed in warriors garb the reality of the situation set in. Once again in his life his fathers were leaving him. It was obvious there was to be no good byes or sweet farewells as the warriors began to rally around their superiors ready to ride out into the early morning light. Inwardly Legolas felt his heart constrict as the party from Mirkwood began to move out from the courtyard Thranduil and Hale having already waved farewell to Elrond, Erestor, Elrohir and Glorfindel who were perched on a large rock ledge. It was if all of Mirkwood had forgotten Legolas, as the last of the green tunic clad warriors disappeared from view into the valley none of them having sought him out in farewell. Lorien’s party was a little slower at organizing themselves Elladan’s and Elrohir’s extended goodbye delaying the parties leaving. Elladan looked as old as his father dressed in the traditional garb of Lorien’s guard. Legolas had only caught the passing looks between Elladan and Glorfindel the pair seemingly friends again the uneasiness gone from the air between them. Although he did not know what had passed between the two of them Legolas was sure Glorfindel had eased Elladan’s pain if only a little.

Haldir was sitting astride his horse beside Lord Celeborn the two of them happily conversing as the last of their entourage pulled into formation. With a sharp call the party from Lorien began streaming from the courtyard. Elladan hung back as long as possible but inevitably he was forced to follow the others his eyes never leaving his twin brothers until they were completely out of sight. Legolas sighed heavily and tucked his head against his chest fighting back the tears he felt as both his fathers left without a single goodbye. No one had noticed him sitting alone on the steps partially shaded by the small twisted plant that grew beside them. Through teary eyes Legolas watched as Glorfindel, Elrond and the other members of the household began to head back inside the house the morning chaos seemingly over. Legolas too contemplated rising and heading indoors but the sound of fast hooves on the gravel drew his attention back to the courtyard. As if from a dream Haldir rode back into the courtyard at full speed barely pulling his horse to a stop before dismounting in spectacular style.

“Legolas, you slipped my mind little one. Come here.” Legolas barely realised he was on his feet and running towards his father until he collided with the solid form of Haldir. Immediately Legolas was engulfed in a warm tight hug the tears drying on his cheeks. After a brief moment Haldir drew Legolas back from him and tilted his chin up towards him. With a gentle thumb Haldir wiped away the last of Legolas tears before pressing a soft kiss to his son’s forehead. “Take Care Legolas and promise me you will look out for yourself and the babe, no more foolishness. If you should need anything you have only to send me a message and I shall be here on the wings of an eagle if necessary.” Legolas chuckled a little at his father’s imagery already imaging Haldir hanging on for dear life to an eagle’s wing, his legs dangling beneath him helplessly. “Now I have to go, in times as these it is best not to fall behind in your party.” Legolas nodded understandingly but was reluctant to let his father go until Haldir forcibly pried his hands from around his waist. “Everything will be well Legolas. I promise.” AS quickly as he had rode into the courtyard Haldir remounted his steed and with a final wave of his hand disappeared with speed from view leaving Legolas standing motionless in the courtyard staring blankly at where his fathers had disappeared.

Legolas was not sure when or why he had become so emotional, or why every moment it seemed as if he was crying or throwing an angry tantrum. The situation should not have upset him as much as it did, he knew Haldir and Thranduil were quite capable of looking after themselves in battle yet it did not lesson the tears that began to fall down his cheeks with a chocked sob. A gentle hand came to rest on his shoulder and Legolas instantly turned into the embrace of Glorfindel who lovingly held his husband through his sobs.

“Shhh my love they will be fine and come the Winter when our child is born they will return to bless him, in good health and safety.” Legolas frowned a little as Glorfindel rubbed his swollen belly tenderly caressing the bump before guiding his husband back towards the house.

“He will come in Autumn Glorfindel, I do not think our child likes the cold. He has too much of my blood in him.” Legolas spoke softly but determinedly against Glorfindel’s chest, only to listen as the elder seneschal rumbled with amusement at his stubborn love.

“As you say little one but I shall be ready to receive him in Winter all the same.” Legolas managed to roll his eyes at Glorfindel’s slight condescension. It did not happen often between them but occasionally Glorfindel would forget that it was his mate and not a young charge in his arms, his tongue slipping if only for a moment. Legolas was feel far too drained to acknowledge his loves faults and so merely accepted the guidance of Glorfindel who gestured for him to continue up to their room alone.

“There is a great many things I must do today Legolas, forgive me for leaving you to yourself but it is vital that I accomplish my tasks. I will perhaps see you at dinner tonight.” Legolas paused on the ornately carved stone steps and glanced back down longingly at where Glorfindel was standing at the bottom of them, several centuries and patrol captains lingering behind him ready to capture his attention as soon as was possible. There would be no way Legolas could change Glorfindel’s mind even if he tried and so Legolas merely nodded in silence and turned back around to continue up the steps. Behind him he heard the vultures that’d been waiting for Glorfindel’s attention immediately swoop in heated conversations in Quenya filling the hallway as they swept Glorfindel away.

Legolas sighed heavily as he reached the top of the stairs pausing to rest a while having underestimated how truly tired he felt. Recovering his strength Legolas wandered to the chambers he shared with his husband and promptly threw himself upon the bed, discarding the outer robe. With his belly creating his heavier frame Legolas sunk into the mattress the pillows falling on top of him so that he looked like a tapestry mountain. Pushing the pillows from his body Legolas rested his arms down on the bump of his stomach softly soothing it with caresses as he’d often done of late in order to make himself relax into slumber.

“Little Child, why did you choose now to grace my body? Can you not feel how already burdened I am without you?” Legolas began to whisper softly in Sindarian to the child growing inside of him, all the while continuing to caress the little bump. “Why did you not wait a little while, so I might have been more help during our time of war. I am useless to everyone while I carry you.” Legolas sighed and shut his eyes tightly trying to imagine what it would be like to hold his child for the first time. In his mind Legolas began to piece together the child’s profile, trying desperately to keep his thoughts positive. “Your grandsire’s and father will go to war and I can not help them.” Exasperated Legolas threw his hands away from his stomach to flop angrily at his sides. “I do not want to be pregnant now!” Reverting to westron in his frustration Legolas only caught the tail end of someone announcing themselves at the door to his chamber. Struggling to raise himself from the bed to answer his caller, Legolas grunted and cursed until he was finally sitting up and able to pull a robe about himself in modesty. “Damn my infernal weakness, why I am I so incapable.” Cursing under his breath Legolas did not expect to see the figure already standing in the small living room of the chambers, having invited himself in.

“You are weak because you are doing nothing Legolas.” Legolas rested his hands back on the bed and pushed himself up to his feet awkwardly as Gandalf took the steps necessary to enter the bedchamber where he stood in front of a nervously shuffling wizard. “Do not think so ill of your situation Legolas, it does the child no good to have its father resent it.” Legolas looked nervously to his feet as he realised that Gandalf had heard his entire conversation with his child, the Istari having obviously eavesdropped. “You love this child Legolas, it is clear within every fibre of your being how much you care. The hateful things you are thinking will ultimately affect the child within and you must stop it at once if you wish to have a healthy son. It is high time you grew up little greenleaf for a parent is a far greater responsibility than watching horses in a field.” Legolas felt as if he was but an mere elfling again standing in front of his chastising father as Mithrandir strode confidently over to Legolas’ wardrobe and threw a set of Legolas’ hunting garb onto the bed, followed promptly by the elf’s boots, long knives and his bow and arrow. “There is nothing you can do about your situation, what is done is done and you must walk the path destiny has paved for you. The child you carry, carries with it the hopes of an entire race and you will accept that responsibility, just as the warriors that ready for war, accept their’s.” Legolas felt thoroughly chastised as Gandalf turned his back to face the fire his hand gesturing to the items he’d thrown on the bed. “I will hear no more of your nonsensical thoughts, for they are false and spoken only by you in self-pity. Now get yourself dressed and you will spend the day training with me. There are many things you must learn before your child is born Legolas, and so little time for you to learn it in.” Knowing to to argue with an angry Istari Legolas began to slowly get dressed only to have Gandalf growl at him for his slowness. “Come along and be quick Legolas, you have not put on so much weight that it impairs your elvan abilities so severely as yet. So hasten your dressing immediately!” Legolas was ashamed to admit that since he had discovered he was pregnant he had been fully mourning in self-pity, and thus making more out of the situation than was truly necessary. Gandalf was right; he was not so big that all his abilities were useless, it was only that out of stubbornness he’d changed his ways purposefully making life difficult for himself.

Taking a deep breath Legolas went about dressing just as quickly as he used to as an elfling. Admittedly he struggled a little pulling on his boots and weaponry because of his bump and he lost his balance twice but it was still efficient and before long he stood before Gandalf dressed and ready for training. In appearances Legolas still looked like any other warrior and it was only the slight rise in the front of his tunic that indicated anything out of the ordinary in the elf. Gandalf smiled widely as he appraised Legolas appearance glad that he had finally got through to the elf before him. He’d seen Legolas’ depression and moodiness the moment he’d returned to Rivendel and up until now he’d let it pass but having heard Legolas talking so horribly to his child, the wizard had decided enough was enough and promptly intervened.

“Good Legolas, but perhaps if you tied you tunic a little tighter you might not be showing flesh, of which I am sure Glorfindel would disapprove of when sparing with the other warriors.” Legolas flushed bright pink as Gandalf stepped up to him and re tied his tunic so that Legolas’ creamy round belly was better hidden from view. In his haste he had forgotten to compensate for the tightness of his old clothing and thus had left his belly bulging out from beneath the front flaps of the tunic, which blew open when he walked. Gandalf chuckled at Legolas embarrassment but quickly steered Legolas out of the chambers towards the training grounds. It was going to be a long day of training but Gandalf was sure Legolas could handle it.

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