The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 139

Elladan stood silently staring up into the mist of the mountain. Behind him Filgree was helping Glorfindel eat some warm broth, the seneschal having recovered enough to sit up by himself. It was disturbing to see Glorfindel so weak and vulnerable, the seneschal having been Elladan’s rock while growing up. Elladan also could not alleviate the worry he had for Legolas. Despite their differences Elladan had come to favour Legolas’ company above any other younger elves. His stay in Lorien had brought some clarity to Elladan’s mind, and the half elf had finally begun to realise what he wanted from life. Reality had come in the most unlikely form. Orophin, one of Haldir’s brothers had taken Elladan under his wing. Together they had gone to the borders, defending the realm in between bantering and talking together. Other than Glorfindel, Elladan had never had an older friend he had told so much too as he had Orophin. The warrior had not judged him or taken him for granted because of his age, it was merely a mutual understanding they had come to that had blossomed into something more. It had begun almost instantly and Elladan had been helpless to prevent it. The more time they spent together the more Elladan had begun to fall in love. As it had progressed Elladan had begun to realize that his love for Glorfindel was not the same as the love he had for Orophin but it was no less emotional.

For the sake of everyone and having realized the dangerous time at which their love had come about, they had been discrete about their relationship. None knew of their love, their intimate moments kept to whispered words of love and gentle caresses when no one was watching. Orophin was a romantic and Elladan had been pampered like a king from his lover. From poems left in his talon in Lorien, to roses fresh picked from Haldir’s private garden, ethinthing Orophin did was designed to make Elladan happy. Due to the season and the war they had not made love but Elladan wasn’t bothered by the lack of physically intimacy. Elladan had decided almost the moment he’d seen Orophin that such an act would wait until the night of their binding. Elladan wondered what his father would say when he found out, Orophin was nearly as old as Erestor was. Yet it all didn’t seem to matter as Elladan closed his eyes and smiled at the image of his love.

A voice calling his name made Elladan instantly open his eyes and stare up at the mountain. As if from nowhere Haldir appeared from the mist, flanked protectively by two of the guards that had gone up in the first party. Rushing forward Elladan caught Haldir as he stumbled on a few rocks, his arms cradling a bundle protectively against his chest. Elladan gasped as the squirming bundle in Haldir’s arms let out a cry.

“By the valar he is just like Legolas.” Instantly knowing who the child was Elladan smiled down at the crying bundle in Haldir’s arms. Haldir was out of breath from having manoeuvred his way down the slippery mountainside almost all the way on his rear, in order to previnjuinjury to the child. “Come bring him to Glorfindel, let him see his son, it will brighten his spirit I am sure.” Haldir obediently placed the child in Elladan’s arms as the half elf turned and wandered quickly over to where Glorfindel and Filgree were sitting by the warmth of the fire.

“Elladan? What have you got there?” Filgree stood from Glorfindel’s side having seen both Haldir and Elrond’s son approaching. Elladan smiled widely at Filgree before shaking his head and lowering himself slowly to Glorfindel’s side. The seneschal looked a little confused as Elladan gently passed him the swaddled bundle and sat back.

“Look Glorfindel, it is your son.” Pulling the blanket aside from the child’s face Elladan watched in aw as a smile broke widely across Glorfindel’s face, tears building in his eyes as he stared down at his son.

“He is beautiful.” Glorfindel laughed softly as the babe instantly stopped it’s crying at being now cradled in the arms of his father.

“Aye, he looks just like Legolas.” Glorfindel nodded at Filgree who had taken up position next to him, both of them staring down into the wide green eyes of the elfling. As if afraid to touch Glorfindel ran his hand gently across the babe’s face watching in aw as the child nuzzled into him cooing softly as his tiny hands reached out to grasp the few blond strands of hair that hung down in Glorfindel’s face. The child in itself was a miracle and to Glorfindel it was the son he’d so looked forward to seeing in the darkest hours of his life. Chuckling softly Glorfindel held his son closer to his chest as a cool wind blew down from the mountain. Sensing the father and son’s need for warmth Filgree draped a blanket over the pair sitting by the fire and moved away to give them space. Glorfindel had begun to whisper softly in Quenya to his son, still in aw of his first child that he held in his arms. Stepping away from the scene Filgree approached Haldir and Elladan who were now conversing quietly out of hearing range of Glorfindel.

“….And Legolas condition? Is he well?” Filgree came in midway through Elladan’s questioning only to watch as Haldir sadly shook his head.

“Nay, Ed wad was up to his elbows in my son’s blood when I left. I am worried that he will not ive.ive.” Tears threatened to spill from Haldir’s eyes and Filgree instantly comforted the marchwarden trying his best to keep the sight away from Glorfindel. It would not do to having Glorfindel worry more than was necessary, especially if it meant upsetting the child also, who by nature was acutely in tune with it’s parents behaviour and emotions.

“Maybe I should go and see if I can help?” Elladan made to begin the journey up the mountainside but Filgree held him back with a firm hand.

“Nay there is little you will be able to do, you are far better help staying here and protecting the little one, should we encounter unwanted attention. We can only pray to the valar to spare Legolas’ life so that he too may look upon the face of his son as his mate does.” At Filgree’s words the three elves looked sadly over to where Glorfindel had lay down next to the fire his son cradled against his chest. The child was crying it’s tiny hands grasping and grabbing at Glorfindel’s dirt riddled tunic. In the silence Glorfindel seemed to feel his attention and instantly glanced up to look at the three elves that were now staring at him and his son so seriously. Despite their attempts at hiding it Glorfindel already knew what they had been discussing but he refused to think morbidly about what might come to pass. Legolas was strong, a fighter that would not give up, and having stared into his son’s eyes Glorfindel was sure his mate would not pass. Legolas still clung to the bond with Glorfindel and now his child and despite its weakness Glorfindel could still feel his mates presence within his mind, which was enough to keep the fear away for the time being.

In an attempt to alleviate some of the tension Glorfindel eased himself up still trying to comfort his son who was now crying ferociously, his face pink with frustration and the tips of his ears hot to the touch.

“I think he is hungry…” Pausing as the wind picked up a strange smell Glorfindel sniffed suspiciously at the air surrounding the child he held before continuing. “…Or perhaps it is something else?” Gesturing to his son in his arms Glorfindel looked all the world like a typical new parent as he cautiously looked into the swaddling blanket for any signs of the offensive smell that had reached his senses. Haldir and Filgree chuckled heartily as Glorfindel drew back from his son before quite ungraciously smelling himself. The seneschal’s expression told the full story of the offensive smell as Glorfindel pulled an indignant grimace having caught a scent of his own odour. “Nay Celulass is just hungry, it is I that smell so hideously.” Haldir and Filgree had already begun to make their way over to Glorfindel, having left Elladan to talk to the small few company of guards that were left defending the makeshift camp. Both elves however paused mid-stride stunned as what Glorfindel had just said sank in.

“Cess? ss? I did not know that you and Legolas had already chosen a name for the child?” Haldir was shocked as he lowered himself down to sit beside Glorfindel while Filgree began creating a warm elixir, that while being no substitute for it’s parents milk would certainly alleviate the babes hunger until such time as a better substitute was at hand.

“Nay we did not have time to discuss such things together the name has merely dawned on me as I was sitting here.” Haldir frowned a little across at Glorfindel worried that Legolas might like to have say in his son’s name. Despite his misgivings however Haldir merely remained silent as Filgree interrupted having sensed the tension between the two warriors.

“It is a beautiful name Glorfindel but what is it’s meaning?” Reluctantly Glorfindel relinquished his son to Filgree’s caring embrace, the warm elixir already beginning to heat upon the side of the fire.

“Spring leaf. Leaf in honour of Legolas for giving me such a beautiful gift sprispring for the light he brings me, after such a dark and terrible winter.” Glorfindel sighed heavily as both Haldir and Filgree nodded their agreement with the choice of name. It was a fitting name for the son of a king and beautiful too, which reflected the unmatched fairness of both his loving parents. The moment of silent reflection of what had come to pass and what was still to unfold before them was shattered by Celulass’ cries. Concerned for his son Glorfindel watched on closely as Filgree tried and failed serval times to drip the tiny amounts of the warm elixir into the child’s mouth. Celulass was having none of what was offered however and screamed even harder as he was passed between all three elves, all of them failing in their attempts at feeding him.

“It is no good he will not take it for it is not what he wants.” With an exasperated sigh Glorfindel pushed the small wooden bowl of the warm liquid away from him, having spilt more on himself than anything positive. Bringing his son up to his chest Glorfindel gently rocked him in his arms and while the motion seemed to lesson the child’s distress it did nothing to alleviate the restless squirming. It was obvious to everyone that Celulass cried out for Legolas but with no way of telling how Legolas condition was it was impossible to predict when the child and his maternal parent would be reunited.

“I think I should return to the cave and see what is happening. It is not safe for us to stay here so exposed, and those still recovering on the western plains will be eager to begin the slow journey back to their realms and they need leadership and organization to do so. We are all weary from battle still and need the comfort of our homes to recover fully from our toil.” Both Glorfindel and Filgree nodded in agreement, Filgree having sported his own injuries from battle in silence, while Glorfindel could still hardly walk from his own illness and weakness.

“Very well I will have Elladan begin to ready the horses to return to the main camp on the western flats. With luck Legolas may be well enough to be moved if not we will have to leave without the other party in the hopes they will follow when the prince is eventually well enough.” Filgree’s plan sounded reasoned and well organized and despite his reluctance to leave Legolas behind, it was in the fear for the safety of his son that Glorfindel reluctantly agreed. With a curt nod of understanding Haldir began scrambling back up the rocks of the cliff face and into the mist, which had lessoned considerably since their arrival. Behind him Glorfindel continued to hold Celulass against his chest his eyes tightly shut as he tried to regain the strength to connect with Legolas through their bond. If Glorfindel could just reassure his mate that he was there for him everything would be well…….

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

(A?N) Well I hope you like Glorfindel's name for his son, I hope too that Legolas likes it considering he doesn't know a lot yet. Apart from that I hope you're still enjoying this story and when we get to Rivendell it'll be all over and done with.....so keep reviewing if you can and thanks for the support. Stay tuned for another update probably over the weekend if you're lucky.

Thankies

RIFFRAFF