The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 141

Glorfindel hobbled unsteadily but unaided into the tent, Elrohir Elrond and Filgree trailing behind the seneschal who had shunned all their offers of help. It had taken them almost until nightfall to return to the major encampment on the western fields but they had returned in triumphant. Glorfindel’s recovery had been almost miraculous and all who had witnessed it could hardly believe their eyes. The warrior had been hardly able to breath let alone walk yet having ridden by the side of Legolas all afternoon, their hands intertwined, the strength had finally returned to Elrond’s chief guardian. Admittedly Glorfindel was by no means well again but his determination to get better had increased, his own healing ability working overtime. Legolas too had seemed to recover a little if not so dramatically as his lover. The prince was still weak and had slept in a deep healing slumber the entire journey but having checked the wound upon his abdomen Elrond had been pleased to see the healing already beginning.

Now having returned to the encampment the work had truly begun. Celeborn, Haldir and Thranduil had been quickly assigned to begin readying the troops to return to their realms, while Elrohir, Elrond and Filgree had been quick to start the rounds of the sick and injured they had left behind the previous day. Elladan along with Haldir’s two brothers, a still injured Erestor and Hale, Thranduil’s eldest son had gone to work with the councillors ensuring the new agreements between the elvan realms were properly written out and overseen to ensure consistency, while also addressing the many messages that had been sent from the realms. Everyone who was able was assigned a task and in the last rays of the daylight had begun the revolution.

Much to Glorfindel’s own dismay he had been confined to the tent with his lover, prohibited by the three formidable elvan lords from doing anything. While Glorfindel was recovering Legolas was still weak and needed the close proximity to his lover to recover himself. Not that Glorfindel minded being idle with his lover after all he had heard about the decisions which had been made after the battle and Glorfindel was not sure he wanted out of the tent at all. The rumours had spread like wildfire and while none had been confirmed as yet Glorfindel feared what responsibilities had been placed upon his lover and himself.

It was only after a small meal that Glorfindel had been allowed to leave the tent after insisting that he wanted to see his son. So far Filgree had been taking care of Celulass giving Legolas time to recover without the demanding cries of his son but now as the child began to whimper for it’s parents Filgree had relented and done as the child bid.

Glorfindel gently eased himself down into the soft cushions of the tent a little fatigued by the walk around the camp but not willing to show his weakness as Legolas turned over. The prince had awoken earlier when Glorfindel first left but had dozed fitfully until his lover had returned. Now fully awake and feeling a little better and a lot less sore Legolas gratefully accepted Elrond’s aid in sitting up.

“You look better Legolas.” Legolas smiled weakly and closed his eyes as Elrond gently eased the bandage up from the wound on Legolas stomach to check on it as he had done every hour since their arrival back at camp. Satisfied that the wound was still healing and the infection was being overcome Elrond sat back and watched patiently as Elrohir helped the prince eat some of the warm broth they had brought for him.

“Aye we were all worried for you.” Elrohir chuckled softly as he missed Legolas mouth with the spoon full of broth, dribbling it down the prince’s chin in a very undignified manner. Glorfindel grumbled at Elrohir’s clumsiness but Legolas merely chuckled himself and crudely wiped the drip from his chin with the edge of the blanket.

“What of the war? Did we win?” Having had enough of his meagre meal Legolas turned his attention to Elrond eager to know what had come to pass. He was still weak but still concerned for everything that had happened; he had seen the injuries that everyone bore, the bruises on their faces and the red angry scratches that covered their skin. While it had been blurry Legolas had also seen the battlefield, the once green lush plains now a muddy pit, with a stench even he could smell in his fatigue. Elrond sighed softly and shook his head in gentle scorn. It was not the time to be discussing such things and there would be time enough when they reached Imladris to bring up such a topic.

“Aye we won green leaf but now is not the time for discussing such things for I believe there are far more pressing matters at hand to be dealt with.” As if on cue Filgree entered the tent a screaming bundle of elfling in his arms. Legolas was still reeling from having his his son the first time the presence in his mind now clearly identifiable as his son. It had been strange staring into the gaze of a life he had created. For so long he had carried the child inside him, distancing himself from what would happen but now as Filgree gently lowered the child into his arms did Legolas realize just how happy he was that he held in his arms his son. Glorfindel had told him also of the name he had come up with for their son during their journey down from the mountains, and Legolas had agreed that it was a perfect name for the one he cared for more than life itself.

“Celulass is hungry and not even my finest brew can tempt him. He is just as stubborn as you were my prince.” As a matter of fact Filgree gently sat himself down beside Legolas and helped the prince to support Celulass the correct way.

”I have to feed him?” Legolas looked slightly concerned across at Filgree who was already undoing the top few laces of the thin nightgown they had dressed the prince in earlier. Elrond, Filgree, Elrohir and Glorfindel all chuckled softly at the prince’s concerned expression, the innocents of Legolas still there even as he held his first-born son.

“Of course you do my love he will starve if you do not.” Legolas frowned across at Glorfindel who had eased himself slowly across the cushions and over to Legolas side, eager to see his son, of whom he could not get enough of.

“Do you all have to watch?” A slight blush crept up into Legolas’ still pale cheeks as Filgree drew down one edge of the prince’s night gown exposing the small plump breast on the right side. Again the party chuckled but having sensed the prince’s need for privacy all who were not necessary stood.

“We will come back later then Legolas.” Ushering Elrohir out of the tent first Elrond paused in the entrance way and smiled back at where Glorfindel was brushing his fingers gently through his son’s golden tuffs of hair. Legolas nodded weakly and watched Elrond leave before turning to Filgree who was waiting patiently for Glorfindel to finish his loving petting of his son.

“What do I do?” Looking to Filgree for guidance Legolas relaxed a little as his old tutor brought his hand up to the plump breast exposed by the nightgown. Glorfindel sat back a little from his lover and listened fascinated to Filgree who began to explain the process to Legolas.

“A little massage to coax the milk to the nipple then, support Celulass against your body and let him do the rest.” Following Filgree’s instructions Legolas watched in aw as his son quickly latched onto his dusky nipple and began to eagerly suck. The sensation was strange but not unpleasant and Legolas could only smile adoringly down at his son, who instantly relaxed and settled against him. Glorfindel too could not have been happier he too watching in aw as his son happily fed from its parent. Filgree smiled as he watched Glorfindel whisper something softly into Legolas’ ear, which made the prince blush profusely before the couple shared an intimate kiss. Sensing his intrusion in the family moment Filgree rose from the cushions and made his way over to the entrance to the tent pausing momentarily to look back at Legolas who was now smiling in thanks back at him. “In time your breasts will leak when the routine of feeding time is established, indicating when Celulass needs to be fed. Swap breasts occasionally to prevent soreness and ensure you rub his back gently when he is done to clear his passageways, he should then fall asleep when he is full and content.” With that Filgree left the family to themselves, there was only so much you could teach new parents the rest they had to discover for themselves.

With Filgree gone and the family finally alone Glorfindel let out a fatigued sigh. His leg ached from its wound and his temples pounded with lack of sleep. Legolas chuckled good naturedly across at his lover as Glorfindel lay himself down into the cushions beside him, so that he could still watch his son feeding.

”Oh for a long bath in the hot springs of Imladris, a fine hearty meal from the kitchens and our eiderdown bed.” Glorfindel closed his eyes momentarily as both he and Legolas imagined the wonderful activities that they longingly awaited upon their return home. Celulass’ content whimper broke the moment of fantasy and Glorfindel rolled unceremoniously over onto his side so that his head rested lightly on Legolas’ thigh. “I was glad you were not here when the battle raged my love, I would not have known what to do with myself knowing you were in danger.” Still supporting his son against his chest Legolas moved his free hand down to Glorfindel’s head, where he began to gently stroke his fingers through the dirtied, tangled gold tresses of his mate. While Legolas knew only little of what had happened on the field outside he knew how it had affected everyone involved. Just as those who had returned from the last alliance had never spoken of it again, so too would this battle be painfully forgotten.

“I am glad also I was not here but regretful that I did not tell you how much I loved you before you left. Perhaps had I seen you a last time before your departure I might not have been so lost when I thought I would die alone.” Glorfindel sat up sharply at Legolas’ confession, stunned that the prince had come so close as to have seen himself dying. As if to reaffirm their bond Glorfindel placed his bruised and cut hands either side of Legolas porcelain face holding the prince’s gaze as he pressed their foreheads together. The connection was weak still having been strained by their time apart but it was still there none the less. Legolas managed a grim smile as he heard Glorfindel’s voice in his mind.

‘I would never let you go without me Legolas, nor would my life be complete without you by my side. I will never let anything happen to you again…’ Glorfindel’s voice trailed off in Legolas mind the connection still complete but with another sudden presence.

‘Do you hear him Glorfindel?’ Legolas whispered softly across the connection to his lover as they both felt the presence of thier son pushing his way almost unconsciously into their bond. Glancing down between them both Legolas and Glorfindel smiled proudly as two, wide and exploring forest green eyes stared up at them. With a sword roughened hand Glorfindel gently began soothing his son’s back, Celulass having drunk his fill of his meal.

‘I think he has your nose.’ Still sharing thoughts Glorfindel placed a soft kiss on the end of Legolas nose for emphasis. Shifting lower Glorfindel placed a chase kiss up Legolas upper lip watching in delight as the prince closed his eyes and took a slight intake of air between his parted ruby red lips. Having been deprived such a luxury for so long Glorfindel could not help himself as he leaned further forward and fused his own lips with Legolas’. The soft gentle touch of lips turned almost carnal as Glorfindel pushed his tongue eagerly in, devouring his lover from the inside after such a long drought. Still to weak himself to fight for dominance in the embrace Legolas merely allowed himself to be pliable bending to Glorfindel’s will as the seneschal sought, claimed and took what he desperately needed. It was a muffled gurgle followed by a considerable burp sounding from between them that finally drew the couple apart. Legolas was left breathless by the intensity of the kiss but recovered enough to watch as Glorfindel began to laugh unrestrained. Never during their entire relationship had Legolas ever seen Glorfindel so easy and free of restraint. The seneschal’s face lit up in mirth as he lifted his son from Legolas and held him out in from of him at arms length, still shuddering with laughter.

“Are you sure my love that you have not bed someone else in my absence for I fear our son has the manners of an orc, of which I am sure he gets from neither of us.” With the connection broken Glorfindel laughed ehardharder at the angry expression that crossed Legolas features, who at present hadn’t found the joke about him cheating very funny at all. Rolling down onto his back Glorfindel rested Celulass against his chest as Legolas retied the laces of his nightrobe before lying down beside them. Just as Filgree had said Celulass curled up against his fathers chest his tiny hands folded up into the pockets of cloth of Glorfindel’s dirtied, torn and bloodied tunic. It was a strange sight for such a pure, innocent creature, flawless in it’s creation to find peace in the remains of war that covered still its parent. Stroking his fingers gently back and forth through his son’s golden hair Glorfindel reached out and allowed Legolas to snuggle into his side as both of them watched Celulass fall quietly into slumber on his father’s chest before they too fell asleep in each others arms…

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

(A/N) I appologise for the sappiness of this chapter, it's not my style and thus it will be counteracted with smut and elfin lovin in the next couple of chapters before the last and final chapter. Hope you're still reading, and only about four more chapters to go, if not less.

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RIFFRAFF