Mending a Heart

Chapter 17: Return

Legolas held Elladan’s gaze for a moment and then shook his head in annoyance. “When did you arrive?”

“This morn,” Elladan replied slowly. “Elrohir and I journeyed with some elves from Lothlorien. They had some affairs to take care of here.”

“You arrived this morn?” Legolas asked in disbelief.

“Aye,” Elladan said hesitantly.

The prince sighed heavily and walked away, disgusted.

Elladan watched sadly as Legolas slowly walked up the stairs.

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The next morning Elladan rushed down to the morning meal. He was hoping that he could speak with Legolas. The prince never came though, and Elladan felt his heart ache with each passing minute.

Elrond, Arwen and Elrohir shared concerned looks across the table, but no one said a word. They knew that reconciliation between the lovers would not be easy.

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Legolas sat in his bedchamber, trying to decide where to go and what to do. Finally making up his mind, the prince sneaked out of his room, down the stairs and out of the manor. He knew that Elrond and the others were at the morning meal. So, he was confident that he could escape unhindered.

Once the prince was outside, he began to walk quickly towards the stable. He wanted some time alone.

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“Where are you going?” Elrohir asked Elladan, grabbing his shoulder a bit forcefully.

“I. . .” Elladan began slowly. “I need to see him. I need to explain.”

“Elladan,” Elrohir said gently, “give Legolas some time to think. He may need to adjust to your arrival. After all, you said that he seemed very upset last night.”

“I know,” Elladan remarked quietly. “But I have to see him. I have to.”

Elrohir shook his head in disagreement as Elladan headed toward the prince’s bedchamber.

Elladan searched the manor, but the prince could not be found. Becoming more determined than ever, he decided to go and look in the stable.

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Legolas entered the manor, making sure to look around carefully. Sighing with relief that there was no sign of Elladan, the prince headed toward Elrond’s study.

“Legolas?” Elladan said, approaching the prince.

Legolas stopped abruptly and gave Elladan an irritated look. “What?” he asked coldly, avoiding Elladan’s eyes.

“I was wondering. . . wondering if we could. . . if we could talk?”

“Talk?” Legolas spat. “Talk about what?”

“About us,” Elladan replied gently. “About our relationship.”

“Relationship?” Legolas asked, shaking his head in disgust. “We have no relationship, Elladan.”

“I know that you are angry,” Elladan said, sighing heavily. “But I just wanted to explain. . .”

“You wish to explain?” Legolas asked, interrupting Elladan. “And what would you say? Would you tell me that you are sorry? Would you ask for my forgiveness?”

“Legolas, please. . .” Elladan said with a hint of pleading in his voice.

“I do not wish to hear anything that you have to say,” Legolas said angrily. “Do you know what I had to go through when you left? You knew of my condition. You knew how much I had suffered and yet, you still left me. Now, you suddenly reappear and you want to talk?”

“Legolas. . .” Elladan said, looking at the floor.

“I shan’t listen to you!” Legolas hissed. “It is my turn to talk, and your turn to listen.”

Elladan continued to look down at the floor.

“I came here to find solace. And I found it when I met you. . . I found comfort in your arms. You knew how serious my condition was and yet you left me here to die.”

“I didn’t. . . “ Elladan tried to explain.

“Yes you did!” Legolas yelled. “We spent nearly every waking moment together. . . and yet, you felt the need to steal from me. . . to lie. You used me.”

“Legolas,” Elladan said, “you don’t understand.”

“I do not care to understand you,” Legolas said flatly. “I do not care to ever see you again.”

“Please don’t say that,” Elladan said pitifully. “I only want to talk to you. . . to explain. . . that is all I ask.”

“I do not care about what you want,” Legolas stated furiously. “I do not want to hear your excuses. As far as I am concerned, you are a liar and a thief. What else have you hidden from me? If you stole my letter and my parcel, then perhaps you have taken more from me.”

“I shouldn’t have read the letter. . .”

“How noble of you to admit your error after your deceit has been discovered,” Legolas said sarcastically.

“Please, I. . .” Elladan began.

“Hold your tongue, Elladan, for I shan’t listen to anything that you have to say. Yon gon go and stay in Lothlorien for eternity. . . I care not,” Legolas said icily. “I do not need you any longer. You have been replaced. Just like I have no use for an old bow, I have no use for you. I require your services no longer.”

Elladan inhaled and exhaled emotionally. He felt as though he had been struck across the face.

“I have gotten much better without your aid,” Legolas continued coolly. “And thus, you are a hindrance to me rather than a help. If you’d like to service me, perhaps you could begin by washing the dirt from Yon’s hooves. You shouldn’t mind, I’m sure,” he sneered. “After all, it would seem that you and the filth on the ground are similar.”

“Ai,” Elladan said softly. The sting of Legolas’ words bit deeply into the dark-haired warrior’s heart.

“You are dismissed,” Legolas said simply. “Perhaps you should go and find Ulan. I’m sure that the two of you had plenty of time to talk during your journey here. I believe that you have much in common. You will make a lovely pair. And because you are both selfish liars, I’m sure that a courtship between the two of you would be everlasting.”

“That is cruel,” Elladan said, meeting Legolas gaze.

Legolas could see the effect that his words were having on Elladan as he stared at the prince mournfully. Although a part of him felt badly about the cruelty of his words, the other part of him wanted to see Elladan suffer. “**I** am cruel? Indeed? Well, I have spent most of my time here with you, have I not?” Legolas asked coldly. “I have learned from the best.”

Elladan closed his eyes and reopened them slowly. He couldn’t believe what Legolas was saying.

“I only have one other thing to say to you,” Legolas said sharply. “Perhaps, you will recognize the phrase as it is one you used so eloquently with me. I have to go.” The prince brushed past Elladan and walked up the stairs abruptly.

Elladan stood in the center of the room staring after the prince in incredulity. He knew that Legolas would be angry, but he had never anticipated the extent of the damage that he had done to their relationship.

“Elladan?” Elrohir said as he emerged from the parlor and walked over to his twin. “You look dreadful. What has happened?

Elladan looked at Elrohir in disbelief. “Legolas hates me,” he replied sadly.

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Legolas stormed outside, muttering under his breath. Walking to the south garden, the prince’s anger seemed to blind him. Without warning, he ran into something and fell backwards.

“Ai!” Arwen exclaimed as she fell to the ground.

“Arwen!” Legolas said, getting to his feet quickly and assisting the fair maiden. “I am very sorry. I did not see you. Are you alright?”

“Aye,” Arwen said as the prince helped her to stand. “You look upset. . . are you well?”

“I. . . I,” Legolas stammered. “Aye, I am fine.”

“You spoke to Elladan, didn’t you?” Arwen asked slowly.

“Aye,” Legolas replied, sighing.

Arwen wrapped one of her arms around the prince’s waist gently. “I see.”

Legolas felt some of his burden lessen in the company of Arwen. He pulled her into a tender embrace and rested his chin on top of her head. “We fought.”

“I know,” Arwen said softly. “I can see it in your eyes. You are hurting.”

“Aye,” Legolas remarked. The prince thought about their argument for a moment. *And so is he.*

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That night, Legolas did not go to the evening meal. Still trying to avoid Elladan, the prince decided to take a walk. He wandered to the northern garden for a change and sat down on the soft grass. Looking up at the sky, he enjoyed the warm breeze on his face.

“Good evening.”

Legolas looked around quickly and forced a smile when his eyes rested on Mander. “Hello.”

Mander approached the prince and stared at him carefully. “’Tis good to see you once again, Prince Legolas. How are you?”

“I am well,” Legolas lied, trying to smile brightly. “And how are you?”

“I am doing much better than you, it would seem,” Mander remarked, eyeing Legolas skeptically. “Your smile and your eyes are not in agreement.”

Legolas exhaled loudly and looked at the sky again. “I just need some time alone.”

“Ah,” Mander said, nodding. “I will leave you then. Farewell.”

“Nay. . . nay,” Legolas said, standing up abruptly. “I didn’t mean for you to leave. In fact, I would welcome your company. When I met you before, you said that you would like to become better acquainted with me. Perhaps, we could spend some time together now.”

“Alright,” Mander said, smiling warmly. “I just got off duty and was going to get something to eat. Would you like to join me?”

“Aye,” Legolas replied, smiling sincerely.

“Let us away then,” Mander said, patting the prince on the back.

Legolas walked away with Mander without looking back.

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When Elladan awakened the next morn, he bathed and got dressed quickly. He rushed to the prince’s bedchamber, hoping that he could talk to him before Legolas could escape. Upon entering the room, Elladan felt his heart skip a beat. The bedchamber was empty and it was apparent that Legolas had not slept in his bed. Immediately, Elladan became concerned. Choosing to forgo the morning meal, he decided to go and search for the prince. He silently prayed to the Valar that nothing had happened to his beloved.

Quickly, Elladan hurried down the stairs and out of the manor. But before he could get very far, he heard laughter. Hiding behind a large tree, he listened carefully.

“I shan’t let that happen again.” Mander said comically. “Those beasts should fear me!”

Elladan peeked around the tree and stared openmouthed at Mander and Legolas as they approached the manor.

The prince placed his hand on Mander’s shoulder and howled with laughter. “That they should. But perhaps you should try not to fall off of your steed in the future.”

“I was just a child!” Mander protested, grinning happily.

“You were not,” Legolas remarked playfully. “You were older than I am now. I hardly consider that to be a child. Save your excuses for the orcs. After your blunder, they may listen to you!” He began to laugh so hard that he clutched his stomach.

Mander chuckled and looked into the prince’s eyes. “I enjoyed spending the night with you. Perhaps. . . if you want to. . . you could. . .”

“Stay with you tonight?” Legolas asked anxiously.

“Aye,” Mander replied, smiling. “If you agree, I have a surprise for you.”

Elladan felt his face flush with anger as he dug his nails into the tree.

“I will arrive at your home at dusk,” Legolas said excitedly. “I have a surprise for you, too. And I assure you that mine is much better.”

“We shall see,” Mander sneered playfully.

“’Til dusk then,” Legolas said, nodding.

“’Til dusk,” Mander said, smiling.

Elladan watched as they parted and felt his heart nearly split in two. *I really have been replaced.*

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TBC. . .