Gondor's King

Chapter 17

My body feels as if it is made of nothing but wafer thin parchment, a drift in a soft breeze out of my control. My mind drifts precariously upon the edges of complete blackness although a soft single light pierces the abyss every so often with a comforting warmth that spreads throughout my body as it slowly grows around me. The glowing light makes me tingle from head to foot and I watch in short stills as my childhood drifts before me like sketches from a book. I remember tales from the battlefield of men near death reliving their lives over again in the moments before they die and I feel my heart clench in my chest as I realise that this is what they speak of. If I had any strength left within my body I would cry for what I leave behind. Aratula and Kahual are far too young to be left fatherless and I have not spoken my final parting words to Legolas as I had so often planned to do in my nightmares of my death.

My sadness however slowly begins to ease as I feel a ghosting of a hand across my face, it’s tender caress like nothing I have ever felt before in my life. While it is cool to my skin it radiates an inner fire within me as it passes down my torso breathing life back again into my weak body. A hear a voice not far away whispering to me the sound one I have not heard in years. They speak in Quenya and it sounds as graceful as it always did from between their lips.

”Arwen.” I call to her my, wife of an age but my voice is nothing but an inaudible swallow in my throat. Slowly a vision appears before me and I smile at her as she kneels before me her ethereal glow illuminating everything around me in a wash of light only seen in the valar.

“Be at ease Estel. It is not your time.” Confused by her words I attempt to sit up and embrace her but I begin to feel heavy again my body beginning to ache as it did in the darkness before the light. “He calls to you my love, he gives you the most precious gift he has so that he may save you from these halls if only for a few short moments.” I struggle to breath as the ache in my body grows and the darkness begins to descend upon me again. Arwen is fading from my sight and I reach out to her instinctively afraid of what is coming and what she speaks of. “Do not give up hope Estel, he will be there with you always as will I. I release you from any promises you made to me. You have given me your gift as I did to you, now let him give you his in return for he has never considered giving it to anyone else.” Arwen is gone from my vision within an instant and blackness has completely filled my mind, only the murmuring of her voice remains as I struggle to breathe. “There is always hope Estel Be with him my love and be content knowing that I will watch over you both until you meet me here in the West.” With that I gasp a final breath before I remember nothing but the painful ache in my chest and heaviness of my limbs. My heart is warmed by Arwen’s words and I pray to the valar for the chance if only for a moment to look upon the face of Legolas once more……

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A soft voice sings to me it’s lyrical elfish words washing over me to leave me feeling utterly calm. The song is sad and tells of heartache and lost love. I cannot remember hearing it before and maybe it is for the best as the song is dreadfully sad. My body aches and I have neither the strength nor capacity to move, or even open my eyes. So in the darkness I continue unmoving to listen to the song and the beautiful voice that sings it. Slowly I become aware of my surroundings the distinctly different textures and surfaces that are touching my skin are acute and I feel over sensitive to everything. As life seems to seep into my body again I focus more on the voice singing and the familiarity of it. I know I should remember who it is but at the moment names fail me and only disjointed images swim in my head. As the song continues I feel wet droplets of water roll down my cheeks and I am somewhat surprised to find that they are not mine. The tears roll onto my lips and I barely open my mouth enough to taste the salty fluid on my tongue. Becoming more aware of my surroundings I find myself a captive of someone’s presence, clutched to a firm, warm chest. My captive’s hands are wrapped around my shoulders and the back of my head supporting me as we gently rock backwards and forwards. I can feel the vibrations of their chest and I know that they mustthe the owner of the voice that sings so beautifully. Desperate now to learn my captives identity and frustrated by my lack of memory I inhale lightly on their scent. They smell of forest, of dewy grass and freshly fallen leaves. I have smelt them before and I find myself able to nuzzle closer to them eager to drowned in their scent that brings so much comfort.

The song falls quiet as I move in my captive’s arms. My body protests any movement but I force myself to clutch at their body with my hands, although I can hardly feel them in my weakened state.

“He wakes, he is alive.” A whispered breath falls upon my face and I can hear the relief in their voice as they place a gently kiss upon my forehead as their tears once again begin to fall upon me. I distantly hear others around me moving and speaking but I cannot make them out as yet. Another presence becomes close to me and I turn closer into my captive away from the second presence unsure of them. I cannot know who they all are and I haven’t the strength to defend myself from any threat. I feel a soft hand come to rest upon my forehead while the other drops to my chest to lie across my heart. The hands stay put for a while before I hear another very familiar voice whisper lightly across me to my captive.

“It is weak but his heart beats and his chest rises with every breath. He is alive.” My captive pulls me closer and I welcome the strength of his embrace that I myself lack at present.

“Estel, my love.” My captive whispers my name and I find myself overwhelmed with emotion as I remember whose voice it is. Slowly I open my eyes tears clouding them a little as I focus slowly upon the person that holds me close. It is the most beautiful blue eyes that greet my first vision from the blackness and I smile weakly as tears slowly drop from them to land upon my face as he looks down upon me. I feel the silky touch of his long hair brush my skin as he shifts me closer and a little more upright so that I can breath easier, his hands never faltering in their support of my weak body. I go to speak but can barely hold my head up. He shakes his head slowly and presses a light finger against my lips to silence me. “Shhhh do not speak save your strength.” He whispers lightly in elvan to me his lips brushing against my cheek as he moves a stray hair away from my face and combs it back for me. “I nearly lost you.” The comment is not designed for a response and I merely smile again as he brushes a softly hand down my cheek and leans down to gently kiss my cheek.

I am tired and I waver a little unable to keep my eyes open for a long time.

“Come now, you both need rest. This has been a draining experience on you both and though you may be through the worst the resting period is the most vital.” The second presence at my side gently unwraps my captive’s arms from me and I am moved most reluctantly into the arms of the second presence. “Glorfindel, Haldir help Legolas to his room, keep him warm in the bed. They are drained and susceptible to infections and viruses, we must be vigilant in their health.”

“No don’t take him away from me.” I hear Legolas’s desperately weak plea as I’m lifted from the ground into a strong embrace. This man smells quite different from Legolas almost like spring flowers on a warm afternoon. I ponder on that thought for a moment and remember slowly of Rivendell and of its lord. This man is certainly Lord Elrond of Rivendell.

“Perhaps it will be less distressing to them both if we place them in the same room. At least them tending them will be easier.” I hear another familiar voice not far away and I smile at his thought. I do not want to be parted from Legolas not now, not ever. I hear Elrond’s chest rumble for a moment in thought before he replies.

“Very well Glorfindel, maybe you are right. Arionetta my dear go and fetch Aratula. Have her organise some food from the kitchens and have some of her fathers clothes moved to Legolas’s chambers. She will be with her brother watching over Breachtian in the healers rooms.” I do not remember the names that roll easily off Elrond’s tongue although I know I should but it is all too much at the moment to comprehend and I am fighting to stay alert to the voices around me. “Yes you may tell them that their father is well and that as soon as I have them both settled I will come to them.” I feel myself being moved in the strong arms before we’re moving swiftly towards a destination unknown. Elrond is whispering to me in elfish as we walk, it is hardly loud enough to be heard and I know it is for my ears only.

”You are lucky my son, to be so graced by the elf who loves you more than life itself. You were so close and I was so afraid of losing you both, but you are stubborn just like your son and we never gave up hope.” I reward Elrond with a weak smile enough to show him that I heard his words but not enough to use what remains of my strength. Slowly I’m lowered into a large soft bed and I find myself instantly covered in blankets. There are murmured voices in the room and before long I feel the bed yield and another presence slide under the blankets beside me. Warm arms encircle my waist and I am pulled into the strong chest of my captive once more. From the smell there is only one person who it could be and I smile to myself at Legolas’ body pressed against mine. I sigh lightly as the silky golden hair falls over my shoulders as I rest my head down upon the pillow. I have longed for this for a lifetime it seems and now it I have it I cannot get enough of the intoxication of Legolas. I snuggle closer as the murmurings around me fall into a distant silence and I assume we are finally left alone. I shift restlessly for a while before a calm hand gently cups my cheek in a soothing gesture.

”Shhh be still Estel and rest. I am here and will stay until you wake.” The words wash over me in a wave and I feel the last bit of tension drift from my body as sleep finally claims me into its darkened arms. There is a part of me that has been filled, something that has been empty for so long and now brims to overflowing, so that even my dreams are happy. He is mine and no one can take that away.

THE END………….

To Be Continued in “Forest of Whispers”

(A/N) Well I’ve probably annoyed you all again by this particular ending. I know the types of questions you’re all asking… (What happened to Aragorn and Legolas? What happened to Breachtian and Elrohir? What about poor left out Haldir? What happened to the smut I promised?) Well all these are very good questions indeed and to all of them and more you will find the answers in the final story of this trilogy. There are going to be some revelations in the next part, some hidden desires revealed and I thought I’d give Elrond some action with the most unlikely person imaginable, I might just throw a threesome in there too if ya lucky. As always feedback is most welcome and this time it’s not a good idea to ask for references to tolkien cause lets face it this kind of goes beyond anything he would have ever imagined for his characters. Thanks again to those who replied to ‘Creature Comforts’, your kind and useful words were inspiration to keep this and the next one going.

Thankies
Riff Raff.