Against all odds

Chapter eighteen more trouble in paradise

In the warm morning rays Legolas was sitting behind his table, feeling utterly alone. Even though the plate in front of him was filled beyond belief he didn’t touch it. He was too busy ‘eating’ his fingernails. He always did that when he was worried, troubled or concerned. And now that he had been waiting alone in the dining room for a while, his worry only increased.

He already was worried when he had arrived. Elrond had not come out to great him, and the Half-Elf always came to great his visitors. And besides Elrohir nobody had come to see him yesterday. Not that Elrohir had been really there. Legolas had been forced to speak to himself even with Elrohir present. And now there was nobody to enjoy breakfast with him. It was unnerving.

But finally Legolas heard voices. Lindir and Glorfindel were coming this way and they were conversing lively. When they entered the room they looked surprised to see only Legolas present. Glorfindel merely turned and left Lindir to play host.

“I am so sorry about his behaviour, highly peculiar, I must say. I think he’s gone to fetch the twins. They should be here. Entertaining you. Please forgive the chaotic and weird way things are going right now.”

Legolas instantly liked Lindir. He had to. Lindir had that effect on every elf. “Is everything all right? I noticed Lord Elrond’s absence yesterday. I trust he is well?”

Lindir did not know how to respond. He could impossibly tell the truth, but he couldn’t tell a lie either. Just then, Elrond himself walked into the dining room, solving Lindir’s problem.
Seeing Legolas Elrond addressed him kindly and in warm voice. “Prince Legolas. What a pleasant surprise to see you again. Elrohir told me arr arrived yesterday. I take it you found the journey rather boring?”

Legolas laughed openly when Elrond winked at him. It never seized to amaze him how well the Half-Elf knew him. But he did not like Elrond’s appearance. He looked too pale, almost haunted. And when Legolas saw the eyes, they were empty. Involuntarily he started biting again. “I see you haven’t lost your habits either.” Elrond commented, driving Legolas into another laughing fit. “Unfortunately that’s not all.” Glorfindel had returned and was dragging two sleeping elves along.

Elrohir and Elladan had barely slept last night. Besides their worry keeping them up Elrohir had told about Legolas’ arrival while Elladan had told everything about his walk with Lindir. He was full of the musical instrument and he had described it again and again, until Elrohir could draw a picture in his mind. They had just turned in when Glorfindel had burst into their room, dragging them out of bed, saying something about hosting and so on. The words had gone in one ear and out the other. Sleeping half-elves are so human.

But now that they were in the dining room they felt rather guilty and extremely sorry for letting Legolas alone. Elladan, being eldeeldest, apologized for them both.

“It’s alright. I’ve had extremely pleasant company.”

“From what? The plates?” Glorfindel’s voice sounded harsh.

“My dear Glorfindel, whatever do you mean? I clearly remember you having a very lively conversation with them not long ago.” Elrohir had instantly come to the defence.

Lindir looked weird. It didn’t sound like Glorfindel. But Elladan was now telling both him and Legolas of how they had come in and saw heard Glorfindel praise the plates. He did it very lively and Legolas could do naught but go into another laughing fit again, only aided by Lindir’s remark. “Well, there’s an interesting tale for a song. Or maybe a poem. Yes, I think I can certainly write something with this.”

Glorfindel reddened. “A lá lle á lesta. Lá irë míralyë ëa.”

Lindir pretended to be absolutely hurt and started to pout. “Nan Glorfindel, massë hirmë alassë ‘lléva?”

“Meryalë”

“Enough, the both of you. Sometimes I wonder if you too will ever change?” Elrond had had enough. He could not take their verbal jousting today. “And Lindir, I am glad to see you’re once again able to join our meals. It’s been too long.” Lindir nodded, but Elrond did not see; he was already looking at Legolas. “If you would bring your father’s message to my study after breakfast, Legolas, so I can read it and reply.”

“I have it with me my lord.” He stood and retrieved the message from a hidden pocket in his tunic. Bowing slightly he handed it to Elrond, who opened it and read it carefully.

“I see.” Elrond looked up, seeing four pairs of eyes fixed at him. Glorfindel and the twins knew him well and they knew the letter was serious. Legolas was also curious to know what was so damn important. Lindir was the only one in the room who did not care one way or the other, helping himself to another serving.

Elrond cleared his throat before he addressed Legolas once more. “Your father asks me to keep you here for some weeks, maybe even months. He says it’s unsafe for you to be anywhere else.”

Legolas jumped up. “I am not staying. I’m going back.” He slammed his fists on the table to emphasise his point.

But Elrond sed hed him. “No, Legolas, you’re not. Even if I have to throw you in jail. You are not leaving until your father says so.”

“But Mirkwood..”

Elrond knew what was coming, as did they all, and he quickly interrupted. “Mirkwood is in no danger, but you are. Read it yourself if you do not believe me.”

Legolas took the offered letter and read it himself. He paled. It scared the twins. Not even Erestor had been this pale. “I see.” A lone tear was seen sliding down Legolcheecheek.

Elrohir couldn’t take it anymore. He jumped from his seat, sending the chair on a collision course with the floor. “Cenen, cenen, that’s all you say. Can we be let in on the secret or what?”

Legolas shrugged. “Some maniac wants me dead and apparently he only fears Imladris. So I can’t leave.” This silenced them all.

Glorfindel rose. “I’m going to see to the security. Don’t worry. I’m not letting slip anything through again.”

Legolas glared at him. “I don’t need your help. I fought in the Ringwar. I don’t need you to protect me.”

“And I fought the balrog, and Elrond fought in the last alliance, do you really think that matters? Hina!” He sniffed and turned on his heels, swiftly striding away.

Elladan looked at Elrohir. He now understood what his twin had meant when he had described the earlier encounter as bizarre.

Legolas would have thrown his plate after the departing blond had Elrond not gotten a hold of his wrist. “Relax, Legolas. He means well. You two really need to try to get along.”

“Tell him.” Legolas sat down again, but immediately jumped back up. He had now realised Glorfindel’s slip up. “What did he mean: again?” All eyemedimediately focused upon Elrond. What would he say? “Orcs have penetrated our borders a little over six moons ago and he takes it as a personal failure.” He would not give anything away about the consequences.

“But they’re cunning andcan’can’t possibly be everywhere at once.” Elrond chuckled at the prince’s words. “Don’t be shocked, Legolas, but you are defending him.” “Am not, I just…”

Elrond broke out into a laughter, stopping the rest of Legolas’ arguments. Yes, having Legolas here would be marvellous. He stood and called breakfast to an end. “Elrohir and Elladan, please take care of our guest, show him the gardens or something. Which reminds me, Elrohir, have you visited Aiwë already?”

“No, ata, I did not have the time to do so, but if Legolas and Adan don’t mind, we can do so now.” Elladan nodded and Legolas was ok with everything.

After Elrond had left Lindir made himself scarce as well.

Legolas looked at Elrohir. He looked so familiar, but he had never met the twins before. Both times that he had been in Imladris the twins had been out on orchunt.

He looked from Elladan to Elrohir and back again. They really did look a lot alike, but he could tell them apart. Elladan was a tad more masculine than the younger twin. And even though both twins had grey eyes, Elladan’s were just a bit darker. Before Legolas could analyse the differences further he knew why he knew Elrohir.

“You were with Glorfindel!” He had spoken before he had realised it.

Elrohir looked at him stunned. An expression that said it all. Of course, you nitwit, you were there, remember?

Legolas reddened in embarrassment. “Elrohir, I am sorry, but I had no idea that was you.” Elrohir did his best to sound hurt as he answered. “Wow, you’re great. Saying our last meeting was too long ago when you don’t remember. Real fantastic.”
“You have to understand, Elrohir, I couldn’t show I did not know you when your greeting said I should. Glorfindel would have…”

Elladan growled. “What is it with you and Glorfindel? Secret lovers?” That got him a punch in the nose. Legolas hovered above Elladan. Red in anger. “NO! And if you ever suggest such a thing again I will personally feed you to a dragon.”

“There are no dragons here.” Came Elladan’s swift reply.

“I’ll ask Mithrandir for one.”

“He doesn’t interfere with other people’s business anymore.”

“He should.”

“And you should have recognized my brother.” This brought a smile to Legolas’ face and he extended his hand, pulling Elladan on his feet. “You shouldn’t be lying down, Elladan. We’re supposed to visit Aiwë. Lead the way Elrohir.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Erestor glared at the door as if to stab the unannounced guest through it. But it was useless. The knocking continued. “Who? What?” He practically shouted the words, but they did little to scare his visitor off.

“It is I, Lindir. Lord Elrond wanted me to inform you there’s a small party tonight, to welcome Legolas to Imladris and he also said you can return to duty as soon as you’re able.” Even though Lindir wasn’t afraid of Erestor, he knew better than to face the counsellor now, so he just called it through the door. He left when he heard Erestor reply.

Erestor was getting frustrated. The river was silent once more and he was feeling drained. Not enough to keep him to his bed, but enough to make him feel tired. And tonight he had to be at his best at that party. He could not stay absent, but he wondered how he was going to manage it.

He was about to throw heavy books at the door when he heard Lindir say he could return to work if he wanted. Work had always eased his mind.

He quickly put on his robes and ran out the door, but stopped soon. He was beginning to pant. He could not believe he was that weak. But he was. He hadn’t even run the entire corridor and already he pantpanting. He would have to take the rest slowly and gather his breathing, lest Elrond would know something wrong. And Erestor did not want that.

End chapter 18
TBC

Note:
a quick update before I go.

Translations:

A lá lle á lesta. Lá irë míralyë ëa means O no you won’t. if yif you want to life.

Nan Glorfindel, massë hirmë alassë ‘lléva means But Glorfindel, where is your feeling (literally: force) of joy?

Meryalë means holiday. (his sense of humour took a little vacation, hihihi)

Cenen means I see

Hina means young child. Elfling if you will; used here as an insult, after all: Legolas is way beyond maturity.