Mending a Heart

Chapter 18: Confrontation

Elladan watched in disbelief as Legolas and Mander parted. He stared in dismay as the prince entered the manor. Elladan couldn’t help but feel as though he had been stabbed in the chest. Trying to decide what course of action to take next, he walked slowly to the south garden alone.

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“What have you done to yourself?” Legolas asked gently, inspecting Revin’s wounded arm carefully.

“I fell out of a tree,” Revin replied, blushing furiously.

“You fell out of a tree?” Legolas asked, eyeing the young, male elf skeptically.

“Aye,” Revin replied, nodding vigorously.

Legolas smiled and nodded his head, pretending to accept Revin’s story. But Elrond had told the prince that Revin desired to be a great warrior and would often take his father’s sword, sneak off and practice unsupervised. He had injured himself on numerous occasions. No matter how much he was scolded for doing this, Revin would never listen.

Legolas prepared a salve for the wound and then dipped a piece of cloth into a small bowl. Gently, he began to clean Revin’s injury.

“Ai,” Revin whimpered, flinching as the prince continued to treat the wound.

“I am sorry Revin,” Legolas said gently. “This ointment stings a little, I’m afraid. However, in just a few moments it will feel much better.”

Revin nodded slowly even though his eyes were tightly shut.

Legolas couldn’t help but smile. It had been many years since he had come in contact with an elf as young as Revin. His princely duties kept him so occupied that he did not usually have time to speak with elves who were not yet fully grown.

“Revin?” Legolas asked curiously. “May I ask you a question?”

“Aye,” Revin replied, never opening his eyes.

“How old are you?” Legolas asked, placing the cloth onto a nearby table and picking up another one and dipping it into a small bowl of water.

“I am nearly ten years of age,” Revin said, opening up his eyes when Legolas applied the cool water to the wound.

“Ai, you are young,” Legolas said, grinning.

Revin pouted and glared at Legolas in annoyance.

Legolas felt his smile widen. Revin looked so much like Elladan. He had the same grey eyes and dark hair and the same stubborn demeanor. For a moment, Legolas began to think about their argument and he felt guilty for hurting Elladan’s feelings.

“I will be ten years of age on the date of my conception,” Revin explained. “So you see that I am not **that** young.”

“You are right,” Legolas said apologetically. “I am very sorry for the mistake.” He began to wrap Revin’s cut arm with a long, thin strip of cloth. “Methinks that it would be prudent for you to stay out of trees for awhile.”

“Aye,” Revin said, nodding.

“Here are some additional cloths for you. Tell your parents that the wound needs to be rewrapped at midday and again this evening. That way, it will stay clean and free from infection. By tomorrow morn, the wound should have almost completely healed. Thus, you can take the bandage off. I shall come and see how you are doing this evening.”

“Alright,” Revin said, turning to leave.

“Revin?” Legolas called.

“Aye,” Revin replied, looking back at the prince.

“Your father will wonder where his sword is if you do not hurry home and put it away,” Legolas said firmly. “Lord Elrond has spoken to me of your folly and has asked you not to use your father’s weapon without his permission.”

Revin stared at Legolas, openmouthed.

“If you promise that you will not take it again, when I journey to your home tonight, I shall ask your parents if I can teach you some very basic techniques.”

“You will?” Revin asked excitedly.

“Aye,” Legolas said, smiling gently.

“I give you my word,” Revin said, running over and embracing the prince around the waist tightly. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” Legolas said, as Revin let go of him and raced out of the study.

Legolas washed his hands in a large bowl of clean water and dried them with a cloth. Smiling to himself, he decided that he truly enjoyed healing the injured and wondered what it was like to heal an elf that had been seriously hurt. He wondered what it had been like when Celebrian was brought home.

“Father?” Elladan said as he entered the study.

Legolas turned around and gave Elladan an annoyed look. “He is not here.”

“Oh,” Elladan said quietly. “Do you know where I may find him?”

“He is meeting with some of the elves from Lothlorien,” Legolas said, ignoring Elladan and beginning to busy himself around the study.

“Perhaps I should wait here for him,” Elladan said, hoping to engage the prince in conversation.

“That is not necessary,” Legolas said coolly. “I will tell him that you were here.”

“Are you learning to be a healer?” Elladan asked curiously. He was trying to change the subject, so that he could spend some time with the prince.

“’Tis none of your concern,” Legolas replied icily. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have much to do here.”

“Legolas?” Elladan began. “I know that you are angry with me. I know that I have made some mistakes, but. . .”

“Elladan,” Legolas warned, “I do not wish to speak to you about this. I do not wish to speak to you at all.”

“Please, just let me explain,” Elladan pleaded.

“Nay!” Legolas snapped, becoming angry. “I want you to leave at once!”

“Why won’t you just speak with me?” Elladan asked sadly. “I know that I deserve your wrath and thus, you do not have to act like a victim. . .”

“What?” Legolas spat angrily, interrupting Elladan. “The only victim in this room will be you in just a moment, if you do not leave at once!”

“I shan’t leave until you speak to me,” Elladan said in desperation. “Please, Legolas. . .”

“Alright then,” Legolas hissed, glaring at Elladan. “What aspect of your deceit do you want to explain to me? Ah! Perhaps, you can justify the reason you stole from me. Not only did you pilfer my letter and parcel, but you stole my heart as well.”

“Your heart, eh?” Elladan asked, slowly. “Well, it would seem that whatever I took from you has been returned. You now have the belongings that I hid from you. And your heart has been given to Mander. Clearly, I am not a very good thief if everything that you lost was returned so quickly.”

“You are an expert thief and a spy, too, it would seem,” Legolas said derisively. “And my relationship with Mander is none of your concern!”

“I. . . I want you to be happy,” Elladan said, looking in the prince’s angry blue eyes.

“Indeed?” Legolas asked coldly. “Tell me, is that what you would have said to my father if I had died because of your departure?”

“I doubt if the **great** Thranduil would have cared what I said,” Elladan snapped hotly. “I am only a Rivendell elf. We are only good for bedding and cooking. Perhaps, the magnanimous king would come here for a reprieve from his daily royal woes and indulge in the hospitality of Rivendell. I know of a few ignoble elves that would be pleased to satisfy him in **every** way. Of course, all elves from this realm are vile creatures. . . so I guess the darling king can choose any elf that suits his fancy.”

“How dare you speak about my father that way!” Legolas shouted. “Are you calling my father a whore?”

“I am simply saying that I do not care for the king or anything that he has to say about Rivendell or the inhabitants here,” Elladan said frankly.

“Well, that explains why you would treat me so badly,” Leg ret retorted. “If you do not like my father, then you must not like me. We are very much alike, the **great** Thranduil and I.”

“Indeed?” Elladan asked crossly. “Then I have underestimated you, Prince. While my guise did not fool you, you certainly tricked me. I thought that you were noble and brave, not a coward like the king.”

Legolas’ face turned bright red. He placed his hand underneath the edge of a nearby table and overturned it. The table and all of the contents upon it crashed and fell to the floor.

Legolas gave Elladan a threatening stare and began to approach him predatorily. “This is the second time that you have mocked my father this day!” he shouted. “But I assure you, it shall be the last time that you speak ill of him or anyone else.”

“I am not afraid of you, Legolas,” Elladan said indignantly.

Legolas stopped abruptly. “Indeed?” he asked threateningly. “Well, your fearlessness will change when I cut your tongue out!” He lunged toward Elladan abruptly. “Do you fear me now?”

Elladan moved out of the way just in time. “I stand by my word. I do not fear you. You are not the only warrior in this chamber. I assure you that cutting my tongue out will not be easy. But if you are somehow able to slay me this day, perhaps, you should take my heart instead of my tongue to your father. I’m sure he could display it along with all of the other hearts that he’s stolen.”

“You would mock him thrice?” Legolas yelled, enraged. “You will pay for your lip, Elladan!”

“I care not,” Elladan said sadly. “I have already lost everything. . . my mother and my dearest love. Losing my life no longer matters to me, for I shall die the day you leave for Mirkwood.”

“What?” Legolas shouted, looking at Elladan, confused.

Elrond and Elrohir entered the study and looked carefully at Legolas, Elladan and the disarray in the study.

“Elrond, you’d better get your treacherous spawn away from me, or your ability to heal will be tested this day. I wonder how difficult it would be to reattach someone’s arms? In a moment, we shall see!”

“Legolas,” Elrond said commandingly, “calm yourself at once.”

Legolas frowned and crossed his arms over his chest defiantly.

“Please allow me to speak to my son alone,” Elrond continued, looking at the prince firmly.

“Very well,” Legolas said, casting Elladan an angry glance.

Elrohir looked at the prince with determination and followed behind him silently as he left the room.

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“Legolas, may I have a word with you?” Elrohir asked the moment that they were away from the study.

“Aye,” Legolas said, turning around to face Elrohir. “What is it?”

“I want to speak to you about Elladan,” Elrohir began. “It is not right for you to be so cruel to him. He is suffering, too.”

Legolas set his jaw and looked at Elrohir in exasperation. “Our conflict is none of your concern.”

“Yes it is,” Elrohir protested. “Elladan is my twin brother and I love him. I want him to be happy.”

“Aye,” Legolas said, smiling faintly. “But your loyalty is to your brother, not to me. What about what I want? Have you even considered that I am hurting, too?”

“I. . . I. . .” Elrohir stammered.

“I have no doubt that Elladan tells you everything,” Legolas continued. “And thus, you may have known about his deceit for a very long time. I do not hold you accountable though, as the majority of the treachery was done by Elladan himself.”

“Legolas. . .” Elrohir began.

“Nay, Elrohir,” the prince said, interrupting Elrohir. “You are a good brother. You would stand by Elladan through anything. . . whether he is right or wrong. I admire your loyalty. But you must understand that loyalty to Elladan usurps your concern for me. I know that you are twins, but you do not have to make the same mistakes. Do not cross me, Elrohir.”

Elrohir watched in defeat as Legolas sta off off down the long dark corridor.

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“Elladan,” Elrond said sternly, “you will not bring the prince to wrath, do you understand?”

“Ai, slow down Father,” Elladan said, raising his hands in protest. “I did no such thing. Remember, the prince tried to kill **me**.”

“If the two of you come to blows, I will hold you responsible. Despite what happened between you, Legolas is a guest here,” Elrond stated firmly.

“He threatened to rip my arms off!” Elladan exclaimed in shock. “And he told me that he was going to cut my tongue out!” He crossed his arms and began to caress them affectionately.

“Elladan. . . “ Elrond began.

“I am quite fond of my arms, Father,” Elladan said flatly. “I like my tongue, too.”

“Elladan. . . “ Elrond tried to speak once again.

“What would our kindred think if you told them that vile creature without any arms and no tongue was your son?” Elladan asked, looking at Elrond with wide eyes. “However would I fight or even speak to you, or anyone? What if I came upon some noble elves while on a great journey? What would I say to them? Nothing. . . because I would not be able to speak! And how would I sit comfortably upon my steed? Have you even considered that, Father? I suppose you could get some rope and tie me to my horse. That way I could still serve Rivendell. I couldn’t guide my steed very well, but at least I could stay on it! I would not be a he. I would be an it. My name would be changed from Elladan to Itadan. Perhaps I could remain on the border patrol and frighten away the orcs with my appearance. Ha! Tell the prince to come at me again! Even without arms I still have my legs. I will. . . I will kick him, Father.”

“Elladan would you be serious for a moment?” Elrond asked in annoyance. “You will not distract me or successfully change the subject by jesting this day. You need to calm yourself.”

“I am completely serious, Father,” Elladan said innocently. “The next time someone threatens to. . . de-tongue and. . . be-arm. . . un-arm you, I surely won’t think that you are jesting.”

Elrond gave Elladan a reprimanding look and Elladan sighed in defeat. “Legolas is confused, angry and hurt.”

“I know,” Elladan admitted.

“When you left his condition worsened and he blames you for that,” Elrond explained gently. “Remember, I told you not to leave, but you did not listen. You will have to face the consequences of your actions. You will not be able to jest your way into his heart.”

“I know,” Elladan said sadly. “But. . . I love him and I know not what to do.”

“What do you want to do?” Elrond asked.

“I want to talk to him. I want to explain. . . everything. I want to tell him the reason for my deceit. . . my treachery.”

“Treachery?” Elrond asked in alarm. “Have you been dishonest with the prince?”

“Aye,” Elladan said, nodding. “The day that I gave you the letter from King Thranduil, Legolas also received a letter and a parcel. I. . . I hid them from him.”

“What?” Elrond asked in disbelief. “Why would you do such a thing?”

“I. . . I. . . “ Elladan began.

“Elladan,” Elrond said gravely, “you should not have done that.”

“I know,” Elladan said, looking down at the floor. “But I just had to know. . . I. . .”

“It is none of my concern,” Elrond said abruptly. “I do not want you to a the the prince further by sharing any of his private information with me. This quarrel is between you and Legolas and I do not want to be a part of it.”

“I love him, Father,” Elladan said softly. “I love him. Please, tell me what to do.”

“The prince may never forgive you, Elladan,” Elrond said gently, placing his hand on his son’s shoulder. “However, if I were in your position, I would fight for him. Do not corner or confront him, because Legolas will lash out at you. Perhaps, you can find a creative way to convince him to talk to you. Maybe, in time, he will understand your reasoning.”

Elladan pondered his father’rds rds and then smiled brightly. “I have an idea.”

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TBC. . .