Mending a Heart

Chapter 19: Revelations

Over the next few days, Legolas kept his distance from Elladan. He busied himself by continuing to spend time with Mander and his female friends, assisting Elrond in the healing ways and teaching Revin the proper way to wield a sword. Even though the prince had very long and busy days, something was missing.

Legolas saw Elladan from afar and felt his heart begin to beat with excitement. Even though the prince was still furious with Elladan, he longed for the companionship that only Elladan could provide. Wishing that he hadn’t been so quick to dismiss his former lover, Legolas wondered what Elladan would have said. Pushing the thoughts of the handsome, dark-haired warrior aside, the prince tried to absorb himself in his daily tasks. He hoped that they could somehow replace the emptiness he felt inside.

To keep himself occupied, Elladan, along with Elrohir, took up his duties once again on the border patrol. He only worked during the morning hours though, hoping that the prince would eventually give him the opportunity to explain everything that had happened. In the meantime, he held his father’s words close to his heart. *Fight for him. Find a creative way to convince him to talk to you.*

After a few days had passed and Legolas was still avoiding him, Elladan decided to take matters into his own hands.

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“Legolas!” Tialise exclaimed as she entered Lord Elrond’s study. “Come quickly! Your skill is needed.”

“What has happened?” Legolas asked with concern.

“Someone has gotten hurt! You must come right away!” Tialise yelled.

“Perhaps I should call upon Elrond,” Legolas said hesitantly. “His skill greatly outweighs mine.”

“There is no time,” Tialise protested. “You must come at once!”

“Very well,” Legolas said. He gathered together a few supplies and placed them inside a small cloth bag. Hurriedly, he followed Tialise out of the manor and into the south garden.

“Over here,” Tialise said, pointing to an empty bench.

“Where is the injured elf?” Legolas asked, looking around in confusion. The prince looked in Tialise’s direction, but she was gone. Shaking his head in dismay, he started to leave.

“Legolas, thank the Valar that you are here,” Elladan said, running over to where the prince was standing.

“Elladan?” Legolas said, looking at him skeptically. “What is the meaning of this?”

“’Tis Orcwen,” Elladan replied hurriedly. “The creature is loose.”

Legolas gave Elladan an annoyed look, sighed and began to walk away.

“Prince, it is true,” Elladan said, chasing after Legolas. “It is why we asked you to come here. Elrohir and Zera have fallen victim to the beast. Tialise, Ellaria and I have managed to thwart its attack on us thus far, but it is unstoppable. Wait! Where is Tialise? Legolas, where has she gone?”

“I know not,” Legolas replied, shrugging. “One moment she was here and then she was gone.”

“The creature must have gotten her,” Elladan remarked, nodding his head and stroking his chin. “Orcwen is more clever than I realized. Please, can you help us?”

“Elladan,” Legolas said flatly, “I am not in the mood for your jests.”

“Very well,” Elladan said in mock sadness, “but the deaths of Zera, Tialise and Elrohir will be your fault. No matter how you feel about me, you could at least assist the female warrior, my twin brother and the infantile she-elf!”

“Elladan. . .” Legolas began, becoming irritated.

“They are dying, Prince!” Elladan exclaimed dramatically. “Come quickly! We haven’t a moment more to spare!”

Legolas sighed and ran behind Elladan. The prince wondered what he was planning.

Suddenly, Elladan stopped.

Legolas gasped in horror when he saw Zera, Elrohir and Tialise lying on the ground covered with blood.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!” Ellaria screamed.

“Ellaria!” Elladan shouted, looking in the direction of the scream. “Legolas, please tend to Elrohir and the others. I will go and find Ellaria.”

“But. . .” Legolas tried to protest, but Elladan was already running away. The prince exhaled noisily and knelt beside Elrohir as his injuries looked much worse than Zera’s or Tialise’s. Quickly, he tried to decide what to do. He began to examine Elrohir’s chest and felt relieved when he discovered that the younger twin was alive.

Deciding to stop the bleeding, the prince got some fresh bandages from the small pack and began to try to determine where the blood was coming from. Legolas began to explore Elrohir’s body carefully, trying to find the wound that was causing the blood to flow so freely. He began to search Elrohir’s stomach and he heard a noise. He looked around curiously and continued to probe Elrohir’s belly.

“Ai! That tickles!” Elrohir said, laughing and pushing the prince’s hand away.

“Elrohir?” Legolas asked, concerned. “You are hurt. Please hold still while I examine you.”

“Alright,” Elrohir said, trying to hold still.

Legolas continued to examine Elrohir and wished that Elrond were near, as he could still not find the source of the blood. Sweat poured down the prince’s face. He knew that Elrohir’s life could rest in his hands. Nervously, Legolas wiped his brow and flinched when some of Elrohir’s blood ran down his face. Looking at Elrohir in dismay, the prince began to smell his hands. Then, he licked one of his fingers. “This isn’t blood. This is crushed berries!”

Elrohir sat up suddenly. “Legolas, wait. We just wanted. . . that is to say. . . we only wanted. . .”

“To deceive me yet again!” The prince shouted, standing up abruptly. “Elrohir, I warned you not to cross me!”

Zera and Tialise sat up and looked at the prince in alarm.

Suddenly everyone’s attention shifted to Elladan. He was running wildly, along with Ellaria. They were being chased by something.

Legolas stepped aside as Ellaria ran over to them. He looked carefully at the creature that was chasing Elladan. It was Arwen!

Her hair was sticking out all over her head and her clothing was tattered beyond recognition. She had broken chains around each ankle and she wore a rather unpleasant expression on her face. To complete her look, Arwen had her arms upraised and groaned loudly as she chased behind Elladan.

“Save yourselves!” Elladan shouted as he ran toward a nearby tree.

Legolas began to chuckle to himself; he couldn’t help it. The sight of Elladan climbing up a rather flimsy tree, pretending to be afraid of Arwen, was quite amusing.

“Get back, Beast!” Elladan hissed as Arwen began to climb up the tree behind him.

Legolas watched in amazement as Elladan scaled the tree with ease and made his way to a narrow branch.

“Ha! You fiend!” Elladan exclaimed dramatically. “Just try to attack me now, evil Orcwen.”

Arwen groaned and placed her foot on the base of the branch that Elladan was standing on.

Without warning the branch made a loud cracking noise.

Elladan looked at Arwen in shock. “Arwen,” he said nervously, “please, step back. It seems that this limb cannot support the two of us.”

Arwen removed her foot from the branch immediately, but it was too late. In one fell swoop, the limb and Elladan came crashing down.

Legolas felt his heart begin to pound in his chest, and without a moment’s hesitation, he was at Elladan’s side.

“Ai, my arm,” Elladan groaned, grasping his left arm protectively.

“It is alright,” Legolas said, kneeling beside him. “I am here.”

Elrohir, Arwen, Ellaria, Zera and Tialise gathered around to make sure that Elladan was alright.

“May I see your arm?” Legolas asked gently.

“Aye,” Elladan replied, hesitantly. The memory that the prince had threatened to rip his arms off was still fresh in his memory. Elladan winced as he held his arm out for inspection. He wasn’t sure what hurt worse, the piercing pain that was shooting up his arm or his crushed ego.

Gently, Legolas began to probe Elladan’s now swollen arm. Sighing heavily, he announced, “It is broken. I will bind it for you, so that the bone will be held in place. I would ask that you have your father look at this wound, though. I am only half the healer that Elrond is, and I would not want the bone to set improperly.”

“Aye,” Elladan said, nodding slowly.

Elrohir looked at Arwen, who looked at Ellaria, who smiled at Zera, who then nodded to Tialise. Without a word, they departed.

Legolas opened his sack and pulled out some very large bandages. Moving closer to Elladan the prince began to fashion a sling.

“You have learned a lot from my father, I see,” Elladan said, watching the prince in awe. Even though he was in pain, he closed his eyes and tried to enjoy the way the prince’s hands touched his arm.

“Your father is a wonderful teacher,” Legolas said, glaring at Elladan. “However, he would be wise to teach you a thing or two about foolish jests. Just what exactly were you doing? What did you think that you would accomplish by falling out of that tree? Are you mad? That was very dangerous. You are lucky that I am only trying to mend your arm instead of your neck!”

“I didn’t plan to fall from the tree,” Elladan explained pitifully. “I only wanted to make you laugh. . . the way I used to. I thought if you could laugh at one of my jests. . . then perhaps, you would speak to me.”

“Oh, Elladan,” Legolas remarked in exasperation.

Elladan cast his eyes downward.

Legolas stared at the forlorn look on Elladan’s face and felt his heart long to comfort him. Smiling faintly, the prince began to chuckle softly to himself when he thought about how funny Arwen had looked with her hair sticking out all over her head.

Elladan looked at the prince curiously, but didn’t speak.

“As always, I found your jest amusing,” Legolas said, shrugging. “Arwen was simply hilarious. How did you ever convince her to do such a thing?”

“I can be very persuasive,” Elladan said, smiling brightly.

Legolas gave him a disbelieving look.

“I have to learn to do needlepoint,” Elladan said sheepishly.

Legolas began to laugh. “You would sew with Arwen just so you could speak to me?”

“Aye,” Elladan said softly, “but my plan failed.”

“No it hasn’t,” Legolas said simply. “You may have your say. I promise to hold my tongue until you are through.”

“You do not have to. . .” Elladan said, stopping himself abruptly. “You do not have to talk to me if you do not want to.” He winced as Legolas continued to gird his arm.

“I know,” Legolas said, “but after all that you have been through this day, I will hear you. I want the answer to many questions anyway. But perhaps we should go somewhere alone.”

“We are alone,” Elladan said, looking around.

Legolas began to scan the area and realized that Elladan was telling the truth. “Where did they go?”

“I do not know,” Elladan replied truthfully. “They were probably hoping that we could have some time alone.”

“I see,” Legolas remarked. “Well, we are alone. So, what do you wish to say to me?”

“That I love you more than I thought possible,” Elladan blurted out.

Legolas stared at Elladan in shock.

“I knew from the moment I met you that my heart would never again be mine,” Elladan began. “But with some encouragement from Elrohir and Arwen, I eventually gained the courage to tell you how I felt. . . in Gaidon. Do you remember?”

“I do,” Legolas said, still staring at Elladan in shock.

“I know that you are above my station,” Elladan said slowly. “I know that you are a prince and that you are the most beautiful elf that I have ever seen. Many elves desire your companionship. . . your love. I knew that you could never truly love me. So, I decided that any part of you, even a small part, would be better than none of you at all.”

“Elladan?” Legolas said, shaking his head. He continued to bind Elladan’s arm.

“When you kept trying to bed me. . . I knew that all I had to offer you was physical pleasure,” Elladan continued, flinching suddenly.

“Come, let us away to see your father,” Legolas said gently, completing his task of wrapping Elladan’s arm. “He will be able to give you something for the pain.”

“Nay,” Elladan said abruptly, “I want to finish talking to you.”

“I promised to listen to you, Elladan,” Legolas said firmly. “But now you need the skill of a master healer.”

“Please, let me have my say,” Elladan said. “My arm can wait a bit longer.”

Reluctantly, the prince nodded his head in agreement.

“I knew that you never wanted me, Legolas,” Elladan said sadly. “I knew that you only wanted my body, not my soul. But I wanted to wait until you were better before partaking of intimacy with you. I also. . . I. . . I also knew that giving myself to you would inevitably seal my fate. But I wanted and needed you, and thus, I gave in to my desires.”

“Elladan, what you are saying. . .” Legolas began.

“Nay, Prince,” Elladan interrupted abruptly, “you promised to let me speak.”

Legolas frowned and nodded.

“Sometimes, you were so secretive,” Elladan said. “You wouldn’t share the burdens of your heart with me. Thus, when the letter came from Mirkwood, I knew that in order to glean any information, I would have to resort to thievery.”

Legolas sighed and shook his head again.

“Everything that the letter said. . . everything that I feared was confirmed,” Elladan said emotionally.

“What was confirmed?” Legolas asked in disbelief.

“That you would leave me,” Elladan said as his voice cracked with pent up emotion. “I always knew that you would leave. . . that you would not stay here, but I never thought that you would never come back. In the letter, your father instructed you to eat the extraordinary cuisine of Rivendell and to bed a comely elf while here. . . to help relax you. Then he said that he would never make you come here again, as he promised. He said that the elves of Rivendell aren’t good for much, but they excel where cooking and bedding are concerned. He called us ‘exotic’ and said our ‘dark charms’ are alluring. He told you not to worry about breaking any hearts. . . that the inhabitants of Rivendell are much like their leader. . . heartless.”

Legolas sighed and met Elladan’s eyes.

“I knew that you didn’t love me. . . that you didn’t want me,” Elladan said, barely able to utter the words. “But my heart nearly broke when you lied to me. . . when. . . when you said those words to me in the stable.”

“When I told you that I love you?” Legolas asked.

“Aye,” Elladan whispered. “I allowed you to use me for your pleasure. I wanted to comfort you. . . to pleasure you. I am to blame for everything. But to say those words to me. . . to try to make me believe that. . . that you loved me. . . that **you** loved me?”

“And why is that so hard to believe?” Legolas asked gently.

“Because I am not worthy of love,” Elladan said, unable to hide the emotion in his voice. “The last thing my mother ever said to me was that she loved me. And. . . and. . . and then, she left. . . forever.” Elladan looked down at the ground. He could feel the corners of his eyes stinging.

Legolas couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Elladan had never spoken about Celebrían to him before.

“After what had happened to her. . . after she was tortured. . .” Elladan wiped his right eye quickly as a tear escaped. “I stayed with her every day and every night. She was. . . in such a bad way, Legolas. What they did to her. . . to my mother.” He began to sob softly. “Father, Arwen and Elrohir were there often, but it was I who never left her side. . . and then one day, she left mine.”

Legolas was speechless. He didn’t know what to do or say, but he now realized that Elladan had suffered as much as he.

“One night, I fell asleep by my mother’s side. When I awakened, she was gone,” Elladan clutched his heart as the tears streamed down his face.

“Elladan, please,” Legolas said gently, moving to touch him.

“Your mother died. She left you because she was not given a choice.” Elladan said, breathing heavily. “My mother abandoned me. She left me. . . and. . . and she will never return. I failed her and now I’ve failed you.”

“Elladan,” Legolas said, touching him on the shoulder, “that is not true.”

“Yes it is,” Elladan replied forlornly. “She said ‘I love you,’ and when I awakened she was gone. You said the same words to me, and now you will depart as well, never to return. I am not fit to love. It is not your fault nor Mother’s. . . there is something wrong with me. Legolas, I know that you will never forgive me, and I do not fault you for that. We never had a formal arrangement. You do not owe me anything. I knew that you would. . . that you never could truly love me. I only wanted to make you happy. I didn’t want to speak with you this day to try and convince you that I am worthy of your love. I just wanted you to know that I am happy that you are getting well. . . and. . . I wanted to explain. . . my idiocy. I hope that you and Mander are happy together. He is a noble elf and a fine warrior. Perhaps, he will prove to be more worthy of your love than I have.”

Before Legolas could say another word, Elladan stood up and walked away. The prince stood there in silence for a moment, pondering Elladan’s words, and began to walk slowly towards the manor.

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Elladan didn’t know where to go. The only thing he knew was that he wanted to go away. . . far away. He wanted to see his mother. Deciding not to go and see his father, Elladan headed toward the forest and began to wonder what the Grey Havens were like.

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As Legolas approached the manor, he was startled when Tialise touched him on the shoulder, interrupting his thoughts.

“Tialise,” Legolas said, looking at the young maiden carefully, “you startled me.”

“I am sorry,” Tialise said gently. “I only wanted to ask if you and Elladan were able to reunite?”

“I. . . I. . . I. . . don’t know how to answer that question,” Legolas replied, hesitantly. “Why do you wish to know?”

“Because Elladan’s love for you is probably the strongest that I have ever seen. He longs for you. That is why I chose to help him lure you to the south garden. . . because his love for you is so deep. I also care for you and I want you to be happy.”

The prince smiled and pulled Tialise into a tender embrace. “Thank you.”

“Legolas?” Tialise asked, immensely enjoying the way the prince’s taut body felt pressed against her own.

“Hmmm?” Legolas replied.

“If you and Elladan do not reconcile. . .”

“I know,” Legolas said, smiling.

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Elladan looked up at the sky as he headed back to the manor. The moon shone overhead, illuminating his path as he slowly approached his home. He had been deep in the forest all day. He hadn’t eaten the afternoon or evening meals and didn’t care if anyone had been concerned about his whereabouts. Elladan knew that he was going to get a fierce tongue lashing from his father for injuring himself, but none of that seemed to matter anymore, as he had decided to pass West when Legolas left Rivendell.

Stopping in front of the manor, he looked up at the large structure sadly. Reluctantly, he went inside. He walked into the entrance hall and towards the stairs, but stopped abruptly when he saw his father, Arwen and Elrohir sitting in chairs that had been placed near the stairs. He braced himself for his father’s verbal attack when he saw the lord rise from his chair. He gasped in shock when Elrond wrapped his arms around him lovingly and kissed him on the forehead.

“Do you wish to kill me?” Elrond asked, still holding his son. “I have worried about you all day.”

“I am sorry, Father,” Elladan said sadly. “I just needed to be alone.”

Elrond released his son and looked at him in the eyes. “If anything ever happened to you Elladan, methinks that my heart would not survive the day.”

Elladan smiled. It was nice to be loved.

Arwen and Elrohir hugged him and told Elladan that they would go and get him something to eat.

“May I see your arm?” Elrond asked gently.

“Aye,” Elladan said.

Elrond began to probe Elladan’s arm gently and withdrew his fingers abruptly when Elladan flinched. “Legolas did very well. Your wound should be completely healed in a few days.”

“You have taught him well,” Elladan said.

“The prince is a quick and eager learner,” Elrond remarked simply. “I only molded his interest into a skill.”

Elladan nodded and looked at his father nervously. “I assume that Arwen and Elrohir told you about my jest?”

“Aye,” Elrond replied.

“I behaved foolishly, and. . .” Elladan began.

“You did exactly what I told you to do,” Elrond said, interrupting his eldest son. “You found a creative way to speak to the prince, and I am proud of you.”

“Proud? Why?” Elladan asked in dismay.

“Because you fought for the one you love,” Elrond said, smiling. “No matter what happened or happens as a result of your jest, you tried.”

Elladan smiled and couldn’t help but look at his father curiously. Even though he appreciated the lord’s words, he sensed regret in his father’s voice.

Arwen and Elrohir appeared with a platter full of food and a pitcher filled with apple cider.

“I shall go and get something for your pain, Elladan,” Elrond said gently. “Why don’t you go into the dining hall with your brother and sister and eat?”

Elladan looked at the sad look in his father’s eyes. For the first time, he saw the loneliness within the ageless depths. “Nay, Father,” he said. “Please, join us. I will come to your study after dinner, but for now, I wish to be with my family.”

“Alright,” Elrond said, smiling.

They walked to the dinning hall together, talking and laughing happily.

Elladan thought about the Grey Havens, but suddenly, going there didn’t seem as important.

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Later that evening, Elladan walked to his bedchamber. He wanted desperately to see Legolas, but decided against approaching him again. He knew that crying like a child and humiliating himself was definitely not the way to impress the prince. And anyway, he had been sincere when he told Legolas that he desired his happiness. He inhaled and exhaled loudly and stared at the prince’s bedchamber door. He would never bother Legolas again.

Elladan opened the door to his room and walked inside. Looking around in amazement, he gasped when he saw dozens upon dozens of beautifully arranged flowers all over the bedchamber. Wondering who could have done such a thing, Elladan approached his bed. A large bouquet that was neatly tied with two maroon colored scarves sat on top of a little note. He lifted the bundle of flowers and inhaled their sweet scent before picking up the neatly sealed letter. Looking at the note carefully, he opened it and began to read.

Elladan,

I do not know where to begin, but I must see you tonight. Please meet me on top of the hill that overlooks the realm. I will be waiting.

-Legolas

Elladan placed the letter back onto the bed, raced out his bedchamber, down the stairs and out of the manor.

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Legolas looked up at the sky and frowned. *He’s not coming.* Turning around to leave, the prince froze when he saw Elladan ascend the steep hilltop.

“You came,” Legolas stated slowly.

“Aye,” Elladan said, shifting nervously. “You. . . you wanted to. . . see me?”

“Aye,” Legolas said, walking towards Elladan. “I asked you to come here because I wanted to explain a few things to you.”

“Explain?” Elladan asked curiously. “Explain what?”

“That I am not the cruel creature that you think I am,” Legolas replied. “After my mother died. . . I was so distraught. I was in a bad way. I was frightened and I felt so alone. I didn’t know what was happening to me; I couldn’t control my actions. No one could help me. . . I became a danger to everyone around me and. . . to myself. My father sent me here. I didn’t want to come to Rivendell, but I obeyed him, as always. I didn’t know what would be here. I felt as though I had lost my mother, my father and my home at the same time. I knew that I could die. I have never been so scared. And then. . . and then I met you. I met you and my fears went away. I have never felt so comfortable around anyone. . . except my family, of course. I could be myself around you. Despite my anguish, I could laugh. You put me on the path. . . the path to my recovery. Without you, I would surely be dead.”

“And then I left you,” Elladan said, looking at the ground. “I nearly killed you all over again.”

“Nay,” Legolas said, stopping directly in front of Elladan and shaking his head. “You stepped out of my life and because of that, I was able to finally get better. Your departure enabled me to see that I was using you as a crutch. I was still holding on to so much pain inside. When you left, everything came pouring out. I cried like I never had before. Through my tears, I was able to grieve and hate and. . . heal. I still have much to overcome, but I am no longer afraid to sleep. I can talk about my mother now. And even though my senses have not returned, and even though my heart still aches at times, I now know that I have the strength to overcome all of my troubles.”

“I am very happy for you,” Elladan said sincerely. “Very happy indeed.”

“Elladan,” Legolas began, “I am so sorry that you read the letter from my father. Those words were not meant for your eyes. I don’t know why it did not occur to me how cruel the letter would seem to you. I guess when I finally had the chance to read the letter, I was so angry with you that I overlooked the harshness of my father’s words. You must understand that he meant no harm to you or the inhabitants of Rivendell. Father has a wicked sense of humor. He thinks that I am too serious. I have not had many lovers, compared to my brothers. And I often get so busy with my duties that I forget to eat. As the youngest prince in a royal family, I am constantly trying to please my father. He loves me and has always been very proud of me, but I still strive for his approval. Hes ths that I am too serious. So, he teases me. He tells me to drink and to be merry. . . to bed a few elves. I never do what he asks, of course, but he still teases me. . . relentlessly.”

“I see,” Elladan said, looking in the prince’s eyes.

“As for the remark that he made about your father,” Legolas said slowly, “I cannot explain that so easily. He shouldn’t have said that about Elrond. I am unsure of what occurred between my father and the lord of this realm, but it must have been terrible for his hatred to run so deeply. I cannot speak for my father, but in my time here, I have begun to think of Elrond as a second father. I love him. . . almost as much as I love you.”

Elladan stared at the prince, openmouthed.

“When I told you that I loved you, I wasn’t lying,” Legolas said warmly. “I love you so much that my heart aches. I am not above your station. And even if that were of some concern, you are also of nobility. If I am not mistaken you are a descendant of the royal houses of the Sindar and the Noldor and two other noble houses. It would seem that you are more royal than I. Perhaps I am unworthy of you.”

Elladan looked at Legolas in dismay.

“Elladan, you are not unworthy of my love. You are the most beauteous elf that I have ever seen. Whenever I am near you, I wonder why the Valar gave me such an extraordinary gift. It is a strange irony. . . that my mother’s fate allowed me to meet you. If you will have me, I wish to be with you. I want to. . .”

“It is not a good idea,” Elladan said abruptly, interrupting the prince. “I left you, Legolas. I cannot be trusted. Do you know that I am like my mother? Has anyone ever told you that?”

“Aye,” Legolas said, nodding, “Elrond told me that Celebrían loved to jest and that she was always laughing.”

“Aye,” Elladan said. “My mother and I were very close. . . and very much alike. Elrohir and Arwen are more like my father; they are more serious than I. It would seem that I have my mother’s sense of humor as well as her lack of courage. When I can no longer cope with my troubles, I leave. . . just like her. Thus, a relationship with me would not be sensible. You cannot trust me and I cannot trust myself. Besides, you have found another.”

“Of whom do you speak?” Legolas asked, looking at Elladan in incredulity. “Are you speaking of Mander?”

Elladan nodded his head.

“Mander and I are friends, Elladan,” Legolas said firmly. “We have much in common. He is the youngest elf in his family and he also has several older brothers.”

“But. . .” Elladan began hesitantly. “I heard you tell Mander that you were going to give him a surprise.”

“Aye,” Legolas said, smiling. “And he gave me a surprise, too. He prepared a custard cake for me. ‘Tis my favorite dessert. And I invited Hylia to his home for the evening meal.”

“Hylia?” Elladan asked.

“Aye,” Legolas replied, grinning. “Mander fancies her.”

“Oh,” Elladan said, meeting the prince’s blue orbs.

“And as for your mother,” Legolas said gently. “Celebrían was not a coward. She was very brave. You should admire her. . . not admonish her.”

Elladan looked at Legolas disbelievingly.

“I cannot imagine what Celebrían went through,” Legolas said slowly, “the terror and the pain she must have faced. And yet, she endured. . . she survived. She came home to you. She stayed here until she healed physically. She knew that she may never heal emotionally. Celebrían didn’t want her family to see her suffer that way. She wanted to be remembered for her laughter, not her pain. So, she did the bravest thing that I have ever heard of. . . she left. She did not abandon you, Elladan. She set you free. Celebrían loved you; she loved all of you, but her suffering stopped the laughter. It made all of the joy go away. She couldn’t stand to see her family suffering and thus, she did the only thing that she could. . . she left. One day, you will see her again and she will be whole. She be be laughing.”
ladaladan wiped a tear away quickly and sighed. “How do you know this?”

“I know of Celebrían’s choice because I know you,” Legolas said. “You are one of the most courageelveelves that I have ever met.”

Elladan shook his head in disagreement. “And what if I try to leave you? What will you do?”

“I will follow you,” Legolas said, brushing a stray hair from Elladan’s handsome face. “I love you.” He wrapped his arms around Elladan, making sure to avoid his wounded arm, and kissed him on the lips tenderly. Suddenly, he could taste the salt of Elladan’s tears, but he didn’t care. Holding him tightly, Legolas scolded him for not telling him about his concerns and fears. Then he threatened to break his other arm if Elladan ever did that again. The prince also reminded him that now that he had been given a note and flowers, he could never be jealous of Tialise or Mander again.

Elladan laughed and kissed Legolas on the lips. “I love you, my Greenleaf.”

“And I you, my Elladan, and I you.”


---

TBC. . .