Rîn dûr (dark memories)

Part 2

The next morning, breakfast was held in the great hall in honour of the royal guests. When Legolas entered the hall at his father’s side, he blushed at the sight of the twins sitting next to their father at the main table.
Elrond stood and gestured for Thranduil and Legolas to take seat at his other side, as it befitted for guests of honour. That way, Legolas found himself sitting vis-a-vis to Elrohir. The blond prince stared at his plate all the time during the breakfast, not once did he look up. Eating was an almost impossible task, Legolas found he could barely swallow anything. His silence did not go unnoticed by Elrond, who knew Legolas since his birth.
//Maybe he’s simply shy around so many strangers// the elflord thought.
“So Legolas, how do you like our fair valley so far?”
The prince startled at being adressed by Lord Elrond so suddenly. He forced himself to look up from his plate.
“It’s truly beautiful, my Lord. A sight to behold. Though I somehow miss the woods, the trees’ soothing voices.”
“You are a wood-elf to the core, pen-neth. But we have a forest here too... maybe my sons can take you there. What say you, Elladan, Elrohir? Care for a trip with our royal guest? You could stay a couple of days in that little cabin, near the western border.”
“I don’t think this a good idea!” Thranduil intervened.
“Thran, the place is safe, near the border post and my sons are capable warriors!”
“We will protect prince Legolas from any danger, your highness!” Elrohir vowed.
“What say you, Legolas?” Elrond asked.
“I – I would love to go, adar.” Legolas looked at his father with pleading eyes. “But – but only if you agree, of course!”
Elrond smiled when he saw Thranduils stern features soften at Legolas words. His friend had never been able to refuse Legolas a request. Where it not for the young prince’s kind heart and soul, most likely he would have been the most spoilt brat in arda.
“You will take your weapons with you and be on your guard, you hear me!”
Legolas jumped from his seat.
“Hannon –le, adar!!!” he cried.
Thranduil smiled at his son, but then shot a dark gaze at Elrond.

***

“How can you suggest such a thing!”
“Thranduil! I already told you – the cabin is safe. My guards protect the borders well.”
“Can they also protect Legolas from your sons?”
“What?”
“You heard me, Elrond! I don’t want my son to engage in anything... inappropriate!”
“Inappropriate?”
“You know what I mean! Legolas is young and unexperienced in the matter of flesh. I don’t want him to become a plaything for your sons!”
“If so, it would be his own decision. My sons would never force him to do anything!Thran, Legolas is maybe young but he IS past his majority! You cannot hide him from the world as YOUR adar used to do with you!”
As soon as those words had left his lips, Elond regretted saying them. Thranduil blanched, his eyes widened. Slowly he turned and walked towards the door. When his hand touched the iron handle, he heard Elrond call his name and he hesitated for a second. But then he pushed the handle down and disappeared.
Elrond slumped in his chair. Why had he said that – why had he mentioned Oropher. They never talked about Thranduils father, it was like an unspoken agreement between them. The last time they had talked about Oropher had been on the evening before the great battle, the last battle of the Alliance.


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flashback

Camp of the Last Alliance, 3441 S.A.

“This might be the last time we will sit here together, Thran.” Elrond said.
Almost seven years had passed, since Orophers dead. Thranduil was now king of Greenwood, but as the war was still going on, he hadn’t seen his home the last 7 years. Since the day, Elrond had come to him, Thranduil spent most of his evenings with the Peredhil, who had taken it upon himself, to help the young elf becoming a true king for his people. While they were still at war, all elves were under the command of the High king Gil Galad. But soon, this war would come to whatever end – and then Thranduil would have rule his people alone.

“Do you think we can win this battle, Elrond?”
“We must believe that, mellon-nîn.”
“I have to thank you, Elrond. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to take my place on the throne. I’m still not sure, I can do this – not without you by my side to counsel me.”
“You will be a good king! Your adar would be proud to...”
Elrond stopped in the middle of the sentence, when he saw Thranduil cringe. This was not the first time, he had noticed that particular reaction at mentioning Oropher’s name. Maybe it was time to adress this, he thought.
“Thran – why is it that you never speak about your adar?”
“He’s dead – what is there to say?”
“But you never speak about your life in Greenwood either?”
“I think I should go now, tomorrow will be a hard day!”
“Why have you been so isolated from the world outside? Why did Oropher hid you when you came here?”
“I’ll have to go now – goodnight Elrond!”
Thranduil stood hastily and almost fled the scene, before Elrond could say another word.

It was in the middle of the night, when Elrond returned to his tent after having spend some hours in his beloved Ereinion’s arms. He felt exhausted. Their lovemaking had been passionate, as if it were the last time... How Elrond longed to stay with his lover, to fall asleep and wake up in his arms. But they both knew, they couldn’t reveal their secret yet – their allies musn’t know of their relationship, because they couldn’t risk any discordances in this allience.
As soon as he had entered his tent, Elrond knew that he wasn’t alone, for he heard someone moaning as if in agony. He lit a candle and saw a shaking and trembling form lying on his bed – Thranduil. The young king was obviously having a nightmare. Cold sweat had formed upon his brow and he was mumbling words, Elrond could not understand at first. The Peredhil sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand at Thranduils arm. Even in his sleep, Thranduil flinched at the touch as he had done countless times when awake. Elrond gently shook the sleeping elf and Thranduil, still deep in reverie, began to wheep.
“No adar, no more – saes! I have been a good boy, no more, no more!”
Those words send a chill down Elrond spine and tried to wake his friend now more vehemently. Finally, the Greenwood elf’s eyes regained awareness- he seemed utterly confused, tears were streaming down his cheeks.
“Thran, shh... it was just a nightmare. It’s over...”
Thranduil flung himself in Elronds arms.
“I cannot do this! I thought I would be strong enough but I am not – I cannot return to Greenwood, saes, Elrond, don’t make me. Let me stay with you, I will come with you back to Lindon, or wherever you go... saes, Elrond...”
Elrond gently rocked his friend until he had calmed down a little.
“We cannot change who we are, Thran. You have a task to fulfill – you are the king of Greenwood. Your people need you! And I know, you can do it!”
“Not without you!”
“I will be always there if you need me, to counsel you, fight beside you or simply listen to your problems.”
“Can I stay here tonight?”
“Of course, mellon – nîn. And now tell me about your nightmare. It had to do with your adar, hadn’t it?”
“I – I don’t know of what you speak, Elrond. I – I do not remember having a bad dream!”
Elrond could tell, Thranduil was lying, but he knew, he wouldn’t get his friend to speak to him anymore tonight.
//I will speak to him about this tomorrow// he thought, before he lay down next to Thranduil and fell ito reverie...


end flashback
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present:


Elrond shook himself from his memories.
//Yes – the nightmare! How could I have forgotten that? Why have I never asked him about it?//
But he knew the answer to that question. The next day had been the day, when his world had been shattered. The next day had been the day, when he had lost his beloved Ereinion.


Translation:

pen-neth – young one
adar – father
hannon le – thank you
Peredhil – half-elven
mellon-nîn – my friend


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I'm so sorry you had to wait that long for this - I hope, I will be quicker next time!


DarkDreamer: Me too ;) - I never know what my elves are doing next - haha!!!

TICS: Glad you like it! Unfortunately "soon" wasn't possible - but for the next update there will be a "sooner" - haha!!!

Setare: I think, your birthday will last longer, than you thought it would - hihi!!!

Carinito: Ah, what would I be without my truest fan, haha! Thank you so much sweetie!


Greetings to all my readers!

Githoniel