Gifts and Old Traditions

Ch20

Legolas dismounted, walked over
to Glorfindel and wrapped his arms around him “I’m nervous” Glorfindel gave him
a light squeeze, then looked up and noticed Elrond, the twins, Erestor and
Thranduil coming out of the main door “So am I Legolas”

Thranduil took a deep breath as
he noticed the two were in an embrace, then quickly descended the steps and
called out “Ion!” Legolas turned and ran to his father and hugged him tight.
Elrond made a beeline for Glorfindel and whispered “Be cautious” The seneschal
winced and groaned “Elrond…you told him?”

Elrond nodded “I thought it
best that he had time to calm some before getting close to you, you know
Thranduil, if you had told him without any warning, he would have attacked you
straight off…Belrog slayer or not, I do not believe you would want to fight
him. I am an excellent warrior and I certainly would think twice before
doing so” Glorfindel sighed and nodded “You have a valid point”

Thranduil continued to hold Legolas tight until he
squeaked “A…Ada…I can…not breath” The king moved away but held him by his
biceps “Are you alright?” “Nai Adar I am well” Thranduil reached around and
lightly patted his sons backside and watched for a painful reaction.

Legolas furrowed his brow and
blushed “Adar! Daro what are you doing” “Are you sure you are alright”
Legolas paled once he realized why his father was asking him that “I…I am
alright Adar truly…you need not worry” Thranduil narrowed his eyes “Do not
tell me not to worry!”

Glorfindel winced from the tone
in Thranduils voice, then took a deep breath and began to slowly walk over.
Legolas saw his father’s eyes narrow again and his lips become tight with his
clenched jaw. As the seneschal came closer, Legolas moved to stand between them
and placed his flat palm on his fathers chest “Adar saes, he is my bonded now”

Elrond quickly joined them and
smiled “Welcome back prince Legolas, I took the liberty of moving all your
belongs into Glorfindel’s chamber” The prince bowed respectfully “Hannon le
lord Elrond” then turned back to his father “Are there going to be any guards
traveling back to Mirkwood soon?”

Thranduil took his glair off
the seneschal and looked at his son “Err…nai Legolas why” Glorfindel stepped
closer and tried to keep his voice calm “I have several things that will need
to go with them, they can be placed in Legolas chamber and left there until we
arrive”

Legolas smiled with excitement
“Glorfindel told me that he never intended to just keep me here…after a while
of living here in Rivendel, we will then figure out a way to divide our time
between here and Mirkwood…Adar?…Ada?”

Thranduil swayed slightly and
answered in a daze “That…is good n…news indeed” Legolas furrowed his brow and
placed his hand on his fathers shoulder “Ada? What is wrong” Thranduil frowned
as though he were trying to figure something out, then slowly turned and looked
at Erestor “Valar melanin, you…you are starving, are you not?”

Erestor eyes widened and he
blushed as he cleared his throat “A…a little” The king arched his brow “A
little? Udun’s arse, you need to eat something…and now” Glorfindel and Legolas
gave each other a look and Thranduil smiled “Legolas, Erestor and I bonded”

The prince shot his gaze to the
advisor, then back to his father “Truly? Oh how wonderful!” Erestor shyly
smiled and stepped forward “You are not…you are happy with this?” Legolas
embraced Erestor and whispered “Why would I not be, you are a firm but gentle
elf…just what my Adar needs to keep him in line!”

Erestor chuckled and Thranduil
huffed “Excuse me? I…” “Oh come now Adar, ever since Naneth was…you have been
so very lonely, do not think that Leiremel and I have not noticed” Erestor
lightly gasped and looked at Thranduil “I…I completely forgot about your first
born how…how do you think he will react to my becoming your mate”

Thranduil smiled “He will be
find with it” then looked at the seneschal “I think he will be focused more on
Glorfindel, he is quite protective of Legolas” The prince rolled his eyes and
looked at his love “He stalks me constantly…rather annoying actually”

Glorfindel sighed, then walked
over to the advisor “I am glad you are happy Erestor, it warms my heart” then
looked to the twins “I am proud of you both” Elladan stepped forward and smiled
“Now all we have to do, is get him to cease calling us master” Everyone smiled
except Legolas and Glorfindel pulled him close “I will explain later”

Elrond finally cleared his
throat, “Shall we all go inside?” Thranduil nodded “Nai, and get some food for
my starving mate, this feeling is uncomfortable…and I am sure that it is
stronger in you” Erestor shrugged “I am used to it, I often forget meals”

Thranduil took his hand and
began to walk him back inside “Not anymore, from now on, food will be brought
to you on regular intervals, I can not run my realm with this feeling in the
pit of my stomach…besides, being in charge of the library will give you more
time, no pressing matters for you to forget meals” Legolas smiled as they
walked into the dining hall “You will be in charge of the library?” Erestor
nodded “Nai” “Good! It needs you!”

As they sat and ate, Thranduil
watched as Glorfindel caressed his sons cheek, then sighed at Legolas’s
affectionate response and growled “Do not think that I am not angry with you
Glorfindel, I am holding fast for ion-nin…I want nothing more right now then to
grab you, slam you down on this table, and disembowel you with a dull butter
knife”

Glorfindel remained silent as
Thranduil absently pushed his food around on his plate with his fork “You know
Glorfindel I was thinking…” The seneschal inwardly groaned, it was never good
for the recipient, when Thranduil thought while angry “…Since you are so fond
of old traditions, there are several from Mirkwood that…since I am the
king…that I could un-ban just for you”

Legolas dropped his jaw and
whimpered “Adar saes” “Quiet ion, there is one old tradition in particular that
I remembered…you see, in the days of old, when a mate harmed there other, they
were to have there mates name…tattooed on the back of there ear”

Everyone at the table dropped
their jaws and subconsciously cradled their sensitive ears. Glorfindel took a
deep breath and looked Thranduil in the eye “I will submit to anything you feel
is appropriate” Legolas shot his gaze to mate “Oh no you will not!” then looked
back to his father “Adar daro saes!”

Thranduil looked at the
seneschal and thought ‘I think you certainly would submit…the great Belrog
slayer of Gondolen, with Legolas’s name burned onto the back of his ear…as much
as I loth what you did to my son, I grew up with you as my hero, and can not
bring myself to enforce such a punishment…I will have to think of something
else’

Erestor inwardly smiled and
thought ‘Tis good you will not, it would upset me greatly…do not get me
wrong melanin, he should account for what he did, but physically harming
him is not the answer’

Thranduil shot his gaze to his
mate ‘Oh this is an odd little development…can you hear all my thoughts?’
Erestor smiled ‘I do not know, I could only hear you faintly, but with you
now looking at me, it is much clearer’ Thranduil took a deep breath ‘Well…I
suppose it is good that you are an advisor…and know how to keep things
quiet, now eat, do not think I have not notice that you are just nibbling’

Erestor rolled his eyes, then
gave him a light smiled ‘Worry not king of Mirkwood, your secrets are mine,
and would you saes pass me the bread’ Thranduil nodded and did so, then
looked over at Elrond “So, how do you plan to help Legolas and Glorfindel”

TBC…………………………………..

Translations:

Hannon
le---------------------------------Thank you

Melanin-----------------------------------My
love

Ion-nin------------------------------------My
son

Nai----------------------------------------Yes

Saes---------------------------------------Please

Daro---------------------------------------Stop

Ada/Adar----------------------------------Dad/Father