Meleth-nin

Disclaimer: Not mine but J.R.R. Tolkien’s. Only Randír belongs to me.
A/N: Thanks for the sweet reviews, people. :) You really do know how to make an author happy! Feedback is continuously welcome and highly appreciated. :)

thoughts


Chapter twenty-one

Imladris


“One more grape and I will surely explode”, Elrohir groaned and lay down on the grass. “Whose idea was it to overload that basket with all those sweetbreads and fruits?”

The twins were having a picnic at the river Bruinen and had grabbed a basket filling it with all kinds of treats from the kitchens. After eating two pieces of apple cake, three pears, two strawberry pastries and large amounts of grapes the younger twin was stuffed. Elladan, ever the more disciplined one, had eaten much less.

“It was yours, gwanur”, Elladan said with an amused smile, ruffling his brother’s hair. “You’re the one with the sweet tooth. If you’re not careful you will end up looking like Legolas… with the exception that Legolas’ round belly is due to a baby and yours to greed!”

Elrohir stuck his tongue at Elladan. “Cease your useless chatter, Ella. But speaking of our fair Prince, where is he? I haven’t seen him all morn. And now that I think of it, I didn’t see him yesterday, either!”

“Can’t you really guess? Legolas has been infatuated with Randír ever since the party two weeks ago, and it seems that the feeling is more than mutual. I know that he is quick to deny it but I would say that the handsome captain is courting dear Legolas”, Elladan said, stroking Elrohir’s forehead absentmindedly.

Elrohir sat up quickly. “What? Do you mean to say that Randír is romantically interested in Legolas? You see romances everywhere, dear brother! First it was Ada and Glorfindel, and now ‘Las and Randír.”

“But I was right about Ada and Glory, wasn’t I”, the elder Peredhel said a tad smugly. “I mean, just look at them. Those two hadn’t been able to keep their hands off of each other ever since we got them together. I am getting that vibe from Legolas and Randír as well. I know I’m right; trust me on this, Elrohir.”

Elrohir sighed, defeated. “All right, I believe you. So what do you want to do about it? Make those two admit their feelings for each other?”

Elladan looked at Elrohir, suddenly alarmed. “No! I really don’t think that Legolas is ready for a romantic relationship; after all he and Aragorn broke up only six weeks ago. I think they should be given a chance to work through their problems. Now, I know that Randír is an honourable Elf and that he cares for ‘Las, but I don’t think you and I should encourage either of them to take their relationship any further.”

Elrohir worried his lip, deep in thoughts. “I guess you have a point there. I love Legolas like a brother and don’t want to see him get hurt; and that will probably happen if he continues to socialize with Randír.”

“But in the end of the day ‘tis Legolas’ decision to make, not ours”, Elladan said quietly. “I just wish that he and Aragorn got back together. They are meant to be together and I find it very hard to believe that they will give up on each other this easily, after all they’ve been through together. It just isn’t right.”

The twins sat in silence, watching as the sun slowly set behind the trees.


*~*~*~*~*~*


In the meantime Randír and Legolas were having a picnic of their own in one of the many gardens in Imladris. At Legolas’ request they had only salty treats in their basket; bread, cheese and some slices of meat. He had noticed that at this point of pregnancy he couldn’t stand anything with a sweet flavour.

“Thank you for joining me, Legolas”, Randír said softly, stroking the younger Elf’s silken hair. “I truly enjoy spending time with you.”

Legolas, who was resting his head on Randír’s lap, smiled up at him. “Me too. Thank you for inviting me.” His smile then turned into a mischievous one. “But aren’t you afraid of jeopardizing your reputation? You know, if someone saw you having a private picnic with a pregnant Prince it might just create some interesting rumours!”

Randír blushed hotly. Secretly he wished that the baby Legolas was carrying indeed was his and not Legolas’ mate’s. I would treat him much better, he thought bitterly. His mate isn’t much of a man for abandoning his pregnant husband. If it was my child inside him I would never leave his side, not ever. Sweet Eru, I cannot leave his side even now!

He had gotten to know Legolas better over the past two weeks and was now ashamed of his earlier thoughts; by now he had discovered that the Prince was so much more than just a beautiful face and a graceful figure. He was warm-hearted and generous, possessing a fine sense of humour and a sharp mind. Randír was still surprised as he realised that he was falling in love with the Prince. He hadn’t planned to do so; and yet he couldn’t deny that he now had very deep feelings for Legolas. I wasn’t supposed to fall for him… All I wanted was a beautiful bed warmer, someone to spend my nights with whenever I’m not in patrol. And now I’m sitting here, his head on my lap and I cannot think of anything but how soft his hair is and how enchanting he looks, Randír thought, running his fingers through Legolas’ hair. Randír, you fool, you are in love.

“I hope that no one is foolish enough to think that we are doing something inappropriate here”, he said aloud, managing a little chuckle. “After all this is perfectly innocent; two friends having a picnic.”

Legolas’ blue eyes met his. “Yes”, Legolas said at length, “there’s nothing inappropriate about two friends spending some time alone.”

Randír’s heart beat so loudly and so fast that he was sure Legolas could hear it. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, to keep Legolas from noticing how he felt. It was very strange really, considering that he had first approached Legolas in hopes of getting to his bed by the end of the night; and now he felt shy around him, not wanting to let Legolas know how much he had come to mean to him in such a short time. Suddenly Legolas laughed aloud, interrupting Randír’s thoughts.

“What is it, did I say something funny?” He asked, bemused.

“Nay, you did not”, Legolas said, smiling widely. “It is just that my son just kicked me several times, and that felt ticklish. Do you want to feel him?”

Randír’s breath caught in his throat. “Uh, sure.” Well that was smooth, he thought wryly.

Legolas opened his tunic revealing his smooth chest and round belly. “Give me your hand”, he said and took Randír’s hand in his, pressing in against his stomach. “Can you feel it?”

Randír couldn’t believe that his hand was now resting on Legolas’ bare skin. His face blushed pink and his heart started beating furiously. And then he felt it; a small kick from inside Legolas. His face spread to a huge smile. “By the Valar, that is amazing!” He moved his hand a little, feeling how the child moved inside the younger Elf. “Does it not hurt when he moves like that?”

“Sometimes it does, if he kicks really hard”, Legolas responded, “but he does that very rarely. Actually it feels quite nice when he just moves in there peacefully. It makes me happy, knowing that he is there and anxious to get out into the world.”

“He will be a lovely child, just like his Ada”, Randír said. Legolas’ eyes met his and the Prince smiled.

“Thank you. I am sure he will be quite lovely.” The pair was quiet for a while before Legolas spoke again. “I have actually had a few dreams about him. I am certain it is him, for this baby will be the only one I am ever going to have.”

“Do you want to tell me about your dreams?” Randír asked gently, still resting his hand on Legolas’ belly. He wondered why Legolas thought this child would be his only one, but decided against asking about it. Legolas would tell him in time if he wanted to.

“Yes… His name is Eldarion and he is very beautiful. He has dark hair and blue eyes, and his ears are only slightly pointed. His jaw is squarer than mine”, Legolas said, and he didn’t smile anymore. “He resembles his father very much. There’s more of him in the child than of myself.”

Randír couldn’t help being very curious about the child’s father. All Legolas had told him so far was that the father of the child and his mate was a human and that their marriage had ended. “Who is his father, Legolas? Who does your son resemble?”

Legolas’ jaw tightened as he fought tears. “King Elessar of Gondor is his sire; known here as Estel, foster-son of Lord Elrond.”

Randír’s jaw dropped. “The King of Gondor is the child’s father! And your husband!”

“Aye… But our marriage has ended, and my son will never know his father, so there’s no need for us to discuss him”, Legolas said quietly but determinedly, sitting up and re-lacing his tunic. He had noticed that it was better not to think about Aragorn at all; it just made him upset and teary and made his heart ache.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to make you sad”, Randír apologized clumsily. “Please, Legolas, I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“It is all right, Randír”, Legolas replied with a faint smile. “My heart-break is no fault of yours but of my own doing. You don’t need to apologize.”

“It is just that someone like you… someone as beautiful and wonderful as you should never feel any pain but only joy and happiness”, Randír said fiercely. “If it were in my power you would never feel pain again.”

Legolas looked at him for a very long time, a gentle expression in his eyes. Randír couldn’t believe how beautiful the Prince looked. The sun was setting behind him, making his hair look like molten gold. Randír cleared his throat, trying to think of a sophisticated way to ask the question he wanted to ask. He couldn’t think of any so he decided to just ask the question and be done with it.

“Can I kiss you?”

Legolas didn’t look surprised but smiled a slow, sensuous smile. “Please do.”

Randír came closer to him and wrapped his arms a bit clumsily around the pregnant Prince. Slowly and carefully he bent his head and pressed his suddenly too dry lips on Legolas’ soft ones. The kiss was pure bliss to him.

It was already very dark when the couple finally left the gardens.


TBC…


A/N: Ooh, bad Legolas! Please review. :)