Winter Tears

Chapter 3

“Prince Legolas! For Elbereth’s sake get down from that tree this instant before you fall!” Uselessly Haladin called up into the treetop from the large tree’s base. His wayward charge was hardly visible amongst the dense foliage of the large oak tree, the prince having clambered up into the highest branches in order to get the first glance of the elvan valley the called Imladris.

“You should come up Hally you can see for leagues up here.” Haladin quickly put his hands on his hips and glared pointedly up into the branches of the tree, knowing already that Legolas was defying him as usual. The prince although still young had grown quickly into a headstrong mirror image of his father despite his mothers influences before her sad departing for the west. There was little that Legolas Greenleaf would not face, be it an archery contest among friends or an extended trek with the border patrol to slay the darkness that crept ever closer to the woodland realm of Mirkwood. There were few, who matched the young prince’s abilities, and his appearance was as fair as ever his mothers had been, yet there was always something lacking, experience and worldly knowledge that betrayed all that the young elfling was. It had been that lack of experience and knowledge that had prompted this visit to Imladris. A particular severe injury Legolas had sustained while on duty at the borders had been attributed to his lack of experience, despite his expertise with a bow and Thranduil set about instantly setting his son straight. The only child of Thranduil’s marriage, Legolas was destined to be king but there was still so much to be learnt before then, some of which Thranduil hoped his son would find in Imladris.

“Legolas! I am telling you to get down here, your father will have my head if you are injured further by you fool hardy attitude while under my care. So get down now and that is an order!” As if from nowhere the lithe body of the prince dropped down from the branch above Haladin so that he came in front of his mentor with a sigh.

“You stress too much Hally, I have climbed trees before and have not fallen I just wanted to see if the valley was far.” Haladin scowled at Legolas angrily, having noticed the prince begin cradling his arm back against his chest, the sling it had been in earlier discarded when tree climbing took precedent. Unable to stay mad at his charge for long Hadalin sighed heavily and grabbed the scarf from around his neck hastily fashioning a makeshift sling from it, until such time as they found a better replacement. Haladin had been Legolas’ personal guard since the prince had been a babe and like Thranduil, he had been almost devastated to see Legolas so close to death after his injury. Alone he’d carried the weak form of his charge back to the palace from the borders, forsaking his own well being to get Legolas to a healer in time to save him. Spiders were known for their deadly venomous bite but just as deadly were their razor sharp spines. None were sure how it had happened but in battle Legolas had become separated from them and in the split second it took to reach the prince again, the spider had reared up and sliced Legolas arm from wrist to shoulder and stung him several times. The poisoning had been relatively easily treated with herbs because of Haladin’s haste in getting him to a healer but the lacerations that had cut down to the bone, through tendon’s and muscle was less easily fixed. It had been almost a month now since the accident and although Legolas was slowly healing himself, it was extremely slow going.

Once Haladin had resecured Legolas arm he stepped back away from the prince and again shook his head in dismay at his charge’s appearance. Despite having ridden at full pace for the last few days, Legolas had remained relatively clean and prince like, but now having climbed the tree and waded through the Ford of Burien, Legolas looked no more like a prince but rather a ranger of the wild. Leaves clung to the long golden hair, the braids frayed and loose, allowing wayward strands to cling to the Prince’s flushed and dirt smeared face.

“Elbereth give me strength you are a mess, Lord Elrond will wonder what he has taken in when he sees you.” Shaking his head once again Haladin turned around and headed back towards the small encampment their party had made by the riverbank, Legolas trailing a little sheepishly behind him. He had been so excited to see Imladris having heard of its beauty from the messengers and visitors that had come to his father’s court. Legolas had travelled little beyond the borders of his own realm, only once briefly going to the mountain pass of the Misty Mountains to meet a trade delegation of dwarves, and again passing briefly through the lake town, to buy wine for special occasions. None of the time he’d spent away from Mirkwood would be as long as the time he was destined to spend in Imladris, and while it was exciting he was still a little worried about leaving his father for so long. “Is there any sign of the welcoming committee yet?” Haladin sought out the elvan centurion leading their party as soon as he wandered back into camp. Most of the other warriors were out scouting the area, taking watch from the trees around the little clearing for signs of foe. Looking up from where he was sharpening his sword the centurion shook his head in reply, his gaze travelling briefly from the prince back to the regal bodyguard.

“No, we’re too early. They’re not supposed to be meeting us until dusk this evening. Had our pace been regular we might not be in this awkward position.” The centurion looked directly at Legolas who lowered his head guiltily into his chest as he sat quietly down beside the fire. It was Legolas fault the party had arrived far to early at the Ford of Burien, his eagerness to arrive spurring him forward, forcing his minders to keep up with his pace for fear of losing him in the wilds.

“Why can’t we just follow the path to the Last Homely house. They know we are coming, we do not need to be escorted to find our way.” Legolas looked cautiously up at the Centurion who now stood towering above him, slightly put out that the younger elf had taken a seat next to him at the fireside. The Centurion huffed in contempt and shook his head at the princeling, not even bothering the youngster with a reply as he turned his back and disappeared off into the trees to join his patrol. Haladin had noticed long before Legolas had even joined the border patrols that the troops had a dislike of him. It was nothing personal Haladin was sure but more the burden of royalty that Legolas brought with him on every expedition. The patrols felt responsibly for Legolas safety at ever moment, feeling that it hindered their own work as they kept an eye on the prince. In truth Legolas was quite capable of looking after himself and Haladin was always there to pick up the pieces, and fix the mistakes that ultimately befell the young prince, who was still learning all that he could.

“Legolas, you must learn better diplomacy. Just as we in Mirkwood do not like visitors wandering idly through our realm unaccompanied so too, does Imladris.” Confused by the centurions scorn Legolas looked towards his tutor for aid, Haladin handing the young prince a small bowl of herb filtered water, and a small piece of lembas as he sat down in the vacated seat of the Centurion. “We are guest of Lord Elrond and it is fitting that we are to be met at his borders and escorted to see our host directly. It is also customary that the hosts arrive at the meeting place before the visitors, but as you see we have switched it around.” Haladin trailed off as he sipped from his own cool water, delighting in the elderflower taste that lingered on his tongue. It would be the last of the water he would taste until Legolas returned to Mirkwood in the Fall.

“I am sorry I did not realize I was in such a rush to get here, had I known…” Legolas’ apology was quickly cut off as Haladin snorted in amusement into his bowl.

“Had you known it would have made no difference Legolas.” The prince had enough grace to blush knowing fore well that Haladin’s statement was true. “You forget I have seen you riding, with the wind in your face and your hands free of reigns you are totally unaware of your surroundings. At such speeds you become complacent and your mind drifts to another place entirely, and you do not hear even me calling to you to slow down.” Legolas blushed a deeper shade of red as he remembered his riding lessons he’d taken with the stewards when he was young, their tutoring useless as he rode as fast as he could to get away from them.

“Who is meeting us?” Chewing the corner of his lembas Legolas hastily changed the subject from his wayward childhood mischief to a more agreeable subject. There had been enough lectures on his bad behaviour and defiance of authority over the years and he was in no mood to sit through another.

“Elrond’s sons I believe. Elrohir and Elladan according to your father.” Legolas nodded intrigued as he continued to digest his meagre meal.

“Are they of their majority yet?” Haladin huffed another amused laugh into his water bowl; Legolas insatiable thirst for knowledge again intrigued by the two young lords of Imladris.

“Nay, they are still a single season from their majority but are considerably older than yourself.” Legolas sighed heavily as he handed what remained of his lembas piece of Haladin having had enough of food. The prince had hoped for some company his own age in Imladris having no friends even within 100 years of his own age back in Imladris. It was the misfortune of being born during the great battle, his friends either elder or far younger having been conceived before or long after the war was over.

“Can I lie down for a while?” Haladin sighed as he watched Legolas lie back on the soft grass his arm sinking closer to his body, a sure sign that it was aching again. While Legolas would never let on that his arm was sore, Haladin knew the signs. A long taxing ride as they’d just made, along with the impromptu tree climb had fatigued the young prince, making his threshold to the pain lesson. In confidence to Haladin, Thranduil had confessed his other motive for sending Legolas to Imladris was his injury. The healers of Mirkwood had run out of ideas for speeding the youngster’s recovery, and thus they had hoped Elrond, a renowned healer himself would be able to help. There was one thing Legolas hated more than anything, and that was feeling useless and a burden to the party. The prince had been known to go several weeks on patrol without reporting his own injuries, just so he would slow the patrol’s progress. It was distressing to Haladin who was forced to keep a closer eye on his charge for signs of injury but it was also a trait of pride, which ran through Legolas blood like water, inherent from his father.

Mindful that Legolas did not like being fussed over Haladin grabbed one the cheesecloth’s that had previously wrapped up their lembas parcels and silently re fastened a more secure sling over Legolas’ arm, pining it with one of his own hair clips to Legolas’ tunic so that the arm was completely immobile. Legolas smiled his silent thanks as Haladin helped him turn over so that the prince’s head lay in his tutor’s lap, his own cloak being softly draped over him as an aid for warmth in the dying sunlight. There was no telling how long the welcoming committee would be and so Haladin was pleased that Legolas would find rest before being forced to ride again. Legolas fought with pain in his arm everyday and while he never spoke of it or complained, Haladin knew it was tiring from the prince, and frustrating also for an elfling who up until the accident had been lively, active and extremely involved in everything that was going on.

Slowly Legolas’ deep blue eyes fell vacant his breathing evening out as sleep claimed the young prince. With his hand gently caressing the blond mane of his charge, Haladin sighed and settled himself back against the smooth rock behind him. If Elrond could not help Legolas heal there was no chance of the prince ever joining the patrols again, and that alone would crush the youngster’s free spirit beyond anything else in Arada. It was something that Haladin would never be able to live with, seeing his charge without life like he had previously. With a small prayer to the valar Haladin emptied his mind and fell quietly into meditation as he listened for the inevitable footfalls of the welcoming committee of Imladris……….

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(A/N) Well I hope you liked the first few chapters, it's a different kind of Leggy in this new one and believe me he's not as shallow as you think.... Please tell me what you think either my email or feedback and we'll see how we go for more updates soon. Thanks for Reading

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