Against all odds

Chapter thirty one ready to go

Legolas ran towards Lindir’s chambers. He was running out of time.

He had already gone to the kitchens and Apsontë had promised to make them a large and sufficient picnic basket. She agreed with Legolas that this was just what they needed.

After that the blond had gone to fetch Elladan but the Peredhel hadn’t been in rooms and according to the house servants he hadn’t even slept there. Or they would have had to clean it. He now ran towards Lindir’s rooms, not only hoping to find Lindir there, but that he knew where Elladan was.

He knocked on thor aor and was surprised when a gloomy Lindir opened the door. Feigning ignorance Legolas went ahead with the invitation. “Elrohir and I are gong to the Bruinen for a swim and a picnic. Elrond, Erestor and Glorfindel are coming too and so are you.” He realised that asking would result in a negative and Legolas felt Lindir needed this so he had made it an order. Lindir shrugged his shoulder and promised to be there.

Legolas now went in search of Elladan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elrond looked at the door in annoyance. Erestor had just climbed on his in in a rather lustful way. Of al the times for anyone to knock at his door, they had to pick this moment. He fervently prayed for whoever it was to leave, but he sighed when Erestor rose himself to open the door.

He was surprised to see Elrohir standing in the door opening. “Pen-neth?! Come in. I take it you came for your father. Do you want me to leave you alone?”
But Elrohir shook his head. “Nay, I am not coming in. You two are coming with me. Legolas suggested a family picnic. I’ve already told Glorfindel and Legolas went to get Lindir and Elladan and he also went to the kitchens. Come on, ata, Erestor. It will do you good.”

Elrond smiled at his son. /Yes, Legolas is definitely having a positive effect on you./ He rose and left his desk. “Sounds excellent. Come on, hondonya.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elladan growled in frustration.
He had found several lists, books and papers of herbs. All of them containing information about one or all of the herbs Lindir had mentioned, but never the effect it would have when consumed during pregnancy.
He lowered his head in defeat. He knew Elrond or Erestor might know but he was reluctant to ask them. Because that also meant he had to explain why he wanted to know and he didn’t want to betray Lindir’s trust. “Where else could I look?”

“Look for what?” Surprised by this sudden interruption Elladan lifted his head and saw a bemused Legolas standing in the doorway. /You’re alone?/ He didn’t realise he had spoken that thought until Legolas affirmed it.

The blond advanced on him. “Can I help?”
Elladan shook his head. “Nay, I doubt it. Why are you here? Looking for some reading?” Legolas shook his head. “Nay, you. Though I am rather surprised to hear I could find you here. You didn’t strike me as a library person. I’ve spend hours in my father’s library. In boredom I’ve started reading most of them. Maybe I can help?”

Elladan smiled. “Maybe. Why did you want to see me?”
Legolas grinned. “Family picnic. That way Elrohir gets to enjoy himself with his family around. And that includes you.”

Elladan smiled. He appreciated the time Legolas was giving his brother. “I doubt it will be more than the two of you, Legolas. Ata and Erestor will prefer their study and Glorfindel will prefer any place above the one where you are and I am trying to find an answer.”
Legolas shook his head. “You are right, but you forget one tiny detail.” Seeing Elladan’s questioning expression he smiled. “Elrohir is rather hard to say no to. Glorfindel, Erestor and Elrond will have to be dead before they deny this. And as for you,” he cocked his head, a twinkle in the eye. “you have me. I offer my knowledge freely. I promise to keep it a secret if that’s worrying you.”

Elladan grinned. “Actually it was. Al right then. Do you know the following herbs: Valarlótë, Vaccoquendir, Níswa sulca and Moicaníscaimasara?” Seeing a vague recollection in Legolas’ eyes he showed the blond the pictures in the books he had found. Legolas grinned. “Aye, I know them. It was rather difficult because my father’s books uses Sindarin names mainly. But aye, I’ve read about them. Why?”
Elladan ignored the question, closing the books and placing them on their appropriate shelves. “I am trying to find what a combination of them will do. But none of the books mentions it.” He gasped when Legolas suddenly turned him around abruptly. “Elladan. No! You can’t use them together. Ever. Promise me. Promise.”
He was shocked by the urgency in Legolas’ voice. And saddened, for if it prompted this reaction from the blond it had to have a terrible reaction on Lindir. “Relax, Legolas. I’m not. There has to happen a lot before I take any medication, ask ata.”

He sat back down and signalled for Legolas to do the same. “Look, what I am about to tell you has to remain between us. Promise.” Legolas nodded. “You have my word.”
Elladan smiled and poured them some water before speaking. “It’s a rather long story but in order to make sense I have to start at the beginning. After you and Elrohir left last night Lindóma got broken. I gave him some wine, I felt it was an occasion he needed to drink.”
Legolas gasped as he heard it. “Poor Lindir.”
“In two weeks there will be a new one. We’ve been up all night, making a new sketch. I was so consumed by it I forgot to watch his glass and it was only later that I realised he had finished almost the entire bottle by himself.” He smiled ruefully at the memory. “I took him to bed and crashed down on the couch myself. In the morning he was really happy nothing had happened and I read something into it that there wasn’t.”
He realised he was confusing Legolas right now but he didn’t stop his tale. “After some foolishness from my part he felt he had to explain. O, Legolas, you won’t believe it. He told me his mother had had a rather weird food craving when she was pregnant from him. She only ate things with those four herbs in them. He ran away, crying. And I feel horrible. But he also told me it’s the reason he doesn’t see his mother anymore. I guess I just wanted to know more so I could help him.”

He shrugged and looked at Legolas who sat with his mouth agape. “I can’t believe anyone would do that to their children. I just can’t believe it. Didn’t they know?” It was obvious he was talking to himself but Ean aan answered anyway. “They did. Lindir said they’ve tried to stop her from eating those herbs, though I have no idea why. But you do, don’t you?”

Legolas shook his head to get it a bit clearer and nodded. “Aye, I do. I’ve read it only weeks before I left to come here. O, Elladan, this is horrible.”
Seeing Elladan’s shocked and fearful expression he realised he had said the wrong thing. “Don’t worry, he isn’t dying. But those herbs are all very potent and shouldn’t be used together at all.” Elladan practically begged him to stop beating around the bush and tell him. Legolas sighed. “Well, the effects differ, depending on the gender. With females the combination produces a rather dangerous woman who can undo every male elf she meets. None will be able to resist her. That way she’ll be able to seduce any elf and get him to father a child with her when he normally wouldn’t. For the combination also increases fertility. When males use it they merely become fertile. With women it lasts only a week and with males the effects last longer, about half a year.”
Elladan nodded, already fearing what could have happened. “And when it’s used during pregnancy the effects of the potion are placed into the baby. If it’s a girl she becomes a rare beauty, one that will have men fighting each other, but if it’s a boy he’s fertile, Elladan. For life.”

Elladan lowered his head to hide the tears that made it down his face. He felt so sorry for Lindir. He realised why Lindir avoided parties and stayed clear of alcohol. Then a shocking thought entered his mind. /He’s untouched./ He had to be, or else he would have had a child. Elladan also realised that Lindir must always have been lonely. It saddened him but made him determined to change the other’s life. And it started today.
“He should come too. To the picnic I mean.” Legolas smiled. “He is, I’ve already told him he’s coming too.”

Legolas rose himself and offered his hand to help Ellada, who took it gratefully. The Peredhel fell into step beside him as they walked to the stables where Legolas figured the others would be waiting for them.

“By the way, Legolas, you don’t strike me as a library person either. Why do you spend so much time in them when you can be outside? Shooting arrows.”
Legolas grinned. “O, the time I spend in the library has greatly lessened in the last decades. But if it interests you I was hiding.”
Elladan was amazed. “Hiding? From who?”
Legolas smiled at him. “My sisters.” He laughed at Elladan’s disbelieving look.
By now they were closing in on the stables where the horses had already sad saddled. The waiting elves drew them a curious look. Glorfindel found it hard to believe those two were fighting only the other day. Their sharp ears picked up on their conversation as Legolas continued speaking. “You had Arwenladaladan. That’s only one sister and she’s younger. I have five and all older than me. When I was born they thought I was a new playtoy. I only had Naulivo to save me from that. He’s one of my brothers. Born only a year before my eldest sister. But my sisters hated the library. So I took refuge there. Until I learned how to fight.”

By now they had reached the horses and they smiled at the others. Legolas grinned after he had counted them “Lord Elrond, you surprise me. I thought you didn’t trust me on a horse again.”
Glorfindel couldn’t help but bite. “Oh, you’re perfectly free to ride behind Elrohir, or no, in front of, otherwise you might run away. I’ll tell the stable boys to take care of your horse.”
Elrond shot him a warning glance but Legolas grinned and jumped on Elrohir’s horse. “Like this you mean? What tells you I won’t steal the leads and run away? But don’t worry, Glorfindel, I shan’t test your tracking skills today. Iookiooking forward to the picnic, I’ll have you know. Apsontë said she would outdo herself and I wonder what that means.” He whistled and his horse stepped closer and Legolas easily changed one horse for another. “No offence to either you or your horse, Elrohir, but I prefer my own.”

“Can we go already?” Erestor was getting impatient. He wanted to go. He hoped he could get alone with Elrond. For a long while. To emphasise his words he kicked his own horse in motion. Elrond smiled and signalled for the rest to start moving.

Glorfindel happily noticed Elrond and Erestor rode next to each other, as did Elrohir and Legolas. /Aye, a fine match indeed./ Glorfindel was sure Apsontë had only went along because Legolas and Elrohir had asked her. And he saw Elladan had taken his place next to Lindir, who seemed rather gloomy and worried. /First lover’s quarrel?/
He was glad he was going to be present. And if nobody would have interest in him he would talk to the horses. He did not mind. And he smiled as he noticed all the bags the horses were carrying. Apsontë had been true to her word and had gone to lengths to make a rather large picnic. It would have supplied an army of Dwarves, Glorfindel was sure of that.

End chapter 31
TBC

Translations:
Pen-neth means little one
Hondonya means my heart.
For the flower names see previous chapter
Naulivo means Howling one (a wolf-howl)