The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 38

Legolas sat quietly in Filgree’s lap his tutor’s warm embrace chasing away all the fears and anxiety he’d accumulated over the weeks of uncertainly he’d had away from Mirkwood. A calm had washed over him like a wave at having seen Filgree for the first time safe and well in the council chamber. While he’d been expecting to see all of his family in Lothlorien he’d not expected to get such a welcome from his tutor. Haldir had spoke to him at length during their slow walk to the council chambers. The guardian and told him how Legolas had come to be in Lothlorien in the first place and then who was waiting to see him up in the private chambers of Lord Celeborn. Haldir had also told Legolas things about Lothlorien, about the trees and the inhabitants and the magic surrounding Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. Legolas had found it all deeply fascinating despite his fatigue and longed to hear more of the magical place he’d only ever read about in books. Legolas had come to like Haldir in the short time he’d spent with him, he reminded him Lord Glorfindel in both looks and dry sense of ur. ur.

The fuzzy feeling he’d had when Filgree had embraced him had all fallen down in a heap though when he’d realised what Lord Glorfindel was saying to them all. It was obvious the warrior was very upset, his face pink with anger and his fists clenched in frustration. Legolas wondered what had been discussed before he’d arrived but considering Glorfindel’s topic of irritation Legolas was sure it had something to do with him. He hated himself for making Glorfindel mad. The blonde elf had been so kind and friendly towards him and if Haldir had been right Glorfindel had nearly given up his life to save him from Keeldon. Yet Glorfindel had clearly told everyone he wanted nothing to do with him from now on and Legolas felt an aching pain in his chest at hearing the words out loud. He had come to like Lord Glorfindel very much.

Now however the meeting had been disbanded by Celeborn who had obviously not wanted Legolas to get involved. Through some negotiations Legolas had pleaded to be allowed to stay in Filgree’s rooms and Celeborn had reluctantly agreed. Thranduil having spent a little time insuring Legolas was well had now retired to his own rooms. Hale and Talion had gone investigating the enemies territory leaving Filgree and Legolas alone in the room together.

“It must have been terribly painful, I did not want to leave you.” Filgree sighed and gently rocked Legolas back and forth in his arms as his young charge softly inspected the spaces where the two middle fingers of Filgree’s right hand were now missing.

“Aye it did but not as much as the prospect of loosing you little green leaf. I am glad you are safe.” Legolas blushed lightly as Filgree gently pressed a kiss to his forehead. For a long time Legolas had believed Filgree to be dead and now it seemed almost surreal to have his beloved tutor back by his side. He had missed him terribly and wished every night that Filgree had been with him when he’d escaped the orcs. There was silence for a long time the pair merely enjoying the warmth they got from one another upon being reunited. It was Legolas in the end that broke the silence as he pulled away from Filgree a little.

“Filgree? Can you tell me why Lord Glorfindel is mad at me, what have I done?” Filgree was a little shocked at Legolas’ question but quietly sat up from the chair allowing Legolas to slide to his feet as they both stood.

“He is mad mad at you little one, only at something he can not control. None of us can control it and we must accept it just as you will have to do when the time comes.” Legolas frowned in confusion but Filgree instantly reached up and smoothed out the crease lines in Legolas’ forehead. “Do not frown so Legolas, or you will end up looking like Lord Elrond before your 1000th birthing day.” Legolas couldn’t help but chuckle. He had only been formally introduced to the legendary Lord of Imaldris for a few moments but had already noted the deep frown lines creasing the Lord’s forehead. It had been almost like a dream to Legolas meeting all the Lord’s from far away places and it had been quite an adventure to have seen so many realms, if he fact out out the slavery and abuse part. Of course as Filgree had once told him while it was wonderful to see the world it was even nicer to go home in the end, and that was just what Legolas wanted to do was go home but he did not voice that thought. At the mention of his birthing day Legolas became intrigued to just how long he had been away from home and whether or not he’d missed his own coming of age.

”Filgree am I in my majority yet?” Filgree was in the bathing room washing his face and hands when Legolas poked his head around the corner of the doorway and smiled cheekily at his tutor’s reflection in the looking glass above the basin.

“Not yet Legolas but you are very close. I can stiall all you little one until three days following this evening.” Legolas’ eyes widened considerably as Filgree wandered past him back into the room leaving Legolas to wander after him.

“Three days? Is that all? I did not know I had been away from Mirkwood for so long.” Legolas sighed heavily and gently moved over to pour both he and Filgree a small glass of spring water. Since being in Filgree’s presence Legolas had fallen quite easily back into routine. Knowing his father there would be no wine provided with his meals as he had had earlier this morning and he certainly wouldn’t be allowed out without Filgree. After the adventures he’d had everything would once again fall back into the normal boring routine but Legolas wasn’t too sure that he disliked it anymore. At least he was safe with the boring old routine even if it was tedious at times. Filgree chuckled at the prince’s declaration before gesturing to the bed.

“Come now let me see your injuries and make sure they are healing. We would make sure you reach your majority in good health and then worry about other things afterwards” Legolas groaned but willingly began to undress knowing full well that to argue with Filgree on matters concerning health was like trying to convince an orc that fruit was good for it. Besides his hips were beginning to ache again and his tutor’s healing ways would surely do him the world of good.

Lying naked on his front Legolas winced in pain with each manipulation Filgree made of his hips. During the mayhem and chaos of the council chamber Legolas had quite forgotten just how much his injuries still pained him until now when Filgree was prodding and pushing at them.

“This will hurt a little Legolas brace yourself.” Legolas frowned in to the pillows, he did not like the sound of that but the young elf had no time to complain as Filgree put a large pressure on his waist before sharply pushing his hips to the right. Legolas screamed in agony into the pillows as wave after wave of pain shot up his spine. “Shh it is all over now. I have pushed it back into place and you will begin to get better now.” Legolas could only nod as he felt his tutor lay down on the bed beside him a soft hand soothingly rubbing his back. After a while Legolas breathing began to return to normal the pain in his back shifting to a dull throbbing. “Okay now let me take a look at that neck of yours.” Legolas reluctantly allowed Filgree to help him sit, the tutor thoughtfully draping a blanket across Legolas’ lap to preserve his dignity. While Legolas was still an elfling he still deserved the privacy of an adult.

Tears began streaming down Legolas’ cheeks as Filgree gently began unbandaging his neck carefully avoiding reopening the wound unnecessarily. The tutor was appalled at the infection of the wound and screwed his nose up in disgust of the foul smell emanating from it. Too engrossed in inspecting the wound was Filgree that neither he nor Legolas noticed the knock at the door before a figure appeared from behind the tapestry.

“Oh my that is terrible.” Legolas nearly shot through the roof at the sound of an unfamiliar voice and Filgree cursed as he turned to see who had interrupted them so unexpectedly. The scold on the tip of Filgree’s tongue however died away as Lord Elrond stepped further into the room his gaze firmly attached to the gaping wound on Legolas’ neck. Legolas clutched the blanket tighter about his body feeling extremely nervous about being naked in the presence of a stranger, just like he had been with Keeldon. Elrond approached the bed and sat gently down on the side of it his hand slowly moving up to brush Legolas’ hair away from the back of his neck to inspect the damage around the back. “Do not fear me Legolas, I only wish to help.” Legolas’ still did not take his gaze off Lord Elrond even as Filgree placed a comforting hand over his own the blanket in reassurance.

“I do not know what they have done to him here, I thought they were supposed to help him heal. It looks as if they had done nothing to stem the infection.” Filgree spat nastily as he rose from the bed and went to fetch some warm water as well as cloths and herbs from his own supply. Legolas swallowed in difficulty as he allowed Lord Elrond to move closer to him and the man to put his hands gently on his neck.

“Most probably they did nothing. You know as well as I Filgree that they are scared of injuring him further, perhaps even Celeborn told them not to touch him. They have not the knowledge of him that you and I do.” Legolas looked confused at the brown haired Lord but winced and cried out in pain as Elrond slid his finger into the wound on his neck causing it to begin bleeding again. “The wound will have to be re opened if we are to clean it properly, he is lucky fever has not set in yet but it will once the healing herbs have worn off.” Tears flowed down Legolas cheeks as Lord Elrond stood from the bed and wiped his hand free of Legolas blood on the cloth Filgree handed him. “I will go and get some things from my own talon and get the servants to bring some fresh water, I will be back soon.” Filgree nodded as he sat down next to Legolas on the bed and comfortingly wrapped an arm around the shivering young elf. Sensing he was intruding Elrond silently left to fetch the necessities for the procedure leaving Legolas and Filgree alone.

“Shhh Legolas don’t cry. Elrond is a healer and he knows what he is doing. He will insure as little pain as possible comes to you, but you know as well as I that it mustdonedone so you can get better.” Legolas nodded gingerly only now realizing just how bad the wound on his neck was. He had avoided looking at it this morning more concerned with where he was than what injuries he had sustained.

“Don’t leave me.” Legolas sounded innocently afraid to Filgree and the tutor smiled and shook his head in reassurance of the young elf.

“No I will not leave you this time Legolas, now let’s get you in some leggings before Lord Elrond comes back.” With that Filgree disappeared over to the cupboard in the corner of the talon and Legolas lap gently back suddenly feeling awfully light headed in the face of more pain. Everything around him no longer made sense and just when he’d found Filgree again and had the hope of going home he was being dealt more agony and pain. If the valar truly were looking down on him it was certainly not with a friendly gaze. Legolas only hoped it would be over quickly and that Glorfindel would return no longer mad with him.


(A/N) Welllllllllllllllllllll more suffering for our Leggy today, I'm affraid...........*Add screaming and suffering noises here*........but be assured you might not want to miss the next three chapters or so cause some's going to let the cat out of the bag......so to speak.