Quite unexpected

Chapter four A garden walk

olasolas, where are you dashing of to?”
Legolas turned and jumped at the spot in excitement. “Celeborn. He can take short walks and I’m going to show him our gardens.”
Joreb smiled. “I think you need to distance yourself a b
L
Legolas frowned and cocked his head. “Why?”
Joreb shrugged. “Because I think something happened between ata and Celeborn. They were friends once.”
Legolas nodded. “I know. You should have seen them interact yesterday.”
Joreb smiled. “I’ll bet. But what I am trying to tell you is that it doesn’t make sense. Ata always hated Celeborn and Galadriel, remember. Why would he hate one of his friends and now act so nothing-has-happened? It feels weird. There’s this tension in the room with them in it and yet Celeborn prefers ata’s company to that of even you. And ata is torn between leaving the room and caring for him. He’s torn between throwing Celeborn from our realm and tying him to the bed.”

Legolas grinned at his words. He remembered the first time he went travelling. Thranduil had made him promise not to go near the Golden Wood. But eventually curiosity had gotten the better of him and he had gone to the realm. His eyes lost their focus as he remembered.

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Legolas looked around him. All those trees were so huge and different from the ones back home or the ones he had seen during his travelhe ehe elves here were different too. As if they felt themselves above him. He ignored it, telling himself he was a Prince and they were not. The only ones who had any right to look down on him where the rulers of this realm.

Suddenly his guide stopped and Legolas stared up one of the largest trees he had seen. According to his guide he had to climb the winding stairs. Dismounting his horse he looked up. He couldn’t see any ending. /O well./ He shrugged and started climbing.

It took him a while but finally he reached the end and stood on a large platform, hovering miles above the forest ground. It could only be reached by the stairs he had just climbed and the ones leading up, which were larger.

Legolas didn’t know if he was supposed to climb further or not. He looked around. Seeing nobody standing near him he decided he had obviously not reached his destiny and walked towards the stairs. He stood on the fifth step when he saw an elf descending.

“Who are you?” The voice was demanding. He looked up and saw a regal elf, whose eyes flickered a little as they took him in.
“My name is Legolas of Mirkwood. My travels brought me close and I came to pay my respects to the lord and lady of this realm.” This was the first time he actually thanked his brother’s insistence for formal wordings.
The elf before him warmed up. “Of course. You’re Thranduil’s son. Welcome to my realm, Legolas. I was on my way to take my daily walk. Care to join me?” Legolas looked back to the stairs and the elf before him laughed. “Yes, down those stairs. It’s very healthy, you know.”
Legolas smiled. “I would love to accompany you, sir, but I feel I should await the lord and lady first.”

“Who’s that, dear?” Legolas looked past the elf and saw a female elf standing above them, looking at them with interest.
“Thranduil’s son. Legolas of Mirkwood.”
Her eyes turned cold. “I’ll retire then. Remember your meeting tomorrow morn.”
The elf who now stood next to him and who had to Celeborn sighed but didn’t reply. “That, my dear Legolas, was Galadriel. Come, let’s walk.”

Legolas was puzzled. He had somehow imagined the lady to be more shining, more….powerful. But the powerful elf walked beside him, he knew that. And why had her eyes turned so hal thl the second she knew his name? Was there really hatred between this realm and his father’s?

Celeborn smiled and showed Legolas the entire forest, regaling him with tales of the old days. Legolas found he looked forward to their walks together and talked just as amicably as Celeborn. But somehow Celeborn always directed their talks to Mirkwood and Thranduil.

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Legolas jumped when someone hit him over the head. He glared at his brother. “Why did you do that?” He turned and ran away. He needed some long overdue answers.

He knocked before entering.

Celeborn was dressed and looked more himself than he had the past days. He smiled at Legolas. “I was wondering if you had forgotten about me. How are you?”
Legolas smiled. “This is Mirkwood and you’re our guest, my lord. I should be the one asking you that.”
Celeborn inclined his head. “And yet I will always see a young insecure elf when looking at you. You’re very dear to me, Legolas.”
“And you to me. You’ve always been the uncle I’ve never had.”
Thranduil laughed at his son’s words and only now did Legolas notice they weren’t alone. “I wouldn’t repeat that before others. Everybody claims that’s what they are.”
Legolas smiled at his father. He had stopped wondering why his father was either already in Celeborn’s presence or would arrive shortly. He smiled and grinned. “All right. But it is still true.”

Joreb entered after his father and laughed. “And I suppose Galadriel is the aunt you never had.” Celeborn noticed a flash of hatred in Thranduil’s eyes and smiled. /You’ve never stopped being my friend, did you?/ But then what was he missing?
Legolas shook his head and his face showed his horror. “No way. She hates me. For some weird reason. I know she does. She managed to hide it but now that the ring is gone she no longer can and Iallyally see I’m right. Ever since we first met. It’s weird.” Thranduil smiled and embraced his son.

Celeborn sighed. “Don’t worry about it, Legolas. It’s not personal.”
Legolas turned to him. “You know the reason? You do, or you would not have said this. Or voiced it different. Why does she hate me? What did I ever do to her?”
Celeborn shook his head and turned away.
Thranduil smiled ruefully. He knew his son enough to know Legolas would not give up until he had his answer, but he also knew the pain it brought to Celeborn. So he answered in his stead. “Galadriel hates me, ion-nin, and therefore my children.”
Joreb shook his head. “But why does she hate you then? You’ve only met for a short while in Doriath.”
Celeborn sighed. “Things are not always what they seem, young ones. Would you now please leave me? I wish to be alone.”

They left but Thranduil quickly went back, knocked and opened the door. He approached Celeborn. “Come, I shall show you my realm. A little late I admit, but still…”
Celeborn turned and smiled. “Lead and I will follow.”

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Thranduil smiled at Celeborn’s expression as the other took in the sight. “You wouldn’t say there are dangers in your woods when looking at this, Thranduil.”
Thranduil smiled ruefully. “I know, yet I feel it’s presence none the less.”

Celeborn’s expression was one of genuine surprise and interest and Thranduil turned, locking theyeseyes. “I’ve fought evil for so long I’ve learned how to sense it even over great distances. It helped keep control on things, though.” His voice was one of pain and loss and for the first time Celeborn realised that no matter how great their losses had been Mirkwood’s was greater. Guilt and sorrow attacked him in full force. “I should have send aid.” His voice was laden with guilt. “I never realised how great your losses were or the danger you were in.” He closed his eyes. “If nothing else our old friendship should have compelled me to send aid. Instead I took the easy way out. Forgive me my cowardice, Thranduil.”

Thranduil blinked his eyes at the words. He didn’t understand them. Why would Celeborn feel sorry for the past actions when the fault was entirely his? He had walked out on their friendship! He had deliberately not send word for aid! He had not done anything to get their attention. Except that one time which he’d rather forget.

When Thranduil remained silent Celeborn sighed and a small conviction creeping into his mind that told him Thranduil’s affections were forever lost. /But he comforted me and tended to me and saved me when he did not have to. No, I cannot believe there is no hope for us./

“I shall send the best Galadhrim once I’m back. This menace needs to be dealt with swiftly.”
Thranduil shook his head and his eyes darkened in hatred. “No Galadhrim will leave these woods alive.”
Celeborn looked surprised but shook his head. “That’s what you once told me. That if I ever stepped even a toe within your forest again it would mean my death.” He saw Thranduil’s pain at those words and he cursed himself. He reached out his hand to make up for his error. “It pleases me to know you’ve changed your mind since then.”
His hand touched Thranduil’s cheek and he smiled. “I shall not tempt fate by asking what brought it about, but I’ll cherish it.”

Seeing Thranduil’s misty, pained expression he realised a change of topic was in order and he looked around. “Did you create this garden?”
Thranduil grinned. “Nay, Ithilriel did. She always had a way with greeneries and such. Nothing flourishes with me. See?” His hand pointed to a small spot where nothing seemed to grow, even the soil seemed to have difficulties breathing.
Celeborn smiled. “All that lives demands patience aou nou never were a patient one.” Thranduil smiled and nodded.

He walked on, talking about the garden and his realm. He noticed Celeborn pretended to be completely ignorant about his home, asking questions Thranduil knew Legolas had long ago answered. He wondered why Celeborn did that? Did he feel he needed to test Thranduil’s sincerity?

He frowned when Celeborn developed some difficulties breathing. “We’ve walked too far. Come, sit down and recover your strength. Why did you not speak?”
Celeborn sat down on the truck and looked at Thranduil, who propped himself against the neighbouring tree. He shrugged. “I didn’t notice. You’ve got a lovely home, Thranduil.” He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. “Do you miss her?”
Thranduil smiled. /Not as much as I miss you./ “I guess I do. She filled the house with an air that made me forget about the darkness.” /It made me forget your absence./
Celeborn smiled. “Legolas told me she sailed for Valinor shortly after he became of age. Had the dark forces attacked her?”
Thranduil shook her head. “No. She could not overcome the past and got weary of fighting a lost battle. I do not miss her, but I do miss her support and understanding. No matter how much my children care and love me, they do not know.”

He looked up when he felt Celeborn’s hand on his own. Staring into the grey-blue orbs he saw care, affection and compassion. Emotions that had always been there in Doriath. Seeing them now brought a lump to his throat and he sank down.

After a while he had his composure back and his eyes were determined when he looked at Celeborn. “Mirkwood and its darkness is my problem and I’ll fight it alone. You worry about your realm.”
Celeborn’s eyes lost their glee and sadness entered them. “Your problem is my problem too, Thranduil. But I suppose you’re right. st hst hoped…” He closed his eyes and stood to go. “As soon as I am fit enough to travel I shall take my leave and you won’t have to bear my presence any more.”

He did not look back and forced his tears to stay inside. With every step he took his life lost more of its meaning. Every step enlarged the gap between him and Thranduil. Always he had hoped Thranduil might somehow come back and become his friend again, but he now understood such a thing was impossible.

He walked to his room in silence and dressed himself, almost wishing those orcs had killed him. Almost, for the last days had been balm for his aching heart. /I won’t return to ‘Lóriën. Let her rule it, I don’t care. I’ll go to Gondor. It’s been long since I’ve seen Arwen and Ellasar./

He left his room and went to the stables. His hopes of sneaking out were lost when Legolas came out of the stables.

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Legolas glared at Joreb. “Why did you trash that? It was the last we had. It’s Celeborn’s favourite.”
Joreb grinned. “Well, he’ll just eat what we eat then. Or you’ll go refill the stock.”
Legolas pushed his brother to the floor and marched to the stables, intending to do just that.

Finally done saddling his horse he remembered he needed money to pay and left to go get some, almost immediately bumping into Celeborn. He smiled, but it soon faded when he saw it empty expression in the orbs. “Celeborn? You seem lost.”
Celeborn smiled. “I thought a ride might revive me. Do you know a strong, sturdy horse with stamina? I don’t want to fall off and I am looking forward to a long ride.”
Legolas winced at the cold that had crept into Celeborn’s voice. /Something is terribly wrong./ “Of course, that one over there. Ask one of the grooms to saddle it. I was intending to go to the market, but I forgot to bring money. If you wait a little we can go together.”
Celeborn smiled, though it did not reach his eyes and inclined his head. “Sounds wonderful. Bring some food, so we can pick nick later.”
Legolas smiled and nodded.

End chapter 04
TBC