Winter Tears

(A/N) Again sorry guys for such a long update been in London and all so I've not had a lot of time. Now i'm back on with the story.

Chapter 4

“So this Prince Legolas, what is he like Glorfindel?” The seneschal sighed heavily his fingers tightening slightly on the reigns of his horse in frustration as Elladan again struck up conversation. The two brothers, along with Glorfindel and a small contingent of guards had left the last homely house at midday, setting a leisurely pace that would ensure they had plenty of time before the party from Mirkwood arrived at the crossing. As much as Glorfindel loved his two students dearly, Elladan’s persistent need for conversation and activity tried his patients at the best of times.

“Aye are we to have a spoilt princeling on our hands for the next year, for that will surely ruin the celebrations for our begetting day.” Elrohir trotted up quickly to Glorfindel’s other side, having overheard the turn of conversation from where he’d been trailing behind noting the bird life in the tree canopy above them.

“In all honesty, I do not know.” Glorfindel paused as he took a swig from his leather bladder, which was slung across the saddle in front of him, the midday sun making him a little hot beneath the thick tunic he wore. “I have met him only a few times, all of which were when he was just a babe. The last time he was walking but barely, he seemed a very sweet child, of good nature like his mother. Save for rumour I have no other information to offer you I’m afraid.” Elladan frowned and huffed out a sigh of boredom. If Prince Legolas was anything like Thranduil, he would most likely be a very boring elf, one which Elladan would take delight in avoiding.

“I heard one of the blacksmiths in town, at the market talking about him yesterday.” Elrohir smiled as both Glorfindel and Elladan looked intrigued across at him, interested to know what Elrohir had overheard.

“Be careful Elrohir, gossip and rumour, especially created in the marketplace are not to be taken as the truth….” Glorfindel looked sceptically across at his youngest charge, who smiled cheekily and raised his eyebrows in amusement.

“They say he’s the most beautiful elf in all of Arada. His hair shines like mithril and his face mirrors that of a maiden.” Elrohir looked smugly across at Elladan who was clearly stunned at what his twin had confessed. Glorfindel however merely chuckled and shook his head in amusement.

“In all of Arada, you say Elrohir? I highly doubt that young half elf.” Glorfindel smirked widely as Elrohir folded his arms haughtily across his chest somewhat annoyed that his information had so so easily dismissed by his tutor. “Legolas was admittedly a very fair child but one tends to loose ones looks as you grow older. I am sure he is no more beautiful than his parents are.” Glorfindel turned his attention back to the path ahead, the ford of the Burien coming up over the last rise. The party scouts had already rode ahead the short way to the ford leaving the rest of them to follow at their leisure.

Expecting to see the clear banks of the river, and the crystal water deserted Glorfindel was shocked when the forest path thinned out into the opening of the ford only to reveal an entire party of elves already seated around a small campfire near the edge of the river.

“Elbereth! They are early!” Shocked Glorfindel rode up quickly to the front of the guards, who now stood a few meters back from the line of Mirkwood guards that had emerged from the trees and surrounding forest. “Greetings Travrs frs from Mirkwood, I humbly apologise for our tardiness. Had we known you were to arrive early we would have quickened our own pace.” Glorfindel dismounted from his horse and spoke calmly to the centurion at the head of the Mirkwood guard.

“Nay, it us who will apologise my Lord Glorfindel. Our own pace was somewhat quickened by an unforseen matter.” Glorfindel did not missed the angry glance that the centurion threw over his shoulder to where two unfamiliar elves were just rising from their seat around the fire.

“Well met my friend. Your apology is accepted.” Extending his hand to the warriors Glorfindel embraced his kin in a familiar handshake, before gesturing to the twins who had now come to stand by his side. “May I introduce Lord Elrond’s son, Elladan and Elrohir of Imladris.” Obligingly the centurion bowed politely to the two young lords, both of whom followed Glorfindel and shook the Mirkwood soldiers hand in a warriors greeting.

“Well met Elladan and Elrohir of Imladris, you are very much alike you must forgive us if we mistake you for each other.” There was a short chuckle among the gathered party at the Centurion’s friendly jest, Elladan and Elrohir blushing a little as the handsome guard glanced them other with a pleasing eye.

“Aye, you would not be the first to confuse us sir, I believe father spent the better half of a century after we were born trying to figure out who was who.” Again another tittering of laughter broke between the ranks, the friendly banter causing much amusement between the parties as they got to know one another, and the unease of the unusual first meeting finally dissipated.

“May I enquire after Prince Legolas? he he not to be among your party this visit?” Glorfindel glanced curiously between the ranks of the Mirkwood guard trying and failing to find any signs of the child he’d rarely met.

“Aye, Lord Glorfindel may I present Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood and his tutor, Haladin of the Grey Mountains.” Almost instantly the centurion took a small step to his right revealing two elves he had just introd. Gl. Glorfindel was stunned speechless as he stared into the crystal blue eyes of the prince. Young Legolas Greenleaf was indeed a very fine looking elfling, and a lot more beautiful than Glorfindel remembered seeing in the babe he’d held in his arms so long ago. Long blonde hair cascaded in untamed braids down the prince’s back, his forest green tunic highlighting the glowing translucent fair skin of the prince’s remarkably sculptured facial features. Glorfindel allowed his gaze to linger on the prince’s body for a moment too long and it was only when Haladin, cleared his throat that Glorfindel snapped out of his revere, blushing a little in embarrassment.

“Lord Glorfindel, it is a pleasure to meet you finally. I have heard a great may things about the legendary balrog slayer. Perhaps you may indulge us later in a personal account of the tales.” Glorfindel reluctantly drew his attention from the young prince to his tutor. Haladin was dressed similarly as his charge, his own long blond hair secured more neatly, and his head free of the mithril band that Legolas wore as a sign of his distinction.

“Aye I am sure I can oblige. My appologise Prince Legolas, I remember you far younger than you are now, and was expecting an elfling not a warrior I see before me. You have grown up to be a very fine warrior.” Glorfindel watched as an attractive shade of red swept across the prince’s cheeks as Legolas lowered his head in embarrassment of the praise.

“Thank-you Lord Glorfindel.” Legolas’ voice was barely above a whisper after Haladin had nudged him hard in the side prompting him to repl Glo Glorfindel’s gracious greeting. Glorfindel chuckled softly as he extended his hand to the prince offering it in formal greeting as he had done with Haladin and the chief centurion. Instinctively Legolas went to take the hand but the tight sling reminded him of his injury before he hissed in pain at having shifted his elbow a little too quickly. Almost instantly Haladin slipped his hand beneath the prince’s cloak trying and failing to ease the pain of the prince’s arm by pressing it softly back against the prince’s chest. The paleness that swept across Legolas’ features did not go unmissed by those watching on and Glorfindel stepped forward hastily catching the prince as Legolas legs began buckling beneath him.

“What has happened? Was this injurs sus sustained by a foe you encountered on your journey here?” Glorfindel easily helped Haladin lower Legolas to the ground where the prince immediately curled up into Haladin’s chest, hiding the tears that Glorfindel had glimpsed sliding down the prince’s cheeks. With careful hands Glorfindel removed the young prince’s cloak before easing back the sling and the sleave of Legolas’ tunic to reveal the thick bandage that was sticky with fluid beneath. Upon seeing the state of the bandage for himself Haladin hissed in anger as he drew Legolas’ face up to meet his own.

“Legolas! Why did you not say anything to me sooner! It is a complete mess again because of your foolishnesf inf infections has taken hold it will be because of your own stupid fault!” Snapping at his charge angrily Haladin removed his knife from his boot and proceeded to split the prince’s tunleavleave from bottom to top exposing the entire extent of the weeping from Legolas reopened wound. Glorfindel gced ced at the awful smell from the prince’s arm already deciding that infection had set in. “I apologise for Legolas, my Lord Glorfindel his injury is one he sustained some while ago and until today has been healing successfully but it seems he has neglected to tell me of him re opening it during the journey here.”

“Ada will have to take a look at that, it smells awful…” Glorfindel rolled his eyes in contempt as Elladan looked down over them at the prince. Elrohir was pulling a face at the smell and Elladan’s tactless comment had only served to make Legolas and his tutor uncomfortable.

“Elladan! Go and fetch my bag from the horse, you are not helping standing around.” Realizing his mistake Elladan quickly ran off towards where Glorfindel’s stallion was grazing by the side of the ford to retrieve the seneschals saddlebag
“M
“My Lord Glorfindel, the scouts had just reported fresh orc tracks along the Northern shore of the river, it is not safe here we must head back to Imladris now.” From a murmur of the gathered party came Raglan’s voice, Glorfindel’s second in command. Glorfindel frowned at the news and sighed heavily as Haladin again chastised Legolas foolishness in Silvan making the young prince sink further into his pitiful state.

“Very well, Legolas are you well enough to ride aloWe wWe will take the short route back to the last homely house, it is a trip no more than an hour or so.” Ignoring Haladin’s fuming at his prince Glorfindel promptly addressed Legolas. Almost instantly Legolas had sat up nodding solemnly as Glorfindel helped him from the ground. Haladin hastily strapped the young prince’s arm to his chest again before wrapping the cloak back around Legolas’ body. Despite appearances Glorfindel could see the strong will hidden beneath Legolas’ soft exterior. The prince was determined like Thranduil despite his weakness and Glorfindel had every confidence that prinprince would do as asked.

“Mount up! We ride swiftly through the eastern paths.” Taking command of his own troops Glorfindel called together his party, just as the chief centurion of the Mirkwood party did as well. In less than a few minutes all traces of the small camp by the ford had been erased and all now sat astride their horses ready to move on. The prince was the last to mount before Glorfindel who easily helped the struggling youngster onto the back of his own horse. Haladin was still fuming his deathly glare focused entirely on his foolish charge. Glorfindel had to secretly admit that he would have hated to be in Legolas’ position. Haladin looked to be a firmer mentor than even Erestor himself.

With everyone mounted Glndelndel ensured that Legolas was ushered into the center of the party along side Elladan and Elrohir before a high-pitched whistle set the party in motion. There was to be no leisurely pace and with Glorfindel’s urgency the party was at full canter within moments. Despite keeping his eyes on the paths and surrounded woodland Glorfindel spared glances back at the prince. The injury on the prince’s arm looked severe and Glorfindel had wondered why Elrond had not said anything about Legolas condition when announcing his visit at dinner the evening before. The prince looked to be a capable warrior and so thus such an injury intrigued Glorfindel completely.


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