Cuil Eden

Title: Cuil Eden
Part: 46/?
Rating: NC-17
Series: Sequel to Anestel and Ethuil'waew
Pairing: Glorfindel/Legolas
Warnings: mpreg, d/s
Disclaimer: All the pretty elves belong to Tolkien, I'm just playing with them and will give them back afterwards.

Lots of thanks to my wonderful beta! :)

46

That same afternoon, after Gîl had had his nap and they had eaten, Glorfindel sat down behind Legolas to brush out his hair, laughing a little at how uncomfortable the wavy hair still made Legolas feel. But despite his gentle teasing, he braided them in the style of a Prince of Mirkwood, pressing a gentle kiss to Legolas' brow when he was finished.

"Very beautiful – truly, they suit you, and more so than your dour-faced brother," Glorfindel praised with a grin. "But now you need appropriate attire to go with... Fetch that tunic of blue brocade, please, and a pair of leggings – oh, and put on your sword as well."

"Are we invited to another dinner this evening, my Lord?" Legolas curiously inquired, but Glorfindel only chuckled and shook his head.

"No, at least not that I know of, although they might yet send word. Now come, hurry and dress... You have plans this afternoon, and it is already late."

Legolas frowned but obediently went to put on his formal clothes, smiling to himself when he caught a glimpse of what he now looked like in the mirror. That was no maiden he saw - it was a Prince who looked back at him.

"What plans do I have, my Lord? Will you not tell me? Certainly you will not send me out to entertain Gîl like this, for I do not think that he will pay consideration to all this finery."

"Indeed, he most probably will not, although he will accompany you – yet you shall not take him to play by the river, or in the trees. It is market day in Caras Galadhon, and now that your old robe has been ruined, you would do well to buy another, or maybe two, if you want to play with Gîl during our visit."

Legolas nodded slowly when he realized that they had indeed not packed clothes for that task. "Shall you not accompany us, my Lord?" he then asked, growing uncertain again. "I do not know where this market is, and..."

He fell silent, lowering his eyes when he did not dare to continue, although he was certain that his Lord had to know what made him so hesitant.

"You need not worry, I have had Celeborn assign a personal guard to you for the remainder of our stay. It was truly the least he could do, after he got news of how one of his Marchwardens treated you. He should be here any moment now..."

"But--" Legolas began to argue, and then there was a knock, interrupting him.

"Ah, that should be your guard... Go and admit him, please." Glorfindel was smiling faintly, and Legolas frowned. He did not understand why he needed a guard now in Lórien of all places, and – if Glorfindel truly insisted – why he could not just have one of their soldiers.

With a little sigh he went and opened the door, for one small moment even entertaining the possibility of having been given Rúmil, who had been so kind to him – but then he saw who awaited him, and he could not quite suppress a gasp.

Haldir stood in the doorway, lazily leaning against one side. Although he did not wear his usual smug expression, when he saw Legolas' reaction, he chuckled softly. "Well met, Prince," he drawled, making clear the title was intended as insult, and smiling a little when Legolas took a dismayed step back.

"There you are, Haldir... I am certain your Lord has already acquainted you with your duties," Glorfindel said coldly. "I shall repeat them for Legolas' sake, and then you can be off."

Glorfindel came forward, resting one arm around Legolas' shoulders, and nodded towards Haldir who Legolas now realised no longer wore his red Marchwarden's cloak, but was instead clad in the simple, grey uniform of a guard of Lothlórien.

"He will be your personal guard for the remainder of our stay in the wood, and has been relieved of his duties as Marchwarden for that period. And should he give you cause to complain, Legolas, do not hesitate to tell me – Celeborn was rather indignant when he heard about how he treated one of his guests, especially as that guest is also a distant cousin, and thus kin to him. If Haldir misbehaves yet again, he shall be permanently demoted to guard. I do not think that old grudges are worth that much to him..."

Legolas nodded dutifully, still unhappy about the prospect of spending time with Haldir, but he did not want to show his misgivings to the Galadhel, who had already seen far too much of his fear.

"Get yourself some simple linen clothes for playing with Gîl," Glorfindel then suggested, turning from Haldir to focus on Legolas once again. "You know how he loves the mud and the river. And do not forget that it will be his begetting day very soon, so if you see something he might like, get that as well. Do not hesitate – you have someone to carry your purchases, after all."

Legolas nodded again, although reluctantly. Glorfindel smiled at that and pulled him into his arms arms to whisper softly into his ear without regard for their audience.

"Get a few things for yourself too – whatever strikes your fancy. I want you to buy so much that everyone in the market will see him trail after you with your purchases in his arms like a servant. He knows his duties, so do not be afraid. This is a punishment, and he is well aware of it. Actually, roch neth, I want you to buy something else as well... Buy something for yourself that you think will please me."

Glorfindel chuckled when Legolas flushed. "Oh, it need not be something outrageous," he said warmly, still whispering, yet Legolas was certain that Haldir knew what they were talking about. "Use your imagination, I am certain that whatever you come up with will please me."

"I will, my Lord," Legolas promised faithfully, knowing that no matter how much he detested Haldir, pleasing his Lord was far more important to him.

"Good," Glorfindel said in satisfaction and kissed Legolas gently, feeling warm pleasure roll through him at the way the youth relaxed against him. When he drew back with a sigh of regret, Legolas was flushed and his eyes were soft, and Glorfindel breathed the words again, loving how they made Legolas sigh and close his eyes.

"Pen villen... Enjoy yourself. That is truly all I ask of you," he said and pressed a kiss to Legolas’ brow, then reluctantly let him go.

"The merchants will know who to send to for remuneration for your purchases, but take this along with you to show who you are." Glorfindel pulled a ring off his finger, and Legolas gasped involuntarily when he saw that it was the heavy signet ring of massive gold bearing the insignia of Glorfindel's House in Gondolin.

"Try it on - I fear it will be too large, but you could always wear it on your thumb," Glorfindel said a little sheepishly, looking doubtfully at Legolas’ slender fingers next to his own large hand.

Legolas took the ring reverently, holding it in his hand for a moment to study it in awe. He remembered Haldir's words, I see no ring on his finger, and smiled when he realised that this was no longer true. Furtively, he glanced at Haldir and saw that although he was trying to look bored, there was a derisive little smile on his lips.

It was not a silver ring of betrothal, no – but what Haldir did not realise was that it did not matter. This was all that Legolas could ever wish for. It was Glorfindel's love and his respect, as well as a sign for everyone to see that no matter what position Legolas had in his bed, he was an equal in all other things.

He smiled when he tried it on, giggling a little when it immediately slipped off his ring finger, and even his middle finger was a little too small.

"You are right, my Lord... My thumb will have to do." It fit perfectly there, and Legolas sighed happily, once more feeling awe at his Lord's trust in him.

"Just do not get Gîl a pony," Glorfindel said with a groan, and Legolas laughed.

"Oh, he is much too young for that, no matter how much he begs... For his next begetting day maybe, if he is very good. I would not get him one of Lórien breed anyway – he needs a robust little thing he can have adventures with, not a meek palfrey."

"Of Mirkwood breed, hmm?" Glorfindel teased, knowing very well Legolas' opinions when it came to horses, and Legolas laughed again.

"That human farmer's ponies you showed me were nice enough," he demurred. "But we have talked of this before – there will be time enough to find something before his next begetting day."

"Get him another toy pony if he does not stop begging," Glorfindel suggested with a grin, then quickly kissed Legolas again before he turned away to fetch their son.

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Gîlríon had given Haldir an uncertain look, but soon he was happily chattering away once again as Legolas led him down the wooden stairs and pathways after Haldir. The prospect of visiting the market excited Gîl, and Legolas was glad that he had something to distract him from his own excitement.

This would be a new experience for him as well, for while there had been trade with Laketown in Mirkwood, Legolas had never even seen one of the human traders during his childhood in his father's wood. Nor had he ever been to the town itself, to see the stalls there on market day, although he had always listened to the tales told by those who had been there. Wheels of cheese that were almost too heavy for one person to carry, jugs of cool, sweet cream milked from gentle cows, thick loafs of dark, fragrant rye bread as well as sweet little wheat cakes... There were nights as a child during which Legolas had dreamed of walking through the market as a prince, tasting and buying whatever he liked.

Due to the war, there had been no trade with either Imladris or Lothlórien, so Mirkwood lived from what could be found or grown in the forest, or else procured from Laketown. Such trade did not bring human luxuries but bare necessities such as flour, apples, hard cheese and wine, as well as weapons and mail of dwarfish make.

Those traded goods, as well as gathered fruits, game and what vegetables would grow in clearings or in the shadow of the trees, were stored in Thranduil’s vast caves, and rations given out by the King’s butler. Meals were served at the common table, and during Legolas’ time as a horse guard, they had prepared and shared simple meals of the rations that were delivered to them.

He had always been given the things that he needed, such as clothes and writing tools for his lessons, but he never knew the luxuries and gifts that his brothers had known as children. Even when he had dreamed of visiting the Laketown market as a child, he had known that his wish would never come true – and even if it had, he would have had nothing to give the merchants in exchange for their wares.

It was different in Rivendell. There as well their meals were provided for at the Lord's table, or if they were busy or otherwise inclined, they could send for a private dinner to be brought to their rooms. Glorfindel had his own private supply of his favourite wines and cordials, and Legolas knew that many of the guards would buy additional luxuries from the farmers or traders who came to visit Rivendell with their wares.

Glorfindel had given him many gifts – beautiful robes and tunics made of silk and velvet, jewelry, books, his beloved sword – but it had always been Glorfindel who made those purchases. With Glorfindel, Legolas wanted for nothing, but only now that he thought about it did he realise that he owned nothing apart from what Glorfindel had given him. He had no means to make purchases of his own. He had never felt the lack of it, for he had been thus dependent on others since his birth, and Glorfindel truly gave him everything he wanted. Yet now that he had been given the chance to visit the market on his own and buy whatever he wanted without having to ask his Lord for it, it felt like a completely new kind of freedom to him – one that made him into an adult, and not a child.

Legolas glanced at the ring he wore once more, unable to keep himself from admiring it every few steps. When he looked up again, he saw that Haldir had caught him at it, and he blushed.

Haldir's lips twitched with amusement. "Being a rich Lord's, ahh... companion has many amenities," he said, and Legolas looked down again, hurt by the words despite what he had been telling himself. In a way, Haldir was of course right. This was no true independence, for the means to make purchases still belonged to Glorfindel. Yet Glorfindel had told him to buy whatever he wanted and given him the ring of his House... It might not be a ring of betrothal or of marriage, yet in this respect, the ring granted him the same rights as a spouse.

No, Haldir was wrong... Glorfindel did not think of him as a mistress he kept with expensive gifts of clothes and jewelry, even if others might construe his actions so. Legolas remembered the oath Glorfindel had taken and smiled. One day in the future when their days on these shores would come to an end, Glorfindel would take them over the sea and show them the land of his birth, wondrous Valinor, where they would know nothing but peace and happiness.

Glorfindel would not do that for a mistress, nor for a slave he kept to warm his bed. He would do that for the one whom he loved above all others.

"My Lord's love is worth more to me than anything that could be bought by gold," Legolas said calmly, refusing to rise to Haldir's bait, "but I fear our Gîl would much rather have yet another toy horse."

"A white one, ada!" Gîlríon immediately chimed up, "like atto's! Can I really have one?"

Legolas laughed. "If there is one, you will get it," he said indulgently. "But I have never been there before, I do not know what we will find there, so do not be disappointed if there are no toy horses to be found."

"There are at least two merchants I know of who sell toys for children," Haldir interjected. "You shall find a white horse there – and black, brown and red ones as well, I would guess." He turned away, but then chuckled and waited a moment longer. "If you want to bring your lord a toy as well, Prince, I shall point out another merchant for you... He has lovely gear for young, willful horses that need to be broken in. Whips and reins of the most beautiful leather..."

He smirked and looked Legolas up and down while the youth swallowed and cursed himself for the heat that warmed his cheeks. "Yes, black leather would be lovely," Haldir said suggestively, then turned to lead them along a well-traveled path into a different part of Caras Galadhon.

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roch neth - colt
pen villen - beloved one
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