Feud

Feud
http://feuadowadowess.com
By erobey: robey61@yahoo.com
Disclaimers: see initial chapter
Thanks: to all the readers and especially to Sarah for her beta work. Any remaining errors are only mine!

Chapter 52 part 2: Carol Rîn Eden [Making New Memories]

Standing beneath the thin shaft of feeble illumination that wormed through the stronghold's massive rock to filter into the humble suite, the Tawarwaith felt strongly his separation from the trees and the fortifying light of the stars, of Ithil and Anor, and recalled that day. He had been in the cave of the three doors less than an hour, yet it had certainly felt like all eternity was passing as his sanity was slowly devoured by the nameless foe. He wondered now what manner of unhoused feär Thranduil had there entrapped, and how he kept them bound. Even after so long a lapse in years, Legolas could not prevent a shudder from travelling through his limbs.

He had been confined in the stronghold a week now and was beginning to feel the deprivation keenly. With grim resignation, he fully accepted that if he undertook the actions he had in mind, he might be spending considerably more than a few minutes in the lowest levels of the caverns as a prisoner within the lightless cells.

{Therein will I die, if once I am enclosed.}, he shivered again and frowned.

On the morrow he would at last be allowed to leave these dismal rooms and return to his home with Fearfaron. This he anticipated with eager joy, for he could not heal completely under the current conditions and his health would be much improved when he could once more breathe the open air. Yet there was that which he desired to do before leaving, for Legolas knew not when he might again have the opportunity to move about within the mountain fortress freely.

The carpenter had been hovering around him like a hummingbird over a cup of nectar, fearing, Legolas assumed, a confrontation between the King and his cast-off heir. No one entered his quarters save his trusted friends, and one or more of them was always with him day and night. Yet no appearance did Thranduil make, and whatever plans he had were in abeyance as he fawned over his newborn and his bond-mate.

The entire Realm was on holiday and no business was being conducted, other than the perpetual watch on the border, as announcements of the new heir's arrival went out among the free peoples. The news was travelling not only to Lorien, Imladris, and Mithlond but also to Dale, the Iron Mountains, indeed all of Erebor, and among the woodsmen's villages within the forest. If the Wood Elves' King could have his way, word of Taurant's birth would be carried even unto Isengard and as far south as Gondor.

Still, within the stone fortress a steady tension was building, and Legolas could not help but believe this was due to his presence in conjunction with Taurant's. He had no wish to bring such distress to the first days of the newborn's life, which were crucial to the infant's awakening sense of security within his new environment, and this was the first thing Legolas desired to act upon. He wanted to re-establish the peaceful harmony that had enveloped the cavernous structure on the morning of the child's birth, and was strongly compelled to do so in person.

Legolas was consumed with the idea of seeing the infant prince for he felt he might never again be given the chance once he returned to the Greenwood and his surveillance of Dol Guldur. Having decided to accept Fearfaron and Mithrandir's judgement, Legolas was now convinced this was his own brother, and felt a fierce loyalty and love for the tiny being. He simply could not bear to leave without even satisfying himself as to who the infant favoured.

{Will it be apparent we are blood kin, as it is with Gwilith and Lindalcon?}

This was not a desire he had shared with his foster father, knowing full well he would be discouraged from such a course and put under an even more vigilant guard by his small circle of well-meaning friends. Likewise he carefully guarded his hopeful schemes from Mithrandir's discovery, driving these ponderings from his mind and distancing himself from the wizard when they were in the same room, as now. Yet Lindalcon he hoped to sway to his aid, and awaited the young elf's return from taking Gwilith for her playtime in the gardens.

"You are lost in thought, Legolas, and have ignored us for some time. Are you well?" Mithrandir's voice gently intruded into the archer's ruminations and drew him back to the occupants of the room. The wizard's words flowed over and into him, suffusing him with warm comfort much as a mulled wine heated aching joints on a wintry day. Legolas smiled and turned this engaging expression upon the Maia.

"I am well," he affirmed and allowed his friend to reach an arm around his shoulders and draw him from the faint beam of light. Together they hobbled toward the sitting area, leaning one against the other such that each put little pressure on injured limbs. There the carpenter and the Man were seated in the armchairs, bent over a board game before the blue-flamed fire.

Fearfaron lifted his eyes and watched as they took the settee side by side, his glance shifting between them with a slight uneasiness Legolas could not fathom. He had directly asked what the trouble was, and the carpenter had been evasive and changed the subject. Legolas had also demanded for Mithrandir to reveal what was between the two of them, but the Istar had been uninformative and taciturn. Even Aragorn refused to speak of the matter, and directed the archer back to the other two. Somehow the trio found it difficult to explain the degree to which the wild elf's spirit had been encumbered, perhaps because it was fate's cruel paradox that he had never been loved while his heart had long been compromised. For such a bruised soul to bear an additional, unlooked for burden, light though the Istar's attachment was, seemed onerous to Legolas' comrades.

{It is maddening! These are my friends, yet somehow I have brought dissension between them, for if not then they would freely explain the situation.}, he thought.

{Nay, it is not of your doing, Legolas! Your father and I disagree on some methods of treatment for you, nothing more!}, the Maia reassured, receiving this frustrated bloom of introspection as the pair dropped upon the small sofa.

{What methods? I am the one recovering; should I not have a say in this?}

{I refer to what is past; we were forced to act quickly when you were unconscious. Fearfaron is still uneasy regarding your full recovery; that is all. Worry no more over it!}

Legolas made an irritated sucking noise against his teeth, dissatisfied with this response. It would have been better not to reveal his concerns; he really had to learn how to govern such mental outbursts more carefully.

"You will develop that skill with time!" the wizard said, having caught this as well, and laughed softly as he filled and lit his pipe.

His comment drew the attention of the game players, who raised their eyes simultaneously with nearly identical scowls of aggravation.

"I find that completely rude," Aragorn said with affected drama.

"Aye, if you must speak in that manner together, at least keep it fully to yourselves!" added Fearfaron, but his perturbed tone was not a ruse.

Legolas felt his cheeks grow hot and scooted away from any contact with Mithrandir, though physical connection was no longer needed for the link to be opened between them. He crossed his arms in front of his body and leaned against the sofa's padded arm dejectedly, refusing to look at the three. He did not like being the subject of this undisclosed contest of wills, especially when Mithrandir could shield his own thoughts whenever he wished.

Lindalcon chose that opportune moment to enter the room, Gwilith in tow. Legolas at once brightened up and slipped down onto the floor as the toddler approached, tugging impatiently on her older brother's hand.

"Limlas, play!" she commanded gleefully and hopped on light toe steps up to the Tawarwaith, stopping with caution before colliding with the recovering elf. Her delicate embrace, so careful to avoid the hidden injuries, was heart-warming and Legoswepswept her up gladly onto his lap. His leg barely hurt now and his side pained him not at all, and he refused to waste anymore hours sulking about when he had such an endearing elfling waiting to be entertained.

"Yes, we three will play, and these grumpy old ones must leave, agreed?" Legolas smiled and looked to Lindalcon for support.

"I will stay, Fearfaron; you and Mithrandir must have all manner of preparations to make for Legolas' homecoming tomorrow. Aragorn, you should help them, since Mithrandir is still healing up." Lindalcon replied as he flashed the archer a glance, brows lifted in surprise, but more than willing to comply if it made Legolas happy.

Legolas beamed back approvingly and nodded to indicate this was acceptable to him. He returned his attention to Gwilith, who was tugging on his hair and trying to untangle the unruly locks.

"Limlas, fix it," she commanded and handed over a small silk ribbon that had just moments before adorned her chestnut strands. Unable to succeed in her attempt to rectify the warrior's dishevelled hair, she decided to demand the same attention for herself and shook her head briskly to ensure there was something to fix.

"You have become quite the tyrant since our arrival here, Legolas," complained the Man good-naturedly.

Legolas grinned, took the ribbon, and turned the child round, deftly combing through her tresses with his fingers and humming softly. He began a small braid, working the bright red adornment into the design, and Gwilith was surprisingly still.

Aragorn really did not mind at all a chance to get out of the claustrophobic caves, accustomed as he was to the open and airy halls of Imladris, and had a few concerns of his own he wished to address. Ever since the enlightening conversation with Lindalcon, the mortal had been reflecting on how best to handle the Malthen situation.

"Now you have got Lindalcon ordering me about as well! Once you are completely healed, I will have to remind you of your manners!" He rose from the leather armchair and stretched as Legolas directed a mocking smirk his way.

"And I am not that old, ion edwen [second son]!" glared Fearfaron. Truthfully, he was extremely suspicious of this sudden dismissal, and decided he would make some excuse to send the Man and the Maia off while shadowing every move of the trio of mischief-makers. "But I do have things to do to make ready. If Mithrandir is being thrown out as well, I suppose I shall not protest. Be certain to stay put; I want to learn of no mishaps in my absence."

Mithrandir coughed on his pipe at this and sent the carpenter a coolly disapproving grumble of nondescript complaints in an obscure Vanyarin dialect no longer spoken on Middle-earth.

Thzardzard could not believe Fearfaron and Aragorn actually planned to leave the Wood Elf unguarded! He was certain Legolas was plotting something, else he would not have remained so far from contact all morning, fearing to give away his ideas.

{Agonise not about the quarrels, Legolas; Fearfaron is only concerned for you and I will attempt to set his mind at ease.}, he communicated this reassurance wordlessly.

{Please do; let me have this afternoon free of the wearisome bickering and backbiting between you two!} Legolas sent his mental reply and completed the grooming of his little sister's hair, turning her in the direction of the bathing room where a silvered glass was mounted atop a small table.

"Go have a look, little one," he coaxed and she skipped away in delight.

Upon receiving the archer's caustic request Mithrandir was deeply chagrined, for he had not known Legolas felt the dissension so strongly. He made a silent promise to heal the rift and rose awkwardly to his feet, using his staff once more as a crutch.

Aragorn hurried to the door to open it, forcing the carpenter to assist the wizard in his stilted progress across the room. To his credit, Fearfaron was gracious in his offer of help and Mithrandir accepted with equanimity.

"We will see you back at the evening meal, then?" queried Lindalcon, and three assenting voices confirmed the arrangements before the door was once more shut. The three young elves were alone. "Alright, Legolas, tell me what is going on!"

"That is what I was going to ask you! However, I think we are wondering about different things."

Gwilith raced back to her brothers, holding a half-filled bottle of bath soap in her tiny hands.

"Bubbles, Limlas! Come make bubbles," she pleaded and for emphasis pulled on his bright yellow tunic sleeve.

"Nay, Gwilith, not right now," he said, taking the glass container away. "Go and get that book there." Turning to Lindalcon as the elfling scurried in the indicated direction, Legolas put on his most winning expression. What he hoped for Lindalcon to do would not be easy. "I need you to help me with something."

"Hah! You mean you plan on disobeying Fearfaron and wish me to create some sort of alibi or diversion!"

"That is true, yet it is not Fearfaron I need you to divert. I am going to see Taurant and I want you to make sure Meril and Thranduil are out of the way."

"What? Are you mad? They have not left their chambers since the birth! Legolas, it is too soon; neither of them are ready to bring the babe out for public display! You will be caught and I know not what they will do to you! Or to me!"

"Lindalcon, I am not the public, I am Taurant's brother, as are you! I cannot wait for their permission, as it will never be granted, and I leave the stronghold on the morrow! Have you seen him yet?" By this time Gwilith had retrieved the requested picture book but stood silently, watching her brothers argue.

"Of course, I spend one or two hours with him in the nursery each evening while Nana and the King dine together."

"And the babe's room adjoins the royal couple's bedchamber yet is separate?"

"Aye, but, Legolas, this is…"

"Is there a door, a solid one? Does the balcony connect?"

"Yes, Legolas, for Naneth will not have Taurant closed off from light and air yet there is a wood-carved door dividing the nursery from the sleeping room. But you know this is impossible!"

"Why, is it not natural for me to wish to meet Taurant? I must make it possible, Lindalcon."

"Legolas sad, Lind'on," Gwilith's musical voice was overlain with worry and she carefully slipped her small arms around the outcast's neck for comfort. Legolas quickly hugged her back to reassure the child that all was well, sending the young usurper a pleading look over the top of her head.

It did not pass unnoticed by either that their little sister had used Legolas' true name, clearly and correctly, for the first time.

"Ai, ah!" Lindalcon threw up his hands and then sank down to the floor beside them. "I cannot fight you both at once! Legolas, I wish you to see Taurant also, but how can I do what you ask? They dine together on the balcony in their chambers! Naneth gets up at the slightest indication of Taurant's distress and comes to check on how he fares! Even if I can cause her to disregard the babe for the duration of the meal, you will never be able to climb all those stairs unaided!"

Legolas smiled brightly and shifted Gwilith to sit on his unharmed knee, taking the book from her hands and opening it as he did so.

"So Thranduil does not come in the room when you are there?"

"Only to tell me to go."

"That is well, I plan to be in the room only while you are there and will leave before he finishes the meal. Trust me, I will make the ascent and there is a way for me to slip in unnoticed if only you will make sure there is some sort of distraction happening in the courtyard garden below. Make it a nice distraction, Lindalcon; something to welcome the new prince into the world."

"Legolas, I do not know what that might be. They will be suspicious and we will get caught! If Thranduil goes into one of his rages, he may do you harm! Indeed, he may punish us both!"

"Nay, Lindalcon, they will suspect nothing. Music and singing should work. Surely there is nothing unexpected in your desire to honour your new brother with such a performance!"

"Roch, Limlas! Say roch!" Gwilith patted the page whereupon the image of a prancing white horse was drawn.

"Aye, Gwilith, that is a horse," Legolas smiled. "Have you seen a real horse?"

"Ada and me rode Raugelu [Pale Blue Demon]," she said with a nod. Legolas tried not to laugh, fairly certain the poor creature was not really so named, suddenly grateful he was merely a Fish Leaf.

At his sister's response Lindalcon completely forgot what he was preparing to say to Legolas, for it was the most complete and correct statement she had ever spoken, and he stared in disbelief. Legolas grinned smugly.

"You should not talk to her as if she is still a baby. You are not a baby any more, are you Gwilwileth?" he said to the child. The elfling gazed at him with wide and serious eyes as she slowly shook her head.

"Gwilith big now. Tauron [forester] little." The child's eyes sparkled as her brothers' laughter indicated their delight at this new nickname for the babe and her countenance opened into a beatific smile, which she turned upon Lindalcon. "Limlas and Gwilith show Tauron book!"

Lindalcon groaned and picked his sister up. How did so small a being have such tremendous capacity to influence his will?

"Aye, Gwilith, you and Legolas may show Taurant the book tonight."

When both of his siblings gave excited shouts of joy and simultaneously engulfed him in a breath-stealing squeeze, Lindalcon almost felt happy about the trouble he was certain this excursion would create.

Tbc