Mending a Heart

A/N: In this chapter, the word seraph is used to describe beings in which the people of Gaidon believe. According to several religious texts, the seraphim had many forms. Some believed that they were winged serpents while others claim that they were angelic creatures with six wings. In my AU (alternate universe), the people of Gaidon believe the latter and also believe that these beings are armed with a bow and a quiver full of arrows.


Chapter 6: Journey to Gaidon

The voyage to Gaidon was uneventful. The sun shone brightly overhead as the elves passed through the gates of the city unhindered.

Gaidon was a far cry from the ethereal beauty of Rivendell. The city had many trees and foliage; but dreary pubs, unsightly shops and multiple brothels lined the narrow streets.

Bearded men who reeked of ale stared at the radiant beings that dismounted among a small grove of trees. They ran, fearing that their god had sent the heavenly creatures to smite them for their malevolent ways.

“What ailem?”em?” Legolas asked, watching the drunkards flee.

“Elves do not come here often,” Elladan replied thoughtfully. “The people here are a strange lot. Even though our borders are close, the inhabitants of Rivendell and the men of Gaidon rarely mix. It is likely that many of these people have never seen elves. But for the purpose of this jest,” Elladan continued, as he smiled brightly, “Gaidon suits my needs perfectly.”

“But why are the people fleeing?” Legolas asked, confused. “If they have never seen elves before, why do they fear us?”

“I have heard rumors that some of the Gaidonians believe in celestial guardians who inhabit the heavens. They are often said to have in their possession, a bow and a quiver full of arrows,” Elrohir explained.

“Perhaps, they fear me, then” Legolas quipped, smiling deviously at Elladan. “Upon seeing such a virile warrior, the humans must have feared a most painful death.”

“We shall see, Prince,” Elladan remarked sarcastically. “We shall see.”

“What are you talking about?” Arwen asked curiously.

“Nothing!” Elrohir exclaimed abruptly, giving Legolas and Elladan a threatening look.

“Well,” Arwen said slowly, eyeing the males skeptically, “I am going to away into the town. When should I meet you for our departure?”

“I’m not sure that I want you wandering around Gaidon alone, Arwen,” Elrohir stated, concerned. “The people here are odd.”

“I am not a child!” Arwen exclaimed in annoyance. “I am fully grown and can wander around the city alone. I do not need guards watching my every move and trying to tell me what to do.”

Elladan, who was tending to the horses, looked at his sister kindly. “Arwen, I know that you wish to journey to many of the shops here, but they may not be safe. There is a sewing shop across the road. If you would be willing. . . I would appreciate it if you would stay there until we join you later.”

“Oh, alright,” Arwen agreed reluctantly. As she walked across the road she marveled at Elladan’s kindness towards her. *They are going to cause some trouble. I just know it.*

The males watched as Arwen entered a small sewing shop that was nearby.

“Elladan!” Legolas exclaimed. “I have never seen you behave so kindly toward your sister.”

“And you shan’t see it again,” Elladan said bluntly. “I had to say something to make her leave, didn’t I? We can’t have her around if this jest is going to work.”

“So how are we going to do this?” Elrohir asked, looking at Elladan and shaking his head at his brother’s crassness.

“’Tis very simple,” Elladan stated confidently. “Legolas, may I have your weapons?”

“My weapons?” Legolas asked in disbelief. “Why?”

“Well you cannot very well walk around like that!” Elladan exclaimed. “You must mix among the people and allow us to see what happens. Do not fear, Elrohir and I will not disarm. If trouble should befall you, we will be nearby.”

“I do not fear humans,” Legolas said in a self-aggrandizing way. “It is a well known fact that elves are physically stronger than men. If set upon by any mortal, I shall behave courteously unless their actions become too crude. If this should happen, I will have no other choice but to break them with my bare hands.”

“Legolas?” Elladan said suddenly, becoming very concerned. “Please do not start a brawl with the men of Gaidon. It would be folly that we can ill afford. Even though we are braver, stronger, smarter and more attractive than humans, they greatly outnumber us. Even elves as valiant as we could not hope to defeat more than one or two hundred of them.”

Legolas and Elrohir looked at one another for a moment and laughed while Elladan looked at the males curiously.

“What amuses you so?” Elladan asked in complete dismay.

“Nothing,” Legolas said, smiling.

Elrohir stifled a laugh and smiled at Legolas knowingly. They were highly amused at Elladan’s haughty attitude and his obvious oblivion.

Legolas removed his weapons and placed them beside Yon. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

“Walk,” Elladan replied, smiling brightly.

“Walk?” Legolas asked, dismayed.

“Just walk down this road,” Elladan said, pointing at the ground. “Once you stroll down the thoroughfare with all of your elvish grace, it will only be moments until you are approached. Elrohir and I will go up into the trees and watch you. There are so many elms in Gaidon that it should be easy to follow you from above,” he remarked simply.

“But how is walking down the road going to prove that I look like a female, Elladan?” Legolas asked. “I am unarmed, but I am still wearing male garments.”

“You are dressed like a male, but it is your hair and pretty face that I am counting on, Prince,” Elladan scoffed. “This is a contest and I shall win the jest this day!”

Legolas looked at Elladan and shook his head, smiling in incredulity.

Elladan looked up at the sky and said, “You’d better be on your way, Prince. We arrived here later than expected and mustn’t tarry long if we wish to return to Rivendell by nightfall.”

“Alright,” Legolas said, sighing.

Elladan and Elrohir climbed a large tree effortlessly, and followed Legolas from overhead.

“Excuse me, sir?” a woman said, approaching Legolas.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Legolas asked politely.

“I said, excuse me sir?” the woman replied, eyeing Legolas curiously.

“**Sir,**” Legolas repeated loudly, glancing up at the tree behind him. The prince could barely stifle a laugh when he heard Elladan curse under his breath.

“I was wondering if you was a seraph?” the woman asked, looking Legolas up and down.

“A seraph?” Legolas asked, looking at the woman surprised, “What is a seraph?”

“You knows,” the woman drawled, staring at the prince piercingly. “Angelic creatures sent frum the gods.”

“I am not a seraph, milady, I am. . . ” Legolas began.

“Where are yur wangs?” the woman inquired.

“My what?” Legolas asked.

“Yur wangs and yur arrows?” The woman turned Legolas around abruptly and began to probe his back.

“I do not have wings,” Legolas said, finally comprehending what the lady was trying to say and turning to face her. He decided to ignore the question about his weapons, as he did not want to make it known that he was unarmed. “I am not a seraph. I am an elf,” Legolas stated, looking up at the trees when he heard the twins snickering above him.

“Er the spirits calling ya home?” the woman asked excitedly when she saw Legolas looking up.

Legolas looked at the woman disbelievingly. He was determined to rid himself of her. “Aye, milady, those are the laughing spirits. They are quite foolish.” The prince smiled vibrantly when the giggling overhead stopped abruptly. “But they call to me nonetheless.”

“Will ya put in a gud word fur me?” the lady whispered.

“With pleasure,” Legolas said as the lady ran down the road, telling everyone she met about her angelic encounter.

“That was hilarious,” Elladan said from above. “That single event has made this trip worthwhile.”

“But you have not yet proven that I look like a female, Elladan,” Legolas stated triumphantly.

“There is still time, Prince,” Elladan said deviously.

Continuing to walk down the narrow road, Legolas stopped in front of a small shop. A table that had been set up outside of the store bore many unique trinkets. Fascinated, he began to examine some of the items.

“Hullo there,” a gruff voice said from behind the prince.

Legolas turned around and was facing a rather large and dirty looking man. He was bearded, his garments were dirty and he reeked of ale and tobacco.

“Hello,” Legolas said politely.

“So how much are ya?” the man asked, looking Legolas up and down hungrily.

“Begging your pardon?” Legolas asked.

“How much will it cost fer me to taste them pretty lips?” the man asked, moving closer to the prince.

Legolas sighed and shook his head. *Elladan has won.* The prince’s thoughts were immediately confirmed when he heard the twins trying desperately to suppress their laughter.

“I am not for sale,” Legolas stated flatly. He tried to take a step forward, but the man blocked the prince’s path.

“Yur a feisty little thang, aren’t ya?” the man asked huskily. “I like ‘em feisty.” He tried to touch Legolas’ face, but the prince pulled away quickly.

“You think I am a whore!” Legolas exclaimed angrily. “Well, a concubine I am not. I am a warrior.”

“Well then, my little warrior,” the man said, licking his lips, “can I see yur weapon?” The man stepped forward quickly and reached behind Legolas, trying to grab his buttocks.

The prince moved out of the man’s way. He tried to contain his anger, knowing that he could easily subdue the brute. Legolas looked up angrily when he heard the twins laughing quietly.

“Don’t be coy,” the man said, walking toward Legolas predatorily. “Would ya like to see my weapon, milady?” The man began to rub his crotch slowly.

“Nay!” Legolas shouted in disgust.

The tree behind Legolas began to shake as Elrohir and Elladan could barely contain their mirth.

“I am not a lady!” Legolas fumed. “I am a male elf, a warrior and a prince. You shan’t treat me this way.”

“I see,” the man said, moving even closer to the prince, “so it is role-play that ya like. Very well, you can be the prince and I will be the king.” He tried to grope Legolas again but the prince moved away quickly and turned to walk away.

“You will luv my punishment, dear prince. I shall teach ya to never disobey yur king,” the man began to stroke his crotch again and grabbed Legolas’ wrist abruptly.

Legolas jerked his hand from the large man’s grip. He could feel his anger rising and was ready to show the man **his** weapon – his bare hands around the ruffian’s neck.

Elladan stopped laughing at once. This man no longer amused him, and obviously Legolas felt the same way. Elladan watched apprehensively as he saw a flash of anger in the prince’s eyes. From the look on his face, Elladan knew that Legolas would not tolerate the man’s sexual advances much longer. *In a moment, I will intervene.*

“What ya got there?” a filthy, thin man asked, walking over to where Legolas was standing.

“A feisty whore,” the portly man said, smiling at his comrade. “She likes to role-play. You wanna share ‘er?”

“Aye,” the lean man replied, looking at Legolas lustfully. “She’s a bit mannish, don’t ya think?”

“Aye,” the larger man replied. “Mull, the man who owns the brothel on the corner, told me that he dun sent fur a whore from a distant land. This has got to be ‘er. Look at ‘er clothes! And you should see the way she walks. She’s probably frum Bree. I dun heard that the women there are real hardy. They got big hands fur strokin’ and a strong back fur ridin’.”

“Aye,” the slender man agreed, “but they still have that smooth skin. And look at ‘er pretty yeller hair.”

Before the man could harass the prince further, Elladan was at the prince’s side. “I would not do that if I were you,” he said threateningly when the large man tried to touch Legolas’ crotch.

“You did not tell me that ya had a sister,” the stout man said, looking at Legolas accusingly. “I will take one and you can have the other,” he explained to his friend.

“I want the one with the brown hair,” the slender man said. “She’s **real** purdy.”

Legolas looked at Elladan in shock and began to laugh.

Elrohir, who was still up in the tree, laughed out loud as well.

Elladan fumed. “I am not a female!” he shouted.

“This one likes role-play, too,” the thin man remarked stupidly.

Legolas howled with laughter. He laughed so hard that tears began to roll down his cheeks.

“She dun gone mad!” the large man said fearfully.

Elrohir could not contain himself any longer and fell out of the tree, roaring with laughter.

Elladan continued to protest angrily.

“’Tis rainin’ whores!” the slender man shrieked in terror. Both men looked at one another and ran away.

“That was hilarious,” Elrohir said getting to his feet. “We have all lost today, I fear. Apparently we all look like females.”

Elladan shook his head in disbelief. “I do not look like a female. Do I?” he looked at Legolas questioningly.

“Nay,” Legolas said, smiling mischievously. “You are comely, though.”

“I am not!” Elladan spat hotly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“’Tis getting late,” Elrohir announced. “I will fetch Arwen. Why don’t the two of you go and ready the horses?” Elrohir looked at his brother and wordlessly implored him to talk to Legolas.

“Alright,” Elladan said, nodding at his brother.

Legolas and Elladan watched Elrohir walk down the road as an old man with rotten teeth approached him.

“What’s yur name, purdy lady?” the man asked.

“Death,” Elrohir replied coldly. “Would you like to meet my sisters, Slice and Kill?” He unsheathed two large knives as the man ran away screaming.

Legolas and Elladan laughed as they headed back to the horses.

“Thanks for coming today, Legolas,” Elladan said kindly. “Even though I did not win my jest, I had fun.”

“I lost, too,” Legolas said chuckling. “But. . . I enjoyed myself as well. You always amuse me, Elladan.”

“I do?” Elladan asked hopefully.

“Aye,” Legolas said, “I enjoy your company.”

They arrived at the grove of trees and Legolas began to arm himself once again.

“Legolas?” Elladan asked hesitantly.

“Aye?” Legolas looked at Elladan.

“Do you really enjoy my company?” Elladan asked slowly.

“Aye. You offer me the comfort of laughter,” Legolas replied.

Elladan was going to respond when Legolas stumbled forward awkwardly. The prince looked as though he were about to lose consciousness. He caught Legolas and helped him to sit down underneath a large elm tree.

“Are you alright?” Elladan asked, concerned.

“Aye,” Legolas said dazed. “I am just. . . ” Legolas broke off abruptly.

“You are just what?” Elladan asked.

“Nothing,” Legolas responded, standing quickly and then reeling unsteadily.

Elladan stood and placed his hands on the prince’s waist to steady him.

Legolas looked into Elladan’s eyes and smiled thankfully.

“I have feelings for you, Legolas,” Elladan said quietly, still holding the prince’s waist gently.

“And I for you, Elladan,” Legolas said, never releasing his gaze.

Elladan sighed with relief and Legolas smiled.

Accurately judging Elladan’s reaction, Legolas asked gently, “Did you fear my rejection?”

“Aye,” Elladan admitted. “And even now, you terrify me.”

“Why?” Legolas asked.

“Because. . . ” Elladan said quietly, “I could lose my heart to you.”

Legolas smiled warmly. Ever so slowly, Legolas moved his mouth closer and closer to Elladan’s.

He wondered whether or not he was dreaming as he stared longingly at the prince’s mouth.

“We’re here!” Elrohir announced.

Legolas pulled away abruptly.

Elrohir looked at Elladan quizzically.

Elladan nodded his head, wordlessly confirming his brother’s silent question.

Elrohir smiled excitedly.

“You two look happy,” Arwen said, eyeing her brothers suspiciously. “What mischief are you planning?”

“We are simply happy to be returning home, Arwen,” Elrohir replied innocently.

“So, Arwen how was your shopping?” Legolas asked while mounting his steed.

“It went well,” Arwen responded happily. “And guess what?”

“What?” the males asked in unison.

“A woman came into the sewing shop and told everyone present that she had just met an angelic being. Can you believe that?” Arwen asked incredulously.

“Aye, Arwen,” Elladan said, looking at Legolas teasingly. “I can.”

Legolas grinned at Elladan as the four elves began their journey home.

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TBC. . .