The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 59

The rain fell in buckets around them drenching both elves to the bone despite their waterproof cloaks. Glorfindel had ridden none stop for two days straight the rain seeming to follow them with every path they took. Glorfindel shook with the cold his health beginning to fail as his body began to show the signs of it’s weakening. Legolas too was cold, his lips blue and quivering even thought he was buried against Glorfindel’s chest. The river marking the border to Imladris had been a most welcome sight but also a terrible one. The continuous rain had flooded it making it a perilous crossing and Glorfindel had been forced to travel along it’s banks a few more miles to reach the trade bridge known only to those high up within Imladris’ court. Glorfindel sat limply on his horse for the final hour it took from the trade bridge to reach the last homely house. His hands were latched almost painfully around Legolas body desperately holding the young elf close for fears of loosing him. Legolas had lost more and more blood as the two days had gone on to the point at which the young elf was now delirious and unreachable. As they came into the courtyard of the last homely house, it’s candles burning comfortingly in its windows Glorfindel could finally go no further.

Glorfindel could just make out figures running towards them shouting his name before his body failed him and he slipped effortlessly from the horse. By the time his body hit the ground he had already passed out in the darkness of his sanctuary…

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Legolas groaned and rolled away from the sunlight streaming in through the windows as he awoke to awareness. The very last thing he remembered was Glorfindel whispering his name before he was lifted from a horse and carried unceremoniously into this room. Blinking his eyes to full vision Legolas started a little as he focused on two elves sitting by his bedside. They were identical in appearance; even their robes were of little variation. Legolas shook his head and closed his eyes momentarily, thinking that he was still seeing double after his ordeal but was shocked when he opened his eyes again to still see the two identical elves now smiling at him.

“Good morning to you Prince Legolas Greenleaf. You have slept well and are healing quite satisfactorily.” The dark haired elf on the right spoke first his voice light and musical which made Legolas feel slightly less uncomfortable under their twin gazes.

“Who are you and where am I?” Legolas cursed his rudeness but had little patients for formalities when his body felt as if it had been thoroughly abused and beaten. The two dark haired elves laughed gently before the one on the right rose from his seat and moved over to a table and began pouring a glass of water.

“You are in Imladris, at the last homely house of Lord Elrond.” The elf still sitting by Legolas side spoke calmly and precisely enough for Legolas to fully comprehend what was being said, through the mist still present in his mind.

”Yes welcome to Imladris Prince Legolas. I am Elladan and this is my twin younger brother Elrohir.” Legolas gladly accepted one of the twin’s hands as he sat up before taking the glass of water that Elladan handed him.

“We are Lord Elrond’s son’s.” Legolas could only look from one elf to the other already forgetting which elf was which, their appearances and voices so similar. Legolas drained the cool glass of spring water quickly his gaze still darting nervously between the two dark haired elves. Despite having heard the stories about the twin’s from Glorfindel, Erestor and Lord Elrond, Legolas had not picture them being so mature looking.

“Where is Lord Glorfindel?” Not knowing what else to say in the silence of their conversation Legolas asked after his lover. For the two days that they had ridden together Glorfindel had sung to him the most beautiful of songs despite his own inju and and Legolas longed for the elder elf’s presence. Both of the twins laughed heartily and Legolas frowned at them in offence.

“Aye Ada said you would call for our seneschal as soon as you awoke.” Legolas winced as Elrohir stood up and helped Legolas from the bed to his feet, as Elladan went to a closet on the opposite side of the room and pulled out some clean clothes.

“Glorfindel is in his rooms recovering after your broke his leg with your tubby, dwarf like jump.” Elladan carelessly tossed the clean clothes onto the end of the bed as he chuckled nastily at Legolas. Legolas gawked in anger at the twin shocked at why the twins were mocking him when he had only just been introduced to them.

“I do not jump like a dwarf! I did not mean to break his leg and will apologise for doing so as soon as I see him. And I am not tubby, so take it back!” Legolas bit sharply at Elladan who merely shrugged his shoulders in reply, certainly with no intention of apologising. Legolas had taken an immediate dislike to the elder of the two twins. Looking for support Legolas turned to Elrohir who sadly crooked his head to the side as he helped Legolas towards the bathing house.

“I apologise for my brother Prince Legolas. He cares very much for our old tutor and is blaming you for his current injuries as well as Ada’s and Erestors’ injuries even though Lord Glorfindel says otherwise.” Legolas frowned unable to keep the tears of guilt from now rolling down his cheeks. Ashamed of himself for being so weak Legolas pushed Elrohir from him and stumbled over to the stone bench that encircled the rock bathing pool.

“Go away I do not need your help.” Uncaring of his rudeness Legolas turned his back on the younger twin and rested his chin on his bruised chest in defeat. Perhaps all the stories Legolas had been told by Thranduil and his brothers as an elfling about Imladris’ elves cruelty was true.

“But Ada said I was to look after you while you were still recovering.” Elrohir protested quickly to Legolas demand and moved swiftly over to stand in front of Legolas forcing the younger elf to look at him. “Glorfindel will not be happy if he finds out I have left you. I promised him I would look after you.” Legolas was growing mad and turned away again from the Imladris elf despite Elrohir attempts at reasoning with the prince.

“I said go away! I do not need the help of a half elf who mocks me like I am a child!” Legolas closed his eyes ignoring the shocked look from the twin. He had not expected to be treated so horribly by the elves of Imladris and couldn’t help but wonder if Glorfindel would turn on him now that he was back in his home realm. The terrible thoughts brought more tears to Legolas eyes and he sniffled sadly even as he heard Elrohir leaving the room. Sobbing Legolas began stripped himself of the robe he had obviously been dressed in after receiving treatment by the Imladris elves. He was miserable and he didn’t know why. Sure he was still injured and his muscles ached painfully but it had given him no right to shout at the two elves he’d only just met even if one of them was rude to him. He hardly knew what had come over him and instantly regretted being so insulting and sour to Elrohir. Surely Lord Elrond would not like it and come after him with a paddle for insulting his son’s. In a misery Legolas lowered himself into the warm water of the bubbling pool, hissing as the water hit his wounds. After a few moments however the stinging subsided and Legolas relaxed into the waters and closed his eyes.


Legolas didn’t know how long it had been since he’d fallen back asleep in the bathing pool and only awoke with a start as a soft hand came to rest on his uninjured shoulder. Startled Legolas spun around in the now cold water to glare at whoever had interrupted his bath. Legolas was about to say something nasty but bit his tongue as the concerned face of Filgree stared down at him.

“You look like a prune Legolas, get out of that cold water now before you further make yourself sick.” Legolas swallowed hard already hearing the annoyed and aggravated tone in his tutor’s voice. Legolas knew very well what Filgree sounded like when he was annoyed and so obediently lifted himself from the water and into the awaiting towel Filgree held out for him. In silence Legolas followed his tutor out into the airy bedroom again this time taking in the décor of the Imladris elves’ room. Quietly Legolas dried himself careful not to open any of the wounds on his body. From the way Filgree was supporting his right arm it was obvious his tutor had been also injured in the battle and Legolas regretted not having inquired after Filgree’s own health. Legolas silently pulled on each soft woven garment Filgree handed him from the closet until finally Legolas was dressed warmly in a silver robe and plain black leggings, with a soft pair of leather boots. Legolas knew he was in trouble just by the way Filgree was deliberately ignoring any conversation with him. A few moments after he was dressed a maid slowly entered the room carrying a tray of food. Filgree instructed her politely to place the tray on the small side table before dismissing her with a pile of Legolas’ dirty clothes. Legolas wondered if Filgree was supposed to be cleaning up with his arm still injured but did not wan ask ask save the shouting at he would receive. Idly Legolas moved to the tray of food obviously brought up for him. Slowly he picked at the meal in front of him having remembered Elladan’s nasty words about him being fat. Legolas felt Filgree sit down beside him on the bed and so tried a little harder to eat some of the soup despite his lack of appetite.

“It is not good manners to insult your hosts Legolas.” Surprisingly Filgree’s voice sounded quite calm as he addressed his charge, although the prince didn’t mistake the hint of angeill ill clinging to the edges of his tone. Of late Filgree had become more quickly angered by his actions than the tutor had even been when Legolas had been an elfling and Legolas wondered if he should apologise for being such a terrible charge.

“He said I was fat and called me tubby. He said I was to blame because Glorfindel broke his leg and that all this is my fault.” Legolas pushed the bowl of soup away, his appetite well and truly gone as his stomach churned in guilt. Filgree sighed heavily and wrapped his good arm gently around the younger elf’s shoulders, carefully avoiding the injuries Legolas had sustained. Luckily Legolas had been out of it for much of the past few days allowing his body to heal and recover the extreme loss of blood without pain for the younger elf. Yet Filgree’s trained eyes still saw the pain etched in the prince’s features and the sadness hidden behind his eyes. Filgree had never seen Legolas so emotional in all his life, the prince having cried more since his coming of age than he had ever done as an elfling. Yet Filgree didn’t understand how to make Legolas feel better and it pained him to not know the answers. Like he had said Lord Elrond had written to Haldir the moment he had a spare hour since their abrupt and injury filled arrival in Imladris but as yet they were still waiting on the reply. In the mean time Filgree would to to just sooth Legolas moods as they arose.

“Yes Elladan was wrong in accusing you Legolas. It was not your fault the party was attacked, and we still do not know who was responsible. But still you had no right to speak to Elrohir that way, he was only trying to help.” Legolas lowered his head to his chin guiltily but still a little angry. The prince sighed heavily as he felt tears spring to his eyes again. He wished he didn’t cry at every moment but he just couldn’t it. it. With a frustrated choked sob Legolas turned towards his tutor and began to cry openly, as he muttered his apologise over and over again. Filgree did not know what to do and so merely held the young elf in his arms and rocked him slowly while speaking soothing words. “Shhhh, I know you are sorry Legolas.” Filgree sighed and glanced up from the prince’s blonde mane as he heard someone entering the room.

Erestor appeared in the doorway but paused in silence as he looked upon the sight before him. Legolas was a mess and Erestor could see clearly that Filgree was feeling just as helpless as they all were. During their trip across the mountains Legolas mood swings had become almost unbearable and the young prince had point blankly refused to discuss them despite even Glorfindel’s urgings. It was clear to anyone who saw the prince that he was lacking the glow he’d had when Glorfindel and he had first kissed back in Lorien and the young elf had become down right miserable, yet there was little they could do but support what ever Legolas was going through. Slowly Erestor moved forward and sat carefully down on the opposite side of Legolas on the bed, his hand coming up to gently caress Legolas soft blond hair.
“Glorfindel has asked for your company at dinner this evening. Lord Elrond says that we are all well enough to be formally welcomed back to Imladris, as long as we take it easy and get an early night afterwards.” Erestor’s soft words drew Legolas out of his reverie and the young elf sat up away from his tutor to smile through his tears at Imladris chief advisor.

“You are wearing the hair clasp your admirer sent to you. It is very pretty and you look handsome with it on. Do you know who it is yet?” Erestor was a little taken bay Ley Legolas’ question not having expected it considering what he had just asked of the prince. Self-consciously Erestor touched the hair clip and blushed lightly under Legolas deep emerald gaze. He had not even known Legolas knew about his admirer having only told Haldir and his brothers along with Glorfindel and Filgree.

”Legolas! Do not ask such personal quens ons of Lord Erestor it is none of your business!” Filgree was horrified by having heard Legolas bold declaration shocked that his well mannered charge would ask such a thing of his elder. Filgree did not however have time to chastise Legolas again as Erestor waved the tutor down before turning his attention back to Legolas.

“Thank-you Legolas I like this present very much. I have never had someone sending me gifts before and I am quite flattered that someone thinks of me enough to praise me in such a way.” Erestor paused and smiled at the young elf who nodded in quiet reflection. “And as of yet my admirer has not made themselves known, but there has been fresh wild roses left at the door to my room every morning since I have arrived back in Imladris.” Filgree could not believe that Erestor was divulging such details of his life to Legolas but chose to remain silent as Legolas nodded his tears now dry as he listened intently to Erestor’s words.

“Perhaps they have not revealed themselves because of all our injuries and the things that have had to be done around the realm while Lord Elrond recovers. I am sure they are just busy insuring that you recover fully without undue stress before they reveal themselves.” Erestor tilted his head in warm amusement of Legolas advice before nodding quietly at the young elf. For the first time since they’d left Lorien Erestor saw the sparkle of Legolas former self-shining in the young elf’s eyes.

“Aye you are probably right Legolas. Maybe you will accompany me to dinner so that we can conspire together on who my admirer might be?” Filgree caught the knowing glance that Erestor threw his way after his sneaky question. If Erestor could not get Legolas downstairs to dinner one way he would try another tact. Filgree was surprised as Legolas nodded his head enthusiastically before rising from the bed to stand in front of his tutor and Lord Erestor.

“Very well that sounds like a good idea.” Legolas smiled and waited as his tutor and Erestor rose from the bed and began walking towards the exit. Legolas obediently followed them eager now to go down to dinner however the prince paused sharply in the doorway as he caught a lat hat his self in the mirror of the room. “Filgree, do you think Lord Elrond will mind if I do not braid my hair this evening? I have a headache and the braids pull ever so tight.” Filgree shook his head and smiled at Legolas. Legolas sighed in relief and took Erestors hand as they walked out of the room towards the dining hall.

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

(A/N) We learn who Erestors' Love interest is in the next chapter and we get to some smoochy lovin' between our two favourite elves......but then again not all is happy for long as the final twist in this story begins to take place.