The secret life

Part 7

Imladris, 1432 T.A.

A soft knock at the door of his bedroom, but Legolas didn’t hear it. He was still asleep, cuddled up in huge pillows and satin sheets. They had arrived in Imladris the day before and Legolas, exhausted from the long journey and barely awake, had been immediately carried to bed by Glorfindel. The elfling hadn’t even noticed the elvenlord taking off his clothes and dressing him in his nightrobe. When his head had touched the mattress, he had already been asleep.
Again someone knocked and then the door opened slightly and a dark haired head appeard, grey eyes were scanning the room.
“Ah – as I told you, Elrohir, he’s still asleep!”
“What say you, time for him to wake up, huh???”
“But of course, muindor!”
Elladan moved to the dressing table, took a cloth, wetted it in the washbowl and threw it mercilessly in Legolas face. The elfling bounced up, startled.
“What?...Who?... Where?”
“Hey sleepyhead – time to get up!”
The younger twin could only shake his head at his brother’s behaviour.
“Ah, Elladan... you could have been a little more gentle. – Good morning Legolas! No need to frighten, all is well. You are in Imladris, remember?”
“Morning Elrohir, Elladan...” Legolas yawned... “What time is it?”
“Late morning... you already overslept the breakfast!”
“And you are still covered in the dust of the roads...” – Elladan sniffed – “and you smell of Asfaloth!!! We thought you might want to take a bath!”
“And you must be quite hungry too...”
“Yeah – I think I could eat a horse!”
“Actually we are quite fond of our precious horses, so may I offer another suggestion: Elrohir and I will take you to the public baths first and after that we may visit the kitchens... then we will escort you to Adar’s study. He wants to introduce you to the household!”
“Oh- what am I supposed to wear then?”
“Well, what about a beautifoul dress with many frills and laces, and I’m sure we will find some flowers and ribbons for your hair too!”
“ELLADAN!!! – Oh, he’s just teasing you, pen-neth!”
But Legolas only laughed...
“It’s alright, Elrohir – I’m not angry. But be careful Elladan, or one day I will braid flowers and ribbons in YOUR hair!”

***

As they had promised earlier, after a bath and some food, Elladan and Elrohir escorted Legolas – arm in arm in arm - to their father’s study. The young prince still mused over the fact, that the water in the pools of the public baths had been warm – a luxury, which he never before had seen, because there were no hot springs in Greenwood. The warm water had soothed his still aching backside, and now he felt utterly relaxed, smelling of lavenderoil and clad in simple black leggins and green tunic.
As they reached their destination, Legolas gazed nervously from one twin to the other, then swallowed hard and knocked softly at Elronds door. When he was bid to enter his hands trembled and it didn’t help at all when he saw, that the elvenlord wasn’t alone, but surrounded by many others, all gazing at him now.
“Ah, pen-neth, there you are. I hope you slept well. Celebrian, Arwen, my friends, may I introduce you Legolas from Greenwood. Legolas is an orphan, he lost his parents at a very tender age. The elves who raised him, didn’t really care for him-“ Legolas furrowed his brow at hearing this particular lie – “and since he and my sons had become friends, I agreed to take him with us. He will live here and become a great warrior once, won’t you Legolas?”
“Y...Yes.”
“I understand your shyness, how rude of me, to leave you standing in a room with so many strangers. We will change this at once. This is my wife Celebrian, and my little iell Arwen. Arwen, say hello to Legolas your new foster-brother!”
“Oh, Adar... couldn’t you bring a sister for me? Why another brother who won’t play with me?”
Everyone, except for Legolas, laughed at the sweet girl’s annoyed words. Not so long ago, the prince thought, he had been a young girl too, much like Arwen... ah- this was all so very confusing. Legolas shook his head and addressed the little girl:
“I will play with you, Arwen, I promise. Whenever you want to!”
“Even when I play with my dolls?”
“Even then! I know how it feels to have no one to play with...” The sadness, his eyes showed at that, was reflected in those of the twins and their father. But before it could linger on, Glorfindel said: “Well pen-neth, you will find some friends here soon and Arwen: do not forget you still have Nori!”
“Nori?” Legolas asked Elrond.
“Yes, Norindiel – my wife’s chambermaid. My little daughter here has literally adopted the girl... but let us go on. This is Lindir, our minstrel and Melpomaen, who is in charge of the library, Glorfindel you already know. He will see to your training.”
“We will meet this afternoon at the training grounds and you will show me your efforts with the bow and perhaps - ”
“GLORFINDEL! I think you can discuss this with Legolas this afternoon, right? Greetings Legolas, my name is Erestor.”
The young curiously eyed the elf, who had spoken to him. Erestor was tall and slender, almost skinny. His hair was dark ebony, but his skin pale. He looked serious at Legolas and yes, the young one did freeze.
“Yes, Erestor is my chief advisor and my sons’ tutor, he will be your tutor too. Tell me about your lessons at home, pen-neth.”
“I learned about politics and lore and healing and –“
“Healing? Now that’s unusual for one, as young as you...” Erestor eyed the young elf suspiciously.
“Did you enjoy those lessons, would you like to go on with it?” Elrond asked in gentle tone.
“Yes, I would like that!”
“Now Legolas – what languages have you learned so far?”
“Quenya, lord Erestor!”
“I’m no lord, for you it is master Erestor. And Quenya alone won’t do, you have to learn at least some westron.”
“Erestor speaks Sindarin, Quenya, and of course Westron, but above that also Telerin, Dwarwish, Entish and the black Tongue. But I think Erestor, you can start your lessons tomorrow, I only wanted you to welcome the pen-neth in Imladris for now!”
“Of course my Lord! Welcome Legolas!” Erestor narrowed his eyes and Glorfindel whispered in the you prince’s ears:
“As I told you: a black ghost!”
“So Legolas, I think now you know the most important elves in this house, you will meet the rest after dinner in the Hall of fire. - If you all would excuse us now, I’ll take my family outside to a picnic at the Bruinen now. Legolas, you will join us.”

***
It was a perfect day for a picnic. Blankets had been spread near the riverbank, they had two baskets with plenty of food, the sun shone warm, birds were singing... everything was perfect. But still Legolas couldn’t find great delight in this, again and again he had to think about, what Elrond had said earlier.
// >The elves who raised him, didn’t really care for him< ... what if Elrond is right, what if Adar and Naneth really didn’t care for me?... after all, they sent me away.//
His tiny hands wandered to his mother’s necklace under his tunic...
// NO! They loved me... but why did Elrond say such a thing?//
His gloomy thoughts didn’t go unnoticed, and after the twins started to race Arwen to the water Elrond asked him in a concerned voice:
“How do you feel, pen-neth? You look so sad.”
“Fine... it’s just... no, I’m fine... I...I thought...I..I don’t know!”
“I want you to know that you can talk with me about everything. No need to be afraid. Don’t hold back, Legolas... tell me all you worries, ask all your questions.”
“You think it true that my parents didn’t care for me?”
“What? Who said such a thing to you?”
“You did! You said, the elves who raised me, didn’t really care for me...”
“Oh Legolas, no. I lied! I also told the others your parents were dead, that was a lie too. I had to tell them something to explain your presence here. It’s not true...your parents love you, never doubt that. I do not like to lie, but I had to... No one must know who you are pen-neth. And you must be careful with what you say around others. But Celebrian, the twins, Glorfindel and I know the truth and if you need someone to talk to, you can come to either of us at anytime. This is your home now and we are your family.”
“I already HAVE a home, GREENWOOD is my home. I’m here only to become a mighty warrior and then I will hide no longer but return and fight! And I already HAVE a family, don’t need another one. You are not my adar!”
And with that, Legolas stood and ran away. Elrond was about to follow, but Celebrian held him back.
“Let him, hervenn-nin. He’s just homesick. Give it time... it’s his first day here.”
“I think he doesn’t understand that he’s not here for a short stay, to learn how to fight and then return. I just want him to feel home and loved here... this arrangement probably is forever...”
“Time will tell. I’m sure he will find his footing. Don’t forget, he’s just an elfling – although he’s much to serious for his age.”
“Oh, I’m sure our sons will change that soon. I’m glad, they like him... he needs friends.”

Legolas ran without looking straight ahead and eventually bumped in Glorfindel, who was on his way to the training grounds.
“Slowly, slowly Legolas... or are you so eager for your training that you already start battling me out here.”
Legolas slightly lifted his head and Glorfindel saw tears streaming down the young one’s cheeks.
“Hey pen-neth, is everything allright... tell me what has happened.”
Legolas told the seneschal of his conversation with Elrond.
“... and now he’s certainly mad with me and will not allow me to stay and become a warrior and... and ...and...”
“Hush now, pen-neth... that’s all not that bad! You will go to Elrond at dinner and apologize and I’m sure, he won’t be mad. And you will stay here and become a warrior, but tell me, do you truly want that? Stay here?”
“I cannot go home – not yet!”
“The same goes for me. Let me tell you a story: You know that I lived in Gondolin and that I was one of the twelve lords of the twelve houses there.”
“The house of the Golden Flower.”
“Yes, pen-neth. I had lived in Gondolin all my life, and I loved living there. But then Gondolin fell, and so did I. But the Valar saw me worthy of a second life and I was reborn. I tell you now a secret: I didn’t like my second life at first. I missed my home, my family and friends. But it was my duty to live and fight at Elronds side and protect him in the last alliance. And then the war was over and Elrond found this valley, so I decided to live here with him and I found new friends. I still call Gondolin my home, this will never change, but now, Imladris has also become my home, my second home. You see, a home is something real good, isn’t it? So why don’t have two?”
“I think you have a point. Perhaps Imladris can become my second home too, but I miss Greenwood and my family!”
“I know, but you will see them again, believe me. – So, and now put those gloomy thoughts away and wipe your tears off. We will train now and there are no crying warriors in my regiment!”

***
His first training with Glorfindel had been nothing but fun. First they had visited the armory, and Legolas had marveled mouth agape at the sight of all those swords and bows. Then he had shown Glorfindel his doing with the bow and even hit the bulls eye a few times, and later on, the blond warrior had challenged him for some kind of mock-wrestling...
In the evening he had apologized to Elrond for his behaviour at the picnic, and Elrond had accepted. After dinner, everyone had gathered in the Hall of fire and Legolas had played cards with Elladan and won. Of course they had played Greenwood style, but Elrohir had insisted, that it had been a fair game and Elladan had truly lost.
Now it was late and he was lying in his new bed, in his new room, in his new Second Home. Ilala was cradled in his arms. The elfling burried his nose in the fabric, his toy still smelled of the woods, of the oil, his mother used for her hair, of home. The scent comforted him, but still there were tears in his eyes that threatened to fall.
“You know, Ilala, perhaps it is not that bad here... but I miss Adar and Naneth. I miss home! But I won’t cry... I’m not a little girl anymore... I’m going to be a warrior and warriors do not cry!”

Translation:

Muindor - brother
Pen-neth - little one
Iell - daughter
Adar - father
Naneth - mother
Hervenn-nin - my husband
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DarkDreamer: So you like it (*blush*) – wow! That means a lot to me... I really love your stories, Sapphire Eyes was probably the best, I ever read! Thank you!

HHS: I will finish it, that’s a promise!

Hugs

Githoniel