The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 69

Legolas lay quietly on the thin mattress listening to the sound of the waterfall as it echoed around the large cavern. It had taken them such a long time to reach the cavern but it had been worth the hike. Just as Glorfindel had described it to Filgree, there was a stream that ran from the waterfall at the far end through the centre providing fresh water and there were chests against the walls that held food, blankets and enough armour to equip a full army of elves. Scared that they would be exposed Filgree had explored the cavern while Legolas had rested after their journey and had returned only a few moments ago with the news that they were indeed totally blocked in save for the entrance staircase they had come down in. The cavern had been surprisingly light and airy, much to Legolas’ relief. The crystals hanging from the roof reflected the torches on the walls creating a spectrum of colour around the entire cavern. A fresh breeze of air travelled down the waterfall from the hole in the roof and Legolas inhaled deeply on it with every chance he got.

Filgree could not tell how long they would be staying in the cavern so he had instructed Legolas to make himself comfortable and Legolas had done just that. Dragging a mattress from one of the bed bunks carved into the stonewalls Legolas had moved it up towards where the Waterfall from the roof pooled in a shallow basin before trickling into the stream. There he had settled under the down draft of fresh air with a flask of cool water and a square of Lembas from the provisions chest.

During their trip down the stairs Legolas had doubled over quite suddenly in pain and Filgree had been concerned by Legolas health. Yet under careful inspection Filgree had found no injuries and again concurred that Legolas was again feeling Glorfindel’s pain. It had taken some time for Legolas to recover this time though the pain persistent even as Filgree soothed him with a gently sung song. The pain had passed though, although Legolas’ concern for what was happening to Glorfindel had only increased. They had fallen into silence for the rest of the trip and while Filgree had talked to Legolas of things he should do, the prince was for the most part left alone. Filgree knew how hard it would be for Legolas to feel Glorfindel’s pain and while he comforted the elf where he could there was nothing that could be done. Silently Filgree set about making a fire in the pit especially built for it. They had literally no idea how long they had been walking and did not know whether it was night or day outside. The one thing Filgree did know, was that they hadn’t had a proper meal since the morning of their hurried escape. From the growling of his own stomach Filgree knew that Legolas must also be hungry, and with the hope of some warm food brining Legolas’ sprits up a little Filgree worked in earnest to create the warm fire before searching the provisions chests for something suitable to eat. Quite surprisingly during his trip around the expansive cavern Filgree had found a garden at the very end of the stream where the water disappeared down a hole in the floor. All in all Filgree had thought that the cavern had been pretty well thought out, right down to the slit in the roof above the garden that allowed sunlight in to help the plants, flowers and herbs grow there in the small amount of soil that had been specifically put there.

Having found a small amount of dried meat and some sun dried vegetables Filgree set about creating a warm soup broth, with some of the dried herbs he’d found hanging above the chests. The smell of the broth soon brought Legolas down from his mattress near the waterfall and Filgree smiled as the young prince sat himself down next to him on the edge of the fire.

”What is it?” Filgree smiled and stirred the broth again before bringing the spoon out of the pot with a little of the broth in it’s well.

”Taste it and see.” Legolas blew for a few moments over the spoon to cool the soup before opening his mouth and letting Filgree spoon it into his mouth. Filgree put the spoon back in the pot and continued to stir the broth as Legolas swilled the small amount of soup around in his mouth before swallowing it down.

“Tastes of carrot and rabbit. Needs more of this though” Finally Legolas made his decision on Filgree’s culinary talents and nodded in approval as he reached over Filgree to grab a little of the dried herb and added it to the broth. Filgree chuckled and shook his head in amusement.

“Never let anyone say other wise that the way to a elf’s heart is through his stomach.” Filgree chuckled again as Legolas rolled his eyes and reached over to grab the two wooden bowls Filgree had founded earlier in a chest during his hunt for the food. With a steady hand Filgree spooned a fair amount of the soup into the two bowls before grabbing the stake for the fire and skewering the two stale bread rolls he’d previously wrapped in fresh vine leaves and put on the fire to warm and soften. Legolas was surprised at how resourceful his tutor was as he unwrapped his bread roll and broke a bit off to dip into his soup.

Together they sat and ate in quite conversation enjoying the simplicity of the meal and each other’s company. Legolas finished first and burped loudly in satisfaction as he lay back along side the fire in contentment of a full stomach. Filgree rolled his eyes and took the moment to wash their things in the cold stream before storing what remained of the soup for another meal later on.

“Filgree have you ever had a lover?” Filgree was slightly taken back by the question but when he saw Legolas was serious he had to take another moment to wonder whether to answer or not. In their relationship as tutor and student, Filgree had never been questioned about his own life before as it never seemed relevant in Legolas’. For Legolas to have taken a sudden interest into Filgree’s own life was an indication of just how changed their relationship had become since Legolas had come of age. Legolas sensed his tutor’s discomfort and immediately apologised for asking such a personal question. Filgree paused him mid apology however and shook his head lightly.

“No, You have asked Legolas and I see no reason not to tell you. We are equals now, no longer tutor and student.” Legolas nodded understandingly as he sat up on the mattress allowing for Filgree to sit down cross legged next to him. For a moment Legolas merely watched as Filgree stared at the flicker of the fire his eyes reflecting the memories he was bringing to mind in order to answer Legolas’ question. “Yes, I have had several lovers in my life, but only one of them I was bound to.” Filgree turned his attention back from the fire as he came to the end of his reply and smiled warmly at Legolas.

“Why are they not with you now?” Legolas innocently asked question brought a tear to Filgree’s eye and Legolas immediately regretted asking it as he snuggled closer to his tutor and wrapped his arm around the elder elf’s waist in apology. Filgree wiped the tear away and repaid the gesture from Legolas by wrapping one of his own arms around the youngster’s shoulders.

“She died in childbirth, taking my only son with her. I have not had another lover since then. My life spent in your company has taken precedent over my own heart and I find that I do not desire another mate.” Legolas felt tears of sympathy prick in his eyes and before he knew what he was doing he was sobbing into Filgree’s chest.

“That is terrible. To lose two of the people you love at once.” Filgree smiled sadly at his own memories as he soothed a gentle hand over Legolas back.

”Aye I cried for two weeks complete after they’d gone. She was so young, andbeaubeautiful. I miss her still every now and then but they will always be in my heart so I try not to be sad.” Legolas sniffled back his tears as he sat up from Filgree and crudely wiped his nose with the sleave of his tunic, causing Filgree to frown a little at the uncouth activity. “Besides it was only a season after they departed that I was called to your birth. When I held you in my arms barely a moment after you were born I felt happy again. You smiled so beautifully even Thranduil had to admit you made the room glow with warmth and happiness.” Legolas blushed unable to hide the smile that broke onto his face at Filgree’s recall of his birth.

“Was I a good elfling to look after?” Filgree laughed and ran his hand gently across Legolas’ neck causing the younger elf to shiver.

“You were a horrible child Legolas Greenleaf.” Legolas looked astonished up at his tutor before realising that Filgree was only joking and that he’d played right in the elder’s hands having not seen the comment coming. Playfully Legolas poked his tutor in the side and folded his arms across his chest in a pout. “Now see that’s what you were good at Legolas.” Filgree gestured to Legolas folded arms and pout. “No matter what you’d done if you pouted and fluttered your pretty little lashes you could always guarantee I’d let you off with a warning. It was my weak spot and you played it to it’s fullest.” Legolas laughed as Filgree put his hands in the bowl of cold spring water they’d collected earlier before putting them on Legolas’ cheeks making the young prince gasped at the cold.

“Did I do anything really, really bad though?” Legolas wiped his cheeks on the sleeve of his robe before stretching his hands over the fire in an effort to keep them warm. He was becoming cold again for some reason and although he didn’t want to worry Filgree about it, it was enough to make him shift closer to the warmth of the fire.

”Not really bad, like your brothers did. I think the worse thing you ever did was sneaking out at night to go to the alehouse in town.” Legolas blushed profusely and lowered his gaze to the floor of the cavern. Up until now he had always assumed Filgree had been asleep when he’d snuck out of his room and to find out that Filgree had known all along was astonishing.

”How did you know?” Legolas looked guiltily up from his hands and glanced questioningly at his smiling tutor.

“Legolas, Any little sound you make in your sleep I hear it. Did you not think I’d hear you get up from bed, get dressed and then climb out the window?” Filgree looked pointedly at the young prince who blushed an ever-redder shade of pink.

”I thought you were asleep.” Legolas mumbled quietly into his chest before looking up expectantly at his tutor. “Why did you let me go then? If you knew I was leaving?” Filgree chuckled and shook his head in silent amusement.

“The first couple of nights I actually followed you.” Legolas’ eyes widened in surprise as he wad Fid Filgree pull his cloak tighter around him as a particularly large blast of cold air from the waterfall behind them blew up his back. “My life depended on your safety Legolas, if something would have happened to you Thranduil would have had my head.” Legolas nodded understandingly as he snuggled under his tutor’s arm for warmth. “I thought you were going to see someone, a lover perhaps. Your brothers started very young with those kind of things, and on more than one occasion they snuck out to bed a wench or two at the alehouses in town.” Legolas rolled his eyes all to familiar with his elder brothers antics when it came to women. “You can’t imagine how surprised I was then to watch you sit down in the corner of the bar and blatantly listen to other peoples conversations. You didn’t even get yourself a drink!” Legolas guiltily stared at his hands again but couldn’t help but smile as Filgree sighed and laughed good-naturedly into his side. “I stopped following you after a couple of times. I knew what you were doing and you always came home before dawn. The only time I did follow you was when I’d heard there were people in town that weren’t completely trustworthy, that could cause you harm if you met them by chance. It was just a precaution, to put my mind at ease. The only thing I could n get get over was that you never brought yourself a drink!” Filgree chuckled heartily but noted with dismay that Legolas didn’t find it funny.

“I couldn’t afford a drink.” Legolas whispered softly as Filgree held him close. The tutor knew all to well what little allowance Legolas had been given during his childhood, and even in his elder years leading up to his coming of age, Thranduil was still only paying him a few bronze penny’s above the minimum wage for stable hands.

“Yeknowknow but you only had to ask and I would have given you some money you know.” Legolas shook his head quickly and determinedly at his tutor’s comment.

“No, it didn’t seem right asking for money. A prince of Mirkwood asking his tutor for money, it’s almost intolerable.” Legolas sighed heavily only to find himself embraced in one of Filgree’s comforting hugs. “I wonder if Glorfindel knows how penniless the prince he’s in love with is? Do you think it will matter?” Legolas looked up fearfully to his tutor who instantly calmed the worried elf with a gentle touch of his hand.

“No I don’t think it will matter Legolas. Besides you are not as penniless as you make out. Admittedly at the moment you are living off Elrond and Glorfindel’s hospitality but in time you will accumulate your own wealth. Thranduil agreed before he left Lorien that you would still inherit your share of his wealth when he leaves Middle Earth, and that you like your brothers will be given one third of the realm of Mirkwood as your own to do with as you like. Admittedly the laws of the king will still govern it, but it will be yours on parchment. Haldir too is willing to send you a little money each month as your own to tide you over.” Legolas’ smile brightened when he heard how less dire his finical situation was. It had never occurred to him before now that money was in fact a major part of his life and that while he’d had no need to worry about it in the past, now having come of age he really had to address how to earn some money.

“Should I get a trade perhaps? I could stable Lord Elrond’s horses for him? I know how to be a scribe as well.” Filgree chuckled at Legolas’ returned enthusiasm. It had been a while since he’d seen Legolas planning things and Filgree took delight that their conversation had taken Legolas mind off everything that wappenppening around him and more importantly Glorfindel.

“Aye a trade is a good idea. You should ask Lord Elrond if he has any positions available for you in the palace.” Legolas nodded in determination as he smiled triumphantly at having come to a fine decision.

“It is decided then I will ask Lord Elrond for a trade to occupy my time and earn my keep.” Filgree smiled at the contentment that settled over Legolas face. It was always a pleasure to watch Legolas make decisions, the young one’s mind never ceased to amaze Filgree at what he could come up with. “Will you excuse me I have to go and relieve myself.” Filgree nodded as Legolas politely excused himself and got to his feet. It was only as Legolas looked around that he realised he did not know where the bathing area was situated and so he looked back questioningly to Filgree.

“Follow the stream to its end and near the little garden will be what you’re looking for. I will prepare our beds while you are gone, for I believe it is time we got some rest.” Legolas smiled brightly before thanking Filgree and heading off into the expansive cavern. Filgree could hear Legolas singing to himself brightly the entire way and the elder tutor rejoiced in seeing some resemblance of the young elfling he’d brought up in Mirkwood.

Filgree couldn’t help himself and he too began humming along with the familiar song Legolas had been singing as he began to stack a few of the thin mattresses into two of the wall carved beds closest to the fire. It was obvious from the extent of the cavern that it had been originally designed to hold a lot more elves than just two and Filgree silently wondered why such a place had been built. Filgree was just stacking the fire for the evening having made their beds when Legolas’ bright tune came to an abrupt stop. Filgree stood up immediately and focused his hearing in the direction of which Legolas had gone. For a few moments there was silence before Filgree heard Legolas cry out his name, the fear in Legolas tone clearly indicating the young elf’s distress. As quickly as he could Filgree picked up his own twin blades and sprinted as fast as he could towards Legolas distressed cries.

Having expected to find an enemy of some sort Filgree was almost relived to see Legolas alone, although the sight was none the less disturbing. Legolas was doubled over and was violently throwing up. Re-sheathing his knives Filgree leapt nimbly across the small stream and knelt quietly beside the still heaving prince. Just one look at Legolas told Filgree all he needed to know as once again Legolas threw up before slumping exhausted against Filgree’s side, unable to hold himself up.

“Glorfindel again?” Filgree whispered softly into Legolas delicately pointed ear as he soothed his hands across the prince’s back. Weakegolegolas nodded to tired all of a sudden to speak. Filgree sighed heavily and lifted Legolas’ light frame into his arms before slowly standing from the cold floor of the cavern. “I do not dare think what they are doing to him.” Filgree whispered softly against Legolas’ forehead as he pressed a soft comforting kiss to each temple. “Come on I will have you sleep with me tonight.” Legolas again nodded weakly in acceptance as he held tightly to Filgree’s body. Reaching their small little campsite again Filgree lay Legolas carefully into the bed carved into the wall of the cavern. Legolas had begun to shiver again and Filgree silently cursed the valar for giving Legolas such a fate as this. Insuring everything was packed for the night Filgree brought several more blankets from the chest nearby and crawled into the small rock cut bed next to Legolas. Legolas instantly rolled over and cuddled into Filgree’s chest as the older elf draped the blankets over them in an effort to keep Legolas warm. The brief moment of happiness Legolas had been allowed had once again been torn from him in an instant and Filgree protectively wrapped his arms around Legolas body and held the shivering form close. “Glorfindel will come for us Legolas I promise you, and then you will have all the freedom in the world and you will be happy my sweet.” Filgree pressed a soft kiss to Legolas’ forehead and watched in silence as Legolas’ eyes slowly turned vacant and the young prince fell silently into his slumber. For Filgree he would find no rest that night his thoughts focused clearly on his prayers for Glorfindel’s speedy return to them.

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

(A/N) Did you enjoy these updates? I know the surprise was a little too easy to predict but oh well. Anyway from here on in it's all about Leggy and Glorfy getting it on and so forth, there are still a few surprises but nothing as big as this last one. So keep reading and reviewing I love reading what you think and it's wonderful to see so many of you getting really into the story line. Thanks a bunch.

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OHHHHHHHHHHHH And Annoymous................I'd just like to say that I'm not J R Tolkien and I never confessed to being him. I write for the pure enjoyment of doing so and I just happen to like Tolkien's characters, so I borrow them and like every other person on this board I change a few things to suit my story. If that offends you then don't read, there are plenty of other peoplt tht there that are enjoying the plot and character development for what it is and are forgiving me for shifting a few things from the original stories. God knows Tolkien would turn in his grave for even knowing that we turned his characters into sex crazed homosexuals.

I appreciate your comment and you're entitled to your view but I don't confess to have the most knowledge about Tolkien or his works and am quite happy with the important bits I do know, so please don't insult me by asking me to re-read a book I grew up with.