The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 82

Legolas sat idly re-braiding his hair watching as the sun reflected off the stream. He and Elrohir had been sparing all morning but now both had taken a cooling dip in the stream after the exhausting workout. Elrohir was still splashing about under the chilled spray of the waterfall but Legolas had sought out a sunny place on the bank to warm himself up.

It had been almost a month since Glorfindel had left for the borders and Legolas was feeling decidedly lonely. During the days he was kept busy with weapons training and his duties at the stores but it was the long sleepless nights when he truly felt his lovers absence. Even now in the bright happy rays of the sun he felt melancholy in his heart. After their first night together they had not left their room for two days. Desperately needing the comfort Legolas had let Glorfindel worship his body as many times as he could manage. It had been embarrassing having to finally exit their room and face everyone, all of whom clearly knew what they had been doing. Glorfindel seemed to take it all in his stride and Legolas rejoiced in seeing a permanent smile ever present on his lovers face. Despite his reassurance to Glorfindel however that he was fine, Legolas had in fact been a little sore for most of that week that followed. His uncomfortableness while sitting at a particularly long dinner had not gone unnoticed by Legolas peers. Wisely Elrohir had said nothing of the situation instead handing his young friend a jar of healing gel he’d pilfered from Elrond’s cupboards earlier that morning. Legolas had been grateful and while he longed for Glorfindel’s return from the borders he sought solace in having Elrohir to talk to instead. Legolas had allowed himself time to get to know El’s t’s twins son’s and had found that while they were carbon copies of one another in physical appearance their personalities differed greatly. Elladan was headstrong and arrogant while Elrohir was more passive but extremely knowledgeable like his father. Legolas had had little time for Elladan the elder of the two twins had headed out with Glorfindel to the borders and in someway Legolas was glad he was gone. There was something about Elladan that Legolas didn’t understand altholthough he would never voice his opinions he thought Elladan didn’t like him very much. Elrohir on the other hand had been nothing but a pleasure to be with. Legolas had found himself spending more and more time with the younger twin as Glorfindel’s absence stretched on. Elrohir was a fountain of youthful energy and Legolas found himself likening the elf to himself in many ways. He was comfortable around Elrohir and knew that his friend would always provide sound advice if needed.

Like many of the days since Glorfindel’s departure Legolas had spent his entire day with Elrohir. They had talked of history, their homes and their families as well as exchanging tales about adventure and mischief. It had been fun but Legolas was again feeling acutely lonely as he pined for his lover.

Sighing heavily Legolas rested his chin on his hands and stared down at the glistening blades of grass. So entranced by his own thoughts Legolas did not noticed Elrohir running up to him before he was being showered by a spray of cold water droplets.

“Elrohir! I was just getting dry!” Legolas complained bitterly as Elrohir continued to shake his long dark locks free of water over Legolas’ prone form. Elrohir laughed heartily as Legolas pulled his legs from under him forcing him to his knees beside the disgruntled younger elf.

“You were brooding again Legolas. I could not help myself.” Legolas frowned pointedly as the dark haired elf beside him crudely tied his wet hair back before stretching out lazily in the sun.

“Well it was not very funny.” Legolas pouted dramatically and folded his arms haughtily across his chest. Elrohir rolled his eyes and poked his tongue out at his friend defiantly.

“Sorry Legolas, but I wish you would stop worrying about Lord Glorfindel. It is a wonderful day we should be enjoying it and yet you are sitting here sulking like a spoilt elfling.” Legolas sighed heavily and unfolded his arms aware now just how childish he actually did look. Reluctantly Legolas lay down next to Elrohir and closed his eyes. He hadn’t meant to start brooding about Glorfindel again, it just seemed to happen. For a while the pair merely lay in the sun listening to the birds singing and the sounds of the waterfall hitting the rocks in the stream.

“Do you think they willurn urn soon?” At length Legolas voiced the question he had been asking everyone since Glorfindel had left. Exasperated Elrohir groaned and rolled up onto his side to stare down at the concerned young elf before him. It was at times like these that Elrohir was reminded just how young his friend was. While Legolas had passed his maturity and was already bound to another the innocence of youth still swam deep inside Legolas sapphire blue eyes.

“Legolas! They will return when they are able. Glorfindel has been known to be gone for three or four months depending on the movement of the enemy….” Elrohir was stopped as Legolas let out a strangled groan of frustration.

“Three or four months?! Elrohir I miss him now, I can not handle another day let alone two more months.” Legolas wined pitifully and Elrohir rolled his eyes for the second time during their conversation. Sometimes Elrohir had to wonder if Elladan would ever be like this when he and his Lorien betrothed finally bound together.

“It can not be that bad, surely Legolas?” Legolas pouted again and Elrohir sighed heavily. “You are exaggerating and I wish you would stop it. No amount of pining will bring Glorfindel home. He has a duty to Imladris and will not stop doing it just because you are lonely. You are driving us all insane!” Elrohir didn’t meant to snap at his younger friend but only realised he had done it as he watched Legolas lowered his head to stare guiltily at his lap.

“Am I really that terribly frustrating Elrohir?” Elrohir bit his lip as Legolas glanced up shyly from his hands. “Is that why everyone is ignoring me? Do they not like my conversation that much?!” Elrohir silently cursed himself as he saw the flicker of despair creep back into Legolas’ eyes. Over the past month Elrohir had brought Legolas out of his shell and taught him how to live again without constrictions, yet with one foul sentence he had just undone all his good work

“No Legolas. It is just that they are all very busy and do not have time to keep conveion ion with you. I am sure that when you join the patrols yourself they will learn to respect your feelings a little better as they get to know you.” It was Legolas turn to sigh and the young prince rolled carelessly onto his side away from Elrohir. He was miserable and could no longer hide the fact. Sympathetic to his friend’s emotions Elrohir wriggled over so that he was lying against Legolas back and he could peep his head cheekily over the other elf’s shoulder.

“Legolas please don’t be sad. You are beaul wul when you smile and I hate to see you frown.” Legolas glanced up cautiously at where Elrohir’s face was just inches from his own still smiling down at him from over his shoulder. “It will take time before you fully settle into Imladris. Mirkwood has long been an enemy of ours and just because you are bound to one of our own doesn’t mean you will automatically be accepted. Many of these elves had lived through horrible wars and have lost loved ones at the hands of your people. They do not forget easily the betrayal and the hurt. You must gain their trust and respect through the everyday things you do. In time they will learn to love you, like Glorfindel and I do but until then it is going to be tough.” Elrohir caught the flash of guilt in his friend’s eyes and wondered what he had said to cause such an emotion. The dark haired elf had hardly time to contemplate it however as Legolas sat up sharply all but elbowing him in the side as he stood. Elrohir was a little shocked and went to stand up to question his friend but found himself roughly pushed back to the ground by the firm hand of Legolas. Shocked into speechlessness Elrohir watched as Legolas towered over him his beautiful features now unreadably blank.

“I am not to blame for my ancestors mistakes Elrohid I d I refuse to be made to carry that burden you so easilyce uce upon my shoulders.” Elrohir could only watched as Legolas snapped up his things from the ground and turned to begin heading back to the house. Unable to recall what he had said to cause such a violreacreaction from Legolas, Elrohir sprang to his feet and ran after his friend. They had reached the public courtyard before Elrohir caught up with Legolas who had all but run from the stream.

“Legolas! I am sorry that was not what I meant.” Unwittingly Elrohir reached out a hand to grasp Legolas’ arm to pull the younger elf to a halt but upon his first contact with the other elf’s robe Elrohir found himself suddenly flat on his back, staring up into dark, angry blue eyes.

“No Elrohir that was exactly what meanmeant and do not treat me as such a simpleton as not to know the truth. For you only say what everyone else is thinking!” Elrohir glanced unsteadily around him as Legolas growled at him in an almost unrecognisable voice. Many people were still gathered in the courtyard having begun to wind down their market stalls as evening began to fall. When before there had been bustling chatter there was now deadly silence as everyone turned their attention to the two elves in the center of the courtyard. “Are you so self absorbed that you do not know that I have suffered also because of my grandfather and my fathers mistakes! I have seen friends I have known my whole life being sent to a senseless war, never to return. Their lives taken from me as if they were pebbles tossed idly into a stream. You and your brother have had the chance to protect your people but I have not! Like a child just barely out of the womb I have been confined, restricted, and protected but do not consider me ignorant of the pains you have suffered! Do not think that just because I have not seen the wounds or bodies of tead ead that I have not heard their screams of pain and suffering or the cries of their families when their cherished sons do not return.” Elrohir could not take his eyes from Legolas’ as the younger elf’s face erupted in raall all the while his voice remaining at a bitter and coldly calm tone. Never in his entire acquaintance had Elrohir seen the beautiful young prince so angry and could do nothing but stare blankly as Legolas continued. “I have been taught through my life to hate you. To hate the Noldor for the atrocities done to my kin. Yet here I stand amongst you trying to forgive a mistake that is not mine, just so I may find peace with my love. But there is a limit to what I can stand, from your snide remarks or your on going looks of filth you throw in my direction. I am not my father and I cannot make right what he and my kin before me have done. I grieve just as you do for those we have lost but I have tried to put that aside in the hope our future may look brighter.” Elrohir watched transfixed as Legolas straightened himself his gaze never leaving Elroh as as he continued in a darker tone. “Yet you still force upon me a burden which is not mine to carry. I do not need your approval, your trust or even your forgiveness for I have done nothing wrong except follow helplessly in my fathers shadow. Perhaps you are right Elrohir that they will in time accept me, but I no longer care. Glorfindel is my husband and it is only my love of him that keeps me here……………..”

“What is going on here?!” Legolas fell into silence as Lord Elrond’s booming voice rang out around the courtyard. Those that had gathered to listen to the argument slowly backed away as the Lord of Imladris and his advisors came swiftly down the steps from the house and into the gravel yard.

“Father!” Elrohir did not know what to do and quickly scrambled to his feet as Elrond, Erestor, Filgree and Lindar came to a stop beside him. Involuntarily Elrohir flinched as Elrond reached up a hand to inspect a cut above his son’s eye. Elrohir had not realized it until then but Legolas had actually hit him, hard enough to grace his forehead. “He did not mean it father.” Elrohir looked hopelessly at his father as Elrond turned his attention sternly to Legolas who had neither moved nor changed the blank expression written across his face.

“What was this about? Tell me at once!” Elrond stared pointedly at Legolas demanding an answer from the unresponsive elf before him.

“It was just a simple disagreement father nothing of consequence.” When Legolas made no attempt at replying to Elrond Elrohir stepped hastily between his father and Legolas desperately trying to diffuse the situation while avoiding any possible ramifications on Legolas behalf. It was now clear to Elrohir had been wrong with Legolas this past month since his arrival in Imladris and he did not want his father making things worse with unfounded punishments.

“I was not asking you Elrohir and it did not sound like just a simple disagreement.” Elrohir bit his lip nervously under his fathers stern gaeelieeling once again like a mere elfling being chastised for running amuck. The air was stifling under the scrutiny of his fathers gaze and Elrohir thought that he would surely crumble in any instant.

As if on cue however relief came in the form of horse’s hooves on the gravel and the heralds from the guard posts announcing the arrival of a familiar party back from the borders. The attention of the gathered group now turned to the entry grates of the courtyard as the first of the border riders came in to sight. Before long the small patrol of 25 were clustered into the courtyard and were being helped to the ground by willing marketeers happy to see their warriors returned.

“My lord it is good to see you.” Elrohir could not help but glance back towards Legolas as Glorfindel dropped from his horse and was swiftly bowing in front of Lord Elrond before they exchanged embraces. Legolas face was unreadable as he stared at Glorfindel. Elrohir felt pity in his heart for the young elf so confused by his own life and could only watch in sympathy as a small tear escaped Legolas’ eye and slid unnoticed by any other down his cheek. “I bring good news from the border.” Glorfindel sounded almost excited in his address and Elrohir hoped it would be good for everyone including Legolas. Elrohir had hardly time to think though as his elder brother came to a stand still in front of him. As was common they exchanged hugs and greetings before turning back to where Glorfindel was just relaying the good news to their father.

“Aye that is very good news but let us not continue our conversation out here. Supper is being served as we speak and I am sure you will wish to change your clothing and take a bath, this briefing can wait until the morning.” Elrohir watched as his father turned and began to lead the party back into the house, however Glorfindel’s longing glance towards Legolas did not go unmissed. From the behind his brother Elrohir watched Glorfindel approach Legolas. There was a chaste kiss exchanged but Legolas’ awkwardness was clear as he glanced guiltily back at Elrohir, who was now being inspected by Elladan who wanted to know where the cut on his head had come from. Totally ignoring his brother Elrohir stepped up boldly to Legolas and Glorfindel and gently prised one of Glorfindel’s hands from his lovers to take it in his own palm.

“I am sorry Legolas. I did not stop to think what pain my words might have cause you. You are right, you have suffered also and I was wrong to make assumptions based upon my own limited background. Please I apologise and hope that this does not ruin our friendship.” Elrohir heard Glorfindel growl almost inaudibly in the back os ths throat as Elrohir leaned down and gently kissed Legolas hand. Glorfindel was looking incredibly suspicious between the two young elves sai said nothing as Legolas nodded understandingly and softly embraced Elrohir in a friendly hug of forgiveness.

“You will tell me what that was all about after dinner my love.” Legolas smiled lightly as Elrohir stepped away from him and quickly joined his brother on the steps up to the house, leaving him and Glorfindel to bring up the last of the group. Glorfindel’s gentle whisper in his ear made Legolas shiver and his bad temper dissipated at the mere thought of having Glorfindel back in his arms. Instinctively Legolas tightened his grip on Glorfindel’s arm and snuggled into his lover’s side, fully immersing himself within the beautiful aroma of Glorfindel and the forestry fragrance of his travelling garb. Glorfindel was home and all would be well again.


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

(A/N) Sorry it's taken so long to update but I've had major uni crap, I'm sure there's got to be a degree at the end of this somewhere not just the $10.000 debt to the government. Anyway Hope these six chapters make up for my slackness.