The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 88

Legolas shifted awkwardly on his horse his bladder pressing dangerously against the saddle with every bump ‘Iest’ took. They had been on the trails in the forest for four days and while it was still fine it had become windy signalling the slow approach of the storm Elrond had predicted. Up until now Legolas had been lucky the party stopping every couple of hours giving Legolas a chance to relive himself without suspicion. His morning nausea also had seemed to be quelled a little with the fresh air and the constant soothing motion of being on Iest. Still Legolas had been cautious and while he had been made to sleep close to Glorfindel at night he had made sure he had a clear path into the forshoushould his stomach turn in the early morning. Now however with the approaching storm and the less secure forest around them as they neared the border Elladan and Glorfindel had drastically cut their stops to almost none and had picked up the leisurely pace to a quicker trot. The rough uneven ground and the faster pace was causing Legolas’ full bladder terrible concern and he had not been allowed a stop since breakfast this morning. It did not help either that Glorfindel had ordered him to stay back in the center of the patrol, so that he was protected on all sides, while Glorfindel still rode ahead of him out of talking distance.

Not wanting to embarrass himself by calling to his lover verbally Legolas closed his eyes and focused his connection with Glorfindel’s mind.

//Glorfindel I need to stop.// When there was no reply Legolas squeezed his eyes shut and tried again. //Please Glorfindel I need to stop now.//

//I heard you the first time my love, Now tell me why? // Legolas opened his eyes regretting sounding harsher than he meant to when he’d called to Glorfindel a second time. Ahead Legolas saw Glorfindel glance over his shoulder at him to see if he was all right before turning back to the front of the patrol. //Well? Tell me why you wish to stop? We don’t really have time to do so.// Legolas groaned and let go of his reigns to place his hands over his lower stomach willing himself to hold on a little longer.

//I just need to stop please Glorfindel. I am desperate.// Legolas pleaded with his lover to allow them to stop just a few moments but when Glorfindel didn’t reply Legolas ground his teeth in frustration. A particularly large bump was the last straw however and Legolas could not hold it any longer. Without so much as a warning Legolas pulled Iest to a stop causing the patrol behind him to hastily evade running into him before he leapt down from the horse.

“Prince Legolas!?” Legolas heard the confused call from one of the centurions behind him but ignored it as he ran quickly into a large thicket of bushes desperate to relive himself. It was painful to run with such a full bladder but Legolas bit his lip and only briefly paused to look around for signs danger before pulling himself free of his leggings and finally reliving himself into the grass with a sigh of relief. Legolas had hardly been alone a moment when a set of horse’s hooves on the leaves behind him interrupted his relief and a shadow fell across his body from behind. Legolas knew exactly who was watching him but merely continued to empty his full bladder before tucking himself away and bravely turning to face Glorfindel’s obvious displeasure.

“Why didn’t you say something?” Glorfindel’s tone was clipped and laced with anger but Legolas didn’t back down as he defiantly took the offered water from his lover’s flask and washed his hands.

“What would you have had me do call to you so that the entire patrol could hear? I have not had to ask to go to relieve myself since I was 20 years past my birth. If we had perhaps stopped for a moment at lunch I might not have been in this position.” Legolas silently put the flask back into Glorfindel’s saddle pouch before stepping back to stare up at his lover, whose braids whipped carelessly about his face in the strong wind.

“I apologise I did not consider that you may have needed a break during the day. You have drunk so little water since breakfast.” Legoswalswallowed hard as Glorfindel looked down at him curiously.

“I am cold. My body gets like this sometimes when I am cold.” Legolas was clutching at any excuse he could find knowing that most elves could go a good day without needing a break, and that his behaviour seemed strange to Glorfindel. For a moment Glorfindel continued to stare at him and Legolas thought that he was going to be shouted at but the chastise never came and Glorfindel merely offered a hand down to him for him to climb up onto the back of his horse.

“Sorry Legolas, I will have us wait a few moments while you wrap yourself up in a cloak before we move on. We must reach the outpost before the rains come but if you should need a break again before we get there please just tell me.” Legolas nodded and wrapped his arms securely around Glorfindel’s waist as the elder Lord leaned over his shoulder to place a tender kiss upon Legolas’ lips. The tender moment was gone however as Glorfindel turned his horse and speedily returned them to the patrol where Legolas remounted ‘Iest’. A brief moment was taken for Legolas to wrap his spare cloak about his body in order to keep him warm before again the group was on their way, the pace as quick as they could with everyone keeping up. Legolas did not miss the glare that Elladan threw him from the front of the patrol but ignored it as he again took up position beside Glorfindel for long ride ahead.

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The rain was falling in sheets the wind blowing it into their faces making it virtually impossible for them to see the rider in front of them let alone their surroundings. Legolas was partially protected behind Glorfindel and the other centurions but it was not less uncomfortable. As predicted the storm was fierce and had crept up onto them quite unexpectedly. Still Glorfindel and Elladan drove the group hard into the wind seeming to know exactly where they were going. Legolas was shivering but wrapped his cloak tighter around his body and snuggled deeper into the hood. ‘Iest’ was doing a find job of following the others and so Legolas had to do little in directing her through the virtually non-existent path Glorfindel and Elladan were leading them. The roar of the wind in the trees above them was deafening and the darkness of the storm had brought night on quickly. Legolas could hardly see through the water running down his face and so wondered why they came sudden to a stop when no patrol post could be seen. Remaining on his horse Legolas squinted through the rain as he watched all of the guards around him dismount and gathered their things from the backs of the horses.

“Well come on your highness don’t expect us to do this all for you.” Legolas snapped his head down to the side of Iest and glared pointedly at Elladan who was already carrying his things in the direction of where everyone seemed to be heading. Confused at where he was Legolas dismounted and gathered up his own soaking wet things. Not knowing what else to do Legolas blindly followed Elrohir leaving Iest with the other horses. A few meters into the dark scrub Elrohir stopped at the base of a large tree. Legolas was surprised to see a rope ladder dangling down from high above him. “Go on up you go I’m getting wet!” Elladan again snapped nastily at Legolas but wary of the elder elf Legolas merely slung his things over his shoulder and began the climb upwards. He had lost sight of Glorfindel when they had stopped and Legolas hoped the Lord would be up this particular tree.

The climb was hard his wet cloak making for a heavy load on his back. Finally Legolas came to a hole in a wooden platform among the thick branches of the tree and blindly scrambled up through it having felt Elladan’s insistent poke. No sooner had he climbed through the hole in the platform did Legolas find himself in a cosy dry hut. While it was small most of the patrol was now gathered in it, a fire burning slowly in a bed of rocks providing heat and light for the group. Legolas felt foolish as he gawked at his surroundings, surprised to see such a homely place on the borders. None of the guard huts in Mirkwood had such a luxury as a torches and a fire pit.

“Move!” Legolas grunted and fell helplessly against the nearest wall as Elladan pushed him from behind, where he was obviously blocking the entrance. There was a snigger among the guards as Elladan pulled the last of his things through the hole and stood up to glare at the young prince who was now bundled up against the wall of the hut with his things in disarray. “That was the slowest climb I have ever seen I did not think we would get here before my next birthing day ceremony. Perhaps you should lose a little weight Legolas maybe then you would climb faster.” Elladan snapped cruelly at the prince and Legolas winced and lowered his gaze as the group gathered in the small hut burst out laughing.

“Elladan….” The laughter instantly fell silently as Glorfindel’s voice barked at the young elf lord having heard the comment just as he himself was climbing into the hut. “Mind your tongue penneth, he holds rank over you and it would be well for you all not to forget it.” Legolas watched silently from beneath the folds of his cloak as Elladan nodded understandingly at Glorfindel before glaring spitefully at Legolas still bundled up in the corner. “Now I’m sure you’ve all got things to be doing have you not? The area seems quiet but I would have a watch none the less.” There was a unanimous murmur of agreement and Legolas watched in aw as most of the gathered group collected their personal things and dispersed up further into the tree, through other hiding holes in the platform above, leaving Legolas and Glorfindel alone in the main hut. “We will sleep here tonight Legolas, make yourself comfortable.” Obediently Legolas did as he was told and shrugged off his wet cloak. While he had expected such contempt from the guards he did not realise how much the verbal taunts would hurt especially from Elladan. Slowly Legolas rose from the floor feeling a little bruised as he stood and began searching his pack for his bedding. While he tried to his his feelings it was obvious that Glorfindel had seen them and before he knew it Glorfindel had his arms wrapped tightly around Legolas’ waist holding his lover to his chest in comfort. “Do not worry about them my love their words mean nothing. And I will talk to Elladan he has no right to speak to you in such a way and he knows it.” Legolas nodded silently as he snuggled back into Glorfindel’s arms listening to the wind and rain falling in pails from the sky above. “I am going to take first watch just in case we have been followed. Have something to eat and settle yourself for the night I do not want you taking watch in this weather.” Legolas went to protest but quickly shut his mouth again as Glorfindel stepped away from him and collected a smaller pack from his belongings next to Legolas’ things.

“You will not be far away will you?” Legolas crawled over to the open hatch in the floor to watch as Glorfindel began the climb back down the tree. Glorfindel paused a few rungs down and smiled cheekily up at his young lover who was staring down at him innocently, his hair in wild and wet disarray about his face.

“No Meleth nín I shall be close by and Elladan will be in the higher huts should you need him.” Legolas screwed his nose up in disgust at the mere thought of asking Elladan for anything but to make Glorfindel happy he nodded none the less. “Now get some rest Legolas.” Again Legolas nodded but stayed where he was watching as Glorfindel disappeared down the rope ladder and into the darkness of the rain soaked night. Sighing heavily Legolas closed the hatch to the hut and sat back down on his bedding. With tired reluctance Legolas kicked off his leather boots and tunic before changing his shirt for something a little thicker to keep him warm. Feeling a cold breeze coming from some of the still open hatches around the room Legolas shifted his bedding closer to the rock fire and lay down. Although he would never admit it the four days of travelling had made him tired. He’d had little sleep the nights they’d spent on the cold hard ground of the forest floor and while the hut was not ideal it was better than leaves and tree roots. Heeding Glorfindel’s words Legolas reached for his pack and took out his wrapped loaf of lembas and broke off a corner to begin munching on. He was hungry but knew if he ate too much his morning nausea might return and that was the last thing he needed right now.

Washing his meagre meal down with a little fresh spring water Legolas settled down for the night. Like most nights of late sleep did not come easily to him and so for a long time he merely lay and stared into the majestic flickering dance of the fire until sleep finally befell him, his thoughts on Glorfindel and the new responsibilities he had.

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