Quite unexpected

Chapter nine Making plans

Arwen smiled when she saw nduinduil enter. The king shook his head at the way Celeborn held the baby. He was amazed Arwen wasn’t in the least worried about her son, who teetered precariously on the edge of the bed. She saw his look and smiled. “He nearly fell trice but ata’da’s reflexes are still good.”

She smiled and stood. “Ata’da.” His eyes settled on her and they were weary. She smiled and extended her arms. “Thranduil is back and I have to take Eldarion to his father, lest he forgets his son.”

Celeborn lips twitched in the ghost of a smile and he let go of the baby when Arwen picked him up. His eyes settled on Thranduil and they betrayed his joy and surprise.
Thranduil frowned. “I said I would come back. Did you doubt my words?”

Celeborn nodded and looked at him. He felt so empty and so tired. While he was alone he had found out he could not be happy knowing Thranduil had once loved him and he had now lost it. He could no longer be happy with just friendship. But could he die without telling Thranduil the truth?

Thranduil sat down and pulled him close. “I’m sorry it took so long. You could have warned me for that Peredhel’s fondness of talking.” Elrond, who stood in the door opening suppressed a chuckle.

Thranduil laid down and pulled Celeborn even closer. “Ok, I want to talk to you. But you narrow our subjects, I’m afraid. No ‘Lóriën, no Mirkwood, no past, no present, no future, so what do we talk about? Doriath? Do you remember the markets? Do you think she ever found her purse back?”
Celeborn sighed and shook his head. Thranduil grinned. “No, I suppose she didn’t. We hid it rather well. I still can’t believe you had the guts to do that.”

Haldir’s eyes widened as he saw Celeborn warm up a little. It seemed Thranduil’s touch brought him strength and he looked at Elrond. The Peredhel nodded. He now was sure. He leaned in and whispered. “Who else could have caught his eye in Doriath when he spend all his time with his friend?” Haldir smiled and a plan formed in his mind.

Elrond nodded and stepped inside. Normally he would let things run normally, for it was obvious where those two were headed, but he doubted there was enough time for that, so he intervened. “Celeborn, my father.” He leaned down and embraced him. “There’s much we need to talk about, but not before you have the strength to do so. But then again…”
He sat down and smiled. “Can I ask you some questions?”

Celeborn shrugged and nodded, eyes narrowing when he saw Elrond’s spark. He knew the Peredhel was up to something.
Elrond smiled his most innocent smile, not for Celeborn but for Thranduil. “You’re in love and it isn’t Galadriel?” Celeborn nodded, his suspicion rising. Elrond’s smile widened. “But then I wonder who it can be. According to Haldir there are none from ‘Lóriën that have caught your eye, so it must have been in Doriath. But that presents a problem for the only one you’ve spend time with is Thranduil. Hmmm strange.”
He stood and rubbed his nose. “O well, guess I’d be bored otherwise. Without a riddle to solve. See you later.” He left and winked at Haldir who had a hard time holding in his laughter.

Thranduil’s eyes were wide ever since he had felt Celeborn stiffen. He knew the elf in his arms enough to know Elrond’s assumption had been correct. “Celeborn? Who is it?” He shook his head to clear it. There wasn’t an elf who fitted the description.
Celeborn sighed and he closed his eyes as he turned around. “You.” The word was whispered, nothing more than the caress of the wind, but Thranduil heard it none the less and gasped. “Me?” /Me? He loved me?/ “But that’s impossible…” /Isn’t it?/
Celeborn sighed. “I didn’t realise until after you’d banned me. I’m sorry.”

Thranduil’s hands fell to his side and his thoughts reeled. /He loves me… didn’t find out until… me…/ Suddenly all the pieces fitted and he smiled.

Celeborn yelped when Thranduil’s arms tightened around him, pulling him close, but he didn’t open his eyes. He didn’t wish to see the hatred in them. /If only I had known back then./ Celeborn’s eyes did open in shock and disbelief when Thranduil suddenly kissed him, passionately.

Confusion stared at him but Thranduil ignored it. He kissed Celeborn, something he had always dreamed about and he smiled, letting his tears fall. “Aiya, I’ve made so many mistakes. I shall never let you go again.”
Celeborn’s confusion rose and he shook his head. “You mourn Ithilriel, you don’t shine.”
Thranduil snuffed. “And what about you? You’re a ghost. And how could I shine without your love? My heart beats for you. Even in Doriath.”
Celeborn smiled. “Mine too, but…”
Thranduil placed a finger on his lips. “Don’t talk about that. Yet. Gather your strength first.”
Celeborn smiled and nodded. “I love you, Thranduil, and were it possible I’d bind to you.”

Thranduil’s smile widened at the words and as on cue his inner light returned to full glory. Seeing it made Celeborn believe him and he flung himself at Thranduil, his old friend and fresh love. He cried all his tears and pulled him as close as possible. “I’ve been so stupid. I shouldn’t have left Mirkwood.”
Thranduil placed a kiss on his head. “Perhaps the Valar wanted you to leave. Perhaps they’ve had enough of this.”
Celeborn smiled and his eyes closed in sleep. Thranduil sighed. “We have much to do but things will change for you.”

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Haldir groaned in annoyance. Rumil was impossible. “Will you sit down?”
Rumil glared at him. “Celeborn might have died because I left. I am glad lady Arwen came when she did and I can’t find Orophin anywhere.”
Arwen laughed. “I am in the room, Rumil. And Faramir saw Orophin walk in the gardens with Legolas. He’ll look after your brother.”

Her eyes settled on her father. “What do we do now, ata? We can’t let things continue as they have. I still cannot believe I’ve never noticed. I really thought…” She looked at Aragorn in forgiveness. She remembered their arguments they’d always had about this and she hated herself for not believing him.

He sat down beside her and kissed her. “Don’t blame yourself, Arwen. You saw what she wanted you to see. Like all others.” She growled and Elrond looked stunned. He’d never before d hid his daughter growl.

She stood up and raised her arms in annoyance. “No one saw. None of us so called sensitive elves. No, two humans saw what we did not.”
Aragorn smirked. “And this vexes you, my dear?”
She turned to him, eyes aflame. “YES. I should have noticed. He’s my grandfather, Aragorn. I’ve spend half my childhood there and yet I’ve never even noticed there was something wrong.”

Elrond turned her around and pulled her to himself. “Relax, Arwen, blame not yourself. We cannot change the past but we can shape the future.”
Arwen leaned against him. “But how, adar. How can we help?”
“By supporting him when he divorces his wife.”
Arwen nodded and Haldir shook his head. “She’ll fight it and as it is she’ll walk away with rulership.”

Aragorn’s smirk reached Elrond and he cocked his head. Aragorn shrugged. “I think the inhabitants of ‘Lóriën will side with Celeborn when he returns alive. I’ve send a message to them, telling them he is fading. I think her own actions will be her undoing. That’s what happened to you as well, Haldir.”
Haldir nodded and smiled. “If we can persuade him.”
Elrond clicked his tongue. “He’s not going back alone. We, and I mean all of us, are coming with him. Me, Thranduil, you and your brothers, Aragorn and Boromir..”
But Aragorn shook his head. “No, I am sending Boromir to Mirkwood. Joreb will need his aid. And if you mentally order Glorfindel to send warriors to Mirkwood’s aid as well they will arrive at the same time.”
Elrond nodded. “I’d forgotten about that. Thanks Aragorn. I’ll make it so.” His eyes daed. ed. “Galadriel has a lot to answer for.”

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Legolas smiled when Orophin started asking questions about Mirkwood. He felt more than glad he had been able to make the other forget his troubles and he happily drew him into a conversation, telling himself if Orophin talked about different things his mind wouldn’t stray, when in reality he wanted to hear that melodious voice for as long as possible.

They now sat in a tree overlooking Minas Tirith and they enjoyed each other’s company more than they let on. “What kind of trees do you have in Mirkwood? Is it really as dark as the stories say?”
Legolas smiled and shook his head. “Not anymore. Aye, it can be dark in wintertime or when the sun is clouded, but it is not as dark as you think it is. Expect the part where evil still roams.”
Orophin’s eyes widened when he heard that. “Evil roams your lands still? But how’s that possible?”
Legolas shrugged. “Don’t know. But they’re there. Orcs, spiders, goblins and even some Uruks. If we had help we would easily defeat them but…”
Orophin nodded. “Your father is too stubborn.”

Legolas shook his head, standing up. “He is not. You lot just don’t care about our realm. You never did.”
Orophin’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “We -do- care about what happens to everyone. Why else would we have come to Halm’s Deep. For fun?”
Legolas shook his head and sat back down. “I’m sorry, Orophin, I should not have said that. My father is not too proud to call for aid but when he did so millennia ago no help came.”
Orophin’s eyes widened. “But we received no message.”
Legolas nodded. “I know. Now. Galadriel made sure none knew Mirkwood was in need of aid. She even told Elrond we had dealt with it on our own. Forgive me my words, spoken in automatism.”

Orophin growled and waved the apology away. “Explains the tension between Celeborn and your father.”
Legolas nodded. “They were friends once. In Doriath.”
Orophin smiled. “I’d rather not talk about that. It makes me fear losing him.”
Legolas nodded and cursed his words. “Forgive me, Orophin, I meant not for my company to bring you pain.” Orophin’s smile warmed Legolas and he lowered his head to hide his blush. /I feel like an elfling with his first crush./
Orophin’s melodious voice entered his hearing. “Don’t apologize for something you have no control over. Neither you nor I could have foreseen the direction our conversation would take. Tell me more about your home.”

Legolas laughed. “I’ve already told you so much you could walk around the trees blindfolded and not get lost. I get weary from talking about home. It makes me miss Joreb more.” This time it was Orophin who apologized but Legolas waved it away. “My own fault for loving him so much.”
Orophin laughed. “I guess you’re right. I would feel the same way were one of my brothers still in ‘Lóriën. Have you ever been to Imladris?”

Legolas nodded and started telling Orophin everything about Imladris, after which he moved on to other parts of the world he had seen. Gondor, Fangorn, the glittering caves. Orophin’s eyes shone as he listened to Legolas. He told so vividly Orophin could actually envision every singly detail before his eyes.

When Legolas talked about Moria he stopped when he felt a comforting hand on his leg. Turning to Orophin he smiled goofily when he felt his own tears glide down his face. He shrugged. “It was the first real battle we had and until then it never fully registered.” He blushed when Orophin wiped his tears away.
Seeing it Orophin quickly withdrew his hand.
Legolas smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to people touching me like that.”

Orophin frowned but didn’t reply. Instead he leaned back and stared at the clouds. He smiled, knowing how he could cheer Legolas up. “When we were little and sad Celeborn took us to a meadow and we’d lay down, face toward the sky, and we’d watch the clouds move over us, change shapes. And slowly our sadness faded away.”
Legolas grinned. “My father used to do that too. He said the clouds would take our tears away and our sadness over other lands to change it into glee.”
Orophin’s head turned. “That’s exactly what Celeborn always said.”
Legolas laughed. “I’ll bet they used to gaze up together. How else can they both have thought us?”
Orophin nodded and pulled Legolas backwards. “It’s too valuable a lesson to waste, fair Prince.” Legolas was glad Orophin had his eyes cast at the clouds or he would have seen his red cheeks.

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Haldir grinned at the two elves in the tree. “Oy! You two! If I were an orc you’d be death now!”
Legolas grinned. “No, Haldir. If you were an orc you’d be death now. Is everything all right?”
Haldir nodded. “I just thought you might be hungry and Rumil is going beside himself with worry. What happened Phin?”
Orophin smiled and he quickly climbed down. “It all just got too much. Seeing him like that and hearing Rumil talk about death….”
Legolas placed a calming hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Celeborn is though, a real fighter. And so are we.”
Orophin smiled. “Aye, we will not give up on him.”

Haldir grinned and pulled his brother close. “Lord Elrond has figured everything out. It has been Thranduil.”
Legolas yelped. “Of course. That’s what I’ve been missing. Aiya, I am so dense.”
Haldir laughed. “Can I have that in writing?”
Legolas wisely ignored him and hugged Orophin. “Well, if they don’t get their act together, we shall have to meddle.”

Orophin blushed when he felt Legolas embrace him. Haldir saw and frowned. /But he’s still in love with Celeborn….Unless….it wasn’t real love he felt. Legolas, my friend, you have stolen his heart./ He would keep an eye on those two and meddle if necessary.

“Oh, and Aragorn has written a message to Galadriel which we’ll be able to use against her later.” Orophin widened his eyes in puzzlement but Legolas smiled. “Actually, he asked me to write it. We’ve send it by bird, not willing to let her know we were here.”
Haldir smirked. “Elrond and Aragorn are positive she will give herself away the coming days and when Celeborn returns revived the people will side with him.”
Legolas smiled. “Of course they will. He is a kind and generous leader and they know it.”

Haldir smiled and clasped Legolas’ shoulder. “Legolas, could I ask you a favour?”
Legolas nodded. “Of course.”
Haldir smiled and took him aside a little. “Watch after Phin for me. I have enough to look after: Rumil, Celeborn, and I somehow found myself promising to watch Eldarion tonight.”
Legolas grinned and nodded. “It’ll be my pleasure to look after Orophin. He’s pleasant company. Don’t worry: I’ll keep his mind of things. Give adar my blessings, please.”
Haldir bowed and turned to deliver the message.

Legolas came to stand besides Orophin. “So, what do you want to do?”
Orophin shrugged and Legolas smiled. “How about walk around? Now that we know my father can save him I strongly doubt anything will happen. all we need now is time.” Orophin nodded, happily handing himself to Legolas.

End chapter 09
TBC