The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 98

It was midday by the time the patrol had finally secured the glade and had organized a fire and some shelter. Now with the sun streaming down through the trees above them it was obvious that they were all in need of some rest and relaxation. Legolas had snoozed for most of the morning the pains in his stomach lessoning a little with the influx of food. The belt around his waist though didn’t relent in its constant pressure and Legolas found it becoming itchy and uncomfortable beneath his clothes after so long a time of wearing it. Legolas was snoozing again when he felt someone’s presence hovering above him. Opening his eyes Legolas sighed heavily as he saw Elrohir staring down at him with his hands on his hips.

“Legolas. Come with me. You must bathe away the dirt before I can properly inspect that wound of yours.” Legolas heart froze as Elrohir gestured towards the stream, where some of the men were taking the opportunity to wash and cleanse themselves and their clothes within the deeper part of the flowing stream. Legolas had avoided bathing at all since leaving Imladris, save for washing his face and hands when he got the chance. There was no possible way that Legolas could bathe without the entire patrol seeing his position.

“No!” Elrohir was already heading towards the stream having expected Legolas to follow him. When Legolas called his hasty refusal however Elrohir stopped immediately and spun around to face the young prince in slight shock.

“Legolas you must clean yourself or more of your wounds will fester with the dirt.” Elrohir had once again replaced his hands on his hips and looked for a moment like a younger version of Lord Elrond. Elrohir’s statement made sense and although Legolas longed to take a bath he knew it was impossible.

“No, I will not bathe. You can inspect my wound as it is or not at all.” Trying to assert his authority a little better Legolas stood carefully from the ground and propped himself determinedly against the tree to glare at Elrohir. Having heard the commotion Elladan made his way quickly up to where his brother and Legolas was staring at each other in silence.

“What is going on?” Elladan looked between the two elves before turning to his brother in order to wait for an answer to his question.

“Legolas refuses to bathe, despite it being necessary to clean his wounds.” Elrohir calmly addressed his brother and Legolas swallowed hard as Elladan turned to face him in confusion.

“Legolas why do you not wish to bathe?” Legolas remained silent as Elladan cocked his head to the side in questioning. When it was clear that Legolas was not going to answer Elladan tried coaxing the young prince to the water. “It is warm in the water and feels wonderful on your tired muscles. I will go in with you if you’d like and will brush the tangles from your hair?” Folding his arms across his chest Legolas shook his head determinedly somewhat surprised that Elladan had offered to brush his hair fom bum but none the less sticking to his decision. Elladan’s patients wore thin very quickly and Legolas could only bite his lip nervously as the elder twin stepped forward so that he was barely a hands length apart from the prince. “Legolas Greanleaf you will bathe this instant or I will force it upon you. Your stench is worse than the orcs we slay and I will not have your health compromised just because you are scared of a little water!” Elladan shouted angrily at the prince for the first time since they’d begun the journey and Legolas was stunned at hearing Elladan’s bold declaration of his stench. In truth Legolas knew he smelt worse than the rangers he’d seen in the alehouses of Mirkwood but there was little option for him considering his circumstance.

“No. It is improper for me to be seen naked with other elves. Glorfindel would not approve.” As a last effort to defend his decision not the bathe Legolas turned to the only lame excuse he could come up with. It was clear from the expression of the twin’s that the excuse was not bought for a single moment and Legolas winced as Elladan grabbed hold of his arm and began dragging him towards the stream where the other elves were splashing around happily in the water.

“Do not bring Lord Glorfindel into this discussion Greenleaf. I am sure he would not disapprove of you bathing naked with the patrol if the alternative was to have you sitting here festering in your own filth.” Legolas struggled in vain with Elladan’s vice like grip as he was brought to the edge of the stream, the entire patrol’s attention now focused on him as he struggled and squirmed in Elladan’s grip. “Now you will get in the water and bathe yourself or I will throw you in and have the men hold you down like a babe while Elrohir and I wash you.” At Elladan’s unappealing threat Legolas instantly stilled in the elder twins arms and glared defeated up at Elladan’s stern gaze. It was obvious that there was no way Legolas was getting out of taking a bath and so the only thing he could do was negotiate an alternative that would still keep his secret.

“Fine I will bathe but I will do it alone further down stream away from camp.” Legolas stared pleadingly into Elladan’s gaze his voice barely above a whisper so that only Elladan being so close to him could hear it. For a moment it looked as if Elladan wasn’t going to agree but slowly Legolas felt Elladan’s grip on his waist fall away before the elder twin stepped back and gestured down stream.

“Very well but do not be long or I will send a search party after you.” Legolas breathed out heavily in relief as he stepped away from Elladan and took the offered soap and towel from Elrohir’s outstretched hands. Turning on his heel Legolas began to walk quickly along the edge of the stream, following it as it left the glade and moved back into the forest. Bd hid him Legolas could hear the raucous laughter of the patrol mocking him as he left. It hurt inside that they would laugh at him after all he had done but then the situation had been very silly and he deserved such censure from those who did not know the truth behind his dislike of bathing.

When he was far enough away from camp not to be seen but close enough to still hear his comrades Legolas dropped the towel and soap on a rock beside the stream. Glancing around himself to make sure it was safe Legolas then began to undress. With each garment of clothing he pulled off from his body Legolas sighed in pain. All the small wounds he’d received during the many battles they’d fought were all still painfully red, infected from the dirt within his clothing. At last Legolas got to his leggings and the belt around his middle. Legolas was not surprised to see how the belt had chafed him or the way the laces were stretching precariously, only just holding his considerably swollen stomach in place. Taking one last cautious look around Legolas nimbly untied the laces of the belt and groaned in relief as the belt sprung from his body to the floor allowing his stomach to bulge out to it’s full form. In the past four weeks he’d grown considerably, little white stretch marks were now appearing on the sides of his growing stomach, which protruded over the top of his leggings. The familiar fluttering in his stomach began almost immediately and Legolas sighed as he began soothing his hand over his lower abdomen in an effort to calm the child growing inside of him. Knowing that he had little time Legolas quickly divested himself of his leggings before he stepped cautiously into the stream.

The water was cool but not uncomfortably cold and Legolas hissed as he sunk lower into the deep part of the stream to submerge himself under. The water stung his wounds like poison but the weightless feel of the water on his body made Legolas relax. Floating in the water it felt like he wasn’t pregnant at all, his body feeling just as light as it was when he was an elfling. Pushing himself onto a rock beneath the water Legolas sat down in the stream and began washing himself as Elladan had commanded. With the soap he washed each wound carefully making sure that the dirt and the infection was washed away. When he had thoroughly washed himself and his hair Legolas closed his eyes and lay back in the water, his hands soothingly rubbing in circles on his stomach.

With his eyes closed he did not see his approaching company until it was far too late. The crunch of a leaf under a careless foot nearby made Legolas spring into action. Only the problem was that Legolas forgot his aches and before he knew it he’d slipped on one of the rocks and was falling helplessly back into the water with a splash and a groan.

“Legolas! Are you alright I did not mean to startle you.” Legolas spluttered and coughed up a little water as he resurfaced in the stream to focus on Elladan now kneeling on the opposite bank. Panic stricken Legolas turned over so that he had his back to Elladan before glaring angrily over his shoulder at the twin.

”GO Away!” Legolas all but screamed angrily at Elladan who was a little taken back by Legolas reaction. Stunned Elladan shook his head and went to reach forward to help Legolas from the stream in apology but found Legolas slapping his hand hastily away as he scurried further across the stream away from the twin. “No I don’t need your help now go away!” Legolas felt tears pricking his eyes as he desperately sought a way to get out of the situation. Elladan however wasn’t budging and sat determinedly on the edge of the stream.

“Legolas your foot is bleeding, you must have cut it when you fell now please will you let me help you?” Elladan seemed very calm and rational as he addressed Legolas. The prince however shook his head vehemently despite the pain that sliced through his foot and the pool of blood that was beginning to form around his injury.

“No! What are you doing here? I told you I wanted to bathe alone, now go away!” Hysterical Legolas kept his back turned to Elladan hiding his belly from the view of the elder twin.

“You forgot your clothes when you stormed off earlier, I brought you some clean ones so that you wouldn’t have to redress in the soiled onesegolegolas swallowed nervously around the lump in his throat suddenly feeling guilty for shouting at Elladan. It seemed the elder twin was only trying to help and meant nothing sinister by coming to him. Still Legolas shook uncontrollably his secret so close to being let out. “Now please Legolas come out of the water so I may have a look at your foot.” Nervously Legolas glanced over his shoulder at Elladan on the other side of the stream. Knowing there was little else he could do Legolas gestured to Elladan cautiously still hiding his body from view beneath the water.

“Close your eyes and turn away from me while I get dressed.” Legolas growled low in his throat as Elladan burst into a fit of giggles and shook his head in amusement of Legolas’ request.

“Legolas, you have nothing I have not seen before now stop being silly and get out of the water before you lose anymore blood from your wounds.” Elladan half expected Legolas to do as he was told but was not prepared for the angry growl that came from the shy elf in the water.

“Turn around now or I will tell Glorfindel you touched me in his absence.” Shocked by Legolas blatant blackmail Elladan turned himself quickly around to face away from Legolas as the younger elf had instructed. Elladan was confused at why Legolas was so worried about being seen naked but considering the prince’s mood Elladan was not willing to push his luck.

As soon as Elladan had turned away Legolas lifted himself cautiously from the stream and snatched up the clean clothes that the twin had brought for him. Trying to put as little pressure on his injured foot as possible Legolas dried himself quickly before pulling on the green pair of leggings. He was half way through lacing them up when he caught Elladan moving out of the corner of his eye. Fearfully that the twin was turning back to him Legolas pulled his tunic on and held the towel in front of his stomach as a shield. However Elladan didn’t turn around instead the twin bent down to Legolas’ pile of dirty clothes and extracted the belt from amongst them. Legolas’ heart froze as he watched Elladan inspect the garment closely.

“Legolas what is this?” Legolas couldn’t move quick enough as he leapt across the stream and attempted to snatch the garment from Elladan’s hands. The elder twin was too quick for him though and instantly stepped away from Legolas’ lunge to pull the belt out of Legolas’ reach.

“Give it to me!” Legolas growled low in his throat as he went to snatch at the belt again, while still trying to conceal his stomach with the towel. Elladan shook his head defiantly and moved the belt out of reach for a second time, suspicion now colouring his features at seeing the prince’s strange behaviour.

”No. Tell me what it is first.” Legolas tried again to get the belt but Elladan was just to quick for him.

“It’s nothing just give it back to me.” Ean dan dodged another attempt from Legolas to grab the item, watching curiously as a fear seemed to engulf Legolas’ expression.

“If it’s nothing why do want it back?” Elladan raised a calculating eyebrow, as Legolas seemed to give up the chase for a moment to catch his breath. “What are you hiding Legolas? Are you deceiving us?” Legolas shook his head pointedly at Elladan’s accusation, the elder twin becoming more aggressive in his questioning as he began to realise Legolas was hiding something from him.

“I am not hiding anything Elladan, I just want you to leave me alone. Now please will you give it to me.” Pleading Legolas held out his hand towards Elladan hoping that the twin would just do as he said. Unfortunately Elladan was havione one of it and shook his head in mock amusement.

“Nay, I do not believe you. I should never have trusted you. You are trying to lead us all to ruin with your secrets, I knew it the moment I saw you.” The familiar cold regard came swirling back onto Elladan’s face and Legolas internally winced at having undone all the good, which had happened over the past four weeks. Elladan didn’t trust him anymore. Anger took over Legolas’ emotions at that point. It was obviously useless trying anything else to regain Elladan’s trust without telling him the truth and Legolas was not prepared to do that for anyone. It seemed he was just doomed to forever be Glorfindel’s little Mirkwood tart and never be respected by any in Imladris.

“GIVE IT TO ME!” Legolas ground his teeth together in anger as he lunged forward for the last time the towel about his waist forgotten as rage took over. Without thinking Legolas ran straight into Elladan knocking the elder elf to the ground with the force of his body. Elladan hit the grassy bank with a thud, which winded him into breathlessness. Taking the opportunity of Elladan’s vulnerable position Legolas sat down on Elladan’s chest and tore the belt from the twin’s weakened grasp. “I tried to be one of you. I would have given my life to save any of you in battle. I fought by your side defending lands that aren’t my own, defending people who hate and despise me. I bear wounds inflicted by an enemy that is not mine to fight, and I even follow orders from a leader who is beneath me in rank yet you still do not trust me do you? There is nothing I could possibly do to ever gain your respect; you are just like my father. I could go to the ends of the earth and fight a million battles in your name but you would still look at me like I was nothing. Even if I weren’t Glorfindel’s mate you would still hate me wouldn’t you? I give up. I have spent 500 years living without my families respect and trust, so I’m sure I can live 500 more without yours as well.” Legolas stopped speaking his body weak and his mind tired. He had given himself up in the quest to gain Imladris’ respect yet their hearts it seemed were impenetrable after so many years of hate between the realms. Tears stung Legolas eyes as he glanced down slowly at Elladan still pinned helplessly below him. The prince was expecting Elladan to be glaring up at him in anger but instead Elladan didn’t even meet his gaze.

Elladan was silent his face completely blank as he stared at Legolas stomach the bulge just a few centimetres from the twin’s chin. Legolas had not realized up untiw thw that hd fod forgotten the towel that had previously concealed his stomach. Elladan had clearly seen what Legolas had tried desperately to hide these last few weeks. There was a silence that hung between them not even the birds in the trees singing their sweet song to the midday sun. Legolas could do little but watch as Elladan slowly brought up his hand and pressed it gingerly to the prince’s swollen belly.

“You are pregnant.” Elladan’s whisper broke the silence between them and also startled Legolas into action. With haste Legolas rose from Elladan’s body and grabbed at the discarded towel, quickly wrapping it around himself to hide from the twin’s stare. The towel did little except hide Legolas’ tears, the damage already having been done. Elladan knew he was pregnant and there was no doubting that the twin would inform everyone of it as soon as possible. Shaking in fear and shivering in the cold Legolas felt his knees go weak and he dropped effortlessly to the grassy bank of the river desperately clutching the towel about his person in a weak protection from the world around him. “Legolas please don’t cry.” Legolas cowered away from Elladan who had managed to recover his shock to run quickly over to the prince’s side. Ignoring Legolas’ weak protest Elladan hastily grabbed his coat from around his shoulders and wrapped it softly around Legolas, in an attempt to keep the shivering elf warm. “Why haven’t you said anything? You d had have been injured out here with us, why did you risk the life of your child to join us?” Elladan’s tone had turned dramatically to soft subtle whisper, almost caring to Legolas’ ears. Legolas sniffled uselessly as he felt Elladan’s arm coming up around his waist to cradle him softly against his chest.

“I just want to fit in.” Legolas shuddered in the cool wind again as Elladan held him tightly around his chest. “I didn’t ask to be fertile, I don’t want to be the one that everybody speaks of, I didn’t even want a husband. I just wanted to be a warrior like my friends. All I wanted was to visit places, take messages and fight battles along side the elves I grew up with. I want my father to be proud of me and want yours and Glorfindel’s trust. I don’t want to be seen as weak and useless but that’s how I feel.” Legolas burst into tears again unable to hold them back as he poured out his heart to the elf he hated the most in Imladris. Elladan didn’t know quite what to do and so merely rubbed his hand in soothing circles on Legolas’ back, just as Glorfindel used to do for him when he was upset. “I knew if you all found out that I was pregnant you wouldn’t have let me come to the borders but I wanted to come, I wanted to prove to you all I was capable of looking after myself, that I’m not weak.” Legolas trailed off as Elladan brushed the damp locks of Legolas’ hair from the prince’s tear stained face, to stared down into the deep blue eyes of the Mirkwood elf. For a moment they just merely stared at one another but slowly Elladan lowered his head and placed a chaste kiss to Legolas’ lips. Involuntarily Legolas closed his eyes feeling the soft breath of the elder elf against his lips. Unlike Glorfindel’s kisses this kiss held nothing but friendship in its intent and Legolas smiled blearily through his tears as Elladan pulled away and cupped Legolas’ cheek in his hand.

“You are not weak Greanleaf. You are stronger and braver than any of us realized.” Legolas could not believe the pride that he heard in Elladan’s tone of voice as the twin softly addressed him. “I am sorry that I have been so horrible to you. Had I seen past my own jealousy I might have realized the struggles you were trying to cope with in your own life. Truly I am sorry.” Elladan nuzzled Legolas’ neck in apology as the young prince clung to him still shaken up.

“Your apology is accepted Elladan, I too was wrong in judging your character so soon.” Elladan smiled softly at the prince before sitting up a little concerned as Legolas groaned and leaned forward clutching at his stomach as the ache inside returned.

“Legolas? What is wrong! Are you in pain?” Legolas shook his head grimacing as he soothed his hand quickly of his stomach willing the child inside to relax.

“Nay I am just uncomfortable in this position please can we stand up.” Elladan nodded and carefully helped Legolas to his feet, insuring that his arms supported Legolas weight in case he should collapse. “Thank-you, you would think I would have become used to it after three months.” Legolas chuckled bitterly but shivered again as the wind whipped around his still exposed upper body.

“Three months? You have been hiding it for that long?” Elladan was a little stunned at how long Legolas had kept his secret for.

“Aye, at first I did not realize that I was bhen hen I began to swell last month I knew what was happening.” Elladan nodded understandingly as Legolas turned to face him having picked up the belt that had been discarded during their argument earlier. “No one else knows of this Elladan, you are the first to find out.” Legolas looked seriously into the elder elf’s eyes. Elladan seemed almost proud that he’d been the first to know and Legolas found it slightly amusing. “I wish to keep this a secret for at least anotherth oth or so, until the spring patrols come to an end. Promise me you will not tell another sole.” For a moment Elladan looked reluctant to accept Legolas promise but having seen the desperation in Legolas eyes Elladan eventually nodded his head in agreement.

“Aye you have my promise not to tell anyone but I believe I have already promised you that before.” Legolas blushed as he remembered back to when he’d first joined the patrol with Glorfindel, and the morning Elladan had caught him being ill. “Will you promise me that you will be careful though? Should you get injured in battle and lose the child I would never forgive myself for having let you continue with us knowing your risk.” Legolas sighed heavily but nodded his own acceptance of the terms of the promise.

“You have my promise Elladan, now please can you help me dress I am cold and I believe you said you would look at my foot.” Legolas hissed a little as he rested his foot back on the grass, where he had been trying to hold it up to relive some of the pressure on his cut. Elladan rolled his eyes in mock annoyance that Legolas had not said something sooner about his pain but pushed his anger aside to help the prince dress. Legolas was forced to explain what the garment around his middle was as Elladan helped him into it again. Legolas gritted his teeth together as again his stomach was pulled back into place with Elladan’s short tugs on the laces. It seemed so much easier getting into the item of clothing with someone elses help rather than alone as he had done the first day he’d had it.

When Legolas was dressed Elladan sat him down on a rock beside the stream and began bathing his foot to inspect the wound. As predicted it was only a small cut that bled profusely making it seem worse than it really was. Still Elladan was taking no chances, considering Legolas already infected shoulder and tightly bound the foot until they could make it back to camp and get Elrohir to bandage it properly. Legolas could hardly believe the change, which had occurred in Elladan’s manner and tone towards him since their argument and Legolas could only smile in happiness, having finally found Elladan’s true trust and respect. Still there was along road ahead of him and he would not be cratirating any victory until he was truly accepted as a warrior in Imladris. TBC TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(A/N) Sorry this updates been a while comingve gve got a fair few assignments for uni due and so my fingers can't cope with writing this and them at the same time. I do however have the day off today so I'm hurridly getting more written of this, so I should have another update by tonight me thinks.

Anyway hope you're enjoying this still. We've got some slash coming along soon, as well as some hardcore battles, a few screaming matches and one pretty spectacular birth, oh and guess what Haldir's on his way to Imrs ars and so is Thranduil. Won't this be fun.

Oh and finally just a quick note to all of you out there who speak another language other than english, feel free to translate this into whatever language you want, if it makes it easier for you to read. I speak gaelic if anyone's interested but I'm pretty shit at translations so don't ask me to try.

Apart from that enjoy this update and keep that feedback coming in, it makes it all worth while in end.end.

Thankies Riff Raff