Quite unexpected

Title: Quite unexpected
Author: Peniel
E-mail: familie@hetnet.nl (P.S. I am busy so it might take a while before I respond but I –will- respond. I love feedback)
Pairings: Thranduil/Celeborn ; Orophin/Legolas
Rating: NC-17 and -no- BSDM, Incest or character death
Summary: And injured Celeborn wakes up in the care of Thranduil of Mirkwood, the one elf that hates him the most. Or so he thinks. Once they were the best of friends and Celeborn is determined to find out what drove them apart. Will he be able to find the answers? And how will he react? Will Thranduil even let him back in and renew their friendship? Read and find out….
Genre: AU; Romance; Drama; Angst
Warning: None really.
Author’s notes:

I normally use a lot of elvish in my tales, but not in this one. I am more used to Quenya than Sindarin and in this fic Sindarin is more at its place than Quenya. And for some weird unexplainable reason it just didn’t go.

One more thing before we start:
“ ” Indicates speech
/ Indicates thought
~~~~~~~~ Indicates a change in time or place
- - Emphasises the word(s)
` ` Indicates far speaking, speaking within the mind.
And sometimes ‘’ come up and they indicate mind talk. Like when you have a conversation with yourself inside your head.

Let’s go:

Chapter one The injury

The world is grey and dark, though the hour is far from night. Many dark clouds block the warming rays of the sun and a lone elf desperately searches for somewhere to hide, a shelter to block out this weather, the cold, dark, threatening and tiring weather.

He has been travelling for days now and had lost his old stamina. But today’s weather made his conditions worse and he cursed, when lightening was added to the hard, gripping wind and the cold, slashing rain.

He pulled his hood closer, an in vain effort to keep himself warm. The wind gripped at it ruthlessly and eventually it tore, leaving the elf vulnerable to wind and rain.

He strained his eyes and ears but it was almost impossible to see anything beyond a few feet and the noises nature made overwhelmed any other. He recognized the danger he was in, but did not know how to solve his predicament.

Suddenly his horse whinnied. It has smelled trees.

Straining his eyo tho their maximum capability the elf smiled. He could make out the dark silhouettes belonging to a forest outline. He urged his horse on; maybe they could find some shed or other shelter in there? And at least most of the rain would be blocked by the leafs. All he had to do was make sure they didn’t go anywhere near the largest trees.

Entering the forest the newfound hope quickly fled. It was impossible to see anything: the forest was dark. /No use adding any prefixes, suffixes or adverbs/ the elf thought. /This forest is just DARK./ And it really scared him. But he had no choice. His only chance of survival was amidst those trees. And he was sure that when the storm died light would enter. For now he just had to rely on his other senses: his smell, hearing and touch.

In a very slow walk they went forward in a straight line, moving only to avoid crashing into a tree. He smiled when they came to a river. /If we follow it we might find some shelter. A fishing cabin or some settlement./

Turning his horse he gasped when he saw shadows in the trees. His hand instantly reached for his sword but the second he had hold of it an arrow pierced his wrist and he screamed in pain. Sniffing in the air he growled. /Yrch!/

He turned his horse towards the river and told it to go as fast as possible. His horse was faster than any orc and as soon as they were out of reach they were safe. He hissed when more arrows entered his skin.

He leaned forward and clutched to his horse, trusting her to get him safe. He knew he had an arrow in his sheen and one in his shoulder blade and the arrow he had received in his wrist now told him they were poisoned. /Great. Avoid one peril, walk into another./ He was glad he still had his sword, though he doubted what good that could do him.

Suddenly his horse panicked and reared. He was unable to stay on and fell to the floor. Hearing the orcs not far behind him he immediately stood and ran. /If only I knew where I was going and where I am./ But there was nothing or no one to tell him that, nor could anything give him any aid.

He hissed when the poison spread in his sheen and fell forward. /Well, I am taking some of them with me!/ He crawled forward and planted himself against the trunk of a tree. If only they would talk to him…

His eyes widened when he heard the sound of hooves. Had his mount returned? Or was help on the way? But the sounds from behind him told him there wasn’t much hope.

He gasped when one orc suddenly came in his vision on his left and another on his right. Without hesitation he swung his sword and killed them. Seeing their comrades fall alerted the others of his position and arrows flew his way. Failing to hit him.

He was so focused on sounds coming from behind of beside him he failed to hear the orc above him until the creature sprung down and landed before him. The orc drove his dagger in the elf’s arm, who yelped in pain and released his sword.

The orc gave a triumphant growl to his companions and advanced to kill the elf. Knowing his end was near he straitened, glaring at the orc; he would not die without his dignity. The orc raised his sword and when he lowered it the elf saw his chance. He ducked, grabbed his sword and killed it.

He turned, sword raised and slowly backed away. He was focused on his smell and hearing, enabling him to ditch the flying arrows and kill the orcs in time. But he did not hear the root sticking out behind him and he tripped. His eyes widened when he saw the closest orc aim his arrow at his heart. Trying to move he realised his foot was stuck.

But just when the orc was about to release his arrow it was struck with one itself. More flew, all straight and taking out orcs.

Four legs appeared before him and dazed the wounded Celeborn realised a horse stood before him, protecting him. /And he has a rider, with bow and arrow./ Seeing a orc head roll up to him he smiled. /And a sword. Maybe I now have a surviving chance. This should teach me to turn down hospitality./
He had been so eager to go to Gondor he had rejected Rohan’s generous offer to stay a little longer and then travel together.

Exhaustion and injuries drained him but he forced himself to stay alert until he was safe. He heard someone speak to the horse in Sindarin and the horse moved and its rider came closer. Celeborn blinked for he did not trust his eyes. Though it was dark as dark can be he clearly saw the elf’s features and he smiled, instinctively knowing he could trust him.

His saviour knelt down, removed the arrows and applied some salve to them. “It will take care of the infection. What are you doing here all alone? These parts of Mirkwood are dangerous.”
/Mirkwood? Thranduil! Great! Ditch the storm, get saved froms ans and get thrown in Thranduil’s prison./ Celeborn knew he wasn’t wanted in this realm.

He hissed when his saviour picked him up.u hau hardly weigh a thing. You should eat more. We’ll get some meat on you while you heal.”

Celeborn smiled. /He doesn’t know me. Maybe he won’t bring me to Thranduil and I’ll be all right./

He found himself lifted on the horse and the other effortlessly mounted behind him. “Don’t worry about your horse. We’ll find it. Come, rest your head against me and start your healing sleep.” The voiulleulled him to sleep and Celeborn surrendered to the calming emptiness of sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Legolas! Don’t do that! Just wait until I tell your father.”
Legolas grinned and dashed off. “He’s your father too Joreb. And if you think I am giving this back, you’re insane.”
“Am not. Give it here.” The elder elf made a launch for Legolas’ price but the other easily evaded him.

The elves surrounding them made sure to stay out of their way. They were used to these kind of quarrels. Daily the two princes would fight of something trivial.

“Legolas!”
“Joreb!”
Again Legolas easily avoided his brother’s grasp and ran down the corridor that led outside.

Suddenly he stopped dead, making Joreb ran into him.
“Watch it.” He frowned when Legolas didn’t reply and looked up, gasping when he saw a wounded elf sitting before his father.

Healers, soldiers and counsellors were already crawling around Thranduil’s horse. “For Valar’s sake, give the poor elf some room to breathe. Go prepare a room for our guest and heal him.”

As soon as the healers had rushed away with their patient and the counsellors to prepare the rooms Thranduil addressed his soldiers. “I found him fighting orcs near the small river. They’re getting cheekier by the day. They have to be stopped.”
The soldiers nodded and their leader bowed to Thranduil. “He’s fortunate you were there, sire.”

Thranduil nodded and marched inside, smiling when he saw his two sons. He opened his arms and smiled when they ran to him. “Joreb, Legolas. I’m glad to see you again.”
Legolas beamed. “What happened ata? Who is that elf?”
Thranduil sighed. “An unfortunate accident, I’m afraid. Why don’t you go help the guards control this menace again?” Legolas nodded and beamed. “And where is your sister?” J
oreb grinned. “Grooming. She’s getting worse by the day. Shall I tell her to tend to the stranger?”
Thranduil laughed. “No, I want him to survive, ion-nin. Not to be pampered to death. Would you sit with him and keep me posted?” Joreb nodded and went to aid the healers.

Thranduil went to his study and sat down behind his desk. He buried his hands in his hear and growled. Why did this happen? Why today? Why him? Why? Why? Why?
low lowered his face on his table and released his tears. Millennia old pain resurfaced and he fought for control. /Why? Why? Why?/

He heard the door enter but didn’t bother to look up or compose himself.
A healer had come to bring report on their new patient. He had instantly recognized him but had remained silent. He had even lied to Joreb when he had asked the elf’s name, saying he knew not. Since Thranduil’s wife had died he was the only one to know his king’s pain. Who knew the real reason behind his hatred towards Celeborn and Galadriel and indirectly towards Elrond. He was the only one who knew why Thranduil still cried.

He sighed and stood before him. He knew his support would be turnown own but he ached to help him. “He’s sustained only three arrow injuries, some bruises and cuts and some malnutrition. The bruises and cuts have been tended too and the poison will quickly leave his body. The malnourishment will take longer to mend.” Thranduil gave no sign he had heard but he released a relieved sigh, which made the healer smile ruefully.

“What will you do?” Receiving no answer the healer spoke again. He knew he was treading on thin ice but he had no choice. “About him? You can’t stay away and you once told him you’d throw him in the dungeons if he ever came here.”
Thranduil flared up. “Do you think I don’t know that?” His voice betrayed his tears and his pain. “I don’t know what to do. I cannot stay for for I am the ruler and I cannot not stay away.”
The healer smiled. “We can always pretend not to recognize him. There are none who did. Besides you, me and Legolas there are none who know what he looks like and I strongly doubt our Legolas has recognized him. It even took me a while.”
Thranduil smiled. “We’ll see. Thanks for your advice.”

The healer nodded. He threw him a doubting glance. He could only guess what Thranduil must have gone through, seeing Celeborn in such peril. But he knew he could not ask. “I will take my leave then. Joreb is sitting with him, but I doubt he will awaken this day. Somewhere during tomorrow.”

Thranduil smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The healer sighed. None of Thranduil’s smiles ever reached his eyes. Not since a long, long time.

End chapter 01
TBC

Translations:
Yrch is Sindarin for orcs
Ion nin means my son.