Legolas sat in the royal apartments watching his two young children play. The twins were on the floor and playing happily. Laireloth was happily walking a doll across the floor. Estalado was watching her with a sweet serious look upon his face, he turned and picked another doll up and joined in with his sisters play. Next to the children over seeing their play were Elly and Pinky. Legolas loved to see them play with the toys that he had enjoyed so much as an Elfling.
The blond Prince went over and gently picked up both of the children. Both murmured happily before saying. "Nana."
"Come on, my sweeties we have to get you ready for your birthday party." Both children clung on with their arms around the Prince's neck as he walked. "Darlings, let go of Nana's neck please?" When the children released the tight grip they had had on him he gave them both a "thank you" and kissed the tops of their heads.
He was just attempting to open the door while carrying both of the twins, and struggling, on each of his hips when a pale, wrinkled hand pushed it open for him. Turning he found a smiling Mithrandir standing behind him.
Legolas smiled and it only grew larger as he watched his children receive hugs and kisses from their Uncle Gandalf. The Maia offered his help in changing the twins into their party outfits. Laireloth kept trying to squirm away from her Nana. Legolas gave a small sigh and tapped a finger lightly on her nose.
"Laireloth, there are a lot of people down stairs that are waiting for you and your brother, please stop moving about."
As if she had understood every word that he had said, Laireloth stopped moving and to Mithrandir's amusement she grabbed one of her Naneth's braids and put it in her mouth. Legolas smiled and finished dressing his daughter. Estalado was already playing with the wizard's beard, already changed and ready.
Legolas picked up his daughter and walked over to the window gently stroking her hair. "Has he returned yet, Mithrandir? Has Elessar returned from the borders?"
"Never did I expect to see the day when you called him by that name." The wizard smiled gently. "And no, Estel has yet to return."
Legolas could not stop the deep sigh that left him. "Oh well, it is simply another promise that he has broken. Now it is time to celebrate. My babies are two whole years old." Legolas took Estalado from the wizard and left the chamber leaving the Maia to follow, slowly shaking his head.
As they walked the Maia grumbled under his breath to himself. "That man does not know what he has. He will miss him and be sorry when he goes."
Something's changed
In your eyes
A shade of grey
I don't recognise
Is there someone on your mind?
Or is it me?
There's a chill in this room
Don't you know you
Could be loosing soon?
It's cold in here
Can you feel it too?
Or is it me?
Baby is it me?
Am I loosing you?
Is it my imagination
Tearing us in two?
Baby kiss and tell
Are you loving
Someone else?
Or is it me?
Legolas chatted happily to his children making up silly conversations on the way to the great hall where the celebrations were already under way. The twins were celebrating their second birthday completely oblivious to the tension that had been surrounding and growing, between the King and Prince Consort for weeks.
Legolas blinked rapidly, trying to force the tears back. Aragorn had promised that he would be home in time for the twin's birthday party. Legolas hated just how many promises Aragorn had broken lately. After the Prince has suffered with anorexia the King had promised he would make sure that Legolas and the twins would be his top priority.
Giving one final sigh and a small sniff Legolas plastered a bright smile on his face and turned around. Changing his persona to one of a regal Prince he swept into the hall, a child in each arm.
The Herald announced them. "Announcing the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen and Prince Consort of Gondor Legolas Telcontar Thranduillion. With Prince Estalado and Princess Laireloth." Legolas smiled to him self, no matter how many times he heard his full title it always sounded ridiculous to him.
The two children recognised their names and called out, making Legolas laugh. No sooner had he stopped laughing than he found his arms empty as numerous Aunt's and Uncle's came forward to fuss over the children.
Unfortunately no one apart from Elardion had been able to come from Legolas' family. He had been staying with Arwen in Rivendell at the time.
The couple were very happily married and often moved around Middle Earth. Elrond and his twin sons had arrived just the day before along with Arwen and Legolas' brother.
Legolas started as he felt Elladan's arms make their way around his waist in a brotherly fashion as he hugged the younger Elf. The Hobbits had all made the journey along with Gimli and Mithrandir, so that they could celebrate their God children's birthday.
Legolas smiled at the sight of Frodo and Pippin rocking the children. He lent back into Elladan's embrace and smiled up at the other Elf. "Are you well, Legolas? You seem to be so sad." The twin's voice was full of warm concern.
"I miss Aragorn. He has been gone a while and I wanted him to be here for the twins special day." Legolas replied before looking around as he felt a wine goblet being pushed into his hands by Elrohir. "Oh, no thank you I am not allowed to drink wine." His hand ghosted over his abdomen as he spoke.
The twins were curious at this but guessed that the blond had a good reason and the wine was soon exchanged with fruit juice. "Hannon lle, are you going to be returning to Rivendell straight away?" Legolas enquired desperately hoping that the reply was in the negative.
"Nay, we thought we might remain here a while if that is alright with you and Aragorn?" Elrohir asked.
Legolas smiled and nodded relaxing back and even started to enjoy himself.
That was until the door opened and the Herald called. "Announcing King Elessar Telcontar."
Legolas sat up immediately and a huge smile appeared on his fair face. But as Aragorn walked towards him he greeted everyone else but ignored Legolas and went straight to his children.
Night after night
Your fears I can't lay
There are something's
You just have to face
Its more than
Any heart can take
Before it starts
To break
Baby is it me?
Am I loosing you?
Is it my imagination
Tearing us in two?
Baby kiss and tell
Are you loving
Someone else?
Or is it me?
The blond Prince stood calmly and left the room, his head down as tears streamed desperately down his cheeks.
No one noticed him leave except one very wise old wizard who for once did not know what to do. The one thing he did want to do was hit a certain King of Men around the head for causing so much grief to the Prince of Elves.
Mithrandir left quickly after the fleeing Prince. If he did not fix this rift dreadful things could happen to the fate of Middle Earth.
He found the Prince sitting underneath a watercolour painting of Aragorn and Legolas on their wedding day. The couple looked perfect together. Each had a hand on the others cheek and was gazing into the eyes of their soul mate.
"Does love always go away?" Legolas asked the wizard, alerting him to the fact that Legolas knew what was going on around him.
"It is not gone, Legolas he loves you deeply. He just does not realise right now."
"He always used to say 'I love you' several times a day with no reason or prompting. Now he will not say it even if I prompt him." Legolas felt as if his soul was breaking into tiny pieces and more tears leaked unchecked from his blue eyes. "Why does he hate me?"
Before Mithrandir could answer he was interrupted by the door swinging open and Aragorn walked in.
"There you are, Legolas you should be entertaining the guests."
Mithrandir saw the blond Elf's eyes go an icy deep blue and realised at once that the King had just gone one step too far.
Legolas stepped towards the King, wiping his eyes with one of his sleeves. "Why pray tell is it my job to entertain the guests? Why do I have to do everything? Not only do I do my own work but yours also when you are away in the wilds? I have not seen you in weeks and the first thing you do when you get here is complain about how I do them."
Mithrandir moved close behind the Prince, sensing that he was needed to support the Prince.
"I am the ruler of this land, Legolas even I need a break once in a while. If I have to go the boarders and fight to get that break then that is what I will do. I would rather be at home with my children playing as you do, but I have no choice." Aragorn's voice was as cold as his demeanour.
Legolas' voice was as cold yet calm, icy calm and far too soft, almost deadly and it caused Mithrandir to shiver with foreboding. "Oh, yes I have fun all the time. When the children are crying for their Adar or when they have tantrums and will not eat their meals."
"They obviously get that from their mother." Aragorn threw back.
A resounding slap echoed around the chamber and Aragorn held his cheek where his husband had just hit him.
"Do not dare talk like that. I have had my problems but I would never willingly pass them onto my children." Legolas was beyond rage now.
Aragorn looked at the enraged Prince and did something that he had never done before, he hit Legolas hard.
Legolas fell back awkwardly with the force of the blow and only the strong arms of Gandalf kept him from hitting the floor.
Legolas wrapped an arm around his stomach and then he stood up carefully and glared into the eyes of his husband. "That is it. I am leaving. Laireloth, Estalado and I will be gone by morning." With that Legolas whirled and left the room.
Just tell me now
Is this the end?
Is there a bridge
That we can build?
Tell me we can mend
'Cause lately
I have seen
Someone in your dreams
Baby is it me?
Or am I loosing you?
Is it my imagination
Tearing us in two?
Baby kiss and tell
Are you in love
With someone else?
Or is it me?
To be continued
Huge thanks to Shell for betaing and putting the song in place.
I do not know if any of you remember A story I wrote along time ago called A Second Chance at Happiness but it has been re written and put up in my joint account .
Love
Meisalliam