Disclaimer: Lord of The Rings and its characters are the property of Tolkien.
Shadow Of Evil
by Starfox
The fire in the hearth burned merrily, casting a soft glow onto the figure sitting before it. Legolas had just returned from a two months' patrol to the south, where the elves had cleaned the forest from spiders, orcs and wargs. Now he sat hunched in front of the fire, feeling a chill that the warmth didn't help anything against. He didn't understand it. Elves didn't feel the cold and at least the fire should help.
Finally admitting that something was wrong, he stood, pulled a robe on over his sleeping clothes and left his chambers. He left the family quarters, nodding at the guards as he passed, and headed for Celairdir's quarters. The healer had his rooms next to the family quarters, so actually it were just a few steps. Legolas knocked lightly on his door. It was late in the evening and normally he wouldn't disturb him at that time.
Obviously the healer was still up because it didn't take long for him to open the door.
"Legolas," he greeted, surprise in his voice.
"I'm sorry to disturb you at this time but something is wrong," Legolas said quietly to prevent the guards from hearing.
Celairdir stepped to the side. "Come in," he said.
Legolas stepped inside and Celairdir closed the door. "What do you mean with something is wrong?" the healer asked, motioning to a chair in a silent request that Legolas sat down.
"I feel chilled to the bone, and nothing helps."
Celairdir stepped closer, so he stood directly in front of the younger elf. "Let's see," he murmured, laying one hand on Legolas' chest, the other on his forehead. His face took on a look of deep concentration. Legolas felt a slight tingling and after a time the healer withdrew.
"You have a shadow on your fëa. You have been in the south for too long and it has affected you."
At Legolas' worried look he sat down opposite him. "How long have you been in the south?"
"Two months," Legolas replied.
"And before that?"
"I'm normally leading the patrols in the south so I have been there the last years, when I'm not at the stronghold."
Celairdir nodded. "I think that's the reason that it affects you now. It has built up over the years. You have been exposed for too long. That's also the reason that no other warrior has reported problems so far since you change the patrols regularly."
"Can you do something about it?"
Seeing the worry and uncertainty in Legolas' eyes, he tried to reassure him. "I think so. Although it will not be a quick remedy. Go to your chambers, I'll be with you shortly."
Legolas left and Celairdir headed to the healing rooms to gather some supplies. Within a short time he made his way to Legolas' quarters and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Legolas called.
Celairdir entered and went through to Legolas' bedchamber. There he placed everything he had gathered on a table. He turned towards the younger elf. "This is no malady of the body but of the fëa, so this is serious. I'm taking you off active duty for now until further notice." While he spoke, he prepared athelas and hung a kettle with water over the fire.
"You need to refresh the athelas regularly. It will take time for you to get better, this is not cured in one or two days." He saw the dismay in Legolas' eyes but the younger elf restrained himself from protesting. He knew that Celairdir was being honest with him and that he better followed his instructions.
"Am I confined to my quarters?" he asked.
"No, but you shouldn't be too long away or use athelas where you are. It's important that you stay under its influence the next time. The shadow will lift only slowly. You can't go south again for a long time, so you have to change the patrol rosters." Celairdir took the heated water and poured it into the cup with the athelas. The uplifting fragrance of the plant immediately filled the air.
Legolas groaned. "I'll talk with Galdor tomorrow."
"Please do that. The shadow in the south has grown so you should send the warriors for a maximum of two months before you send them on one of the other patrols. They shouldn't return to the south for at least six months then."
Celairdir poured another cup with athelas and handed it to Legolas. "Drink this. I hope it will help with the chill."
Legolas obeyed, although he doubted that it would help that fast. But even a slight lessening of his condition would be a blessing.
Celairdir nodded satisfied. He squeezed Legolas' forearm reassuringly before he stood. "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."
"Good night and thank you," Legolas replied.
Celairdir smiled slightly before he left, then he took a deep breath and headed to Thranduil's quarters. He didn't look forward to tell his friend about his son's condition.
Like Legolas had expected he didn't find sleep that night. After a few hours of tossing and turning he finally got up and started to check the duty rosters. They would need to overwork everything.
As it grew later he finally decided he could summon Galdor without disturbing his rest. So he went out and found Galion in the corridor.
"Good morning, Galion. Would you please send for Galdor and ask him to come to my quarters? He should be at the training grounds at this time."
"Good morning, my Prince. It will be done."
"Thank you, Galion."
It didn't take long for Galdor to arrive. His friend entered and raised an eyebrow as he noticed the smell that permeated the room. "Athelas?" he asked.
Legolas sighed. "Please sit down, we have a lot to discuss."
Casting his friend a concerned look, Galdor sat down opposite Legolas.
The prince took a deep breath, then he told Galdor what had happened the previous evening.
Galdor leaned back. "Celairdir is right, this is serious. Yes, you were leading the patrols in the south for several years while our warriors were exchanged, but other elves could be affected too. I should have insisted more firmly that we exchange posts more often." He looked slightly guilty. He hadn't objected to Legolas leading the patrols in the south for years despite knowing that these patrols were the hardest.
"You couldn't know what would happen," Legolas reassured him.
There was a short knock at the door and Thranduil entered the sitting room. He looked at Legolas with some concern.
"Good morning, Ada," Legolas greeted.
Galdor inclined his head. "My Lord."
"Good morning." Thranduil came over to the table and sat down. "Celairdir told me what is going on. It looks like the patrols need to be reworked."
Legolas sighed. "Fortunately we were exchanging the patrols regularly since none of our warriors should be exposed to the south for too long."
"You only forgot to exchange the captains regularly, then," Thranduil said wryly.
"Legolas was of the opinion that he couldn't ask more of his warriors than he was willing to give," Galdor chimed in. "He just 'forgot' that the warriors only have a two months' turn while he went south for many years now and that we would willingly take over for a while."
"As Celairdir made clear, this has to change," Thranduil gazed at his son.
"We are working on it. Celairdir said nobody should go south for longer than two months and they should be placed on another patrol then for six months. So we have to rework the duty rosters. As of now the warriors stay in the south for two months, then move to another patrol and return to the south after two to four months." Legolas pulled the duty rosters over, so that they all could see the entries.
They worked for over an hour until they were satisfied with the changes. Then Galdor took his leave, leaving father and son alone.
"How do you feel?" Thranduil asked quietly.
"Anxious, to be honest. Injuries I can deal with but this…"
Thranduil nodded in understanding. As Celairdir had informed him about this new development the night before he had been more than dismayed and worried. "How is the chill?"
"It's not gone but a bit better."
"Celairdir said that it would take time for you to get better."
Legolas sighed. "I know. Believe me, I want to get rid of the shadow as soon as possible."
"So you will follow his instructions?"
"Yes, of course."
Thranduil glanced out of the window. "It's late morning. Have you eaten yet?"
Legolas only shook his head.
His father got up and went to the door. Legolas could hear him ordering two breakfast plates. Thranduil was obviously concerned and Legolas couldn't blame him for that. He himself had been worried after hearing Celairdir's diagnosis. This was something they didn't have to deal with before.
It didn't take long for the servants to deliver the food and father and son sat down to their late breakfast, talking about what had happened in the time Legolas had been away.
The next day Legolas and Galdor explained the new schedules to the warriors, asking them to report to Celairdir immediately if anything was amiss. Legolas didn't feel entirely comfortable to tell them of his condition but they needed to clarify why there were the sudden changes and to explain to the warriors what to look out for. For that reason Celairdir accompanied them. The warriors were clearly worried for their prince but the healer quickly reassured them. All warriors who had recently served in the south were told to come and see him, for he could sense the shadow even if they didn't feel its affects.
Legolas would have actually enjoyed the first few days of his confinement if there weren't the nagging fear that the shadow wouldn't dissipate or the uncertainty of how long it actually would take. Galdor, Tinwion and Amarthon did their best to keep him company and distract him but they had their duties and they couldn't help him with the worry. In the evening he often played chess with Feron or Celairdir but all in all it was an unsatisfying situation.
Luckily Celairdir finally confirmed that the shadow was slowly fading and estimated that it could take up to a month for it to vanish entirely. Both, Legolas and Thranduil, were relieved at these news.
Legolas grew bored quickly. Although Thranduil gave him some of his paperwork to keep him busy, that wasn't filling the day and having to stay indoors mostly was showing to be a trying experience.
For Thranduil it was a trying time too. At first he worried over Legolas' condition. Now, after Celairdir's first tentative positive prognosis he needed to constantly find something to keep his son busy which wasn't easy. He was just talking with Dilloth about a trade agreement when there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," he called.
One of the guards came in, bowing before him. "Forgive me the interruption, Sire, but the human, Estel, has arrived."
Thranduil was surprised. There had been no word from Imladris that a visit was planned. "Is that so," he murmured. "What a coincidence." Inwardly he was glad about the human's visit, since Legolas grew increasingly restless and Estel would be a good distraction. He had been allowed to accompany his brothers on a visit when he turned sixteen and at that time the both of them had gone along well even if they hadn't seen each other for years.
"My son will take care of him, so please give him a guest room in the royal wing and show him to Legolas' quarters."
The guard nodded. "As you wish, Sire." With that he left.
Dilloth looked at his friend. "You are glad that the human has arrived, are you not?"
"Yes, he will prove a good distraction, at least for a few days. Legolas is growing restless and I have a hard time keeping him busy. Celairdir thinks that he will only need a few more days of treatment but I'm unwilling to let him go on patrol immediately after that."
"That's understandable, but knowing your son, he won't see it your way."
Thranduil chuckled. "I know, that's why I'm glad that Estel came."
Legolas stood on his balcony, looking over the landscape. Only two more days until he finally could return back to normal. He was looking forward to a long stroll through the forest.
There was a knock at his door and he turned from his balcony and entered his sitting room.
"Enter," he called.
One of the guards came in and bowed. "Forgive me the intrusion, my Prince, but a visitor has arrived and the king ordered that I show him to your quarters."
Legolas looked surprised. "Well, show him in then," he ordered, curious who it would be.
The guard went to the door, talking softly with somebody. Finally a figure stepped around the guard, while the guard withdrew and closed the door.
Legolas was more than surprised. "Estel?" he asked. He hadn't seen the human for six years and he had changed a big deal. At his last visit, he had been a youth, still growing and a bit awkward in his own body. Now a young man stood before Legolas.
Estel nodded. "Well met, Legolas. I was heading for Lothlorien and decided to pay the woodland realm a visit."
"That's a pleasant surprise," Legolas went over to the human and they clasped arms. "How are things in Imladris?"
"They are well, although I haven't been home for a few months."
"When have you last eaten?"
"Actually yesterday evening, since I ran out of provisions."
"I'll order us something and then you can tell me all about what happened in Imladris since my last stay and about your journey."
He went to the door and called for one of the guards at the entrance to the royal wings. As he approached Legolas asked him if he could send a servant to fetch two meals, then he thanked the guard and rejoined Aragorn.
It didn't take long for the food to arrive. The servant put it down on the table in the sitting room and Legolas thanked him and dismissed him. "Come, Estel, join me. You must be hungry."
"It's Aragorn now," Estel said softly, sitting down opposite Legolas.
Legolas leaned back. "So Lord Elrond told you."
"You knew?"
"I met your father once, as your mother was expecting you. So yes, I knew that after your father had been killed you were brought to Imladris."
Aragorn started to eat, trying not to wolf down the food. He was hungry. "I can understand that Elrond wanted to protect me, but hearing that you are a whole other person than you thought was hard."
"I can imagine that it's hard to adjust to what you learned about yourself." Legolas started to eat as well. Like usual the food was delicious.
Aragorn put his fork down and stared out onto the balcony. "Yes." He leaned back, looking thoughtful. "I don't want that responsibility. I was perfectly happy to just be Estel."
"I can imagine that. They did it to protect you. The enemy is searching for you. It's not safe to use your real name outside of the elven realms."
"I know," Aragorn agreed. "I'll use another name then."
"That would be wise," Legolas agreed.
"Does your father know?" Aragorn asked hesitantly.
"I told him about Arathorn, so I imagine that he knows that you're Arathorn's son."
The human looked down. "It must not be easy. If Isildur had destroyed the ring when he had the opportunity, we would have peace for a whole age now."
Legolas lifted Aragorn's chin and looked him in the eyes. "Yes, he was mad about Isildur's weakness. It could have ended there and then. He lost his father and we lost many warriors then to defeat Sauron only for it all to be for naught. But you're not Isildur. You can't be held responsible for what Isildur did a long time ago. Do you really think my father would hold your ancestry against you?"
Aragorn looked down again. "Probably not." He took a deep breath. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Leading the Dúnedain? Accepting your destiny?"
"Yes."
"You are still young. Do you think I was born a warrior and with the responsibilities I carry now? I grew into that, the same as you will do."
Aragorn stared at him for a moment. "I wish I had your optimism."
They continued their meal and the conversation turned to Imladris and its occupants. Even if Legolas hadn't seen Estel for six years, he found that they were quickly falling into an easy camaraderie.
TBC