Wow, two chapters in like 24 hours. I'm so stuffed, but I had to finish it, just for you guys. I need to sleep before I right more, and I have to think over what has to be done for the next few chapters. It's getting harder to write, but that's all right, cause I love Jaylen ^_^ Comments please munchies ^_^
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And with it let me say,
Let me say…
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7 – Queen Arwen and Prince Jaylen, Son of King Aragorn
Dawn came much too quickly for those who had travelled from the Shire. The bed that had been in what was Legolas room was big enough for the five to sleep in comfort. It seemed, even though they were finally able to stay in their own beds, they couldn't bring themselves to. Legolas had not been one to complain when Frodo had curled up to the front of his chest, Sam flung across both of them and Merry and Pippin against his back.
He wondered what Aragorn had thought when the King had poked his head through the door later in the night, long after the hobbits had gone to sleep. Though he pretend he didn't care, though he told himself he was happy right where he was, Aragorn's opinion meant the world to him. And perhaps there was something else. Something that felt almost suspiciously like longing, longing that Aragorn would join them. Ridiculous thoughts of a lonely Elf, he grumbled to himself before joining the Hobbits in sleep…
*~*
With the sun Legolas woke without meaning to. It spun its golden light through the room, dancing over the cold morning air. He frowned, not ready to wake yet and buried his face in Frodo's sweet smelling hair. He smelt of spring and the essence of the shire. Or perhaps that was Sam, who had managed to curl around them at the head of the bed.
Yet, it was perhaps good that the sun had awoken him as he could hear soft voices on the other side of the door.
They were not speaking loudly, but they were not softening their voices either. It took a few moments for Legolas to firstly quieten his mind, and secondly the sounds of the four sleeping Hobbits so he could hear the conversation.
"We returned as quickly as we could, after father receive word from Thranduil that his son had gone missing. Had I known that he was on his way here I would have stayed longer with father. As it is half of Rivendell searches for him." The first voice, spoke in hushed tones and Legolas recognised it as the Lady Arwen's voice, Queen of Gondor.
"Good luck to them, if Legolas wishes to not be found, he won't be." That was Aragorn's soft voice.
"Many of the hunters have come to the same conclusion," Arwen chuckled. "There have been no signs of a struggle, and they know the younger Prince of Mirkwood is not one to give up easily. Many believe Legolas wandered off on his own, and did not inform his father. My brother's themselves laughed when we received the letter. But the relationship between them and Thranduil has always been strained, such a thing cannot be changed easily even with such a great passage of time. However, they have liked Legolas as a brother, and they wish him well, should I see him."
"You shall, but not now Arwen. Let them sleep, they have made quite a long journey in a remarkably short amount of time for five of them. They are tired Arwen."
"As are you. How long has it been since you slept my Lord?"
There was a considerable pause before Aragorn answered. "Since I received the letter from Thranduil," he confessed.
"Then to bed my King!" Arwen commanded. "I shall attempt to keep your son from disturbing our guests, he is excited to meet them after hearing of them from his Grandfather and Uncles. Though goodness knows how I shall manage it, he is an slipperier eel then you are to catch."
"He gets it from your brothers."
"Enough Aragorn, bed, now!"
The voices in the hall beyond faded to nothing and Legolas drifted off to sleep, a small smile gracing his lips…
*~*
When Legolas woke again it was much later, the sun high in the sky. The Hobbits seemed to sleep through just about anything, still laying entwined around him. He turned, going to slip onto his back so he could view Merry and Pippin.
And found himself staring into the bluest eyes he had ever seen.
His physic stiffened slightly as he viewed the person before him. He was crouched on Merry's broad back, one hand resting lightly there from between his legs. He wore no shoes, but black leggings and a dark green shirt. His hair was long unbound to his hips, a deep auburn. Full rose lips grew into high cheeks and then pointed ears, cream skin looked lost in such dark clothes. And those eyes Legolas had only ever seen on one other person.
He relaxed as he realised he was looking at Aragorn's young son. The boy was so quiet that Legolas had not stirred when he had entered, but he didn't doubt the skills of Aragorn's son, Elrond's grandson. The half elf watched him in interest, he couldn't be more then one and a half years old.
"Hello," he breathed softly, trusting the boy's ears to hear him without having to wake the sleeping Hobbits.
The boy smiled, lighting his beautiful face. It reminded him of Aragorn. "Hello." His voice was soft, sweet timber, washing over Legolas in a beautiful mixture of both his father's and mother's voices. He cocked his head to the side, sending his long hair rippling around his small body. "You don't look like the best archer in Middle Earth."
Legolas lifted an amused eyebrow. "Well you don't look much like a Prince, so now we are even." A flush of colour rose to the boy's cheeks but he continued to watch Legolas. "How is your grandfather, it has been a long time since I last saw him?"
"Good," the boy answered, "Rivendell was very pretty, I got to go hunting with Elladan."
"Then you are very fortunate my boy, I-"
Pippin choose this moment to wake, and all he saw was the bare feet of someone standing on Merry. He yelped, pushing the stranger off Merry, and falling on top of him. Merry woke as Pippin tumbled onto him, yelling out in surprise. The Prince's balance failed him and he fell into Frodo, the dark haired hobbit waking with a start and an arm full of Prince. At the noise from the others Sam woke, only to fall off the bed.
Legolas could not bring himself to stop laughing at the spectacle the Hobbits made. Merry and Pippin looked at each other and grinned.
And tackled Legolas, sending him onto the floor. Only his quick reflexes stooped him from, firstly, taking Frodo and the Prince with him, and secondly from falling on poor Sam who looked a little bleary eyed and probably couldn't have moved if he had wanted to. Merry and Pippin began to tickle the helpless elf, who was too busy laughing to push them off. Sam, Frodo and the Prince, who sat in Frodo's lap, watched them, smiling.
Arwen came in upon hearing the commotion, searching for her son who had run off again. She smiled at the sight of Legolas under the two Hobbits before noticing her son in the room.
"Jaylen Elessar! Did I not just tell you that this room was off limits?"
The boy went quite red, fidgeting on Frodo's lap. "Yes mother."
Arwen shook her head, looking at her son as if to say 'what am I going to do with you'.
"You have not changed Lady Arwen," Legolas pulled both Hobbits from his person as he stood. It was true, Arwen had not changed. Her dark hair fell in long tresses around her body and her eyes were still a sparkling blue. A small smile graced her lips as Legolas addressed her, less then half a head taller then the other elf. He knelt and took her hand, kissing it softly even as Arwen lifted him back to his feet so she could hug him.
"It is good to see you too Prince Legolas. I brother's wish you well from Rivendell."
"So I heard, Jaylen was just telling me how he went hunting with Elladan," he smiled at the boy who returned it, lifting his arms to be picked up. Legolas complied, marvelling at how light he was. "He's a wonderful boy Arwen, you and Aragorn must be proud."
"Be careful," Arwen teased, "if you give him an ego complex it's your problem."
"Ah, you're all awake."
Aragorn stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest as he rested against the frame.
"PAPA!" The child squirmed in Legolas's arms until he let him go and the young child threw himself at his father. Aragorn caught him easily and hugged his son tightly, the fine strands of his sons hair clinging to his clothes. "I saw Grandfather, and the rivers and-"
"Remember to breath Jaylen," Aragorn smiled, tweaking his son's noes and causing the boy to giggle. "If you are awake, I'd like to introduce you all to someone…"
*~*
Aragorn, carrying Jaylen, led Legolas and the four Hobbits into a drawing room down the hall. Arwen followed behind them, her eyes sparkling. A young man was already waiting for them.
His hair was as black as night and long, braided to keep it from getting in his way. His eyes were a bright green, his features chiselled and refined, his noes slightly hooked at the end. He was taller then most, taller then all in the room, and his body was held with the grace of a warrior and hunter. What held Legolas attention the most was that his features resemble someone he had met recently.
"This is Sir Lycon, son of Commander Cyron, he was in charge of protecting the Queen and my son on the rode to and from Rivendell."
That explained the resemblance to his father. Lycon bowed to them, smile lighting his features.
"Lycon, this is Prince Legolas, Masters Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. They will be staying here a few days."
"I have heard many things of each of you, the Elves and my King speak very highly of all of you."
The look that then passed between the Lady Arwen and Lycon did not go missed by anyone in the room with the exception of Jaylen, who was trying to tell his father of his hunting trip with his uncle…
*~*
"Does it bother you at all that they love each other?" Frodo asked Aragorn later that day when they were alone.
"Some," Aragorn confessed, "but not as much as you would think. Lycon is a good man, and Arwen, though for the best part of my life I loved her and she will always be the mother of my son, the spark died a long time ago Frodo." Aragorn smiled down at the Hobbit, "we keep up the illusion of a man and wife relation, but it hasn't been that since before Jaylen was born. She will always be older sister, and I am happy that she and Lycon have found each other."
"Does Jaylen-?"
"Know? He's a smart boy, and yes, he has known for some time that his mother loves someone who is not his father. He understands better then most one years olds should, perhaps it is the elven blood in him, and he loves Lycon as well so it makes things easier. What?"
Frodo was chuckling, "human politics, perhaps I should learn to keep with just Hobbits, it would make my life much easier…"
*~*
From this place all light was gone. There was nothing but darkness, eating slowly at the consciousness, taking away all that was there. The flame burned low at first, being swallowed by the darkness, on single flame amongst all the darkness. But it seemed to eat from it, growing, expanding, and filling all with its burning heat. The flames lapped at all around it, taking over the darkness. Somewhere, far in the distance, a creature howled out, anger and fury resounding around those dark depths of a nightmare…
Tbc…
