"Good morning, meleth-nin." Arwen whispered as she snuggled closer into Aragorn's arms.
"Hmm." Aragorn hummed as he buried his face in Arwen's hair. He felt like he had gone to bed only minutes ago. A soft knock sounded on the door only moments later. "Not now." Aragorn almost whined at the idea that Faramir stood in front of the door. Arwen heard the soft click of a door opening and closing before a almost silent footfall followed.
"Breakfast for Master and Mistress." Arwen opened her eyes and quickly sat up when she saw Legolas standing there, holding two trays in his hands, with his head bowed.
"Aragorn, get up." She softly said as she shook the shoulder of the former ranger.
"Just a couple more." Aragorn proceeded to turn around from the hand shaking him, earning a whack on the back of his head. "What was that for?" Aragorn rubbed the back of his head as he slowly sat up. It took Aragorn a moment to realize that Legolas stood in front of him in one of his nightgowns, with two filled trays in his hands.
"You may give us the trays, Legolas." Arwen said as she watched Legolas.
"Me, Mistress?" Legolas quietly asked.
"Of course you, who else is holding two trays?" Arwen said in such voice that if Aragorn had not been looking he would have mistaken that she was talking to Eldarion.
"My apologies, Mistress. Please forgive me. Punish me, please." Legolas carefully handed over both trays before he knelt and bowed. How stupid could he be. Of course he was the one with the two trays.
"This is really good. Thank you, Legolas." Aragorn said as he finished his hard boiled egg.
"I have to agree, this is very good." Arwen smiled.
"Well, I think I really need to get up now." Aragorn said as he scrambled from beneath the blankets. Arwen watched as Legolas climbed to his feet again and started to collect the trays again.
"Leave them be, Legolas." Arwen softly said as took hold of the tray when Legolas wanted to pick it up again. Legolas let Arwen take the tray from his hands.
"Forgive me, Mistress." Legolas started to shake a little.
"Would you like to bring the trays back to the kitchen?" Aragorn asked as he pulled his shirt over his head and walked to Legolas.
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied.
"Then go and bring my tray to the kitchen, if you like. It seems like Arwen has not yet finished eating, so the servants will take it with them when she has."
"Yes, Master." Legolas quietly replied.
"I want you to come back here right after you have finished in the kitchen."
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied before he quickly and quietly slipped from the room.
"Why did you do that?" Arwen asked as she put her empty tray down on the bed.
"You heard him, he wanted to. Did you not see that he started trembling when you wanted to take the tray back."
"I saw, but that does not mean he should."
"I agree that he should not, but if that means he won't go and pull his hair..." Their argument was cut short by Eldarion's wails filling the royal quarters. Arwen shook her head as she got up.
"We will speak about this later." She said before she went to tend her son. Aragorn huffed as he stood in front of the mirror, trying to get rid of the knots in his hair.
"Master." Legolas softly greeted as he knelt at Aragorn's feet.
"Hey." Aragorn softly said as he abandoned his attempts to untangle his hair. "I would like to tend your injuries, would you let me?"
"You may do everything with me as you please." Legolas quietly replied before he climbed to his feet again.
"I do not." Aragorn softly replied as Legolas pulled the nightgown over his head. He would never do that. He would not want to think about the people who would. Aragorn made quick work of undoing the overlaying bandages before he carefully removed the bandages that made contact with Legolas' skin. Aragorn noticed that Legolas stiffened every single time that he touched him. "I am going to try and carefully clean the welts." Aragorn said as he went to retrieve a basin with some hot water and a cloth. He crushed several dried Althelas leaves before he mixed them with the hot water. Soon enough the calming scent of Althelas filled the room. "Why don't you come and lie down for me? That makes it easier for me to tend you." Aragorn gently patted his side of the bed.
"N-no, M-Master." Legolas stuttered as he started to shake. He had to obey Master, but he could not use the things like Master did! Aragorn deeply breathed in, letting the Althelas calm him. Of course Legolas would not.
"Will you lie down on the quilt instead? I do not want you to lie down on the floor bare." Aragorn explained as he took the folded quilt from the foot end of their bed.
"Yes, Master." Legolas quietly replied as he carefully lie down on the folded quilt Aragorn had spread on the floor moments ago.
"Thank you, Legolas." Aragorn knelt down next to Legolas. Legolas' expression was unreadable, but as he still shook a little, he knew Legolas was not at ease. He had no idea how to make Legolas at ease. Maybe a walk in the garden this afternoon? Or just leaving him be? "Here comes the cloth." Aragorn softly warned before he dipped the cloth in the warm Althelas water, and softly started wiping on the less inflamed parts. Faramir had done a good job in cleaning out the welts. Legolas flinched several times, as well at some point that Aragorn noticed the Legolas was chewing on his bottom lip. "Almost done." Aragorn said as he started the clean the last welts. Luckily those were already well on the way of healing. "Come and stand, Legolas. Then I will bind your welts and I will leave you be."
"Yes, Master." Legolas softly replied before he went to stand. Legolas was still shaking.
"Here the Althelas paste comes." Aragorn warned before he applied some to all of the still unhealed welts. "And now for the bandages." Aragorn said when he had finished washing his hands. Legolas did his very best to stay still as Aragorn bandaged him.
"Thank you, Master. I am not worthy of your kindness."
"Yes, you are, Legolas." Aragorn replied with a little smile. "Does your ankle still hurt?" It at least looked a little less bruised. Aragorn needed to regain the attention from the elf before he finally replied.
"No, Master." Legolas softly said.
"That is good to hear." Aragorn replied with a little smile to Arwen. He did not really believe the pain in his angle would be gone, but it probably was indeed already a lot better. He had noticed that Arwen had entered again, just as he was about to remove the bandages that were stuck against Legolas skin. She had stayed the whole time, watching her husband interact with Legolas.
"Here, Legolas. Can you please put this on?" Arwen softly asked as she held out the freshly washed trousers. There was no need for her to look upon Legolas' private parts. She hardly could imagine that Legolas had no need in blushing. Aragorn took the trousers and held them out to Legolas.
"Do you need me to help you?" Aragorn gently inquired. When Legolas did not move Aragorn frowned. "Slave?" He softly asked. He was doing so well!
"Master?" Legolas shifted.
"Pull on the trousers." Aragorn ordered as he knelt and helped Legolas. He slowly complied and pulled on the trousers. "Legolas, come with me, then we will see if Faramir is awake." Aragorn said when he stood again.
"Me, Master?" Legolas barely whispered.
"Yes, you, Legolas." Aragorn empathized.
"Please forgive me, Master. Punish me when you see fit." Legolas said when he went to bow. Legolas wondered again why they were so eager on using his former name.
"Stop bowing and come with me then." Aragorn insisted. Legolas quickly stood again and followed Aragorn.
"Some porridge please, yes." Faramir's voice sounded through the open door of his study.
"It seems like we are just in time to order some breakfast." Aragorn smiled when he entered the study, followed by Legolas.
"Good morning, your majesty." The servant greeted with a small bow.
"Could you add a bowl of pieces of fruit?" Aragorn asked the servant.
"I thought the elf brought you some breakfast?" The servant frowned. He for sure had seen him carrying two trays.
"He had, and it was very good. Yet I do not believe Legolas has eaten himself yet." Aragorn explained. "If you do not mind, Faramir, he will stay with you this morning."
"That is no problem. Legolas could help me do some reading." Faramir smiled at the elf.
"Good. Then I must be on my way." Aragorn said as he quickly slipped from the room.
"I shall be back soon." The servant said before he also slipped from the room.
"Go and sit, Legolas. I will go and see if I have something to read for you." Faramir frowned when Legolas did not move. "Sit, slave." Faramir softly said.
"Yes, Master." Legolas slowly walked over to Faramir, before he went to kneel at his feet. Faramir frowned, but decided he could do like he had not seen. The servant return about ten minutes later, carrying a very filled tray.
"There you go, my Lord." The servant said as he put the tray down on Faramir's desk. "Is there anything else I could do for you?"
"No, thank you." Faramir smiled at the servant. " You may go now." The servant bowed before he left Faramir and Legolas alone.
"There you go, Legolas. It is all yours." Faramir said as he held out the bowl for Legolas. When Legolas did not accept the bowl, Faramir put it on the floor in front of Legolas. Surely he would see the bowl of he stayed like that. "Eat, Legolas." Faramir encouraged as he already had finished half of his porridge and a quarter of the document he was reading. Faramir continued reading, and when he looked to Legolas a little while later, he found Legolas slowly munching on a piece of fruit.
Legolas was not very sure in the beginning if it was really his, but he at least could try something than nothing at all. After his second bite he noticed that it was not only apple that was in the bowl. The sweet and sour taste of a orange filled his mouth. A piece of pear next and even a small piece of melon. It had been so long ago he had such nice pieces of fruit! Faramir could not help but watch as Legolas licked his lips before popping in another piece of fruit. Faramir smiled to himself as he continued eating his porridge and reading the document.
"Legolas? What are you doing?" Faramir softly asked when he saw from the corner of his eye, his empty bowl of porridge disappear.
"Serving my Master." Legolas replied as he took the empty tray in his hands.
"What are you going to do with the tray then?"
"Bringing it back."
"If you would like, thank you." Faramir said caught off guard. He watched as Legolas silently disappeared through the door with the tray. It was several minutes later that Faramir heard the door of his study open again. When he looked up he saw Legolas slip in again.
"How else can I be of service, Master?"
"Go and see if you can make anything of this. I want you to read this, and when you have finished you may tell me what it was about." Faramir explained as he held up a small book work of parchment. "You do not need to finish it today. If you have not, you can continue reading it tomorrow." Faramir added as he almost could see fear and distress on Legolas' face.
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied as he took the parchment from Legolas.
"Good. Make yourself comfortable." Faramir replied as he went back to his parchment, signing it. When Faramir looked up from his parchment, he saw Legolas stand in the corner. Legolas was indeed reading the document.
"So, what do you have to say for yourself?" Aragorn asked as he sat back in his chair while he watched the merchant. The merchant was now dressed in a simple brown tunic and trousers and held on his place by two guards.
"My Lord, please forgive me. We had just a misunderstanding." The merchant shook his head. Aragorn did not care for the man's name, he had stripped more of their names than what he could have imagined. One of his councillors had done a little research about the man and found out he had been on his way from the lands of Rûhn to the lands in the south where once a year a big slave sale would be organized. And by asking the merchant himself, he had confessed that he had hoped he could get a lot of money by selling the Elf, for they were highly valued as they were very uncommon in the lands in the south. He also told them the two slaves that had helped him, had been with him for a couple of years, as he bought them on the same market. He also managed to tell that one of the other slaves that were in the carriage was a bandit that had managed to capture in a raid he participated with his mates that managed to escape. The other three that were left were either simple farmers or craftsmen that probably were forcefully taken from their families. However, he would not tell how Legolas had ended up with him.
"A misunderstanding you say?" Aragorn frowned. He could smell from a mile away that the man was lying.
"Yes. I had quite run out of my resources at the long trip to Minas Tirith. We had been robbed halfway through our trip."
"Really, I had no reports of robbers since quite a while." Aragorn crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"You must believe me, my lord. They attacked us at night, and killed one of them!"
"I fear I have trouble believing you." Aragorn softly said. More like not believing him at all.
"Please, my Lord..." Aragorn held up his hand to silence the pleads of the man.
"Then explain why the men and the elf were in the filthy cart?"
"I had no chance of cleaning the cart. It was easier so not all of us needed to walk the distance. They took turns at pulling and resting."
"Really? Did they also have turns in wearing your clothing and bathing?" Aragorn frowned. "Or receiving food to eat, and warmth by a campfire?"
"I-I..." Aragorn held his hand up to silence the man again.
"I have heard more than enough for now. Bring him back his cell. I will decide later if I wish to hear more, or that I know what I want to do with him." Aragorn stood and disappeared through a small wooden door. He heard the merchant shout for him to come back, but that was also quickly over, as one of the guards warned him to keep his filthy mouth shut.
"Well, what did the merchant say?" Arwen asked as soon as Aragorn entered the bedroom.
"A lot of rubbish." Aragorn replied as he undid himself from his formal robes.
"Do you know what you are going to do with him?"
"No. I do not know what to do with him. He needs to be punished, but I also would simply want to end his life for what he did. Yet that seems to merciful..."
"They believe you are a merciful king." Arwen softly said.
"I am." Aragorn agreed. "Tomorrow morning I will discuss this with the council. Upon that I will make my decision."
"Do you already want to go and have luncheon or do you have other things to attend to?" Arwen asked.
"I think I have some time overdue with my son." Aragorn smiled as he scooped Eldarion from Arwen's arms. Eldarion happily squealed as Aragorn tickled the child.
"Very well." Arwen laughed as she sat down on the sofa with Aragorn next to her.
"Shall we go and eat then?" Aragorn asked after his stomach loudly growled.
"Very well." Arwen smiled as she summoned a servant. After the servant left, they both got up. "Do you want to go and see if Faramir is ready to come and eat with us?"
"We could do that." Aragorn agreed as he pushed his hair out of reach for the child. "Faramir?" Aragorn asked as he knocked. "Legolas!" Aragorn greeted the elf when he opened the door.
"Master." Legolas acknowledged as greeting before he stepped aside.
"Faramir? Legolas? Will you join us for lunch?"
"Of course we will." Faramir replied with a smile as he got up. "Come." Aragorn waved at Legolas, gesturing to follow him.
"Come on Legolas." Faramir called as well. "Come." Faramir encouraged with a nudge. Reluctantly Legolas followed his Masters and Mistress back outside where they would go and eat again.
"One at the time." Aragorn said as he put a plate with bread squares in front of Legolas, who sat kneeling between his Masters. Legolas did as he was told and carefully chewed and savored every bite. Legolas was very happy that he received food, even if he was still frightened they would take it away any moment.
"What are you going to do this afternoon?" Faramir asked when they were about done with eating.
"I think I will go for a walk, now the weather still good is. I would love to have Legolas accompanying me."
"That is fine by me. Then he can continue reading tomorrow." Faramir agreed.
"Legolas?" Aragorn addressed the elf when he had noticed he had finished his food. "Legolas?" Aragorn softly called again as he reached out to the shoulder. He had barely touched the bandaged when Legolas flinched rather forcefully, knocking over his still half-full glass.
"M-Master?" Legolas trembled softly.
"Yes, Legolas? I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come with me for a walk." Aragorn gently said.
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied as he climbed to his feet. He had nothing to want or choose. That was all up to Master.
"Enjoy your afternoon." Arwen greeted.
"You too." Aragorn said with a smile before he went back inside, Legolas silently following him.
-Hello there, here again an author's note for I got a sudden rush with another idea for a nice h/c story. As I have written down my idea I was wondering if you would like to see Legolas again as our little Leggy, or as a warrior? For the moment I think a warrior Leggy seems easier to write, but obviously a little Leggy would be cuter… Besides would you like the twins joining with little Leggy, or with warrior Leggy a certain human? Help! Thank you for your amazing reviews in advance!-
