Chapter nine – Hope comes again…

Thranduil awoke a bit later than normal; his mind had drove him away from his sleep however in the early morning sleep finally claimed him. However his dreams were dark and the memory of seeing his wife slain by orcs haunted his dreams,but the thing that he kept seeing when he was awake and asleep was the sight of his son's body underneath her; unhurt but he was never the same. As he got up and dressed he thought it was better to go and see his son just to see how he was. He had seen a change in Legolas since coming to Imladris. However he had changed a little but Elrond had said that Glorfindel would try anything to help him heal. So he needed to wait.

Thranduil started to walk towards Legolas' room which was near his and as he opened the door to find it empty. Legolas had not left his room much and he had never had left the room before he had gone to get him up. As he turned to the door to go and look for his son to find Elrond stood in the doorway. "Where?" Thranduil asked now scared for his son, Elrond wouldn't be here unless he knew of something.

Elrond however smiled at him. "He went with Glorfindel this morning. I saw them leave not too long ago. And do not worry Thranduil; Glorfindel will not let anything happen to Legolas." Thranduil still looked worried as Elrond smiled at his friend. "I trust Glorfindel with my children since they were born. He is one person I trust with everything that I hold dear."Thranduil nodded at that, knowing that he had to trust Glorfindel to protect his son. At that Elrond lead Thranduil out of Legolas' room and then headed to the outside balcony to have breakfast.

As they ate they were joined by Elladan and Elrohir, they both had noticed that the Glorfindel hadn't joined them and the sun had long since risen into the sky. He never missed the joy of watching the sun rise every morning and fall at night. It was Elladan who asked the question after a couple of kicks from his brother under the table. "Adar, where is Glorfindel?" He tried very hard not to sound too worried about the fact that he hadn't seen him.

Elrond looked up at his son and softly smiled. "His is riding with Legolas this morning. I believe he wanted to show Legolas more of the beauty of this hidden valley." Elrohir nodded and helped himself to another apple that was in the fruit bowl. However Elladan looked out at the forest that stood around their home like he was trying to look through the trees to find them. But then he sighed and quickly ate his breakfast before leaving the table leaving his brother at the table.

Thranduil and Elrond both looked at Elrohir hoping that he could answer the unspoken question about why Elladan was like this. However Elrohir shrugged his shoulders and watched as his brother walked away. He was a little worried about his brother but Elrohir knew Elladan too well to worry too much about him. He also trusted his brother to never fall without telling him again. "He is fine Adar." Elrohir said clearly as he got up and followed his brother.

Thranduil and Elrond soon moved to the edge of the balcony and sat there waiting, wine and food were brought for them and Elrond had some how gotten a book to read. As they day grew old Thranduil had begun to worry, he had started to pace along the balcony watching the tree line. "Calm yourself Thranduil." Elrond said as read quietly the book watching with his eyes looking up every few minutes.

"Why are they taking so long? They should have returned by now." Thranduil said looking at Elrond who was smiling broadly. "What is so funny Elrond?" He asked crossly glaring directly at Elrond. .

"You are my old friend. I believe it took this long with Elladan but neither Glorfindel nor Elladan speak about it." Elrond said looking back at his book. Thranduil froze, if Glorfindel was helping Legolas why was it taking so long. Did the time mean that Legolas was so badly damaged? "Do you think…?" Thranduil started when they heard the sound of two horses entering the courtyard.

"I think we are about to find out." Elrond added putting down his book and following Thranduil at the edge to watch as Glorfindel and Legolas rode into the courtyard. They were both shocked as they saw Legolas crying but not with tears of sadness but of joy. Elladan and Elrohir both entered the courtyard at the noise of horses. They both heard Elladan ask Legolas what was wrong but Legolas turned to Glorfindel who had dismounted and asked him: "Did that really happen?"

Glorfindel smiled evilly and his eyes fell on the two fathers' on the balcony. He knew he was going to pay for this. "Yes Legolas. I remember very clearly that your father tried to trip Elrond up only for both of them to fall into the river. Both looked like to wet rats. Myself and Gil-Galad thought the whole event was the funniest thing we had seen but they did say something about not breathing a word of it." Elladan and Elrohir joined Legolas in the roar of laughter.

Glorfindel helped Legolas down before turning to the three elfling. "Now can you two take Legolas inside I will deal with the horses and if you can delay your fathers' from looking for me I would be grateful." Elladan and Elrohir nodded and walked with Legolas inside.

Glorfindel lead Rhawon and Bressil inside the stable and handed Bressil off to the groom to look after as Glorfindel took care of Rhawon who looked very pleased with himself. "You did well my friend." Glorfindel said stroking Rhawon's neck as the horse stood waiting for him to remove his tack.

"So did you Glorfindel." They heard from behind them a voice. "I do believe Thranduil might forgive you about that story from what he has just saw." Glorfindel smiled. "I only did what was right Elrond. Nothing more." Glorfindel said turning to see Elrond stood there. "There still some healing to be done but that has to happen from within. Not by another." Elrond nodded silently but before he could speak Glorfindel spoke again. "And the story showed that his father made mistakes. As Legolas had come with the impression that his father didn't make any." He smiled at Elrond who shook his head at his old friend and left him alone in the stables. "He isn't the only one." He muttered as Rhawon nuzzled his friend. "Some mistakes aren't all good humoured."