Summary: Thranduil has sailed over to the Undying Lands and Erynion, Legolas' older brother is now King of Mirkwood. He sends his brother and his niece to Imladris, supposedly to help improve relations between the two lands. But what are his real motives? And what does this mean for the Prince of Mirkwood and his child?
Warning: This is a male/male pairing fic, so if you don't like it, don't read it.
Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. I just like playing with his characters from time to time.
((Amar))
Vanya sat in the small garden that she had found several weeks ago. It was relatively secluded, the only entrance to the courtyard being a hidden door in the back of the library. The flowers hadn't been tended to in a long while, and the Elfling took up the responsibility to their tending as her own.
She was making a crown of clovers when she heard footsteps behind her. The Elfling whipped around and was confronted with the towering form of Elrond's only daughter.
"How did you get in here, Vanya?" Arwen asked, her face void of emotion, but her voice soft.
"I-I found it, My Lady. I was exploring the library one day and found the door," Vanya explained, looking down to the clover crown in her lap.
Arwen stood silent for a moment, surveying the garden.
"It looks better than the last time I visited. Have you been tending to it?"
Vanya nodded slowly.
The brown-haired Lady carefully sat on the ground next to the Elfling, "This was my mother's private garden. Nana and Ada would spend long nights here, just talking. It was her place of sanctuary, her one refuge whenever she needed a quiet place to retreat."
Vanya's eyes widened, "I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, "I didn't mean to- I didn't know-"
"Shh, little one. Do not worry. It warms my heart to see this garden begin to resemble the beauty that it once was," Arwen said, patting the young one's hand.
Once again, Vanya just nodded.
Arwen studied the Elfling once again, "Is there something on your mind, Vanya? You seem so far away today. You are not your usual happy self."
Vanya fiddled with the crown a little and then looked up at Arwen. She worried her lip slightly, wondering how to say what was on her mind.
"Ada… Ada told me that I have a decision to make," she started, looking directly at the Lady Arwen. "I have to decide whether or not I want to be the heir to Mirkwood if anything happens to the king."
"My, that is a great honor, I should think," Arwen said.
"But if I agree, I will have to live with the King in Mirkwood for three months a year. I… I don't know if I want to do that."
"When will this move come into effect?" Arwen asked.
"Once I reach my majority," The Elfling whispered.
"I see," Arwen replied, "Do you want to do this? When you come of age?"
"I don't know. I want Mirkwood to have a ruler if anything was to happen to Uncle, and it would be nice to see Aunt Meldamiriel everyday again, but…"
"But?"
"But I don't want to leave Ada. He'll be lonely without me."
Arwen let out a small chuckle, "I am sure that Legolas will not be too lonely, my father will see to that."
Vanya blinked and then gave the older elf a confused look.
Arwen waved it off and continued, "I know for a fact that your father will miss you, but as an elf grows older, she must learn to live on her own and leave the nest. To not be so dependent on their parents."
"Are you saying that I should go?" Vanya asked.
"I am simply saying that it is something that you should consider, little one. Ultimately the choice is yours, and despite what your father, Marilla, Elrond, or I have to say on the matter, it is your choice and your choice alone," Arwen said gently.
Vanya nodded, picking up the crown of clovers. "Thank you, Arwen," she whispered.
The Elfling placed the crown of clovers on Arwen's head carefully and then left the garden to think upon the elder's words.
((Amar))
Legolas lay in bed as he watched Elrond sift through papers. Elrond's raven hair was left loose, flowing with the Elven Lord's every movement and catching in the sun's light.
"Must you begin your work so early in the morning, pen vain? I am lonely without you," Legolas said, a hint of playfulness creeping out from his tired voice.
"I must, Legolas, for I ended my work early last night to keep you company," Elrond replied, rubbing the back of his neck as he leaned back in his chair.
Legolas got up from his place on the bed and made his way to the other elf. Placing his hands on Elrond's neck, the prince began to massage the Elven Lord's stiff neck, working out the knots.
"Mmm…" Elrond hummed as Legolas continued his ministrations.
"Legolas?"
"Yes?"
"How long shall I have to be without these wonderful massages, do you think?"
Legolas slowed his work, barely moving his hands now. This was a not so subtle way of asking how long he planned to stay in Mirkwood.
"The travel time is about two weeks for a group, so that is a month in travel right there. I do not know how long it will take to speak with the King. Hopefully it will take only a month; meaning that it will take about two months in total."
Elrond looked up at Legolas and gently brought Legolas' head down, kissing the other's sweet lips gently.
"I love you, melethron," Elrond said lovingly, yet firmly.
"And I love you," Legolas replied, wrapping his arms around his husband while he rested his head on the raven-haired elf's shoulder.
A soft knock at the door disrupted the calm that had passed over the two after only ten minutes. Legolas pulled on a robe and went to the door, opening it a crack, "Yes?"
Glorfindel stood on the other side of the door and peered at Legolas, "Lady Meldamiriel says that she will be ready to depart in two hours. I suggest that you put on some clothes."
"Thank you, Glorfindel," Legolas replied, closing the door.
He looked up at Elrond and let out a sigh, "Take a bath with me, My Lord?"
((Amar))
Vanya sat in Celebrian's garden, tending to the plants as she usually did between her lessons with Erestor and the evening meal.
Elrohir quietly slipped into the garden; assessing the progress that the young elf had made in just the small time that she had been tending the garden.
"Vanya, it is almost time for dinner," he called to the Elfling.
"The brown-haired elf looked up, her blue eyes focusing on the other. She nodded slowly as she got up, brushing some dirt off of her robes.
"Ada was wondering how the gardening was going," Elrohir commented as Vanya walked passed him.
The Elfling whipped around, "Did Arwen tell Elrond?" she asked, her voice betraying a bit of fear, "Is he mad at me?"
Elrohir looked upon Vanya with surprise, "No, Vanya, no! Ada is anything but mad! He is actually quite happy that someone is taking care of the garden.
"And as for who told him, no one did. He had decided to come here one day and found that the garden had been tended to. He made a few inquiries and found out it was you."
"Are you sure that he is not mad?"
"Little one," Elrohir said, his eyebrows knitted together as he went down to his knees so that he would be the same height as the child. He took her small hands in his and searched her face, "Why do you fear my father so? Surely he has done nothing to inspire such a fear? He treats you as one of his own, yes?"
"Yes, he treats me as one of his own, but still… He… Lord Elrond just seems so difficult to approach. And he frowns all the time. I'm afraid that I will make him even more upset than he already is."
Elrohir couldn't help but let a chuckle escape his lips.
"My dear Vanya, Ada frowns so much because he is constantly thinking! He has much to think and worry about. Wouldn't you frown if you had his responsibilities?"
"More the reason to keep from angering him! Elrond is already so burdened that anything I may do could upset him further."
"Or, he could just need an Elfling like you to lighten up his dreary routine. Have you ever thought of that, little one?" Elrohir asked, raising an eyebrow in question.
Vanya frowned slightly.
"What is it?" the older elf asked.
"One, I'd never thought of that. Two, you look too much like Elrond when you do that. Like you are his twin instead of his son."
Elrohir let out a bark of laughter, "I'm not quite sure whether to take that as an insult or a compliment."
A bell chimed and Elrohir stood up, "It is time for the evening meal. Let us go, shall we?"
Vanya nodded, following Elrohir as he led her out of the room, their hands still held together.
((Amar))
Translations of Elvish in this chapter from Arwen-Undomiel (dot) com.
Nana: Mom
Ada: Dad
Pen Vain: Beautiful One
Melethron: Lover (male)
Names:
Erynion (Air-oon-ee-on) - Of the Woods – Wood
Erulassë (Air-oo-lahs-say) - God is Joy – Abigail
Meldamiriel (lit. "Dear jewel") (Mehl-dah-meer-ee-ell) - Precious Jewel – Amber
Vanya (Vahn-yah) – Beautiful – Callie
Marilla (Mar-il-lah) – Pearl – Megan
Aranel (Are-ahn-nell) – Princess – Sarah
