Sorry for the delay. Thank you to Kaisaan Greenleaf for reviewing

After Legolas had finally consented to lie down and rest Elrond returned to his room, recalling the fact he'd completely abandoned his harp in full view of anyone. But someone got there before him...

He walked round the corner to see a person in his room, bent over with his back to the door way. Using all his warrior training and Elf skill Elrond crept forward without making a sound

"What are you doing?" he whispered in the intruder's ear

The man jumped and spun round, it was Faramir.

"My lord, I meant no harm" the Steward's eyes were wide, apparently from being startled, but Elrond's practised gaze picked out the fear that was just hidden beneath the surface. "I came back to look for you but the room was empty and that beautiful harp was lying in clear view on the bed. It required a guard Sir, so I am fulfilling that capacity" he stopped for breath and Elrond peered behind him, sure enough the harp lay there untouched except for a soft cloth placed underneath the tuning pegs (which had ended up facing downward) to prevent any more damaging bumps.

"Thank you Faramir." he gave the man an enquiring look "Why were you looking for me?"

"I- I came to apologise for my behaviour earlier, it was most impolite to leave in that fashion. I have disgraced my upbringing."

"Why did you?" Elrond saw Faramir frown and elaborated "Why did you leave like that if you knew it was wrong?"

Faramir shuffled his feet again and looked down "I was terrified, manners vanished from my comprehension. I was too scared to do anything but flee." he swallowed "My Lord, I mean no disrespect or insult when I say this... I find your kind, Elves, frightening."

Elrond gently placed on hand on the man's shoulder, deciding to test Aragorn's theory subtly "Is it because of Denethor?"

The steward nodded sadly "He drummed that and like messages into my brain as soon as I was old enough to understand. It takes a lot to wear away ideas like that, even if you know they are wrong"

"What about Legolas?"

"Legolas?" Faramir raised his eyes, frowning as he thought "The light haired archer? The one from Mirkwood?" He met Elrond's nod with a firm warmth in his gaze "He was kind, warm hearted. Yes, he was the first elf I met... and I like him."

There was a determination in the man's voice, Elrond breathed a mental sigh of relief

"If he was in trouble of some kind, would you help him?"

"Of course"

"After Council, please come back here. I have a task for you"

"Urîk" Faramir swore vehemently in Adûnaic "It's midday already and we haven't even started." Elrond started slightly, though not (as Faramir assumed), because he'd just realised how cross Arnubên and the others would be. "It's alright Elrond, I'll take some of the blame" he flicked his head sideways and led out of the room.

The elf stared after him, muted. He quickly packed up the harp and the jogged to catch up with Steward. "Ki-bitha Adûnâyê?"

"Ni-bitha Adûnâyê. Why does that bother you?"

"I thought it was a dead language, that it was swallowed deep into the sea with Númenor"

"My father made most certain that it remained spoken in Gondor, even as he made the Elvish tongue favoured by our forefathers rarer." Faramir stopped "But there's more to your curiosity than just that, isn't there? Out with it Lord Elrond..."

Elrond took a breath and prepared to explain.

"I do hope you're not pressuring my adoptive father into revealing private information Faramir." Aragorn's light and amused voice floated along the corridor "Especially when the council is reassembled and waiting to start."

Faramir shook his head "No Sire"

"Well then, off we go to martyrdom"

Elrond caught his foster son's teasing sideways glance and Faramir smothered a laugh at the look on the Elf lord's face.

Once they had finally escaped Faramir and Elrond reconvened at the appointed spot

"What is this task?"

Elrond smiled softly, cradling a bowl of broth in his hands "Come with me"

He led the steward to the very room he'd departed when they met over the harp. Pushing open the door he stepped inside, Faramir following.

"Legolas!" the man stared at the elf, who sat propped on pillows and still looking very, very ill.

"Hullo Faramir, Mae govannen Elrond" Legolas smiled slightly, then strained to look beyond them "Where're Aragorn and Arwen?"

Elrond sat on the bed, fairly close to Legolas "Out riding... and I think Aragorn earned it, council was horrendous..."

Legolas cut in "Riding with an escort? Or by themselves?"

"By themselves, they are both perfectly capable of defence should the situation arise." Elrond was stopped once more, this time by barely suppressed sniggers. Legolas was quite obviously wriggling, pressing his lips tighter and tighter together, while Faramir had covered his mouth to hide a smile that threatened to split into open laughter.

"Oh do grow up, both of you!" Had he had a table to bang the bowl down on Elrond would have done so, instead he simple filled the spoon full of broth and slipped it into Legolas's mouth, thereby silencing all exclamations from that party as the younger ellon struggled not to choke "Mado, Legolas."

Spluttering, Legolas managed to swallow, then reached out with both hands for the bowl and spoon; his eyes widening and filling with hunger, he lapsed back into Sindarin "Anno han enni..." As Elrond withheld the broth, shaking his head, Legolas became more insistent "Anno han enni...Han aníron!"

Though the healer inside him resisted, Elrond gave in "Eat slowly, you'll make yourself sick otherwise"

"Gweston" Legolas gripped the bowl tightly in one hand, and promptly started to gulp down spoonfuls of the hot broth at high speed.

"Legolas!"Elrond tried to retrieve the bowl, to no avail, all he got was a jab from the younger elf's elbow.

"Stop" Faramir leant over and swiftly prised Legolas's fingers away, lifting the bowl into his own hands, out of range "Didn't you hear Lord Elrond? You'll be sick if you eat too much so soon after a lack"

"But I'm hungry... and it's only thin broth."

Elrond's voice became firm "That fact is the only thing that's stopped you from being ill already Thranduilion... now try again, slowly this time." He nodded and Faramir returned the broth to Legolas.

As an experiment Elrond briefly turned his head away, almost instantly there was a rapid glulping, instantly followed by Faramir's sharp admonishment "Slowly!"

When he looked back Faramir was standing, the bowl firmly in his grasp

"Please Faramir, I'm hungry... Elrond make him give it back" Legolas turned beseeching eyes on his elder

"It's for your own good Legolas." Elrond noted how the elf was sinking into the pillows, his whole body trembling with exertion. When Faramir returned the bowl the broth was nearly spilled, forcing the Steward to claim it again to prevent disaster.

"Please..." even the elf's voice was weaker. Elrond stood up and turned away again, though he didn't know why.

"You'll spill it and burn yourself, Legolas." There was a soft creek, he guessed Faramir had sat down on the bed "Let me..." a splashing followed by swallowing, then Faramir spoke softly "There, that's better isn't it?"

"Mmmhm" was Legolas's only comment.

Driven by curiosity Elrond glanced back. Faramir was sitting on the edge of the bed, close to Legolas, holding the bowl of broth and the spoon. As the elf lord watched he saw the Steward fill the spoon again and slip it into Legolas's mouth. Hiding a smile he crept out of the room unnoticed by either. The plan had worked, need was matched with need and both would be fine.

Legolas watched the wooden spoon return to the bowl, but held up his hand as Faramir scooped up another load of broth "No more, I've had my fill"

The steward released the spoon, then stood up and walked over to the fire side, placing the bowl on a ledge in the stone work. "There's still half left, this way it will stay warm until you want more"

"Thank you Faramir"

"It is the least I could do; you are a friend of Aragorn and his kin, one of the Nine Walkers and you outrank me, being a Prince to my humble Stewardship." The man bowed his head, missing Legolas's forced smile.

"My father has banished me from his lands, I am Prince to none bar a precious few Silvan and Sindar who never cared that I had a title anyway." He watched Faramir frown, his eyes darkening in old bitterness. "Yes Faramir, I am no better off than you regarding a Sire's affection"

"Is that why...you... umm...?" The steward's question trailed off in embarrassment.

"Ended up here in this condition?" Finished Legolas "Yes... I've been wandering the open wilds with little food, I'm a wood-elf by birth and life, I have no experience of finding food on bare moorland."

"But there are other elven havens on the route aren't there? Couldn't the people there have given you food?"

"You mean Lothlorien don't you, the Golden Wood. It's slipping toward abandonment Faramir, very few elves are left outside my home."

Faramir sat on the bed end, suddenly looking distraught "All my life I've been scared of Elves, now as I get over it and want to learn... they are all gone, and their language is dying."

"Iston..." Legolas reached forward and touched the man's knee, then spoke with curiosity "Nin henial?"

Faramir shook his head in confusion "I know the sounds, but not what you say" he was surprised to see Legolas smile

"Then you understand the language of the elves. It is not dead to mortal ears yet."

Translations

Sindarin

Mado = Eat

Anno han enni= Give it to me

Han aníron= I want it

Gweston= I promise

Iston= I know

Nin henial= Do you understand me

Adûnaic

Urîk= Orcs

Ki-bitha Adûnâyê = You speak Adûnaic

Ni-bitha Adûnâyê = I speak Adûnaic

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