-AN Up for you the next chapter! I am going to do my best in keeping the flashbacks in a chronological order. I really do hope you like this chapter, enjoy the sweetnes!-
Legolas sat in the corner of the room, not particularly paying attention to anything, as he was not allowed to serve Mistress. Mistress Arwen sat on the chair near the window so she would have enough light while embroidering something while little Master Eldarion was playing on a blanket in the middle of the room. Legolas jumped almost a foot when something touched his leg. He had not heard Mistress get up, and it took him a moment to realise that it was little Master Eldarion that had touched his leg. Curious grey eyes peered up at him as the child reached out again to grasp the fabric of the trousers he was wearing. Now prepared for touch, Legolas managed not to flinch, he realised that could possibly upset little Master, just like it would with Mistress.
Legolas stayed very still as he intently watched the child. Eldarion made happy noises like he had done all morning as he continued to crawl over to Legolas before he plopped down on his bum and raised his little arms. Legolas had seen the child do that before, probably wanting to be picked up by Legolas. When the gesture did not have the result the child had hoped for, he dropped his arms. The happy smile disappeared for a moment before the child turned and started crawling again. Legolas shook slightly as the child grasped the sleeve of his tunic with one hand, while the other tightly grasped some fabric on his stomach. Legolas watched with big eyes as the child climbed on top of him, still trying to get the attention of the elf. Legolas had to put his legs down on the floor to make room for the child to sit on his lap.
Legolas had no clue what to do with a child! Did he need to stay still, so that Mistress would not get angry on him for touching little Master? Or would he just leave if he stayed still like a deer? Or did he need to carefully hold the child so it would stay on top of him now that he managed to get there? Or did he need to put the child off him? Back to the blanket or simply next to him? He knew for sure that he could not hurt little Master, but he really did not want little Master touching him!
Eldarion happily giggled as he reached out for Legolas' face with saliva covered fingers. Legolas shuddered as he did his very best to remain calm, for little Master's sake. Legolas carefully pushed the wet hands away from his face, hoping he would not upset the child. That the child was on top of him was one thing, that wet fingers were touching his face were a whole other thing! Eldarion squealed with delight when he finally managed to get a reaction from the elf. He tightly grasped onto the hand that had pushed away his. Legolas did not like the high-pitched sounds from the child, but the giggles were far better than the wails that could come from the very same mouth.
Legolas watched his hand as the small fingers of little Master tightly curled around his index finger and pink. When Eldarion proceeded to move Legolas' hand to his own face, Legolas bent his fingers so the child could not put his fingers into his small mouth. What was it with children and trying to put all kinds of things in their mouths? Legolas wondered as Eldarion managed to still put a part of his index finger in his mouth. Legolas closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply. He had to remain calm. While sucking on the elf's finger, the child kept it's curious eyes on the face before him.
The first thing that Legolas noted when he woke again, was that hands roamed over his body. "Look who is awakening." A voice snarled as he was roughly set down against something. A soft tingle ran through his back, and Legolas almost could smile as he knew he sat against a tree. Only a moment later the cloth over his face was roughly yanked away. Legolas had to blink three times to let his eyes adjust to the sudden brightness that flooded his face. A man with greasy lank locks and a short beard swam into view. Dark deep eyes stared at him. "Won't you say hello to me?" The man asked. "Oh, wait, you cannot talk right now! How silly of me." The man mocked with a grin. "If you promise to keep quiet, I will loosen the gag." Legolas nodded and waited until the man had finally untied the awful cloth. "Well, if you try to scream, no one will hear you anyway." The man said as he put his flask of water against Legolas' lips. He had seen how Legolas tried to moisture his mouth. Legolas greedily drank several sips before the man hauled the flask away. "You are not going to drink all my water." The man said as he recapped the flask. Legolas only glared at the man. As much as he tried to wiggle to get the ropes to loosen, he found the rough fibres only digging into his wrists. "You are not quite in for a conversation?" The man asked as he walked around what appeared to be a small campsite. Soon enough the man had made a fire and was cooking something. The smell of food made Legolas' stomach grumble, even if he knew he would probably get nothing to eat, besides, he would not let the gross human feed him! After the man had fed himself, he tied the cloth before Legolas mouth again. "Time to go to sleep." The man said, and before Legolas could react, a fist connected with his temple, knocking him out.
Legolas blinked as Little Master Eldarion swam into view again. He took his chance, as Eldarion yawned. He managed to free his finger from the child's mouth. However, Legolas was more surprised when the child put his thumb in his mouth and started to snuggle against his chest. At first Legolas stiffened and uncomfortably shifted, as the child only seemed to snuggle deeper into his tunic. Eldarion's left hand still tightly held on to his pink as he slowly fell asleep. After a while, Legolas noticed the child had fallen asleep and slowly tried to relax. The child would not hurt him, especially if it would be asleep.
"Eldarion?" Mistress' voice softly called, quite a while later. "Eldarion?" She called again as she stood and put away her work. "Eldarion?" She softly called again as she slowly walked through the room, looking for her son. She was about to ask Legolas if he knew were Eldarion was when she spotted her son together with the elf.
"Legolas." Arwen softly addressed him as she sat down on the floor. Arwen could not help the bright smile that spread over her face as she noticed Eldarion was fast asleep.
"Mistress?" Legolas quietly asked.
"How did this happen?" She asked with a smile, not seeing the fear and confusion in Legolas' eyes.
"I-I... Little M-Master…" Legolas closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I think it is very nice that Eldarion has found a liking in you."
"I-I didn't do anything." Legolas barely whispered. Arwen gently picked up the sleeping child, who woke up in the process. Eldarion weakly protested at the loss of warmth, while Legolas could not help but softly sigh in relieve.
"I am glad you watched Eldarion for me." Arwen answered with a smile.
"Thank you, Mistress." Legolas replied as he almost felt happy at the praise. He had served Mistress well.
"You may do that more often if you like." Arwen said.
"Yes, Mistress." Legolas dutifully replied.
"That is also something." Arwen continued smiling. Aragorn had warned her several times about this, and that they would ask him in a while, but trying would do not harm, would it? "I do not believe that you should call Eldarion 'Little Master' but simply Eldarion. He does not understand that you call him." Arwen tried to explain.
"Mistress?" Legolas frowned. He really did his best!
"Call Eldarion by his name, Legolas. He finally understands his name, and it would confuse him if you call him otherwise."
"Yes, Mistress." Legolas quietly replied. He understood, but would it not be unrespectful? Maybe he should teach Little Master Eldarion?
"That is good to know. Would you like to watch Eldarion more often?" Arwen said before she stood.
"Yes, Mistress." Legolas replied. He could watch little Master Eldarion for a while. Besides he had to do as Mistress asked.
"Let me show you all you need to know." Arwen smiled as she walked in to their bedroom. Legolas followed and silently watched as Arwen put Eldarion down on a cabinet next to the crib. "Watch carefully." Legolas made sure he paid attention as Arwen showed how he supposed to change a nappy. Legolas wrinkled his nose at the thought, but if that meant that he would be serving Mistress well… "See, it is not that hard." Arwen said as she dressed Eldarion again. "Would you like to hold him?"
"Yes, Mistress." Legolas replied. If he could, he would not, but he had to if he wanted to serve Mistress.
"Pick him up under his arms." Arwen instructed as she watched. "That is right, you can also hold your hand under his bum if that his easier." Arwen smiled as Eldarion happily sat on Legolas' arm. "Now you may put him into his crib, then he can nap for a little while." Legolas complied as he gently lowered the child in the crib. Arwen gently tucked the child in. "Well done, Legolas." Arwen praised. "Now we have time to do something fun. Or would you rather go and work in the kitchens with Maedos?"
"Kitchens with Master Maedos." Legolas softly replied. If he was given a choice he would do rather that than sitting idle the whole afternoon, even if he knew that Mistress did not like the choice.
"Off to the kitchens you go." Arwen said, a lot less enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Mistress." Legolas replied before he quickly made his way to the kitchens.
"Hullo Legolas!" Maedos greeted with a smile before he swallowed his bite of apple. "I had not expected you here."
"I choose to come." Legolas replied when it seemed that Maedos was waiting for him to say something.
"That is good, I need a hand anyway." Maedos smiled and walked over to one of the large tables. "I was going to make some orange cakes. You may help me if you like. After we make the cakes we can also make some apple pie."
"Yes, Master Maedos. I would like to help." Legolas softly replied as he watched Maedos dump a bag of the orange-skinned fruits on the table.
"We will peel them later. First we need to make the dough." Maedos said as he collected a bowl and filled it with flour and added water. Sugar and a egg went also in the bowl before Maedos mixed the ingredients. "Now we make small cups from them." Maedos said as he made a small ball from the dough, before he shaped it in a miniature bowl.
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied. Maedos made little balls from the dough in the bowl while Legolas made the forms. When the dough had run out, they had at least twenty pastries. Maedos was about to show Legolas how he supposed get rid of the thick skin that protected the fruit, when he saw Legolas had already skinned two of the oranges.
"That is fast!" Maedos exclaimed while he smiled. "One orange is enough for one cake."
"Yes, Master Maedos." Legolas replied, and soon enough all cakes were in the oven.
"Would you like to start with the dough for the apple pie?" Maedos asked as he popped a part of the orange in his mouth.
"Yes, Master Maedos." Legolas replied as he gathered the ingredients to start a batch of dough. Soon enough Maedos appeared at his side again as he started to clean and dice the apples. When Legolas had finished his dough he coated a ceramic form with a thin layer of butter before he spread out the dough. He helped Maedos coat the apple with sugar and cinnamon before filling the pie. As the apple pie went into the oven, the orange cakes were finished. Maedos put the plate with the cakes on the table so they could cool.
"How is it to be around king Elessar?" Maedos asked as he sat down.
"Master is very kind." Legolas replied after he realised that one of the names of his Master was Elessar.
"Why so?" Maedos inquired. He had often heard and even seen himself that the king was very kind of heart. Legolas held out his right hand, showing the wound from the broken pitcher, that now was merely a pink line.
"Master did not punish me after I lied to him." Legolas softly explained as he let his arm hang.
"Who do you like better; King Elessar or Lady Arwen?"
"Master." Legolas replied after a while. He really did not want to make a choice between them, but Master would not get upset if he wanted to go and help in the kitchens, while Mistress would get upset. Besides, he liked Master's voice better than Mistress'.
"What about the Steward of Gondor, Lord Faramir?" Maedos curiously inquired.
"Master Faramir knows how it feels." Legolas whispered as Legolas dipped his head so that his chin was touching his breast.
"Feels what?" Maedos asked confused, but Legolas shook his head. With a small sigh Maedos stood. "Would you like to have a cake?" He asked as he went to dust the cakes with a light coat of powdered sugar.
"Cakes are not for servants." Legolas replied.
"We as servants must be sure that what we serve must taste well?" Maedos reasoned, knowing they would not need to eat both a full cake. He just wanted the elf to enjoy something nice for the hard work he had been doing with him for at least a week now. Maedos took a cake for himself and sat down. "Go ahead, take one."
"Yes, Master Maedos." Legolas softly replied. It now made sense that the servants had to taste the food for their Masters. Who knows it would be poisoned, then it would be better the slave would die instead of master. Legolas also took a cake and took a small bite from the cake. Legolas could not help but let his eyes widen in delight as sour as well as sweetness exploded in his mouth. Maedos softly chuckled as he licked the sugar from his fingers.
"Wipe your face." Maedos laughed as he noticed the powdered sugar surrounded Legolas' mouth. Maedos handed him a cloth. "Why don't you go and bring some cakes to king Elessar and Lord Faramir while they are working? I am sure they would like it."
"Yes, Master Maedos." Legolas replied after he had wiped his face clean. Maedos piled several cakes on a plate before he handed it to Legolas.
"Off you go." Maedos shooed him away.
"Is there a cake left for me?" Mathem asked as he eyed the left over cakes on the baking plate.