Chapter 21: Promises

If Eleniel had ever remembered Legolas being so miserable in his life, she would have been too young. Even when Legolas' eldest brother died, he was still much too young to remember it. Legolas was nearly fifty years older than her and his brothers were twice that. Legolas, Telegalad, Thranduil, and Sidhion's own love, Aniya, remained in the deepest of wholes she had ever seen any of them close themselves into. There was no talking or seeing any of the royal family even after the funeral for Sidhion, two days after the murder. Thranduil and Telegalad bent their despair on finding the archer who had fired at the prince but their efforts had been to no avail. Not one person had managed to find anything nor could remember ever seeing someone hiding in the trees close enough to shoot accurately. There was no peace in their kingdom; many who wished to stay for the remainder of the festivities opted to leave for the grieving was an unbearable sight amongst the woodland elves. While his father and brother fought to find some peace of mind by searching for Sidhion's murderer, Legolas sought peace in the gardens or in his rooms. Multiple times had his friends and Eleniel tried to comfort him and speak with him but Legolas could not bring himself to speak of Sidhion's death yet. His funeral had been one Legolas would never be able to forget, one brother whose death he was finally old enough to remember and understand. He would find some way to honor Sidhion with this new knowledge.

Legolas wept, for all elves do weep at the loss of beauty and life. He sat in the midst of the forest he so loved, beside the running streams and mourning flowers. The trees wept along with him, their willows and branches bent and dying. The summer months were coming to an end and the fall would be upon them in a week or so.

"May I sit?" Came a quiet voice that even Legolas had to admit he had missed in his somber thoughts. He nodded, though he heard the steps of Estel's feet he could barely hear Eleniel's as he realized moments later she sat beside him in her breeches and shirt, with her strong arms around his shoulders. The touch was instantly comforting. "Legolas…"

"Please don't Estel. I cannot bear to think of Sid this moment." Legolas voice cracked as he whispered to the man beside him. "I have lost two brothers now, but this time I have witnessed one and have been included in the pain of the loss."

"Let us help you then, you were not old enough to understand then what you understand now." Estel said quietly, his hand on Legolas' shoulder.

"Understand that even amongst our fair kind, there is treachery? Must I be so old to understand that Estel?" Legolas glared, red puffy eyes staring into the young man's green ones.

"You are upset, I will leave you then." Estel sighed after getting no further response. Estel singled for Eleniel to come, giving her a look as to say to leave him alone, but she shook her head and clung onto her future husband tighter. He was not going to be rid of her so easily this time, not now that she had cornered him. Telegalad had his wife, Betrilas, to talk some sense into him, and Legolas had her. The King had his generals and he had himself, his sons were of no use to their father's own grieving.

"Do not treat Estel poorly when he only wishes to help you," Eleniel commented sadly, pulling her arms away from Legolas. "He only wishes to help meleth-nin."

"I know…" There was silence. The wind blew around them, the coolness from the water below rising to touch their delicate skin. Shivers tickled Eleniel's spin, making her fidget. Though she was cold now, the sun having started to set, she would remain beside Legolas until he thought to move or speak.

"You are cold." He said, not looking at her.

"Yes, but only a little."

"Go inside El, I wish to be alone." There was ice in his voice. Eleniel had never heard such a tone come from him, even when he was angry Legolas never had a cold voice.

"Will you not speak with me?" Eleniel whispered, her voice smaller than intended.

"Is there anything to speak of at this time Eleniel, beside the obvious misfortune?"

"Yes, plenty!" She had intended on telling her secret for the last few nights but he was impossible to get alone and he did not seem he would be quite so enthusiastic about it either.

"El, leave me be. Please…" Legolas whispered. "I wish to do this by myself."

Eleniel gave a snort and suddenly she was hugging him. "Look at me," she demanded. Legolas turned but did not hold her gazed. "Look at me Legolas or I'll turn your head for you." She threatened. The hint of smile played on Legolas' lips but he met her gaze at last. "Do you remember what you told me when I said the thing? When I said I wish to suffer alone?" Legolas simply looked at her with round, hopeful blue eyes. "You told me once that the light lives in darkness and that the lonely linger on the brink of that darkness. They choose it; you had said I was choosing to linger in that black whole I was creating for myself. You reminded me that you had a hand reached out to me and all I had to do was take it and you would pull me free. I took your hand Legolas, now please, take mine."

"I'm not self-pitying myself El," Legolas scowled. "It's grieving, something you weren't doing."

"You are upset, I'll let that slide." She glared. "What I am saying Your Royal Highhorse, is that there are others who are trying to help you, like Estel for example. Don't push us away. Learn from my mistakes if you must, Legolas. You found me in Lorien after months of hiding and you dragged me here!, where I now have a life and freedom. Just watch who you are when you grieve and remember things do get better, they do."

"He's my brother El…" Legolas whispered, but smiled. The first smile she had seen in days. "It will be like this for a while meleth-nin. I cannot make promises."

Eleniel hugged him tighter. "I know, and I am not asking you for a promise Legolas. I just don't wish you to disappear like I did."

"I'm not going anywhere," Legolas smiled and tucked her into his arms. "I promise."

____________

Mirkwood never fully recovered from the loss of their prince. Sidhion's death was being mourned for a month now. It was then people soon remembered that the youngest Prince and new addition to the council, Lady Eleniel, were in need to be married and quickly. It was not until one morning in October (a/n: I don't know the elven calendars for this and Gandalf mentioned mortal months in the movie so I will use that, please excuse me on this one.) when Eleniel woke up did she find a surprise. Albeit, one she did not particularly like.

"No…" she whispered. Beneath her night gown was a bulge in her stomach, though small, it was still noticeable, very noticeable in fact. Quickly throwing on a robe, Eleniel fled from her rooms to find her maiden Cora. Instead of serving the Lady of the Golden Woods, Cora agreed to be Eleniel's hand maiden and her husband had agreed to switch from Lorien's army to Mirkwood's, as to make the time away from his wife a little less. Cora's rooms were down the hall from Eleniel's, thankfully. Trying not to be so loud and alarming, Eleniel attempted to knock with some kind of grace.

"My Lady Eleniel," At the door stood Lord Idrenion, Cora's husband. "May I help you?" Aware that Idrenion was only wearing breeches and she her night gown, Eleniel made her intentions known quickly.

"May I speak with Cora, it is important." Idrenhion nodded, leading her into a formal sitting area. He left her, saying he would awake his wife. Cora was outside in a matter of moments. The once shy maiden now being a comfortable friend of her companions to Mirkwood, gave Eleniel one stern look and told her to sit.

"It's that bad?" Cora raised an eyebrow; Eleniel nodded feeling very much like a little girl again.

"There is something there." Eleniel jabbed a finger at her stomach. "He doesn't even know Cora! Have you any idea how bad this has just gotten?!"

"You never told him?" Cora gapped, sitting beside her friend.

"How could I, the entire family is still shaken by Sidhion's death. We broke the biggest rule; Thranduil would hang us both if I were to tell them a month and a half ago."

"I see," Cora sighed. "I cannot do anything for you El, you will have to speak with Legolas."

"Can you do it for me?" Eleniel batted her eyelashes and pouting her lip. Since they had become friends, Cora had done a number of favors for her new lady, in which Eleniel found some way to always repay her.

"No, this is your baby. Not mine." Cora smirked. "Scoot, get going."

"Some friend you are," Eleniel grumbled as she got up. "Send me to my death, thank you Cora. I'll remember this when you next ask me for something."

"No my lady, it is you who ask me for favors." She laughed and closed the door leaving Eleniel to get ponder how to confront Legolas on their newest problem – parenthood.