A/N: Apologies for the delayed update! After this one, we have three chapters left.
Chapter 38
As it turned out, Thranduil exhibited no particular desire to see me beheaded once he had swept into the room and his sharp eyes fell on Legolas at my side. On the contrary, he appeared rather pleased as he chose the seat furthest away from Glorfindel and if Elrohir found the prospect of engaging the Elvenking in conversation daunting, he made no show of it.
That was not to say that I would not be glad when he left. He seemed as if out of place in my halls, in a way Legolas had certainly never done. He was too proud for the gentle breezes and the sweet tinkling of water that filled the Valley – too much, simply. I realised, as I watched him, that he had been made for the vast underground caverns where he dwelt, even if it was rather he who had made them. Or Oropher, his father, it was, more likely. And that, I guessed, was the reason for why the Sindarin king of the Silvan elves of Mirkwood lived much like the Dwarves whom he so despised: for Thingol had been King in Menegroth, the Thousand Caves, in Doriath and there Oropher had spent his youth.
I considered all of this as conversation picked up around the table and jars of butter and soft cheese and honey were passed from hand to hand. When finally Mithrandir appeared in the doorway, and looked as though he had already been up for several hours and was minding his own business and only by chance stumbled upon us, the general mood improved even further. It was a rare time in our lives, I would much later reflect, when for a while our hearts knew peace, and sorrow and the threat of sundering lay dormant.
"I think I shall travel westwards," said Mithrandir, after Elladan had pressed him some about his plans. "It shall be a short journey," he promised, when this was met by opposition. "I shall be back for the Midsummer celebrations."
"Good," said Elrohir, "for we have made mention of your fireworks to Legolas and he is keen to see them."
"Is that so?" Mithrandir's eyes were sharp under his bushy eyebrows. "What else, pray, have you signed me up for without my knowledge?"
"I would never keep you from your business," broke in Legolas. "It is true that I have never witnessed the magic of the Istari and I should be excited to do so, but–"
Thranduil had the time to look mildly irritated by his son's interest in the wizard's skills before Mithrandir gave a huff.
"Magic," he said, "is not what you think. What neither of you think. But I suppose you may be forgiven for it." Then he smiled and at once appeared gentler. "You shall have it. And if you will lend me a good horse, Elrond, my return shall be all the more swift. I would never presume to borrow one of the Mirkwood beasts…" He sent the Elvenking a shrewd glance.
"Quite right," said Thranduil coolly.
"Then take your pick from among mine," I told him, with a smile. "But be quick about your business for now you have made a promise."
He gave another huff and grumbled about being ordered around by elflings but I caught the humour in his eyes. When I turned to Legolas, however, I noted a nervous shimmer about him, as if he were unsure if he had been reprimanded or not by the wizard. My first instinct was to speak with him and ease his worry but in the end I said nothing about it. Legolas, I reasoned, would have to find his own footing and forge his own relationships with my family and friends without me easing the way for him. He was young but no child, and I would not treat him as such.
That was when he caught my eye and I clearly saw the need for reassurance in his face. But as if he shared my thoughts, he overcame it and asked instead:
"What will you do today, my lord?
Naturally, I had intended to settle in my study after breakfast and I told him as much, but on my way there, I found myself hesitating. I came to a stop, in the middle of an empty hallway through which, in that moment, nothing but the scent of summer chased. And I remained quite still, staring into the distance.
How many hours, I wondered, had I spent behind my desk. How many years did they make up?
I did not want to know, I decided. Therefore, I spun around on my heel and made for my chambers instead. There, I cast off my clothes in a hurry and, from the very back of my closet, dug out well-worn breeches and a fitted tunic and a good belt. I chose boots with care and redid my hair so that it was kept well out of my face. Then I made for the training grounds.
There was no way to approach them without being seen for here was no scatter of trees. Two humble rivers flowed down from the rock to frame the path and the grass was kept short. Overhead, the sky arched blue and clear and sunlight streamed down upon the figures locked together in an awkward embrace near the centre of the sanded area designated for training. But they did not see me.
Elladan it was, and Legolas, and they had each twisted themselves into uncomfortable positions, almost back to back. Elladan's wooden sword was in his left hand, a clear sign that he must have dropped it and snatched it from the ground in great haste. Legolas right arm was raised and he held a shorter sword, resembling a long dagger, but he was having trouble reaching back to thrust it at his opponent. Supervising them, lowered into a squatting position, was Glorfindel. As I watched, he got up and with some adjustment of their lowered arms I could not see and an experimental nudge at Legolas' knee, got him to spin out of the deadlock.
He moved like the rivers at my feet. And Elladan, my son, eager like midnight, recovered just as quickly. He grinned as he too spun around and lifted his sword for a blow that would have – had he been wielding pure steel and the attack made in earnest – cloven my lover in two, had the latter not slid sideways just in time. Pride and wonder burst into my heart as I watched them move upon the sand with the sunlight flashing in Legolas' hair and dancing in Elladan's eyes.
Transfixed, I stood, until Glorfindel called for an end and the kicked-up dust was given a chance to settle. Elrohir, I saw now, slid off the bench by the fence and came to join them. Glorfindel was pointing something out as I resumed my walking and caught their attention at last.
"Father?" Elrohir, the one of them who was not still panting, stared at me.
"Elrond?" Glorfindel's surprise was in his voice. "Is something the matter?"
"Not so," I said and smiled, but my eyes found those of Legolas and they were wide. Then his gaze left my face and travelled all over my form and, if I were not deceived, a faint flush came into his cheeks.
"I have come to join you, if you will have me," I told Glorfindel. "It has been a while since I tested my strength." I will admit that I took some delight in the way in which he stared incredulously at me.
But he recovered quickly.
"Very well," said he, as something wicked crept into his eye, and he grinned. "This should be interesting. Legolas, fetch your sword for him and we shall see what he remembers."
When Legolas came up to me with the wooden sword, I saw the dust on his face.
"Thank you," I said, reaching for the pommel. Then I gave a weak smile. "Do not expect too much of me."
"I do not know what to expect," he admitted.
"Well…" I tested the weight of the sword. It was light, but its core was of steel and it felt not wholly unfamiliar. "It has been many years since I last did this."
"You will do well, I am sure."
I looked into his dusty face and caught him smiling. "Turn your eyes away, then," I warned him. "And you shall not be disappointed."
But he shook his head, and his smile was both easy and intimate in a way which chased my breath from me. "I could never not look at you, my lord," he said quietly.
So I reached for him and placed a kiss on his lips. He pressed back against me and the sunlight filtered through the dusty air and encased us in a glittering halo.
But Glorfindel's voice came sharp and it ended the kiss:
"Elrond," he complained. "If you have come to shatter Legolas' focus then admit to it instead of making up some lie about recovering your fighting skill."
I laughed as Legolas slid away from me with a regretful look. Then I motioned at the sword Elladan was still holding.
"Give that to Glorfindel," I told my son. "If I am to humiliate myself, I shall not do so without taking him down with me."
My Captain did not hesitate for a heartbeat.
o.O.o
We took turns. After my second round with Glorfindel I watched Legolas and Elrohir work through a series of steps and movements until their brows were shining and their feet almost became tangled. While Elrohir wiped the sweat off his forehead, Legolas made for the bench on which I was sitting.
Perhaps he was too tired to care about what the others might think for when I opened my arms to welcome him into them, he sank down to sit between my legs, and he smiled. He was warm, his blood pulsing and his cheeks burning from fire within as I secured my hold on him and urged him to recline against my chest. He was dusty and sweaty, and his scent was all around me.
"You are skilled indeed," I told him, dropping a kiss to his golden hair.
He tilted his head back and grinned. "You were not bad, my lord."
I laughed. "Say no more," I told him, "if you will say nothing kinder."
He pulled my arms tighter around him and settled more firmly against me.
"I tease you," he said. "You may be a scholar but you are a warrior as well. It shows in the way you move."
On the sand, Elladan had joined his brother and Glorfindel, but none looked too keen to resume the training.
"Oh, I am sure," I said wryly, though I admit I also felt not a little pleased by that assessment.
He laughed again and the sunlight fell in radiant showers where we sat.
"Would it please you if I joined you here more often?" I asked.
But at this he half turned to be able to look me in the eye. As he regarded me, I could almost see his thoughts turning.
"No," he said at last. His eyes reflected the blue sky. "Not if by doing so you seek to prove yourself to me. Only if you enjoy it for what it is, my lord."
"And if I seek to prove something to myself?"
He nodded softly. "Aye, that too, perhaps. If you take care to remember that you are not valued by your skill in battle."
I shook my head, smiling as I did so. "You know my heart."
He made himself comfortable again, resting his head against my shoulder. "I keep it within mine own."
TBC
