Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.

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Mirkwood's Plague II:

Aftermath

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Chapter 12 ~ Comfort

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At nearly ten that night, after hours of comforting the numerous funeral attendees, Legolas finally said goodbye to the last of his grieving guests.

"Thank you for coming," he said as politely as he could manage through his exhaustion and frustration, shaking their hands with small smiles for each of them.

The last councillor shook Legolas' pale, trembling hand firmly in both his own strong ones. "And we'll discuss the reshuffle of your council in the morning then?" he asked brightly with shrewd blue eyes that seemed to urge Legolas into agreeing with him. Legolas nodded, biting his tongue against the retort that threatened to escape him. "Goodnight, Your Highness," he said, pleased with what he had achieved that day. He released Legolas' hands, which he had been holding in a crushing grip, and stepped back, bowing politely before he left.

"Goodnight," Legolas smiled falsely. And at last the only people who remained were the two rulers of Lothlorien, Gimli, Elrond and Glorfindel. Everyone else had either gone to bed or gone to help with the distraught mourners who had already retired. Legolas walked over and sat down heavily on the couch, sitting back and immediately closing his tired eyes as though he couldn't keep them open any longer. He felt someone sit down more sedately next to him and opened his eyes a crack to see Galadriel beside him. She put her arm over his shoulders and pulled him close, planting a motherly kiss on his forehead. For a moment he just leaned against her, thinking how nice it would be to just fall asleep right here and escape all this forever.

"You did really well today, Legolas," Galadriel said lightly, disturbing his thoughts and he sat up. "We are all very proud of you."

Legolas smiled at her and hauled himself up off the couch with what seemed to him to be a supreme effort. "Forgive me, I think I'm going to go to bed for a while."

"Good. Please do," Elrond smiled kindly. "Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine, thank you."

"Alright. Shout if you need anything at all. We'll all be around."

"Thank you. I had better be ready for my reshuffle tomorrow," Legolas smiled nervously, trying to suppress his yawn.

"Hey, I don't want you worrying about that right now, do you hear? I want you to try and rest tonight and stay in bed tomorrow for as long as you need to. It's been a long few weeks for you and you need the sleep to aid your recovery," Elrond said firmly in his best healer's voice and Legolas just nodded and walked slowly from the room as though a great weight were pressing down on his slumped shoulders.

"Maybe someone should go with him," Galadriel proposed in concern, taking in the prince's downtrodden countenance.

"I'll go and make sure he's alright," Glorfindel offered instantly, striding after the retreating prince and leaving everyone in the ballroom smiling softly after them. "Legolas." The other Elf looked around, surprised to see Glorfindel jogging to catch up with him. "I'll come with you."

"You don't have to babysit me."

"I know. I just wanted to walk with you to your rooms." Legolas nodded curtly and started walking slowly again. Glorfindel followed closely behind, watching the prince carefully. Truth be told, Legolas looked dead on his feet and Glorfindel wasn't really surprised. He himself was tired from the night spent with Legolas so the prince must have been even worse off, especially as he was still recovering from the after-effects of the disease as well as the cure.

When they reached Legolas' door, the prince stopped short at the sight he was met with. Bundles of flowers lay propped against the wall on the floor. Candles burned and Legolas saw countless messages of goodwill to himself, Thranduil and Rumil. Their kindness took his breath away. For long moments he could do nothing but stare at the gifts. People had lost so much of late and yet still they gave. It was a testament to how much they adored their late king and it only made Legolas feel worse. How could he ever live up to such expectations and follow in his father's seemingly perfect footsteps?

Glorfindel brought him from his dark thoughts via a hand on his shoulder. "Come inside," he said softly and Legolas willingly stood aside as Glorfindel opened the door for him. Once inside Glorfindel stoked the fire in the lounge, making sure the flames lapped up before doing the same in the bedroom. Legolas exited the bathroom, wiping his hands on a towel and looking to Glorfindel who was now searching through Legolas' drawers for nightclothes.

"You don't have to stay if you don't want," Legolas said softly, taking his time in meticulously folding up the towel, just needing his hands to be doing something to distract himself.

"As long as you want me here, I'm happy to stay." Legolas smiled gratefully and Glorfindel placed the thick nightclothes he'd chosen on the bed for him. "You should get changed then get into bed. You must be exhausted after today." The prince nodded, picking up the clothes and slipping into the bathroom as Glorfindel pulled the heavy drapes shut. Legolas quickly changed, shivering slightly from the chill of the bathroom. When he opened the door he found Glorfindel reaching up and taking the spare blankets from the top shelf of the closet as if pre-empting his chill. Once he had succeeded in reaching them he made a triumphant noise as though the blankets had been trying to thwart him and he had finally won the battle. He turned to find Legolas looking at him.

"I found some spare blankets, it is cold in here," Glorfindel grinned. Legolas just nodded and moved aside as the Elda laid them out on the bed. Legolas too felt the chill in the room and whipped his dressing gown off the hook and pulled it on. Thick and comfortable as it was, the dressing gown caused a lump to form in Legolas' throat. It had been given to him years back by Thranduil after he did nothing but complain about the draughts coming from the windows. At first he had been mildly insulted by the gift – Elves did not really feel the cold after all – but over time he found it to be his favourite nightwear and often wore it despite his brother's teasing. Legolas now wrapped it tightly around himself, almost completely unaware of Glorfindel watching him closely.

"Legolas," the seneschal prompted after a while and the prince looked up, startled. "Come to bed." Glorfindel held out his hand for him and Legolas slowly walked towards him, gratefully sinking down onto the soft bed. "I'll stoke the fire out there; maybe it'll warm the place up a bit." Glorfindel strode into the other room, piling more wood onto the fire until it was once more burning brightly.

When he re-entered the bedroom, cheerfully saying, "I think it should warm up in here now," he found Legolas sitting in the centre of his large bed, his knees up and his arms wrapped around them, hiding his face in the dark gap as near-silent sobs wracked his slender body. This wasn't wholly unexpected. Legolas had been barely holding it together all day. The sight still brought tears to Glorfindel's eyes and an ache to his heart.

"Legolas," he whispered, not surprised when the prince didn't respond. He walked over to the bed and sat down, only waiting a moment before wrapping his arms around the sobbing prince. Legolas neither pulled back nor moved towards the seneschal, completely lost in his grief for the moment. Glorfindel merely stroked his hair gently, pressing kisses into the golden hair.

After a while, Legolas looked up, covering his tear-stained face with his hands. "I'm sorry," he said, his words muffled by his hands.

"Shh, don't be sorry, mellon nin. Don't be sorry. It's alright." He saw Legolas fighting to control his tears and placed his hand on the prince's arm. "It's alright to cry for your father now. You've been so strong all day, it's alright to let go now if you need to. I'm right here."

"I miss him so much," Legolas sobbed, abruptly throwing himself into Glorfindel's waiting arms and burying himself into the seneschal's warm chest, as if trying to shelter himself from his woes in the Elda's strong presence.

"I know," Glorfindel soothed, his hand stroking the prince's trembling back whilst using the other to hold him tightly. "I've got you. It's alright."

Legolas cried well into the night. He cried so hard he didn't think he'd ever be able to stop; deep, grief-induced sobs that reached his very soul. And Glorfindel just held him tightly through his tears, only uttering reassurances, never once questioning or berating. When it seemed as though he had no energy left inside him to cry, Legolas just laid against his friend consumed by his grief and still Glorfindel held onto him as tightly as when he had been crying.

By the time Legolas felt ready to release his vice-like grip on Glorfindel it was nearly three in the morning. His eyes felt sore, his throat aching from his cries and his whole body felt limp and achy, as if he had cried out every last bit of energy in his body. Glorfindel placed his hands on either side of Legolas' face, wiping the tears away with deft fingers. Legolas tried to avoid Glorfindel's probing eyes but after a moment they met. It felt as though the captain was searching his very soul. At once it felt both liberating and invasive.

"Do you think you could try and go to sleep now? You're exhausted and you need to rest," Glorfindel said softly. Legolas nodded. He was exhausted, more so than he ever remembered being in his life. With Glorfindel's help he managed to climb into bed and pulled the sheets tightly around himself, cocooning himself in their warmth. He turned his head on the pillow so he could look at the seneschal. Glorfindel reached out his hand and smoothed Legolas' hair back from his face. More tears slipped from Legolas' watery blue eyes. "Try and sleep now," Glorfindel whispered, still stroking soft hair in comfort. "I'm right here."

And that night, not too long before dawn, an exhausted Legolas finally cried himself to sleep with Glorfindel keeping watch over him like an attentive guardian angel. His dreams were filled with images of his father, brother and his people all surrounding him and himself being forcibly crowned as King of Mirkwood.

When he next woke it was bright in the room, sunlight shining in through the gaps between the drapes. His eyes were heavy, both from his tears the night before and the tiredness that kept him flat out on the bed. He looked to one side and was slightly surprised to see Glorfindel sleeping in the chair by the bed, his eyes glazed in Elven reverie. Although he hadn't expected it, somehow it felt right that he should be there. He remembered how kind the seneschal had been that night, his arms wrapped around him like a security blanket in which he felt completely safe even at his most vulnerable. He found that he missed that feeling now; missed those arms around him, protecting him from his troubles at least for a short time.

For a while, Legolas drifted in the pleasant state between sleep and waking. He felt that he could just stay that way forever. It felt good to just feel numb for a while. No one seemed too eager to disturb him either as not one other person entered the room as far as he knew. Perhaps Glorfindel had locked the door to prevent him being disturbed, he thought idly as he drifted off again.

In the dining room, Legolas' old friends ate a sombre breakfast, all still mindful of the mood of the staff. It was a quiet affair during which everyone seemed reluctant to break the silence. They ate a simple breakfast – the kitchens were still working on a skeleton staff – and sipped their warm tea.

"How was Legolas last night after we left?" Aragorn asked, finally breaking the silence. "I am sorry we couldn't stay longer."

"You know Legolas. He was putting on a brave face all day. He didn't look so good this morning when I looked in on him although he remained asleep," Elrond answered. "I think the whole thing has knocked him out flat and with any luck that's the way he'll stay for a few days. His body needs the rest after everything it's been put through in recent weeks."

"Do you think I should…?" Aragorn asked, going to stand.

"No, Estel. Glorfindel is still with him, making sure he is well. Let him sleep while he has the chance."

Aragorn nodded, knowing his father knew best in such matters. "I fear our young prince was suffering somewhat last night," Gandalf spoke up, buttering another slice of toast for himself.

"He looked about ready to burst into tears through the whole thing," Elrohir said without even thinking, ever the more truthful – and less tactless – member of the family. Upon the stunned, disapproving silence he looked up and muttered, "Sorry."

"It was indeed a very difficult day for all," Galadriel sighed, sipping at her tea.

"So much responsibility for one so young. On top of everything else he's been through as well. I thought he handled himself remarkably well though, all things considered," Celeborn said.

"So do I," Sam declared before lowering his eyes in embarrassment before Frodo placed a reassuring hand on his arm, showing no one took offence to his joining in the conversation.

"Well, I suppose the real test will come at his coronation," Gandalf pointed out.

"Coronation?" Pippin asked innocently. "You mean that Legolas will be King?"

"Of course. How did you think it would work?" the wizard smiled affectionately.

"Well…I…But it is Legolas."

"Legolas is – and always has been - Prince of Mirkwood, Pippin, even when he was fighting at your side during the War. He is next in line to the throne of the Woodland Realm and the last of the line until he produces an heir. He really has no choice but to accept responsibility of the crown."

"He can't refuse it?" asked Frodo, surprised at the rigidity of Mirkwood's policies that seemed to restrict his Elven friend.

Gandalf thought hard for a moment, glancing at his Elven friends. "I suppose he could if he really wanted to but then Mirkwood would be passed over to the people, with no ruling monarch. And we all know how damaging that can be to a kingdom." He looked pointedly at Aragorn as he said this, of course referring to Gondor, which had nearly fallen into ruin under the rule of the unreliable stewards.

"Legolas would never abandon his kingdom," Aragorn said with absolute certainty.

"Of course he wouldn't," Galadriel agreed, glancing across at her husband as if knowing he wanted to object. Celeborn kept his silence for the time being though.

"Our main concern should be for getting him through this tragedy. We can cross the coronation bridge when we come to it," Elrond stated firmly, ever the sensible healer.

"Quite," Gandalf agreed raising his mug of tea in salute.

Gimli swallowed the last of his scrambled egg and grumpily declared, "It was those damned Elves that tired him out last night. They wouldn't leave him alone for even a minute."

Elrond and Gandalf smiled discreetly at each other before the Elven Lord answered. "Yes, we know, Gimli. Their behaviour was hardly ideal but we must forgive them this one minor indiscretion in their grief for I am sure they meant no intentional harm." Gimli mumbled something under his breath but didn't comment further.

Translations

Mellon nin – My friend

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