Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not me.
My Friend, My Brother
Chapter 15 The New Arrival
The duties of the King often meant that Aragorn was away from Minis Tirith for weeks at a time, and rather than stay there alone, Arwen would journey to visit with the Elves of Ithilien. Legolas and his friends had made a miraculous change in the forest already, and it was a happy reminder of the days she had spent as a young elf in Lothlorien.
This particular visit was almost at an end for Aragorn was expected later that day to escort her home. Arwen had spent the morning with her friends, finishing an elaborately woven bedcover they had made for Legolas. Several of the she-elfs were enamoured of their Prince, and Arwen felt sorry for them because she did not think their feelings would ever be returned, for it seemed to her that, sadly, Legolas would never fall in love.
Once the work was completed for the day, Arwen wandered over to the archery range where she knew Legolas was practising. She watched silently as he swiftly fired a succession of arrows, scoring a bulls-eye with every one. Never having been interested in learning to shoot herself, she was nevertheless impressed by his skill.
"How do you do that?" she asked as he walked to the target to collect his arrows.
"Do what?" he said, only just noticing he had an audience, albeit of only one.
"Hit the centre every time, and with such swiftness as well. You make it look very easy." Legolas laughed, thinking of all the hours he had spent on the practice range as a young Elf.
"Once you perfect the technique, you practice until it becomes second nature to nock the arrow and shoot it in one simple movement," he explained.
"Can I try?" she asked.
"Be my guest," he said as he handed her his bow and arrow and watched as she tentatively held the bow and tried to nock the arrow. The attempt met with limited success and the arrow barely went halfway to the target before dropping to the ground. They both laughed merrily at her failure, but she insisted on trying again. The result was the same, much to her disappointment. Legolas offered to assist her next attempt and when she had taken her stance, he stood behind her and put his arms around her so that he could reach her hands,
"If you will allow me?" he asked politely, waiting for her permission to proceed with such an intimate contact.
"Of course," Arwen agreed, for she saw no impropriety in his request, they had been friends since childhood and he had never been anything but proper in his behaviour towards her.
Legolas placed his hands over hers and set them in the correct position. "Now draw back like so... and release." The arrow flew straight and true, and hit directly in the centre of the target. Arwen was thrilled and turned to hug Legolas. A second arrow whistled through the air beside them, a little to close for Legolas' comfort, and in one swift movement he released Arwen and had turned ready to fire at the intruder. Fortunately he did not, for the assailant was none other than Aragorn. Arwen ran to her husband's arms and Legolas allowed them a few moments privacy before he spoke, unable to keep the anger from his voice,
"Aragorn, what ever possessed you to do something so foolish? You could have killed one of us! I almost shot you!" he exclaimed. "You should know better!"
"I just wanted to attract your attention. I had a clear shot; you were in no danger from my arrow. Besides, had you not been so busy embracing my wife, you would have heard me approach," he said eyes twinkling with delight at the Elf's discomfiture.
"Do I detect a note of jealousy?" Arwen asked with a smile, knowing that Aragorn was teasing his friend. "After all Legolas was merely demonstrating how to shoot, a skill I have never learned. He is a wonderful teacher."
"Of that I am certain, but what exactly was it that he was teaching you?" teased Aragorn, the slightly intimate tone of his voice causing Arwen to blush with embarrassment.
"Do you question my honour or my intentions?" Legolas demanded. Although he, too, realised his friend was speaking in jest, he failed to see the humour in the situation.
"Certainly not, I know you would never betray me." Aragorn answered with heartfelt sincerity. "I trust you with her life as I do with mine. When I am away I rest easy knowing you are watching over my beloved."
"I am pleased to hear that," Legolas said, somewhat placated, "but I suggest you try a different method of attracting my attention in future, for I would hate to think that one of my arrows was responsible for depriving Arwen of your company."
*****
In fact, it was Ithilien that was deprived of the company of Queen Arwen the following year, for after the arrival of Prince Eldarion she had little time to spare to visit with her friends. When the news of the birth of Aragorn's heir reached the forest, Legolas immediately rode to the White City to see the babe and to see if Aragorn had managed to survive becoming a father.
As he made his way through the hallway to the King's apartments, Legolas recalled that over the past several months he had never seen his friend so ecstatic and so nervous at the same time. All he had heardAragorn speak about was his fear that he would not know how to handle the responsibility of being a parent.
"I am afraid I can offer no advice in that area. Not only am I not a father, but I have not even seen an elf babe." Legolas had told him on one of the numerous occasions the subject had arisen. This particular time they were sitting quietly in Arwen's garden, as they often did after the evening meal, Aragorn enjoying his pipe; Legolas the warm evening breeze and the starlight. It was a custom that had survived from many years ago in Mirkwood, as it was then called, and had been observed whenever possible ever since.
"But you seem to have no trouble relating to the children here in the City, they all adore you. Is it perhaps that in terms of immortal life you are but a child yourself?" There was no mistaking the mischief in his voice and Legolas answered in kind.
"Children, of any Race are to be cherished, and I find their innocence and naivety very appealing. There may be an element of truth in your jest, but I find I have gained valuable experience from learning to deal with a certain mortal who, despite his age, acts like a child at times. What I will say is this," continued Legolas in a more serious vein, "your child was conceived with love and even though not yet born, he is a joy to you both. He will enter into a world filled with peace and hope for the future. It is a good beginning and I know you will find it within yourself to be the best father you can."
"I can always rely on you for reassuring words, my friend." Aragorn replied, feeling more relaxed about the impending change in his life. Speaking with Legolas always had that effect on him, and he cherished these quiet moments. "HE?" he asked, dropping his pipe in his excitement, suddenly realising what Legolas had said. "Are you saying I am to have a son?"
"That is a question you had best ask Arwen," Legolas had replied, refusing to say more.
*****
Legolas knocked quietly on the door to Aragorn's bedchamber, not wishing to disturb Arwen and the baby. An extremely proud Aragorn smiled radiantly at his friend and ushered him into the chamber, a privilege only afforded to family. Arwen was sitting in the bed delicately cradling a small bundle in her arms and indicated for Legolas to sit beside her on the bed.
"Eldarion, I would like you to meet your 'Uncle' Legolas," Aragorn said so formally that both Arwen and Legolas laughed with delight. Legolas could already sense a change in his friend, the new father, but that could be discussed later. The Elf gazed with wonder at the beautiful little boy in Arwen's arms.
"Welcome to the world, Prince of Gondor," he whispered quietly placing a feather touch of a kiss on the child's brow. "May the light of the Valar ever shine upon you."
My Friend, My Brother
Chapter 15 The New Arrival
The duties of the King often meant that Aragorn was away from Minis Tirith for weeks at a time, and rather than stay there alone, Arwen would journey to visit with the Elves of Ithilien. Legolas and his friends had made a miraculous change in the forest already, and it was a happy reminder of the days she had spent as a young elf in Lothlorien.
This particular visit was almost at an end for Aragorn was expected later that day to escort her home. Arwen had spent the morning with her friends, finishing an elaborately woven bedcover they had made for Legolas. Several of the she-elfs were enamoured of their Prince, and Arwen felt sorry for them because she did not think their feelings would ever be returned, for it seemed to her that, sadly, Legolas would never fall in love.
Once the work was completed for the day, Arwen wandered over to the archery range where she knew Legolas was practising. She watched silently as he swiftly fired a succession of arrows, scoring a bulls-eye with every one. Never having been interested in learning to shoot herself, she was nevertheless impressed by his skill.
"How do you do that?" she asked as he walked to the target to collect his arrows.
"Do what?" he said, only just noticing he had an audience, albeit of only one.
"Hit the centre every time, and with such swiftness as well. You make it look very easy." Legolas laughed, thinking of all the hours he had spent on the practice range as a young Elf.
"Once you perfect the technique, you practice until it becomes second nature to nock the arrow and shoot it in one simple movement," he explained.
"Can I try?" she asked.
"Be my guest," he said as he handed her his bow and arrow and watched as she tentatively held the bow and tried to nock the arrow. The attempt met with limited success and the arrow barely went halfway to the target before dropping to the ground. They both laughed merrily at her failure, but she insisted on trying again. The result was the same, much to her disappointment. Legolas offered to assist her next attempt and when she had taken her stance, he stood behind her and put his arms around her so that he could reach her hands,
"If you will allow me?" he asked politely, waiting for her permission to proceed with such an intimate contact.
"Of course," Arwen agreed, for she saw no impropriety in his request, they had been friends since childhood and he had never been anything but proper in his behaviour towards her.
Legolas placed his hands over hers and set them in the correct position. "Now draw back like so... and release." The arrow flew straight and true, and hit directly in the centre of the target. Arwen was thrilled and turned to hug Legolas. A second arrow whistled through the air beside them, a little to close for Legolas' comfort, and in one swift movement he released Arwen and had turned ready to fire at the intruder. Fortunately he did not, for the assailant was none other than Aragorn. Arwen ran to her husband's arms and Legolas allowed them a few moments privacy before he spoke, unable to keep the anger from his voice,
"Aragorn, what ever possessed you to do something so foolish? You could have killed one of us! I almost shot you!" he exclaimed. "You should know better!"
"I just wanted to attract your attention. I had a clear shot; you were in no danger from my arrow. Besides, had you not been so busy embracing my wife, you would have heard me approach," he said eyes twinkling with delight at the Elf's discomfiture.
"Do I detect a note of jealousy?" Arwen asked with a smile, knowing that Aragorn was teasing his friend. "After all Legolas was merely demonstrating how to shoot, a skill I have never learned. He is a wonderful teacher."
"Of that I am certain, but what exactly was it that he was teaching you?" teased Aragorn, the slightly intimate tone of his voice causing Arwen to blush with embarrassment.
"Do you question my honour or my intentions?" Legolas demanded. Although he, too, realised his friend was speaking in jest, he failed to see the humour in the situation.
"Certainly not, I know you would never betray me." Aragorn answered with heartfelt sincerity. "I trust you with her life as I do with mine. When I am away I rest easy knowing you are watching over my beloved."
"I am pleased to hear that," Legolas said, somewhat placated, "but I suggest you try a different method of attracting my attention in future, for I would hate to think that one of my arrows was responsible for depriving Arwen of your company."
*****
In fact, it was Ithilien that was deprived of the company of Queen Arwen the following year, for after the arrival of Prince Eldarion she had little time to spare to visit with her friends. When the news of the birth of Aragorn's heir reached the forest, Legolas immediately rode to the White City to see the babe and to see if Aragorn had managed to survive becoming a father.
As he made his way through the hallway to the King's apartments, Legolas recalled that over the past several months he had never seen his friend so ecstatic and so nervous at the same time. All he had heardAragorn speak about was his fear that he would not know how to handle the responsibility of being a parent.
"I am afraid I can offer no advice in that area. Not only am I not a father, but I have not even seen an elf babe." Legolas had told him on one of the numerous occasions the subject had arisen. This particular time they were sitting quietly in Arwen's garden, as they often did after the evening meal, Aragorn enjoying his pipe; Legolas the warm evening breeze and the starlight. It was a custom that had survived from many years ago in Mirkwood, as it was then called, and had been observed whenever possible ever since.
"But you seem to have no trouble relating to the children here in the City, they all adore you. Is it perhaps that in terms of immortal life you are but a child yourself?" There was no mistaking the mischief in his voice and Legolas answered in kind.
"Children, of any Race are to be cherished, and I find their innocence and naivety very appealing. There may be an element of truth in your jest, but I find I have gained valuable experience from learning to deal with a certain mortal who, despite his age, acts like a child at times. What I will say is this," continued Legolas in a more serious vein, "your child was conceived with love and even though not yet born, he is a joy to you both. He will enter into a world filled with peace and hope for the future. It is a good beginning and I know you will find it within yourself to be the best father you can."
"I can always rely on you for reassuring words, my friend." Aragorn replied, feeling more relaxed about the impending change in his life. Speaking with Legolas always had that effect on him, and he cherished these quiet moments. "HE?" he asked, dropping his pipe in his excitement, suddenly realising what Legolas had said. "Are you saying I am to have a son?"
"That is a question you had best ask Arwen," Legolas had replied, refusing to say more.
*****
Legolas knocked quietly on the door to Aragorn's bedchamber, not wishing to disturb Arwen and the baby. An extremely proud Aragorn smiled radiantly at his friend and ushered him into the chamber, a privilege only afforded to family. Arwen was sitting in the bed delicately cradling a small bundle in her arms and indicated for Legolas to sit beside her on the bed.
"Eldarion, I would like you to meet your 'Uncle' Legolas," Aragorn said so formally that both Arwen and Legolas laughed with delight. Legolas could already sense a change in his friend, the new father, but that could be discussed later. The Elf gazed with wonder at the beautiful little boy in Arwen's arms.
"Welcome to the world, Prince of Gondor," he whispered quietly placing a feather touch of a kiss on the child's brow. "May the light of the Valar ever shine upon you."