Chapter Ten: A Hopeful Idea

With a sigh of acquiescence, Aragorn managed to make his way back into the warmth of Rivendell. To say the least, it was quite disappointing when the elf you'd been waiting to speak to for what seemed like forever ran away when he saw you. But the Ranger had faced other disappointments in his lifetime, and he'd face this one too.

That was if he could keep said disappointment from running off when he saw Aragorn.

~*~*~

Glorfindel was reluctant to leave Legolas. The younger had been mumbling for some time in his sleep, and Glorfindel wondered what Legolas was seeing in those silver eyes.

He was quite sure it wasn't pleasant but Glorfindel did not want to wake him. Legolas's sleep had been hard in coming, but Glorfindel knew he needed it if only to clear his clouded mind. Glorfindel stroked Legolas's thin face from his cheekbone to just above his jaw. 

Legolas mumbled something but his breathing did not change—he was still asleep—so Glorfindel stood quietly and left the room even stealthier.

~*~*~

Loud voices rang and he ran until his chest hurt. He knew not what the voices were saying nor to whom they belonged. But he did know that if he didn't run he would suffer. Thick hands grabbed at his hair and he could feel it rip from his scalp as he kept running.

Laughter rang louder than all the voices and then something sharp smashed into his kneecap. He fell and knew no more.

The dark gradually faded into scorching light but he had an odd feeling in his throat that he could not place. His pale skin was entirely exposed and pain was prickling behind his eyes.

They spoke in grunts and in the common tongue. It made his head hurt. Laughter rang again, and then a sharp pain against his ribs.

Dirty hands gripped his shoulders and flipped him over so his face was in the dirt. Then came the most excruciating pain he had ever known . . .

~*~*~

Legolas sat up and looked around and realized he was quite alone and, debatably, quite safe. He drew his knees to his chest and rubbed absently at his right kneecap until he didn't even know he was doing it anymore.

His throat had that same funny feeling, and he dug his short, clean fingernails into the flesh of his free hand. Then he sobbed into his knees and wished Glorfindel were here.

Glorfindel…

He rose to his feet shakily and went to find the elf lord.

~*~*~

A soft knock came for the second time that night, and Glorfindel was sure he would find Aragorn staring at him on the other side of the door. He debated opening it or not, then decided he had better.

But standing on the other side of the door was not the son of Arathorn, but Legolas. Eyes down cast and arms wrapped around his sides, mouth drawn into a tight line and his posture straight as any elf-noble.

"Legolas, are you well?"

Legolas did not respond but his chest heaved slightly and his eyes became very bright. Glorfindel opened the door wide and allowed the other admittance. Legolas promptly collapsed onto Glorfindel's bed and wrapped his arms around his knees.

"What is it?" Glorfindel kept his voice soft as he shut the door and sat on the bed some distance from Legolas.

"I…It is nothing," Legolas said into his knees. Glorfindel thanked elven hearing for having caught it all.

"Nay, it is something. But if you do not wish to speak of it, I will not make you."

Legolas looked up and caught Glorfindel's eyes. They stared at each other for a long while and Glorfindel felt that he could almost read Legolas, but he was just out of his grasp and remained an enigma.

"Glorfindel, may I sleep here this night?" Legolas had looked away, towards the window. The curtains were closed.

Glorfindel thought this may not have been the best idea, but nodded his assent. "Of course."

Legolas smiled softly and then lay down upon Glorfindel's bed. Glorfindel sat on the edge of the bed, ready to find somewhere else in the ample room to sleep. As he stood thin fingers clutched at his wrist.

"Stay with me," the tiny voice pleaded.

~*~*~

Aragorn found himself outside Elrond's study; he cursed his evil feet for bringing him here. Elrond could just about read his mind.

He was about to turn away when the door opened soundlessly, and Elrond smiled at him knowingly. "Something on your mind?"

Perhaps the elf could read minds, but more likely than that was that he just knew Aragorn too well. "Only a small matter, I would not disturb you with it."

"I would like to be disturbed this night, come Estel, tell me your trouble." Elrond stepped from the door and left it ajar, knowing good and well that Aragorn would follow him into the room.

Aragorn did indeed enter the room and sit. He scratched behind his ear unconsciously, then sat himself adjacent to the elf lord. Elrond was peering at him with curious but innocent eyes.

"You know what they say of the elves, of course, Adar," Aragorn said after the silence between them stretched.

Elrond's lips nearly quirked. "What do they say?"

"Ask them not for advice for they will tell you both yes and no. I cannot help but wonder why I always come to you for advice, surely I am not wise in doing so."

"Or perhaps you are very wise for doing so. Who is to say? Now, are you going to tell me what plagues you or must I beat it out of you?" Elrond smiled now and his eyes were no longer so innocent.

Aragorn allowed himself to smile in return. "You did not tell me you thought him to be the Lost Prince."

"Nay, I did not. But that is not what bothers you."

"Nay, it is not."

Elrond's smile widened at that. "So I will have to beat it out of you?"

"'Tis not necessary, I will tell you willingly. I fear Legolas may have developed a fear of Men."

"Oh?"

"He ran from me when I saw him."

"Perhaps it is something else he fears, Aragorn."

It was Aragorn's turn to wait for further explanation. None was forthcoming. "Well?" he asked after Elrond made no move to speak.

"That is for you to figure out. I am certain he will speak to you if you do not appear so suddenly. I will ask him to speak with you if it is your desire, as I am sure it is wont to be," Elrond said, eyes nearly sparkling.

 Aragorn sighed and shook his head fondly. "I would like that."

"Through it does not assure that he will indeed speak with you."

Another smile flittered with Aragorn's lips. "But at least the attempt will have been made."

~*~*~

Elrond intended to have Glorfindel ask Legolas to speak with Aragorn. As it was quite obvious Legolas was fond of Glorfindel and trusted him deeply. So when he came to Glorfindel's door he wasn't surprised when Legolas opened it, in a fresh tunic with his hair combed. He was almost a different creature entirely.

"Hello, Legolas."

The other smiled warmly, but his eyes did not meet Elrond's. "Hello. Would you like to come in? Glorfindel is getting something for us to drink."

Elrond nodded and stepped into the room. "You are looking better."

"I am feeling better as well," Legolas said sitting in a chair beside the window and drawing his right leg to his chest. He rested his chin upon it. Elrond smiled, no other elf (or man for that matter) would sit as such with him in the room. But Elrond did not mind at all and rather liked the informality even if it were bred from ignorance.

He sat in a chair on the other side of the window. Golden morning light was spilling in through the closed curtain. It made Legolas look quite fey. "Do you remember anything at all?" His tone was gentle and kind.

Legolas's eyes fluttered around the room then rested on the door and finally moved to glance at Elrond. The light caught his eyes and made the silver gleam beautifully. "I am afraid I do not."

Elrond nodded, his body language the same as his tone of voice. "Perhaps in time, then."

Legolas would have nodded if his chin were not resting upon his knee; instead he tilted his head forward just slightly. He brushed his hair away from his face and looked again at Elrond.

"There was another matter I wanted to speak with you about." He waited for Legolas to say something but when he didn't Elrond continued. "If you would like, it might be a good idea to speak with a Man who resides here from time to time. Aragorn, though I believe you know him as Estel?"

At the slight head tilt, Elrond continued on. "He could help you with a number of things, and I believe it would be good for you to see that not all Men are bad."

"I…I like to spend time with Glorfindel."

Elrond nodded and smiled. "And he you, I think. Of course you still can and will, just meet with Aragorn once and see that he too is a friend. We are all your friends here."

Legolas looked uncertain, but then did his little head tilt. "Certainly, Lord Elrond. If you think it wise."

Elrond nodded at him and smiled. "I do. I'll have him come and get you towards the evening."

The slight tilt again. "There is one more matter, Legolas—''

Elrond was cut off as Glorfindel opened the door without making a noise carrying a small tray with food and drink.

"Hello, Lord Elrond," Glorfindel said without missing a beat. He set the tray down on his table then pulled a chair out and sat upon it, facing Legolas and Elrond.

"Glorfindel," Elrond said with a nod. "I was just about to tell Legolas a matter of some importance. Your presence would be very helpful."

Legolas straightened, putting both feet firmly on the floor and glancing from Glorfindel to Elrond.

"Of course," Glorfindel said, smiling at Legolas with reassurance.

Elrond offered a smile as well, then plunged ahead. "I've sent a messenger to Greenwood. We think your father may reside there."

"You know who my father is?" Legolas asked, brow drawing together. Unasked questions filling his eyes.

"We are not certain," Glorfindel said, eyes darting toward Elrond.

"It is likely though," Elrond said looking first to Glorfindel then to Legolas.

"Who is he?" Legolas questioned, knocking the hair from his face and sitting up straighter.

Glorfindel and Elrond shared a long glance. "It would be best not to say anything, until I've received word back from him, Legolas."

Legolas nodded after the silence turned into tension. "I understand."

Elrond smiled warmly then stood. "Good. I'll have Estel come by later."

Legolas nodded as Glorfindel stood to open the door, question in his eyes. "It was good to see you," Elrond said and then was gone.

"Estel?" Glorfindel asked turning to face Legolas. Legolas shrugged then smiled at him.

"Lord Elrond thinks it will be a good idea for me to see that not all Men are…evil." He turned toward the food and drink and sat at the table.

Glorfindel wasn't so sure he agreed. "I thought you feared him."

Legolas shrugged again, eyes troubled. "This may help me."

Glorfindel still looked suspicious but nodded. The results of Legolas's last encounter with Aragorn had not been the best. He'd had an awful nightmare, details still not told, and came running to Glorfindel's room. Not that Glorfindel minded, of course he didn't, but it was a bit odd to share your bed with someone you deeply liked and wake with his arms wrapped around your shoulders. Very odd.

He sighed, and sat across from Legolas, then poured both them a cordial.

"You do not think it a good idea?" Legolas asked his voice very soft. He sipped at the drink and regarded Glorfindel.

"I said naught of the sort. I just worry about you. You are right, Legolas, this may help you some how. It may show you, not only that all Men are not evil, but also that all hope is not evil either."  

Legolas smiled brilliantly, hair and eyes sparkling in the soft light of the closed curtains. "I would like to think you are right."

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