Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places
thereof
Kit Cloudkicker: A lot of people are afraid of the dark. It's actually a fear of the unknown, usually, not the dark itself but what it conceals.
Tadriendra of Mirkwood: Thanks. Yes, he is, it's supposed be symbolic but it came out so badly that you can just take it at face value.
Soulsearcher: Yeah, gambols are great, aren't they? I like those scenes, too. It was supposed to be symbolism but came out badly.
Slg: Always assured.
*****
The next morning, Elrohir pointedly does not wake Legolas up, but waits patiently. When Legolas does wake, it is to find a pair of grey eyes about two inches away from his own. For a moment he wonders what is going on, then it occurs to him, and he cries out, "Ai! Elrohir, you startled me!"
"Scared you, more like!" replies Elrohir, practically bouncing up and down. Legolas yawns and begins very slowly to wake himself up, groggy despite his shock. "Come on, I want to eat something!" Elrohir exclaims. "And I would bet that you are hungry, too. Legolas! LegolasLegolasLegolas, come on!" This behavior bothers Legolas just slightly, as he is not at all used to such pleasure-filled beings, but he also finds it rather a comfort in some ways, also. Before he can meditate on this his hand is grabbed, and Elrohir begins dragging him from the room, down the corridor.
Within moments Legolas is awake enough to keep up with Elrohir, and he does so, trotting along. As the two turn down one hall, shouts reach them. Elrohir ignores them, but Legolas glances through an open doorway to see what is going on. "Ah! Nana!" Arwen exclaims, reaching back to touch her hair. Celebrían sits behind her daughter, a brush in one hand and raven locks in the other.
"I cannot help it, Arwen, if you insist upon squirming!" replies an exasperated Celebrían. It is clear from her tone that she has no intention of harming her daughter, but every intention of parting her hair.
"But Nana, I--Legolas!" Having glanced up at just that moment, Arwen catches sight of him standing in the doorway, watching her, just slightly amused. She jumps to her feet and runs to hug him. "It is good to see you again, Legolas!" she says.
"It is good to see you too, Arwen!" replies Legolas with earnest enthusiasm, lifting her into the air for just a moment before setting her down again. "You have gotten much bigger since last we met!"
"One day I'll be as big as you and my brothers!" she announces, or promises. "Even bigger, maybe!"
"That well may come to pass, Arwen," Legolas says. He kneels to be on the same level as his small companion before he continues, "but right now I think your Naneth needs to finish brushing your hair, and I have to take Elrohir to get something to eat before he gets to be grumpy."
"All right," Arwen giggles. "Go on then, Legolas, I shall see you later. Namaarie for now, Legolas!"
"Namaarie." Legolas stands, smiling once at Celebrían, who returns his smile. "Come on then, Grumpy," says Legolas to Elrohir, continuing down the hall.
"Oh, you!" exclaims Elrohir, poking at his friend's stomach. Legolas dodges and Elrohir lunges yet again. In this manner they continue on down the hall, poke and dodge, until Legolas enters the dining hall at a full run, stopping short only to have Elrohir slam into him, toppling them both. "Get off of me!" Legolas commands playfully, shoving Elrohir over. The two pick themselves up, brush off their pyjamas, and look about.
"Er. . ." Elrohir takes one look at his father and knows that he is either in very big trouble, or about to be told how incredibly funny he is being. "Good morrow, Ada!"
"Good morrow, Elrohir," Elrond replies, smiling. "And good morrow, Legolas." To this Legolas inclines his head slightly. Elrond wonders, for moments before Legolas came crashing into the dining hall, and now he is not even speaking. What is going on with him? "So, I suppose you have both been out falling down staircases and playing with fire?"
"Oh, of course!" Elrohir says with a grin. "And we thought now we would eat, because it is such a tiresome task and we should hate to have to take care of it later!"
"Well, go on then," Elrond says, motioning, and the boys realize there are plates on the table already. "Did you really think I did not know you were awake? Honestly, a Balrog makes less noise than you two at once." He is just teasing them, but Legolas blushes deeply and mutters something about being sorry. "Only teasing, Legolas."
"Oh--oh, of course, it--I knew that, of course," Legolas stammers, then decides he ought to be quiet right about now and begins to eat. Elrohir follows this lead, not out of embarrassment but out of hunger. However, it is only a matter of minutes before they are interrupted yet again, this time by Elrohir's identical twin brother, Elladan.
"Legolas!" Elladan exclaims. "Here is a nice surprise, you in Imladris and all."
"Oh. . .hello, Elladan," Legolas replies. Elladan drops down beside his brother and friend.
"Listen, Legolas," he mutters as the four continue with their meal, "I know that before, I was. . .just a bit over-active. I apologize, I really do, and by my honor I am a changed Elf. Can you forgive me, if I ever made you uncomfortable?"
"Of course I can," Legolas replies. He does not want to reply that the number of times Elladan made him uncomfortable is difficult to count, that the elder twin's constant liveliness sent shivers up his spine, that Elladan's loudness had haunted his dreams, because to say this would be extremely rude. If indeed Elladan is changed--and Legolas intends on giving him a fair chance--then perhaps Legolas and Elladan can be great friends after all. Elrohir had certainly changed, so who was to say that Elladan had not as well?
"What are you boys going to do today?" Elrond asks, interrupting the silence.
"Why not take Legolas to the pond?" Elladan suggests. "It is always fun after a storm."
"Yes, but I think maybe we should not go to the pond, because it might rain again," Elrohir replies. In truth he only worries that Legolas will not want to go to the pond because swimming would mean revealing the old scars, which will never fully heal.
"What are you talking about, it is a perfect day!"
"Yes, isn't it odd how the sun always shines the brighter after it has rained?" Elrohir replies through clenched teeth. Why doesn't Elladan understand!
"Wait! Drat! Oh, confound it all, I just realized--Elrohir, I have to go to the clearing about the other side of the valley--if that is all right with you, of course, Ada--I left something there last week and I need to go and get it back," Elladan says, in a very realistic impression of someone who has lost something.
"All right, we can go with you," Elrohir replies. "What did you leave?"
"Rope."
"Oh, Elladan!" exclaim Elrond and Elrohir together. Elrond asks, "You were not trying to. . .? Elladan, please tell me you were not!"
Elladan blushes deeply and mutters into his food, "I am very sorry, Ada."
Before Legolas gets a chance to ask what Elladan is sorry for, Arwen comes bounding in, her hair plaited in one braid down her back, but already flying loose about her face. "Elladan!" she squeals, hugging him. "Legolas! Elrohir!" and she hugs them as well, before climbing onto the bench beside them. "What are we doing today?" she asks them excitedly.
Elladan and Elrohir glance at each other. "We?" Elladan asks. Elrohir says, more gently, "Arwen, Elladan and I were going to spend the day with Legolas- -"
"You hate me!" she wails. "You always want to be rid of me!"
"No, no, Arwen, we do not hate you, not at all, we only--we just--" Elrohir struggles for a reasonable explanation. "Arwen, please, stop crying!" To everyone's surprise she does, then she fixes her gaze on each of them in turn and announces, "Well I don't like you either!" before storming out of the room.
"Should somebody go after her?" asks Legolas.
"Nah, Arwen is just being dramatic. She'll be all right, given an hour or two. Come on," Elladan says, wiping his hands on his trousers thoughtlessly as he stands up, his mouth still half full, "let's go and fetch that rope."
"Yes, we ought to." Elrohir follows his brother out of the room, saying, "meet us outside, all right, Elladan?"
"Yes, all right. . ." their voices fade away down the hall. Legolas is just about to follow them, when a light touch on his shoulder stops him.
"Legolas, wait," Elrond says--does not command, but says. Legolas freezes. "Legolas. . .are you. . .all right?"
"Why would I not be?" asks Legolas. He is worried now. Does he seem not all right?
"When last I saw you, you were in a bad way," Elrond explains, "I only wanted to be sure you no longer were."
"No, I am fine," Legolas replies.
"Good, that is very good." After a pause, in which Elrond obviously has something to say but is not very willing to say it, the Elven lord says, "I do not mean to speak ill of your father and mother, Legolas, but you know. . .well, we are here for you, whenever you need."
Legolas does not know what to say to this. He swallows hard, trying to think; what would be appropriate? "Er. . .thanks. . .but, with all respect, why?" he cannot help but ask.
"I suppose," says Elrond, as though this were a perfectly normal question, "because I like you, Legolas. You are a thoroughly good and true person, with a very bright future. And even if this were not so, you are a brother to my son, and in this manner you are a son to me. It is difficult to explain matters of the heart, even I do not presume to understand them. Some things just need to be accepted."
Legolas nods. "Yes, sir."
"Go on then, the twins are waiting."
*****
"Elladan, what were you trying to do?" Legolas asks, and a just question. The rope that they have come to retrieve is stretched across a clearing, tied around two tree trunks, about six inches off the ground. Testing it, pressing one foot against it, Legolas finds that the rope is taut and springy.
"Look," Elladan says, slightly annoyed, and he stands on the rope, his arms extended slightly for balance. As his friend and brother watch, Elladan takes one step forward, then another, walking slowly across the rope. To keep himself from panicking, he hums softly. One foot in front of the other, repeat, repeat, repeat. . .Elladan waits until he can press one palm firmly against the tree opposite where he started, then leaps from the rope to the ground, bowing with a flourish. "Not trying, my dear Legolas."
"Of course, you fool, coming out here every day for Valar only know how long, you ought to be proficient by now!" Elrohir exclaims.
Elladan grins. "I learned by moonlight," he says proudly.
"Oh?" Legolas can think of nothing to say. All morning, as he and the twins headed for this clearing, and this rope, Legolas's thoughts remained on what Lord Elrond had told him. Even now, he is not completely with his friends. They both stare at him oddly, without realizing, and Legolas decides it is about time he snapped out of this daze. "May I have a go then, Elladan?" he asks, remembering the good feeling of a pounding heart from danger, or from breaking the rules.
"Legolas!" Elrohir moans. "Elladan got caught sneaking out and is not even supposed to walk the rope himself, don't you go and try it."
"Come on, Elrohir, it is only one time, nothing can happen!" Legolas exclaims. Elladan grins at him, but Elrohir looks at him strangely.
"You used to have more sense than that."
"This is only for a thrill," Legolas says quietly, pulling aside his friend. "Just one quick, cheap thrill. But Elrohir, if you really do not want me to do this. . ." he means to say 'you can just look away', but then something inside of him begins to swell, some feeling he identifies as gratitude, for the last time the two were together and everything Elrohir did, and Legolas suddenly knows the truth. "If you really do not want me to do this, just say the word and we can go back right now."
Elrohir takes a deep breath. He would be uneasy if Legolas tried to walk the rope, and he knows it. However, they are yet young, and Legolas only seeks a thrill. He probably will not be hurt, and there is no need to spoil his fun. "No, Legolas, you should go," Elrohir forces himself to say. "If you want to, you should."
Legolas looks into Elrohir's eyes. Everything is clear through the unguarded eyes of a child, and Legolas knows that Elrohir is only worried for him. Again, he feels that foreign stirring from within him. Elrohir saved my life, he thinks. Legolas turns back to Elladan, and Elrohir feels his heart leap into his throat. "Come on, Elladan, the sun is already high, let us take the rope and be gone."
"Right," Elladan says with a nod, "right."
*****
TBC
Kit Cloudkicker: A lot of people are afraid of the dark. It's actually a fear of the unknown, usually, not the dark itself but what it conceals.
Tadriendra of Mirkwood: Thanks. Yes, he is, it's supposed be symbolic but it came out so badly that you can just take it at face value.
Soulsearcher: Yeah, gambols are great, aren't they? I like those scenes, too. It was supposed to be symbolism but came out badly.
Slg: Always assured.
*****
The next morning, Elrohir pointedly does not wake Legolas up, but waits patiently. When Legolas does wake, it is to find a pair of grey eyes about two inches away from his own. For a moment he wonders what is going on, then it occurs to him, and he cries out, "Ai! Elrohir, you startled me!"
"Scared you, more like!" replies Elrohir, practically bouncing up and down. Legolas yawns and begins very slowly to wake himself up, groggy despite his shock. "Come on, I want to eat something!" Elrohir exclaims. "And I would bet that you are hungry, too. Legolas! LegolasLegolasLegolas, come on!" This behavior bothers Legolas just slightly, as he is not at all used to such pleasure-filled beings, but he also finds it rather a comfort in some ways, also. Before he can meditate on this his hand is grabbed, and Elrohir begins dragging him from the room, down the corridor.
Within moments Legolas is awake enough to keep up with Elrohir, and he does so, trotting along. As the two turn down one hall, shouts reach them. Elrohir ignores them, but Legolas glances through an open doorway to see what is going on. "Ah! Nana!" Arwen exclaims, reaching back to touch her hair. Celebrían sits behind her daughter, a brush in one hand and raven locks in the other.
"I cannot help it, Arwen, if you insist upon squirming!" replies an exasperated Celebrían. It is clear from her tone that she has no intention of harming her daughter, but every intention of parting her hair.
"But Nana, I--Legolas!" Having glanced up at just that moment, Arwen catches sight of him standing in the doorway, watching her, just slightly amused. She jumps to her feet and runs to hug him. "It is good to see you again, Legolas!" she says.
"It is good to see you too, Arwen!" replies Legolas with earnest enthusiasm, lifting her into the air for just a moment before setting her down again. "You have gotten much bigger since last we met!"
"One day I'll be as big as you and my brothers!" she announces, or promises. "Even bigger, maybe!"
"That well may come to pass, Arwen," Legolas says. He kneels to be on the same level as his small companion before he continues, "but right now I think your Naneth needs to finish brushing your hair, and I have to take Elrohir to get something to eat before he gets to be grumpy."
"All right," Arwen giggles. "Go on then, Legolas, I shall see you later. Namaarie for now, Legolas!"
"Namaarie." Legolas stands, smiling once at Celebrían, who returns his smile. "Come on then, Grumpy," says Legolas to Elrohir, continuing down the hall.
"Oh, you!" exclaims Elrohir, poking at his friend's stomach. Legolas dodges and Elrohir lunges yet again. In this manner they continue on down the hall, poke and dodge, until Legolas enters the dining hall at a full run, stopping short only to have Elrohir slam into him, toppling them both. "Get off of me!" Legolas commands playfully, shoving Elrohir over. The two pick themselves up, brush off their pyjamas, and look about.
"Er. . ." Elrohir takes one look at his father and knows that he is either in very big trouble, or about to be told how incredibly funny he is being. "Good morrow, Ada!"
"Good morrow, Elrohir," Elrond replies, smiling. "And good morrow, Legolas." To this Legolas inclines his head slightly. Elrond wonders, for moments before Legolas came crashing into the dining hall, and now he is not even speaking. What is going on with him? "So, I suppose you have both been out falling down staircases and playing with fire?"
"Oh, of course!" Elrohir says with a grin. "And we thought now we would eat, because it is such a tiresome task and we should hate to have to take care of it later!"
"Well, go on then," Elrond says, motioning, and the boys realize there are plates on the table already. "Did you really think I did not know you were awake? Honestly, a Balrog makes less noise than you two at once." He is just teasing them, but Legolas blushes deeply and mutters something about being sorry. "Only teasing, Legolas."
"Oh--oh, of course, it--I knew that, of course," Legolas stammers, then decides he ought to be quiet right about now and begins to eat. Elrohir follows this lead, not out of embarrassment but out of hunger. However, it is only a matter of minutes before they are interrupted yet again, this time by Elrohir's identical twin brother, Elladan.
"Legolas!" Elladan exclaims. "Here is a nice surprise, you in Imladris and all."
"Oh. . .hello, Elladan," Legolas replies. Elladan drops down beside his brother and friend.
"Listen, Legolas," he mutters as the four continue with their meal, "I know that before, I was. . .just a bit over-active. I apologize, I really do, and by my honor I am a changed Elf. Can you forgive me, if I ever made you uncomfortable?"
"Of course I can," Legolas replies. He does not want to reply that the number of times Elladan made him uncomfortable is difficult to count, that the elder twin's constant liveliness sent shivers up his spine, that Elladan's loudness had haunted his dreams, because to say this would be extremely rude. If indeed Elladan is changed--and Legolas intends on giving him a fair chance--then perhaps Legolas and Elladan can be great friends after all. Elrohir had certainly changed, so who was to say that Elladan had not as well?
"What are you boys going to do today?" Elrond asks, interrupting the silence.
"Why not take Legolas to the pond?" Elladan suggests. "It is always fun after a storm."
"Yes, but I think maybe we should not go to the pond, because it might rain again," Elrohir replies. In truth he only worries that Legolas will not want to go to the pond because swimming would mean revealing the old scars, which will never fully heal.
"What are you talking about, it is a perfect day!"
"Yes, isn't it odd how the sun always shines the brighter after it has rained?" Elrohir replies through clenched teeth. Why doesn't Elladan understand!
"Wait! Drat! Oh, confound it all, I just realized--Elrohir, I have to go to the clearing about the other side of the valley--if that is all right with you, of course, Ada--I left something there last week and I need to go and get it back," Elladan says, in a very realistic impression of someone who has lost something.
"All right, we can go with you," Elrohir replies. "What did you leave?"
"Rope."
"Oh, Elladan!" exclaim Elrond and Elrohir together. Elrond asks, "You were not trying to. . .? Elladan, please tell me you were not!"
Elladan blushes deeply and mutters into his food, "I am very sorry, Ada."
Before Legolas gets a chance to ask what Elladan is sorry for, Arwen comes bounding in, her hair plaited in one braid down her back, but already flying loose about her face. "Elladan!" she squeals, hugging him. "Legolas! Elrohir!" and she hugs them as well, before climbing onto the bench beside them. "What are we doing today?" she asks them excitedly.
Elladan and Elrohir glance at each other. "We?" Elladan asks. Elrohir says, more gently, "Arwen, Elladan and I were going to spend the day with Legolas- -"
"You hate me!" she wails. "You always want to be rid of me!"
"No, no, Arwen, we do not hate you, not at all, we only--we just--" Elrohir struggles for a reasonable explanation. "Arwen, please, stop crying!" To everyone's surprise she does, then she fixes her gaze on each of them in turn and announces, "Well I don't like you either!" before storming out of the room.
"Should somebody go after her?" asks Legolas.
"Nah, Arwen is just being dramatic. She'll be all right, given an hour or two. Come on," Elladan says, wiping his hands on his trousers thoughtlessly as he stands up, his mouth still half full, "let's go and fetch that rope."
"Yes, we ought to." Elrohir follows his brother out of the room, saying, "meet us outside, all right, Elladan?"
"Yes, all right. . ." their voices fade away down the hall. Legolas is just about to follow them, when a light touch on his shoulder stops him.
"Legolas, wait," Elrond says--does not command, but says. Legolas freezes. "Legolas. . .are you. . .all right?"
"Why would I not be?" asks Legolas. He is worried now. Does he seem not all right?
"When last I saw you, you were in a bad way," Elrond explains, "I only wanted to be sure you no longer were."
"No, I am fine," Legolas replies.
"Good, that is very good." After a pause, in which Elrond obviously has something to say but is not very willing to say it, the Elven lord says, "I do not mean to speak ill of your father and mother, Legolas, but you know. . .well, we are here for you, whenever you need."
Legolas does not know what to say to this. He swallows hard, trying to think; what would be appropriate? "Er. . .thanks. . .but, with all respect, why?" he cannot help but ask.
"I suppose," says Elrond, as though this were a perfectly normal question, "because I like you, Legolas. You are a thoroughly good and true person, with a very bright future. And even if this were not so, you are a brother to my son, and in this manner you are a son to me. It is difficult to explain matters of the heart, even I do not presume to understand them. Some things just need to be accepted."
Legolas nods. "Yes, sir."
"Go on then, the twins are waiting."
*****
"Elladan, what were you trying to do?" Legolas asks, and a just question. The rope that they have come to retrieve is stretched across a clearing, tied around two tree trunks, about six inches off the ground. Testing it, pressing one foot against it, Legolas finds that the rope is taut and springy.
"Look," Elladan says, slightly annoyed, and he stands on the rope, his arms extended slightly for balance. As his friend and brother watch, Elladan takes one step forward, then another, walking slowly across the rope. To keep himself from panicking, he hums softly. One foot in front of the other, repeat, repeat, repeat. . .Elladan waits until he can press one palm firmly against the tree opposite where he started, then leaps from the rope to the ground, bowing with a flourish. "Not trying, my dear Legolas."
"Of course, you fool, coming out here every day for Valar only know how long, you ought to be proficient by now!" Elrohir exclaims.
Elladan grins. "I learned by moonlight," he says proudly.
"Oh?" Legolas can think of nothing to say. All morning, as he and the twins headed for this clearing, and this rope, Legolas's thoughts remained on what Lord Elrond had told him. Even now, he is not completely with his friends. They both stare at him oddly, without realizing, and Legolas decides it is about time he snapped out of this daze. "May I have a go then, Elladan?" he asks, remembering the good feeling of a pounding heart from danger, or from breaking the rules.
"Legolas!" Elrohir moans. "Elladan got caught sneaking out and is not even supposed to walk the rope himself, don't you go and try it."
"Come on, Elrohir, it is only one time, nothing can happen!" Legolas exclaims. Elladan grins at him, but Elrohir looks at him strangely.
"You used to have more sense than that."
"This is only for a thrill," Legolas says quietly, pulling aside his friend. "Just one quick, cheap thrill. But Elrohir, if you really do not want me to do this. . ." he means to say 'you can just look away', but then something inside of him begins to swell, some feeling he identifies as gratitude, for the last time the two were together and everything Elrohir did, and Legolas suddenly knows the truth. "If you really do not want me to do this, just say the word and we can go back right now."
Elrohir takes a deep breath. He would be uneasy if Legolas tried to walk the rope, and he knows it. However, they are yet young, and Legolas only seeks a thrill. He probably will not be hurt, and there is no need to spoil his fun. "No, Legolas, you should go," Elrohir forces himself to say. "If you want to, you should."
Legolas looks into Elrohir's eyes. Everything is clear through the unguarded eyes of a child, and Legolas knows that Elrohir is only worried for him. Again, he feels that foreign stirring from within him. Elrohir saved my life, he thinks. Legolas turns back to Elladan, and Elrohir feels his heart leap into his throat. "Come on, Elladan, the sun is already high, let us take the rope and be gone."
"Right," Elladan says with a nod, "right."
*****
TBC
