Chapter 2
Legolas sat on the window sill in the guest room, looking down on the forest below. This was one of the highest rooms in the palace and the nicest. The prince still did not understand how his father could have let a filthy edan have the nicest room in the palace, especially since Thranduil was the one who had had to prepare the burial for his beloved wife.
Silariel and Thranduil had been wed for over two-thousand years before either had even considered Legolas. But before they could Silariel had come to Thranduil and told him of the wonderful news.
Both rejoiced and became glad, Thranduil praised his wife each night and loved her so very much. They had been inseparable.
But thirty years after Legolas had been born, when he was but a mere child in the eyes of his kin. Silariel, left Mirkwood to visit her homeland of Caras Galadhon.
She had ridden to her death on the back of her glistening white stallion. She knew not that along the road she would meet a troop of men who had lost the very same kind of horse.
They beat her, and left her on the side of the road to die. No one came and her spirit fled to The Halls of Mandos.
Legolas himself had come across her twisted broken body. That sight had haunted him for all eternity.
Tears began to streak Legolas's face and her felt short sobs rack his body as picture of his mother filled his mind.
He turned his burning glaze on the young mortal that lay in the bed a little ways a way. He was sleeping peacefully and his breaths were evened out.
"Curse you edan, I have no words strong enough in any tongue than your own to express my hatred towards your kin." the elven prince hissed at the boy. "I wish you all would die."
Legolas snorted angrily. 'Why did Galanion have me sit watch? I can not stand sitting here.' the elf mused as he got up from the window sill and began to walk towards the table that sat off to the side of the room, right underneath the tapestry. 'I would rather be hunting with my friends than sitting here watching this pig sleep.'
The elven prince sat down and put his head in his hands. Maybe he could fall asleep, then he would not have to watch the mortal. Why did he have to anyhow, I mean it was not like he was going to die from illness.
He turned his eyes on the young man in the bed, he was covered with many quilts and behind his head were many soft pillows. And under one ankle was a barrage of pillows that Galanion had supplied from his own room.
The general had been given leave of the Mirkwood warrior's for a time so that he could see to the boy…considering that he was the only elf in Mirkwood that Estel knew.
"What kind of name is Estel?" Legolas turned the name up and down. "It sounds like a girls name." he scoffed and began to drink some of the water left for them.
"What kind of hope is he? I would have slightly understood if he would have named Elladan or Elrohir Estel or Arwen. But the edan?" Legolas still couldn't understand why the lord of Imladris had taken in the child. He had to be more trouble than he was worth. Getting hurt all the time, or sick.
"Sick….pah!" The prince frowned. "Elves do not get sick! Why did he not adopt another elf?"
Just then as he was musing to himself he heard a knock at the door. He sighed and called out in a loud voice that would have woken Aragorn up, if the healer had not given him drugs. Before Legolas had come, Silfen, the healer had given Aragorn drugs for his ankle…but what the man had not counted on was that they were for sleeping too. So about ten minutes before the elven prince had come into his room, he was asleep. Sleeping quite peacefully.
"Come in!" he knew it was Galanion checking on him, so he did not bother looking up but began to play with the water in the glass, suddenly finding it quite interesting.
"Suilad Legolas."
He turned to see the most beautiful elf maiden in all the kingdom, or at least he thought so. He smiled shortly and went back to his glass, he did not want her to know he had feelings for her in that way. They had been friends since childhood and ever since her two-thousandth birthday Legolas had had different feelings. But he would rather die than let her know.
"Suilad Lingwen." the prince said rather quietly and went about his water.
Lingwen looked to the bed, she smiled gently and walked over to the mortal, who was now turning and mumbling. She laid a hand on his forehead and he stilled.
She turned her deep amber eyes on Legolas and the prince looked up into her eyes. Lingwen carefully covered Aragorn up to his shoulders and walked to Legolas, her steps were graceful and inaudible.
"What is wrong Legolas?" she asked as she sat down at the table and looked deep into his eyes.
"Nothing." he said as grudgingly as he could say it. "It is just…..I wanted to go hunting with my friends, but Galanion said he would LIKE it if I stayed here." Legolas sighed angrily. "And like with Galanion on means, "Do it, or I will have a word with your father." The blonde elf sighed rubbed his eyes. "I do not want to be stuck in a overly warm room with him." he pointed to the still sleeping boy on the bed.
"Oh Legolas, come now! You go hunting all the time…….I talked to Galanion this morning and he said that Estel needs a friend here. They have sent for his father and brothers to come get him, but he can not stay with Galanion all the time, he is a grown elf…..you Legolas are closer in age, well in mind to the child."
"I know but Estel would probably rather stat with-"
"Legolas!!! You know you speak folly! I have been here when he is awake and he does not always get along with Galanion, he said he is very nice and comforting to be around. But he does not feel like he can agree all the time….he says he has no friends to be with, not even at home." She smirked slightly and put a hand on Legolas's.
"Please! He is so lonely, we get along, but I am a girl. He likes to do all the same things you do. I talked to him the whole day yesterday and he loves to hunt, ride, fight, he loves adventure. Just like you. You are not so different." Her eyes shimmered with happiness. She knew about Legolas's hate for man and wanted to change it. But she had tried many times before and none of it went well.
"I don't want to be friends with a man!" the elf prince whispered harshly as tear sprang to his eyes. "I have not yet chosen to forgive them."
"If you only would!" She stood up and looked to Aragorn. "If you would only give him a chance Greenleaf!!!"
"I have given men a chance and look how they repay me!" he turned his head away. "By taking an immortal life that belonged with me."
"Please Legolas. Just take him with you, on one hunt. Just one!" she sat back down and layed her eyes on the elf prince. He had not yet spoke for a while before he looked up at her.
"And if I do not have fun on this hunt, you will leave me alone and make sure the edan never bothers me again!" he asked mirth shimmering in his bright blue eyes.
"I will take him away and you will never hear of the scoundrel ever again!" She swore her eyes just as joyous.
"Well then, start packing his bags." the blonde elf smiled. "The ones headed for Imladris, I mean."
"Legolas, you must wait till he wakes up….and what about his ankle?"
The elf pursed his lips and thought a moment. "We will go on horse back…by tomorrow it should be almost completely better."
Lingwen smiled and got up. "Namarie for now Legolas." she said as she exited the room.
He smiled. "Namarie Lingwen." He blew he what looked like a fake kiss, but with his heart, he meant it.
She laughed and walked out the door, he eyes glistening with happiness.