Author's Note:
I know exactly what will get all you girls stirring; it's Legolas, isn't it? Our favorite *coughcough*anddownrightprissy*choke* Mirkwood Elf in the fellowship *splutter*whohappenstobetheonlyElfinthefellowship*cough*
WHAT?! I didn't say anything! Don't glare at me like that! :(
Well, be pleased. The *choke*effeminate*wheeze* Elf is in this chapter in detail… along with a secret revealed… intrigued? Read on.
Fëaruin Urulókë
The Tale of Fëagurth
Part 5: Secret Past
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After introducing themselves to the border guards of Mirkwood, Ninrusco, Menellómë and Fëaruin sleepily entered Northern Mirkwood into one of the gardens of King Thranduil, who was expecting them. He welcomed them heartily and gave time for each to bathe and cleanse themselves, before summoning them at the same place within his presence once more.
"Hmm…" Thranduil raised an eyebrow, looking around. "Seemingly Avardelothien is taking longer than I expected."
"What… what is she doing?" Ninrusco stammered, nervous. Thranduil raised his head at the young one, bearing an intrigued smile.
"I know not…" he replied. "Worry not, my young Dúnadan. I understand fully how anxious you are, but while you and Avardelothien are under my watch I can separate you before each your eyes are gouged out by the other. Now, for some things that my daughter has requested I pass on to you in her absence. Menellómë, Avardelothien tells me to make you feel welcome, as very seldom do Hobbits come to my Elven land."
Menellómë bowed, wordless. Thranduil smiled at the little one, before his eyes moved to the next in line beside.
"Avardelothien tells me to welcome you also, of course, even though I have done so already, blood daughter of Crown Prince Eärnur. Avardelothien asked me to inform you that she is keen on meeting you, for you will be the first of the Edain with whom she desires friendship."
Fëaruin bowed before the King. "It is an honor, King of Mirkwood."
"Ninrusco," Thranduil smiled, "I would like to beg pardon for my daughter's disrespectful nature, but she has not left me a message for you."
"Believe me, I understand," Ninrusco drawled, looking miserable.
"In the meantime, slender fox, I would like you to meet my son," Thranduil turned, and called the name of Legolas. Silence dominated for a few minutes until an Elf arrived, obviously quite young, into the scene. Golden was his hair and in brown and green was he clad, with a bow on his back and boots upon his feet. To the company from Gondor the handsome obvious Prince looked sad however, and his eyes were miserable, as he obeyed his father and came forth.
"Meet the company from Gondor, Legolas," Thranduil stated. "These are the blood, foster and step children of Eärnur. Of course you have heard of Fëanna's arrangements to wed Ninrusco?"
"Ah, of course Father," he smiled, the sadness still however present. "I welcome you, slender fox. Of course it is not often that we have Dúnedain in our land unless they have come to discuss important issues or trade, and so I wish you shall love the beauty of my home. I also hope that Avardelothien Fëanna my sister will learn to respect you, for her reaction to this betrothal I do know had not been at its best."
"Neither had mine," Ninrusco laughed, and shook Legolas' hand.
"And Fëaruin, Spirit of the Red Flame and Fire-Dragon of Gondor," he moved on solemnly, even though he had nothing to say to Fëaruin. "I welcome you and hope that you will be good friends with my sister, as she desires…"
He bent down automatically to kiss Fëaruin's hand, as any Prince should to a Lady, but she did not perceive the gesture immediately and instead shook Legolas' hand like any other male would. The Elf immediately stopped in puzzlement, and in the end shook her hand as well, intrigued as he noticed the leggings she masculinely wore. Thranduil, who understood what was happening, struggled to stifle his uncivil laughter.
"And Menellómë, foster daughter of Eärnur," he continued, kneeling to the Hobbit, "It is a pleasure to have you, and I hope you will enjoy your stay here. Seldom has a Hobbit entered our lands for any purpose… let alone a Hobbit of such extraordinary beauty."
Menellómë giggled as the comely Elf kissed her hand, and swooned when he winked and blew her a kiss upon leaving. It was at this that his smile disappeared and the sorrow overcame his eyes again. Worrying but unable to do anything about it, the company of three (and a horse) from Gondor were told to rest awhile, before the Princess of Mirkwood was ready.
* * * * *
Legolas ran away from the scene and wept, hiding behind a tree. He rested his back against it and tried to wipe the tears away before anyone else could see what was happening. He looked back at Menellómë, and seeing such a radiant smile and beautiful eyes he felt tears pricking at his eyes again. I should never have told you to flee! he thought. Ai, Alatamoth… my Radiant Dusk. If only you could remember…
=FLASHBACK=
"Alatamoth!" Legolas yelled as the werewolf dragged the child by her sleeve, its teeth sunk deep into the gown. The child was sobbing and calling after Legolas, blood tricking down her arms and soaking her raiment from where the beast had swiped at her with its claws. The Elf's heart throbbed with pain at the sight of the frightened child, torn between choked tears and screams, and looked around him in fruitless hope.
"Finlos!" Legolas called his lover's name in grief. "Finlos, where are you?! Alatamoth has been taken!"
Ai, Elbereth, Legolas almost hit himself at the realization. What if the wolf had taken his lover as well… two hours had passed since he secretly came to his lover's bedchamber, and instead of finding her, he had found a werewolf instead… and a fearful Hobbit-child screaming in the corner. He shook his head at the bitter memory, and suppressed the urge to scream himself, overcome by anger and distress.
"Curse you!" Legolas cried to the wolf he now could not see now as it had leapt into the bushes. The Elf continued to run nonetheless, calling, "You have taken my wife. You will not take my daughter as well!"
Suddenly, the werewolf leapt onto the path, which made Legolas hasten. He strung an arrow whilst the beast was in clear sight and released it, which made a cry ring through the trees with a heart-shattering pain as the arrow embedded itself in the wolf's back. It released the child, who desperately rose and automatically immobilized the wound with her sleeve, running to Legolas.
"Daddy!" she sobbed, the blood running down her arms and staining her gown. However, Legolas stepped back and pointed into the darkness of the woods beyond Lothlórien, refusing the child's need for comfort.
"Run, Alatamoth!" he cried as the unconscious wolf began to stir. The child nodded and, calling for and mounting her mother's horse Mornië Maránwë she rode for many days, weary with grief, having to camp and ride again, finally collapsing in a garden she did not recognize as a grassy clearing of Minas Tirith. As she ran long and hard she wept bitterly, for through the many days she had heard the choked scream and fierce sob of her father's voice, wailing her mother's name.
=END FLASHBACK=
Legolas was not only grieved at his lover's death, but also he never saw Alatamoth, whose name meant radiant dusk, ever again. Or so he thought, until news of Eärnur's foster daughter- an exceedingly beautiful, approximately ten-year-old Hobbit child who was found near dead by Urulókë of Gondor and willingly adopted- came to Mirkwood. What shocked him the most was that the news traveled so far because of a rare beauty this child possessed- with unusually straight brown hair for a Hobbit, and eyes that were deep and sparkling as the stars of dusk, so gleaming that she was named Menellómë by the family of Eärnur. Legolas' heart had leapt straight into his throat, for this description matched Alatamoth perfectly.
Although it seemed impossible for anyone to keep such a secret that only little ever found out in the end, none save for Finlos and Legolas had known about Alatamoth, presently not even Thranduil and Avardelothien. Legolas had enticed and seduced Finlos when they were both very young, and had made her stay in her chamber during her pregnancy; it was for fear that none would accept that a very young Elf was fathering a child whose also very young mother was half Hobbit. Although Finlos' parents had done so.
Finlos' mother was an Elf, and her father a Hobbit. Only this explained Menellómë's unlikeness to either of the either of the races; for though she inherited the smooth, sleek and straight Elven hair, its brown shade had been inherited from Finlos' Hobbit father. And like her mother she was unusually short for an Elf and tall for a Hobbit, though no one knew now save for Legolas, since he had killed Finlos- the only other who had known- in her werewolf form. But though even though he knew now that Alatamoth was alive, he was determined to keep their past a secret, to let it die with him should he one day sail West… although many knew now the other secret that his lover was truly a werewolf.
Pity her grief had made her lose her memory, he thought. But in some ways it was an advantage, as he thought of the consequences should the news of Menellómë's heritage march blatantly into Mirkwood, claiming Legolas to be her father. But Elbereth, he prayed in relief. I'm glad she's safe…
=FLASHBACK=
Legolas hid high in a tree branch as he saw three figures below him being questioned by the border guards of Mirkwood, trying to remain as silent as possible. His curiosity overcame him and he peered down with interest, though slightly doubtful of these strangers as well, hoping at the same time that he would not fall off the tree.
"State your names, strangers," An Elven Guard said suspiciously, clasping a spear threateningly tight in his left hand. The two Dúnedain and Hobbit flinched at that, making Ninrusco's stallion neigh as the young one pulled on its reins anxiously.
"I am Ninrusco, slender fox," he stated, feigning neutrality. "This is Menellómë, and Fëaruin Urulókë the Fire-Dragon of Gondor. We are the foster, blood and step children of the Crown Prince Eärnur."
The Elven Guard spoke amongst the other guards in their own tongue, whilst Legolas above secretly took a closer look at the visitors. Ninrusco was obviously the one holding the stallion's reins, the only male Edain from the company, the one to marry Avardelothien. Legolas' eyes ran across to a mahogany-red head, and he instantly recognized the hair as Urulókë's, after hearing many tidings of the flame-hearted daughter of the Crown Prince of Gondor and her flaring mane.
When his eyes came to the third visitor, he nearly fell out of the tree. It was Alatamoth his daughter, he was sure, for aside from her taller height this supposed Menellómë looked exactly the same as Alatamoth did five years before.
"So it is true," he whispered to himself in the shadows of the leaves. "Alatamoth is alive and well, and has returned home as the famed Menellómë foster daughter of Eärnur, whose news of beauty came this far…"
"King Thranduil has been expecting you," the Elven Guard's voice came from below, as he turned and led the three visitors into Mirkwood's realm. But right where he was Legolas stayed, silent tears pricking his eyes, seated on the branch for an entire hour. It was when he heard his father's call that he braced himself, left the tree and readied to meet the guests, one of which was his own daughter. How sick Legolas felt that Thranduil had been speaking to a Hobbit he did not even know was his own granddaughter…
=END FLASHBACK=
"Legolas? Are you well?" a soothing voice interrupted, which made the Elf whirl around as a shocked and startled reaction.
"O, Fëanna," he sighed upon seeing his sister Avardelothien. "Yes, I am fine. The guests have arrived. They were waiting for you, but now they are resting."
"Thank you, Brother," she smiled, clapping his shoulder. "I will go see to them now."
To be continued…
Author's Note:
Aw, don't flame me! The idea that Legolas married a half-Hobbit was not mine. Send all flames to my friend Finlos, ff.net pen name dbzchiksrule, and complain to her why she gets to marry *your* Elf. (Sorry Finlos! I still love you very much!)
Interested in all our tales? Read The Secret Tale Of Finlos by me, and The Bloodied Sword by my friend fanfiction.net pen name Morauko.
Fëaruin Urulókë