***Disclaimer: I know I do not own most of the characters, nor Middle
Earth, it is the sole property of Tolkien.***
It took a bit of effort and time, but finally Kaimelar had Legolas tucked in bed, and though it was a relief that the bitter battle fought over the issue was now resolved, Kaimelar began to feel queasy, for now the worse was about to begin, now the truth would have to come out. Maybe it would not be so bad, Legolas was young, he would forgive him, undoubtedly, but that was not what he was worried about. Sometimes, though it was untrue, Kaimelar felt as though he had offered little for Legolas to look up to in him; he was not funny or adventurous like the twins, was not smart and clever like Sildulin, did not have the majesty or grace of his father, nor the skills of Verya, even the stable hand was a better rider than he could be at times. Was it so wrong to want to gain an ounce of respect and worship from his baby brother, who was far braver than he feared he'd ever be? He sighed; at least he was the best at feeling pity for himself, though that amounted to very little when you came right down to it. It was easier to be the second or third born, not quite so easy to be the first, for all the mistakes are made on you by your parents, and everyone gets to learn from the mistakes you, yourself, make.
"What story will you tell me tonight?" Legolas asked, excited about his traditional bedtime tale, something to fill his bright, young dreams with. Kaimelar lowered himself to the edge of Legolas' bed, well, now was as good of a time as any.
'It's a story about a little elf, not that much older than yourself."
"What was his name?" Legolas interrupted, quick to learn essential facts about the main character as to make it easier to imagine him in his head, where the action would play out.
"His name was Unque."
"And he had brown hair and green eyes, and, did he have many friends?" Legolas asked, beginning to create this elf in his head, already he felt a certain pity for him, he seemed a lonely little elf in his head, but there was something strangely appealing about him, Legolas wished to get to know him better; perhaps he could be great fun if he was not such a frightened looking thing.
"He had enough friends." Kaimelar replied, which was the truth, he never wanted more friends than made him happy, and he was quire happy with the ones he had.
"Oh," Legolas bit his lip, thinking of a few more things he felt he needed to know, "Did he like swimming, and did he always do as people said?"
"He liked swimming very much, and it was normal for him to obey his elders." Legolas nodded, just as he supposed was true; not that it was bad to do as your elders asked, Legolas just had problems following through on some of their requests as his mind would wander as they spoke. "Anything else?"
"Oh, yes, two more things." Legolas was careful when thinking up these questions, the last two he would ask before the story began, even he was growing impatient with himself for delaying it as long as he was. "Did he spill things at the dinner table, and if he found a mud puddle would he step in it?"
"When he was nervous, sometimes he would spill a glass or two," Kaimelar grew red as he thought about a certain incident that happened in front of the family of Helyanwe's when they were both just a hundred years older than his brother was now. "And if he found a mud puddle, he would step in it."
"On purpose?" Legolas had to get things clear.
"Of course on purpose."
Legolas smiled at this, yes he could be friends with this imaginary elf, anyone who stepped in mud puddles on purpose could always be depended on the be great fun. "I am glad."
"So, I can start?" Legolas nodded his head. "Good. So this elf Unque, was just about as regular as they came; no one paid him much heed, no more attention then they had to. But Unque did not mind so much, he did not like other elves to make such a fuss of him, it made him quite nervous, and then he would do silly things, embarrassing himself a great deal; so, Unque spent most he days in content oblivion, playing with his close friends and family. But then a day came when Unque was forced to go about and mingle with a large group of elves his age, many he did not know, and some of them resented him because of who his ada was."
"Who was his ada?" Legolas interrupted, thinking it strange someone would not like you because they did not like your ada; thankfully, he was certain that everyone adored his ada as he did.
"His ada was a very important elf, but that does not matter now. Just listen to the story," Kaimelar continued, "The reason that he was now in the presence of all these other elves was because he was going to begin his formal training to become a warrior. This frightened the little more than you can imagine, for he had much to prove to all these elves, and the trainer, as well as his ada. After many weeks of learning the basics in all forms of defense, all the young elves were going to begin to use real arrows when they shot their bows, and spar against each other; all the other young elves were very excited, everyone but Unque, who tried to be invisible behind the group, but somehow he managed to get shoved all the way in the front, and proceeded to be told he was to go first. Unque thought he would die, his nerves bothered him so, for is he were to fail, certainly the news of that would spread quickly through the land, and he would become a laughing stock, and bring great shame to his father and mother and the rest of his family."
Kaimelar took a breath and continued onto the end, "So he shot his first arrow, in front of all the other elves, and all his classmates laughed as he thoroughly missed the target, with his head hung low he made his way to the back once more; so consumed by his shame that he did not notice that none of the other young elf's arrows hit the target, perhaps if he had paid attention he would not have moped all the way home and locked himself in his room, obsessed by his own failure. Thankfully that night, Unque's parents called for him downstairs, he thought he was most certainly going to get lectured on his poor showing. Instead though, his parents smiled at him, and sat him between them, telling him how his teacher had told he had gotten very close to hitting the target, and how very proud they were of him. He would never forget that, and that night his naneth tucked him in tight, and kissed him on the forehead, and told him the most amazing story of wizards and elf kings and there were even dwarfs in it, if I remember correctly." Kaimelar smiled at the memory, that was a night he would never forget; the sweet sound of his mother's voice, her soft white hand touching his cheek when she was done, "You are my little warrior, whether you hit the target a thousand times, or never," she had said, then placed her other had over his heart, "For that is where the true warrior is found, right there in his heart." He could hear them even now, his attention was diverted as he felt a tug on his arm, he looked down at his younger brother's face, whose eyes were dazed with sleepiness.
"I know you did not hit target first time." Legolas said, figuring out mid story the little elf, Unque, was in fact his older brother; he was so clever, he congratulated himself. "I was being a baby to Ver today, I say I'm sorry tomorrow," he yawned, and looked once more to his brother, noticing now, how strangely dignified he looked, yes he was glad that Kaimelar was his brother and no one else. "I won't hit the target my first time either, I want to be just like you." With that the young one drifted off into a dream world filled with archery, and as he would remember when he woke, funny looking little elves, he assumed were dwarfs, what funny creatures dwarfs were.
Kaimelar got up slowly, running his hand through one of Legolas' stray blond hairs, happy to see a smile flicker across his brother's face, at least he was having a good dream.
"Good night, Legolas," he said leaning down kissing the sleeping elf's cheek, then quietly exiting the room, only to be greeted by his father, waiting outside the door.
"It was a nice story." Thranduil spoke, eyeing his son.
"It was a nice day, now that I look back on it." The two walked down the hall together, towards Kaimelar's room, stopping once the reached the door. Kaimelar had prepared himself for a quick goodnight, not sure if his father was still angry with him, since they had not spoken a word during the short walk. But instead, his father reached over with both hands gripping his son's shoulders.
"You have nothing to prove to me, ion nin. Nothing, do not trouble yourself with that thought. I think it was your naneth who said." Kaimelar just nodded, already having played those words's once in his mind, the King understood the gesture, and nodded as well. "I know that I am not always the most forthcoming in showing you my approval, or my affection for you; I always had he for that," he spoke the last thought more to himself than his son, "But I do approve, I more than approve, I do not know how to say what I want, for that I am sorry."
"Adar, really you need not."
"But I do, Kaimelar. You are my oldest, one day you will be King; and I trust you will be a great one, greater than me. You have a larger heart than many I know, and so keen, and you hold such an inner strength, something so deep and innate in you one cannot put one's finger on it." The King took a breath, and smiled at his own lack of eloquence, his own inability to find the words to express how he felt, and in the end he sufficed for suffocating his son in a fatherly embrace. Kaimelar merely smiled awkwardly, stunned by his father's overt affection, actually it was sort of nice, more than sort of nice, he truly enjoyed it.
***Thanks to all those who have been reading, and especially to those who have been so nice in their reviews. I am trying to make the chapters longer, but if it's a sacrifice between updating less with longer chapters, or updated a little more frequently with slightly sort chapters, I chose the later. I hope that's all right. But thanks again for all the great support, I really do appreciate it***
It took a bit of effort and time, but finally Kaimelar had Legolas tucked in bed, and though it was a relief that the bitter battle fought over the issue was now resolved, Kaimelar began to feel queasy, for now the worse was about to begin, now the truth would have to come out. Maybe it would not be so bad, Legolas was young, he would forgive him, undoubtedly, but that was not what he was worried about. Sometimes, though it was untrue, Kaimelar felt as though he had offered little for Legolas to look up to in him; he was not funny or adventurous like the twins, was not smart and clever like Sildulin, did not have the majesty or grace of his father, nor the skills of Verya, even the stable hand was a better rider than he could be at times. Was it so wrong to want to gain an ounce of respect and worship from his baby brother, who was far braver than he feared he'd ever be? He sighed; at least he was the best at feeling pity for himself, though that amounted to very little when you came right down to it. It was easier to be the second or third born, not quite so easy to be the first, for all the mistakes are made on you by your parents, and everyone gets to learn from the mistakes you, yourself, make.
"What story will you tell me tonight?" Legolas asked, excited about his traditional bedtime tale, something to fill his bright, young dreams with. Kaimelar lowered himself to the edge of Legolas' bed, well, now was as good of a time as any.
'It's a story about a little elf, not that much older than yourself."
"What was his name?" Legolas interrupted, quick to learn essential facts about the main character as to make it easier to imagine him in his head, where the action would play out.
"His name was Unque."
"And he had brown hair and green eyes, and, did he have many friends?" Legolas asked, beginning to create this elf in his head, already he felt a certain pity for him, he seemed a lonely little elf in his head, but there was something strangely appealing about him, Legolas wished to get to know him better; perhaps he could be great fun if he was not such a frightened looking thing.
"He had enough friends." Kaimelar replied, which was the truth, he never wanted more friends than made him happy, and he was quire happy with the ones he had.
"Oh," Legolas bit his lip, thinking of a few more things he felt he needed to know, "Did he like swimming, and did he always do as people said?"
"He liked swimming very much, and it was normal for him to obey his elders." Legolas nodded, just as he supposed was true; not that it was bad to do as your elders asked, Legolas just had problems following through on some of their requests as his mind would wander as they spoke. "Anything else?"
"Oh, yes, two more things." Legolas was careful when thinking up these questions, the last two he would ask before the story began, even he was growing impatient with himself for delaying it as long as he was. "Did he spill things at the dinner table, and if he found a mud puddle would he step in it?"
"When he was nervous, sometimes he would spill a glass or two," Kaimelar grew red as he thought about a certain incident that happened in front of the family of Helyanwe's when they were both just a hundred years older than his brother was now. "And if he found a mud puddle, he would step in it."
"On purpose?" Legolas had to get things clear.
"Of course on purpose."
Legolas smiled at this, yes he could be friends with this imaginary elf, anyone who stepped in mud puddles on purpose could always be depended on the be great fun. "I am glad."
"So, I can start?" Legolas nodded his head. "Good. So this elf Unque, was just about as regular as they came; no one paid him much heed, no more attention then they had to. But Unque did not mind so much, he did not like other elves to make such a fuss of him, it made him quite nervous, and then he would do silly things, embarrassing himself a great deal; so, Unque spent most he days in content oblivion, playing with his close friends and family. But then a day came when Unque was forced to go about and mingle with a large group of elves his age, many he did not know, and some of them resented him because of who his ada was."
"Who was his ada?" Legolas interrupted, thinking it strange someone would not like you because they did not like your ada; thankfully, he was certain that everyone adored his ada as he did.
"His ada was a very important elf, but that does not matter now. Just listen to the story," Kaimelar continued, "The reason that he was now in the presence of all these other elves was because he was going to begin his formal training to become a warrior. This frightened the little more than you can imagine, for he had much to prove to all these elves, and the trainer, as well as his ada. After many weeks of learning the basics in all forms of defense, all the young elves were going to begin to use real arrows when they shot their bows, and spar against each other; all the other young elves were very excited, everyone but Unque, who tried to be invisible behind the group, but somehow he managed to get shoved all the way in the front, and proceeded to be told he was to go first. Unque thought he would die, his nerves bothered him so, for is he were to fail, certainly the news of that would spread quickly through the land, and he would become a laughing stock, and bring great shame to his father and mother and the rest of his family."
Kaimelar took a breath and continued onto the end, "So he shot his first arrow, in front of all the other elves, and all his classmates laughed as he thoroughly missed the target, with his head hung low he made his way to the back once more; so consumed by his shame that he did not notice that none of the other young elf's arrows hit the target, perhaps if he had paid attention he would not have moped all the way home and locked himself in his room, obsessed by his own failure. Thankfully that night, Unque's parents called for him downstairs, he thought he was most certainly going to get lectured on his poor showing. Instead though, his parents smiled at him, and sat him between them, telling him how his teacher had told he had gotten very close to hitting the target, and how very proud they were of him. He would never forget that, and that night his naneth tucked him in tight, and kissed him on the forehead, and told him the most amazing story of wizards and elf kings and there were even dwarfs in it, if I remember correctly." Kaimelar smiled at the memory, that was a night he would never forget; the sweet sound of his mother's voice, her soft white hand touching his cheek when she was done, "You are my little warrior, whether you hit the target a thousand times, or never," she had said, then placed her other had over his heart, "For that is where the true warrior is found, right there in his heart." He could hear them even now, his attention was diverted as he felt a tug on his arm, he looked down at his younger brother's face, whose eyes were dazed with sleepiness.
"I know you did not hit target first time." Legolas said, figuring out mid story the little elf, Unque, was in fact his older brother; he was so clever, he congratulated himself. "I was being a baby to Ver today, I say I'm sorry tomorrow," he yawned, and looked once more to his brother, noticing now, how strangely dignified he looked, yes he was glad that Kaimelar was his brother and no one else. "I won't hit the target my first time either, I want to be just like you." With that the young one drifted off into a dream world filled with archery, and as he would remember when he woke, funny looking little elves, he assumed were dwarfs, what funny creatures dwarfs were.
Kaimelar got up slowly, running his hand through one of Legolas' stray blond hairs, happy to see a smile flicker across his brother's face, at least he was having a good dream.
"Good night, Legolas," he said leaning down kissing the sleeping elf's cheek, then quietly exiting the room, only to be greeted by his father, waiting outside the door.
"It was a nice story." Thranduil spoke, eyeing his son.
"It was a nice day, now that I look back on it." The two walked down the hall together, towards Kaimelar's room, stopping once the reached the door. Kaimelar had prepared himself for a quick goodnight, not sure if his father was still angry with him, since they had not spoken a word during the short walk. But instead, his father reached over with both hands gripping his son's shoulders.
"You have nothing to prove to me, ion nin. Nothing, do not trouble yourself with that thought. I think it was your naneth who said." Kaimelar just nodded, already having played those words's once in his mind, the King understood the gesture, and nodded as well. "I know that I am not always the most forthcoming in showing you my approval, or my affection for you; I always had he for that," he spoke the last thought more to himself than his son, "But I do approve, I more than approve, I do not know how to say what I want, for that I am sorry."
"Adar, really you need not."
"But I do, Kaimelar. You are my oldest, one day you will be King; and I trust you will be a great one, greater than me. You have a larger heart than many I know, and so keen, and you hold such an inner strength, something so deep and innate in you one cannot put one's finger on it." The King took a breath, and smiled at his own lack of eloquence, his own inability to find the words to express how he felt, and in the end he sufficed for suffocating his son in a fatherly embrace. Kaimelar merely smiled awkwardly, stunned by his father's overt affection, actually it was sort of nice, more than sort of nice, he truly enjoyed it.
***Thanks to all those who have been reading, and especially to those who have been so nice in their reviews. I am trying to make the chapters longer, but if it's a sacrifice between updating less with longer chapters, or updated a little more frequently with slightly sort chapters, I chose the later. I hope that's all right. But thanks again for all the great support, I really do appreciate it***