Behind Blue Eyes
Chapter 3: Trust?
(Elrond)
I have chosen to stay in the same room as the healing prince, making sure that he wouldn't run when he awakes suddenly and forgets where he is. As of late the youth has been quite subdued and suspicious, unwilling to take the healing remedies I give him. During the day I feel his eyes upon me as I wonder around the room, turning to look at him I smile when he snaps his gaze away quickly, lowering his eyes to the blanket.
" Legolas?" He jumps when his name is said and then looks over at me before lowering his eyes to the bed once more.
" Yes Lord Elrond?" He asks, his soft voice hoarse from having nothing to drink. I go and sit in the chair by his bedside, close enough so I can speak without raising my voice but far enough away for him to feel safe. He looks at me, watching my every move as I pour a glass of water and hand it to him. He looks again at me and then at the glass, I see the inside fight with himself and resist the urge to sigh. This boy reminds me of a horse the boys brought home with them once, a young fine colt, but abused in the worse way. I remember watching Elladan, Elrohir and Estel go to the horse everyday and talk soothing words to it, while wondering around in its paddock, they would offer him food, but he wouldn't come to their hand to take it. Yet as time went by and the horse began to get use to them coming into his domain he slowly began to trust them, allowing them to get close enough to brush his sleek coat like fine copper. He trusted them enough to take food from their out-held hands. That horse had become one of the best sires and gave me my own horse Laconia and the boy's horses. Looking at Legolas now I realize that being slow and patient is all it was going to take, and showing him nothing is going to harm him here. Legolas still doesn't take the cup and I nod, setting it down on the table beside the bed.
" I was wondering if you would like to walk among the gardens for a bit." Leglas's eyes brighten and he nods his head. I smile and turn my back as the youth puts on pants and a tunic then his boots. A slight gasp of pain alerts me to some distress and I turn slightly to find the boy lowering himself to the ground to put on his boots. A determined grimace on his already cold features brings me to the conclusion that he is still in slight pain.
" If you would allow me I will put your boots on for you." I offer and a scared look flashes over the eyes before he looks down, calming his breathing.
" Legolas I only want to help, really I mean you no harm." I say to the boy and he looks sharply up, eyes blazing with intentness I have never seen before, almost like a hidden flame being stoked.
" No one wants to help me." He mutters and puts the soft moccasin boots on, and levers himself to his knees and with the aid of the bed hauls himself stiffly to his feet. He stands a moment, gathering his thoughts, then looks at me a cool mask in place, the once vibrant flame now burning icy cold.
" My lord… you said something about a walk through the gardens?" his shy voice asks, breaking through my musings like a rock through glass. I nod my head tersely and lead the boy from his room that has basically been the only place he has really seen since waking that one-day. I lead him along the outside corridor, where you can view the many trees that surround the building and feel the fresh breeze that moves freely through the halls. Looking back I notice the less hard look on Legolas's face, noting when he brushes a finger over a small leaf and a smile comes to his face.
" What do the trees tell you Legolas?" I ask suddenly, knowing of the boy's very unique ability to hear trees as they whisper. He inherited this from his mother, who was a very adept tree-speaker. Legolas starts at the question and he stops, grasping the bright green leave lightly on his palm. A small smile comes to his face when he turns to me, looking at me in an almost new light.
" They say I should trust you Lord." He says.
" You can trust us." I state, watching the youth as he plays with the delicate leaf.
" I want to, I really do my lord." He whispers then looks back at the tree that blows calmly in the breeze that races past. I watch with interest, noting the slight twitch of his fingers.
" What do you yearn for young Legolas?"
" To feel the pull of a bowstring again my lord, to know I haven't lost everything." I nod and go back to where he stands watching me from the corner of his eye. Leaning casually against the wall I watch the boy play with the leaf that seems to never want to leave his calm touch, almost withering in sadness as he removes his hand.
" Maybe when you are well, you can teach my youngest boy, Estel a thing or two about archery. He is a great need of someone with skill to show him and his brothers don't have the patients to do that." I tell Legolas who's eyes sparkle at the proposition. Enjoying this abnormal reaction from the youth I begin to walk again, this time beside Legolas as we descend the stairs to the pathways that run throughout Rivendell. Upon reaching the bottom we turn to the left and I bring the still healing youth through the many flowering paths of well-kept gardens. I can feel the curiosity and awe roll of Legolas in waves and look back at him. Smiling when I notice he has stopped to watch something in the bushes. Going back to his side I kneel beside him, noting the tension of muscles as I do so. Legolas is watching some other boys play in the small courtyard on the other side.
" Estel! Go get this!" I recognize the voice and groan, the feeling of foreboding coming into my senses.
" Wait! I can't climb that fast!" I hear Estel shout to his laughing brothers as he tries to climb the tree, my gaze watching the trembling ascent as the human boy tries to move quickly up the tree. He reaches a sturdy branch and retrieves the object and I sigh, looking at Legolas who is still watching.
"This isn't funny guys! I can't get down!" Estel shouts down and I freeze, knowing of the human boy's deep-rooted fear of heights. Slowly walking around the bushes, Legolas in tow I confront the three youths watching as my son struggles with his fear.
" What do you think your doing?" I ask the three who turn quickly, their eyes wide in horror and fear.
"ah.. M'lord…. Ah…" Zavarithis stutters, suddenly at a loss of words when confronting one of his elders. He looks at his companions, then they all scramble out of the courtyard and down the path, jumping into trees as they do so. Sighing in annoyance I turn back to the tree my adopted son is in, only to find both him and Legolas standing on the branch. Legolas slowly makes his way out to the human, who is clutching the tree for dear-life, shaking like a leaf.
" Legolas what are you doing!?" I yell up to the Elven prince and he looks down at me, a look of purpose on his face.
" Lord, can you catch him?" He asks, and I vaguely wonder what he is going to do as I move under the branch my son is on, and I hear the pitiful whimpering. Standing under the tree I watch as Legolas gently maneuvers himself to where Estel clings for dear life, whispering things into his ear, trying to calm the boy. Intently watching as he pries Estel's hands from the bark he then shoves the boy from the tree. Estel gives a yelp of fear and surprise and closes his eye tightly. I lash out with my arms and catch the falling boy, bringing him safely to my chest.
" Estel?" I ask and he nod before opening his eyes to look into mine. They are filled with fear, the shaking of his body becoming less. Looking up at Legolas I wonder how he is going to get down, but my question is answered when I see the boy's leg muscles coil and then push off
" Legolas NO!" I shout but it's too late now and as I watch the gives a graceful flip and lands on his feet, bending his knees to absorb the impact of the fall. I let out a sigh and go right over to the boy and grab him forcefully by the shoulder, wheeling him around.
" Listen to me Legolas don't you e…" I stop when the intense look of fear comes over his face and he backs away, bringing his hands up to shield his face and head. He begins shaking and I slowly let go of his collar, forgetting myself in worry and anger at the child's actions. Once let go Legolas scrambles away from me, quickly backing against a tree, eyes wide in fear. Estel gets down from my arms and watches the prince as well, curiosity in his eyes.
" Legolas." I step closer to the boy, reaching out with my hand but he bats it away
" Don't touch me!" He yelps and jumps back up into the tree, watching me with scared eyes and trembling like a rabbit. Although he is high in the tree I can still reach the branch he is on. As I reach out he quickly jumps higher, eluding my touch. Sighing angirly, mostly at myself I turn back to my other son, who is gazing up into the tree.
" Shouldn't we help him down father?" Estel asks, his eyes still focused on the nearly made out form of his cousin, high in the branches. I look down at the human boy and sigh, sometimes Estel has a heart far to big.
" I can not help him if he doesn't wish to be helped." I shrug and make sure I said it loud enough for Legolas to hear, but when the boy gives no retort I turn away.
" Come Estel, let's leave him to collect his thoughts alone." When Estel doesn't make a move to follow I turn back to look at the boy.
" Adar I think I will keep him company. He might get lonely and when he decides to come down he might not know they way back to the rooms." Estel says seating himself down on the bench under the tree, leaning back against its silvery colored bark. Nodding I walk back the way I came, still puzzling over the reactions of both children.
(Aragorn)
So, I sit here under the tree, humming softly to myself, swinging my legs back and forth, watching as the sun disappears over the great mountains that surround Rivendell. A branch abve me shakes slightly and I bring my eyes up to look into the many branches and leaves to find a pair of blue eyes staring at me.
" Hello." I say and the eyes blink, I know rightfully well that Legolas knows both the Gray tongue and basic so he can respond if he wants to.
" Hello." He mutters, coming to crouch on a lower branch above my head, still watching me intently. I watch him, watch the way his injuries don't interfere the graceful moves as he maneuvers himself into a better position for watching me.
" Your very good at wondering in trees." I state and his eyes flash brightly before narrowing
" You are afraid of heights." He says and I lower my gaze, suddenly ashamed that my own warrior cousin had to see my fear. Suddenly slight laughter fills my ears and I shoot an annoyed glance into the tree
" What's so funny?" Legolas stops laughing and stretches himself out until he is almost level with my face, his eyes glued to mine
" I guess humans just aren't made for trees." I smile, knowing what he means. I shift my position, alarming Legolas to the point where he slides back onto the branch, out of reach.
" So… how did you learn to climb trees?" I ask, trying to get Legolas to at least come down or at least try and trust me.
" I jumped onto a branch one day, and have been since." He shrugs, playing slightly with the leaves that seemed to move closer to him.
" How did you come to live in Rivendell?" He asks, absently rubbing a hand up the bark and back down.
" My mother died when I was young, but before she did she brought me here to Rivendell and Lord Elrond promised her that he would raise me as one of his own. He has since the day I was brought here." I tell him, leaving out the part of who I really am and such.
" The would make you Aragorn son of Arathorn." Legolas states, coming further down the tree so he could look more closely at me. I smile slightly amazed by the fact that he knows who I am.
" How did you know?" I ask and peer at the elf with curiosity. Legolas only rolls his eyes somewhat then thins his lips into a line
" My… Lord Thranduil told me." I catch the correction on the Mirkwood King's name but don't mention it to him. We sit there and talk about random things until the moon rises into the sky, and the night wind blows across the grove, bringing a chilling feeling with it.
" No really, father wasn't very happy."
" I bet he wasn't." Legolas smirks and then shivers, pulling his knees to his chest in the place he sits at the end of the bench. I give him his space but notice the shiver
" I think we should head back now." I get to my feet and wait until the stiff prince gets to his before moving further down the path. Legolas walks calmly beside me, his muslces tense and he keep a good watch on me through narrowed eyes but I sense he is becoming more at ease with his surroundings. Upon reaching the room of books I stop, peeking around the corner. Sure enough my father is inside, speaking with my brothers about something. Elrohir and Elladan protest madly about whatever father has just proposed and I wonder what they are talking about. I smile over at Legolas who is leaning against the wall, he only shrugs and looks down the hall.
" Psst… little brother if you wish to snoop on people you shouldn't breath so hard." I jump away from the door when Elladan's voice fills my ear, laughing coming from inside the room from both father and Elrohir. Growling I take a swipe at the Elder twin, which he easily side-steps and pulls me into the room. He then leans over and smiles at Legolas
" C'mon, you don't have to wait in the hall either." Legolas comes into the room, bowing slightly to father who only inclined his head. Legolas seems to tense further when the twins come closer to harass me.
" Boys enough." They stop and sit back down at father's command, Legolas comes and sits on the floor beside me, gazing at the Elven lord.
" Legolas, we agreed that it might be a change of pace for you to go out with the boys tomorrow for a horse back ride. You may take your Sansicry and go with them or stay here in Rivendell." Father proposes and I watch as Legolas thinks about this and he smiles slightly
" I would enjoy the ride my Lord. I haven't seen Sansincry for a while and would like to see how she faired." Father smiles and gets up from where he sits.
" Well it would be a good idea then if you four go get some rest before the ride tomorrow. Boys I will see you in the morning, Legolas I will want to check your wounds before you leave. Understood?" All of us nod and then leave the book room, walking back to our rooms I stop, watching as my brothers playfully push each other and joke about stuff. Looking at Legolas, walking closer to the wall I wonder if he has ever had anybody to mess with, like a brother or sister.
' Even if he doesn't want one, I'll try to be as close as a brother as possible. At least make it feel like he has some form of family.' I silently vow as I go into my room and prepare my bag for tomorrow and dress for sleep. Dropping into my bed I fall asleep instantly.
Identity Thief: Ah, Turkey… now I am tired. I stayed up really late last night and watched the Two Towers. I love that movie so much! My favorite part was when Aragorn and Gimli are about to fight the Orcs on the ramp. 'Toss me' 'What?' Toss me, but don't tell the elf' I love that! ::jumps up and down:: I thought that was the best! I could care sooo much less about Frodo, Sam or Gollem, I really could. LOL, anyway! Everyone going to see Return of the King?
Thanks to:
Orodruin- Thanks a lot for the explanation! Like I said I really don't know the difference between the elves and stuff, all I know is what I read in the books and saw in the movies. If they mentioned the difference in the books I wasn't paying attention. Thanks again!
Caunoiechi- well here ya go! See threats don't count! But if I begin to slack off I guess you can… lol.
DemiDevil- Thanks
Coolio02- Thanks much!
ID: well I have to work all weekend =( so unhappy and I'm in actual 'School' next week so I might not have a lot of time to work on the fic. This is my problem! But I will find a way! Never know I might just pound out a chapter tomorrow. LOL. Hey REVIEW! Please? REVIEW!