Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, places, events, and concepts are the property of the J.R.R. Tolkien Estate.
Rated for Angst.
Author's Notes: There really is not much for me to say…I hope that you are all enjoying yourselves, I was extremely pleased to get so many reviews on my first chapter. Here are the:
Responses to Reviewers!
*Karri: I'm glad you liked the butterfly…keep reading!
*Lindsay: Wordless, hmm? *grins happily* Although I do like long reviews…
*fan81981: I hope when you say "problem", you do not mean a problem as in "that should not be there" but as in "it's really too bad that that's there". *hopeful grin* I know it's a little depressing, but this is essentially Legolas's fic…no extra plot lines with his mother this time. I agree, it's not fair that he has so many ups and downs, but as you pointed out, he does turn out just fine eventually. Don't despair; I'll be sure that he has plenty of good times!
*Saera: *gets caught up in bouncy dance* Yippee!
*LOTRFaith: Yes, I would love to grab a little Legolas up in a hug! I know this starts off a little sad, but I hope it's balanced. : ) I'm glad you're excited about the sequel!
*Nikki: I know…it was meant to be a little sad, but hopeful at the same time. I'm glad you liked it.
*Suilie: I'm glad that you found everything! Thank you for your nice comments! *hands you a tissue* Sorry that it made you tear up just a tad! (*is secretly happy that she has the ability to make people cry*)
Absolute travesty?! I would certainly hope not!
*Dragon-of-the-north: There are always long responses for long reviews!
The bottom line does have quite an impact, doesn't it? I was going to leave it off, but figured that some readers might need an extra prod to grasp all the symbolism. I would have loved to see you explain all my symbolism, but your review was wonderful as it is! Thank you very much!
Yes, Thranduil has lots of things for the trees to comfort…fear of Shadow, Dagorlad's horror and losses, and yes, I think, his little son…
I will not comment much on your other comments, for they are all "right on" as we say. *grin* I loved your assessment.
Do not worry about Legolas falling asleep during the tale of the warrior! It was a warm summer day, and watching a single gwilwilith for hours could make a little Elfling slightly sleepy!
I am sorry to say that Thranduil, Thilómë, and Nimaron do not appear just yet, but they will be around soon enough! As for Arasil, read on…
I am sorry that I didn't comment more, but there is not much to say for a perfect assessment! Also: tendovaginitis?! *startled cry* I hope that you are doing better very, very soon!
*SperryDee and Charlie: "Aw" covers everything, doesn't it? And Charlie likes popcorn, does she? My kitten (Rosa Loca) likes potato chips. Mmm, mmm (I like them too).
*Zoya: A "correct" description? Let's hope I can stick to it! I'm glad you liked it.
Glad to hear you found your other Aranel…there are enough of us, aren't there. *blantantly refuses to change own name*
*purplesmackers: An avid reader since the beginning, hmm? Thank you so much for taking the time to review! You will be glad to hear that this fic is Legolas's fic…not one that he has to share with his mom, although she's still around. That means we can all trail him on his little journey…and you betcha, there will be tons of Aldandil and his little bro.
*waseom: Wow---you reviewed again! You are getting better at this! *pats waseom on the back*
I'm beginning to slow down…there are two weeks of university left, and they are extremely busy weeks.
Glad you liked my comparison; it's important to the whole story. Little Legolas is cute, isn't he? And still huggable too. I just can't imagine grabbing Big Legolas and cuddling him…he's just too big and strong.
Better than "Light" and "Ardent", huh? Let's hope! There's nothing wrong with improving!
*Ana: Hey there! I'm very glad that you liked the chapter. I think Ada and Nana will come around…Thilómë has always been extremely accepting (I think she'll cry when he's all grown up!), but Thranduil has a lot of concerns. *sad smile* Glad you like Aldandil. (Oooh… "perfect". *is very excited*)
*lurker: Glad you liked it!
*Esgalromen: Happy that you agree! I hope that this story is great too!
*Robin: Glad to hear that you love my stories! That is always a great thing to find out. *big grin*
*StrangeBlaze: I know that you didn't review, but a little alert popped up to let me know I was on your list. Thank you very much for the comments on your profile page! *hugs!*
*Anyone who recently reviewed "Ardent": Responses to you will be added to the reviewer response "chapter" at the end of "Ardent". It might take me a little while…I have been pretty busy lately. *guilty smile of apology*
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Anyone else: I hope that you are enjoying yourselves. Let me know what you think when you get an extra minute!
The next update could be a ways off, since I am doing this as a WIP. I am extremely busy with end-of-the-year university activities, but this fic will not get abandoned. Never fear, little Legolas will eventually grow into the nearly unhuggable Elf warrior that we all love! (Do we still want him to? *little Legolas smiles extremely sweetly*)
Sindarin:
tithen cunn = little prince
laes = baby
nana aras = "mama deer"
~My Sindarin is awful…feel free to correct me~
Comments and questions are always welcome!
--Aranel
aranels@hotmail.com
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Chapter 2~*~Cannot
Aldandil fiddled with his pen, lacing curlicues around the edges of his paper. When the letter was opened later, its reader would assume that the writer had been detailed and caring, when truly his mind was elsewhere. Penning the final copies of delegation letters was not what he considered to be a morning well spent, but Adar had insisted that this practice would teach him good ways with words. It seemed that Elves were continually trying to outdo each other with the complexities of language, written or spoken. Speaking and writing were like tying tight knot work: both were intricate and impossibly difficult to undo.
At least it was not too windy out today. The open walled summerhouse was a welcome alternative to one of the torch-lit studies inside. A few goldcrests were singing in the trees nearby, and the sunlight came in warmly, broken around shadowed patterns of leaves and tree trunks. Aldandil glanced up, smiling. There was his younger brother and a small friend, Arasil, was it? The two were standing at the base of a large and weathered oak tree, apparently debating over something. The young Elf set his pen down, cupping his chin in a hand to watch.
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Arasil scurried up the tree, then nestled himself in the crook between the old oak's large branches, idly reaching up to finger a few smooth, green leaves over his head. He had been playing with little Prince Legolas a moment ago, but this particular tree had seemed to call to him when he saw it. Its low, sturdy branches almost said, I will be an easy climb, just perfect for an Elfling like yourself. A slight wind ruffled and rustled the summer leaves, and the tree nearly giggled, You would like to feel the breeze like this, wouldn't you? Lastly, there had been this very notch. Just right for seeing the archers practice, the tree seemed to go on, And the stables…and a finch's nest…and who knows what else? Arasil had darted to the branches, deciding that this was a most tempting tree.
Now the dark-haired little Silvan glanced down, instead of up. Legolas lay sprawled in the grass at the base of the tree, probably falling asleep. Arasil sighed heavily, crawling out on a strong bough. Be nice, Ada had said firmly, Prince Legolas is not as strong as you yet, but you must still be friendly. "Legolas," Arasil called, staring down, "Come up."
Legolas turned, willing himself to smile slightly, "No…I'll wait here." He was not supposed to climb trees, not yet. Thinking about it, he was not quite sure if he even could…Aldandil had pushed him into one a few months ago, but that didn't count, not exactly. Legolas glanced up into the branches, Maybe…
"Why?" Arasil asked, his brows wrinkling heavily. Only Legolas would choose not to climb a tree. He was an excellent person to be with when you were feeling tired, but when you actually wanted to play, there was very little that he agreed to do. Ada might not get upset if he tested the tithen cunn just a little, "Are you scared?"
"No!" Legolas responded fiercely, searching for an excuse. He wasn't frightened, just…unsure. "It's too high for me!" To prove his point, he jumped for a branch, not even grazing it with his outstretched fingers.
"All right, I'll help you," Arasil dropped from his spot. The excuse was good enough, for Legolas was smaller than him, too small to reach the branch, apparently. Ada would be very proud to see his son being helpful.
Legolas folded his arms over his chest, "I don't want help."
What was his problem? Did Legolas want to climb the tree or not? Arasil drew in a long breath, keeping his mouth shut. There was a certain amount of fear in knowing that if he opened it, one of his particularly irritated thoughts about Legolas would take verbal form. When he finally did say something, it did not come out quite as nicely as his Adar would have liked, "All right, Laes, let's go play spiders."
Laes? Legolas blinked. Had Arasil said 'Las' or 'Laes'?
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Aldandil straightened rigidly, recognizing the look on his younger brother's face. A moment ago Legolas had looked rather passive, but now the Elfling was walking rather determinedly towards the base of the tree (stomping, nearly). Soon enough Arasil was crouched on the ground, and Legolas was standing on his back, straining for a branch. The older Elf continued to watch from the summerhouse, now breaking into a helpless, but pleased, grin as his younger brother struggled to swing a leg over the bough. Somebody was airing out his wings…
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"You've never climbed before, have you?" Arasil grinned at Legolas happily. There was a certain amount of pleasure in being partially responsible for the accomplishment, and climbing a tree was much more fun with two.
"No," Legolas drew the word out, deciding that getting pushed into a tree by his older brother didn't exactly count. It felt…right to be up in a tree though, and he leaned easily in the crook of the branches.
Arasil grasped a higher branch, pulling himself onto it. Soon enough he had climbed high enough to survey his surroundings. "Legolas!" Arasil glanced down again, "I can see your ada's stables! My ada is training the fire horse!"
"Nauroch?" Legolas stood up, grasping a branch above his head. That was Aldandil's new horse.
"Yes," Arasil paused, watching for a moment. He continued, "I can see the warriors training too! The older ones are shooting targets, Legolas!" Arasil turned his head, looking in another direction, "And fawns!"
"They're shooting fawns?" Legolas stared up, horrified. Ada had explained hunting once, saying that deer were gifted for food, but that he would never shoot a little deer, or its mother or father.
"No," Arasil gripped his branch firmly, unable to hold back a laugh, "There is a nana aras in the wood, with two fawns. See? Over there are the archers."
"Ah," Legolas breathed, pulling himself up to watch as a group of green-garbed troop novices let forth their arrows in unison. There was a brilliant smack as the arrows embedded themselves in the targets.
Arasil turned from the archers to Legolas, an excited grin on his face, "One more year. Next year is Sein Maethor Laer."
"Sein Maethor Laer?" Legolas repeated the words, their whole meaning not registering, "One more year for what?"
"Until we start!" Arasil responded, gleeful but surprised, "You remember Sein Maethor Laer, don't you? My nana has already started my tunic, and my ada is making special arrows for my bow." How could anyone forget something so important? There would be games, demonstrations, all kinds of things. The warriors finished with their formal training would be presented and, perhaps best of all, a fresh group of children would begin the long process. Arasil could hardly keep from hugging himself, filled with pride and anticipation. He would be a sein meathor next summer.
Sein Maethor Laer…New Warrior Summer. Legolas remembered now. He nodded slightly, slipping back into the comforting crook of the tree's branches. Arasil glanced down, confused. Everyone was so excited for it…preparations were already underway at his house. Why should Legolas be so unexcited? Surely the Sein Maethor Laer of a prince would be something excellent…Legolas probably had scores of weapons waiting to be presented to him, not to mention special teachers and training grounds.
Legolas fingered the rough bark of the tree, feeling the craggy ridges and dips. As far as he knew, no one was getting ready for Sein Maethor Laer. Nana had not shown him any special fabric, and Ada was not crafting arrows for anyone…why should he, when Legolas did not even have a bow? Maybe Sein Maethor Laer was like so many other things…things Arasil could do, but that he could not. Legolas pushed his shoulders against the wide branches, wanting to wrap himself in the comfort of the tree. Could not, could not, could not…
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"Legolas," Aldandil stood under the oak tree, trying to look stern, "What are you doing up in that tree?"
Startled, Legolas leaned out to look down at the speaker. He grinned weakly, realizing that it was his brother. Maybe Aldie would take him to Nana. Then Nana would wrap him like the branches of the most perfect tree, holding him until he forgot all about Sein Maethor Laer and could nots. "Hello."
"You know you cannot climb trees," Aldandil folded his arms over his chest, trying to remain firm looking. In truth, he was having a difficult time not springing forward and grabbing the smaller Elf in congratulation. He willed himself to wait for the answer.
Legolas stared down at his brother. Cannot. Hadn't Aldie been the one to tell him that he could climb a tree? He pressed his fingertips into the tree's wrinkled bark again, trying to make sense of things.
Aldandil could not bear waiting any longer. His stern look melted away into a large smile, and he pulled the Elfling from the low branches, hugging him in a rather reckless embrace. Legolas pressed his head into his older brother's shoulder, surprising the silver-haired Elf. Aldandil lifted the little chin, still grinning widely, "But you did. You did." He sobered, realizing that his younger brother was not thrilled, but quite upset. Aldandil cocked his head, "You climbed the tree. You did what you could not do."
I did. A growing smile of realization spread over Legolas's small face as everything fell into place. I can.
