Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, places, events, and concepts are the property of the J.R.R. Tolkien Estate.
How long has it been? Almost three months? *looks ashamed* Sorry. The update is finally here, however. Thank you to all of you who continue to read, despite the long waits.
Responses to reviews follow the chapter.
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Chapter 11Legolas yawned, blinking his eyes rapidly as they focused. All around him were rumpled blankets and pillows, and the sun was shining dimly through the light green and brown fabric of his little tent. The elfling stared at the roof for awhile, discerning the shadowy shapes of tree branches and a bird flying. He rolled over, seeing that his brother was no where in sight. Where was Aldan? He wouldn't just leave, would he? Legolas sat up abruptly, relaxing again as the voices of his father and brother drifted past. He snuggled back down into the blankets, catching sight of their shadowy silhouettes on one of the tent walls. It might be nice to sleep just a little bit longer.
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Thranduil drew in a long breath of the early morning air, enjoying the hint of a cool breeze that pulled at loose strands of his hair. The early morning sun was overcast with heavy gray clouds, but as of yet all was still quiet in the gardens at this early hour, save for the occasional blissful song of a bird or irritated chattering of a few squirrels. There was also the almost undetectable sound of his older son letting out a long sigh as he pulled the casual robe he was wearing closer against a stronger gust of wind and the dank humidity in the air, his eyes flitting over the stretches of river and grassy banks that they could see from their position. This morning seemed to be one for more stories.
"Your naneth was very upset when I put off our engagement…after we had known each other for a time, she had gathered that I was going to give her a very special piece of jewelry, and she had convinced herself that it was going to be a silver betrothal ring. Needless to say, it was not, and she was sorely disappointed," Thranduil threw a grin at his son, able to view the situation differently than he had so many years ago, "I did not know her as well then as I do now, and I made the mistake of telling her that I did not wish to be bound at the time. She did not take that well."
Thilómë had given back the silver bracelet that he did give her, not even bothering to examine it closely, telling him with careful words that she did not desire to spend any more time with someone who did not need or want her.
"She informed me that I was very rude to lead her on," Thranduil mentioned, "I had failed to tell her that I did want to be bound to her, very much so, but that I was still not ready at the time." He was quiet after that, remembering just why.
"What did you do?" Aldandil looked intently at his father's face. This was one story that had not been told the day before.
"I told her the truth," Thranduil smiled again, recalling how difficult it had been to apologize first when Thilómë had seemed equally at fault in the argument. A wider grin spread over his face as he remembered how things had eventually turned out, "And we made an agreement. We did exchange betrothal rings, but our engagement lasted significantly longer than most people's." The king relaxed, musing on certain happenings during the period, "It was very enjoyable that way, actually."
Aldandil sat on the grass for a long while, pondering everything that his father had said the day before and during their morning conversation. Finally he glanced at his father, "So I am going to have to apologize to her then?" He had known the answer to that question from the moment he had left Meril's room, but it would only do him good to be assured again.
"Most definitely."
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Legolas stared out of one of the sitting room windows at the training fields. It looked as though Maiar were watering the whole forest like the gardeners watered the little beds of vegetables and herbs. Despite this, the oldest students were still out in the rain practicing. Their tunics were plastered on them like second skins, and they moved like dark spots amid the heavy sheets of rain.
"I certainly hope Menaith does not keep them out there too long," Thilómë came to stand behind her younger son, looking out onto what had become a very dreary day, "Today is a quite a wet day for training. I am very glad Rossion does not hold any lessons in weather like this."
"What are we going to do today, Nana?" Legolas pressed his face closer to the window, searching for the spot where his soaking tent was still pitched. It looked like a sodden leaf on the grass, but when the Sun came out again it would dry.
Thilómë began to walk slowly out of the room, "There is a large group in one of the upper halls preparing apples for storage." She smiled upon remembering a short glance into the hall on her departure from breakfast. The apples were being sliced to dry or cut into chunks for applesauce and jelly, and already the smell of a few inevitable treats baking had wafted from the kitchen nearby. Thilómë reached for her little son's hand, grinning, "I think you might like it."
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A bunch of ladies cutting up apples. Legolas followed his mother, doubting Nana had been right about him liking that. It would probably be rather like watching Nim work in the stillroom – which was very boring most of the time. The elfling turned a few little wooden animals in his hands. At least he would have something to play with if it was too dull.
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"I am glad you are here," Nimaron sent a withering look in Aldandil's direction, obviously displeased when the younger elf entered the healing halls.
"You don't look glad to see me," Aldandil responded, finding himself conversing with the healer in a far corner. Nimaron had never gotten upset at him like this before, and somehow it made him feel even guiltier than he had a moment ago.
Nimaron held the basin he carried with one hand, gesturing with the other while speaking in an even tone, "Whatever you said to Meril last night upset her. I cannot have her distressed over something you did or said. It will not aid her recovery." He lowered his voice, glancing towards the hallway where Meril's room was, "If you care about her, then you will go in there and tell her that you are sorry. She is a very nice young lady, Aldandil, and I thought you liked her."
"I do," Aldandil responded haltingly, unsure of why he couldn't respond to Nimaron's comment more defensively. A healer was telling him how to handle the situation with Meril. It was hardly any of his business!
"Please do not upset her again then," Nimaron started down the hall, "She was so happy when you came yesterday."
She was so happy when you came yesterday. Would any other healer have told him that? Most likely not.
But a good friend might have.
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"Ooh! Ooh! I want to put it in!" Cúran's hand wove wildly in the air, and Vanima the cook passed the elfling a small cup full of raisins to pour into the bowl placed in the middle of the table. A moment ago she had come into the hall to ask the queen whether or not she would like walnuts added to the baked apples. Now she sat at one of the benches, Prince Legolas and a friend both intent on helping her, despite her protests.
'I can manage,' she'd told them.
'Oh, but we want to help you!' Cúran had already taken her hand, intent on leading her back to their table.
Legolas had led the way, 'Sometimes people need a lot of help, Vanima. We'll help you.'
'We'll be such good helpers,' Cúran had added, and Legolas had nodded emphatically, 'We're good helpers. Sometimes too good.'
"Why do you have to take the peel off on the top?" Legolas picked up one of the cored apples from the baking pan, noting the way Vanima had cut away the rosy red skin near the top. The apple day had turned into quite an enjoyable time. Everyone had been happily singing or chatting, and everywhere there was someone ready to hand out a slice of apple to an elfling who might be wanting one. Best though, Cúran had come with his nana, so there was someone to play with. It turned out that the other elfling was a very good person to have around when you did something that needed lots of helping – like persuading Vanima that she needed a few elflings to assist her.
Vanima spread out a towel on the table, layering walnuts and another towel on top of it, "So that the skin doesn't wrinkle. It looks prettier that way." She began to crush the nuts by drawing a wooden rolling pin back and forth over them, "Why don't you two begin brushing the white parts of those apples with the lemon juice in that yellow cup? I brought two brushes with me."
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Meril sat in bed, her attention thinning quickly. There was absolutely nothing to do. She wanted to pound her temples in frustration, but the resulting pain in her hands would not be worth it. She wanted to pace, but it was rather difficult to get out of bed by herself. She wanted to kick something, but the bedclothes were just not hard enough to be satisfactory.
By now she felt well enough to stay awake for most of the day, but there was nothing to do. Her injured hands made it impossible to read, embroider, or stay busy in general. Her mother and sisters had not made very good company, and there were no friends to visit with in Mirkwood. If she had to get burned like this, she should have done it in the Havens. At least there would have been a few people to peek in on her and take her mind off of the senseless burning and itching under the bandages, to sit on the bed and tell stories with. But why should it have happened at all anyway? A girl should be able to boil peaches without pouring them over herself!
The sound of a few taps on the door brought her from her thoughts, and that Aldandil walked into the room, looking hesitant, "Meril?"
"Hello," she glanced at him for half a moment. She wasn't sure if she was glad or upset to see him. She really didn't know how she felt about him at all.
"I…I need to apologize," Aldandil pushed the door closed behind him, "For what I said. It was rude, and selfish, and childish."
"Somebody told you to say that," Meril looked down at her bedspread, staring at a small yellow flower. It was a perfectly pre-constructed apology, just the type to expect from someone who filed reports and wrote speeches.
"My adar did, and Nimaron, the healer," Aldandil admitted, finding little else to tell her but the truth, "But…but I mean it, Meril. I am sorry. I…I've made a terrible mess of things." He looked at Meril carefully. The lady had not lifted her head to look at him, and he could not say that he blamed her. "I know that nothing I do now will change things, but I would like to make it up to you, if you like."
"You don't have to," Meril responded resignedly, "I forgive you." That was probably what he wanted to hear. Such a guilty conscience when he knew he was in the wrong…the king and queen must have given him a lot of lectures on apologizing when he was an elfling.
"You do?" Aldandil stepped further into the room, almost sitting down on the bed and then deciding he had better not.
"Yes, I forgive you," Meril nodded, glancing at him for a moment. She could not be completely sure if he was actually sorry or if he simply could not stand to have her –or anyone- mad at him. She sighed, knowing she would have to say something to assure him, "Now we have something to laugh about. Me trying to impress you and you thinking I was trying to kill you, and then both of us not speaking for years because of something so stupid. It almost makes a good joke."
"It would only make a good joke if we became friends again," Aldandil mused aloud before fully realizing what he was saying.
Meril looked at him for a long while this time, a hint of judgement visible in her pale grey eyes, "Maybe we could be."
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"I'll get you!" Legolas reached across the table with his brush, grinning as he swept a line of lemon juice across Cúran's forehead.
"Why did you do that?" The other child automatically rubbed at the mark with his hand before suddenly brightening, "I'll get you back!"
In half a moment both elflings were swording with the brushes, and Vanima looked over her shoulder at them, "I hope you finished brushing the apples; I don't want you spoiling my brushes when there are plenty of wooden spoons about."
"Sorry," Legolas scrambled back onto the bench, laying the brush down near Vanima's elbow. It had been fun to sword with Cúran, since he was much smaller than Aldan.
"Yes, I'm so sorry," Cúran joined in, guiltily shoving his own brush across the table, "We can clean them."
"Just don't do it again," Vanima said in a measured voice as she folded back the towel that had covered the walnuts. She suddenly grinned at both children, "Now we can put the walnuts in."
"It's your turn," Cúran pushed the green cup they had used for the raisins over to Legolas, then watched as Vanima stirred the ingredients together with cinnamon. Soon the cored apples had been filled, and then the three spooned sticky syrup made from maple sap over them.
"They're going to taste so good," Legolas watched as Vanima poured water over the apples. He pointed to each apple, "One for you, and one for me, and one for my ada…"
"And one for my ada, and for my nana, and -oh!- one for Arasil," Cúran interrupted, beginning to count from the other side. He glanced up at Legolas, "Horses like apples, don't they?"
"Yes!" Legolas exclaimed, returning to the counting, "And one for the fire horse, and one for Lintapilin, and…"
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Aldandil sat in the chair near Meril's bed, letting her paint pictures in his head. The best way to reconcile a friendship, he supposed, was to do some catching up. He had asked her of the Havens, where her ambassador father led her family, and within a few minutes he was reminded of conversations with her years ago. In lilting strokes Meril painted rolling waves and sea grass, but even more she spoke of the trees.
"When we returned here, there were oaks and pines…birches and beeches that I knew, that I have always known," Meril continued, picturing the ceilings of shifting green leaves in her own mind, remembering the way the different barks had felt under her fingers, "I missed the peach trees though…we had them in the Havens, but there aren't any here. That's why we brought peaches with us – I wanted some to save."
Aldandil let the landscape of a tree covered hill overlooking the water slip out of his head, turning to look at Meril.
"I decided to make preserves, to jar – for toast and desserts, you know," Meril gave him embarrassed smile, this being the first time she had made light of the story. It was easier with everything a little further away, with the healing well started. "Anyway, I was very stupid and lifted the pot without thinking, with my bare hands, and then I let go and dropped it, and it spilled all over me." She lifted up her bandaged hands for Aldandil to see, "If only I'd had all this on earlier."
"It was a mistake anyone might have made," Aldandil shrugged, not really knowing what else to say.
"Such a waste of the peaches too," Meril mused, more to herself, "Though I don't think I should ever want to eat another."
Aldandil laughed slightly, "You should take revenge on them instead, and eat them all in retaliation. I should have a peach tree planted in the gardens for you."
"That is a very good idea," Meril leaned back into her pillows, grinning. She sobered, looking over at Aldandil, "You would really have one planted in the gardens?"
"Yes," Aldandil nodded, getting up to leave, "Yes, I would. I like peaches, and I like trees." And, he thought quietly as he gave Meril a tentative smile, I think I like you.
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"Ada! Come and see what we made!" Legolas grabbed for his father's hand when Thranduil came to say hello to his wife and younger son.
"We helped Vanima to make them!" Cúran chimed in, hurrying along.
"You can eat one," Legolas directed his ada's attention to the pans of syrupy, warm apples that Vanima had laid on top of a towel. He waited to see if his ada would agree to trying one, which would result in the cook serving an apple not only to Ada, but to Cúran and himself also.
Thranduil tousled his son's hair, leaning over the pan to let the sweet, spicy smell fill his nose. He could remember afternoons picnicking with his wife-to-be, slicing and sharing crisp apples while they lounged on the grass. He glanced to Legolas, seeing the expectant look in the elfling's eyes, "I think I will eat one, or perhaps I will eat them all."
"We need some for the horses though!" Legolas exclaimed, looking worried. He and Cúran had carefully counted out five apples for the five horses that they knew best.
Baked apples for the horses? Whoever had put that idea into their heads? Thranduil shook his head, chuckling quietly to himself, "I think perhaps the horses should have plain apples."
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Thilómë patted the side of Namin's face, looking into the shiny brown pools that the horse had for eyes. Beside her Thranduil was feeding the horse another apple, speaking to the animal so quietly that probably only she and Namin could hear.
"I think we shall come back later tonight, since the rain has stopped," Thranduil rubbed his hands through the horse's pale mane, occasionally stealing glances at his wife, "Rides under the stars in the gardens are not to miss."
Thilómë shot Thranduil a smile, remembering evenings years ago, riding with him on the bare back of a different horse. Pleasant memories.
"Ada, are there any left?" Legolas hurried over, Cúran and now Arasil not far behind. Each horse in this part of the stable had probably had enough apples to coax him to jump three fences, and yet the elflings seemed to think they needed more.
"I think they would have liked the baked ones," Legolas lifted an apple up for one the mares, straining up on his toes to see over the gate and into the stall where her foal was nestled in the clean hay.
Arasil nodded, tossing his apple up into the air and catching it in his hands, "They're like people. They like special treats too."
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Legolas sat with his older brother in one of the smaller dining rooms, enjoying one of the baked apples after supper. Ada, Nana, and Aldan would eat later, with lots of other grown-ups in one of the bigger halls, but it was nice to have company even if Aldan wasn't eating. The elfling picked a gooey raisin off of his plate, popping it into his mouth. "Today there was no training, so Cúran and I made these apples. Then Ada and Nana went with us to stables and we fed the horses," he watched as his brother scribbled on a sheet of paper, "What did you do today?"
"I decided to plant a peach tree," Aldandil looked up from the map of the gardens that he was working on, figuring that he could decide just where exactly to put the tree later.
"Peaches are good," Legolas nodded approvingly, picking another raisin from his plate, "Are peach trees good for climbing?"
"I think so," Aldandil smiled, "I think they're good for lots of things."
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~Responses to Reviews~
Thank you all for taking the time to let me know when you're enjoying the story. Odd notes are below the reviews.
*daw the minstrel: I love writing Aldan and Legolas together – I have sisters still in grade-school, and they've provided me with lots of young adult/small child sibling inspiration.
That Thranduil…he seems to develop a drool-inspiring effect in most 'Good Thranduil' stories…*shrugs and sighs*
*utsuri: I am thrilled that you've enjoyed the stories so much. Never fear, it is inevitable that Legolas will get stronger, just as it is a given that I will update…eventually. *g* Thanks again!
*Lutris: Meril and Aldan have decided to be good muses and tell their whole story from this point on. *g* And I loved camping as a kid too! (Still do…)
*Dragon-of-the-North: Aldan and Meril are in quite a mess, but luckily Meril is not immune to self-assured young elves going sappish and apologizing and offering to plant peach trees, and Aldan is letting his usual ingenious side take over again.
Legolas is becoming quite an individual elfling…so many things to do when you're small.
As for Thranduil and Thilómë…perhaps someday their sappy story will get posted. *g*
*Lady Silma: Legolas is taking full-advantage of being an elfling now, which includes occasionally sleeping in a tent too small for Aldan.
*Legolas4me: Who couldn't love the sweet elfling? *shrugs with 'beats me' expression*
*GeneticallyElvenGriffindor: I'm glad you like the story – I am a slow updater, but the new chapters do get posted eventually. *apologetic smile*
*LOTRFaith: Aldandil hasn't been seriously involved with a young lady for a long time…and Meril is just so..well… *Aldan shrugs helplessly*
*Iluvien: Aldan being immature…I suppose he was nervous, and unsettled…and he has a problem with hiding his true thoughts at times, which works both positively and negatively. Hopefully he's improved the situation now though.
*Elainor: I'm glad you like Meril – she is indeed a good match for Aldan. I threw in a few Thranduil and Thilómë bits – I hope you enjoyed them.
*Elberethia: Aldan does deserve a hug, and Meril will probably be ready to give him one by the time she's all healed up. *Legolas carefully considers the comments about 'pre-Dark Leaf' and overwhelming opts to leave that to Jasta's Legolas* I do take it as a compliment though!
*Dragon Confused: It is so much fun to write Legolas doing normal little elfling things and encountering normal elfling problems! I think he's been more than ready.
Aldan is making amends, and Meril enjoys dark humor.
*Krystie: Legolas will probably drag Aldan out to that tent again…as an oldest, I feel the older brother's pain in being scrunched into a small space. *g*
*Samwise the Brave: I have four younger sisters, and have been obligated to do many things…Legolas is taking advantage of having an older brother, and I don't blame him.
*QuidditchNut: Thank you for the wonderful review – and for reading all of those chapters! Where to start…?
Celebrían…her character is one of the things that I would definitely change if I ever get the chance to rework my stories. At the time I wrote "Ardent" she was mainly just a name…Dragon Confused's stories have had their influence on me as well, and now I feel…guilty. *smirk*
Legolas…Legolas deserves to be 'real' every once in awhile. There is a good group of writers; they just take some hunting down. (My most favorite Legolas bit of all is where he rides into Rivendell…I haven't decided why yet…)
And Thranduil…I love writing Thranduil, and I think anyone who makes an effort to write a 'good Thranduil' ends up liking him too.
*Starlit Hope: *little Legolas hops about explaining every detail of that little-bitty tent to you*
*farflung: Thank you for all of the amazing reviews. It was a real treat to read all of them, and I have to thank you for taking all of that time to read and then to write so many wonderful things. I'm glad that so many parts of the story touched you, and that there were things to laugh and smile about. I think that's why a lot of us write and post when it really comes down to it…we want to share something.
As you can see, I've finally updated…the updates do come eventually, though not always very timely. *bites lip and wonders how to improve time-management skills*
