Authors Note: Thank you all for your encouraging reviews, there's not much
left to go until the end of this fic so thank you to all of you that have
stuck by me :)
Chapter Thirty
Estel woke to the sound of soft sobbing for the second time since he had been forced to rest by Thranduil of all creatures. The stubborn king had arrived a few days late with an army from Lothlorien to find his youngest son in a critical state. Since then the king had rarely left his son's side and insisted upon improving Estel's health as well. Slowly resigning him- self to having to move he sat up careful of the still form of his lover.
In the gleam of the moonlight Legolas looked ever ethereal. His pale features seemed to almost absorb the light offered to him.
He had slept almost continuously since his fall almost a week ago, the only times that he had woken he had been incoherent and unable to do anything except drink a few mouthfuls of water before falling back into unconsciousness.
Legolas had been lucky, his fall cushioned by the pieces of wood and straw possibly saving his life. After what seemed like a life time Lord Elrond with the help of Elrohir had managed to stop the bleeding and close up the wound they had caused bringing this child in to their world, but whole experience had taken its toll on Legolas's body causing his already unsteady state to weaken further.
The decision to move him had not been made lightly but with the night drawing increasingly closer and the temperature dropping they had little choice and Elrond feared that Legolas's condition could be further worsened by any change in the weather. Once He had been carefully placed with in the comfort and safety of his own chambers Elrond had then refused to leave until he was certain that there was nothing more he could do to aid the prince's recovery.
Releasing a frustrated sigh as he noticed no change in his lover's condition Estel pushed him-self up and out of the bed and then stumbled over to wooden cradle on the far side of their chambers.
The tiny infant was as usual still asleep, but its features were screwed up in to an image of complete sorrow, it cut straight in to Estel's heart. The soft sobbing continued as Estel carefully picked him up and cradled him gently to his chest.
The noise lessened some what but it did not stop as he began pacing the length of the room.
Elrond had explained to him that whilst in cased within Legolas's protective body the child had, had a strong connection with its elven parent and now felt the loss keenly. It would gradually stop once Legolas woke and was able to bond with its missing parent.
Glancing across the room at the sleeping elf, Estel wondered, not for the first time, whether he would ever be greeted by those stunning blue eyes again. He hated himself for thinking it, but over the past few days, with no sign of improvement his hope was slowly beginning to fail.
Rocking his son from side to side he silently pleaded for him to settle once again. He had not let his tiny child out of his hearing range since the birth which unfortunately meant that he had barely slept more than a few hours at a time since the babe had been born and it was slowly beginning to wear him down both physically and emotionally.
"Shh, little one both your parents are here we will not leave you." He whispered gently although he was unsure if he should have made a promise that strong with Legolas as he was.
Carefully moving one of his arms, he ran his fingers tenderly across the infant's fine hair and down over his slightly pointed ears, smiling as the child's face began to relax.
He had yet to name the small creature in his arms, it felt wrong to do so with out Legolas's input. They had not discussed names before he had left to fight all those months ago believing that they had plenty of time for such things, how wrong they had been.
Estel shook his head hoping to clear it of these depressing thoughts and moved towards his sleeping blond elf. He gently pulled the covering to one side he settled into the bed placing the child between his body and Legolas's hoping that the close contact to both parents would ease him back into a quiet, restful sleep.
Woken by the sound of whispering, Estel's sleep deficient mind struggled to recognise who the voices belonged to. Slowly he forced his eyes open, only to shut them again as he was greeted by the full force of the sunlight.
The sudden feeling of someone leaning over him startled him suddenly and Estel reached out to grasp hold of the intruder above him.
"He is wake now anyway Ada." That voice defiantly belonged to Elrohir.
Once again forcing his eyes open Estel was finally able to take in the image of both his father and brother standing to one side of the bed, Elrohir was leaning over him slightly. The sun light reflecting off of them both, making it difficult for Estel to focus on them.
"What are you...?" He trailed off expecting one of them to understand what he was asking.
"We thought that we would relieve you from your child care duties." Elrohir grinned, or at least Estel thought he did, his eyes still had not adjusted enough to make out his brothers expression.
Sitting up he released his hold on Elrohir and turned in his bed to gently lift his sleeping son off of the bed and into his arms.
"Why?" He mumbled sounding slightly confused, why did they want to take his child away from him?
"Because Aragorn you are exhausted." Elrond stated, speaking softly his voice full of pity as he moved quietly around to the opposite side of the bed, nearer to where Legolas lay. "You need to rest." He continued with out looking at him. "You are little good to anyone if you are falling asleep on you're feet."
"Besides." Elrohir interrupted. "I want to spend some quality time with my nephew. I can not have him completely influenced by your primitive human ways."
"Primitive! Just what are you planning to do with him?" Estel asked curiously glancing between his father and brother unsure of what to make of what was going on around him.
"Peace brother." Elrohir sighed, gently placing a comforting hand upon Estel's shoulder. "Arwen merely wishes to coddle him. She whines constantly that she has not yet had the chance to do so, please Estel save us from this fate worse than death" Noticing Estel's somewhat reluctance to agree with the idea Elrohir continued in a more serious tone. "I promise not to let him out of my sight and will return him to you as soon as you have rested fully."
Leaning forward for the second time, Elrohir reached out and carefully extracted the infant from his brother's now unresisting arms.
Amazingly it still slept on peacefully unaware of its human father's inner turmoil.
"Hmm." Elrond voice distracted both brothers from their discussion and they turned to watch as their father inspected the knife wound across Legolas's stomach.
"What is it." Estel's eyes grew wider, concern vivid in his expressive features. "What is wrong?"
"Look at this." Elrond directed their eyes to where he had pushed the bandages to one side and his fingers ran gently across the damaged skin in feather like touches.
Estel looked but he did not see, his eyes filled with images from the past.
Pictures of blood.
Emotions full of fear.
"Aragorn!" His father's voice made him jump, his head clearing instantly. "Calm down and look properly."
Elrohir's happy gasp made Estel draw closer to Legolas's still form, desperate for good news but not daring to expect that he would receive any.
"The skin is beginning to heal!" Elrohir laughed, hugging the baby closer to him. "Do you hear that young one your Ada is fighting to come back to us!"
TBC...
Sorry but I just couldn't kill him!
Please R&R
Chapter Thirty
Estel woke to the sound of soft sobbing for the second time since he had been forced to rest by Thranduil of all creatures. The stubborn king had arrived a few days late with an army from Lothlorien to find his youngest son in a critical state. Since then the king had rarely left his son's side and insisted upon improving Estel's health as well. Slowly resigning him- self to having to move he sat up careful of the still form of his lover.
In the gleam of the moonlight Legolas looked ever ethereal. His pale features seemed to almost absorb the light offered to him.
He had slept almost continuously since his fall almost a week ago, the only times that he had woken he had been incoherent and unable to do anything except drink a few mouthfuls of water before falling back into unconsciousness.
Legolas had been lucky, his fall cushioned by the pieces of wood and straw possibly saving his life. After what seemed like a life time Lord Elrond with the help of Elrohir had managed to stop the bleeding and close up the wound they had caused bringing this child in to their world, but whole experience had taken its toll on Legolas's body causing his already unsteady state to weaken further.
The decision to move him had not been made lightly but with the night drawing increasingly closer and the temperature dropping they had little choice and Elrond feared that Legolas's condition could be further worsened by any change in the weather. Once He had been carefully placed with in the comfort and safety of his own chambers Elrond had then refused to leave until he was certain that there was nothing more he could do to aid the prince's recovery.
Releasing a frustrated sigh as he noticed no change in his lover's condition Estel pushed him-self up and out of the bed and then stumbled over to wooden cradle on the far side of their chambers.
The tiny infant was as usual still asleep, but its features were screwed up in to an image of complete sorrow, it cut straight in to Estel's heart. The soft sobbing continued as Estel carefully picked him up and cradled him gently to his chest.
The noise lessened some what but it did not stop as he began pacing the length of the room.
Elrond had explained to him that whilst in cased within Legolas's protective body the child had, had a strong connection with its elven parent and now felt the loss keenly. It would gradually stop once Legolas woke and was able to bond with its missing parent.
Glancing across the room at the sleeping elf, Estel wondered, not for the first time, whether he would ever be greeted by those stunning blue eyes again. He hated himself for thinking it, but over the past few days, with no sign of improvement his hope was slowly beginning to fail.
Rocking his son from side to side he silently pleaded for him to settle once again. He had not let his tiny child out of his hearing range since the birth which unfortunately meant that he had barely slept more than a few hours at a time since the babe had been born and it was slowly beginning to wear him down both physically and emotionally.
"Shh, little one both your parents are here we will not leave you." He whispered gently although he was unsure if he should have made a promise that strong with Legolas as he was.
Carefully moving one of his arms, he ran his fingers tenderly across the infant's fine hair and down over his slightly pointed ears, smiling as the child's face began to relax.
He had yet to name the small creature in his arms, it felt wrong to do so with out Legolas's input. They had not discussed names before he had left to fight all those months ago believing that they had plenty of time for such things, how wrong they had been.
Estel shook his head hoping to clear it of these depressing thoughts and moved towards his sleeping blond elf. He gently pulled the covering to one side he settled into the bed placing the child between his body and Legolas's hoping that the close contact to both parents would ease him back into a quiet, restful sleep.
Woken by the sound of whispering, Estel's sleep deficient mind struggled to recognise who the voices belonged to. Slowly he forced his eyes open, only to shut them again as he was greeted by the full force of the sunlight.
The sudden feeling of someone leaning over him startled him suddenly and Estel reached out to grasp hold of the intruder above him.
"He is wake now anyway Ada." That voice defiantly belonged to Elrohir.
Once again forcing his eyes open Estel was finally able to take in the image of both his father and brother standing to one side of the bed, Elrohir was leaning over him slightly. The sun light reflecting off of them both, making it difficult for Estel to focus on them.
"What are you...?" He trailed off expecting one of them to understand what he was asking.
"We thought that we would relieve you from your child care duties." Elrohir grinned, or at least Estel thought he did, his eyes still had not adjusted enough to make out his brothers expression.
Sitting up he released his hold on Elrohir and turned in his bed to gently lift his sleeping son off of the bed and into his arms.
"Why?" He mumbled sounding slightly confused, why did they want to take his child away from him?
"Because Aragorn you are exhausted." Elrond stated, speaking softly his voice full of pity as he moved quietly around to the opposite side of the bed, nearer to where Legolas lay. "You need to rest." He continued with out looking at him. "You are little good to anyone if you are falling asleep on you're feet."
"Besides." Elrohir interrupted. "I want to spend some quality time with my nephew. I can not have him completely influenced by your primitive human ways."
"Primitive! Just what are you planning to do with him?" Estel asked curiously glancing between his father and brother unsure of what to make of what was going on around him.
"Peace brother." Elrohir sighed, gently placing a comforting hand upon Estel's shoulder. "Arwen merely wishes to coddle him. She whines constantly that she has not yet had the chance to do so, please Estel save us from this fate worse than death" Noticing Estel's somewhat reluctance to agree with the idea Elrohir continued in a more serious tone. "I promise not to let him out of my sight and will return him to you as soon as you have rested fully."
Leaning forward for the second time, Elrohir reached out and carefully extracted the infant from his brother's now unresisting arms.
Amazingly it still slept on peacefully unaware of its human father's inner turmoil.
"Hmm." Elrond voice distracted both brothers from their discussion and they turned to watch as their father inspected the knife wound across Legolas's stomach.
"What is it." Estel's eyes grew wider, concern vivid in his expressive features. "What is wrong?"
"Look at this." Elrond directed their eyes to where he had pushed the bandages to one side and his fingers ran gently across the damaged skin in feather like touches.
Estel looked but he did not see, his eyes filled with images from the past.
Pictures of blood.
Emotions full of fear.
"Aragorn!" His father's voice made him jump, his head clearing instantly. "Calm down and look properly."
Elrohir's happy gasp made Estel draw closer to Legolas's still form, desperate for good news but not daring to expect that he would receive any.
"The skin is beginning to heal!" Elrohir laughed, hugging the baby closer to him. "Do you hear that young one your Ada is fighting to come back to us!"
TBC...
Sorry but I just couldn't kill him!
Please R&R
