~ To start anew ~
by Ola
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A/N~ sorry for the short chapter. I'm leaving on vacations tomorrow (I've been packing and doing last minute stuff all day today) and have taken a little time to update this part before I leave, because there won't be anything else for two months (yes, there is no internet access to where I'm going, what am I going to do?!!! Arrgg!! *sigh*) So I hope you won't be too disappointed. Sorry. And I don't even know if I'll go see the fireworks today. Aii!! =(
Hopefully, when I come back, I'll have lots more of this story, ready to type and update! How is that? *grins* Thanks so much for reviewing (sorry again, no comments, because I really don't have the time). Do here is the story. Enjoy! =)
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Part 12~ The second messenger
"Aaaaaddaaaaa!!!" a ball of terrified energy burst into the Lord of Imladris' guest room. It stopped in the middle of the room and dissolved into Estel, face bright red with exertion, and unable to regain his breath. Lord Elrond was on his knees next to him in less than a heartbeat, holding his son by the shoulders to keep him from sagging. His mind whirled with all the possibilities of trouble, as his heart constricted painfully at seeing his son so distraught.
"Estel? What is it? What's wrong? Are you hurt? Estel?"
Estel finally looked up, his big eyes brimming with tears, and took one last, long shuddering breath before saying one word. One word that drained all blood from his ada's face.
"Legolas…"
The Eldar did not wait to hear more. He scooped Estel in his arms and ran. The hallways seemed interminably long, as second after second past, and still there was no sight of the prince's room. Whatever had gone wrong? He had looked rather well –as well as a sick elf might look- this morning. Was this another relapse? Had he decided to…to…leave? Now? Against everything I had told him? Was it because of what I had told him? Oh God…
His strangled sob was drowned by the pounding of his feet on the stone floor.
Oh Eru…please… No… Not him. Don't let him go. Please. I… He knew he was babbling, but he could not really bring his mind to think about anything else. The vision of the young prince, so pale and so little in that big bed filled his eyes. And still he ran, overcome with fear and guilt. He ran…and prayed.
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He crashed into the door, almost taking the thick slab of wood out of its hinges –he would have, had it not been for Estel, still in his arms- and slide to an incredulous halt.
"Good day Lord Elrond."
The Eldar stood and stared, unable to take his eyes from the young elf propped up in bed by a large number of big fluffy pillows. His mind went blank for a moment. It felt distinctively as if it had left for a walk around the woods until its owner could bring himself to put two coherent words together.
And then Legolas grinned. And the smirk grew and grew by the moment, until it had to stop perforce before it split his face in two.
That, if anything else, got through the fog in the Healer's head. And when he recovered, he was not happy.
"What is the meaning of this?" He did not bite his words of, but his voice was colder than winter rains. He unceremoniously put Estel on his feet again, and after a quick glance at the child's uncertain smile, he vowed to have a word with his son as well. Soon.
Legolas became serious. "I needed to talk to you, and you seemed disinclined to stay and chat."
Lord Elrond's mouth opened and closed without uttering a single word. When he seemed about to leave, the young elf spoke again.
"It's important. Please." Finally, the healer nodded, although his expression did not change. And now that Legolas had his quarry trapped, he did not really know where to begin without sounding rude or nosy. "I…I wish to thank you for …everything. I appreciate what you have done, even though that day, I dearly wished for you to go to Hell. I'm sorry. I do not know how to begin to thank you, for I owe you my life." Lord Elrond opened his mouth again as if to speak, but the prince forestalled him. "No, hear me out please for there seems to be another misunderstanding. That day I told Vanyar he was an evil healer, I meant to point out that he knew I had finally decided to fight for my life before I became ill, and he did not entrust my father with this knowledge, and let him worry half to death while I was unconscious. According to him, he wanted me to be the one to tell ada the good news, although how on Middle-Earth I was supposed to tell him anything while I was out cold is beyond me. I had no intention to hurt your feelings, especially not after your … talk. I dearly regret if you thought I was resentful that you brought the past before my eyes. It hurt to see it again as much as it did that first day, but I am thankful that you tried, for you succeeded, as I would have not, without your aid."
Silence descended on the room until Lord Elrond took a step toward the bed and kneeled next to it, taking Legolas' hand in his own. His eyes held a strange brilliance and his voice shook slightly but there was a smile on his face when he said "thank you Legolas. It means much to me to hear you speak thus. I…" he heaved a shaky sigh before continuing "I was unsure I had done the right thing. But I…" he glanced at Estel who had stood silently in a corner and beckoned him over into his arms "I have children of my own, and know how painful it is to see them suffer. Perhaps it was paternal affection, perhaps it was just your dashing looks." Both elves smiled as the mood lightened, until the Eldar became serious again. "I thank you Legolas." He stood with the grace of the Lord he was, and nodded toward the prince. "With your leave?"
Legolas nodded. "Farewell. May the stars shine on you."
"And on you youngling." The healer took Estel's hand and opened the door.
"Lord Elrond?" the dark haired elf turned around, his left eyebrow raised in that unconscious tic of his. "Please do not punish Estel. I asked him to play the messenger, and seeing your entry, I assume he played his role a little too perfectly." Estel looked at his father with tense anticipation, wondering whether his ada would be merciful, or whether he would have to avoid sitting for the next few hours because of the smacking he would receive on the seat of his pants. The two elves obviously knew what was going on through the child's mind, for they couldn't stop grinning.
Lord Elrond ruffled his son's hair then took him in his arms. "Do not worry ion nin. I am not angry with you." And with that, he left, but just before he disappeared behind the door, Legolas saw Estel squirm around in his father's grasp and without his notice, give the prince two thumbs up and a grin to rival the mischievous ones of his twin brothers.
Mission accomplished. He would have to give the little scamp those three honey cookies he had promised him.
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A/N~ here is your cookie cheysuli! I finally put it in!! lol. It makes me laugh =) hope you liked it. Hope everyone liked it.
Not very happy with the title. Sounds like biology all over again. Aii. But I want to keep the other idea I had for the next chapter because it fits there a lot better. =)
Thank you for reviewing! *hugs everyone, then waves and boards the plain* =)
