Karri: Thank you! I'm glad you liked the battle.
Farflung: But Pippin actually makes very good sense 'from a certain point of view', as Obi Wan Kenobe would say.
Arwen Undomiel: Here's an update that is a bit quicker than the last one!
Joee: Yes, real life is such a bother when it keeps you from writing about the really important stuff! You will be glad to see that this chapter is a Legolas one. Also, I can't get over how you manage to spot stuff! I guess I'm too close to my own writing to notice the errors. Thanx!
Dragonfly: Yes, I picked 'Tawarmaenas' because I knew it would frustrate all my readers. He he he! ^_^
Legolas would not allow the company to pause even briefly. Fortunately, their horses were elven and, understanding the need, were able to forgo rest for the time being. As for the Elves, most dozed from time to time on horseback, their eyes open but glazed with sleep, trusting to their steeds to bear them safely. Only Legolas never slept, although Elladan and Elrohir urged him to. Nor did he have any stomach for the food and drink that they anxiously proffered. On he rode, cradling his father in his arms, until they reached the border of Lothórien. There Elves silently awaited them, some holding a stretcher. Gently the Lórien Elves lifted Thranduil down from Legolas' horse and laid him upon the litter. Legolas insisted on being one of the bearers, although Elladan and Elrohir pleaded with him to spare himself. At a jog, the stretcher bearers and a few attendants, among them Elladan and Elrohir, set off, leaving the remainder of the company to follow at a more leisurely pace.
When they arrived at the base of the mallorn of the Lord and the Lady, those two Elves awaited them. To Legolas' great relief, Gandalf was there also. So, too, were Haldir and his brothers. Celeborn himself bore Thranduil to the talan at the crest of the tree, Legolas following close on his heels. Haldir and his brothers took charge of Elrohir and Elladon, escorting them to the talan of their sister Arwen. Then they returned and resumed their vigil at the base of the mallorn.
Once in the Lord and Lady's talan, Celeborn gently laid Thranduil upon the bed that had been prepared for him. Legolas hovered over him anxiously, but Celeborn put his hands upon his shoulders and softly drew him away.
"You must give Galadriel and Mithrandir room to minister to him," he said soothingly, keeping his arms upon the younger Elf's shoulders and using gentle pressure to stay him when he would have returned to his father's side.
Mithrandir and Galadriel worked over Thranduil for a space, cleaning and anointing his wound and binding it with clean linen. At last, satisfied, they arose from his side and turned their attention to Legolas. His face was pale and his limbs trembled. Unconsciously, he was now leaning against Celeborn for support.
"Are you well, Legolas?" Galadriel asked.
"No, merely worried about my father. How is he?"
"The wound was deep, and he lost much blood. Still, there is no sign of infection. It is you for whom I am now concerned."
"I am well," Legolas repeated.
"You must rest," Galadriel insisted. "Go with Haldir to his talan."
Stubbornly, Legolas shook his head.
"I want to be here when my father awakes."
"He will not awaken for hours."
"Nevertheless, I will wait."
Galadriel gave Gandalf a meaningful look. The wizard stepped over to the young Elf and laid a gentle hand upon his shoulder.
"Now, Legolas," he said soothingly, "you know that Galadriel will do her utmost to care for your father. You can contribute by looking to your own health so that she does not find herself burdened with another patient!"
Legolas still resisted. Gandalf began to massage the spot on his shoulder where it met his neck. Suddenly the wizard gave a little squeeze, and Legolas went limp, his eyes glazed over. Celeborn caught his body and gently lowered him to the floor of the talan.
"Someday," said Galadriel, "you are going to have to show me that maneuver. I may find it useful."
"How? To silence Celeborn when he is too talkative?"
The wizard and both Galadriel and her mate smiled. Celeborn was famously taciturn.
"No," laughed Galadriel. "I had it more in mind to use on Elrond at council when he waxes too profound."
"You would have him slumber through every council, then? But, Lady, I do not know if I can convey the secret to you. It came to me in a vision, as I trekked through the stars, and I myself cannot explain how it works."
"Pity. Ah, well, we had best see to our young guest here."
Celeborn carried Legolas to the base of the talan, where Haldir and his brothers still waited, and those three young Elves carefully conveyed the prince to Haldir's talan and put him to bed. He slept for many hours. When he awoke, he was bewildered. How had he gotten here? Suddenly he remembered.
"Ada!" he cried, throwing aside his covers and leaping to his feet. He made for the rope ladder.
"Legolas!" shouted Haldir, "do you mean to run naked through Lothlórien!?"
Legolas looked down at himself but was too fearful for his father to be embarrassed.
"Where are my clothes!?"
"Removed," said Rúmil smugly, "by order of the Lady."
"And hidden," added Orophin, "also by order of the Lady."
Legolas scowled at the Lórien brothers and seized a blanket to wrap around himself. Rúmil, however, laid hold of it, and a tug-of-war ensued. At last Rúmil suddenly let go his end, and Legolas tumbled over backwards, landing upon a pile of blankets, fortunately. Grinning ferociously, Rúmil promptly sat on him.
"Rumil—oomph—get off me!"
"We have our orders, Legolas. The Lady will send word when Thranduil begins to stir. Until then, we are to entertain you."
"This is not entertaining!"
"Oh, I am entertained," smirked Rúmil.
"Rúmil," scolded Haldir. "Let him up. I do not think this is what the Lady had in mind."
Rúmil arose, and Legolas sat up. Haldir handed him the blanket, and Legolas wrapped himself in it.
"If I promise not to try and slip off, will you give me my clothes?"
"You will have to promise upon something that is precious to you," warned Orophin. "The Lady says that you are not to be trusted unless you do."
"Very well. I swear by my father. Will that do?"
The Lórien brothers had to concede that such a pledge would indeed suffice. Haldir disappeared over the edge of the talan and shortly reappeared with a bundle that contained Legolas' tunic, leggings, and boots. Legolas hastily dressed. He was resolved to remain indignant, but in the face of his friends' raillery, he soon found himself smiling, then laughing. As he was not to leave the flet himself, his friends agreed to take turns bringing word from Galadriel's talan. Off Orophin went, and he quickly returned with the news that Thranduil's color was good and his breathing even and not labored. Moreover, his eyes, which had been closed in the manner of a Man, were now open and glazed in the normal fashion of a resting Elf. Legolas exhaled and let his body relax. He leaned back against a pile of bedding and gratefully accepted a plate and a water bladder from Haldir. Suddenly he felt famished, and he realized that neither food nor drink had passed his lips since his father had been injured.
"Legolas," said Orophin, amused, "you are bolting your food like a Dwarf!"
"Nay!" laughed Rúmil. "Like an Orc!"
"Stop tormenting him," scolded Haldir.
"Oh, I do not mind, Haldir," Legolas reassured him. "It is pleasant to once again have the luxury of being silly."
"If you are sure," said Haldir doubtfully.
"I am quite sure—besides, your brothers' japes are nothing as compared to Elladan and Elrohir's."
"Is that a challenge?" cried Rúmil. "Because we can do better, I assure you!"
"Yes," chimed in Orophin. "We are not about to be outdone by Rivendell Elves in our own realm!"
"Ai! I do not wish to spark a competition in this matter!" exclaimed Legolas in mock horror.
All laughed. At that moment, one of the two Rivendell Elves in question poked his head up over the edge of the talan.
"Elladan," exclaimed Legolas. "Mae govannen. Where is Elrohir?"
Elladan pulled himself the rest of the way on to the talan.
"He is still with Arwen. She is anxious to see you. Are you well enough for another guest?"
"But I am not ill," said Legolas.
"Good. We had heard that you were carried unconscious to Haldir's talan and feared that you had collapsed from a mixture of grief, exhaustion, hunger, and thirst."
Legolas wrinkled his brow.
"I did collapse, I suppose, but I do not know why. One minute Gandalf was rubbing my shoulder; next I knew, I awoke in Haldir's talan."
"Ah," said Elladan, giving Legolas a knowing look. "That old trick. Never let Gandalf put his hand at the juncture of your neck and shoulder—not unless you are desirous of a nap."
"I had heard that Gandalf could put someone to sleep with a mere twitch of his fingers," said Rúmil, impressed, "but I have never met someone he had practiced his art upon. What did it feel like?"
"That's just it," said Legolas. "I didn't feel anything."
"I shall have to ask him how it is done," declared Rúmil. "'Twould be a most useful skill."
"You are the last person he would tell!" retorted Legolas.
"Nay," laughed Elladan. "Elrohir is the last person he would tell."
The talan erupted with laughter. Everyone agreed that they would not want Elrohir to learn Gandalf's secret. The uses that Elf would put it to—Ai! Elladan left then to fetch Elrohir and Arwen, first warning Legolas that Arwen looked very different from the elleth who years ago had ridden away from Imladris. When he and Elrohir returned with her, Legolas gasped, for, if anything, Elladan had spoken less than the truth. 'Willowy' was a term much favored for describing Elves, and there was no doubt that it suited Arwen. She was lithe and graceful, moving fluidly as if she were a forest spirit. Her face was serene, but not placid, lit as it was with intelligence and wisdom. Acting on impulse, Legolas arose and bowed. She laughed, a little self-consciously.
"Legolas," she chided him. "You must not bow to me. We are kin."
"Kin we may be, but you are a lady," replied Legolas gallantly.
Arwen blushed a little, and lowered her eyes.
"Elrohir and Elladan have told me much of the news from Rivendell, but not all. How is the little human?"
"Estel? He is well but greatly changed, Arwen—although not as much as you! All his baby teeth have fallen out, and he has grown taller and more muscular. In form he has more the figure of a youth than a child. He is strong, graceful, and brave. In one thing, though, he is unchanged. He is still grubby. And as for disrobing, for no one has he ever stripped as rapidly as he once stripped for you!"
Another eruption of laughter, and Arwen turned pink.
"Shall I recognize him when I see him again, I wonder," she said softly, "for it will be another decade before I return to Imladris."
Legolas shook his head.
"He is a human, and they grow rapidly. He will be a man when you return—but you will have been gone so long that he may not recognize you, either. Fear not, though, you will be great friends. It is said that the 'child is father of the man'; he is a worthy youth and will be a worthy man."
The conversation moved on to other matters. Had it not been for the fact that his father lay wounded, Legolas would have been perfectly happy, so pleasant it was to be at the same time in the company of both elven siblings and Lothlórien friends. From time to time one of the latter would slip away to check on Thranduil, and the news continued to be good. At last Rúmil brought word that Legolas was to return to his father's side.
"The Lady says that he begins to stir, and she believes that he will soon awaken."
With eagerness and joy, Legolas leaped to his feet and sprang to the ladder. In the proverbial twinkling of an eye, he had vanished from the sight of his friends. Taken aback, they sat quietly for a moment but then burst into laughter. As he raced through the trees, Legolas overheard the merriment of his friends and smiled. When he arrived at the stairway that led to the Lord and Lady's flet, he took the steps three and four at a time. Several servants hailed him, but he ignored them and burst unannounced onto the topmost talan. Unannounced, but not unexpected. There was no flicker of surprise in the eyes of any who stood there.
"Well, well," said Gandalf blandly, "you are awake, I see."
Legolas tried to scowl at him but could summon no more than a crooked grin. Celeborn tried to look serious, but soon betrayed himself with a broad smile. As for Galadriel, she simply glowed, her aura flickering and shimmering as she glided toward Legolas and enfolded him within her embrace.
"You seem to have taken no harm from your nap," she murmured. "It will ease your father's heart to see you looking so well. You would not have wanted to add to his cares."
Legolas had to concede that this was true. Galadriel stepped back and gestured toward the pallet upon which Thranduil lay. Legolas softly approached and seated himself by his father, taking his hand and stroking it. So it was that his father found him when his eyes came into focus.
"Legolas," he muttered. "Legolas! I dreamt that you were slain by a spider. No, by an Orc! Praise the Valar that this was not so! I could not bear to lose you yet again."
"If I am not lost, it was your doing, Ada."
Thranduil smiled weakly before replying.
"And if I am not lost, it is yours."
Gandalf cleared his throat. Legolas had forgotten that anyone else remained on the flet.
"Now that Thranduil is awake and can answer our questions," said Galadriel, "Mithrandir and I should examine him once again."
Reluctantly but this time without apprehension, Legolas arose and stepped back. Gandalf and Galadriel approached and examined Thranduil carefully, prodding his abdomen and manipulating his limbs, asking him all the while whether he felt pain here or there. To all their queries, Thranduil answered in the negative. The normally imperturbable wizard was beaming by the time their examination was at an end.
"Thranduil, you are very tough in the fiber, I deem. I should like to see the Orc scimitar that wounded you, for I have no doubt that it must be bent at the tip. Whatever happened to the Orc itself, by the way?"
"Lost its head," deadpanned Legolas.
"Oh ho! All those years of tutelage at the hands of Glorfindel have been good for something after all!"
"Enough of this chatter," scolded Galadriel. "Thranduil should rest further. Legolas, you may return to Haldir's talan—no, it won't do any good to protest! Thranduil will not sleep if you sit watching him like an owl about to pounce upon a cony."
Galadriel ushered him toward the stairs. Gandalf went along with him. As they neared Haldir's talan, they heard frequent bursts of song and laughter.
"I wonder whether Galadriel troubled to have a count taken of her bottles of Dorwinion wine before your party arrived," mused Gandalf. Just at that moment, a boot came sailing off the talan, followed by a pillow. Next a cloak came floating down.
"Isn't that Arwen's cloak?" said Legolas.
"I believe it is. This should be interesting. Wait a bit."
Elf and wizard looked up expectantly. Within a few seconds, Rúmil tumbled off the platform. As he fell, he flailed his arms about and succeeded in catching hold of a branch, thus arresting his fall. There he dangled, trying to catch his breath but laughing too hard to do so.
"That will be Elrohir's doing," observed Legolas.
"Nay, my lad. I think you'll find 'twas Arwen pushed him off the talan."
"Arwen!?"
"Come, come, Legolas. Surely you don't think Arwen has survived all these years in Lothlórien without learning how to hold her own in the company of Rúmil, Orophin, and Haldir!"
With that, Gandalf bade his young friend good-night. Legolas ascended the ladder and learned that it had indeed been Arwen who had defenestrated the Lórien Elf. As for Gandalf, he strolled off in the direction of Galadriel's Glade. There he found the Lady smiling with amusement as she gazed into her Mirror.
"How are Legolas and Arwen getting on, my Lady?"
"Like brother and sister. The years that they have been apart have not changed their relationship one whit. Indeed, Arwen has several times called him 'Nomie', but, as that name provokes such hilarity on the part of the others, for once I am willing to indulge myself in prophecy: by the end of this evening she will abandon that name in favor of his given one."
"I am impressed at your skill at foretelling the future," said Gandalf gravely, his eyes twinkling. "So Legolas betrays nothing but fraternal feelings for Arwen, and she only sisterly ones for him. Good! Good! Nothing then stands in the way of an alliance between Arwen and the heir to the throne of Gondor. No obstacle, that is, to the restoration of the Dúnadain to their former glory as lords of Westernesse."
"Other than thousands of Orcs, a Dark Lord, and an object of power that shall remain unmentioned?" replied Galadriel a trifle puckishly.
"Well, yes, there are those matters that must be addressed," admitted Gandalf, gazing thoughtfully at the ring upon his finger and then raising his head to look at the similar adornment upon Galadriel's finger. "But as far as Legolas is concerned, when the time comes he shall stand at Aragorn's side as a friend and not as a rival."
"Yes, for his part, Legolas will do all he can to forward the interests of Aragorn. Now as to Elrond, in his heart of hearts, he would much rather that Arwen ally herself with an immortal Elf who would someday sail with Arwen to the West, where Elrond himself shall at length dwell. Yet if Aragorn can prove himself worthy of the sword of Isildur, Elrond will not stand in his way. And now mayhap he could not even if he wished."
"That leaves only Thranduil, who, in his love for his son, will want nothing but the best for him, including the best of marriages."
"True, but Thranduil will not force Legolas to marry against his inclination, for the King has lately grown in wisdom."
"Yes," said Gandalf dryly. "It is wonderful how losing a son and having him restored to you will bring about a remarkable clarity in one's mind."
Galadriel shook her head at him reprovingly.
"Mithrandir, someday that acerbic humor of yours is going to get you into trouble."
"My Lady, I would be delighted if that proved to be the worst of the trouble that I am going to get into!"
To that Galadriel had no answer.