Brothers In Arms
Author: Robin Co Author: Badger Lord
Disclaimer: We are not making any money from this at all, we do not intend to infringe on any rights.
Author's Note: Thank you to those who are reviewing. You have all been really great. I really appreciate the support you have given me so far for the story and I am sorry that it has taken me a while to update; I've been busy lately. Again another thanks to Badger Lord, you are still the best!
This is an AU. Thranduil is Legolas' uncle and is NOT evil in this story. He is trying to find out what happened to Legolas' family. This will become apparent in later chapters so you will just have to bear it or you can beg on e-mail and I might reply.
Enjoy, Robin
*********************************************************************
Laomir walked through the corridor of the chilly palace. It was nearly the first time in 4 days that she had a moment to herself and she sighed heavily as she thought of the reason. Her two nephews weighed heavily on her mind. Turian, she knew was just a baby, barely 5 years old the child could only have mere thoughts of his mother. Now he had lost his father and his brother in . . . well that was the other issue. No one knew what happened to his father and brother, only Legolas.
At the thoughts of her eldest nephew Laomir could not help but breathe another sad sigh. Legolas was 150 years old and training to be a warrior. Unlike most sons of prominent fathers in Mirkwood he had decided to enter at the bottom ranks. Even for one so young his skill with the bow was becoming legendary. But that was in the past.
Laomir knew not what happened that night in the halls of her brother-in- law. What she did know was that the next morning Sorian her brother-in-law was dead and his son Noralis a mere 90 years old were dead. They had found Legolas by the body of Noralis. He spoke not a word then or since. Now there were great fears for both his mental and physical state. Thranduil was naturally devastated by the loss of his younger brother and was desperately seeking answers. He wanted vengeance and it was taking all she had to stop him demanding from Legolas to find out what happened. She stopped outside the room and entered. A healer sat by the bed of the now still Legolas.
*********************************************************************
Earlier that day
Thranduil had the healers blessing to go and see Legolas. It was thought that he might be able to get the little elf to emerge from his shell a bit. He knocked on the door and upon receiving no reply tried again. Still no response, he eventually decided to enter.
The room was dark, the shades pulled against the bright sun outside. He saw Legolas curled up against the wall, his head resting against it. He was rocking to a sound only he could hear and his eyes vacant but Thranduil knew he wasn't sleeping. Thranduil sat opposite.
"Legolas?"
He had hoped to get a response. Instead he got nothing.
"Legolas I wish to help." He looked closer at the elf and still no response.
"Legolas if it helps, tell me what happened!"
Still nothing. Thranduil closed his eyes as he thought of the image of his dead brother. He tried to bite down the frustration but could not help the anger that crept a little into his voice much has he tried to keep his voice gentle. As kind as the sentiment was, the words came out a lot more harsh and abrasive than he ever intended them to sound.
"Legolas I will not hurt you, little one, trust me."
As a result the words got a response but not the one he was looking for Legolas jumped and crept farther into the corner. His lips were moving but not a sound was uttered.
Thranduil leapt up and was initially about to wrap his arms around him when he noticed The little elf trembling and trying to go farther into the corner.
"Legolas, forgive me. I will not hurt you, I promise." Thranduil pleaded. However the pair of eyes that looked at him were as cold as ice and Thranduil shivered at the sight of them and he began to wonder how a barely 150-year-old elfling learned such a cold heartless stare.
Later Thranduil thought about what he did next and knew that had he thought a little more he would never have done what he did, instead he reached out a hand to Legolas' shoulder. That produced a response.
He screamed.
Such a sound had not been heard around Mirkwood before and all who heard it said they would hear it until the day they entered Mandos or left for the Grey havens. It was a scream of pure terror, of shock of fear and of grief.
Thranduil leapt back but the damage was done, Legolas flew at him with a speed and anger that shocked the elder elf. Thranduil yelled in shock before a fist from Legolas punched him in the jaw. Legolas pushed passed Thranduil and tried to get out the doors, but Thranduil had already yelled for the healers. They hauled the young elf away from Thranduil and along with some of the house guard helped to put the elf on the bed. Thranduil looked on in shock as Legolas struggled. What shocked all in the room were the struggles, which were done in pure silence. Apart from the scream after Thranduil touching him, he had not made a sound. With the guards help they held him down. Laomir entered with a potion. They held his head back, blocked his nose and poured the mixture into his mouth. Then still holding his head back they closed his mouth. The idea he either smother or swallow.
Laomir watched for a moment when she began to become alarmed. He hadn't swallowed. Could it be?
"Toral he refuses to swallow still?"
"Aye, my queen we will give him a minute."
Legolas no longer struggled in the guards. They let go hesitantly of his legs. Laomir approached and looked deep into Legolas' eyes. In his eyes she read something - relief. He wanted to smother.
"By Elbereth guards hold him down. NOW! Toral he will not swallow get my scalpel we will do it by blood."
As soon as she had separated her eyes from his Legolas began a desperate fight. One of the healers tilted his head, some of the concoction flowed out of his mouth and then he began to retch. They turned him fully on his side as he dry retched.
Taking the opportunity. Laomir put a cut onto Legolas' shoulder and put a mix of herbs onto it and wrapped it watching him while his fight became more weakened. When they eventually turned him onto his back Laomir saw an expression on his face which pulled every heartstring within her.
No tears flowed but there was a look of pure depression that ate into her heart. When his eyes met her there was an angry question in them. Her heart flipped again at the thought of what that little one was just willing to do. She saw him begin to succumb to the forced sleep though he was fighting it as much as he could. Eventually the drug won and his eyes also closed, displaying the exhaustion the elf felt. Laomir left instructions with the healers to examine him for any other wound and treat and wrap them. Then she turned to her husband.
The captain of the house guard had been at his side during the happenings. She took his hand and led him outside.
Thranduil looked into her eyes.
"He wanted to die?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes" Thranduil turned away from her for a moment, he wiped his hands through his long hair before facing her again.
"He is barely a century. What happened to him to make him do that?" Laomir looked up at him and touched her hand to his face.
"I know not my love." Thranduil however could not stop pacing. His face looked tormented as he walked.
"This can not be happening. My brother is dead. My nephew is dead. My other nephew wishes to die. ."
"I do not think he wishes to die my love, I believe he wishes help and the pain in his heart to be lessened." Laomir tried to lessen her husbands worry a little, it was bad enough one ill elf.
"What do we tell Turian?" Laomir this time closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to them, then in a show of defeat sighed before replying.
"The truth. Legolas is very ill."
*********************************************************************
They walked to the chambers where Turian and Asfloth were playing. Laomir opened the door calling for them both.
"Asfloth, Turian where are you?"
"Nana what is it?" Asfloth's head appeared from under the bed. There was a little motion under the covers before Turian appeared beside him.
"Turian, Asfloth we need to sit down and talk?"
Thranduil took Asfloth in his lap and Laomir held onto Turian, they sat by the fireplace in the nursery.
"Turian I am afraid I have some bad news. It is about Legolas."
She felt the little one begin to shake in her lap. Taking a breath and looking into Turian's eyes she said
"Legolas is, ill little one" She felt his gasp against her. She looked over to see Asfloth staring open eyed at her. Looking down again at Turian she saw him sucking his thumb.
"Remember I told you how sad he was?" Again she felt rather than heard a response. "Well his is sad and that is making him ill. He is sleeping at the moment and he will sleep for a long time."
Turian pulled his thumb out with a slurp.
"Like when we played 'Rainbow' Noralis say Legolas always slept for days after."
Turian frowned. She had never heard of 'Rainbow' but it wasn't important.
"Rainbow is a game little one Legolas is very ill. Turian, he might not recover."
"Why is he ill now?"
Laomir sighed.
"Legolas is so sad it is making him ill. The healers are trying to help him."
Turian looked at her for a moment before tears began to fill his eyes and he sobbed out.
"It is all my fault I was not quiet when I was meant to be, and Legolas got hurt."
Looking at Thranduil in shock at what he said, she tired again to reassure him.
"Nay little one it was not your fault. You being quiet did not make Legolas ill. It is his grief. He is so sad over your Ada and Noralis. That is making him ill."
"No, Noralis told me to be quiet and I wasn't and we had to play Rainbow and no one said sunrise. Now I'm all alone"
Feeling very confused and not really sure what the little one was talking about, though her stomach began to churn over a few possibilities and none of them were reassuring. She tried to reassure the little elf over the parts she could understand.
"But you will never be alone. Asfloth is here, Thranduil is here and I am here. We will not leave you. Legolas is ill but I know he loves you very much."
Whether Turian listened to Laomir or not, she did not know. She continued to rock him from side to side as he sucked his thumb again. She loosened her grip when she felt him wiggling out of her lap. Then he ran to his bed. He picked something up and ran back to her and with steely determination in his voice said.
"I have to see Legolas."
"Turian he is ill. . . "
"I have to!"
Laomir sighed again. Something she realised she was doing a lot of these days. She looked at Thranduil who stared for a minute before nodding.
"Very well little one I will take you in a short time. I wish him to rest a little before I take him. First I want you to eat a little."
She saw him put his little bundle back on the bed and she wondered what it was. Calling the nursemaid she left the room with her husband.
Once outside the door she turned to Thranduil.
"What sort of 'game' is Rainbow Thranduil? Why did Noralis hide Turian and why was Legolas hurt when he was not quiet? What happened?"
Thranduil did not answer but held his wife for a few moments.
One of the healers disturbed their moment of peace.
"Excuse me, my queen but I believe you need to see this."
*********************************************************************
Laomir walked down the hall to the nursery. She was taking Turian to see Legolas for two reasons. One she was a firm believer that children should be told things. The child had lost his father and his brother in the same day. What good would lying to him about his remaining brother do anyone? Second could he tell her why his brother's back was cut and bruised? Though something told he that Turian would not know of that.
Leading him through the house up to Legolas' room she marvelled at the strength in the little elf. She did not know after whom he took after but Sorian would surely have been proud. Entering the room she sat Legolas sleeping with his eyes closed. The potion on his back had still not released him from its grip. A healer sat at his bedside and the room was golden with the setting sun shined in the now open curtains.
Laomir nodded her head to the healer and pointed to the door. Discretely he got up and left.
Turian walked up to Legolas' side. He gave a little jump and climbed up onto the bed. Looking down on Legolas he touched his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
"Legos it is safe again, Sunrise is here!"
Laomir frowned again "Sunrise" what did that mean? Turian meanwhile frowned when no response. Legolas always talked to him, he always woke up and hugged him.
Feeling tears in his eyes he pulled a bundle from under his jumper and looked around at Laomir. She pretended to be filling a cup of tea. Turian pulled down the blanket that covered his elder brother a little and put the bundle under his older brother's right arm and again talking into his older brothers ear he whispered.
"Now little elfling take care of Mansloth for me. I promise. . . I will be here later to take care of you. I love you Legos"
Then very gently he kissed Legolas on the forehead and ruffled his hair. He began to climb down from the bed.
Some hours later
Laomir now sat in the comfortable chair by Legolas' bed. He had not stirred. She decided to risk a look at what Turian had given him. She folded back the blanket and found a teddy bear. She lifted Legolas' arm gently and pulled the little bear out. Mansloth was a very old but obviously very loved little bear. She smiled at his battered appearance and wondered how old he was. Looking down at the face beside her she stroked his forehead feeling a little fever there. Knowing that grief had well and truly set in she sat heavily on the bed.
Frowning she looked at the prone figure on the bed. She felt miserable. It was obvious that Legolas had seen what happened to Sorian and Noralis. Questions went through her head. But there were no answers.
"Oh my little elf, what happened to your poor heart?"
Very gently she put the battered bear under his arm and kissed his forehead. This time she got a response. He tilted his head to her and whimpered.
*********************************************************************
Turian sat in his own bed fighting tears. Beside him he could hear Asfloth snoring gently in elfling dreams, but he wanted his brother. He decided he had to see Legolas.
Laomir and Thranduil had told him Legolas was alive but in his 5 years of being alive he had learned that the elder ones often did not tell the truth. The only people who had been completely honest with him had been his older brothers.
He crept through the halls with as much stealth as he could manage. Outside Legolas' room he listened, there was no noise inside so he pushed on the door. He tried to look for the healer there earlier but did not see any. He crept over to the bed and struggled up onto it. Legolas was lying on his side with his eyes still closed. He gave him a couple of shoves to see if he was awake. When he got no response he sucked his thumb thoughtfully. Through his young mind he thought of all the ways he and Noralis had woken Legolas up. He wondered if he could find a big spider like Noralis did to Legolas or a bucket of water like Legolas did in revenge to Noralis for the spider. However thinking of that reminded him that Noralis was dead and that his only other brother was very ill. Feeling the need to talk to his brother and with tears beginning in his eyes he reached over and pinched the tip of Legolas' ear. He did this a number of times and was overjoyed when he saw his brother stir and open his eyes a crack. Legolas was too exhausted to do much but he managed to drag an arm out and pull Turian to him. Turian happily ripped off his robe and cuddled under the blankets into his elder brother. He began to shake quietly as the tears began to flow even more when he felt Legolas stroke his back. He blinked when Mansloth appeared in front of his eyes and with a watery smile kissed his little bear and then kissed his elder brother.
Legolas was feeling terrible. He knew he should comfort Turian more but the most he had been able to do had been put an arm around him and stroke his back a little. It took almost everything he had to give Mansloth back to Turian. Whatever they had given him earlier was really limiting his movements. He was also feeling sick to his stomach. The healer in the room had already taken the bowl away. He hoped the healer wouldn't take Turian from him. It was nice to have him there. He wiped away the tears and stroked the heaving back. Turian looked into his older brothers face.
"Legos, "
Still too tired to even open his eyes he nodded his head.
"Are you sick again from 'Rainbow'?" a little voice asked.
Legolas opened his eyes a crack. Turian was sucking his thumb again with eyes wide open staring into his face. Legolas closed his eyes again and shook his head a little.
For Turian however this did not satisfy him. He wanted to know that his brother was well and that he would take care of him. Feeling more tears begin to build up in his eyes, he looked at his now sleeping brother and quietly asked.
"Are you going to leave me too Legos?"
When he got no reply the tears began to flow and Turian cuddled closer to his brother's shoulder. He kissed Mansloth and whispered to him.
"It's going to work out. We will be fine." Turian couldn't admit to himself if he was telling the truth or not.
*********************************************************************
What do you think? Review Please!!!
Author: Robin Co Author: Badger Lord
Disclaimer: We are not making any money from this at all, we do not intend to infringe on any rights.
Author's Note: Thank you to those who are reviewing. You have all been really great. I really appreciate the support you have given me so far for the story and I am sorry that it has taken me a while to update; I've been busy lately. Again another thanks to Badger Lord, you are still the best!
This is an AU. Thranduil is Legolas' uncle and is NOT evil in this story. He is trying to find out what happened to Legolas' family. This will become apparent in later chapters so you will just have to bear it or you can beg on e-mail and I might reply.
Enjoy, Robin
*********************************************************************
Laomir walked through the corridor of the chilly palace. It was nearly the first time in 4 days that she had a moment to herself and she sighed heavily as she thought of the reason. Her two nephews weighed heavily on her mind. Turian, she knew was just a baby, barely 5 years old the child could only have mere thoughts of his mother. Now he had lost his father and his brother in . . . well that was the other issue. No one knew what happened to his father and brother, only Legolas.
At the thoughts of her eldest nephew Laomir could not help but breathe another sad sigh. Legolas was 150 years old and training to be a warrior. Unlike most sons of prominent fathers in Mirkwood he had decided to enter at the bottom ranks. Even for one so young his skill with the bow was becoming legendary. But that was in the past.
Laomir knew not what happened that night in the halls of her brother-in- law. What she did know was that the next morning Sorian her brother-in-law was dead and his son Noralis a mere 90 years old were dead. They had found Legolas by the body of Noralis. He spoke not a word then or since. Now there were great fears for both his mental and physical state. Thranduil was naturally devastated by the loss of his younger brother and was desperately seeking answers. He wanted vengeance and it was taking all she had to stop him demanding from Legolas to find out what happened. She stopped outside the room and entered. A healer sat by the bed of the now still Legolas.
*********************************************************************
Earlier that day
Thranduil had the healers blessing to go and see Legolas. It was thought that he might be able to get the little elf to emerge from his shell a bit. He knocked on the door and upon receiving no reply tried again. Still no response, he eventually decided to enter.
The room was dark, the shades pulled against the bright sun outside. He saw Legolas curled up against the wall, his head resting against it. He was rocking to a sound only he could hear and his eyes vacant but Thranduil knew he wasn't sleeping. Thranduil sat opposite.
"Legolas?"
He had hoped to get a response. Instead he got nothing.
"Legolas I wish to help." He looked closer at the elf and still no response.
"Legolas if it helps, tell me what happened!"
Still nothing. Thranduil closed his eyes as he thought of the image of his dead brother. He tried to bite down the frustration but could not help the anger that crept a little into his voice much has he tried to keep his voice gentle. As kind as the sentiment was, the words came out a lot more harsh and abrasive than he ever intended them to sound.
"Legolas I will not hurt you, little one, trust me."
As a result the words got a response but not the one he was looking for Legolas jumped and crept farther into the corner. His lips were moving but not a sound was uttered.
Thranduil leapt up and was initially about to wrap his arms around him when he noticed The little elf trembling and trying to go farther into the corner.
"Legolas, forgive me. I will not hurt you, I promise." Thranduil pleaded. However the pair of eyes that looked at him were as cold as ice and Thranduil shivered at the sight of them and he began to wonder how a barely 150-year-old elfling learned such a cold heartless stare.
Later Thranduil thought about what he did next and knew that had he thought a little more he would never have done what he did, instead he reached out a hand to Legolas' shoulder. That produced a response.
He screamed.
Such a sound had not been heard around Mirkwood before and all who heard it said they would hear it until the day they entered Mandos or left for the Grey havens. It was a scream of pure terror, of shock of fear and of grief.
Thranduil leapt back but the damage was done, Legolas flew at him with a speed and anger that shocked the elder elf. Thranduil yelled in shock before a fist from Legolas punched him in the jaw. Legolas pushed passed Thranduil and tried to get out the doors, but Thranduil had already yelled for the healers. They hauled the young elf away from Thranduil and along with some of the house guard helped to put the elf on the bed. Thranduil looked on in shock as Legolas struggled. What shocked all in the room were the struggles, which were done in pure silence. Apart from the scream after Thranduil touching him, he had not made a sound. With the guards help they held him down. Laomir entered with a potion. They held his head back, blocked his nose and poured the mixture into his mouth. Then still holding his head back they closed his mouth. The idea he either smother or swallow.
Laomir watched for a moment when she began to become alarmed. He hadn't swallowed. Could it be?
"Toral he refuses to swallow still?"
"Aye, my queen we will give him a minute."
Legolas no longer struggled in the guards. They let go hesitantly of his legs. Laomir approached and looked deep into Legolas' eyes. In his eyes she read something - relief. He wanted to smother.
"By Elbereth guards hold him down. NOW! Toral he will not swallow get my scalpel we will do it by blood."
As soon as she had separated her eyes from his Legolas began a desperate fight. One of the healers tilted his head, some of the concoction flowed out of his mouth and then he began to retch. They turned him fully on his side as he dry retched.
Taking the opportunity. Laomir put a cut onto Legolas' shoulder and put a mix of herbs onto it and wrapped it watching him while his fight became more weakened. When they eventually turned him onto his back Laomir saw an expression on his face which pulled every heartstring within her.
No tears flowed but there was a look of pure depression that ate into her heart. When his eyes met her there was an angry question in them. Her heart flipped again at the thought of what that little one was just willing to do. She saw him begin to succumb to the forced sleep though he was fighting it as much as he could. Eventually the drug won and his eyes also closed, displaying the exhaustion the elf felt. Laomir left instructions with the healers to examine him for any other wound and treat and wrap them. Then she turned to her husband.
The captain of the house guard had been at his side during the happenings. She took his hand and led him outside.
Thranduil looked into her eyes.
"He wanted to die?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes" Thranduil turned away from her for a moment, he wiped his hands through his long hair before facing her again.
"He is barely a century. What happened to him to make him do that?" Laomir looked up at him and touched her hand to his face.
"I know not my love." Thranduil however could not stop pacing. His face looked tormented as he walked.
"This can not be happening. My brother is dead. My nephew is dead. My other nephew wishes to die. ."
"I do not think he wishes to die my love, I believe he wishes help and the pain in his heart to be lessened." Laomir tried to lessen her husbands worry a little, it was bad enough one ill elf.
"What do we tell Turian?" Laomir this time closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to them, then in a show of defeat sighed before replying.
"The truth. Legolas is very ill."
*********************************************************************
They walked to the chambers where Turian and Asfloth were playing. Laomir opened the door calling for them both.
"Asfloth, Turian where are you?"
"Nana what is it?" Asfloth's head appeared from under the bed. There was a little motion under the covers before Turian appeared beside him.
"Turian, Asfloth we need to sit down and talk?"
Thranduil took Asfloth in his lap and Laomir held onto Turian, they sat by the fireplace in the nursery.
"Turian I am afraid I have some bad news. It is about Legolas."
She felt the little one begin to shake in her lap. Taking a breath and looking into Turian's eyes she said
"Legolas is, ill little one" She felt his gasp against her. She looked over to see Asfloth staring open eyed at her. Looking down again at Turian she saw him sucking his thumb.
"Remember I told you how sad he was?" Again she felt rather than heard a response. "Well his is sad and that is making him ill. He is sleeping at the moment and he will sleep for a long time."
Turian pulled his thumb out with a slurp.
"Like when we played 'Rainbow' Noralis say Legolas always slept for days after."
Turian frowned. She had never heard of 'Rainbow' but it wasn't important.
"Rainbow is a game little one Legolas is very ill. Turian, he might not recover."
"Why is he ill now?"
Laomir sighed.
"Legolas is so sad it is making him ill. The healers are trying to help him."
Turian looked at her for a moment before tears began to fill his eyes and he sobbed out.
"It is all my fault I was not quiet when I was meant to be, and Legolas got hurt."
Looking at Thranduil in shock at what he said, she tired again to reassure him.
"Nay little one it was not your fault. You being quiet did not make Legolas ill. It is his grief. He is so sad over your Ada and Noralis. That is making him ill."
"No, Noralis told me to be quiet and I wasn't and we had to play Rainbow and no one said sunrise. Now I'm all alone"
Feeling very confused and not really sure what the little one was talking about, though her stomach began to churn over a few possibilities and none of them were reassuring. She tried to reassure the little elf over the parts she could understand.
"But you will never be alone. Asfloth is here, Thranduil is here and I am here. We will not leave you. Legolas is ill but I know he loves you very much."
Whether Turian listened to Laomir or not, she did not know. She continued to rock him from side to side as he sucked his thumb again. She loosened her grip when she felt him wiggling out of her lap. Then he ran to his bed. He picked something up and ran back to her and with steely determination in his voice said.
"I have to see Legolas."
"Turian he is ill. . . "
"I have to!"
Laomir sighed again. Something she realised she was doing a lot of these days. She looked at Thranduil who stared for a minute before nodding.
"Very well little one I will take you in a short time. I wish him to rest a little before I take him. First I want you to eat a little."
She saw him put his little bundle back on the bed and she wondered what it was. Calling the nursemaid she left the room with her husband.
Once outside the door she turned to Thranduil.
"What sort of 'game' is Rainbow Thranduil? Why did Noralis hide Turian and why was Legolas hurt when he was not quiet? What happened?"
Thranduil did not answer but held his wife for a few moments.
One of the healers disturbed their moment of peace.
"Excuse me, my queen but I believe you need to see this."
*********************************************************************
Laomir walked down the hall to the nursery. She was taking Turian to see Legolas for two reasons. One she was a firm believer that children should be told things. The child had lost his father and his brother in the same day. What good would lying to him about his remaining brother do anyone? Second could he tell her why his brother's back was cut and bruised? Though something told he that Turian would not know of that.
Leading him through the house up to Legolas' room she marvelled at the strength in the little elf. She did not know after whom he took after but Sorian would surely have been proud. Entering the room she sat Legolas sleeping with his eyes closed. The potion on his back had still not released him from its grip. A healer sat at his bedside and the room was golden with the setting sun shined in the now open curtains.
Laomir nodded her head to the healer and pointed to the door. Discretely he got up and left.
Turian walked up to Legolas' side. He gave a little jump and climbed up onto the bed. Looking down on Legolas he touched his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
"Legos it is safe again, Sunrise is here!"
Laomir frowned again "Sunrise" what did that mean? Turian meanwhile frowned when no response. Legolas always talked to him, he always woke up and hugged him.
Feeling tears in his eyes he pulled a bundle from under his jumper and looked around at Laomir. She pretended to be filling a cup of tea. Turian pulled down the blanket that covered his elder brother a little and put the bundle under his older brother's right arm and again talking into his older brothers ear he whispered.
"Now little elfling take care of Mansloth for me. I promise. . . I will be here later to take care of you. I love you Legos"
Then very gently he kissed Legolas on the forehead and ruffled his hair. He began to climb down from the bed.
Some hours later
Laomir now sat in the comfortable chair by Legolas' bed. He had not stirred. She decided to risk a look at what Turian had given him. She folded back the blanket and found a teddy bear. She lifted Legolas' arm gently and pulled the little bear out. Mansloth was a very old but obviously very loved little bear. She smiled at his battered appearance and wondered how old he was. Looking down at the face beside her she stroked his forehead feeling a little fever there. Knowing that grief had well and truly set in she sat heavily on the bed.
Frowning she looked at the prone figure on the bed. She felt miserable. It was obvious that Legolas had seen what happened to Sorian and Noralis. Questions went through her head. But there were no answers.
"Oh my little elf, what happened to your poor heart?"
Very gently she put the battered bear under his arm and kissed his forehead. This time she got a response. He tilted his head to her and whimpered.
*********************************************************************
Turian sat in his own bed fighting tears. Beside him he could hear Asfloth snoring gently in elfling dreams, but he wanted his brother. He decided he had to see Legolas.
Laomir and Thranduil had told him Legolas was alive but in his 5 years of being alive he had learned that the elder ones often did not tell the truth. The only people who had been completely honest with him had been his older brothers.
He crept through the halls with as much stealth as he could manage. Outside Legolas' room he listened, there was no noise inside so he pushed on the door. He tried to look for the healer there earlier but did not see any. He crept over to the bed and struggled up onto it. Legolas was lying on his side with his eyes still closed. He gave him a couple of shoves to see if he was awake. When he got no response he sucked his thumb thoughtfully. Through his young mind he thought of all the ways he and Noralis had woken Legolas up. He wondered if he could find a big spider like Noralis did to Legolas or a bucket of water like Legolas did in revenge to Noralis for the spider. However thinking of that reminded him that Noralis was dead and that his only other brother was very ill. Feeling the need to talk to his brother and with tears beginning in his eyes he reached over and pinched the tip of Legolas' ear. He did this a number of times and was overjoyed when he saw his brother stir and open his eyes a crack. Legolas was too exhausted to do much but he managed to drag an arm out and pull Turian to him. Turian happily ripped off his robe and cuddled under the blankets into his elder brother. He began to shake quietly as the tears began to flow even more when he felt Legolas stroke his back. He blinked when Mansloth appeared in front of his eyes and with a watery smile kissed his little bear and then kissed his elder brother.
Legolas was feeling terrible. He knew he should comfort Turian more but the most he had been able to do had been put an arm around him and stroke his back a little. It took almost everything he had to give Mansloth back to Turian. Whatever they had given him earlier was really limiting his movements. He was also feeling sick to his stomach. The healer in the room had already taken the bowl away. He hoped the healer wouldn't take Turian from him. It was nice to have him there. He wiped away the tears and stroked the heaving back. Turian looked into his older brothers face.
"Legos, "
Still too tired to even open his eyes he nodded his head.
"Are you sick again from 'Rainbow'?" a little voice asked.
Legolas opened his eyes a crack. Turian was sucking his thumb again with eyes wide open staring into his face. Legolas closed his eyes again and shook his head a little.
For Turian however this did not satisfy him. He wanted to know that his brother was well and that he would take care of him. Feeling more tears begin to build up in his eyes, he looked at his now sleeping brother and quietly asked.
"Are you going to leave me too Legos?"
When he got no reply the tears began to flow and Turian cuddled closer to his brother's shoulder. He kissed Mansloth and whispered to him.
"It's going to work out. We will be fine." Turian couldn't admit to himself if he was telling the truth or not.
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