Brothers In Arms Chapter 13
Author: Robin9
Beta: Cara
Quick Note: I meant to update last week but I forgot. So here is a gift I will post chapter 14 straight after I upload this one.
Disclaimer: I am not making any money from this at all, I do not intend
to infringe on any rights.
Legolas has now departed for the borders. He is still only a cadet but I felt such pride when I watched him leave. My little elf is all grown up. Marienne looked distraught at his leaving. Noralis looked at him and they promised each other they would write as soon as they could. For so long he has been training. Finally the day has come. One son leaves to be a warrior and soon a new life will enter our world. Marienne told me it is to be this son her gift will pass to. Soon we will have a new dobhracht enter our lives. As for me I felt such pride at seeing my eldest leave to do the border work. Yet I feel sad that at such young an age he has to go. My life in the palace I feel is now without merit. While I know that I can do good work, I feel that I am not doing all I can. I yearn to live among the woods and to live like elves should ...within nature. I think a lot of my uncle's home. Perhaps the time has come for me to move on. Marienne seems to agree with the decision.
Thranduil closed the journal and leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment. Thoughts raced through his head: Edain, Sorian, Legolas, Noralis, Laomir, Asfloth. . . Wearily he rubbed his temples. He could hardly believe he had only just returned from his brother's home. He thought of how much Sorian had loved his children.
It was then he realised he had not seen his only child in a number of days. Getting up from the chair he sighed a little at his exhaustion before heading out to find the children. He looked around the palace before remembering the stables. Walking along the numerous pathways he smiled at some of the elves who passed his way. Finally as he got close to the door he heard an excited voice.
"What will we call it Nana?"
Looking inside Thranduil saw his son peering over the gate. Inside he could make out the head of a large horse and two little white ears just above the gate. Asfloth was leaning against the gate trying to see through the bars to the little one inside. Thranuil was a little surprised when a wearied, quieter voice spoke.
"I do not know what to call her. How about we leave her for a time and then we will decide later?"
Asfloth seemed to ponder this before saying. "I cannot call her Browny, she is white...Whitey!!"
Laomir put an arm around her son and said. "Come on elfling, let us go."
Asfloth turned around with a litle nod, however when he saw who was at the door a smile lit up his face.
"Ada!" Asfloth ran to Thranduil wrapping his arms around his father's legs. Thranduil wrapped his son up in his arms and began to carry him away.
"Ada why did you leave me?" Thranduil paused for a moment as he thought of where he had been, to a home where a father had left two children permanently and taken another with him.
"I had to go away for a short time but now, I am back. Come, let us go do something."
Edain was introduced to the rest of the elves at the noon meal. Legolas shuddered a little when he heard of the place the visitor was from. Lorien. Never mind that his mother had loved Lorien and had willingly spent much time there. He hated it and anything to do with that place.
Legolas had expected Edain to come and see him immediately, as Elrond had done, and try and 'help' him. He was surprised that when for two days the Lorien elf had spent his time among the trees himself and meeting the others in the forest.
Legolas' nights were still spent sleeping between Turian and Asfloth. It seemed Turian had found his best friend in Asfloth. Wherever one elfling was, you were guaranteed the other to be close by. While it was all very nice and comforting, Legolas had been woken three times the night previous by a flying hand and worst of all a very well placed flying foot.
However, it was not just the little ones that disturbed his night. If anything they were what kept him going. In the dark, all alone, he heard his fears. He heard his nightmares. Legolas shivered a little as he thought of his dreams.
Sighing a little as he got up, Legolas walked to a nearby stream to try and find some peace. Watching the water he thought back on his mother.
As his mother lay dying in their home, he had felt powerless. He had felt alone. When he returned for her funeral, he had met his father, Noralis and his newest brother. For two days Legolas had not wanted his father to know what had happened. How he had felt as well as almost seen his mother dying. Legolas became more distant from his family. He spent many days hidden away. The day of his mother's funeral, however, he had collapsed. His father had rushed him to a room and stayed by his bedside all night. In the long hours of that night his father had come to realise that his son had been given the dobhracht. Sorian was to write in his journal that night,
I sat with him all night long. Together we talked. My son told me his most precious dreams, fears, loves and hopes. Through that night I sat and held his hand and promised I would do all I could to help him. It has been the most precious moment of my life.
In the weeks that were to follow Sorian was to realise that would be the last he would see of his son who acted that way. The elf who ran to his father's arms whenever there trouble was near had now changed to an angry young elf who would allow no one close to him. Sorian was to wish that night had lasted a little longer.
Weeks after that night and Legolas was almost unrecognisable to the elves who had previously known him. He was no longer merry and kind. He became withdrawn and angry at every little thing. He tried to control the emotion rushing through him but he could not.
It seemed the more he tried to withdraw the stronger people's emotions ran and it ended more painful on him to try and deal with them. In the end Sorian knew he had to get his poor son out of the palace. He had tried to reason with Legolas, getting him to go to Lorien but his stubborn son would hear none of it. In truth Sorian was not surprised. With Legolas no longer able to know who he was or what he was feeling, he really didn't want to be moved to a new area where he would not even know where he was. It was with a heavy heart that Sorian made all the preparations to leave.
The letter Elrond had sent Edain had been very clear as to what Elrond had done that made Legolas flee him. He had approached too quickly and forced himself upon the angry young elf. Edain was surprised to see Elrond admit this in his letter, so he decided to leave Legolas a few days before he approached him. He used this time to get a feeling about Legolas and to see how he was surviving in the forest.
Edain met Legolas later that morning when he was in the library reading. "Well met Legolas. My name is Edain. I was a good friend of your mother."
Legolas nodded but otherwise made no effort to respond. Edain was not to be outdone.
"I do not know what has happened to you. I also have no wish to upset you any more than you already are. But if you are willing, I wish to help you."
Looking up Edain saw eyes of a deep grey colour, transfix him.
"Why do I need help? I am fine." With a slight shift Legolas went back to reading his book.
Edain stepped closer and stood before Legolas. "Do not lie. I know what haunts your dreams and tortures your days."
With a startled look Legolas jumped knocking the book to the floor. To Edain he seemed frightened, yet there was something else underneath. Relief? "You know? How?"
"I have the Dobhrach too Legolas. I am the same." After saying that Legolas seemed to wilt a little. He no longer seemed as excited, as he had a minute earlier.
He sat heavily down on the chair. "I see."
Seeing his reaction Edain stepped up beside him. "You are not alone Legolas. The feelings you have need not haunt you as I see they do. You can find your heart again soon. I will show you."
Legolas did not reply but stood up and walked to the window. Looking out he glanced back at Edain before looking over the woods. "Do you know what I feel?"
Edain kept his distance and whispered. "Only if I search for it. I have not looked in your heart. You are haunted, that is easy to tell. Do you wish me to know?"
He looked closely at Legolas. "No." was the whispered response. As Edain was about to speak again he heard another few words. "I wish not to be hurt by their feelings anymore."
Looking a little surprised Edain whispered "Whose feelings Legolas?" Edain looked at Legolas and thought for a second how young he looked...and yet so old. Edain surprised himself a little at his thoughts.
He was a little distracted and almost didn't hear Legolas' quiet response. "It matters not. Can you stop the feelings and hurts?"
Edain stepped in front of Legolas "Yes I can."
With a firm nod of his head Legolas said, "Let us begin."