Severity of Silence
Chapter 2: A Thing or Two
:Elrond:
It has only been an hour since the child awoke and he is driving me insane! His stubborn nature makes him immune to my threats and glares, while I am increasingly losing patience. I know that all he wants is to be in the barn or outside but I am afraid that he might do something strenuous enough to re-injure that rib. He sits on the bed, tapping a charcoal against a book I gave him to draw on earlier. His expression is one of boredom and annoyance as he gazes out the window, eyes locked on the eve of the stable. I took the day off from teaching my usual class of Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir and Arwen and asked Glorfindel to fill in, I am expecting his return soon. Legolas sighs and glares over at me before writing something on a piece of parchment. He holds it up and I read
Please my lord? I'm so bored and I promise not to do anything but groom. Honest. Elfling's honor.
Looking at the elf's hopeful face I sigh and run a hand over my eyes, rubbing them. Glancing over at the elfling with one eyes I give in with a defeated sigh.
" Very well, but I want you to only groom and do nothing strenuous." I shake my finger at him and the youth practically jumps from the bed and changes from his sleep clothes into everyday wear, throwing on a dark blue tunic and pants before grabbing his soft boots and racing down the hall. I stare after the elfling, knowing that the smallest thing can make the youth so happy than it's worth is. As he rounds the corner a loud 'Oaf' is heard and the laughter before Glorfindel comes around the corner. His face is a mixture of annoyance and laughter, as he enters the room he flops himself on the bed and groans
" I hate children." I laugh as he sighs.
:Legolas:
Walking quickly down the path I think of which horse I shall groom first, since I can do no training today. The barn is ahead of me and I can see Jerald lunging one of the colts, the horses head held high as he prances about in a circle, a bunch of other grooms hanging on the fences, watching. As I approach I hear Jerald calling calmly to the young horse, praising him when he listens to a command. Jerald is a kind young man, the first human to really be kind to me when Elrond, Glorfindel and I came into the service of the Gondor King. Going up to the rail I smile at a few of the other hands and indicate the colt, one smiles in return and nods
" He's a fine specimen." I nod, knowing this particular colt is the son of Amakusa Lord Arathor's charger and a high-strung mare of Rohan. Together they produced an almost black colt with perfect markings and an intelligent mind. Clasping the man on the back I head into the stable, gathering up my grooming tools I begin with Prince Aragorn's horse, skipping the soldiers because they take care of their own, and going right to the royal family. Wyne is a fairly tall mare with a bright chestnut coat and a white strip running her face. The mare noses my shoulder as I walk into her box and I smile. She blows a warm breath, and nickers before standing still so I can brush the length of her long back. My thoughts run to the prince himself, I've only see the young heir a handful of times, most of the time with Boromir or in Elrond's classes. Every time I figure I have him figured he goes and surprises me. Running the soft brush over the mare's face I am startled by the sudden happy feeling that washes through the back of my mind, the feeling coming from the mare. Turning I find the Prince watching me, my eyes go wide.
:Aragorn:
After Glorfindel dismissed us I decided to head to the stable, hoping to get my sentence over with as soon as possible, mostly because doing barn work was the stable boys' job. Going through the east path I make my way to the gigantic stable, watching the few hands exercising the many horses and a few soldiers putting their horses out to pasture. Walking around the back side of the stable where the riding and training rings are I slow my walk when I notice a large gathering of hands, watching the animal in the ring. He moves with a grace bred and perfected over years of perfect heritage. The young man, known as Jerald stops the colt with single word and the horse stops obediently with a snort. Jerald gathers up his tools and nods to one of the other hands to take the horse back to field with the other yearlings, since it is summer the young horses are allowed to stay outside all the time. Walking up to Jerald I smile when the shocked look comes over his face.
" That's right. Arwen informed me of your helping us. Come and I'll show you what you can do my Lord." I shake my head and follow the younger boy into the tack room, where I correct him
" Please call me Aragorn. Honorary titles should be reserved for my father, not me. Besides, until my father says so I'm just like you." The groom's face goes blank as he stares hard at me
" Forgive me, but you will never be just like me." He states and I nod, knowing that is a touchy subject with him. He shows me where the grooming supplies can be found and hands me a bucket, instructing me on which brush to use where.
" Now, your mare is in stall one five, try practicing on her. When done with Wyne, go onto the others in that row but skip one nine, two zero two one and two, two." He instructs and I blink. He begins to walk away with a bridal and saddle but I stop him
" How high can you count Jerald?" the younger boy wheels around and looks hard at me.
" I can count up to ten, other than that I read the numbers as I see them." He says and I nod. That's the reason for the odd numbers, he can't count that high. Going down the rows and counting to where Wyne's stall would be I head right for my mare's box, stopping when I see the blonde haired hand in her box. Legolas turns and stares at me, almost like he has done something wrong. I smile and hold up the bucket.
" I was sent to help you. Jerald said to practice on my mare before moving onto others." I explain but the elf gives no response than a shrug before turning to pick up his own supplies and proceeds on walking out. Wyne snots when I enter the stall and I give her an inquisitive look before realizing she enjoyed being groomed by Legolas.
" Oh hush you." I grumble and begin brushing her coat, when I am finished my hand is cramping. Sighing I gather up my supplies and pat the mare on the velvet nose before exiting the stall. Walking to the next stall I watch as Legolas leads a large bay horse from his stall, large roman nose letting out a loud snort as he stomps his feet. Legolas smiles and strokes the horses head before clipping him in the sun, where the stallion shakes his body with a grunt. Legolas sets about grooming out the long mane, making it glisten almost black, then rubbing it with oil. Curiosity getting the better of me I drop my grooming tools near the nearest stall and walk over to where the elf and horse are enjoying the sun. I now recognize the bay as my father's charger, Amakusa. Which in one of the ancient languages of middle earth means 'Thief of Lives' or something to that effect. His muscles twitch under his glistening coat and he snorts, giving me a look as if to say ' what are you doing here, disturbing me?' I laugh and reach out to ruffle the bangs but a strong, tanned hand reaches out and grabs my wrist. I look over into the stern eyes of Legolas, the pale blue hold the look of a stern order. He shakes his head and lets go of my hand. I drop it back to my side and ask the groom
" Why am I not allowed to touch my father's horse?" Knowing I won't get an answer. Yet I am granted one by a light female voice from behind.
" He is a very vicious stallion, he hates being petted when being groomed." I turn to see Arwen, the house maiden holding a bunch of carrots from the gardens in a wicker basket. Her long hair falling to nearly her knees.
" Hello Legolas. I brought you some carrots, and some hazelnut oil." Legolas smiles and takes the bottle of oil from the girl's out stretched hand. He rolls the bottle around in his hand and smiles, making a half salute with the hand holding the brush. Arwen laughs
" Your welcome Mellon-nin" I watch this exchange, Legolas making odd signs with his hands in the air while Arwen responds in plain. Finally the girl says she has to be off and prepares to leave when I follow her back through the barn.
" Arwen?"
"Yes Lord Aragorn?" she stops and waits for me to catch up.
" What was he saying?"
" Oh… he was talking about the Hazelnut oil and how much it will help with the horses coats, especially when your father is going to Rohan to trade a few of the new colts. Legoals wants to make sure Amakusa looks well and his coat is glossy." She explains about to walk away when I stop her with yet another question.
" Why does he not speak like you or I?" Arwen stops and slumps her shoulders before turning, her eyes filled with anger and sadness.
" Because he can not. It is not my place to tell you why my prince. Excuse me." She hurries off down the path back to the palace where I know she will go into the kitchen and prepare dinner with the other Kitchen maids. Sighing I turn back to the stalls, Legolas is leading my father's horse back into his stall and soon returns, taking another out. This one a bright, muscular sorrel with four white socks and a bald face. Merciner, Glorfindel's stallion, Legolas leads him out into the sun and hooks him to the ring attached to the barn wall. I gather my supplies and a lead rein from the stall door and lead one of the wagon horses out, taking him into the sun as well. Hitching him across from the door I begin brushing him, slowly making his coat shine.
:Legolas:
The final horse has been groomed and I go back into the tack room, preparing to take my own horse out for a ride. Saipan has been stuck in the barn since yesterday and was reluctant to go back in when I was finished grooming him. Having Prince Aragorn help groom was very different, since the only time I've ever seen him is when he wants to go ridding. I am about to walk out of the room when the prince comes up, nearly bumping into me.
" I was.. I was wondering if I could go ridding with you? Maybe you can teach me some techniques?" he asks hopefully and I widen my eyes in shock. Not only did he come and help in the barn, but he wants me to teach him to ride? Going over to the small desk in the room I grab a piece of parchment and scribble a note on it, then hand it to him before exiting the room. Going into Siapan's box I snap a lead and bring him outside.
:Aragorn:
If you really want to.
Is the entire note had to say and I smile, quickly grabbing my Tack and racing to Wyne's stall where I tack her and lead her out to the ridding ring. There I watch as Legolas eases himself onto the tall Gelding's back, and with just a touch of his knees on the beasts bare sides he begins to move gracefully and swiftly. The high neck arched and tail raised, making the horse look like he is flying. I watch as the blonde elf brings the gelding over to the rails and leans foreword, hands wrapping around the mane and hold on with his knees and the horse goes sailing over the rails, landing perfectly. The bright gray stops and snorts before the gate and I look up at Legolas who is sitting there, watching me with pale blue eyes. I smile and lead Wyne into the ring and mount, tapping her sides I am about to canter her around to warm her up when a hand reaches out and grabs my reins, halting the horse. I cast an annoyed look at the elf but the stern expression on his face. He rights himself and sits perfectly straight before signaling for me to do the same. I repeat when he did and he flicks his hand at the mare, which moves easily. I begin to notice how my back doesn't ache as much as before and I can allow my mare to canter for a good period of time before I stop her. Glancing over at Legolas I see him doing some easy ridding on his horse, maneuvering him with his knees through barrels and over rails on the ground. I watch as the elf runs his hand over the horses' neck before jumping lightly from the beasts' back. As he lands I see the wince of pain and his hand goes right to his injured rib and I finally realize just how badly he was injured by Boromir's attack. He moves a bit stiffly and stops near the rail and seems to catch his breath before continuing. Deciding it will be best to keep an eye on the elf I bring Wyne back into the barn and quickly groom her down. Going back into the tack room to store my tack I find Jerald and Legolas 'talking', Legolas writing stuff on a piece of parchment and Jerald rattling on about the colt he was training earlier.
" Greenleaf you would have been so proud of that colt. It's such a shame that he is to be given to the King of Rohan. He's such a perfect specimen of a horse." He sighs and shakes his head before reading the written message on the parchment. Legolas gets up from his place and goes into a cabinet, pulling vials and medicinal herbs out. He then hands a few to Jerald and makes numbers on the parchment before lining the bottles with the correct number. He then picks up a measuring spoon and shows Jerald the spot to pour the liquid to.
" Alright. Powder in food, liquid in water." Jerald says and Legolas nods, before turning back and putting herbs into a mixing bowl and crushing them. Jerald helps and hands a bowl to me, I watch what those two are doing before finally copying their actions. Legolas points to me and then to Jerald and I allow a look of confusion to light my face.
" He says he wants you to work with me. We're going to feed the horses and put these powders in their food or water. He picks up the vials and powder and leads me to the work station where he points to the ladder.
" Up there you will find the feed and the hay. Toss down two burlap bags of feed and just begin tossing hay. I'll tell you when to stop. Climbing the ladder I peek my head up into the dusty loft, eyeing my way through the increasing shadows to find the feed. Hauling that heavy bag I chuck it over the side where it lands with a heavy thud, making dust raise in the air. Throwing down another I hear the shout of 'thanks' from Jerald and pick up the pitchfork. Pitching hay is the easy part.
:Jerald:
I was informed earlier of the Prince coming down to help us in the stable in a means of punishment for his involvement in the fight with Legolas and Boromir yesterday. I guess Arathorn has been having problems keeping his son under control since he has been in the middle of other matters. Poor Legolas had to be stuck in the middle of this other situation. Turns out the group that killed all the Elf's kinsmen and imprisoned him, their second in command was Boromir and Faramir's Uncle. He was killed in the raid Arathron made upon their camp and for some reason those two have a loathing for the Elves that now live in the walls of Gondor. Boromir can't actually openly attack the elder elves since they are thousands of years older and are closer to the King but he can attack Legolas who is just the charge of the elders. Strolling down the isle I peer into every box, making sure each horse was comfortably resting and had plenty of food and water for the night. Going back to the tack room I finish picking up the many blankets and preparing to eat my supper before heading back to the bunk house with the other hands. Just another night.
:Arathorn:
Sitting at the table I watch my son come running into the hall, his face dirty and clothes covered in hay. I smile at my Captain sitting on my right who makes it seem like he didn't notice the boy. Aragorn sits down and waits patently for the other guests. Theoden soon enters and behind him comes Elrond and Legolas. They all sit and soon the meal is underway, Theoden and Glorfindel making idle talk while I speak with Aragorn.
" How did your day in the barn go?" Aragorn swallows his food and smiles.
" Very well. Legolas showed me how to ride so that Wyne's canter isn't so ruff." He says and smiles at the blonde elf across from him. Legolas doesn't say or do anything, only takes a sip of his wine before 'talking' to Elrond, using his hands and body.
" He says you ride like a dwarf." Elrond laughs and Aragorn crosses his arms.
" Do not." Legolas smiles slightly before saying something else and when Elrond laughs again I know Legolas just said something funny.
" Legolas wants me to tell you that if you stick with him, you might just learn a thing or two." I smile and nod at my son who nods and quickly returns back to eating his meal while I converse with the others. Soon both youths are finished and concealing yawns, looking out the window I find it to be well after nine and dismiss them from the table, Elrond giving orders to Legolas in Elvish while I wish my own son a pleasant night.
" You too father. Good evening Glorfindel, Elrond, Prince Theoden." He bows and Legolas does the same. Both youths walk out of the chamber in different directions.
Immortal Sadness: Okay, well the chapters after the last one are not going to be as long as the first. That one took me three weeks to finish, mostly because I kept deleating them. But I'm going to try and make them around 3,000 words or so. PLEASE REVIEW! Please? REVIEW!