Alliances Under Siege
Written by Soar
Summary: Sequel to Alliances Of The Heart. Almost a year after the events of Alliances things seem to have settled for Aragorn and Legolas, however a new threat tries to destroy their happiness. Will it also take their lives?
Author's Notes: Again I'd like to say thanks for those who've been patiently waiting for this, I sincerely hope it doesn't disappoint. Thanks go out to Tsunami and Laura who've helped with the beta reading.
I am currently in the process of adding an R rated version of the original story to ff.net but for those who wish to familiarise yourselves once more then Alliances of the Heart can be found at my webpage which is listed in my bio.
Chapter 1
A warm breeze gently brushed through the garden, teasing branches into a whispered rustling as it passed through, creating a rippling effect across the grass likes waves. Yet the breeze seemed to pay special attention to the lean figure that sat cross-legged in the middle of the floral paradise. Soft gusts gently lifted golden locks pushing them back, sweeping over pale silken skin.
Elessarion gurgled and Legolas' concentration was broken. The breeze died abruptly. He opened his eyes and looked upon his son who was currently crawling towards the golden Prince.
"I don't know how you expect to take up your Elven heritage if you cannot sit still and be at one with nature for more than ten minutes," he chastised gently.
The infant ignored his words and continued to make his way towards his elven father. Once he was within arms reach Legolas held out his hands to the child. Elessarion halted his crawl, instead grabbing onto the Prince's fingers using them as a prop to pull himself to his feet. Once standing on his little legs, he took a few tottering steps forward continuing to use Legolas' fingers as his support. As his confidence grew Elessarion released the elf's fingers and tottered forward on his own. Legolas lowered his arms, still ready to offer support should it be needed, but smiling proudly as the child managed to reach him without falling. With another gurgle of laughter Elessarion dropped into the Prince's lap.
"Ada!" he said contentedly, settling himself against the elf's chest and Legolas smiled. Elessarion could utter only a few words, but managed to place enough intonation on each one to express what he wanted.
The golden haired elf lifted a small morsel of lembas bread from a basket at his side before offering the snack to his son. Elessarion took the bread from him, holding the elven made food within both his hands as he brought it to his mouth. Legolas broke off a piece of the bread for himself eating it as delicately as only his people could.
He was enjoying this afternoon just spending time in the garden with his son, taking part in no meetings, attending no court sessions, hearing no pleas, just sitting in the sunshine, in the garden he had grown himself, communing with all the living things around him. He thought of his husband Aragorn, who was even now holding a meeting of his council to determine the fate of some part of the kingdom. Between the two of them they shared the responsibility of caring for Elessarion, and in an exchange of fairness Legolas often presided over these meetings whilst Aragorn relaxed with their son.
The Elven Prince was aware of the presence of another person at the edge of the garden, sitting in the trees watching in silence and he smiled. Celdarion had recovered completely from his near death, and had swiftly decided to resume his position as Legolas' bodyguard. Yet the older elf often felt torn, for he felt his duty was to not only protect the Crown Prince of Mirkwood, but also to protect the Prince's son, and on days when Legolas and Elessarion were not together, he seemed unable to decide who it was he should be guarding.
Crediting the Elven Prince with some ability to defend himself, Celdarion took it upon himself to guard the Prince's child whilst the golden haired elf was taken up in his Royal duties. He also thought it unlikely that Legolas would allow himself to be separated from Elessarion for too long, and therefore his ability to protect the Crown Prince of Mirkwood and his heir from danger wouldn't be hindered too much. Of course he did not discount the ability of King Elessar to protect his own. The elven blooded man was a formidable warrior and fiercely protective of his family, but Celdarion acknowledged that Aragorn was not an elf and therefore obviously not as capable as he himself, when offering protection.
The guardian elf's senses sharpened as he detected someone approaching and he sat in readiness as a man came out into the gardens. Celdarion's lips formed a sneer of disgust as another source of constant annoyance joined the Prince. The elf ignored the small voice in his head that told him that his anger and dislike of the man stemmed from the fact that he had been fooled by the deception, instead watching as the garishly dressed Lord Fenner lowered himself to the ground beside the Elven Prince. He noted Elessarion traitorously try to launch himself at the man with a sound of excitement, his little body being deftly caught and held up by Fenner as the child tried to absorb all the bright colours that assaulted his eyes.
Legolas laughed as Fenner took Elessarion from him, beginning to tickle the infant who screamed with laughter. He cast a look over to the trees and could almost see the waves of annoyance rolling away from Celdarion's hidden perch. Holding back a mischievous smile he decided to make a few more waves.
"Celdarion, come down and greet Lord Fenner, it has been some weeks since we saw him last, do you not want to hear his news?" he called out.
Fenner stopped tickling Elessarion who mewled in annoyance, and instead looked to the tree line where Legolas was gazing. He saw nothing until a quick movement caught his attention, and he watched as Celdarion dropped from the tree before stalking over to the Elven Prince, a scowl on his face. The other elf did not deign to acknowledge Fenner much to the man's amusement, instead seating himself gracefully at his Prince's side.
Elessarion, having gotten bored with the lack of attention being paid to him, noticed the new arrival, and with a squeal of delight turned himself onto his front. Using Fenner's leg to get himself up from the ground, and remembering his success earlier he began to take a few steps towards his favourite 'Uncle'.
Fenner watched in concealed fascination as the stiff expression on the warrior elf's face thawed slightly as the infant made his way towards him. Celdarion sat still, trusting in the child's newly developing motor skills to reach his goal, and with a gurgle of laughter Elessarion did. He stumbled slightly just as he reached the older elf, but let himself fall as it took him to where he wanted to be, in the older elf's lap. Celdarion shifted slightly to allow the child to place himself comfortably, tugging on the long golden hair to assist him, and finally he settled. The little one looked up to meet the gaze of his elven protector and he smiled. Fenner was almost startled as the older elf responded to the child's smile with one of his own, and the man noted how Celdarion's features seemed to brighten with that small movement of facial muscles.
Pushing aside those thoughts Fenner decided to continue with his new pastime, annoying the old elf. "Celdarion, it is good to see you looking so well. Tell me have you done something new, your hair perhaps, mayhap a new cream such as those favoured by the older women of the court, for I would almost say that you don't look a day over three thousand."
Celdarion's featured stiffened again, his lips tightening in obvious displeasure, and beside him Legolas could not restrain a snort of laughter. A sharp elven gaze pierced the Prince and the younger elf bit back another laugh as he looked apologetically at his friend.
Turning back to Lord Fenner Celdarion met his gaze with a cool one. "My thanks Lord Fenner, that is quite a compliment when you consider the fact that I am at least twice that in age."
Fenner choked off a gasp. Although he joked about the age of the elves it was still mind boggling to think that the elf who sat before him, looking no older than a man in his late twenties, was actually almost two hundred times older than he was. He cast a swift look at the Prince who was now laughing at him.
"Would it be impolite to ask how old you are Your Highness?" Fenner asked in sudden curiosity.
Legolas grinned mischievously. "I have almost reached my two thousandth begetting day," he said.
Fenner had to grit his teeth to stop his jaw from opening in shock, and he noted the look of smug satisfaction on Celdarion's face at his bewilderment. Deciding to have the last laugh Fenner cast a mournful look at Legolas.
"T'is a shame you're married Your Highness, I've always had a thing for older men," he said and leered at Celdarion. He had to stop himself from laughing in triumph as Celdarion's lips actually parted in a snarl.
Legolas felt himself to be under no such restraint and his laugh floated across the air musically. "Peace you two. Come, Celdarion I wish to practice with you, Lord Fenner will you join us?" he asked.
Fenner shook his head regretfully. "Nay, I must meet with the King."
"Very well, but you are joining us for dinner? Good, we shall see you then," Legolas said plucking Elessarion from his resting place in Celdarion's lap and holding the child on his hip. "I think we should find Aunt Amelia to look after you whilst Ada practices with his weapons," Legolas said cheerfully to the child, and Elessarion responded with a grin, grabbing tightly on the Prince's tunic.
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When they found her Amelia decided to join the elves out on the practice fields, declaring that the fresh air would be good for her, and watching Elessarion would be good practice. Just a few weeks before Amelia and Boromir had announced that Amelia was carrying their first child. Legolas had been ecstatic, glad that his friend had finally found the happiness she deserved.
So that afternoon found Amelia seated on a blanket outside with Elessarion napping at her side. Legolas had taken out his bow first and fired some practice shots at the distant target. He was satisfied that after the length of time it had been during his pregnancy and recovery since he had used his bow, he was back at full strength hitting most if not all of the targets he aimed for. Celdarion stood silently beside him watching his progress, pleased that the time spent away from the bow had not softened the elven prince.
Both happy with that part of the practice they had moved onto the knives. Legolas favoured twin knives over the short sword that many other elves preferred, he liked the feel of their balanced weight in his hands, and he liked the graceful dance they allowed him as he whirled and slashed. Taking a preparatory stance he looked at Celdarion who wielded similar weapons. They nodded to each other slightly and then began.
Amelia watched the graceful moves of the elves in fascination as they swung around each other, leaping and thrusting, knives forward, landing gracefully only to leap forward once more. To her untrained eye they seemed evenly matched, and being elves they possessed a greater stamina and endurance, so it was conceivable that they could fight this way for some time, even now there was little sign of strain or tiredness about either one of them.
Amelia was not the only one to witness this display of fighting prowess, and Aragorn felt his body stir as he watched the lithe form of his mate moving in a motion so fast that he seemed to blur, his long golden hair flying behind him as if fighting to remain attached to his head. He moved closer spotting Amelia and Elessarion seated nearby.
Celdarion felt his blood racing as his limbs moved smoothly into a defensive manoeuvre to block Legolas' attack. He was engrossed in their dance of knives, the two elves had trained together for so long that they knew each other's moves very well, finding it difficult to surprise the other with something unexpected. Celdarion was proud, he had taught Legolas how to fight along with some of the best weapons masters in Mirkwood, and Legolas had not failed them. He was an excellent warrior, with courage and bravery that inspired his own people, yet Thranduil had often been reluctant to risk his precious son anywhere near danger.
The guardian elf felt a sudden disturbance in his senses and he turned for a moment to see who intruded upon their practice. He noticed the Prince's husband arrive, and turned his attention back to Legolas who was now attacking. Instinctively he brought his knives up to block but was a little too slow, and one of the Prince's sharp blades caught his forearm. He bit back the hiss that tried to escape from his mouth, and lowered his arms. He saw that Legolas had already thrown down his weapons, a look of guilt and surprise on his face as he approached the older elf.
"Celdarion, forgive me, I had not meant to cut you," he started apologetically.
Celdarion shook his head. "Nay little one, you did well, t'was my own lack of attention that caused this."
Legolas said nothing but took the elf's arm, pushing back the sleeve of his tunic for a closer look at the wound. He eyed it critically. "It is quite a deep gash," he commented.
"I've had worse," Celdarion stated dismissively, and then started as he felt a tingling in his arm. He looked back down at where the Prince's fingers held his arm. He noticed the slightest glow around the Prince's fingertips, and a warm sensation that crept from the long elegant fingers to the open bleeding wound on his arm. Celdarion watched as the bleeding slowed, and then stopped and how the skin of the wound appeared to be trying to pull itself together. Legolas noticed too and he dropped Celdarion's arm in surprise. The tingling stopped. The warrior elf looked up at his ward noting the shock and disbelief there.
"What happened?" Aragorn asked joining them, noting the strange expression on the faces of both elves.
Celdarion looked at Legolas assessingly. "I am not sure, but I mean to find out," he said and Legolas' blue orbs flew in startled reaction to his.
Too quickly for anyone to halt him the elven Prince spun swiftly moving to where Amelia sat. He ignored her startled yelp and lifted Elessarion into his arms before running quickly from the fields.
End of Chapter 1
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