DISCLAIMER: Yessss.... they are mine, my own, my precioussssss. And then I fall from the tree I was sleeping in and woke up.
Author Notes: So Sorry for taking so long! I didn't mean to, but real life didn't let me in peace. November was a very hard month (I think one of the worst of all my immortal life), but finally I'm able to write another chapter. Tomorrow is my last exam and so I'll be free!!!!!! Specially to write this story, so don't worry about the updates, they'll be sooner since I'm at one day to be on vacations!! (blessed vacations).
Because of the waiting, I'll make this a long chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks a lot for all the wonderful reviews! More than 100!! My heart sings with joy!!! I'll answer the questions:
Cherryfaerie: Noldor is a race of elves. The elven kind is divided in four races mainly: Sindarin, Noldor, Vanyar and Silvan. Elrond and his sons are Noldor (although they have Sindarin blood), Thranduil is Sindarin and Legolas can be Sindarin or part Silvan (Tolkien never said). For more specification read the Silmarilion, because is kind of complicate explaining.
Angelbird12241: Read and you'll find out :grins:
And please remember that my mother tongue is Sindarin and Quenya, not English, sorry for the mistakes
The Truth in those sad eyes
By Fantasia of the Moon
Chapter V
The chatter continued merrily on the Hall of Fire until it was time for dinner. In all that time, the twins, the counselors and occasionally Lindir, talking about everything and nothing didn't manage to see Legolas' true self, due to the fact that the crown prince was silent most of the time. ´
It was not in Legolas nature to be open and cheery immediately after he met someone and this had brought him a lot of troubles, for the elves tended to believe strange that one of the race that created the words didn't like to talk.
A bell called all the elves who wanted to dine with its musical sound and most of the elves in the Hall went to the dinning room. Some did not and headed to the gardens.
"I trust that you are hungry" Elladan said to Legolas
"To tell you the truth, I am" Legolas said smiling a bit dizzy
"Are you sure you do not want to rest?" Glorfindel asked concerned, for the prince seemed to be sleepy.
"I could not be so rude as to not be present in the dinning room" Legolas said politely. Erestor again was pleased with the behavior of the young prince.
"I am sure you and Erestor will understand each other perfectly" Elrohir said impishly
"Yes, courtesy is one of the pillars of live and it is not courteous to keep waiting half Imladris" Erestor said as he stood up. Glorfindel smiled impishly.
"So, you will hate if I keep you here"
"You can not"
"Oh, but I can"
"Glor, you will not distract me with a pointless discussion, now lest go"
"But it is not pointless. Its purpose is to amuse me, for I…" the rest of his talked got lost as Erestor dragged him out of the Hall.
"Maybe one day Glorfindel will be able to make Erestor late for dinner" Lindir said as he headed to the door.
"No" both twins answered amused. Legolas chuckled at that, making the young lords of Imladris focus on him. Elladan and Elrohir reached out a hand to help the prince stand up.
"Thank you" Legolas said grabbing their hands. He choked a cry of surprise when the twins actually pull at him not allowing Legolas to make a lot of effort, but always careful with his injures.
Elladan put a hand on his waist while Elrohir put his hand on the slim shoulders of the crown prince of Mirkwood.
"You are still weak" Elladan said at the look of disbelieve in Legolas' eyes.
"I am well"
"No, you are not." Elrohir said shaking his head "We know you are not"
"You did not even have to be out of bed"
"But then you are. We can see that not assisting at the afternoon meal upsets you"
"So we will say nothing, but stay close to you"
"Why?" Legolas asked truly curious
"We know what is it to be injured in a place where everybody expects you to be royal and elegant"
"When we lived that in Mithlond we had each other, but you are alone here"
"Not just here" Legolas whispered so quietly that the twins didn't hear him.
"So, will you accept our aid?" Elladan asked
"I better do, for I remember when you were not so polite with me earlier and I am staying here at least two months. I do not want to cross you again, my Lords" Legolas said impishly. He didn't have time to regret his teasing mode, for the twins laughed merrily, although they were also blushing.
"We are sorry for that. If we had known better…"
"…We would have acted different"
As they were talking, they approached to the dinning room. When they were at the entrance, the twins let go of Legolas and the three entered as the royals they were.
The elves present hadn't taken their sits and were chatting among them. When Legolas saw that Elrond was present, he stood straighter and headed to where the Lord of Imladris was talking with an elf he hadn't seen before. The twins exchanged glances and approached their father by another way.
Out of nowhere, Vinyaron came out and headed faster to the lord's side and bowing very low he took Elrond's attention.
"My lord, I am so sorry for the inconvenient of our arrival. I have been told what happened and I am deeply ashamed for my brother's behavior."
"And what behavior is that, Prince Vinyaron?" Elrond said curious.
"Entering in your realm as we did. I told him I needed to rest after the long fight I had with the orcs, because I had to fought them myself, for my brother was… unable to. Not that he tried to run away, well, maybe he did, but he is not a coward…"
Legolas was astonished at how Vinyaron had changed all that had happened. He even couldn't find words to speak.
"… He thought I was injured and so… he made that awful scene" Vinyaron continued. By the time he was finished, all the elves were listening with rapt attention.
"Indeed" Elrond frowned. Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other puzzled, for Legolas had told them differently. Glorfindel, Erestor and Lindir were listening with a neutral expression.
Legolas breathed deep while his mind worked frantically to find a way to put Vinyaron in evidence without making a scene.
"I am afraid, brother" The crown prince started "that the hit on your head damaged your memory, for the events that you are speaking of did not happen as you have said"
"How can you say that to your brother! I am not a liar" Vinyaron's eyes went watery as if he was hurt in his feelings.
"I did not say you are a liar. Please do not put words in my mouth. Since the concussion in your head was so severe that you collapsed in the middle of the battle, it can be possible that your memory suffered some harm"
"You hate me!" Vinyaron shouted suddenly when he saw that Legolas had bested him in the game of words again. So the only thing that came to the twisted mind of the younger prince of Mirkwood was to make the others pity him, making Legolas the evil one. "You hate me because you think I kill mother!" at this a gasp escaped from the present elves.
Legolas sighed. "Just as in home" he thought. And so here he was going to have the same problems.
"You never wanted to admit that mother died not because of me! I did not kill her" Vinyaron started crying.
"Is this true?" An elf said horrified "Are you so cruel to blame your mother's dead on him?"
"I heard what happened to the Queen of Mirkwood" another elf said "He does not deserve the blame!"
"Enough!" Elrond cut off all the possible comments "This not the place or the time to speak of such delicate subjects, Prince Vinyaron"
Legolas turned to see at Elrond, but if the prince was looking for understanding he was greatly disappointed, for the gray eyes of the lord were as hard as steel.
"Come, lets sit at the table" Elrond said heading to the table and taking sit in the main place of it.
"A shame your friends saw how cruel you are, dear brother" Vinyaron whispered when he passed by Legolas' side. The crown prince just stood there as the elves passed in front of him, respectful, but with a little hint of disdain in their bright eyes.
"What do you think?" asked Elladan to Elrohir far away the table.
"I do not know. I want to believe Legolas"
"As I do"
"but?"
"You know, 'Ro"
"Indeed"
"The theory I have" a third voice startled them "is that Legolas is telling the truth. We saw how Prince Vinyaron acted when he did not know what was happening after his brother delivered him to Elrond" Glorfindel said as calmly as if he hadn't just scared the life out of the twins
"We agree" Elrohir nodded "Besides, that look in Legolas' eyes…"
"What?" Glorfindel asked
"We were remembering an episode that took place earlier" Elladan said and forced himself to smile when the three reached the main table.
Legolas was sitting in front of Vinyaron on the third chair to the right of Elrond. Proud and cold, he didn't let any emotion surface. The twins took their sits between Legolas and their Father and started talking merrily as the lords they were, but surprise at the expressionless eyes of Legolas.
The meal passed without any other problem and soon all were retiring to the Hall of Fire to continue singing and dancing.
"If you allow me, my lord" Legolas approached Elrond "I will retire to rest" The crown prince had seen the unfriendly eyes directed at him of most of the elves and how they were guiding Vinyaron to the Hall as if protecting him and daring Legolas to came close.
"Before you do, Prince Legolas, I wish to have a few words with you."
"Of course" Legolas bowed. He was feeling exhausted and again his heart hurts. Was he condemned to live alone?
"How foolish I was to think that the twins or Elrond's counselors and minstrel would like to be my friends" he thought as he followed Elrond to his study. "Maybe I do not deserve more than this"
The crown prince of Mirkwood entered to Elrond's study and stood as still as his dizziness would allow.
"Please take a sit"
"Thank you" Legolas was grateful, because the pain in his abdomen was less if he was sitting or laying.
"I hope you understand that you and your brother are guests in this house" Elrond began "and not common guests, but ambassadors of one of the most powerful elven realms left in Middle Earth. So I will not tolerate another scene like the last one again"
"I am deeply sorry for having upset you, my lord" Legolas said standing up and bowing despite the pain. "If you see fit to ask for another person to represent Mirkwood, we will depart immediately"
"What would you say if I tell you that Vinyaron needs to remain here, for he seems to be suffering. That only you will be returning to Mirkwood"
"Then I would tell you that you are mistaken and that you have been fooled as the rest" Legolas kept his face looking at the floor. "For Vinyaron is not what he seems to be and neither I am"
"And how do you think I perceive you, son of Thranduil?" Elrond continued. He had realized that Legolas was not as bad as his brother wanted them to believe and the sadness he sensed from the heir of Mirkwood was disturbing him.
"As a monster" was the young Sindarin soft answer. Elrond frowned and came closer to the prince. The voice of Legolas was so sad and in pain and weak. Grabbing Legolas' cheeks he pulled the pale face up until the sad crystal blue eyes met with his steely ones.
"Then I will tell you that you are mistaken"
Legolas eyes grew wide and tears menaced to fall from his eyes.
"You are pale, I am sure you need to rest." Before Legolas went out of the room, Elrond's voice stopped him.
"Legolas, I would never had send you back to Mirkwood alone, with this weather and injured as you are"
****
**
Legolas walked through the corridor shivering. The night had fallen and with it the weather had dropped as well. When his vision became blurry, he stopped. Trying to catch his breath he tried to take a step, but collapsed. Cursing his weakness he tried to stood up, but he just couldn't.
Thinking that a little rest will help, he lost the track of time as unconsciousness took him.
****
**
"I do not trust him" Lindir said as he rested his harp on the ground and reclined his elbows on the veranda next to Elladan.
"Trust me, you are not the only one" Elrohir sighed.
"However, he seemed to have won the appreciation of most Imladris" Lindir said angry
"We do not think so" Elladan said
"Their pity, maybe, but not their appreciation" Elrohir agreed.
"Conspiring again, young ones?" Erestor approached them
"Always" The twins said impishly in unison.
"And what are you plotting now?"
"How to get rid off a certain pester" Elrohir said innocently.
"Does this pester have a name? Maybe Vinyaron?"
"Want to join us?" Elladan asked
"You do not like him"
"Those are not the words we will choose to express what we felt about him, but they give the idea" Elladan complained.
"Then the fact that the ambassador is Legolas and you will just have to deal with him surely cheers your hearts El"
"How do you know?" the twins asked
"It was on Thranduil's letter"
"Oh"
"On the other hand, my dear Lindir, you will be stuck with the pester since the younger prince will need entertainment while we discuss official matters"
"Not if I can prevent it" Lindir said
"When we see you behind your harp, hiding…." Elrohir began
"…We will not ask" Elladan finished
"Good night" The twins said and with that they left.
"Not a word, please" Lindir said to Erestor, who laughed merrily.
****
**
"My heart went out to him when I saw his eyes" Elladan commented as he and his brother headed to the room they shared, so deep was their brotherly bond.
"Mine too. When he took off the mask of coldness and indifference… it was really painful to see"
"What do you think is behind those sad eyes?"
"I want to discover, so we can warm them and take away all the grief"
"By Elbereth!" both exclaimed when they doubled a corner and found Legolas laying on the ground.
"Legolas?" They asked as they knelt before him.
"He is unconscious, we should have returned him to bed instead of bringing him to the Hall of Fire"
"But 'Dan, I think that would have hurt him more"
"Maybe. He is freezing" both twins took off their indoor cloaks and wrapped Legolas' in them.
Carrying him to the luxurious guest chambers, they put the prince on the bed and covered him with their cloaks and everything with the blankets of the bed. They stood there, looking at the fair face as if by only will power the mystery of this strange elf will be discover.
So intent they were, that neither of them was aware that after a few hours Legolas opened his eyes.
After a few moments of waiting, Legolas saw that the twins weren't going to say a word and their scrutiny was making him feel nervous.
"Can I do something for you?"
"You are awake!"
"I think so"
A long moment of silence made the three princes uncomfortable.
"You know. We have come to a conclusion about you" Elladan said. Legolas closed his eyes fearing what would be next.
"Heir of Mirkwood or not, you are still younger than us. Therefore you are a child" Elrohir said.
"What?" Legolas asked confused, taken by surprise. When he realized they were teasing he smiled.
"We will leave you to rest."
"Good night"
****
**
When Legolas stood up from the bed and was allowed to wander thorough Imladris, four days had passed since the scene on the dinning room. He was still weak and his injuries still hurt, but he was on the mend and at last he could stand more than six hours without collapsing from exhaustion.
He didn't want to be with the other elves, not yet. And so he decided to take a walk on the beautiful gardens that surrounded the house. If he was lucky, he thought, he wasn't going to find anyone on his way. Unfortunately for him, Destiny had a very different idea of the word luck.
"We did not see you at breakfast, young one" Glorfindel said coming closer to him.
"I… wasn't hungry. Forgive me"
"Do not apologize" Glorfindel smiled sweetly at the younger elf "How are you feeling?"
"I am fine, thank you"
"Should I believe it? Last time you said you were fine El had to carry you to your rooms"
"They told you?" Legolas asked with wide eyes that reminded Glorfindel a little elfling caught in a compromised situation.
"No, I saw as they carried you"
"Oh"
"Do you mind if I walk with you"
"No"
"So" Glorfindel said after several minutes of peaceful wandering "You wanted to discuss a song with me right?"
"If it is alright with you"
"Of course child!"
As the talk, Glorfindel became delighted with the young heir, for he found in him so much passion that it refreshed the soul. He also found Legolas a sharp thinker, a sensitive soul and a lonely being. The points of view of the sindar were very interesting and they agreed in many things as well as disagree in many others.
With a person that really was interested in what he thought and only one person and not many, Legolas began to open a little and let the older elf see a glimpse of his true being.
At the end of the walk, Glorfindel found himself liking the young sindar for what the prince was. True, he was rather eccentric, but wasn't the twins, Elrond, Erestor, Lindir and himself eccentric as well?
To be continue...
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