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: I updated fast! The World comes to an End! (Hopefully), but seriously, it's going to rain ^_^ And this is for all of you wonderful reviewers! This chapter came out soon because your encouraging words.
One thing, please try not to kill Vinya yet, I still need him. ^_^
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 VII
Legolas didn't know what time it was. Had it been five minutes since he started crying? Half an hour? A couple of hours?
He didn't know why tears had stopped flowing. Maybe because he have not any more to drop. Sighing sadly, he didn't move, crouched in the cold corner of the room, his body shaken with constant shudders that chilled not only his body but his heart.
Suddenly a knock in the door startled him, taking him out of his trance.
"Legolas, dinner is about to be served." A musical voice spoke. Glorfindel, if he was correct.
"Since you were not present at the dinning room and having said you will dine with us, we came looking for you" another voice said, without doubt one of the twins'. Maybe Elladan's.
"I…" the blond prince started, but stopped immediately at how weak and broken his voice had sounded.
"Are you alright?" asked a third voice. This one much alike to the last one, so it had to be Elrohir.
"Yes" Legolas lied, managing due of years of practice, to compose himself quickly "Just a bit sleepy. I am very sorry; I will be there in a few minutes" he said as he stood up and headed to the bathrooms. Cold water will clear his tears away.
"Well then, we will wait for you" a fourth voice spoke. "Just how many of them have come?" Legolas though amused as he recognized Lindir's fair tune. And then he froze. Amused? Was he not almost dying from grief a few moments ago? But he couldn't help it; those four along with the Lord and Chief counselor of Imladris make his spirit lighter. He quickly went to wash his face, when he finished and as he looked at the mirror, he sighed. Not even a trace that he was tearing apart from inside, just his crystal blue eyes showed all the pain he had been through. He closed them from barely seconds and when he opened them again, they were again the mask of indifference.
When he went to the bedroom again, he changed his robe for a more formal one and he also combed his hair more elegant. All that in a few minutes. As he headed for the door he couldn't help listening to the chatting outside and so, curiosity wining the best of him he stood still and listened.
"Maybe we should have asked him to let us enter" said Elrohir.
"'Ro! That will be like imposing ourselves." Lindir said alarmed.
"Indeed, we do not have yet the confidence to act like such. You must remember young one, that Legolas is the crown prince of Mirkwood and we must respect him" Glorfindel said with a mixture of sternness and amusement.
"But that is what we want! To know him and for that we need to have confidence among each other" Elladan then replied.
"Not being impolite" Glorfindel said sighing.
"If Erestor ever hears this, he will fall to the floor dead" Lindir mused "For this is certainly NOT a way to treat a Prince from a neighbor realm"
"So says the one who had quit an argument with a Prince of said neighbor realm" Elladan pouted.
"If my harp slips from my grasp and ends in your head, do not ask me what happen. You know this musical instruments sometimes seems to have live of their own" Lindir said casually "And please what happened between the younger prince and I…"
Legolas, who was now grinning highly amused as well as hopeful for what he had heard, quickly reached his hand to open the door, for the last thing he wanted was to hear about Vinyaron.
"I am sorry to keep you waiting" he said.
"Do not be" Elladan said smiling and to Legolas' surprise the older twin was indeed looking suspiciously at the minstrel's silver harp.
"We must be going" Glorfindel said as he rolled his eyes at the antics of the younger elves. "Otherwise we will face the Wrath of the Manners Incarnate" The twins and Lindir snickered.
"Does Erestor knows you call him like that?" Legolas asked as they made their way through the corridors.
"Funny, young one, that you know who I was referring to" Glorfindel said impishly and Legolas blushed. Elladan raised his left eyebrow as his twin raised his right, both amused. Lindir played a music chord of the harp and it sounded as if the instrument had laughed.
***
**
"I do not think my brother is going to come" Vinyaron said as he subtlety got closer to the Lord of Imladris and his chief counselor.
"I am afraid I have to disagree young prince" Elrond said as he took sit in his chair at the head of the table. He was determined to wait for Legolas and as in reality none of the elves where hungry and becoming late was not really very important as the elves cherished night as well as day, they could just sat talking without complaining.
Even Erestor was decided not to started dinner without the crown prince of Mirkwood. He was a bit anxious since in the short time he had known Legolas, the sinda prince was really polite and had prove an impeccable knowledge of etiquette. He being late was not a good sing. Maybe he was still too weak for the loss blood and had pushed himself too far.
"But I know he is not coming" Vinyaron keep pressing. He knew that if Legolas arrived when the food had being served, he will rather return than enter the dining room. After all, he had proved it back in Mirkwood and several times.
"Oh, and how do you know that, my prince?" Erestor asked.
"Because…" too late, he had made a great mistake, but he was cunning. " Because I spoke to a group of elves that had encountered him on his way to his chambers after exiting your counsel room" he said to Elrond signaling Runianth, Hitfiriel and their friends. "They told me my brother was not well" in reality, he had not spoken to them after they had talked with Legolas, but he knew they had talked with him.
"Indeed. Then it is good that I sent my sons and some of my most trusted friends to find him" Elrond said taking note at Vinyaron's hesitation.
Vinyaron cursed within him and decided to change the subject. He now realized that indeed the twins, Glorfindel and Lindir where not present. And then he cursed again, this time even frowning, if the minstrel told Elrond about the morning incident he will be in a big trouble and this time he could not possibly blame it on Legolas.
"Your realm is more beautiful than songs tell" he said
"My thanks" Elrond said looking at Erestor with a meaningful and subtle glance, since they had heard Legolas said that same thing to the twins.
"And it is an honor to be in your table" he finally said taking the sit that was meant for Legolas, close to Elrond. Erestor frowned.
"Ai my prince" the counselor started after looking at the main door "I am afraid that this good conversation has made us forget our manners, since I am not behaving as I should in front of one of royal blood and you are not taking your right place at the Lord's Table" Elrond looked at his friend amused. It was always a pleasure to see Erestor handle this kind of situations, since he never showed humility (he had not specified who elf of royal blood he was referring to).
"Pardon me? Vinyaron said astonished.
"You are sitting in the Crown prince of Mirkwood's place" added Erestor and with that he stood up to great the newcomers that included his two young lords and said prince.
"Good evening Prince Vinyaron" the twins said. Lindir and Glorfindel bowed and the younger sinda was even more lost at Lindir's behavior. Legolas greeted him politely if cold.
With all the people who were suppose to be present, dinner started and as it passed, Legolas, not having the mood to eat, found himself looking at the six elves who had made him feel welcome for the first time in his life. Elladan and Elrohir were chatting merrily with two elves the sinda did not know, while Erestor and Glorfindel friendly discussed as always about anything and everything. Elrond and Lindir had become absorbed in the discussion of a song of the First Age that told the raising of the Sun.
But on the other hand, he saw Vinyaron talking with a group of elves and even if he seemed cheerily, Legolas knew him well enough as to know that indeed he was very angry and annoyed, but when the blond crown prince saw who was Vinyaron with he pale and contained his breath, for those were the elves who had caused him grief after the meeting with Elrond and his council.
"Are you well?" asked Erestor, sat next to him, in a whisper. Elladan quickly turned to look at him and made a slight movement under the table, probably he kicked his brother, and Elrohir also looked at him.
"I am, thank you for your concern" Legolas said controlling his panic. They couldn't find out.
"You are pale. Maybe you still suffer from the blood loss" Erestor insisted.
"I do not, my Lord, really" Legolas insisted and a small light of pleading shown in his otherwise indifferent blue eyes.
"Very well then" Erestor said understanding the young one plead for privacy.
Dinner passed and soon Lindir stood up from the table and along other three musicians he started playing a soft tune. After just the necessary moments of courtesy, Legolas stood up and bowed low to Elrond.
"If you excuse me my lord, even as pleasant as this night is I am afraid I need to retire"
"Of course, young prince" Elrond said nodding "Have a good night"
With another bow Legolas left the room.
"I will return in a moment" Erestor said resting a hand in Glorfindel's arm so the other elf whom he was talking with excused him. "I will tell you later" he added at the questioning glance the blond elda gave him. Understanding, Glorfindel turned to study Vinyaron. Cheerful Vinyaron who was being pampered by Hitfiriel and his group.
***
**
The moment Legolas went out the dinning room, he reached to the wall for support. He hadn't realized how tired he was.
"You are not well" Erestor said calmly behind him. Legolas reacted quickly, straightening himself.
"I am, do not worry for me"
"And why should I not? It is obvious that you are weary Legolas"
"No, I just wanted to feel the stone of the wall"
"What?" Erestor looked at him not knowing if he should laugh or shout. "What kind of answer was that?" the counselor thought.
"It is not worth to worry for me" Legolas said in a desperate attempt to escape from the observant noldo, so desperate that he didn't realize his error. Erestor frowned.
"What is that suppose to mean?"
Legolas felt really panicked, although neither his eyes nor his body betrayed it. He didn't know how to behave to accomplish a victorious escape, since nobody ever had have interest in his well being. No one had cared enough as to really see he was acting.
"Erestor I need to take care of some matters for the second council tomorrow, I must take my leave"
"Legolas" Erestor stopped him as the prince had turned around. "Take this" he said as he took a cup of glass from a servant who had materialized out of nowhere.
"What is it?" Legolas asked curious. Really, it was amazing how Legolas' curiosity made him look like an elfling. As he took the cup the sinda realized what if was. "Miruvor?"
"Indeed. The healing substance of elves that brings strength" Erestor nodded. "Rest tonight, drink it tomorrow and you will feel a little better. I am afraid that we are pushing you too hard, even if you want it this way. After all you nearly died almost two weeks ago."
"Thank you" was all Legolas could said.
***
**
It was midnight when the twins decided that they should be retiring for their rooms. Glorfindel and Erestor long ago had banished and were speaking in the chief counselor rooms as they used to do in some nights. Elrond had gone to take a walk to his gardens as he tended to do in full Moon's nights and Lindir was going to stay in the Hall of Fire for a long time yet.
The twins needed to cross a corridor with a division to reach their rooms. To the left where the Lords rooms as well as those of the closest friends of the royal family of Imladris; to right where the special guest rooms used only to kings or crown princes, as well as the chambers assigned to the twins' Grandparents.
"He barely ate and he is still recovering" Elrohir said looking at the right turning.
"Agreed" Elladan said and with that silent understanding, they headed to Legolas' rooms. When they arrived, they saw light from within the room.
"Is he still awake?" Elrohir asked
"It seems so" Elladan answered
"What if we bring him some pastries from the kitchen? Those made of raspberry and honey"
"He certainly could not deny them!" Elladan agree and in less than fifteen minutes, they were again in front of Legolas' door.
"Shall we knock?"
"No, we might wake someone"
"'Dan, this hole wind is deserted"
"But Glor has a special hearing when it comes to strange sounds in no meant to be places at night"
"True. Are we going to enter like nothing then?"
"Only if you are a telepath, we have no other way. After all, he cannot be doing anything strange, right?"
"Well, if an orgy is taking place there, they certainly are quiet" Elladan rolled his eyes.
"The things you wonder"
"The same as you" said Elrohir opening the door.
The light that escaped under the door was because of the set of candles in the two main tables of the room. With the balcony door slightly opened, the curtains were dancing with the winds' melody and on the large bed at the center of the room was laying a still fully dress Legolas.
"He even did not take his boots off" Elrohir said a bit amused as well as concern.
"Are we waking him?"
"Wait" Elrohir stopped his brother and got closer. Elldan followed his younger twin. "Look at him 'Dan, he seems sad"
And indeed Legolas looked sad, since as sleep took him even if it was unwillingly, he had let the mask of indifference slip a bit.
"Why do you think the reason is?"
"I want to know"
"Indeed" Elladan agreed. It was in that time that Legolas' eyes became focused and alarmed he got up.
"Is it morning already? I am sorry if I am late" he said quickly taking off his robe. The twins stopped him before he changed himself in morning attire.
"No, no. It is midnight yet" Elladan reassured him
"We did not mean to wake you, we are sorry" Elrohir said with shame.
"It is all right" Legolas said sitting on the bed again. A heavy silence fell.
"We saw you did not eat much" Elladan began breaking the silence.
"I am sorry, it is not I do not appreciate your food, but I was not hungry"
"Do not apologize, we understand" Elrohir frowned.
"But we are worry for you. You have been working hard, and you are still weak. Here, have this" he then gave him the pastries.
"Those are one of the most delicious pastries in all Imladris" Elrohir said as if to cheer him up so he ate them.
"I see" Legolas said holding one. They indeed look exquisite.
"We abducted them from the kirtchens"
"You assaulted your own kitchens?"
"Well, yes" and Legolas grinned.
"Thank you" he said and ate it. His eyes shone with happiness. The three of them sat in the bed sharing the pastries and talking about everything, surprised about how much they have in common.
Indeed those were the best pastries Legolas had ever had eaten, for not only they tasted of raspberry and honey, but also of care and friendship. So content was the young prince that he even forgot that his forces had abandoned him the instant he sat on the bed after he and Erestor departed from each other. He wasn't able to hear the harsh comments of Hitfiriel anymore because of the soft and musical voice of the twins.
***
**
In his rooms, Elrond looked at a parchment with the elegant handwriting of Legolas. It stated the points to consider in favor of the Woodland realm in the council the next day as well as the crown prince of Mirkwood had one with the points that the Lord of Imladris had proposed.
To Elrond things were getting complicated as he realized that he had a brother envy matter going in his own home and not only him, but his counselor and seneschal had beginning to guess that Vinyaron was not what he pretended to be.
To be continue...
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