Disclaimer: These characters are not mine and never will be.
Chapter Five
Legolas found he was exhausted by the time the evening came. Laireloth had grizzled for most of the afternoon and would not settle she looked to be a little hot so he had removed her outer clothing, trying to cool her down.
She was still screaming when Aragorn came in. Legolas had a pounding head ache, he had tried everything but Laireloth just screamed even more. Legolas took one look at his husbands smile and wanted nothing more than to shove his daughter at him and get out of the room. But that was just a tad ridiculous.
"Evening, Legolas, have you had a good afternoon?" Even his voice was bright and cheerful.
"Does it look like it?" Legolas all but snarled.
Aragorn was taken aback at the response he had just received and he moved to the Elf's side. "What is the problem?"
"Laireloth just will not settle, she has screamed since you left. I do not know what to do!" It was almost a wail of despair.
"Come sit down, I will go and get Ada; he will know what to do." With that he left the room.
When Elrond finished examining the baby he smiled in reassurance. "She has just picked up a slight chill. Keep her warm and use these herbs for her fever. I will look in on her later to see how she is." He gently mixed the herbs with a small amount of water and fed it to Laireloth with the ease of long experience. Once finished he cuddled his Granddaughter to him. "You look tired, Legolas." He noticed Aragorn's wince, but said nothing.
"They have both been giving me quite a run around over night and today. I feel so useless." Man and Elf were surprised at this frank admission, it was rare to witness Legolas in this state of emotion, and normally it was like drawing blood from a stone.
"You are new to this, Legolas, you will get comfortable and into a rhythm. This happens to all new mothers, I promise, Penneth." Legolas winced at Elrond's use of the word Penneth, He had not been called that in many years.
"I must be the world's worst Naneth." He gave a shaky, watery smile.
"No, Legolas, you are just feeling a little over whelmed. I had better get back and see that my two are not trying to destroy Minas Tirith." Elrond held the baby back out for Legolas to take, she was still crying and Legolas gently rocked her.
"I will show you out, Ada." Aragorn kissed his husband before walking out with his foster father. They talked about Gondor until they had made their way into the corridor. Then Aragorn turned to Elrond.
"Is Laireloth going to be well enough to be taken by Eowyn tonight? I have arranged a dinner for Legolas and I wanted the two of us just to have some time for us." Aragorn wore a deep frown.
"I do not see why not as long as her temperature is lower than it is now. I think the break will do some good. You may even consider that I and your brothers could look after them for one night, so that Legolas can get good nights sleep." The Elven Lord smiled when he saw the relief in his son's eyes.
"That is a relief. I really think Legolas needs a rest. I will talk to him about you taking the twins overnight, but I can not be certain Legolas will let them leave for so long at the moment."
"That is normal, Aragorn, soon you will be looking back and wondering just what the problem was Legolas' Naneth was exactly the same over him."
"Thank you, Ada, I am just worried, he is so moody just lately. I feel as if my breathing is too much for him. A night alone is the best thing. I will see you tomorrow, Ada." Aragorn made his way back to the royal chamber.
"Legolas, I have a little surprise for you, I hope you like it." Quizzical blue eyes looked up at him. "Eowyn is coming in half an hour to take the twins for the eve…"
"No. Laireloth is unwell; she will need to be here with me."
"Legolas, it will only be for a few hours." Aragorn could understand his husbands reluctance, but for Valar's sake they would only be down the hall way and not on the other side of the Middle Earth.
"Legolas they will only be down the corridor and within shouting distance, should we be needed." Aragorn tried his hardest to persuade the Elf.
"Do you not the meaning of No? I will not let Laireloth go with Eowyn." The unpredictable rage that had plagued him for the past few weeks came to the fore.
"Legolas, Eowyn has kindly given up both hers and Faramir's evening so that we can have some time together. Do you know how ungrateful you sound?" Aragorn made his voice stern.
"Fine, but I suggest you go to Eowyn and let her know her evening is not ruined. But I will not let either of my children be alone tonight. If you can not understand that, I am sorry." Estalado chose that moment to start to wail and with a tired sigh, Legolas handed Laireloth to Aragorn and walked to the crib to pick his son up.
"Legolas…"
"No, Aragorn, I do not want to discuss this you any more. They are staying with me." Legolas was really glaring at the man in front of him.
"I will go and tell her." Aragorn's voice was neutral as carrying Laireloth in his arms, he left the room.
As soon as the chamber door closed Legolas sighed once more. What was wrong with him? He hated snapping at Aragorn but he found that he was doing so more often as the day went by.
He had just finished feeding Estalado when there was a knock at the chamber door. It was Eowyn.
"Are you alright, Legolas? Aragorn said that you were very upset. Can I help at all?" She was concerned for her friend, she had never seen him look so pale and she was worried about how tiered he looked.
"Thank you, Eowyn I am fine. I just got very little sleep tonight. I take it Aragorn is with Faramir?" He gave a weak half hearted smile.
"Yes, He wanted some air."
"Is he angry at me?" Legolas' looked so sad; it almost broke the Shield Maidens heart.
"No, I do not believe so. I think he is just worried about you." Her smile was genuine.
"I shouted at him, practically tore his head off. I do not even really know why." Legolas rubbed his forehead, praying that the pain would go away.
"Legolas it is only normal, after all that happened to you during your pregnancy I think you are more than just a little bit more entitled to snap at your husband."
"You may be right. I do not like it though." The hand was back to rubbing his forehead and for a moment closed his eyes and tried to make it vanish. He found the darkness was comforting for once.
He did not even realise he was doing it until Eowyn asked. "Do you have a head ache?"
"What?" The Prince's eyes snapped open; he had almost forgotten he was not alone. "I am sorry, Eowyn, that was unforgivable. Please repeat what you just said.
"I asked if you have ahead ache, but I can see that you have. I will go and get Aragorn for you, may be he can give you something for it." Eowyn stood fully intending to go and get Aragorn, but a pale slender hand caught her arm gently.
"Please, do not; I will not take anything he gives me. I am still breast feeding and I would not like to pass anything on to them. I just need some sleep."
"Are you certain?" She looked at him worriedly.
"Yes, I am certain. I will not change my mind. Aragorn tends to be just a little more than protective and as for mothering!" He laughed too joining in with Eowyn.
"I will leave you and go and let Aragorn know that you are alright. I do not want a hole worn into my rug."
Legolas was still smiling as she left.
It was another hour that Aragorn returned, the hour bell had just sounded. A servant hurrying after him was carrying a tray full of food.
"Are you alright now, Melleth-nin?" He bent to kiss Legolas and was pleased when it was returned. The maid slipped out unnoticed as the royal couple began to kiss in earnest. Legolas almost groaned as Aragorn pulled away.
"I am sorry, Aragorn, I should not have shouted at…" He was cut of by another kiss, tender this time.
"You have nothing to be upset about it; I should have listened to you a little bit more. You just seem so tired and I wanted to give you a break." Aragorn was rewarded with a small smile and another kiss.
"Thank you. Melleth, I am just worried about Laireloth. I hate the thought of her being ill." He looked at their daughter, content again and sleeping beside her brother.
"Let us eat, I m famished." Aragorn began moving the covering's over the dishes. "This looks delicious."
Without asking Legolas he began piling the plate with food. Legolas admitted to him self that the food did look delicious and it smelt even better. It was a shame that he could not eat a lot of it.
Aragorn handed him a platter full to almost over flowing. Even before he had fallen pregnant he could not have eaten half of it, as Aragorn knew only to well. They had had a lot of arguments during the war of the ring about this very same topic.
"Aragorn you know I can not possibly eat all of that." His voice was firm.
"Legolas you need to keep your milk levels up, besides you look far to pale may be Ada should take a look at you." Aragorn was already eating.
"I would not wish to waste his time. I am just in need of some sleep that is all." Aragorn watched as the Elf began pushing his food around the platter. Every now and then he would take a small mouth full and then he would go back to pushing the food around again.
"Is there some thing wrong with your food?"
"No why?" Legolas looked up from pushing the shredded carrot around the platter.
"You are not really eating it and you are pushing it around the plate." Aragorn stated.
"I am just not really hungry. I guess I am just too tired." A wry grin accompanied this admission.
"You need to eat some more, seven small mouthful of food is not even enough to fill a baby newly starting to eat solids." Aragorn was going to persist on this one, Legolas knew.
"Do you want me to be sick?" The question startled Aragon.
"No, why? Do you feel sick?" Aragorn looked really worried now.
"No, but I will be if you insist on my eating all of this." He poked at a small pile of peas.
"Just try some, Legolas; you do not need to eat it all." He gave his beautiful husband a broad smile.
Legolas had no choice and he began to take the small bites again. He had only eaten five mouthfuls, Aragorn watching his every move, and he already felt full to the point of bursting. Estalado began to wail. Laying his knife and fork beside his plate with a sigh, he made to stand up only to be halted by Aragorn.
"I will see to him, I want you to have at least cleared a quarter of the platter before I return." He moved towards the crib in their bedroom.
Legolas tried to do as Aragorn had asked, but he resented every mouthful. How dare Aragorn treat him like a child? He felt really nauseous. He knew then that he could not eat even the quarter Aragorn had instructed him to have. Requested? Ai, he had commanded him to eat.
He had to get rid of this. He scraped the food of onto an unused napkin intending fully to hide the food until he could dispose of it properly without Aragorn being there.
"Just what do you think you are doing?" Aragorn stood in the doorway of their patio. Legolas closed his eyes, perfect just perfect. Aragorn had to have seen what he just done.
"Well? I am waiting." There was only anger in Aragorn's voice.
"I… I…" He was trying to think frantically, he needed a decent explanation. None was for the coming.
"I need an answer, Legolas." The voice was turning colder.
"I tried to tell you I was not hungry, but no you would not take no for an answer. Then you command me; command me to finish my food. What right do you have?" Legolas was getting angry again and he could not stop himself.
"I have the right, because as your husband I have that right. You should be doing what I say not ignoring it, I have the right as the father of our children."
"Is that all? And as for doing what you say. What gives you the impression that just because you are my husband you can control me and push me around? I am not your possession!"
"You are getting above yourself, Legolas. In this city you will do as I say, I will not have the people think me weak because you do not like your predicament. If you are unhappy then maybe you should have thought harder before marrying me." Aragorn was angry himself now.
"Oh, I get it. Just because I am your husband and not of Gondor it means I have no rights? I have to eat where and what you tell me? Sleep when you tell me? Next you will be telling me when I can breathe." Legolas' voice was a low cold growl.
"If it makes you eat, yes." Aragorn stood arms crossed his brow was as black as thunder.
"I have eaten. I had breakfast and took part of the mid day meal once you had left. Do not flatter yourself that I should only eat in your presence. I will eat when I want to eat and sleep when I wish to sleep. If you do not like it I really do not care." Legolas turned away.
Aragorn snatched at his arm. "Do not dare turn your back on me! I have not finished."
"You may not be but I have. Get your hand off of me." It was a hiss.
"You will obey me when I speak to you!"
"I am not your slave to obey you every whim. Now let me go."
"Or what, Legolas? You will try and cut your wrists again?" he could have clapped his hands over his mouth as those hateful words left his lips, but he would have been too late anyway.
Legolas was pale and he had been over come by a feeling of great calm. The kind of calm that precedes the advent of a storm. He stood and with one sweep of a tender arm the platter before him went smashing to the floor.
"You just had to bring that up did you not? I wondered how long it would be. If I were to do that again, it would be because of you. That was despicable! The thought that you still think…" Legolas was too angry to continue and rage throbbed in his voice.
"Legolas, I am sorry, that was unforgivable of me." Aragorn try to touch his husband but his hand was pushed aside.
"It is too late for that. If you thought before you speak you would have no need for apologies. I understand now, probably more than you realise. How wrong I was to think that you could love me. I should have known. Why did you marry me? Was it because you wanted some one you felt you could push around? I am sorry if I am not what you wanted."
"I love you, Legolas that was why I married you. That is why I married you, nothing more nothing less. I am sorry you believe that I think of you as a possession. I do not. Again that was wrong of me. I am just worried about you Legolas; you are so tired and pale. I worry because I love you." This time Legolas let Aragorn touch him and buoyed by this encouragement he took the Elf into his arms.
The blond lifted his face and Aragorn was horrified to see tears running down the fair face. "Why did you have to bring that up? Why now? Am I that much of a disappointment?"
"No! No, you are not a disappointment. You are anything but. I spoke out of anger and without thinking. I would never hurt you, Legolas not willingly." He bent to kiss those pink lips. "Please forgive me?" He gently brushed the tears from the beautiful face.
"Yes, you have hurt me. Hurt me a lot, but yes, I forgive you. Just do not do it again. Promise me?"
He bent to kiss those lips again. "I promise I will never do that to you again." Each word was accompanied by a kiss.
Within minutes all thought of the argument was forgotten as they kissed passionately. Lifting Legolas w easily into his arms he carried his love into the bed chamber. Dropping him gently on the bed, he climbed on him self and once comfortable took the Elf into his arms and began to kiss him again.
A little later a voice asked. "If I told you I had a head ache, would you believe me?"
Laughter was the answer to that question.
To be continued
Author Note:
High every body, this is Shell here and not Meisalliam. She has been kind enough to let me write another chapter but only on the understanding that I do the review notes so here goes.
MoroTheWolfGod: we thank you for your review and are glad that you continue to enjoy this story.
Restlesssoul: Anorexic? Hm good question. May be and may be not. All will be reviled soon.
Triptych: I loved your statement and you are right men are totally clueless to things like that aren't they? As for the message you may well have to wait and see, I'm afraid.
Pointy-eared-elfs: Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you found Legolas' reactions to be good, not bad for a non Mother, I guess? The big secret is going to be coming out a little at a time I'm afraid. It's starting though.
Knight Kenobi of Eryn Lasgalen: Isn't love wonderful? All together… AHHHH!
Halimanya: A really weird review? Yes, Please! Your not thick we are just vague! Glad you like my chapter though.
Legolas19: Thank you for your review.
Bradleigh: the fast update is my fault, sorry. Legolas is a wonderful shot!
Wanda: Thank you from Meisalliam, she says she does her best.
Inumoon: Here is the next chapter for you. TTFN. Isn't it wonderful being British and being able to use such fraises?
Well that is it for now. See you soon and please keep letting us know how we are doing? Please?
Love,
Meisalliam and Shell
