Disclaimer: Tolkien owns all.
Someone requested Legolas angst so here we go...
...............
Merry couldn't sleep. There was a root digging into his back. He squirmed around, trying to get comfortable. He thought about moving but was wedged in on either side by Pippin and Frodo and he didn't want to wake them. Trying to ignore the root, the young Hobbit lay on his back and tried to count the stars. That didn't work. He rolled onto his side and looked over Pippins shoulder at the rest of the Fellowship. Boromir, Gimli, Gandalf and Sam were all fast asleep. Legolas was standing on the edge of the campsite looking out into the gloom and Strider was sitting with his back to a tree, watching Legolas. Merry didn't know whose watch it was but they were both up. The Ranger got up and stood next to Legolas and Merry lay back. They began to talk and Merry shut his eyes, hoping their soft tones would lull him to sleep.
"You should get some sleep, Baby-elf." Merry opened his eyes in surprise. 'Baby-elf?' He couldn't see Legolas being very happy about that name. But to his surprise Legolas chuckled.
"Of all the names the twins have come up for me over the years, I could have lived happily if they'd never told you that one."
"I like it." Strider told him.
By this time Merry had rolled back over and was watching the conversation with interest. He saw Legolas turn his head slightly to face Strider.
"You would." The Elf turned back and continued to stare into the distance.
"Are you well?" Strider asked softly.
"As an elf I don't get ill so I assume you are referring to my mental health rather than physical. In answer to your question, I am well."
Strider shook his head gently. "Ah Baby-elf, but you have never been able to lie to me."
Legolas said nothing, instead he turned and walked a small way from the Ranger, turning his back on the man. Strider followed him round.
"I was rather hoping you'd forget." Legolas said, so softly that Merry almost missed it.
"Did you expect me to?"
"No, just hoping. It was a long time ago." Legolas wrapped his arms around himself and dropped his head. Merry was surprised at how defeated he looked.
"Twenty years to the day. Does the hurt fade with time?" Strider asked.
"No."
Strider sighed.
"Your brother loved you Legolas. Please tell me you know that." The Ranger said imploringly.
This caught Merry's interest; he didn't know Legolas had a brother.
"I know it. But..."
"I know."
"He left me Estel. When I needed him he left..." Legolas' voice cracked slightly and suddenly Merry felt bad about listening in. This was something Legolas would want no-one else to see but try as he might Merry could not tear his gaze away from the scene in front of him. He wanted to know what happened with Legolas' brother and why he left.
"You know why he left though. After your mother died the sea called to him. Would you deny him that?"
"Nay. I could deny him nothing. But... he left me alone in my grief"
"You could have followed him. You could have sailed West."
Now Legolas was shaking his head. "You know why I stayed, do you not?"
Strider nodded. "I would not hold you here. I would have you leave and be happy."
"I promised. I promised to stay and help you fulfil your destiny, remember?"
"I would not like to be the one that keeps you from your family."
Again Legolas shook his head. "You are not. I made that decision by myself. And besides, you are my family. When you die I will sail West and see my brother again, but for now, you are here and that is enough. I am happy."
Strider stepped up to Legolas and wrapped his arms round the Elf from behind. With a sigh Legolas tilted his head backwards so it was resting against Strider's.
"He asked me took look after you, you know?"
Legolas frowned. "Yes, that's something you both have in common. You both think me completely incapable of looking after myself."
Strider chuckled. "Not at all. You, Legolas Greenleaf, are one of the finest warriors I've ever met. But sometimes, after you've fought a thousand orcs and received a deadly wound, you need someone to carry you back to Rivendell. Besides, you look after me, do you not?"
"Aye, I do. But at least you need it, child."
"Not so much of a child now, Baby-elf."
Legolas sighed. "No."
"Do not grieve, Baby-elf. You will see your brother again. "
"Iston, Estel. Iston."
They stopped talking and Merry shut his eyes, thinking about all he had leant tonight. Silently Merry vowed that he would tell no-one of the conversation he had overheard, but somehow he felt better for hearing it. In a way he could not quite describe, Merry found he was suddenly a lot more convinced the quest would succeed. Next to him, Pippin rolled over in his sleep and instinctively snuggled closer to Merry's body heat. Gently stroking Pippin's curly hair, Merry finally drifted off to sleep.
.............
Iston- I know.
.............
Next chapter- something actually happens!
For anyone reading 'The breath of life' an update is coming.
Someone requested Legolas angst so here we go...
...............
Merry couldn't sleep. There was a root digging into his back. He squirmed around, trying to get comfortable. He thought about moving but was wedged in on either side by Pippin and Frodo and he didn't want to wake them. Trying to ignore the root, the young Hobbit lay on his back and tried to count the stars. That didn't work. He rolled onto his side and looked over Pippins shoulder at the rest of the Fellowship. Boromir, Gimli, Gandalf and Sam were all fast asleep. Legolas was standing on the edge of the campsite looking out into the gloom and Strider was sitting with his back to a tree, watching Legolas. Merry didn't know whose watch it was but they were both up. The Ranger got up and stood next to Legolas and Merry lay back. They began to talk and Merry shut his eyes, hoping their soft tones would lull him to sleep.
"You should get some sleep, Baby-elf." Merry opened his eyes in surprise. 'Baby-elf?' He couldn't see Legolas being very happy about that name. But to his surprise Legolas chuckled.
"Of all the names the twins have come up for me over the years, I could have lived happily if they'd never told you that one."
"I like it." Strider told him.
By this time Merry had rolled back over and was watching the conversation with interest. He saw Legolas turn his head slightly to face Strider.
"You would." The Elf turned back and continued to stare into the distance.
"Are you well?" Strider asked softly.
"As an elf I don't get ill so I assume you are referring to my mental health rather than physical. In answer to your question, I am well."
Strider shook his head gently. "Ah Baby-elf, but you have never been able to lie to me."
Legolas said nothing, instead he turned and walked a small way from the Ranger, turning his back on the man. Strider followed him round.
"I was rather hoping you'd forget." Legolas said, so softly that Merry almost missed it.
"Did you expect me to?"
"No, just hoping. It was a long time ago." Legolas wrapped his arms around himself and dropped his head. Merry was surprised at how defeated he looked.
"Twenty years to the day. Does the hurt fade with time?" Strider asked.
"No."
Strider sighed.
"Your brother loved you Legolas. Please tell me you know that." The Ranger said imploringly.
This caught Merry's interest; he didn't know Legolas had a brother.
"I know it. But..."
"I know."
"He left me Estel. When I needed him he left..." Legolas' voice cracked slightly and suddenly Merry felt bad about listening in. This was something Legolas would want no-one else to see but try as he might Merry could not tear his gaze away from the scene in front of him. He wanted to know what happened with Legolas' brother and why he left.
"You know why he left though. After your mother died the sea called to him. Would you deny him that?"
"Nay. I could deny him nothing. But... he left me alone in my grief"
"You could have followed him. You could have sailed West."
Now Legolas was shaking his head. "You know why I stayed, do you not?"
Strider nodded. "I would not hold you here. I would have you leave and be happy."
"I promised. I promised to stay and help you fulfil your destiny, remember?"
"I would not like to be the one that keeps you from your family."
Again Legolas shook his head. "You are not. I made that decision by myself. And besides, you are my family. When you die I will sail West and see my brother again, but for now, you are here and that is enough. I am happy."
Strider stepped up to Legolas and wrapped his arms round the Elf from behind. With a sigh Legolas tilted his head backwards so it was resting against Strider's.
"He asked me took look after you, you know?"
Legolas frowned. "Yes, that's something you both have in common. You both think me completely incapable of looking after myself."
Strider chuckled. "Not at all. You, Legolas Greenleaf, are one of the finest warriors I've ever met. But sometimes, after you've fought a thousand orcs and received a deadly wound, you need someone to carry you back to Rivendell. Besides, you look after me, do you not?"
"Aye, I do. But at least you need it, child."
"Not so much of a child now, Baby-elf."
Legolas sighed. "No."
"Do not grieve, Baby-elf. You will see your brother again. "
"Iston, Estel. Iston."
They stopped talking and Merry shut his eyes, thinking about all he had leant tonight. Silently Merry vowed that he would tell no-one of the conversation he had overheard, but somehow he felt better for hearing it. In a way he could not quite describe, Merry found he was suddenly a lot more convinced the quest would succeed. Next to him, Pippin rolled over in his sleep and instinctively snuggled closer to Merry's body heat. Gently stroking Pippin's curly hair, Merry finally drifted off to sleep.
.............
Iston- I know.
.............
Next chapter- something actually happens!
For anyone reading 'The breath of life' an update is coming.
