Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is J.R.R Tolkien's.
Author's Notes:
I'm writing…very SLOWLY…Please read and review if you want a longer chapter. Yay! At least Legolas is here! Oh and someone answer my question below…
Sirnonenath: Ok, I confess. I make all the Elven names up cos I don't know enough Elvish!!! Although Herendil was mean to be a form of Earendil or something like that. Hey what does Earendil mean? I thought it was a star but I'm not sure.
Idy imladris: Thank you for reviewing. I offer my sincerest condolences for the loss of your beloved cat. I hope that you will feel better soon.
FrodoBaggins87: Thanks for reviewing, haven't seen you around in a while. You were the first to review chapter 2!
A few days before…Legolas' thoughts are in italics.
Legolas was sleeping fitfully, a nightmare plaguing him.
**Dream**
Herendil is kneeling beside a creek, refilling his water bottle. Suddenly, a blade is pointed at his throat. Herendil is outnumbered and surrounded by a group of orcs, the same orcs that killed Ruthiun.
"Now, Mister Elf, we only want some answers from you. If you do the right thing and tell us where the Prince of Mirkwood is, we'll let you go," the orc sneered.
"No," Herendil said.
The knife inched ever closer to Herendil's throat and nicked it, causing the blood to run down onto his white collar.
"I don't think you are being very smart, eh little one? It wasn't a request…its an order," the orcs said forcefully. He yanked Herendil's hair to get his point across.
"I will never tell you. I do not have to answer to your orders," Herendil responded unflinchingly.
The orc then smiled and stabbed Herendil swiftly in the shoulder. The orcs twisted the blade with a sick delight although Herendil did not make a sound.
"Tell me and I'll end your suffering faster," the orc offered.
"Never," Herendil gritted his teeth.
The orc raised his sword…
**End Dream**
"Herendil…please…" Legolas mumbled in his sleep, he tossed and turned. Sweat was soaking his sheets. His hair was plastered to his forehead. "HERENDIL! STOP! NO, HELP!" he yelled.
Elrond had been alerted by Legolas' cries. A group of warriors entered, behind Elrond, drawing their swords. The sounds of metal scraping metal woke Legolas. Elrond was standing there, looking for danger. The Elven Lord then remembered Legolas had bad nightmares. Elrond moved to comfort Legolas in Herendil's absence but Legolas backed away from him. Legolas' eyes were wide in fear, transfixed on the swords that had been drawn. With a quick signal, Elrond told the warriors to put their weapons away.
"Legolas, they won't hurt you," Elrond reassured, "we thought that Her- someone was hurting you." Elrond had quickly covered up his slip of tongue. Legolas' voice was so urgent and full of fear, everyone had feared the worst. They all thought that Herendil may have come back to hurt him – after all, he was the child's master, wasn't he?
Legolas did not say anything, he just pulled the sheets up to hide his face.
"Do you want to talk about your bad dream?" Elrond asked. The Elven Lord did not move toward the younger elf because he did not want to startle him. "Legolas?"
Legolas shook his head. It was just a dream, wasn't it? You wouldn't understand.
Elrond could see the doubt flit across Legolas' features. "Legolas, you can trust me. I won't tell anyone else."
Legolas shook his head again. "You can't help me," he said softly. No one can.
"If you don't tell me then how can I try to help you?" Elrond said patiently. "I will keep it a secret if you want. Just try. I will try to understand."
The young elfling looked at the warriors still in the room. Elrond understood his message.
"Thank you, please return to your posts," Elrond dismissed.
When the warriors had gone, Elrond gave the child an encouraging nod.
"I don't know where to start," Legolas said shyly.
"Tell me who was in your dream and what was it about," Elrond suggested.
Legolas started hesitantly, "I had a bad dream about Herendil. He was…um…he was being attacked by orcs because they wanted to know something about…" Legolas now realised he couldn't tell Elrond about him being a prince. I can't let him know about what happened. He'll try to send me home. "Ruthiun," Legolas lied. I don't want to lie to an Elven Lord but it's better than the truth. "When Herendil refused to give them what they wanted…they…killed him," Legolas finished.
Elrond raised his eyebrows, he could see that Legolas wasn't telling him something. "Is there anything else that troubles you? I need to know the truth." With this he looked at Legolas in the eye.
Ashamed but not knowing what to do Legolas looked down at the bedcover and started to fiddle with his tunic. "It is the truth," Legolas aid unconvincingly. Well, partially. I can't tell you. You can't know too much about me. You'll find out about me…the real me. You suspect that something is wrong.
Elrond was disappointed but he gave Legolas some advice, "Herendil is a warrior, he can take care of himself. He will be safe. This is only just a dream, it does not mean that it will happen. Herendil will come back." For you, Elrond mentally added. He had a feeling that this dream was not only about Herendil's safety but Legolas worrying about Herendil not coming back.
It had been the right thing to say. Legolas visibly relaxed, his shoulders were less taut and he leaned back against the bedstead.
"Do you feel better now?" Elrond asked kindly.
"Yes," Legolas said. No, I don't but you can't help me with my other worries.
Elrond knew that Legolas was not all better. He felt a little better, but something was still troubling him. "Do you want to tell me anything else?"
How can I tell you that I wish my father - don' t think about it. I want to tell you so you can help me. I want to cry so I can feel better. I want…father but he'll never love me. You can't give me what I want. Legolas shook his head sadly.
Elrond could see that Legolas wanted to tell him, but something was stopping him. Did someone threaten him not to tell? Or was it something more complicated than that? Elrond slowly reached for Legolas' hand, looking into the younger elf's eyes so that Legolas could see that he wasn't lying. "I will always listen to your problems, no matter how small. You can tell me whenever you want to, I will always try to help you, Legolas. I care for you as if you are my own son."
Legolas was grateful for Elrond's affection but it stirred up the hurts in his heart. Nay, but you cannot love me like my real father. You cannot give me what I desire most. "Thank you," Legolas whispered but he offered no more. I cannot tell you. I don't deserve to be cared for like a son. I am too weak. Tears sprang to his eyes but he forced them away. I won't cry.
"Do you want something to help you sleep? You need some rest, you look worn out." Elrond said. "It will put you in a healing sleep. You won't have any dreams."
Legolas thought for a while. I guess it wouldn't harm to try this thing. After all, Elrond is the best healer in the whole of Arda [Middle-Earth] isn't he? The elfling then nodded.
"I will go and get the healing draught. Will you be fine by yourself for a few minutes?" Elrond asked.
Legolas gave a tiny nod and waited for Elrond to return. When the Elven did come back he was holding a purple vial. Legolas gave the vial a mistrusting look.
"It will taste better than it looks," Elrond assured.
It looks like poison. Legolas did not reach for the vial even though he was afraid of offending Elrond. What if he knows about my father and he is trying to kill me? What if, my father sent him a message to – No, he wouldn't have wanted anyone to know his secret. Legolas was feeling very paranoid.
"It's not going to kill you. It's a healing draught, not poison. You have to trust me. I'm a healer," Elrond persuaded.
Reluctantly, Legolas took the vial and eyed it before tipping it down his throat. His eyes blurred and Elrond went out of focus.
The last thing he remembered was Elrond caressing his hand before saying in a soft voice, "Sleep well."
Before he left, Elrond tucked the covers up to Legolas' chin as he would his own sons. Tenderly kissing the elfling's forehead, Elrond closed the door quietly behind him
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