Airëlus sat in silence at his desk, resting his head in his hands. He could only imagine what was happening with his father and brother. A large part of him had wanted to go to Calaen with Thranduil, but he knew that it was better if the two were alone. He had accepted that, but the waiting was awful.
Just as he was considering wandering down to his brother's room to see if he could find out anything, the door opened. He snapped his head around quickly, hoping that he would see Thranduil or Calaen. But he saw neither of them. He quickly concealed the disappointment on his face as Legolas came in.
"Hello," the Elfling said quietly.
Airëlus sighed, and went back to staring at the wall. "Now is not a good time. I am sorry, but-
"Goodbye then." Legolas turned away and went back to the door, blinking back tears. He still had not recovered from the shock that Calaen's accusations had brought about, and all he wanted was someone who he knew loved him to hold him close.
The Crown Prince winced at the dejection in his little brother's vice, and immediately felt ashamed that he had thought to turn him away. "Legolas, I'm sorry."
"Doesn't matter." The Elfling reached up to open the door again. "I can go and talk to my toy soldiers."
Airëlus jumped up and quickly ran over to the child. He put a hand on his shoulder, and gently turned him. "No, you do not have to… By the Valar, what happened to your face?"
"I fell," Legolas whispered, tears filling his eyes.
"Greenleaf, what are you like?" Airëlus shook his head as he lifted the Elfling into his arms, and went to sit back down. "Now, how did you fall? Were you running too fast again?"
"I… Yes," Legolas said softly.
Airëlus looked at the red mark for a moment, and then let his gaze travel back to his brother's eyes. "Where did you fall?"
"The library," Legolas replied. "I was running, and I ran into a bookcase, and…and that was what made me fall."
"Hmm…" Airëlus was not sure whether to believe the story or not. "You really should be more careful. One of these days you could seriously hurt yourself or someone else. And, whose fault would that be?"
"Mine," Legolas whispered. Fresh tears filled his eyes, and he jumped off his brother's lap and down to the ground. "I…I want to go now."
Airëlus watched in bewilderment, unaware of the effect that his words had had. Legolas ran to the door and tried hard to open it, but couldn't. His eyes were blurred, and hysteria was rising. Making a noise of anger, he slammed a fist against one of the oak panels, and stamped a foot on the floor in frustration.
"What are you-?"
"I want to go!" Legolas shouted. "I want to go, but I can't open the door! It's not working properly."
Airëlus stood, and went across to his little brother. Resting a hand on the door handle, he shook his head slightly. "You were pulling it the wrong way. It turns to the left, not the right."
"I know, but it wasn't my fault!" the Elfling snapped, unable to keep the petulance from his voice. "It wasn't my fault, Airëlus! I haven't done anything! I just…I just want to go."
"Calm yourself," the Crown Prince said sharply. "You are becoming hysterical, and I do not wish to have a temperamental Elfling on my hands today. Now, I will open the door for you, and then you are to go to your own room so that you can have some time alone to calm down."
"Yes Airëlus," Legolas muttered.
The door opened, and before it was even open half way, the little Prince darted through, and ran up the corridor. His vision was blurred by tears, and it was a miracle that he did not trip. But as he rounded the corner, he bumped into somebody coming from the other direction, and fell to the ground.
"Legolas, what have I told you about running in the palace?" Thranduil sighed, as he reached down and helped the child up.
"I know!" Legolas snapped, hitting his father's hand away.
The Elven-king was stunned for a moment, but then he merely shot his son a cold look, and continued on down the corridor. Like Airëlus, he did not want to deal with Legolas' bad mood today. He had much more important things to think about. But, perhaps if he had known the reason behind his youngest son's upset, he would have been more concerned.
"We should talk to him later," Airëlus said from his doorway. "We cannot let this latest tribulation distance us from Legolas."
"I know," Thranduil replied. "I did not mean to ignore him like that, but…" He trailed off, and nodded towards his eldest son's room. "Let us go in there."
"How did he take it?" Airëlus asked softly.
The Elven-king smiled vaguely as he shut the door. "Calaen? Oh, he was alright."
"Alright? But he… Sorry, did I hear you correctly?" Airëlus sounded amazed. "How could he hear something like that and be 'alright' about it? Valar, if it was me, I would-
"He already knew," Thranduil cut in.
Airëlus looked up sharply, and shook his head. "No," he whispered. "He could not know. But…but how?"
"When I told you this morning, he was standing outside the study, listening to everything," Thranduil replied. "He knew before I could tell him myself."
The Crown Prince sank down onto the edge of his bed, and rested his head in his hands. "That must have hurt him so much," he breathed. He felt his heart aching for his younger brother. "Calaen, why that way?"
"Yes, it hurt him," Thranduil said, sitting beside Airëlus, and touching a hand to his shoulder. "He told me that he had been confused at first, and afraid. I think that it would have carried on that way, if we had not spoken. Fear not for him."
"I must go and see him," Airëlus said. "I wanted to go with you to tell him, but I thought it best to leave you two alone."
"Of course," Thranduil replied. He smiled, and got to his feet. "Come, then. I am going that way anyway. I will see Legolas, and make sure that he is alright."
Airëlus winced as they left his room. "Will you tell him that I am sorry? He will understand what you mean."
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Thranduil asked.
"I snapped at him. I did not mean to, but I was just so worried about what might be happening with you and Calaen. I was very sharp with him," Airëlus sighed. "It was not his fault."
"Do not worry. I will be sure to tell him," Thranduil said.
The Crown Prince nodded his thanks as they came to a half outside Calaen's room. "Alright. I will see you later, then."
"No doubt you will," the Elven-king replied. He smiled at his eldest son, before continuing down the corridor to see Legolas.
Airëlus watched his father out of sight, and as he did so, he wondered vaguely at that fact that his family had come so far. He had not expected them to get through Findilan's death, yet every single one of them had done. And this latest matter…he had thought this morning that it would put even more strain on them all, but from what Thranduil had told him, clearly that was not going to happen.
Shaking himself mentally, the Crown Prince knocked gently on the door, but found that he could not wait for an answer. He pushed it open, and smiled at the scene inside: Calaen was kneeling on the floor, picking up bits of paper and books that had obviously been thrown around. He looked up at his brother, but he did not say anything.
"Cal, you know?" Airëlus said softly.
"Yes, I know. I had to find out sooner or later," Calaen replied. He stood, and threw the books he had collected onto the bed. "I was shocked at first, but I am fine now."
Airëlus stepped forwards, and pulled his brother into a tight embrace. "It is something that should never have happened. You should not have had to find out in such a way."
"No, I shouldn't," Calaen agreed. "But it made things easier for Ada."
"I do not think so." Airëlus sighed, and pulled away from the embrace. "I think that it hurt him even more than telling you himself would have. But what about you? Are you really fine, as you say?"
"Yes, I am. I would not be, had Ada not spoken to me," Calaen replied. "But he did, and he gave me the reassurance that I had needed all along."
Airëlus nodded slowly. "Cal, do you know how much we love you?"
"I have heard this already," the dark haired Elf said. "Ada told me when I spoke to him."
"Do you mind hearing it again?"
"Do I have much choice?"
"No."
"Well, then…"
Airëlus smiled, and touched a hand to the other Elf's shoulder. "You should not need to hear it, because you should know it already. But I still want to tell you that you are so special, to all of us. We all love you more than you can know, and I am so proud to be able to call you my little brother."
"Less of the 'little'. I am not that much younger than you," Calaen said.
"That does not matter. You are still my little brother," Airëlus replied.
The dark haired Elf laughed softly. "Thank you. Thank you for being here. This conversation – with you and the one that I had with Ada – have made me realise how lucky I am to have you both."
"And Legolas," Airëlus said. "You have him also."
Calaen nodded, but inside he was fuming. The little brat wasn't even in the room, but still he managed to ruin the moment. "Yes, how could I forget Legolas?" he asked softly. He paused, and glanced towards the door. "If you don't mind, Airëlus, I think I would like to go outside for a while."
"Of course," the Crown Prince replied. "Do you want me to finish tidying for you?"
"You do not have to. But if you really wish to spend your day cleaning up my mess, then who am I to stop you?" Calaen asked.
"Do not get used to it. I will not be doing this every time your room is transformed into a battle ground," Airëlus said. "Go on, then. I will see you later."
"No doubt you will," Calaen replied.
The Crown Prince looked up, and smiled at his younger brother. 'You are more like Ada than you know,' he thought.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Thranduil softly pushed open the door to his youngest son's room, and what he saw in there upset him greatly. Legolas lay on the bed, sobbing into his pillows. His small body shook uncontrollably, and the way he cried would have been enough to play games with even the most stoic and emotionless beings, if they were to see him.
"Legolas…"
The Elfling looked up, and wiped away some tears. More came to replace them, though. "Ada, I…"
Thranduil went forwards quickly as Legolas broke down again. Sitting on the bed and pulling his son into his arms, he said softly, "What is it? What has upset you so?"
Legolas buried his face into his father's chest, and closed his eyes tightly. He could not tell him what Calaen had said. For a start, he did not want anybody to know such a horrible thing about him. And besides, if he was to reveal that such a thing had been said, then that would be disloyalty to his brother.
The Elven-king was desperate to know what had upset his child, but he understood that Legolas needed some time to be comforted, without being bombarded with questions. So he remained quiet, stroking the Elfling's hair, and occasionally murmuring soothing Elvish words. He hoped that his son would stop crying soon – it hurt, seeing him in such a state.
When his sobs had subsided slightly, Legolas looked up. "I haven't been a very good Elfling today," he sniffed. "First of all I interrupted you when you were talking to Calaen and Airëlus; and then I threw the medicine cloth onto your papers and got them wet; and then I wasn't very nice to you when I was coming down the corridor. I know that I have made you angry today, but…"
"But what?" Thranduil asked gently.
"But please don't shout at me. Please don't be angry," Legolas whispered. "I just want you to…" He buried his face again. "I just want you to hold me."
Thranduil automatically tightened the hold that he already had on his child. "I am not angry with you. But is that all that upset you? Why should it?"
"Would you love me even if I was the most horrible Elfling in the whole of Middle Earth?" Legolas asked quietly.
"What sort of a question is that? Of course I would – you are my son," Thranduil replied, wondering where the conversation was going.
"Would you love me whatever I did?" Legolas pressed.
The Elven-king put both hands on the Prince's shoulders, and moved him back a little. "What have you done now?"
"Would you?"
"Legolas, what have you done?"
"Would you love me?"
Thranduil closed his eyes, and shook his head slightly. "It seems that all I have said today are those three words. Yes, I love you, Legolas. I also love Airëlus, and I also love Calaen. Is there something you see which suggests that I do not? Do you also doubt my love for you?"
The Prince lowered his eyes – he had not meant for this to happen. "No, I don't. But will you tell me something?"
"Go on," Thranduil sighed.
"Would you love me if…?" The child trailed off at the look on his father's face. But he had to know. "Would you love me if I killed someone?"
The Elven-king's eyes snapped up in surprise. "If you killed…? Oh, I see. Legolas, how many times have I told you that stepping on an insect is not something that you should get yourself worked up over?"
"I'm not talking about an insect," the Elfling said softly. "I'm talking about a real person."
"Do you want to tell me what is going on?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas lowered his eyes, and sighed deeply. "I was just wondering, that's all."
"Were you really?"
"Yes. Ada, you don't think that I've killed someone, do you?" Legolas asked.
"Of course not." The Elven-king sighed, and shook his head. "I will never understand the way that children's minds work. Really, I never thought that I would be asked such a question by you."
Legolas nodded briefly. "Hmm."
"Are you alright now?" Thranduil asked seriously. "No more tears?"
"No more tears," the Elfling said quietly.
"Good. Why don't you go and play, then?" The King glanced across to the side of the room where some of his son's toys lay in a heap. Dust already was beginning to gather on them. "Your soldiers are looking a bit neglected. You could take them outside."
"They don't like the sun," Legolas said flatly.
"Do they not?"
"No. It is too bright for them."
"I see. But then, how do they fight?" Thranduil asked. "They cannot let the sunlight get in the way of battle."
Legolas shrugged as he went over and began sorting through his toys. "They only fight inside, where the sun can't get them."
"That would explain why your room always resembles a battlefield," Thranduil said.
"Yes. I don't want to play with soldiers anyway. Not today. I am going to draw some pictures instead," Legolas informed his father. "I haven't done that for a long time. I have neglected my…my…"
"Artistic talents?" Thranduil offered.
"Yes."
The Elven-king laughed as he opened the door. "Very well. I look forward to seeing what new masterpieces you create today."
Legolas smiled, but as soon as the door closed, and he was once again left alone, it faded. He leaned against the wall, and sighed deeply. His question had been unanswered. Or rather, avoided. Had Thranduil done it on purpose? The Elfling didn't know. He closed his eyes; a single tear fell.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Pippin the hobbit-elf: Um, I'm not sure! I think that whatever you do will be fine! I'll send you an e-mail about it. I know I said that last time, but I've had so little time on the computer this week, its not even funny!
Utsuri: Wow, you got to be Santa? That's cool! Yeah, there is a literary term for it, and I've been trying to think of it for ages, but I can't! My English lecturer at college would freak out!
IwishChan: He is a nice father, isn't he?!
Coolio02: I think that at this point, Cal is past saving. Which is kinda sad. Poor him! :(
Elven Kitten: I'm sorry, I don't mean to! At least if you end up going crazy, then you'll know whose fault it is!
Kelsey Estel: I saw ROTK EE the day it came out. It's so good! But don't worry, there's only a few more days until Xmas!
Legolas-gurl88: Wow, that was a really nice simile. Or is it a metaphor. I can't remember which is which, which is stupid, because that's what we've been doing in English lectures. Do you know that I wrote the word 'which' three times in that sentence?! Amusing!!!
Lombadia Greenleaf: Yes, ROTK EE was brilliant! And yeah, there is a scene with Legolas and Gimli and ale. You'll laugh so much, guaranteed!
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Wasn't it brilliant?! I cried at the part where Eomer finds Eowyn's body. I thought that was just so sad!
Halimanya: Thank you for the praise! Yay, you didn't cry! Good, because I don't like being guilty of that!
Irish Anor: Calaen doesn't want to do anything over Christmas, and he's going to a party on New Year's Eve, so that's out. Its gonna have to be some time in January, I think.
Well, I have some news. I've written chapter 34 and 35, I'm in the middle of writing chapter 36, and then there's just one more after that. But I'll put 34 and 35 up tomorrow, and if the last 2 chapters are finished, then they'll be up on Friday. And I worked out earlier that I've been writing this whole storyline since early February. How scary is that?! See you tomorrow!
Misto
x-x