Chapter 83: Banished
Legolas was having some fun, as when ever his father limped Legolas thought Thranduil was just making him go up and down, which did amuse Legolas.
When they arrived back at the palace, Thranduil collapsed to the floor just outside, the pain in his leg finally affecting him to a maximum. Thranduil still held to Legolas closely, and Haldir shoved the guards aside and ran to the fallen king.
"Lord Thranduil! Your hurt!" Haldir said, bending down to try an help the king but was slapped across his face as Thranduil stood up, shaking as he did so. Thranduil this time could not carry Legolas, but the elfling held his father's leg tightly, luckily for Thranduil not the bitten leg.
"Legolas!" Haldir gasped, bending down to see the elfling, but being grabbed by his hair and pulled back up.
"You lost Legolas. I am so lucky to have found him. Legolas was attacked by wolves."
"I am so sorry my lord. May I just speak to Legolas, just, to say good bye?"
"No. After what you have caused, would you even think I would allow you to go near my precious baby son?"
"I is not a baby Ada."
"No sire, I suppose you would not."
"Get out of my woods. You are banished from Northern Mirkwood Haldir of lorien. Never do I want to see you in the borders of northern Mirkwood again. And if I ever catch you with my son, then you will pay Haldir." Thranduil said, then suddenly fell to the floor, clutching his leg in pain.
"Lord Thranduil!" Haldir yelped, sitting down beside the king. He knew he would just be told to leave, but Legolas was on the verge of tears and his father's leg was not helping.
"Let me help you to the palace." Haldir whispered, but Thranduil pushing the March warden back.
"Haldir, I am fine. I was bitten is all."
"You are not nearly fine!"
Thranduil grabbed Haldir by his cloak and pulled him down beside him.
"If you think I cannot harm you because I am currently weakened by my foot, then you are mistaken. I can cause as much harm as I could on my feet." Thranduil snapped, pulling out one of his blades and putting it against Haldir's throat.
"Leave now, or I will cut your throat as I did to the wolves." Thranduil sneered. Legolas had enough. For one thing, no one was listening to the elfling, another, Legolas loved Haldir dearly and did not want him harmed. Thranduil was not usually this cruel, but when the life of his elfling was involved, Thranduil would be much angrier than ever before. Haldir's cloak was released and Haldir backed away, but Legolas burst into tears, and Thranduil dropped his knife and took his elfling into his arms. Haldir was about to approach Legolas and Thranduil to see what was the matter, but Thranduil glared at him and Haldir turned and began to walk home (not having a horse to ride on).
"HALDIW! STOP! COME BACK!" Legolas screamed, Thranduil not being able to do anything.
"I cannot little blue leaf," Haldir began. Thranduil was curious of this name. "Your father does not wish for me to stay, and I will obey his orders."
"Will you come back?"
"No, I will not be coming back, I am sorry."
"Will Las go visit Hal then?"
"No, Las cannot come visit me."
"Why?"
"By your father's orders, I will never see you again. I am so sorry Legolas."
Legolas began to cry again, but when Thranduil tried to comfort him Legolas got up and ran as fast as he could over to Haldir, and grabbed the March Warden's leg. Legolas hung onto Haldir's foot, and Haldir could barely move.
Thranduil crawled carefully to the two, and wrapped his arms around Legolas' waist and pulled.
"Legolas, my baby, let go. Lets not start things badly." Thranduil whispered to his child, who refused to let go despite Thranduil's gentle yet strong yanks.
"No!"
"And why not?"
Haldir watched this, and he knew Thranduil would win this fight. After all, Legolas was little and was not independent and would have to listen to his elders, In this case Thranduil. Haldir would miss the child so much, and miss the palace and king Thranduil (though getting away from Thranduil at the moment would please Haldir).
"Cause Haldiw is the best baby-sitter ever and I never want him to leave. And if you make Haldiw go away I will follow Haldiw. You hurt Haldiw ada and you where very mean to him. See, I can feel Haldiw shaking! He is scared ada. When I am scared you rock me in your arms and sing to me, why is it different with Haldiw? Haldiw made me really happy while you was gone and made me forget how much I missed you." Legolas sniffed, looking up at his father with his fair blue eyes pleadingly.
Thranduil gave a final tug and Legolas fell into his arms.
Haldir backed up a bit, but Thranduil beckoned him back, and Haldir sat in front of Thranduil.
"Yes my lord?"
Thranduil put a hand out and gently touched Haldir's cheek, just below his eye. Haldir stiffened, but eventually settled.
"You truly kept Legolas happy? And forget how much he missed me?"
"Yes my lord. I tried to keep Legolas as amused as possible... and probably will have scars for the rest of my immortal life to prove it."
"Ada, can he stay? Please?"
"Haldir, would you care to stay for another three days? For Legolas' sake, after all, and since we have yet to discuss what has gone on whilst I was away."
"If it is alright with you, Legolas, Tonus and Cield, then I suppose I would stay."
"Then it is settled! Haldir, you are no longer banished from Mirkwood, and I beg of you to forgive me for beating you earlier. And perhaps scaring you."
"I forgive you, my lord."
"You may call me Thranduil, Haldir. You seem dear to Legolas, and therefore you may call me Thranduil, or what you wish. After all, you did find my little Greenleaf when he was lost in Lorien, and perhaps I would never had found him if it where not for thou!" Thranduil smiled. Legolas did not seem quite pleased, as Thranduil would have hoped.
"Ada! You can't make Haldiw not scared if you don't rock him in you're arms and sing!" Legolas protested. Thranduil sighed and once again beckoned the March warden forward.
"This may be a little odd though Legolas. Haldir is a fully grown man and you are just a wee elfling!"
"Ada..."
Thranduil and Haldir both sighed, and then smiled. Thranduil took Haldir by his shoulders and held him in his arms, Haldir and Thranduil terribly uncomfortable.
"Legolas, you realize I am too heavy for your father to carry."
"That's cause you're fat!"
Thranduil shot a glance at Legolas.
"But Legolas, Haldir has a point. He is very heavy."
"Ya but Ada, you have to make him not scared!"
"Alright then Legolas..." Thranduil sighed as Haldir gave a laugh.
"Listen to the elfling." Haldir smiled.
As Thranduil began to rock Haldir in his arms and was about to sing as Legolas commanded, Legolas stopped it.
"Wait for me!" Legolas yelped, jumping onto Haldir's stomach and lying down, now being rocked slowly with Haldir.
"Tinuviel elvanui
Elleth alfirin edhelhael
O hon ring finnil fuinui
A renc gelebrin thiliol..."
Thranduil sang, pleasing Legolas and Haldir not really giving a damn, but still quite fascinated by Thranduil's beautiful voice he had never heard before.
"Haldir, would you care to aid me and Legolas into the palace? I fear my leg has given up on me."
Haldir nodded and gently placed Legolas to his side as he slid his arms beneath those of Thranduil and carefully raised the king to his feet, always holding him tightly. Eventually, two guards where helping their king, and Haldir was left to bringing Legolas safely inside.
Haldir took Legolas into his arms as he entered the house. Haldir removed Legolas' snow clothes (and Legolas removed Haldir's snow clothes), and brought Legolas to his bedroom.
"Can you fix me Haldiw?"
"Ehhh?" Haldir asked.
"My bum hurts cause I sat outside too long and now its cold."
"I think your father would rather do that. Did he not tell you he was going to?"
"Yea but... my bum is cold!"
"Then snuggle up in bed."
Legolas crawled into his bed and waited for Haldir to tuck him in.
"TUCK!"
Haldir smiled and wrapped the blankets around Legolas, who smiled. Haldir sat beside Legolas as the two waited for Thranduil.
To be Continued...
By the way, the song Thranduil sang translates like this:
Tinuviel [the] elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast [her] night-dark hair,
And arms [like] silver glimmering...