Chapter 114: The march warden's family
Legolas chewed on Rumil's leg. Legolas liked Rumil's red leggings, since they where soft and a nice color.
"Hello there, Legolas..." Rumil looked down at the elfling. Legolas yelped and ran behind Haldir again. Tears ran down Legolas' face as he looked at Rumil from behind Haldir's leg.
"Did I do something wrong?" Rumil asked.
"Don't worry Rumil, Legolas is just shy."
"Then why is he not shy to talk to you?"
"Because I helped him when he was lost."
Rumil gave no reply, but looked at the elfling sympathetically.
"I did not mean to scare you, little one." Rumil was not used to speaking in such a sweet voice.
Legolas sniffed and looked up at Haldir. "Don't worry sweetie. If anything happens to you, I will be here. Rumil is very kind... when he feels like being kind. But he would never harm an elfling." Haldir whispered. Legolas trotted back over to Rumil, and walked around Rumil in circles.
While trying to watch the elfling, Rumil moved his foot slightly, but just slightly enough to step on Legolas' small little foot. Legolas yelped and then fell on his backside, tears swarming down his face. Rumil and Orophin gasped, and Rumil cursed himself as Haldir rushed down to Legolas who did not stop crying.
"Where are you hurt, cherub?"
Legolas was crying too much to answer.
Haldir brushed the hair from Legolas' face and wiped away the tears, though more fell. Haldir kissed the elfling's nose. "Where did Rumil hurt you?" Haldir asked.
"My... my... fo... foot..." Legolas sobbed. "Which one?"
"The- the- this one..." Legolas raised his right foot. Haldir removed Legolas' leggings so he could see the elfling's foot, which was particularly red where Rumil had stepped on.
"Is it broken Haldir?" Rumil asked, watching as his eldest brother touched the red skin on Legolas' foot. "No. But it hurts, I expect..." Haldir sighed pulling Legolas close to him and singing quietly to him. Rumil looked away, but Haldir could detect that Rumil felt horrid that he had just harmed the smallest son of the king. Haldir carried Legolas over to where Rumil stood, and once Haldir got Legolas to stop crying, handed Legolas to Rumil. The elfling looked up at Rumil with his blue eyes, and Rumil still felt mortified.
"I'm so sorry, little one."
Legolas continued to stare up at Rumil. "Rill." Legolas smiled at Rumil. "Is that my name?" Rumil asked. Legolas nodded his head and wrapped his arms around Rumil's neck. "Rill! Rill! Rill! Rill! Hal! Hal! Ha! Hal! Oatmeal! Oatmeal! Oatmeal! Oatmeal!" Legolas shrieked. "Hush Legolas! You will wake your father!" Haldir scolded softly.
"I am not asleep..." Thranduil smiled. He clutched his wooden staff, as he was using it to walk with, as the foot he could not use was serving no help.
"Thranduil, you should be in bed!" Haldir gasped. "What if your ribs puncture another lung?" Haldir said. "I am fine Haldir, I just came to see what was going on.
"Ada! Its Rill and Oatmeal! They came to see Haldiw!" Legolas giggled, making Rumil come close to Thranduil. Rumil did not like being so close to the elven king.
"Haldir, who are these two elves? You know them?"
"They are my brothers, Rumil and Orophin. They where afraid something had happened to me, so they came. Please do not send them to the dungeons, for they would not do any harm to your kingdom, though they entered the forest without permission." Haldir said, Rumil handing Legolas to Haldir as he and Orophin bowed to the king.
"Tis alright..." Thranduil smiled, before he was grabbed by his wrist by the head of the healers. Galion soon came up to Thranduil, frowning.
"You where not to leave bed Thranduil!" Galion snapped. The healer seemed just as angry. "Let me just say good bye to my son!" Thranduil wanted to push Galion away, but one hand was needed to hold the staff, the other held by the healer.
"Bye Ada." Legolas sighed, wishing his father's visit could have lasted longer. Legolas kissed Thranduil's cheek and the king in return kissed Legolas' nose and brow. Thranduil turned around, and returned to his bedroom where he received a long lecture and scolding from the head healer.
"What happened to the king?" Rumil asked.
"Nearly drowned and a bolder crushed his foot. His ribs where broken when Cield and Tonus tried to get his heart beating again, and then when Thranduil moved too much a rib punctured his lung. But thats all." Haldir said, covering Legolas' small ears as he said this. "Do not say any of that to Legolas, for he is too young to learn how injured his father is." Haldir whispered.
When Haldir removed his hands from Legolas' pointed ears, the elfling jumped down from Haldir's arms and grabbed Rumil and Orophin by their cloaks and pulled. "Come! I want to show you my room!" Legolas said. "Um..." Orophin looked at Haldir. "He wishes to show you two his room." Haldir said. "Oh, alright then... and Haldir?" Rumil looked at his brother. "Yes...?"
"You should really consider putting some clothing on, for not to many would like you walking around the palace in undergarments." Orophin sniggered. Legolas ran off with Rumil and Orophin as Haldir quickly went to the guest bedroom to change.
To be continued...