Chapter Ten
Morning found Elrond sooner than he had expected. His waking was slow, but once his elvish dreams had left him, he rolled over and placed an arm around Celebrian. He put his face in her hair and breathed in her scent. She sighed contently before wrapping her fingers through Elrond's hand and whispering, "We should join the royal family for morning meal."
"Or we could stay in bed all day…" Elrond smiled as Celebrian's chuckle reached his ear. He loved the way she laughed.
"And leave Thranduil at the mercy of our sons?" Celebrian rolled over so they were face to face. "That is cruel, love."
"He will have Glorfindel," Elrond tried, smiling now.
"Even crueler." The two chuckled and kissed before getting up and making their way to the dinning hall. They found that they were among the first to arrive. Thranduil and Kelderas sat in silence, both looking irritated. Luthin had just joined and was receiving his meal.
"It is a beautiful day in Mirkwood," Elrond said as he sat down. He eyed Thranduil and the king sighed and nodded his head.
"Indeed," he answered, showing his gratitude for the praise of his land through his eyes.
"Ada!" Idrial's frightened voice made all of the heads in the room turn to look at her. She looked upset and frazzled. "Legolas was not in his room this morning!"
Alarm and fear coursed across Thranduil's face. An assortment of unpleasant thoughts infiltrated his mind as he tried to figure where his youngest could be. It was an odd thing for Legolas to not be in his room. He was normally up first thing in the morning, singing quietly to the trees from his window. Thranduil made to rise from his seat when the door opened again, revealing two golden haired elves.
"He is here," Glorfindel said, giving a small, loving tug on Legolas's hand, which he held in his own. Elrond smiled when he saw the gleam in Legolas' eyes. Something had happened, Elrond decided. He would have to speak to Glorfindel to find out what though. He didn't want to touch on any sore subjects just yet.
Idrial scooped Legolas into her arms and hugged him roughly to her chest. "Don't do that," she whispered to him, petting his head as he laid it on her shoulder. Legolas, confused by the action, let her have her way. Idrial didn't say anything as she walked to the table and sat Legolas in the chair next to hers. Glorfindel came around to sit next to Elrond. He glanced at the elf lord and gave him a very genuine smile. Something had indeed happened.
The twins decided on that moment to come in. They were bickering rather childishly and Elrond cleared his throat. They turned similar glares to him and then at the same time seemed to realize where they were. They had the decency to blush and bow to Thranduil before they sat down. Celebrian straightened a bit of Elrohir's hair before he swatted her hand away.
"Ada," Legolas spoke up. The small voice was rather surprising to hear. Thranduil looked upon his youngest son and couldn't help but notice that Legolas' glow was slightly warmer than it had been in recent days. He ignored the urge to look at Glorfindel, knowing full well that the elf warrior had something to do with his son's small, though noticeable, happiness.
"Yes?" Thranduil said, watching as Legolas pushed around his food with his fork.
"May I watch Glorfindel practice archery today?" He asked. Thranduil looked at Glorfindel, but the elf warrior didn't look at him, instead, he was smiling at his son. Thranduil looked back to Legolas and then noticed the untouched meal.
"If you finish your meal, you may," He said and was dishearten to see the look of disgust and frustration that formed across Legolas' face. The youngling put two spoonfuls into his mouth before setting his spoon down.
"I am done," he announced.
Thranduil, knowing he would get nowhere, nodded. Legolas turned to look at Glorfindel, who was still eating. Glorfindel, seeing a chance to help out Thranduil, licked his lips. "I am almost done," he said. "It is custom for skilled archers to eat as much as they can." Legolas looked alarmed suddenly and looked back down at his bowl. He instantly put the spoon into his meal and took another bite. Thranduil looked at Glorfindel with appreciation in his eyes.
"Luthin, today is the day you'll find out who will go on to training, is it not?" Kelderas asked as he pushed the bowl in front of him away. Luthin, who had been sitting quietly looked up at his brother.
"Indeed," he answered. Elrond almost snorted at the answer. Thranduil's sons seemed to pick up the traits of avoiding conversations.
"When do you think you'll know?" Idrial asked.
Luthin shrugged. "About midday I'd guess," he sighed. "I've heard the mentors are having trouble deciding upon who should go."
Kelderas nodded. "Yes, they are," he agreed. "We need more warriors than what they have been letting through. They have been talking about lowering the expectations a bit to allow for greater numbers."
"Not too much, I'd hope," Idrial commented. "We wouldn't want someone who is not ready to fight to move on."
Kelderas frowned. "Yes, but we also don't want to watch Mirkwood's army disappear into nothing."
Thranduil cleared his throat suddenly. "I do not think this is meal time conversation." And that was the end of that conversation. Elrond turned to look at Glorfindel. The elf warrior got the hint and pushed his bowl away from him.
"I am finished…"
Before the words could even leave his mouth, Legolas was out of his chair and looking towards his father for leave to go. Thranduil smiled slightly at the slight bouncing in Legolas' nature. Legolas hadn't gotten this excited about something for some time now. He reached out, grasped Legolas' shoulder and pulled him in. He kissed the top of Legolas' head and then smiled at him. "Have fun," he said and Legolas turned to wait for Glorfindel.
Glorfindel stood and, taking his time, walked towards the door. Legolas came along side him and grapsed his hand. The affection was not lost on Thranduil, whose smile grew larger. He turned to look at Elrond, who smiled back at him. It seemed that they were getting somewhere with the Mirkwood royal family.
Legolas watched with utter fascination as Glorfindel put arrow after arrow into the target in front of him. A small crowd of warriors in training now stood around him, watching with interest. A few mentors took the opportunity to comment on Glorfindel's technique and stance. When Glorfindel's quiver was spent, he turned and saw that Legolas was on his feet, mimicking the stance to the best of his ability.
Glorfindel walked over to him and began posing Legolas' body into the proper stance. "This is how to stand," he said. Legolas looked up at him with bemused gratefulness. "Concentrate on the target," Glorfindel whispered and Legolas looked back at the target, his eyes narrowing. "There is nothing else out there but you and the target. You can feel it speaking to you. Feel the bow in your hands and feel the arrow you possess control over. When you let go, the arrow will sing. It's a song of beauty and power. Let go of your arrow, Legolas."
Legolas' hands moved as if he had just released an arrow. He lowered his arms, but continued to stare at the target. Glorfindel watched him for a moment. Legolas seemed to be lost in his own world, seeing not the target as it was, but a different target. Perhaps the same target that Legolas always imagined hitting, the orcs who had killed his mother.
"Did you hit it?" Glorfindel inquired quietly.
"No," Legolas whispered. "It went to the right." Glorfindel laid a hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"Next time," Glorfindel whispered before letting the air of darkness leave him and he looked around. "Do you have lessons today, Legolas?"
The elfling stared for a moment longer at the target before looking up at Glorfindel. "No, my Ada cancelled them."
"Good," Glorfindel paused for a moment. "What will you do today instead?"
"Whatever you want to do," Legolas answered innocently and Glorfindel chuckled softly at the comment.
Glorfindel thought for a moment. "Do you have any friends your age, Legolas?"
Legolas looked up at him in silence for a moment, but then nodded. "I…" he stopped himself from saying something and Glorfindel caught the haunted look that ventured to his eyes. But as quickly as it came, Legolas shook it away. "Yes," he answered instead.
"Could we play with them?" Glorfindel prodded gently.
Legolas merely nodded before turning towards the town that surrounded the palace. Glorfindel followed and noticed that Legolas' pace was slow, as if he were trying to warm himself up to the idea of finding his friends. Glorfindel though about making Legolas stop and think of something else they could do, but decided that this would be the best thing at the moment. Glorfindel could only guess that Legolas hadn't spoken to his friends since before the death of his mother. Perhaps their company would help bring back the happy elfling Legolas used to be.
After walking for a short distance, they came upon three young elflings playing near a stream. Legolas stood still for a moment, watching them play. Glorfindel allowed him time to gather his courage. But Legolas's friends wouldn't allow for such time.
One of the elflings, a taller one with dark hair and pale skin, caught sight of Legolas and stood up from his place on the ground. A large smile instantly spread across his face and he called Legolas's name, drawing the attention of the other two elflings. One was a smaller elfling with blonde hair like Legolas', the other was an ellyth with brown hair.
The taller one, with dark hair, sped across the small space separating them and when he reached Legolas, he wrapped his arms around the smaller elfling and held him tightly. After a moment, he pulled back and held Legolas' shoulders. "I told them you'd come back," he said in a rather flushed voice. "I told them you wouldn't forget about us."
Legolas nodded, his eyes glazing slightly. He turned quickly to Glorfindel and the three elflings, who were now crowded around Legolas with grins on their faces turned to the elf lord as well. They all looked upon him with wonderment. Glorfindel smiled back.
"Glorfindel, these are my friends," Legolas pointed first to the taller dark haired elfling, "Daeron," next to the blonde elfling, "Saeros," and then to the ellyth, "and Nellas. Everyone, this is Lord Glorfindel of Rivendell."
Saeros and Nellas both looked on with wide eyes, but Daeron wasn't having it. "Are you here to take Legolas away?" At the comment, the other two elflings lost their amusement and glared at Glorfindel as if he were an enemy. Glorfindel smiled and kneeled down in front of them.
"No, I am not," he said, looking to Legolas, who was blushing quietly. "I am merely here to visit him."
"Because of his Nana?" Saeros asked. Nellas elbowed him in the ribs, but Saeros didn't seem to see the harm in the question.
Glorfindel looked at Legolas, who was now looking at him. "Partly," he answered. "But mostly because I wanted to meet him."
Legolas' eyes watered again, but he didn't let the tears fall over. Then, slightly, a smile came to his face. Glorfindel rubbed Legolas' arm gently and the small elfling turned back to his friends. "Sorry it has been so long," he said to them. "I…I just…"
"It doesn't matter," Daeron interrupted. "As long as you're here now." he smiled and patted Legolas on the shoulder. It was a very mature move and Glorfindel couldn't help but smile at the affection. "We were just playing trolls, do you want to play?"
Legolas went to nod, but then looked up at Glorfindel, remembering he had been escorting the elf lord around. Glorfindel chuckled. "Go ahead, I will wait here and watch."
"Won't you get bored?" Legolas asked.
"No," Glorfindel answered vehemently. "It is a beautiful day out and I will have nature to keep me company."
"Are you sure you aren't a wood elf, Lord Glorfindel?" Daeron asked.
"Quite sure," Glorfindel answered. "You wood elves are too complicated for me."
The joke seemed to amuse Daeron, but went over Saeros and Nellas' heads. Daeron wrapped an arm around Legolas' shoulder and guided him to the stream. Instantly, the four friends were playing. Glorfindel sat down on the ground, watching closely in case one of the elves touched a sore spot with Legolas. But, fortunately, the elflings had enough common sense to not be too violent or talk about orcs. And for the first time, Glorfindel was graced with something that Mirkwood had been missing since the death of her queen. Glorfindel heard the laughter of the youngest prince of Mirkwood.
Review Responses:
moonshine44: Yes, both Glorfindel and Legolas have such horrible nightmares. But, perhaps one day they'll get over them, or be able to conquer them. -)
daw the minstrel: Yes, Glorfindel can relate to Legolas very well with the nightmares. Legolas' family are all still healing from their own nightmares as well.
Lady-Meme: Yeah, the family bonding is fun to write. And I don't think the books had anything about Legolas' childhood, only that he was from the Woodland realm and the son of the Elf King.
Randa-Chan: I hope everything works out in the end too! Lol! Thank you for the kind words.
SilverWolf7: it is sad that both of them wake up with nightmares. But maybe once they both talk to someone about their nightmares, they'll be able to move on and put them aside.
kirsten: Thank you! I love little Legolas too. I wish more people would write about Legolas when he was a child. I'm not sure if I'm living up to the expectation I have of a young Legolas, but maybe once he's pass the grief of the death of his mother, I can start to play out with him a little more.
ElladanOrElrohir: I did find out how to do unsigned reviews. Thanks for the tip. -) Thanks for the reviews as well! I'm glad you're still liking the story.