I can see that this fic is already off to a great start! All of the
favourable reviews have inspired me to begin writing right away.
On the West Wind Sails the Gull
By NekoMegami_chan
Nekomegami_chan@hotmail.com
Thranduil watched from the window of his tower guest rooms as King Elessar, Estel to the Elves and Aragorn to his friends entered the courtyard far below. The son of Oropher was not pleased. While he felt a grudging respect for the human king as a member of the Fellowship; the personal affairs of the Elves were not the concern of Men. For surely this was more than a courtly visit; as Elessar brought some thirty heavily armed guards and no baggage train.
Resigned to the mortal's presence in Rivendell, Thranduil turned from the window. Yet ere he could draw the heavy velvet curtains back into place he witnessed the arrival of a small party of dwarves.
"What scandal!" Thranduil shouted, turning away from the now covered window in disgust. "What outrage!"
Of all of Legolas' inappropriate relationships, it was his son's friendship with the dwarf that caused Thranduil the greatest displeasure. He had publicly denied the rumours for years and now the vile, stunted creature had mustered the audacity to appear at the prince's sickbed.
Such an affront was utterly intolerable!
Furious, Thranduil turned to glare about the well furnished apartment that had been given to him for the remainder of his stay in Imladris, searching for an object upon which to vent his wrath. The large, canopied bed was the first to come into his sight. It was decorated by a coverlet of green and gold embroidery and the dark wood of the four posts was carved into the image of gnarled trees. Tapestries depicting forest life during each of the four seasons hung from the walls. A gleaming vanity with a crystal wash basin stood in one corner, close enough that the fire from the hearth would warm the water and the clothes stored within its drawers. The room was truly lovely and despite his inclinations to do otherwise, Thranduil could not bring himself to destroy any of it.
Instead he buckled on his sword belt and unsheathed the weapon. Steadying his breathing, he began the precise drills he preformed every morning and night. He had always found the peace his hot temper would have him forsake within the rigorous confines of his chosen discipline. His mind became steady and pliant under the swift undulations of his body, loosing the unyielding binds he placed upon himself at all other times.
Once he had finished and regained control of his anger, Thranduil would seek out Elrond and request that the dwarves be sent away. He could not suggest that the Man be turned out, as the human was actually Elrond's son by marriage. However, he would demand that Legolas be removed to these rooms until recovered.
His plans firmly anchored, Thranduil slid his sword back into the scabbard and drew himself up to his full height. In moments he had left the rooms, his boot heels clicking ever so softly as he descended the spiral staircase.
* * *
Elrond greeted Aragorn and Gimli with a smile just outside the entrance to the Healing House. The Lord of Rivendell had been notified of their arrival only moments before as he had emerged, hoping that a brisk walk might sweep clear his cluttered thoughts. "Estel, welcome home. And Master Gimli, how fare you this day?"
Aragorn inclined his head respectfully but said nothing. Gimli bowed slightly though his eyes remained pointedly on the door behind Elrond. "Well enough, Lord Elrond. Yet it is Prince Legolas' health that is of interest to me."
"Aye, and to me," Aragorn spoke up.
Having anticipated this, Elrond stepped aside and held open the door but stopped them with a glance. "I have only just sent the twins to fetch breakfast and tea for us all and they will not be long. Also, be warned that Legolas is still weak; do not tire him overmuch with questions of his ordeal."
Gimli nodded absently. Anxious to see his friend, the dwarf did not even bother to shake the clumps of snow from his boots before entering the building. It was only the darker interior of the Healing House that reminded him to remove his helm.
Aragorn would have been at the dwarf's heels had Elrond not so quickly interposed. "I must speak to you now, not as a father to a son, but as one Healer to another. Legolas' condition does not wholly please me."
"How so?" Elessar felt a familiar knot of tension gather in the pit of his stomach. He set his shoulders and willed it firmly away.
"His left hip was shattered when we found him. He walked several leagues with the aid of a tree branch and the stress on the broken bones did far more damage than the initial injury could have ever caused. While I was more or less able to coax the fragments back into place, the swelling was quite severe and has only now begun to abate."
Elrond paused and considered his next words carefully and they were softly spoken when they came. Despite his often brusque attitude with the prince and his antics, the lord had wordlessly accepted Legolas into his life a century ago. "I fear I was not as successful as I had hoped. I believe it will be necessary to break his hip again and reset the bones in order that they may heal more naturally," he cringed inwardly at the naked expression of sympathetic pain on his son's face. "I should appreciate your help in this. I cannot ask the others."
Aragorn squared his jaw and nodded once. "When?"
"I am of the opinion that there is much more going on than any of us but Mithrandir is aware of. I would have the entire household gather for the morning meal. After the conversation has died down, I shall ask Elladan and Elrohir to gather fresh athleas from the greenhouse on the far side of the gardens. We must do it then."
"Aye." Elessar smoothly changed the topic as he entered the Healing House, Elrond half a pace behind him. "Gandalf is here then?"
* * *
Gimli approached Legolas' bedside as quietly as he could, though for once he was keenly aware of the harsh metallic clank of his armour and the grinding of the chain mail beneath. His hobnailed boots echoed loudly on the gleaming wooden floor. Yet far more disturbing than the noise he made, was the fact that Legolas' sleeping form did not stir.
Seating himself on the low stool at the elf's elbow, Gimli studied his sleeping friend closely. It was as Elrond had forewarned them. Legolas' usually creamy skin had gone as white as the sheets beneath him; the only colour that remained was the pale flush that lit the high cheekbones. Curiously, the vibrant blue eyes were closed and even in sleep they bore small lines of pain at the edges.
At first, Gimli had found it unsettling that the elf slept with the bright orbs staring vacantly ahead. Yet after having grown accustomed to the immortal's odd habits, this change in them merely deepened his worry.
Gimli set aside his helm and took Legolas' hand in his. "Fool elf!" he muttered, though his gruff voice held little conviction. "Can I not leave you for so much as a single season ere you land your skinny hide into mischief?"
"It seems not, master Dwarf," Legolas whispered, blinking as his slowly focusing gaze took in Gimli's weathered countenance.
"Then perhaps I should teach you how better to defend yourself!" the dwarf laughed heartily as relief swept through him. If Legolas was well enough to engage him thus, there was little he need fear any longer.
* * *
Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading and I'll try to get the next update by Saturday evening. ;)
Oh! By the way, does everyone want me to continue to email them when I update? If so, please let me know either via review or email and I will put you on my update notification list. Thanks!
On the West Wind Sails the Gull
By NekoMegami_chan
Nekomegami_chan@hotmail.com
Thranduil watched from the window of his tower guest rooms as King Elessar, Estel to the Elves and Aragorn to his friends entered the courtyard far below. The son of Oropher was not pleased. While he felt a grudging respect for the human king as a member of the Fellowship; the personal affairs of the Elves were not the concern of Men. For surely this was more than a courtly visit; as Elessar brought some thirty heavily armed guards and no baggage train.
Resigned to the mortal's presence in Rivendell, Thranduil turned from the window. Yet ere he could draw the heavy velvet curtains back into place he witnessed the arrival of a small party of dwarves.
"What scandal!" Thranduil shouted, turning away from the now covered window in disgust. "What outrage!"
Of all of Legolas' inappropriate relationships, it was his son's friendship with the dwarf that caused Thranduil the greatest displeasure. He had publicly denied the rumours for years and now the vile, stunted creature had mustered the audacity to appear at the prince's sickbed.
Such an affront was utterly intolerable!
Furious, Thranduil turned to glare about the well furnished apartment that had been given to him for the remainder of his stay in Imladris, searching for an object upon which to vent his wrath. The large, canopied bed was the first to come into his sight. It was decorated by a coverlet of green and gold embroidery and the dark wood of the four posts was carved into the image of gnarled trees. Tapestries depicting forest life during each of the four seasons hung from the walls. A gleaming vanity with a crystal wash basin stood in one corner, close enough that the fire from the hearth would warm the water and the clothes stored within its drawers. The room was truly lovely and despite his inclinations to do otherwise, Thranduil could not bring himself to destroy any of it.
Instead he buckled on his sword belt and unsheathed the weapon. Steadying his breathing, he began the precise drills he preformed every morning and night. He had always found the peace his hot temper would have him forsake within the rigorous confines of his chosen discipline. His mind became steady and pliant under the swift undulations of his body, loosing the unyielding binds he placed upon himself at all other times.
Once he had finished and regained control of his anger, Thranduil would seek out Elrond and request that the dwarves be sent away. He could not suggest that the Man be turned out, as the human was actually Elrond's son by marriage. However, he would demand that Legolas be removed to these rooms until recovered.
His plans firmly anchored, Thranduil slid his sword back into the scabbard and drew himself up to his full height. In moments he had left the rooms, his boot heels clicking ever so softly as he descended the spiral staircase.
* * *
Elrond greeted Aragorn and Gimli with a smile just outside the entrance to the Healing House. The Lord of Rivendell had been notified of their arrival only moments before as he had emerged, hoping that a brisk walk might sweep clear his cluttered thoughts. "Estel, welcome home. And Master Gimli, how fare you this day?"
Aragorn inclined his head respectfully but said nothing. Gimli bowed slightly though his eyes remained pointedly on the door behind Elrond. "Well enough, Lord Elrond. Yet it is Prince Legolas' health that is of interest to me."
"Aye, and to me," Aragorn spoke up.
Having anticipated this, Elrond stepped aside and held open the door but stopped them with a glance. "I have only just sent the twins to fetch breakfast and tea for us all and they will not be long. Also, be warned that Legolas is still weak; do not tire him overmuch with questions of his ordeal."
Gimli nodded absently. Anxious to see his friend, the dwarf did not even bother to shake the clumps of snow from his boots before entering the building. It was only the darker interior of the Healing House that reminded him to remove his helm.
Aragorn would have been at the dwarf's heels had Elrond not so quickly interposed. "I must speak to you now, not as a father to a son, but as one Healer to another. Legolas' condition does not wholly please me."
"How so?" Elessar felt a familiar knot of tension gather in the pit of his stomach. He set his shoulders and willed it firmly away.
"His left hip was shattered when we found him. He walked several leagues with the aid of a tree branch and the stress on the broken bones did far more damage than the initial injury could have ever caused. While I was more or less able to coax the fragments back into place, the swelling was quite severe and has only now begun to abate."
Elrond paused and considered his next words carefully and they were softly spoken when they came. Despite his often brusque attitude with the prince and his antics, the lord had wordlessly accepted Legolas into his life a century ago. "I fear I was not as successful as I had hoped. I believe it will be necessary to break his hip again and reset the bones in order that they may heal more naturally," he cringed inwardly at the naked expression of sympathetic pain on his son's face. "I should appreciate your help in this. I cannot ask the others."
Aragorn squared his jaw and nodded once. "When?"
"I am of the opinion that there is much more going on than any of us but Mithrandir is aware of. I would have the entire household gather for the morning meal. After the conversation has died down, I shall ask Elladan and Elrohir to gather fresh athleas from the greenhouse on the far side of the gardens. We must do it then."
"Aye." Elessar smoothly changed the topic as he entered the Healing House, Elrond half a pace behind him. "Gandalf is here then?"
* * *
Gimli approached Legolas' bedside as quietly as he could, though for once he was keenly aware of the harsh metallic clank of his armour and the grinding of the chain mail beneath. His hobnailed boots echoed loudly on the gleaming wooden floor. Yet far more disturbing than the noise he made, was the fact that Legolas' sleeping form did not stir.
Seating himself on the low stool at the elf's elbow, Gimli studied his sleeping friend closely. It was as Elrond had forewarned them. Legolas' usually creamy skin had gone as white as the sheets beneath him; the only colour that remained was the pale flush that lit the high cheekbones. Curiously, the vibrant blue eyes were closed and even in sleep they bore small lines of pain at the edges.
At first, Gimli had found it unsettling that the elf slept with the bright orbs staring vacantly ahead. Yet after having grown accustomed to the immortal's odd habits, this change in them merely deepened his worry.
Gimli set aside his helm and took Legolas' hand in his. "Fool elf!" he muttered, though his gruff voice held little conviction. "Can I not leave you for so much as a single season ere you land your skinny hide into mischief?"
"It seems not, master Dwarf," Legolas whispered, blinking as his slowly focusing gaze took in Gimli's weathered countenance.
"Then perhaps I should teach you how better to defend yourself!" the dwarf laughed heartily as relief swept through him. If Legolas was well enough to engage him thus, there was little he need fear any longer.
* * *
Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading and I'll try to get the next update by Saturday evening. ;)
Oh! By the way, does everyone want me to continue to email them when I update? If so, please let me know either via review or email and I will put you on my update notification list. Thanks!