Chapter Four
It was sometime before Aragorn felt able to leave his chamber. He had washed his face so that it was not tear stained and made his way down to the dining chamber.
No one spoke to him along the way although he could hear the muttering and realised that the tale of Legolas' departure was common knowledge. He kept his eyes on the ground so that he would not have to face their looks. He really did not think he could face their condemnation at present. His own was bad enough.
So intent was he on making sure of this, that he did not realise that there were two beings waiting for him outside of the dining chamber. He ran straight into them.
He looked up surprised to find the stern countenance of his foster father and Gandalf. His heart dropped even further if that was at all possible. He really did not need to deal with this at this moment.
"Excuse me; I need to see to my children." He tried to step around them but they moved along with him. "I do not have time for this, please move."
"No, Aragorn I am not going to let you do this." Elrond's voice sounded disappointed.
That hurt and he made his own voice reflect that. "I have done nothing, Adar please leave me be."
"Nothing?! What I saw last night was nothing?" Gandalf was angrier than Elrond could ever remember seeing him.
"Yes, Gandalf it was nothing to do with you. I would thank you to keep your nose out of that what does not concern you." Aragorn's voice was low and cold.
"Let me tell you this, Elessar." Aragorn looked up at that, the Maia had never called him that before. "What I saw last night was a child hitting out at that which he loves. You may try to pretend that you no longer love Legolas…"
"Who? I know no one called that." He was rewarded with a gasp of shock from his foster father and a muted roar of rage from Gandalf.
"You are a fool. A bigger fool than I would have believed. I thought I knew you. You force your love to think you hate him, you belittle him in front of others and then you hit him. I have never been more disgusted than I am now. You risk Middle Earth's newfound peace because of your actions. Do you wish to risk all that after all we worked so hard for?" The furious blue eyes speared him in place. "Well?"
"You exaggerate, Gandalf. What could the peace of Middle Earth do with one spoilt little Elfling? Trust me we are better off without him."
"He is your husband and the mother of your children!" Elrond's voice echoed in the corridor.
"He is the one who left them behind without a backwards glance. What does that say about his love?" Cold grey eyes bore into his fathers.
"As I recall it, you did not give him much choice. You threatened to take his children from him."
"Yes, well he did not exactly try hard to fight for them, did he? He probably thought I would drop everything and beg him to come back. Well he was very wrong, that is the last thing I will do. He wants to go running back to his Ada, then fine." Aragorn brushed passed the two stunned beings.
"Oh and Ada, it may be worth your while sending word to him to watch out for his son's anorexia. I think that he is making himself sick again."
"Why do you not write to him?" Elrond was beginning to get really angry with his foster son. How could he think that of Legolas? Especially when… It was then that he realised that Aragorn was unaware that his husband was pregnant and Legolas had expressly forbidden him from telling him.
Elrond had not believed at the time of speaking with the Prince that Aragorn would take the baby from his mother; in fact he would have laughed outright at the idea. Now seeing this cold stranger in front of him he was not so sure.
"Why should I? He is no longer my responsibility." With that Aragorn left the two stunned friends as he entered the dining chamber. Not that he was hungry; the nausea was still swirling within him.
Faramir looked up as he entered and said nothing as he handed Estalado to him.
"After the morning meal I want to see you in my bedchamber. I want to redecorate. We need to talk." He took no notice of the stunned look on his Steward's face.
Outside Gandalf turned to his old friend. "He has no idea does he?"
"No idea of what? What are you talking about?" It was unusual to see the Elf harassed but today was different. Elrond ran his hands through his hair with frustration as he turned to his friend.
"Do not be obtuse, Elrond you know exactly what I mean." Gandalf raised his eyebrow at the Elf.
"Obtuse? When I have no idea of what on Arda you are talking of?"
"Legolas is pregnant." Gandalf's voice was calm.
"What… but… how?" Elrond knew he was gabbling, but it seemed as if it was going to be one of those days.
"My Dear Elrond, if you do not know how to produce babies after all this time, I would be really worried about you!" Despite the gravity of the situation Gandalf enjoyed seeing his friend this wrong footed.
"Mithrandir!" The growl from Elrond made the Maia laugh. "I know how to get pregnant, that is not what I meant and you know it!"
"I know." This was a deep sigh. "It was obvious that something was wrong with the way Legolas held his stomach after I caught him. It did not take much for me to realise why and put two and two together."
"You are right. Gandalf, what happened with them? Legolas was terrified of Aragorn finding out about this baby, he thought he would take it away. Why?" Elrond really did not understand this.
"Legolas wanted to take the twins with him, but Aragorn told him he would shoot him without hesitation if he tried." He smiled a very grim smile at Elrond's look of fury.
"I understand now. I am glad that I sent the twins with him."
"You did?" The pleased look on the Maia's face pleased Elrond.
"Yes, I could hardly let Legolas go running around Middle Earth in the distressed state that he was in. Besides he is my son, despite what Aragorn may think. Thranduil would do the same if it were the other way around?"
"Yes, you are right. How do we tell the rest of the fellowship about this? Gimli will kill Aragorn." Gandalf winced at that thought. It was an understatement; if Gimli found out that Aragorn had struck Legolas while he was pregnant the human would have the Dwarfs axe buried in his back.
"Gimli will have to wait in line." Elrond stopped speaking as the chamber door opened and Aragorn marched out with Faramir right behind him. He did not even acknowledge them.
"Where did this go so wrong? I think that we are going to have a battle on our hands." Elrond wanted nothing more than to knock sense into the King.
"More than you realise, old friend. Without Legolas Aragorn will fall into darkness. And Legolas, well Legolas will probably leave Middle Earth. We cannot allow that to happen. I will not let it happen."
"Good, I am behind you every step of the way."
"Aragorn, think about this. You do not want to change the chambers this quickly." Faramir knew he had made a mistake the minute the words left his mouth.
The man that turned around was not his friend and King, but a cold angry man who reminded the Steward of his own father.
"Do not presume to tell me what I should or should not do. I want these chambers decorated. I want every thing that belonged to him moved. I do not care where you throw it, just get rid of it, especially that!" Aragorn pointed to the watercolour that hung on the wall. "I want it to be blue with no plants. Thank the Valar he never painted that mural. I want every trace of him rubbed out."
Faramir was too stunned to move, he could not be hearing this. Aragorn turned to speak further when the nausea hit him once more, full force. He actually gasped and staggered. Faramir reached out to catch his arm and steady him. Black spots floated across his vision, Legolas it had to be Legolas.
Faramir heard him groan. "No." before he slumped to the floor unconscious.
Legolas woke to find it morning. He lay beside the fire once more, covered in blankets. He tried to sit up only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Easy, Mellon-nin, stay lying down. You fainted, scared the living daylights out of us. How are you feeling?" Elladan was watching him concern clear on his face.
"Alright." He could not help it; it was his standard answer to such a silly question. By Eru why ask someone who has parted with their husband, was pregnant and fainted if they were alright?
The look he was give by the other Elf was pure Elrond and made the Prince chuckle despite him self.
"Dizzy if you must know." He hated to admit it, but it was true. The minute he tried to sit up the world had spun and black spot had obscured his vision.
The elder twin sighed. "When did you last eat, Leafie? It was not at the party." Elladan winced at the mention of the party and could have kicked himself. The last thing Legolas needed was to remember about the fight.
For some reason Legolas looked embarrassed. "Two days ago."
"What, are you being a complete idiot?! You know Adar has told you to have at least five meals a day." The worry that had begun when Legolas collapsed began again. The Prince's battle with the eating disease was still too fresh in their minds.
"I was not hungry and had too much to do with running Gondor whilst Estel was gone." Legolas would not meet their eyes. He knew what they were thinking.
"Well, you will be eating, Elrohir has made some food and you are going to eat every bit of it. As you will at every meal we give you. You will also sleep. I will not take you back to your father ill."
"Very well, I will do as you ask." Oh how he loved the look of shock on the identical faces. They had obviously been expecting him to argue the point. But the baby needed nourishment too. For a minute he debated telling them about his pregnancy, but decided not to just yet.
He moved to reach for his pack but was stopped by Elladan. "Where do you think you are going?"
"To get my pack."
"You stay where you are until you have eaten and feel better. What ever you need we will get for you." Elladan was adamant.
"I am not an Elfling!" Legolas could not believe they were treating him like this.
"Oh? As far as I am concerned for the duration of this journey you are. Adar gave you over to our care and we will be looking after you." As he was speaking the twin had moved to pick up Legolas' pack, he dropped it beside the Prince.
The pout was enough to cause the twins to laugh.
Ignoring them both Legolas opened his pack and pulled out what it was that he needed. The sudden silence was enough to make him look up, he was right he was the centre of attention. In his hands was one of Aragorn's robes. He did not know why he had brought it with him, but he had needed something of his husband.
The jackets still hanging
Down town in the window
The one that you wanted so bad
I should have just bought it
Bought it home and surprised you
If it took every penny I had
Just for one more memory of your smile
I would have lit all the candles
And asked you to tell me
Something that nobody knows
I would have told you the million
Reasons I love you
Yes, if I'd only have known.
I would have kissed you a little harder
I would have held you a little tighter
And watched you a little longer
As you walked out of sight
But I didn't know
I was saying goodbye
He could not help but sniff the robe; it held Aragorn's unique smell. He felt a wave of homesickness so deep it took his breath away and his eyes filled with tears. He had brought this robe for Aragorn he loved the deep blue of the colour on him. He had looked so handsome wearing it.
"Oh, Legolas. Leafie it will be alright. He will come after you." Elladan's warm arms surrounded him and he realised with a start that the other was crying.
I'd reach out and touch your face
Ask you to say my name
To capture the sound of your voice
I might have been strong and wise
Just cried and cried like a baby
If I'd known that I had a choice
I would have kissed you a little harder
I would have held you a little tighter
And watched you a little longer
As you walked out of sight
But I didn't know
I was saying goodbye
Just for one more memory of your smile
I would have made love a little slower
Then watched you while you were sleeping
And memorised the moment
That you opened up your eyes
But I didn't know
No, I didn't know
No, but I didn't know
I was saying goodbye
I didn't know,
I didn't know,
I didn't know
I was saying goodbye
The more Elladan whispered words of comfort to him, the more he cried. To Elrohir watching from the fire with a lump in his throat it looked as if the prince's heart was breaking and for perhaps the first time ever, he was glad that Estel was not there with them, he just might have killed him with his bare hands.
He left the food, moving it so that it would stay hot but would not ruin, and went to join the two Elves in front of him. Soon all three were hugging. Elladan looked at Elrohir over the shaking thin shoulders. Both had silver tears running down their cheeks and were distressed at their friend's distress.
They waited until Legolas had calmed down and was just lying sniffing in their arms before Elrohir spoke. "We will stay here for today so that you can rest, I think you need it."
"No, I need to get home, I need to see Ada." Legolas' voice was hoarse and gruff from his sobbing.
Elladan winced at the use of the word home; it did not pertain to Gondor any more.
"Come you need to eat. You are shivering, come to the fire." They helped Legolas to stand.
"The trees are sad." There was an almost distant quality to the blonde's voice that neither of the dark Elves liked.
"They can feel your sadness, Leafie. That is what you can feel." Elrohir tried to reassure him.
"No, that is not it. They are calling me. Something is wrong. I can feel…" Suddenly the world spun sickeningly and he faltered. The twins exchanged worried glances and tightened their holds on him.
"Legolas, what is…?" Elrohir was cut off as Legolas slumped forward in their arms with a groan of "Aragorn!" Before he once more fell forward, this time they managed to stop him from crashing to the ground.
"Ro, I do not like this…"
Elrohir could only nod his agreement. Something was very, very wrong with Legolas.
To be continued
Hi, Shell here. Mei has been snowed under with her class work and so asked if I would write this chapter for you so that you would not have to wait. We hope that you all like it. Please, please let us know what you think?
Replies to responses:
Psychofrreak: Ah, but we all know that you meant it. Bit if you're very, very good another chapter will be along very soon - on the condition that you do more Leafie pictures!!!!
Knight Kenobi of Eryn Lasgalen: Good for you - but we may all have to wait in line and see what is left after Thranduil gets his hands on him!!
The Serious Padfoot: We are sorry we made you cry but glad that you like this story.
Dawn: Thank you. Mei blushes madly.(She is pretty amazing isn't she? Shell) we are both glad that you are alright after Jeanne.
.Triptych: Thank you. Yes we agree with you. I can't wait for Thranduil's response to this.
LittleCrazy1: Do you really want us to? Here's your update!!!
Legolas19: Sorry, Mei seems to be doing that a lot recently.
Animegurl14: the answer as to why Legolas did not tell Aragorn will become clear very soon. We are glad that you like this story so much. Thank you.
Hana-Heart: Yep, very, very thick sometimes!! Thank you.
Dee69: Lips are sealed here!!!!
Luna Lovegood: Thank you!!!
Wanda: Sorry and here is your update!
Bumper: Yep you are very right, but remember Legolas' hormones are shot to hell at present and it is so easy for what seems to be a very tiny, minor problem to suddenly seem as if it a rock too high to climb. As to the letter, he is so upset at present that it probably sounded the best thing to do in the heat of the moment. Easy to do.
Halimanya: Thank you! You will have to wait and see what happens I'm afraid.
Bradleigh: You are so right. What men needs is an axe to their head to make them see sense! GIMLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Li: Oh yes and I can't wait!!!!
Well that's all folks, your guest author would like to thank you for your patience and Mei will be back next time!!
Love,
Mei and Shell