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Chapter 20 - Ambush
"GLORFINDEL!!!!!"
"I do believe Lord Elrond has found the twins," the Elda observed.
Legolas shook his head and chuckled lightly. He had never seen the seneschal behave in such a manner before. The Prince had always harbored the suspicion that Glorfindel actually had a sense of humor. On more than one occasion the Mirkwood elf had come upon the seneschal and Erestor laughing heartily over something or other. The Elda never let go like that around the twins and Legolas.
As the twins' instructor the golden elf had had to maintain a certain aloof air. Even after both the twins and Legolas had come of age the air of legendary mystery that surrounded the Elda had not dissipated. The three younger elves had continued to treat the balrog-slayer with deference. As a result Glorfindel had very seldom fallen prey to the ongoing pranks of the identical Peredhil.
For the first time in many weeks Legolas felt as if an oppressive weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He felt noticeably relieved having told the seneschal everything. Legolas had heard little snippets of the trauma the elf before him had experienced with flashbacks when the Elda had reached his majority after being reborn. From that Legolas had concluded Glorfindel was uniquely qualified to understand the Prince's problem.
The golden lord laughed lightly before suggesting, "I think perhaps we should return to the main part of the house. Am I correct in assuming your room is nearby?"
Legolas nodded his head in answer to Glorfindel's question and gathered up the sack of food, reattaching it to his belt. The younger elf carefully made his way to the edge of the roof, slipping over the edge with a final backwards glance at the seneschal. The Prince dropped down onto his balcony, entering his suite to find it in complete disarray. "Valar, the twins did a number on my room." The elf had barely taken five steps into his room when a sudden unfocused wave of fear drove him to his knees, his breath coming in labored gasps.
Glorfindel watched the Prince drop over the edge of the roof, taking note of the place the younger elf disappeared. The seneschal shifted along the peak of the roof until he was opposite that spot. He placed his legs straight in front of him and pushed off the peak, sliding down the steep incline on his backside. Just as he reached the edge, Glorfindel twisted onto his stomach, catching the edge of the roof with his hands, swinging down onto Legolas' balcony, landing in a graceful crouch.
The Elda froze at the sight he beheld. Legolas' room was in disarray, but that was not what brought the elder elf to a screeching halt. Legolas himself was several feet inside the room, down on all fours, shaking violently. The seneschal paused for a moment, assessing his surroundings. Seeing no potential threats other than the Prince himself Glorfindel shifted onto hands and knees, stalking forward to the trembling elf, looking every bit the deadly predator before whom the Nazgul themselves had fled.
Just as the Elda reached the Prince, Legolas' head shot up, the younger elf's eyes meeting Glorfindel's. The seneschal immediately realized Legolas' gaze was unfocused, the Sindar elf looking right through him. He's having another episode. Legolas' head dropped and he began gagging loudly. The glimpse Glorfindel had gotten of the Prince's eyes revealed a deep well of fear. That had clearly transitioned to severe distress.
The balrog-slayer held his ground, just observing the Prince. The Elda's hackles rose when the younger elf suddenly went still, and raised his head, moving to stand. Glorfindel had all of a split second to register the rage flaring across Legolas' face. The balrog-slayer flew into action, springing forward.
The seasoned warrior pushed off the ground with his toes, hands extended in a flying tackle. He hit Legolas' right shoulder with his left hand, the force of his greater weight pushing the Prince flat to the ground. Glorfindel's left knee pressed into Legolas' lower back, the Elda sweeping the smaller elf's right arm behind Legolas' back with his other hand, effectively restraining the Prince.
Legolas twisted his head to the side and with one eye glared balefully up at the elf pinning him. The Mirkwood elf made no effort to throw the Elda off, instead seething silently.
"I have no idea what's going through your head Legolas, or if you can even hear me, but I'm not letting you up until I'm SURE you're with me. I'm sorry, but right now you are a threat to yourself and me," Glorfindel advised the prone elf who was clearly somewhere else mentally.
For a while Legolas just lay there, his glare unrelenting. The seneschal sensed that the episode was not yet over and refused to relax his grip on the Prince. Suddenly, the Sindar elf tensed beneath the Elda, yelling, "Who the hell are you and what the fuck do you want?"
Glorfindel's eyes widened, What type of mischief is this? The woman he spoke must be in a confrontation. The golden elf tightened his grip on Legolas, the unexpected outburst telegraphing to him that something more was sure to happen. Moments later the Mirkwood Prince released a snarl, "You knew! BASTARD!" The hair went up on the back of the elf-lord's neck, his mind racing to a juncture. Has this something to do with the trap Legolas mentioned she was walking knowingly into? Has it been sprung?
The balrog-slayer tensed, shifting more of his weight to the knee at Legolas' back. Bare seconds later the prince began writhing under him, actively trying to escape his hold.
"JASON!!!!"
Glorfindel had the chance to idly wonder, Who? when Legolas' head snapped sharply back and then younger elf went limp, his head hitting the marble floor with a thump, eyes closed. The Sindar elf appeared dazed as he opened his eyes, straining to make them focus. It's not yet over. The seneschal held on as Legolas lashed out, nearly throwing the Elda off.
As Glorfindel fought to keep his grip on the struggling elf the door to Legolas' room opened, revealing the Lord of Imladris. Elrond drew up short, eyes widening at the sight of his seneschal holding the Mirkwood Prince to the ground. Ay, Elbereth! He's having another attack! As the raven-haired lord watched, Legolas suddenly went completely still, eyes rolling back into his head before drifting closed.
Elrond rushed forward to Glorfindel's side as the golden elf asked his liege, "Is the episode over? Can I release him?"
The healer knelt down, placing two fingers against Legolas' neck, waiting several seconds before reaching out to pull back the Sinda's eyelids revealing clear, unfocused blue eyes. He's out. Completely unconscious. Elrond released a breath he had not realized he'd been holding and nodded to the Elda.
Glorfindel immediately climbed off Legolas' back, rolled the prone elf onto his back and lifted him, taking the Prince and depositing him on the bed. Elrond followed the seneschal's long strides, waiting for the elder elf to move aside. The healer settled himself on the coverlet next to Legolas, intent on remaining there until the younger elf regained his senses.
Huffing and out of breath Gandalf suddenly appeared in the doorway, "Erestor just informed me…" The Istari's voice trailed off as he took in the tableau before him. Stepping softly into the chamber the wizard observed the sharp line of Glorfindel's tensed jaw and the way the elf stood, arms crossed, feet shoulder-width apart, the Elda's gaze never straying from the prone form on the bed.
Gandalf caught Elrond's eye, asking quietly, "He indeed had another vision?" At the raven elf's nod the wizard leaned heavily on his staff, his eyes closing as he listened to the darkling elf's words.
"Yes. Thankfully Glorfindel was with him when it happened and was able to restrain him. Other than a slight bump on the head he is unharmed."
Gandalf sighed with relief, reopening his eyes. "Ah. That is good. Thank you Lord Glorfindel."
The golden lord never took his eyes off Legolas. He acknowledged the Istari with an inclination of his head. Glorfindel hovered behind Elrond, refusing to leave his lord's side lest the Sinda awaken and lash out violently.
The wizard shuffled forward as Elrond returned his gaze to the Prince. With a soft groan, Gandalf lowered himself into the chair near Legolas' bedside. The trio kept a silent vigil as Arnor dropped toward the horizon.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I appreciate the feedback. I live for positive reinforcement, so the more reviews, the faster I write!