My stupid Internet has been acting up so I haven't been able to get on fan fiction. I had to go to the library just to check my email. But I finally have it back. * Does crazy dance*
Elrond - */…/*
Thranduil- /…/
Legolas- *…*
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Thranduil opened his door and walked over to the huge bed. He put Legolas down among the many white fluffy pillows. Elrond sat between the foot and middle of the bed.
*/ What is Thranduil doing now. /*
Thranduil walked over to a table near his fireplace and poured some wine for himself and Elrond and also some juice for Legolas. He grabbed the three glasses and handed them out. Legolas eagerly drank his. Thranduil sat down next to his son and Elrond move closer to them so that he could put his drink down on the bedside table.
" Okay Legolas. You are in my room and you have had something to drink. You have to answer our questions now. You don't have to talk or explain. Just nod your head yes or no. Deal?"
Legolas nodded his head his eyes constantly moving from Elrond to the door to Thranduil and to the windows and all around the room.
* They'll come. They'll do it. They did it once they can do it again. I can't do this. I cant. Nobody will believe me anyway. *
" Okay first question. Are your nightmares about something not real?" Thranduil asked as he tried to make eye contact with Legolas. He had moved so that he could see Legolas's reaction. Legolas made no eye contact what so ever.
Legolas didn't respond. But he seemed to be getting more and more paranoid by the minute. His eyes were constantly moving around the room, never stopping on one thing for too long.
" Legolas look at me." Thranduil said. He took Legolas's hands into his own and squeezed them. "Look at me. Now"
Legolas did one final sweep around the room before resting upon his father's forehead. His fear vividly showing in his eyes and face.
" Are your nightmares about something not real?" Thranduil asked again while he rubbed his sons hands.
Legolas shook his head. He eyes were now on the little bit of space of bed between himself and his father and Elrond. They stayed there, expect for the frequent look around the room.
" So they are about something real?" Elrond said.
Legolas stiffened and nodded his head.
/ Okay. Something has happened to my son. If some one did this to him I'll make sure they die a slow painful death. /
For a few minutes nobody said any thing as Thranduil tried to rub some of the stiffness out of his son's body. Legoas visibly calmed down some but Thranduil and Elrond could tell that he wasn't acullty calm. It was just one of he acts.
" Does it evolve people you know?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas half shrugged his shoulder and titled his head a little. He never once made eye contact with them.
" People you know and also people you don't. Is that what you mean?" Elrond asked.
Legolas nodded his head. He wasn't calm anymore. He couldn't sit still. He kept looking behind him as if some one or something was going to pop out at him. He started to rock back and forth a little.
" Did you see something that bothered you?" Thranduil asked hopefully.
/ Maybe he did see something. /
With that question Legolas became frantic. He tried to get up off the bed but Thranduil and Elrond firmly held him between them. He tried to fight them off but his small bruised body and ankle prosted so much that it brought him to tears.
/ Bingo/
* I can't tell. I have to get away. They'll come and do it. I know they will. I'll be the reason my father died. He'll hate me. Everyone will. *
" Calm down. You're not going anywhere. Elrond and i are right here. Nothing can harm you. I wont let anything hurt you, ever. I'll always be right here for you, I promise. I'll believe anything that you say." Thranduil said as he pulled his trembling son into his lap and gently wiped away his tears.
*Anything? *
" Do you want to tell me?" Thranduil asked hopefully.
Legolas just looked at them.
*/ Maybe since he doesn't really know me that well he doesn't feel comfortable talking about what ever this is all about. /*
" Do you want me to leave Legolas? So you can talk to your ada alone." Elrond asked.
Legolas surprised everyone one in the room. He buried his head in his robes and said " cant"
/ Cant what? /
" Elrond can't go. Is that what you mean?" Thranduil asked confused.
Legolas didn't say anything. He just sat there as started to cry.
Thranduil cradled his son in his lap. " Mani naa ta? Kwentra lye." {What is it? Tell us}
Legolas started to mumble something. It took a few minutes before Thranduil and Elrond could understand what he was saying. And it only added to their mounting confusion. " Amin ikotane hiraetha." {I'm so sorry.}
" What are you sorry for Legolas?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas said nothing. He curled up even more in his father's arms and hid his face entirely from view.
" Legolas, kwentra lye. You have to tell me so that I can help you. If I don't know what's bothering you then I can't help you." Thranduil said.
Legolas just kept on crying. Thranduil started to rubbed his back and murmur words of encouragement and comfort.
After a while Thranduil spoke " Legolas?" he said softly " will you at least look at me?"
Legolas made no movement expect to bury his head farther into his father's arms.
" Please?" Thranduil begged as he stroked his son's baby fine blonde hair.
After a few more minutes of Thranduil's begging it became apparent that Legolas had no intention of complying with his father. Thranduil looked like his was about to give up. Elrond however wasn't going to let him. Legolas had a secret that had to be revealed before it went any further. Elrond gently lifted Legolas out of his father's arms and put him down between himself and Thranduil. Thranduil shot him a puzzled and upset look.
"He needs to tell us." Elrond explained. He looked down at the small elfling that was sitting next to him and gave a small smile. Legolas's face was tear-stained and blotchy from crying. His hair stood out in odd angles due to his father playing with it. He would have to sleep soon or he would pass out from exhaustion by the looks of it
Legolas, can you tell us why you can't say anything?" Elrond asked as he smoothed away some stray hairs from Legolas's forehead. He felt perspiration under his fingers.
* They didn't say anything about telling why I can't say anything. Can I risk it? Would telling why I cant tell get my ada killed? *
Legolas looked up at his father. " Cause…" Legolas trailed off.
" Cause what?" Thranduil asked hopefully " I won't get angry at anything you say. I'll believe anything. I swear to you."
/ Please, oh please, oh please, say something Legolas. Just say it. Tell me what's bothering you. Please. Tell me so I can make it better. /
* I can't risk it. It is too dangerous. Ada will get mad. He won't understand! *
Legolas shook his head. He eyes were moving around the room again.
/here we go again. /
" Answer me this then, why are you looking around the room so much?" Elrond asked.
Legolas started to shake. Thranduil put his arm around him and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Legolas started to shake his head. Thranduil sighed. They weren't going to get anywhere else tonight. His son had closed up and everyone was too tired, either physically or mentally, to continue.
" Elrond," Thranduil waited until Elrond looked up at him " I don't think we are going to get anywhere at the moment."
Elrond sighed also and said " nor do I, I guess we should go to bed. Everyone is too tired to continue on." He got up from the bed " Legolas, me and Arwen should be here later on to play, okay?"
Legolas nodded his head, his face now in its usual impassive form. He leaned sleepily on his fathers arm.
" 'Quel undome." {Good evening} Elrond said as he walked to the door.
" 'Quel undome Elrond." Thranduil said. Elrond nodded his head and left for his own chambers.
" Well, since your already here, I guess you might as well sleep with me tonight." Thranduil said as he lifted Legolas up and walked over to the bathroom to get a damp washcloth. He wiped the perspiration off his son's hands and face. He also braided his hair back into the single braid that it had fallen out of earlier that evening. He watched as Legolas brushed his teeth and then picked his son back up and walked over to the white silk covered bed. He reached over and pulled the covers back. He put his son gently on the bed. He reached down to get a pillow that had somehow managed to get away from the rest. With a jolt he realized that he had forgotten to ask beraid about Legolas's ankle.
/ Bloody Mandos! It probably hurts a whole lot more than it did yesterday. Thranduil! You idiot! How, on middle earth, with the fury of Mordor, could you forget something like that! /
The ankle was still swollen and looked like it had several new bruises. The only way that Thranduil could tell if they were new was that they seemed to be a shade darker than the rest but he couldn't tell for sure because of the bandages in his way.
" How does your ankle feel? Does it hurt worse than yesterday?" Thranduil asked his son as he gently laid a hand on it.
Legolas nodded. His eyes were closed in exhaustion or pain, Thranduil couldn't tell, Legolas had on his usual impassive face again.
/ What can I do? It is too late to go to the healers, umm… maybe I can just loosen it a little and then first thing tomorrow morning I'll take him to beraid. /
" I'm going to try and loosen your splint." Thranduil said as he bent down next to Legolas's foot. He quickly found the pins that held the restricting splint in place. He looked up at his son who was looking down at him with questioning eyes. " This may hurt a little, I need you to hold your leg still for me okay?"
Legolas nodded and turned his eyes towards the ceiling.
Thranduil gently pulled at the pins until they slowly started to come out. He held his sons foot gently so that if the pins all of the sudden came loose without warning his foot wouldn't be jarred too much. Thranduil quickly looked up at his sons face. He was still staring up at the ceiling with a blank face that would have been devoid of all emotion expect for that he was biting down his lower lip.
" Legolas are you in a lot of pain?" Thranduil asked as he took his hands of the ankle. " Do you want me to stop?"
Legolas just gave his father the usual shake of his head. He was still biting down on his lower lip, though not as hard.
/ Might as well keep going. It'll help when it's looser. /
Thranduil once again placed his hands on his son's ankle and pulled out the pins. He pulled off the splint and looked at the white bandages covering most of his son's ankle. He looked up at Legolas expecting to see him relived at the removal of the splint but he was still biting down on his lower lip.
" Does it still hurt?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas looked down at him and nodded.
/it must be the bandages then. Beraid is going to kill me tomorrow. I'm not supposed to take them off but… if they are causing Legolas pain…. then they'll have to come off whether beraid likes it or not. /
" Okay this part may hurt a little more than the last one did." Thranduil said
Legolas didn't respond but Thranduil could tell that he had heard him. Thranduil gently raised Legolas's swollen ankle and tried to find the end of the bandages.
/ Trust beraid to come up with something like this. It is supposed to be childproof not parent proof. Psychotic elf /
Finally Thranduil felt the ends of the confounding bandages under his fingers. The trouble was that they were on the back of Legolas's ankle instead of on the side like Thranduil had hoped.
/ Great… just great. /
He looked up at his son and gave him a quick smile before returning to his work. He let out a deep sigh and started working. Legolas tensed up more and more each time his ankle was twisted the wrong way. After a few minutes Thranduil let out a sigh of relief. He had finally managed to untie the bandages. It was pretty hard to do so when he couldn't see what he was doing. He slowly began to unwrap the bandages and when he was done he inspected the ankle. It was healing well. The old bruises were beginning to fade. The newer bruises were only a little darker than the rest but they would heal in time.
" Greenleaf, could you hand me that small pillow next to your hand?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas looked around for the pillow his father had requested. He saw it and handed it to his father.
" Diola lle." {Thank you} Thranduil said as he propped his son's foot on the pillow. He got up and walked to the bathroom. He grabbed a silver coloured washcloth off of the towel rack that was next to the sink. He wet it with cold water and wringed it out a little. He quickly walked back to his bed a put the washcloth on Legolas's ankle. Unluckily for Legolas, Thranduil hadn't realized that he was almost asleep.
Legolas jumped at the unexpected coldness on his ankle.
* What was that! *
He looked up at his father with sleepy eyes. " Ada?"
" Did I scare you? I didn't mean to. Go back to sleep my little greenleaf." Thranduil asked as he changed out of his formal robes and into some much more comfortable nightclothes. He smiled at the sleepily confused look on his sons face. "It will make your ankle feel better." Thranduil explained. He quickly put out all of the candles expect the small lantern by the bed. Legolas was scared of the dark so Thranduil always tried to remember to leave a candle burning. He climbed into bed next to Legolas and gently pulled him closer. Legolas automatically stiffened and did not relax for about three minutes.
/ Why, why, do you do that Legolas? I'm not going to hurt you. I never have and I never will. /
" Amin mela lle Legolas, 'quel undome." {I love you, good night} Thranduil said as he readjusted his and Legolas's pillows.
Legolas nodded his head. He would fast asleep in a few minutes by the look in his face.
/ Why wont you say that you love me? I know that you do. Why wont you say it? You did before. /
Long after Legolas fell asleep Thranduil followed. He wouldn't sleep for long though. Dawn was in two hours and Legolas was in a fit full state of sleep.
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Thranduil groaned. Yet another night of restless sleep from Legolas. Thranduil was in constant worry about him so he couldn't rest much. Luckily for the both of them Legolas hadn't had any more nightmares. Not that him waking up and thinking someone was going to get him or something was any better for Thranduil. He had to search countless times for invisible foes that Legolas claimed to be in the bedroom. He looked over at the window. The sun was just starting to rise. He had about an hour and a half before his bothersome councilors came banging on his door. He sat up and looked down at a small lump under the blankets, which was his sleeping son. Thranduil smiled and cautiously pulled the covers away from his face. The last thing he wanted at the moment was to wake up his son, who was sleeping peacefully at the moment. But Thranduil knew that it wouldn't last long though. He ran his fingers though the bits of hair that had escaped the braid last night. Thranduil leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. He got out of bed and stretched. He walked over to his balcony. Thranduil leaned against the cool metal railing. He closed his eyes and let the morning breeze wash over him. For a moment he pictured how his and Legolas's life could have been. If his wife, Atariel, hadn't been murdered, if his mother hadn't left for the undying lands. If his father hadn't of been the way he was. If Mirkwood didn't have a constant shadow lurking in its mists, just waiting for the opportune moment to strike. If Legolas wasn't the way that he was. If he didn't have his nightmares. If Thranduil was able to spend more time with him. If Thranduil's older sister, Alasse hadn't gotten married and moved away. If Legolas's aunts didn't live all the way in Lothlorien. With all this on his mind Thranduil put his head in his hands and wept silently. He hadn't noticed the elf that stood in his doorway watching him. After a few moments he stood up and wiped away his tears.
/ Maybe I cant change most of that but I can still help my son. Some time soon I'll take him to Lorien to see his mothers sisters and brothers. And to Rivendell to meet Alasse. I'll spend more time with him. I'll take him out riding with me soon too. Maybe I can even begin to teach him archery. /
Thranduil turned around and nearly jumped out of his skin. There just inches away from him was beraid.
" Bloody mandos beraid, what was that for!!" Thranduil asked as he willed himself to calm down." how long have you been standing there?" he added suspiciously. The last thing he needed right now was someone to know he had been crying. Even though beraid had seen him cry many times before and had been there to comfort him. He was always the one to patch Thranduil and Alasse up after his father had beaten them and he always seemed to know what to do and what to say. Beraid was more of a father to Thranduil and Alasse than their own father had ever been.
" Testy, testy." beraid teased. " I just came to check up on Legolas and I noticed that you weren't there. So I decided to look for you."
" Well, thank you. How's Legolas?" Thranduil asked eager to change the subject.
Beraid chuckled " eager to know how your little boy is or just eager to change the subject?" he asked knowingly. " Or is it both?"
" Think whatever you want to think just tell about Legolas." Thranduil said as he walked back into his bedroom with beraid following.
" Well you should know. After all you're the one that took his splint off." Beraid said as he moved towards Legolas.
" It was hurting him." Thranduil explained looking down at Legolas and then up at beraid. " I had to do something."
" Alright, alright, he is healing quite nicely his ankle will take maybe about three more days to fully heal and even after that it will be a little bit swollen and tender." beraid said as he sat down on the bed and started to put some bandages and ointment on Legolas's swollen ankle. " This time I'll put them on looser and leave the splint off. As long as he doesn't walk on it too much, it should heal on time." beraid tied the last of the bandages off and started to pack up his lotions and ointments into his bag. " Okay, now we have covered Legolas. It is time to talk about you. And don't even try to change the subject, cause it is not going to work this time." beraid said firmly as he lead Thranduil back out to the balcony, all traces of his former smile were gone.
/ I should have known he would be here in the morning. He always has a knack for showing up when people need him whether they think they do or not. /
Thranduil took a deep breath; he knew that once he got started it would be hard for him to stop. But he didn't have any problems telling beraid anything. His only concern was that Legolas would wake up and hear something. As if sensing this beraid walked over and closed the double glass doors that led back into the bedroom. "That better?" he asked with kind eyes.
" Yeah… yeah it is, thank you." Thranduil said. Beraid came over and placed his arm on Thranduil's shoulders. That one simple movement broke what was left of Thranduil's resolve. He stared to cry and tell beraid everything that had been on his mind for the last couple days. He couldn't help but cry when he thought of how his beloved looked laying on the floor in the nursery in a puddle of blood and one year old Legolas screaming in his crib for his mother not understanding why she didn't get up and play with him like she always did. And how his wife's grave looked and her face when they buried her. Or when he remembered his sister leaving with her new husband for Rivendell. Or his wife's sisters and older brother in Lorien Legolas had never meet. Thranduil had just realized how alone he Legolas really were and it was not the way Thranduil wanted Legolas to live but he could do nothing about anything.
Just when Thranduil was about ready to go back in and see if Legolas was awake he heard the unmistakable sound of someone knocking on his bedroom door.
" And I'm not even dressed yet!" Thranduil mumbled, as he looked loathing at the door as he walked into his bedroom. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face beraid.
" You go get dressed and I'll deal with whoever it is." beraid said as he steered Thranduil towards his dresser.
" Okay, I'll go with that. Oh, if it is Elrond and Arwen let them stay." Thranduil said as he quickly grabbed a green robe. " They are here to play with Legolas. Remember?" he added when he saw beraid's confused look.
" Oh yeah I remember now." beraid said as Thranduil shut the bathroom door. He walked over to the door and opened it fully prepared to tell whomever it was to go away. He never got the chance however. He saw that it was just Elrond and Arwen.
" What are you doing here this early?" beraid asked.
" We were just going to give these books back Legolas. He lent them to Arwen yesterday. An while on our way here we meet an advisor coming down to Thranduil's room with this package," he held up the package for beraid to see " and I offered to take it for him so Thranduil would have some more time. I doubt that Legolas slept well last night so he must have been up all night too." Elrond explained as he put the package and books on the bedside table. ' Well hello Legolas I thought you were still asleep." he added when he saw Legolas's eyes open and helped him sit up. He put Arwen next to him.
" Hiya Legolas, did you sleep okay?" Arwen asked, " I brought your books backs. Thanks for letting me borrow them. That was really nice of you."
Legolas only nodded and looked at the package that held his name on it.
Thranduil had already greeted Elrond and Arwen before Legolas even noticed that he was there.
" Ada" he whispered.
Thranduil and Elrond had a hard time deciding if Legolas had fear in his eyes or if he was excited to get a package and hadn't gotten rid of the sleepiness in his eyes.
" Do you want to open your package Legolas?" Thranduil asked as he opened the drawer in the bedside table and pulled out a small knife.
Legolas nodded his head.
Thranduil opened it just enough so that Legolas would have to work at getting it open, which he quickly proved was not a problem. Legolas pulled out a note and handed it to his father to read to him.
Dear Legolas,
This is for you. Sorry I don't have time to write a longer letter. But I'll see you soon. I promise.
---Amras.
Ps.- remember what you did?
Thranduil felt his heart lighten. Amras and Legolas were best friends. Even though amras was a young adult he and Legolas had the grandest time together. The only problem was that amras loved to explore and Thranduil would not allow Legolas to go anywhere where the guards couldn't see or hear them, which limited there play areas considerably. None had seen or heard from amras for a while though. He and Legolas were out in the woods and Legolas came back all alone. He had said that amras decided to leave and explore other lands for a while. It was not unlike amras to do such a thing but it was very unlike him to just leave Legolas all by himself. Especially in the woods. But Thranduil and Legolas got letter from him every once and a while so he had to be alive. The last part of the letter had confused Thranduil but it wasn't unlike Legolas and amras to have a secret joke.
Legolas started to pull out a bunch of leaves and then he held a doll in his hands. But it wasn't just any old doll. It looked a lot like amras for one thing and it was spattered in real blood.
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I just love cliffhangers. J Don't you? * Looks around at everyone and runs* I'll have the next chappie tomorrow night. I promise. I already have it written out, I just have to post it.
Elrond - */…/*
Thranduil- /…/
Legolas- *…*
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Thranduil opened his door and walked over to the huge bed. He put Legolas down among the many white fluffy pillows. Elrond sat between the foot and middle of the bed.
*/ What is Thranduil doing now. /*
Thranduil walked over to a table near his fireplace and poured some wine for himself and Elrond and also some juice for Legolas. He grabbed the three glasses and handed them out. Legolas eagerly drank his. Thranduil sat down next to his son and Elrond move closer to them so that he could put his drink down on the bedside table.
" Okay Legolas. You are in my room and you have had something to drink. You have to answer our questions now. You don't have to talk or explain. Just nod your head yes or no. Deal?"
Legolas nodded his head his eyes constantly moving from Elrond to the door to Thranduil and to the windows and all around the room.
* They'll come. They'll do it. They did it once they can do it again. I can't do this. I cant. Nobody will believe me anyway. *
" Okay first question. Are your nightmares about something not real?" Thranduil asked as he tried to make eye contact with Legolas. He had moved so that he could see Legolas's reaction. Legolas made no eye contact what so ever.
Legolas didn't respond. But he seemed to be getting more and more paranoid by the minute. His eyes were constantly moving around the room, never stopping on one thing for too long.
" Legolas look at me." Thranduil said. He took Legolas's hands into his own and squeezed them. "Look at me. Now"
Legolas did one final sweep around the room before resting upon his father's forehead. His fear vividly showing in his eyes and face.
" Are your nightmares about something not real?" Thranduil asked again while he rubbed his sons hands.
Legolas shook his head. He eyes were now on the little bit of space of bed between himself and his father and Elrond. They stayed there, expect for the frequent look around the room.
" So they are about something real?" Elrond said.
Legolas stiffened and nodded his head.
/ Okay. Something has happened to my son. If some one did this to him I'll make sure they die a slow painful death. /
For a few minutes nobody said any thing as Thranduil tried to rub some of the stiffness out of his son's body. Legoas visibly calmed down some but Thranduil and Elrond could tell that he wasn't acullty calm. It was just one of he acts.
" Does it evolve people you know?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas half shrugged his shoulder and titled his head a little. He never once made eye contact with them.
" People you know and also people you don't. Is that what you mean?" Elrond asked.
Legolas nodded his head. He wasn't calm anymore. He couldn't sit still. He kept looking behind him as if some one or something was going to pop out at him. He started to rock back and forth a little.
" Did you see something that bothered you?" Thranduil asked hopefully.
/ Maybe he did see something. /
With that question Legolas became frantic. He tried to get up off the bed but Thranduil and Elrond firmly held him between them. He tried to fight them off but his small bruised body and ankle prosted so much that it brought him to tears.
/ Bingo/
* I can't tell. I have to get away. They'll come and do it. I know they will. I'll be the reason my father died. He'll hate me. Everyone will. *
" Calm down. You're not going anywhere. Elrond and i are right here. Nothing can harm you. I wont let anything hurt you, ever. I'll always be right here for you, I promise. I'll believe anything that you say." Thranduil said as he pulled his trembling son into his lap and gently wiped away his tears.
*Anything? *
" Do you want to tell me?" Thranduil asked hopefully.
Legolas just looked at them.
*/ Maybe since he doesn't really know me that well he doesn't feel comfortable talking about what ever this is all about. /*
" Do you want me to leave Legolas? So you can talk to your ada alone." Elrond asked.
Legolas surprised everyone one in the room. He buried his head in his robes and said " cant"
/ Cant what? /
" Elrond can't go. Is that what you mean?" Thranduil asked confused.
Legolas didn't say anything. He just sat there as started to cry.
Thranduil cradled his son in his lap. " Mani naa ta? Kwentra lye." {What is it? Tell us}
Legolas started to mumble something. It took a few minutes before Thranduil and Elrond could understand what he was saying. And it only added to their mounting confusion. " Amin ikotane hiraetha." {I'm so sorry.}
" What are you sorry for Legolas?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas said nothing. He curled up even more in his father's arms and hid his face entirely from view.
" Legolas, kwentra lye. You have to tell me so that I can help you. If I don't know what's bothering you then I can't help you." Thranduil said.
Legolas just kept on crying. Thranduil started to rubbed his back and murmur words of encouragement and comfort.
After a while Thranduil spoke " Legolas?" he said softly " will you at least look at me?"
Legolas made no movement expect to bury his head farther into his father's arms.
" Please?" Thranduil begged as he stroked his son's baby fine blonde hair.
After a few more minutes of Thranduil's begging it became apparent that Legolas had no intention of complying with his father. Thranduil looked like his was about to give up. Elrond however wasn't going to let him. Legolas had a secret that had to be revealed before it went any further. Elrond gently lifted Legolas out of his father's arms and put him down between himself and Thranduil. Thranduil shot him a puzzled and upset look.
"He needs to tell us." Elrond explained. He looked down at the small elfling that was sitting next to him and gave a small smile. Legolas's face was tear-stained and blotchy from crying. His hair stood out in odd angles due to his father playing with it. He would have to sleep soon or he would pass out from exhaustion by the looks of it
Legolas, can you tell us why you can't say anything?" Elrond asked as he smoothed away some stray hairs from Legolas's forehead. He felt perspiration under his fingers.
* They didn't say anything about telling why I can't say anything. Can I risk it? Would telling why I cant tell get my ada killed? *
Legolas looked up at his father. " Cause…" Legolas trailed off.
" Cause what?" Thranduil asked hopefully " I won't get angry at anything you say. I'll believe anything. I swear to you."
/ Please, oh please, oh please, say something Legolas. Just say it. Tell me what's bothering you. Please. Tell me so I can make it better. /
* I can't risk it. It is too dangerous. Ada will get mad. He won't understand! *
Legolas shook his head. He eyes were moving around the room again.
/here we go again. /
" Answer me this then, why are you looking around the room so much?" Elrond asked.
Legolas started to shake. Thranduil put his arm around him and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Legolas started to shake his head. Thranduil sighed. They weren't going to get anywhere else tonight. His son had closed up and everyone was too tired, either physically or mentally, to continue.
" Elrond," Thranduil waited until Elrond looked up at him " I don't think we are going to get anywhere at the moment."
Elrond sighed also and said " nor do I, I guess we should go to bed. Everyone is too tired to continue on." He got up from the bed " Legolas, me and Arwen should be here later on to play, okay?"
Legolas nodded his head, his face now in its usual impassive form. He leaned sleepily on his fathers arm.
" 'Quel undome." {Good evening} Elrond said as he walked to the door.
" 'Quel undome Elrond." Thranduil said. Elrond nodded his head and left for his own chambers.
" Well, since your already here, I guess you might as well sleep with me tonight." Thranduil said as he lifted Legolas up and walked over to the bathroom to get a damp washcloth. He wiped the perspiration off his son's hands and face. He also braided his hair back into the single braid that it had fallen out of earlier that evening. He watched as Legolas brushed his teeth and then picked his son back up and walked over to the white silk covered bed. He reached over and pulled the covers back. He put his son gently on the bed. He reached down to get a pillow that had somehow managed to get away from the rest. With a jolt he realized that he had forgotten to ask beraid about Legolas's ankle.
/ Bloody Mandos! It probably hurts a whole lot more than it did yesterday. Thranduil! You idiot! How, on middle earth, with the fury of Mordor, could you forget something like that! /
The ankle was still swollen and looked like it had several new bruises. The only way that Thranduil could tell if they were new was that they seemed to be a shade darker than the rest but he couldn't tell for sure because of the bandages in his way.
" How does your ankle feel? Does it hurt worse than yesterday?" Thranduil asked his son as he gently laid a hand on it.
Legolas nodded. His eyes were closed in exhaustion or pain, Thranduil couldn't tell, Legolas had on his usual impassive face again.
/ What can I do? It is too late to go to the healers, umm… maybe I can just loosen it a little and then first thing tomorrow morning I'll take him to beraid. /
" I'm going to try and loosen your splint." Thranduil said as he bent down next to Legolas's foot. He quickly found the pins that held the restricting splint in place. He looked up at his son who was looking down at him with questioning eyes. " This may hurt a little, I need you to hold your leg still for me okay?"
Legolas nodded and turned his eyes towards the ceiling.
Thranduil gently pulled at the pins until they slowly started to come out. He held his sons foot gently so that if the pins all of the sudden came loose without warning his foot wouldn't be jarred too much. Thranduil quickly looked up at his sons face. He was still staring up at the ceiling with a blank face that would have been devoid of all emotion expect for that he was biting down his lower lip.
" Legolas are you in a lot of pain?" Thranduil asked as he took his hands of the ankle. " Do you want me to stop?"
Legolas just gave his father the usual shake of his head. He was still biting down on his lower lip, though not as hard.
/ Might as well keep going. It'll help when it's looser. /
Thranduil once again placed his hands on his son's ankle and pulled out the pins. He pulled off the splint and looked at the white bandages covering most of his son's ankle. He looked up at Legolas expecting to see him relived at the removal of the splint but he was still biting down on his lower lip.
" Does it still hurt?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas looked down at him and nodded.
/it must be the bandages then. Beraid is going to kill me tomorrow. I'm not supposed to take them off but… if they are causing Legolas pain…. then they'll have to come off whether beraid likes it or not. /
" Okay this part may hurt a little more than the last one did." Thranduil said
Legolas didn't respond but Thranduil could tell that he had heard him. Thranduil gently raised Legolas's swollen ankle and tried to find the end of the bandages.
/ Trust beraid to come up with something like this. It is supposed to be childproof not parent proof. Psychotic elf /
Finally Thranduil felt the ends of the confounding bandages under his fingers. The trouble was that they were on the back of Legolas's ankle instead of on the side like Thranduil had hoped.
/ Great… just great. /
He looked up at his son and gave him a quick smile before returning to his work. He let out a deep sigh and started working. Legolas tensed up more and more each time his ankle was twisted the wrong way. After a few minutes Thranduil let out a sigh of relief. He had finally managed to untie the bandages. It was pretty hard to do so when he couldn't see what he was doing. He slowly began to unwrap the bandages and when he was done he inspected the ankle. It was healing well. The old bruises were beginning to fade. The newer bruises were only a little darker than the rest but they would heal in time.
" Greenleaf, could you hand me that small pillow next to your hand?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas looked around for the pillow his father had requested. He saw it and handed it to his father.
" Diola lle." {Thank you} Thranduil said as he propped his son's foot on the pillow. He got up and walked to the bathroom. He grabbed a silver coloured washcloth off of the towel rack that was next to the sink. He wet it with cold water and wringed it out a little. He quickly walked back to his bed a put the washcloth on Legolas's ankle. Unluckily for Legolas, Thranduil hadn't realized that he was almost asleep.
Legolas jumped at the unexpected coldness on his ankle.
* What was that! *
He looked up at his father with sleepy eyes. " Ada?"
" Did I scare you? I didn't mean to. Go back to sleep my little greenleaf." Thranduil asked as he changed out of his formal robes and into some much more comfortable nightclothes. He smiled at the sleepily confused look on his sons face. "It will make your ankle feel better." Thranduil explained. He quickly put out all of the candles expect the small lantern by the bed. Legolas was scared of the dark so Thranduil always tried to remember to leave a candle burning. He climbed into bed next to Legolas and gently pulled him closer. Legolas automatically stiffened and did not relax for about three minutes.
/ Why, why, do you do that Legolas? I'm not going to hurt you. I never have and I never will. /
" Amin mela lle Legolas, 'quel undome." {I love you, good night} Thranduil said as he readjusted his and Legolas's pillows.
Legolas nodded his head. He would fast asleep in a few minutes by the look in his face.
/ Why wont you say that you love me? I know that you do. Why wont you say it? You did before. /
Long after Legolas fell asleep Thranduil followed. He wouldn't sleep for long though. Dawn was in two hours and Legolas was in a fit full state of sleep.
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Thranduil groaned. Yet another night of restless sleep from Legolas. Thranduil was in constant worry about him so he couldn't rest much. Luckily for the both of them Legolas hadn't had any more nightmares. Not that him waking up and thinking someone was going to get him or something was any better for Thranduil. He had to search countless times for invisible foes that Legolas claimed to be in the bedroom. He looked over at the window. The sun was just starting to rise. He had about an hour and a half before his bothersome councilors came banging on his door. He sat up and looked down at a small lump under the blankets, which was his sleeping son. Thranduil smiled and cautiously pulled the covers away from his face. The last thing he wanted at the moment was to wake up his son, who was sleeping peacefully at the moment. But Thranduil knew that it wouldn't last long though. He ran his fingers though the bits of hair that had escaped the braid last night. Thranduil leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. He got out of bed and stretched. He walked over to his balcony. Thranduil leaned against the cool metal railing. He closed his eyes and let the morning breeze wash over him. For a moment he pictured how his and Legolas's life could have been. If his wife, Atariel, hadn't been murdered, if his mother hadn't left for the undying lands. If his father hadn't of been the way he was. If Mirkwood didn't have a constant shadow lurking in its mists, just waiting for the opportune moment to strike. If Legolas wasn't the way that he was. If he didn't have his nightmares. If Thranduil was able to spend more time with him. If Thranduil's older sister, Alasse hadn't gotten married and moved away. If Legolas's aunts didn't live all the way in Lothlorien. With all this on his mind Thranduil put his head in his hands and wept silently. He hadn't noticed the elf that stood in his doorway watching him. After a few moments he stood up and wiped away his tears.
/ Maybe I cant change most of that but I can still help my son. Some time soon I'll take him to Lorien to see his mothers sisters and brothers. And to Rivendell to meet Alasse. I'll spend more time with him. I'll take him out riding with me soon too. Maybe I can even begin to teach him archery. /
Thranduil turned around and nearly jumped out of his skin. There just inches away from him was beraid.
" Bloody mandos beraid, what was that for!!" Thranduil asked as he willed himself to calm down." how long have you been standing there?" he added suspiciously. The last thing he needed right now was someone to know he had been crying. Even though beraid had seen him cry many times before and had been there to comfort him. He was always the one to patch Thranduil and Alasse up after his father had beaten them and he always seemed to know what to do and what to say. Beraid was more of a father to Thranduil and Alasse than their own father had ever been.
" Testy, testy." beraid teased. " I just came to check up on Legolas and I noticed that you weren't there. So I decided to look for you."
" Well, thank you. How's Legolas?" Thranduil asked eager to change the subject.
Beraid chuckled " eager to know how your little boy is or just eager to change the subject?" he asked knowingly. " Or is it both?"
" Think whatever you want to think just tell about Legolas." Thranduil said as he walked back into his bedroom with beraid following.
" Well you should know. After all you're the one that took his splint off." Beraid said as he moved towards Legolas.
" It was hurting him." Thranduil explained looking down at Legolas and then up at beraid. " I had to do something."
" Alright, alright, he is healing quite nicely his ankle will take maybe about three more days to fully heal and even after that it will be a little bit swollen and tender." beraid said as he sat down on the bed and started to put some bandages and ointment on Legolas's swollen ankle. " This time I'll put them on looser and leave the splint off. As long as he doesn't walk on it too much, it should heal on time." beraid tied the last of the bandages off and started to pack up his lotions and ointments into his bag. " Okay, now we have covered Legolas. It is time to talk about you. And don't even try to change the subject, cause it is not going to work this time." beraid said firmly as he lead Thranduil back out to the balcony, all traces of his former smile were gone.
/ I should have known he would be here in the morning. He always has a knack for showing up when people need him whether they think they do or not. /
Thranduil took a deep breath; he knew that once he got started it would be hard for him to stop. But he didn't have any problems telling beraid anything. His only concern was that Legolas would wake up and hear something. As if sensing this beraid walked over and closed the double glass doors that led back into the bedroom. "That better?" he asked with kind eyes.
" Yeah… yeah it is, thank you." Thranduil said. Beraid came over and placed his arm on Thranduil's shoulders. That one simple movement broke what was left of Thranduil's resolve. He stared to cry and tell beraid everything that had been on his mind for the last couple days. He couldn't help but cry when he thought of how his beloved looked laying on the floor in the nursery in a puddle of blood and one year old Legolas screaming in his crib for his mother not understanding why she didn't get up and play with him like she always did. And how his wife's grave looked and her face when they buried her. Or when he remembered his sister leaving with her new husband for Rivendell. Or his wife's sisters and older brother in Lorien Legolas had never meet. Thranduil had just realized how alone he Legolas really were and it was not the way Thranduil wanted Legolas to live but he could do nothing about anything.
Just when Thranduil was about ready to go back in and see if Legolas was awake he heard the unmistakable sound of someone knocking on his bedroom door.
" And I'm not even dressed yet!" Thranduil mumbled, as he looked loathing at the door as he walked into his bedroom. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face beraid.
" You go get dressed and I'll deal with whoever it is." beraid said as he steered Thranduil towards his dresser.
" Okay, I'll go with that. Oh, if it is Elrond and Arwen let them stay." Thranduil said as he quickly grabbed a green robe. " They are here to play with Legolas. Remember?" he added when he saw beraid's confused look.
" Oh yeah I remember now." beraid said as Thranduil shut the bathroom door. He walked over to the door and opened it fully prepared to tell whomever it was to go away. He never got the chance however. He saw that it was just Elrond and Arwen.
" What are you doing here this early?" beraid asked.
" We were just going to give these books back Legolas. He lent them to Arwen yesterday. An while on our way here we meet an advisor coming down to Thranduil's room with this package," he held up the package for beraid to see " and I offered to take it for him so Thranduil would have some more time. I doubt that Legolas slept well last night so he must have been up all night too." Elrond explained as he put the package and books on the bedside table. ' Well hello Legolas I thought you were still asleep." he added when he saw Legolas's eyes open and helped him sit up. He put Arwen next to him.
" Hiya Legolas, did you sleep okay?" Arwen asked, " I brought your books backs. Thanks for letting me borrow them. That was really nice of you."
Legolas only nodded and looked at the package that held his name on it.
Thranduil had already greeted Elrond and Arwen before Legolas even noticed that he was there.
" Ada" he whispered.
Thranduil and Elrond had a hard time deciding if Legolas had fear in his eyes or if he was excited to get a package and hadn't gotten rid of the sleepiness in his eyes.
" Do you want to open your package Legolas?" Thranduil asked as he opened the drawer in the bedside table and pulled out a small knife.
Legolas nodded his head.
Thranduil opened it just enough so that Legolas would have to work at getting it open, which he quickly proved was not a problem. Legolas pulled out a note and handed it to his father to read to him.
Dear Legolas,
This is for you. Sorry I don't have time to write a longer letter. But I'll see you soon. I promise.
---Amras.
Ps.- remember what you did?
Thranduil felt his heart lighten. Amras and Legolas were best friends. Even though amras was a young adult he and Legolas had the grandest time together. The only problem was that amras loved to explore and Thranduil would not allow Legolas to go anywhere where the guards couldn't see or hear them, which limited there play areas considerably. None had seen or heard from amras for a while though. He and Legolas were out in the woods and Legolas came back all alone. He had said that amras decided to leave and explore other lands for a while. It was not unlike amras to do such a thing but it was very unlike him to just leave Legolas all by himself. Especially in the woods. But Thranduil and Legolas got letter from him every once and a while so he had to be alive. The last part of the letter had confused Thranduil but it wasn't unlike Legolas and amras to have a secret joke.
Legolas started to pull out a bunch of leaves and then he held a doll in his hands. But it wasn't just any old doll. It looked a lot like amras for one thing and it was spattered in real blood.
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I just love cliffhangers. J Don't you? * Looks around at everyone and runs* I'll have the next chappie tomorrow night. I promise. I already have it written out, I just have to post it.