Elrond leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes briefly in a vain effort to get enough strength to rise and check on his children.
Glorfindel had finally fallen asleep and was quiet. He was not hurt to bad but bad enough to land him a bed in greenwoods healing houses for a day or two. A restriction that he was most unpleased with.
Elrond felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips as he remembered the fuss Glorfindel had made over having to stay overnight. To say that he was not happy would be an understatement. Glorfindel was furious. Why Elrond couldn't really understand but it had to do with something about Arwen, not needing a lot of care and a couple other things. Elrond had finally calmed him down enough to give him some medicines and to sleep.
Elrond slowly raised himself out the uncomfortable chair and stretched his sore muscles, looking over his long time friend one more time he left to go and join his children.
Thranduil groaned as he threw his arm over his eyes in a vain effort to block out the early morning sun. It seemed like he had just sat down, it couldn't be time to get up. Convincing himself that he still had time to get some rest Thranduil closed his eyes and leaned his head back.
Legolas started whimpering.
Thranduil was on his feet in an instant, his tiredness momentary forgotten.
"Nasal' ai er, amin sinome" be still, I am here
Legolas quickly quieted down and wrapped his small hands and his father's larger ones. His eyes slowly open.
"Hi…how do you feel?" Thranduil asked softly, smoothing the small child's hair away from his face.
Legolas bolted up and wrapped his arms around his father.
"Ada…Ada…" Legolas cried into his father's hair
"I'm here Legolas, I'm right here, amin mela lle… amin mela lle" I love you Thranduil whispered in his sons pointed ear holding back his own tears.
"Oh…Legolas." Thranduil whispered. He slowly backed up and sat down in the chair that he had spent a hour or so in while waiting for Legolas to awake.
Legolas sighed and wrapped his hand around some of his father's hair. He laid his head down on Thranduil's shoulder and sighed.
Thranduil ran his fingers through his son's hair and sat there peacefully for several long minutes.
There was a loud knock on the door and then it slowly open to reveal Valandil's worried face.
"Milord, you need to come with me, one of the soldiers is dying."
"What…who?" Thranduil said as he leapt to his feet still holding Legolas.
"Tathar." Valandil said softly. "Elemmire is here to watch Legolas."
Thranduil nodded and looked down at legolas's panic-stricken face.
"Honey, I have to go now, I'll be back as soon as I can." Thranduil said. He placed legolas on the bed "I'll be back. Amin mela lle."
Legolas shook his head, tears starting to roll down his face again.
"Don't cry, it will be alright." Thranduil said hurriedly. He gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked out to Valandil after Elemmire came through the door and gently took the struggling prince from his father.
"I should have gone to check on them!" Thranduil said angrily as he followed Valandil through the hall to where the dying solider lay. "I should have done something."
"Milord, there was nothing you could do. No one expected to leave your sons side at a time like this. It is not your fault." Valandil said as he opened a door and led Thranduil into a dimly lit room.
Ruviel was on her knees next to Tathar's bed gripping his hand. Several healers stood off to the side of her.
Every breath that Tathar drew became more and more shallow. His face became as white as his sheets and his eyes were becoming unfocused.
Thranduil hurried over and kneeled down next to the dying solider and gripped his other cold sweaty hand. "Tathar… I wish that I could do something to ease your pain but I can't…. But. I thank you for your aid in rescuing my son…. Without you he would not have been in my arms this morning……………… and I am honored to have known such a brave and true warrior as your self."
Tathar gave a small smile as he listened to his king.
"Don't……bury me…." He rasped out
"What? Don't bury you? What do you mean?" Thranduil asked puzzled
"I ….want to be…..burned….like……the……warriors .on a battle field." He requested
"I will grant whatever wish you desire, mellonnin." Thranduil said somberly.
After hearing Thranduil promise him his wanted funeral, Tathar let his roll to the side, he took one last shuddering breath and then left middle earth into the waiting hands of Mandos.
Thranduil took a deep breath and slowly opened legolas's door.
"Ada!" cried the worried elfling from the bed.
"Yes I'm back. I'm sorry I took so long. There were things I had to take care of."
Legolas nodded and held out his arms.
Thranduil granted his sons unspoken request and carefully wrapped his arms around him.
"Amin mela lle, ion nin, Amin mela lle." Thranduil whispered in his son's ear. I love you, my son, I love you
Elrond moaned as the heavy drape was moved from its place and early morning sunlight shone brightly in his face.
"Amin hiraetha, Ada" Arwen said sheepishly from her spot on the wide windowsill, "Amin uum mern cuiv lle." I am sorry Ada; I did not mean to wake you
Elrond nodded his head, "Amin elea, tula sinome."
Arwen smiled and climbed back into bed with her Ada.
Gathering his daughter up in his arms, Elrond tucked her back into the bed.
"Amin mela lee, Amin Arwen." I love you, my Arwen"
"Amin mela lle, Ada." I love you Ada
There was a knock at the door.
"Tula e'" Come in Thranduil called as he looked up from the book he was reading to Legolas.
"Milord's," Captain Valandil said with a bow.
"Valandil," Thranduil said with a smile, "when will you stop?"
"Stop what? This?" with that he stepped closer to Legolas picked up one of his small hands and gave it a quick kiss before placing it in his father's larger one.
Legolas giggled and looked down.
Thranduil shook his head, "Auta Amin hin ereb." Leave my Prince alone
Valandil gave a mock bow "of course, your highness."
Legolas smiled a little at this, but in a flash that smile was gone.
Seeing that he had amused his prince Valandil straightened and looked at Thranduil.
"Everything is being taken care of. The cave is being searched and inventoried, and the funeral arrangements are under way."
Thranduil, nodded. "I expected as much. I greatly appreciate your help."
"I am glad to be of service, in a trying time as this."
Thranduil nodded as he looked down as Legolas, who was currently picking at the blanket that covered him and his father.
"This little one wouldn't seem to talk." He said gently as he smoothed away a stray hair from the young prince's pale face.
"Ah, why so quiet? You are safe. The people who hurt you are gone, and will never come near you again. Uuma dela, Amin taren." Valandil said as he bent down so that he was looking as close to Legolas' eyes as possible with the elfling looking anywhere but at him.
"I've tried, but he won't listen to me." Thranduil said as he wrapped an arm around Legolas, and gently scooted him back into his lap.
"Maybe he is listening to you, but is still afraid, and in shock." Valandil said wrapping his large hand around Legolas' smaller one. "Maybe he just needs time, like everyone else in the world."
Thranduil nodded. "I know he needs time. And I'll give him all the time and love he needs." He laid a kiss on Legolas' temple. "You know that, right, my little Greenleaf?"
Legolas gave a small nod.
"Good, trust you Ada, he loves you very much. He will always be here for you. As will I, Beraid, and Nefaith. We will always be here. I give you my word." Valandil said as he gave Legolas' hand a small squeeze.
Legolas spared Valandil a quick glance and nod.
"Good, you remember that, Amin taren." Valandil said as he stood.
"Was there anything else you needed?" Thranduil asked after a moment of silence "or did you just come in here to bother us?
Valandil laughed "as much as I love to bother you, I did come with a purpose: Nefaith wants to see Legolas and Elrond and Beraid has expressed a wish to talk to you soon."
"Tell Nefaith she may come when she wants to, she needs not ask. As for Elrond and Beraid… what did they want?"
"That I can not tell you. But I can tell you that it is most urgent, and should not be delayed longer than necessary." Valandil said. "It would be much better if you were to talk to them today, for it involves Legolas."
Thranduil sighed. "Very well, tell Elrond to come and get me when he is ready."
Valandil nodded. "I take my leave of you, my lord." He said giving a short bow. "And you, Amin taren."
"Leave with all that nonsense," Thranduil said as he shooed his captain away with his hand.
"But of course," he said flashing Legolas one last smile before turning on his heel and quickly leaving the room.
"Now, where were we?" Thranduil said as he picked up the book he had been reading to Legolas before they were interrupted
"Ada, do you have to go?" Arwen said her lip quivering
"Now Arwen, none of that my lady." Elrond said as he scooped his daughter up in his arms.
Arwen let out one great sigh. Her lips stop quivering.
"I have to go and talk to king Thranduil. It is about Legolas. There are things that he must know now. They are very important." Elrond said, tweaking his daughter's nose.
"Ada" Arwen growled rubbing her nose. "I hate that"
"I know that is why I do it."
"But do you have to go?" Arwen pleaded looking up through her dark lashes.
"Yes, I have to talk to king Thranduil. It is very, very important." Elrond said.
"Well, I guess you can go if it all that important." Arwen said grudgingly after a moment.
"That's my wonderful girl!" Elrond said tweaking her nose once more, before setting her down.
"ADA!" Arwen cried out. "Will you ever stop?"
Elrond knelled down and took a deep breath and looked deep into his daughter brilliant blue eyes, "no"
Arwen scoffed and rolled her eyes while crossing her arms. "Boys will be boys."
"You have been around your mother entirely too much." Elrond said immediately recognizing the phrase his wife had muttered all through the twin's childhood and then some.
"I will be back soon. Play with your brothers, but be careful of 'Ro. He had a rough night last night." Elrond said. "Maybe later Elladan will take you to see Glorfindel."
Arwen sighed, "oh alright, but hurry back."
"I will try, but this is not something that you can rush." Elrond said bending down and kissing the top of her head.
" Tenna' san', Ada" Arwen said blowing a kiss until then, Ada
" uuma, tenna' san', melamine." Elrond said catching her kiss and putting it in his pocket for later. yes, until then, my love
"What is all this about?" Thranduil asked as he shut the door to his study. Looking around he saw that Beraid sat down on the couch by himself while Elrond and Valandil had both pulled a few chairs closer to Beraid.
"It's about Legolas," Beraid said "come here and sit down." He patted the space on the couch next to him.
"Alright" Thranduil said uneasily
Once Thranduil was seated Elrond spoke.
"Has Legolas always been so shy?"
"To a point, yes."
"To a point?" asked Elrond
"Legolas was always quiet, even when he was a baby." Thranduil replied wondering at what Elrond was playing at "but, it never really bordered on a actual fear until about a year ago."
"Yes, right after Amras ran away." Beraid said.
Elrond sighed.
"Why? What's wrong?" Thranduil said worriedly "Elrond, tell me!"
"One night, I asked Legolas if he knew why he had been kidnapped. He didn't answer right away but after some coaxing he told me that he had seen Vero before-"
"That's not possible! Vero has been gone since Alasse was killed. Legolas couldn't have seen him before!" Thranduil replied hurriedly "he couldn't have! He just couldn't…"
"Thranduil, hush. Let Elrond finish." Beraid said putting a hand on the Elven kings arm.
Thranduil nodded looking at Elrond. "Continue"
"He told me he had seen Vero before, he told me that Amras hadn't run away, or left, but had been killed. By Vero."
Thranduil looked at Elrond with a look of utmost shock and disbelief on his fair face.
"No… no… that… that's not possible!" Thranduil said jumping to his feet.
"That's all he told me, you have to talk to him." Elrond said "I didn't push him to tell me more. I left it at that. It wasn't my place"
"No, no!" Thranduil whispered as he paced back and forth. "That… no"
He stopped and looked at Elrond "how can you be sure?"
"I have a feeling that that is not something Legolas would lie about, and you said that he got so scared after Amras 'left'. Wouldn't it be likely that Vero had said something to the effect of he'll kill you if Legolas said anything. Or maybe Legolas just got so scared that he couldn't talk about it." Elrond replied.
"Thranduil, sit down. You're making my head hurt watching you go to and fro." Beraid said.
Thranduil obeyed and sat down heavily on the couch.
"If all this is true, why wouldn't he tell me? I'm his father, I love him. I would have taken care of it." Thranduil asked
"Just like Elrond said, he was, and is, scared to death of what might happen or what did happen." Beraid said
"But now with Vero dead, don't you think he will be more willing to talk?" Valandil asked
"I don't know. It depends on Legolas, it might also depend on if Legolas happened to see him dead. If Legolas never saw Vero's body than he might not believe us and continue to live in fear." Elrond said.
"Did he? Did he see you kill Vero?" Beraid asked Thranduil
Thranduil let out a short breath, "no, Legolas did not see me kill Vero."
"That can be good or bad, maybe both" Elrond said
"He killed Vero, not me." Thranduil said
I noticed that my last chapter didn't load like it was meant to.A lot of the characters didnt show up like they should of.I have no idea why. If you have any suggestions please tell me.
The next chapter:
Legolas tells his story
Thranduil finds out the truth about a lot of things
Beraid tells some secrets