Title: Portend 2/3
Author: Númenora
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Legolas/Verno (pre-Aragorn/Estel), Thranduil, OMCs
Warnings: AU, Slash, angst; warm & fuzzy.
Setting: Mirkwood.
Disclaimer: All known Characters are Tolkien's; even the OMCs have Tolkien names.
Beta: none; all mistakes are mine and that includes any misuse of the Elvish (as well as the English) language.
Summary: Six-year-old Legolas has an imaginary friend—at least this is what his family believes; what will happen when they find out that the 'friend' is very real? Who is he and what is his purpose? A short WIP (3 chapters) that had begun as a drabble written for the LAS April/May 'Spring' Challenge, but morphed into this multi-chapter piece.
A/N: This is an AU world that messes with canon a whole bunch—some obvious, but others not yet apparent. It's a bit odd, but I hope you like it. I was inspired by the Shirley Temple movie 'The Blue Bird.' I have wanted to write a similar fic for quite sometime, but this challenge gave me a vehicle for it, though I am not posting it as a part of the challenge; thanks Akashaelfwitch and the owner/moderators of AragornLegolas Slash group.
Thoughts and stressed words are denoted by italics
Elvish Phrase glossary at the end of the each chapter
Chapter Two
"Asunder"
The Guardian (as Verno called her and others who cared for the unborn) watched as Verno walked away to sit in his and Legolas' favorite place near a large elm tree. When the young Prince and the future mortal King met, they played all over and around the beautiful place the unborn called 'the Before-time.' But they mostly played and took their rest near the tree where the future King was now sitting and they had been inseparable. Now it was always the same when he and the Guardian returned—Verno (she smiled as realized she now thought of him by that name) would sit there until the next day when she would once more allow him to return to Legolas.
"Why do you persist in taking him to Arda?" Another of her ilk, a male inquired concernedly.
"It is necessary for our children who have gone before and the ones yet to," she replied as she turned to him.
"You overstep your place! It is not for you to decide or to interfere with our children's free will."
"Would you have the ones who wait and the others who have not yet arrived be born into a world possessed by Evil? He," she said pointing to Verno, "Is destined to fight this great Evil that is steadily gaining strength. If he is to be successful, then he needs Legolas to be by his side, loving and protecting him. I only do what I must!"
"Your duty is to watch over them while they are here; once they leave us, they become the concern of others more powerful than you or I. They put us here for this purpose alone." The other touched her shoulder to soften his words.
"If that is so, then why tell us what is to come for our charges? Why do they let us care for them and worry for them as if they were our children? The boy needs my help—all of my children do! I will help them."
"They know of what you have been doing; did you think they would not? I was sent to bring you before the Great One to answer for your actions." Regret was in his voice and his eyes.
"Very well," she glanced once more over to Verno before she was escorted away.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Elurín watched as his parents absorbed what he had to tell them. To say that they were surprised would have been an understatement; but Edrahil was especially anxious, his instincts as Legolas' protector coming to the fore.
"I should have listened to my earlier concerns!" He berated himself; and then to Elurín, "You could not see this elfling closely enough?"
"Nay, 'Da—he was sitting behind Lassë. I could only make out that he was similar in size, perhaps a bit broader, but not much older. I am sorry; I wanted to climb up, but Little Leaf begged me not to. I hated hearing him become so upset." Elurín's voice trailed away in regret.
"Why are the two of you behaving as if Legolas was playing with an orch?¹ I realize that it is shocking to think that his little mellon is not imaginary as we'd thought, but his is an elfling; one that has played with Lassë these past 18 months. Legolas is still the loving, happy child he always has been and nothing or no one has changed that." King Thranduil walked over to his herven and looked deeply into his eyes.
When Edrahil gazed back, the King continued, "I would know if Lassë were in trouble or danger and I do not feel that. We will wait until he joins us and explains about Verno; I'm sure we will find that he is a normal elfling with loving parents like Legolas' adas."
Edrahil smiled as his heart tripped in his chest. Thranduil was so very beautiful and he would believe that Ithil was made of lembas if his love deemed it so.
"Very well, Melethron—I will calm until we speak to him." Edrahil ran his fingers lovingly through Thranduil golden locks—the both of them nearly forgetting that their eldest ion was present as they continued to stare.
Elurín made a coughing noise and when King and Consort looked over his way, he rolled his green eyes dramatically and smirked, causing the older elves to laugh. They enjoyed their brief merriment until they heard Legolas' tiny (nearly silent) patter coming down the hall. As Lassë entered the sitting room, three pairs of eyes stared in concern at him.
Fearing that he'd ruined his clothes or had smudges on his face, Legolas began to check himself. He would have gone over to the mirror, but Thranduil called him to him. "You are fine, Ion-nin—come here; 'Da and I would like to speak to you about Verno."
"Is something the matter, Ada?" Legolas' lovely face frowned and his bottom lip quivered minutely. "I'm sorry that he couldn't meet Elurín, but those are the rules; I am the only one who is allowed to see him."
Edrahil's brows rose at this statement, but he didn't want to alarm the six-year-old. "Why can we not see him as well, Lassë?"
"Because he..." Legolas hesitated.
"Go on, Lassë—why is this so?" Thranduil encouraged.
"Because he is not supposed to be here. His guardian brings him here to be with me because we are destined to be bonded one day." The blond child explained.
"Do I know this elfling's guardian?" The King asked sitting down and he pulled Legolas onto his lap.
"No, Ada—she takes care of Verno in the Before-time."
"The Before-time?" The King watched as the elfling nodded vigorously. "What is this 'Before-time?'"
"It is the place where all good people live before they are born. There is one for people and one for animals like felines, canines and horses and birds and bugs and..." He continued until Thranduil interrupted.
"I see—one for people and one for animals; but where is this place."
"I don't know where exactly, but Verno lives there and I did once, too. We all lived there before we were born. There are Before-times for all creatures—some not so nice like trolls and dragons, but Verno and the other children can't go there to play with them.
"He said that we used to play with puppies and kittens and birds and that I liked the seagulls; most elves loved the gulls. He told me that I should stay away from them now that I am here; he wasn't sure why, but the Guardian said so." Such a look of love and happiness crossed the small elf's face every time Verno was mentioned.
Edrahil knelt next to the seated pair and took Legolas' small hands into his larger ones. "Lassë—I know that you and Verno like to play these games of the 'Before-time,' but can you tell me and your Ada more about this elfling? What his real name is and who his parents are or his guardian's name?"
"I have been telling you everything I know; he doesn't have parents yet. They are in the Before-time, too and I don't know what his guardian's name is, but I'll ask her tomorrow when she comes to get Verno after we play.
"And Verno doesn't have a real name yet either—just what I gave him; and you should know, Verno is not an elfling. When he is born, he will be edain and a King like you, Ada; and I will be his Consort like you, 'Da—won't that be wonderful?" Legolas nearly shrieked with joy, his blue eyes dreamy.
King Thranduil looked at his spouse and then to Elurín. Perhaps, he thought, there is something to be concerned over with this?
"Yes, Penneth—that will be wonderful. But I feel that we should meet with Verno and his guardian tomorrow when he arrives." Legolas was about to protest, but the King forestalled it. "We insist, Lassë—if you and Verno are to bonded for life one day, then your family should meet him and his guardian."
Legolas looked from Thranduil to Edrahil to Elurín. "I will ask, but I can not promise that they will; I'm just so afraid he will leave me never to return." Large tears began to fall down Legolas' lovely face and his ada pulled him close.
"I'm sure that he will return to you, Pen-velui—fear not." The Mirkwood Monarch soothed as Edrahil and Elurín stood nearby, both as concerned as the King.
Later that evening...
King Thranduil rocked Legolas in the large rocking chair that had been the Queens; it had been in the elfling's room since he was born. Edrahil stood nearby as his spouse sang to their youngest ion. Legolas had been very quiet since earlier that day when they'd insisted that they meet his previously-believed imagined friend. Elurín had tried taking Legolas riding and showing him how to hold and shoot a bow, but the six-year-old showed no interest in any of these activities; and later, he had had no appetite at supper.
When the citizens gathered in the courtyard to sing and to dance, instead of laughing and dancing along with everyone, Legolas remained quiet; he even began to cry when a certain song was sung. He said that he would sing that song to Verno; that it was the pre-mortal's favorite. After that, Thranduil and Edrahil gathered him close and took him to bed; which is why the King was singing to the elfling to help him to fall into reverie. King Thranduil carefully stood up and carried the small being over to his bed and he and the Consort tucked him in.
After standing over Legolas for a few moments more, they reluctantly left the elfling's bed chamber and stood outside in the small sitting room, Legolas' toys scattered about. The King began to pick up the small warriors and horses; the miniature carts and stuffed animals. As he moved about, Thranduil vigorously fought back tears; he never cried unless it had to do with his children. Being a ruler, he had to appear strong and fierce—able to face any threat great or small. But he was very helpless when it came to his ionnath; he wanted them to be happy and well as any parent would.
Edrahil reached down and began to help his herven, knowing instinctually that telling him to leave the toys until the morrow wouldn't help. When the floor was clear, Mirkwood's Royal Consort gathered its King into his strong arms and the both of them just held the other for a while.
Thranduil was the first to speak. "I don't want him to revert back to the way he was after his mother Eärwen died—was murdered," he corrected as sob escaped.
Thranduil still felt pain and helplessness whenever he thought of his slain herves; he also felt guilt that he had found happiness again with Edrahil. He had adored Eärwen, but his love for her was never as deep as his love was now for the elf holding him. Thranduil had known Edrahil since the King was almost as young as Legolas; the warrior had served King Oropher for many centuries before the elder King fell during the Last Alliance and he continued to serve as guardian over Thranduil's palace; then later, he guarded the King's children—Legolas being the last until Queen Eärwen was lost in an Yrch attack.
Thranduil had always fought his affections for the red-haired ellon, especially during his marriage. But when grief threatened to destroy the Royal family, Edrahil stepped forwards and became the family's emotional anchor and he helped them bear their loss and begin to heal. Afterwards, Thranduil no longer wanted to deny his feelings for Edrahil though he didn't know if the elf felt the same for him. But he took a chance and declared himself; and after a respectable amount of time had passed, they began a courtship that eventually led to a bonding. Thranduil and his ionnath and Edrahil became a happy and loving family once more.
But now, the youngest member was in emotional pain and his adas were very worried. "He won't; he is merely distressed over the prospect of losing his friend. I think that he and Verno have lived this fantasy for so long, that they believe that it is real.
"We have only to help them see the truth of things and let them know that their friendship can and will continue in the real world and not the 'Before-time.' When they face the truth, they will see that all is still well and that the two of them can have fun in many different games." Edrahil ran his hands up and down the slender, but strong back of his King and love, his closeness helping to calm the monarch.
"Of course you are right; you ever have been. You are my light and my rock and my friend and my love; I would be lost without you." Thranduil pulled slightly away to gaze into deep blue-violet eyes staring lovingly into his clear green ones. "I love you so much, A'maelamin—I will until I draw my last breath."
"I feel the very same; melin chen, gûren (I love you, my heart), now and forever!" Edrahil avowed.
The two lovers kissed tenderly at first, but the love and desire that they felt for each other began to overwhelm them and the kiss deepened—their tongues meeting and dueling as each drank of the other's passions. When air became a necessity, they had to pull apart briefly while they caught their breath, foreheads touching and hearts racing.
"Per...Perhaps we should go to our room to...finish what we started here?" The Consort suggested between breaths.
"But Lassë...?"
"...Is fine, Thranduil. We are only a short distance away should he need us." The older ellon cupped the King's beautiful face, kissing him briefly on the lips and his brow and finally at his temple.
"You are right—again!" Thranduil laughed softly though worry still etched his recently kissed brow. "Let us peer in at him for a moment before we retire," he suggested.
Edrahil nodded and the two went back into Legolas' bedchamber; after standing in the same spot in nearly the same manner as few minutes before, they left again after kissing the slumbering elfling. They said goodnight to the guard standing outside in the hall, the younger elf personally trained by Edrahil; after instructing him to keep close watch over Legolas, King and Consort entered their own chambers.
Back inside Legolas' bedchamber...
A white light shown briefly in the room just before a shimmering transfigured being appeared next to the sleeping elfling walking in dreams. Verno stood over Legolas looking down lovingly at him. He then crawled onto the bed and ran his small hand down a soft, pale cheek—his fingers tracing winged brows and pert nose and perfect pink lips. How he loved Legolas.
"I will miss you so, my sweet Melyanna," he whispered softly before placing a brief kiss on Legolas' mouth.
Just like some fairytale that Legolas once told him, the young Prince opened his eyes to behold his meldir and future spouse. The smile that graced the young face was achingly beautiful and made Verno catch his breath at the sight. The next moment, the pre-mortal found himself in a tight hug that would have left bruises were he truly corporeal.
"You have come back to me—I thought that you would not! I feared that the Guardian would know of my family's desire to meet you and keep you away; I am so glad she did not." This was all said in a rush with barely a breath taken between.
"I...I..." Verno's voice caught on a sob and he could not finish his thought.
Legolas loosened his grip and looked the other child in the face and he noticed tears—he had never seen Verno cry before though he had seen his sorrow daily at their eventual partings. "What is wrong, Coramin—my dear Verno?"
"I have come to say goodbye until we..."
"Until when?" Legolas began to cry, too.
"Until after I am born! We may one day meet again; if we do, we may be together forever and ever."
"But we will meet again, won't we? Verno?" Legolas pulled him closer, hugging Verno tightly once again.
"I will try very hard to remember you and you must try hard to remember me—here," Verno touched Legolas over his heart as their foreheads touched much in the same manner as Thranduil and Edrahil had outside in the elfling's sitting room.
"I will—I will, I promise!" As he spoke, the white light reappeared and the Guardian called to Verno, 'though this time Legolas did not hear her.
She wrapped both children in the light and whispered to Legolas sounding like the wind. Legolas' eyes began to un-focus and he collapsed into Verno's arms and he laid the elfling down onto the bed. Then the Guardian appeared in the room, standing by the bed.
"I must send you back now, Child."
"No, please—not yet! May I stay with him for a while longer...Please?" Blue-green eyes pleaded and the sight touched her heart.
"Only for a brief time longer; I must place a veil of forgetfulness over Legolas and his brother as well as his parents. They must believe that you are imagined and that the incident with Elurín never happened.
"The young ellon must believe that Legolas was alone in the tree with his pretend friend and the family's concerns are related to Legolas' solitary play habits. When I return here, you and I must leave." Her voice was calm, but firm.
She had been given strict instructions on how to repair the damage her interference had caused, 'though she didn't feel that there was any. She only hoped the time the two young ones had spent together would be enough to seal their fates to each other; only then would they have a happy future and Middle-earth as well.
She went quickly to the older Prince's bedchamber; he was not sleeping, but he was reading a book. She could tell he worried over Legolas; she remembered him well from before he was born. As she waved her hand over him, she watched as his burden of worry became less. Next, she went into the bedchamber of the King and Consort. The monarch was sitting straddled the red-haired ellon—both in just their leggings. She could not remember ever seeing so beautiful a sight as the two of them kissing. She remembered these two as well from before, Edrahil being one of the first elves actually born of another.
She waved her hands over the kissing veru and as with Elurín, their worries over Lassë were lessened. With one final look at the two handsome males, she returned to Legolas' room to find Verno lying next to him, holding the elfling and singing a sweet song.
When he had finished, Verno kissed Legolas' cheek and stood next to his guardian. Then the white light engulfed them and the transfigured pair vanished.
Legolas breathed deeply and soft words escaped his lovely lips, "I love you, Verno—I will remember you in my heart."
The next morning, Legolas knew that something was missing, but his heart was happy; he didn't know what the something was, but he knew that would find it again someday. He skipped into the Feasting Hall where many of Mirkwood's citizens were sitting awaiting the Royal Family. When all were seated, the last being Legolas, Thranduil sounded the tiny gong. After all were quiet, he led the blessing to give thanks to the Valar for all their blessings and to ask for continued guidance in the fight against Evil.
With that done, the servants brought in trays laden with fruit, bread, pastries and some meat as well. As some platters were placed before him, Legolas briefly frowned, but then it was gone and he reached for every one of his absent, nearly forgotten friend's favorite foods.
Thranduil and Edrahil looked at him and then each other before smiling indulgently. "You must be hungry this morning, Lassë?" Edrahil inquired.
"I am—I didn't eat much last night, 'Da."
"Are you well, Ion-nin?" Thranduil asked.
"I am perfect, Ada—I have to eat so that I can grow strong. The world will need me someday and someone very special will need me, too." Legolas said as he piled strawberries and apples and nuts onto his plate.
"And who is this someone, Legolas?" Elurín posed. "Your imagined friend?"
Legolas looked at him like he'd said something silly and answered, "No, Muindor; there are no such things as imagined friends—don't you know that?"
King, Consort and Crowned Prince all looked at each other in surprise; but then they smiled. Legolas was growing up and now it would be easier for him to cultivate some friendships with other elflings his age.
Yes—everything would be alright, now.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The Guardian walked around the place she that she had spent so much time before being sent to the lush land of unborn animals. She had missed her children greatly; especially the one she had began to think of as Verno. She would occasionally see him when he and some of the others would spend time with her new charges, but it wasn't nearly enough. But she was back now and she wanted to see him again. As she approached his favorite spot, she didn't see him. She wondered where he could be and was going to go search other places he'd like when a voice stopped her.
"He is no longer here." The other who had warned her about her actions so long ago approached her.
"Where is he?" The Guardian feared she knew the answer.
"He has been sent to his parents; he should be about two Middle-earth years now."
"Is...Is he happy?" She hadn't realized that so much time had passed, it being difficult to track time among the animals.
"He was, but he has lost one of his parents—his father to the Evil that is there."
"No! Oh no!" She cried for her dear sweet boy.
"Fear not for his mother has taken him to safety with some of the Firstborn into whose line he was born. The elf Lord who cares for him is half-elven and his twin chose mortality—it is through that twin's line the boy you called Verno was born." The other explained. He knew that she would be cheered to know of his fate.
"I think that you should know that the elfling that you love has cultivated a friendship with that house, so your hopes may come true after all—it is up to them now."
He waved his hand and she spied a small child of two playing in the grass as a dark-haired ellon watched over him fondly. She stared for a while and then the image began to fade as the elf picked the child up and kissed his smudged little cheek.
"It is up to you, now little Verno," she whispered.
"He is called Estel now," when she looked askance to him, he continued. "Estel is the Elvish word for hope."
This made her smile the first real one that she'd had these past 677 years.
"It is up to you, now," she repeated with a bit louder. "I have faith in you, little Estel." Then she and the other left to see to her new charges as the image of Elrond and Estel faded from view.
TBC
Elvish phrases:
¹Orch – Orc (Sindarin singular)
Lassë – Green leaf (Quenya)
Verno – Husband (Quenya)
Melethron – Male lover
Penneth – Young ones
Pen-velui – Lovely one
Herven – Husband (Sindarin)
Ionnath – Sons
Herves – Wife (Sindarin)
Ellon – Male elf
A'maelamin – My beloved
Melin chen, gûren – I love you, my heart
Melyanna – Dear gift (Quenya)
Coramin – My heart
Veru – Married pair (Quenya)