One friend to Another

Chapter 6: Flee

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It was nearing late evening when a tall lithe figure carry a large bundle merged out of the shadows and approached The Last Homely House of Rivendell. Legolas walked carefully, carrying the child tenderly in his arms, the boy's prize bow and elaborate quiver over his back with his own weapons, the child's head resting wearily on the elf's shoulder, his eyes closed in exhaustion. The sun had begun her slow journey below the horizon and dusk was settling over the realm. The dampness of dew hung in the air and clouds gathered, threatening a heavy night of rain.

"Ah, hear come the brave warriors!" greeted Elrond from the step in front of his house as the two figures approached. In truth he was glad to see them. He had been starting to worry. His twin sons had returned to the house hours ago, their tutoring duties long since finished, and had reported to their father the goings on at the archery field, of the disappointed fearful boy and the tense Mirkwood prince.

"Well met, Legolas" the Elf Lord smiled. "I was going to suggest taking Estel to the dining hall for some food, but I think at the moment what your little charge needs is a good night's sleep"

Legolas gently passed the sleeping child over to the other elf, careful not to disturb the boy. "I am afraid we lost track of time, Elrond. My apologies…….I did not mean to keep the boy out so long"

"No apology needed Legolas" Elrond assured him, settling the boy against his own shoulder. "You have both missed evening meal, though"

The two elves entered the house and were met by a smiling Elrohir.

"A comforting sight indeed" he greeted on seeing Estel asleep in his father's arms. "The only time this little one is not making mischief or noise is when he is sound asleep"

"Take him to his bed chamber, ion nin" Elrond bade his son, the child once more getting passed from one loving set of arms to another, all without waking. "Leave some Lembas in his room in case he wakes hungry later"

"Yes, Ada" Elrohir turned in the direction of the stairs with his small burden, leaving Elrond and Legolas in the hall.

"And what of you, Legolas?" Elrond asked "I am sure the cook can rustle up something for you to eat before you retire for the night"

"That will not be necessary" The blond elf shrugged off his and Estel's weapons, handing the boy's small ones to the Elf Lord to return to their proper place. "I must be returning to Mirkwood in the morning, Elrond. I will turn in for the night and be off as soon as the sun rises"

With a quick bow of farewell he turned to follow Elrohir to the stairs before Elrond could reply, and disappeared.

Elrond stood stunned in the hall for a moment, caught off guard by the young prince's announcement. It was too soon. Much too soon. He could not allow Legolas to return to his father no better than the day he had arrived. Thranduil would not forgive him.

The elf lord handed Estel's ornate weapons to a passing servant and asked him to put them somewhere safe, then he set off up the stairs after Legolas. It was high time for that talk.

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Someone had once more seen fit to light the fire in his room, Legolas noted as he entered. Like every room in the Lord of Imladris' home, the bed chamber was warm and inviting. His newly laundered shirt hung in the huge wardrobe, and candle globes had been lit. The scent of lavender reached his nose and he peeked into the adjoining bath chamber to find a freshly filled steaming tub waiting for him, a neatly folded pile of towels beside it. Flexing an aching back and shoulders, Legolas decided that a bath may not be such a bad idea. Stripping off his tunic and toeing off his boots, Legolas reached up and freed his hair from it's warrior braids. He was just searching in his pack for his hair brush when there came a knock on the door, startling him and making him drop the pack to the floor.

"Who is it?"

"It is I, Elrond" came the muted reply. "May I come in?"

Legolas hesitated to answer, debating whether to send the Elf Lord away and just indulge in his bath. He did not want to appear rude to his host, however, so he bade Elrond to enter.

Elrond opened the door and stepped in, closing it quietly behind him. His eyes took in the turned back bed covers, the discarded tunic and boots laying on the floor, the dropped pack. He gave a small smile at the general untidiness of the elf before him. Prince or not, it was good to see that Legolas could be just as untidy as his own sons. In his quick perusal of the room, everything appeared normal. Even the figure before him on brief glance looked relaxed and at home in the large room. But Elrond had millennia of experience in caring for sick, injured or troubled elves. His eyes did not miss the thin body hidden under the loose white shirt, or the tenseness of the shoulders. Tense too was the young Mirkwood elf's countenance, his deceptively young and fair face marred by shadows under his eyes and worry lines on the high noble forehead.

"Legolas," Elrond began with a small sigh, sitting down on the huge bad and gesturing for the other elf to follow suit. "Please forgive my intrusion but I must speak with you"

Legolas cocked his head in bafflement at Elrond's manner, but did as he was bade. He sat at the top of the bed and turned so that his back was to the headboard, one knee bent up onto the pillows, the ankle under his other thigh. It was a defensive posture, and it did not go unnoticed by Elrond.

The Elf Lord did not beat about the bush.

"I do not think you should return to your father's realm just yet, pen neth" he stated firmly but gently, getting straight to the point. "You are not well. I cannot let you journey across the mountains on your own in such a state. The danger is just too great at this moment and I will not allow it"

He saw Legolas open his mouth to protest but he carried on and did not give the young elf the chance to reply just yet.

"I know that lately, in defence of your father's kingdom, you have been through much torment, both of the physical and the mental. I cannot in good conscience let you leave here until all that troubles you has been addressed" He paused, then looked up into azure blue eyes. "I forbid you to leave Imladris until I see fit"

The Mirkwood elf stared at Elrond in astonishment, his mouth moving as if to speak but no words came out. He could not believe he was hearing this.

Elrondglanced down at his own hands on his lap, almost afraid to meet the other's eyes. The silence went on a moment too long, so he looked up and meet those eyes again, and the hurt and anger he saw there cut him to the bone.

"I am fine, Elrond" the younger elf spoke eventually, in a voice that was both cold and hard. "I must return to my father. I have much to do…..there are scouting trips to organise, spiders nests to be rooted out, orc bands to be rounded up and driven back. The Shadow does not halt it's advance, my Lord. I have already stayed here for far too long……. I cannot abandon my people"

He rose to his feet and paced the sumptuous room. "I cannot afford to lounge here enjoying the peace that is Imladris while dark forces would seek to oust my father and slay every elf in Mirkwood"

"Your people need you" the elf lord agreed, rising to stand face to face with the elf prince "……but they need you whole"

Elrond took one of Legolas' hands in his own and clasped it firmly.

"You suffer, Legolas…..and the more you suffer, the more your people suffer with you. You do not have the strength to return to your realm and do these things you speak off. You are ill and weakened by all you have………."

"Weakened?" Legolas cut in, his voice incredulous. Elrond bit off his next words, realising he had just made his first mistake.

"Legolas, I am sorry. I do not mean you are weak. I am trying to say…….."

"With respect Elrond, I think you have said quite enough," Legolas pulled his hand from the Elf Lord's grasp and strode over to the door, his face white and legs stiff. He grabbed the handle and flung it open.

"Please leave, I have preparations to make and sleep to catch up on"

The blond elf took a deep breath and spoke again with all the power and authority of the prince he was. "I am still leaving in the morning"

Elrond grimaced and walked towards the open door, mentally kicking himself for his choice of words. He had not meant to insult the prince, only try to make him see reason and seek peace of mind. He had done this all wrong. He could not believe that he, great Lord and Healer and ancient Warrior, could have made such a grave mistake.

"I thank you for your hospitality, Elrond" the Mirkwood elf bowed slightly once Elrond had stepped through the threshold, his voice once more polite. "Mayhap I will see you in the morning before I depart, my lord. Goodnight"

Elrond could only stare in consternation at the closed door, before turning sharply on his heel and striding purposefully to his study. He had a lot of thinking to do if he was to stop Legolas leaving in the morning. It was going to be a long night.

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As soon as the hallway was clear another bedroom door opened and a small sleepy face poked out and gazed over at the closed door to the prince's room.

Estel had been awakened by the raised voices of his ada and the prince, and he had heard practically everything that had been said. Going back into his room he spotted the Lembas and flask of water on his night stand. He did not eat it now, although he was hungry. Instead he dug out his travel pack from the bottom of his wardrobe and stuffed the waybread and water into it, before climbing back into his warm bed and going back to sleep.

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TBC.

Elvish

Pen neth young one,

Ada father