Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
August 1, 2020
Chapter 52 – A Sinda's Magic
Legolas was thoroughly confused. After Elrond had pulled back the wrapping that covered the old spider bite on his arm, the young elf had watched the elf lord's brow furrow in bewilderment. Off to his side Estel gasped loudly.
"It's gone. How is the wound already healed? I know you are an elf, but I do not believe that even the eldar can heal that quickly."
The prince glanced over at the human and glared.
"Of course, it isn't healed. It's still there."
In a different situation, Legolas would have laughed at the baffled look that crossed the man's face, instead, he just shook his head and turned back to Elrond. Just as he made eye contact with the Noldo again, a sharp pain sparked through his arm, radiating from the still healing bite. The young ellon yelped and jerked his arm back from Elrond's grasp and held it to his chest. As the smarting died down Legolas glared daggers at the elf lord. The blasted elf had jabbed his fingers into the tender flesh around the wound.
"Why did you do that?"
The Sinda could feel his frustration mounting as the Noldo did not respond but just muttered something to himself and reached into the bag of herbs he had brought over.
"Here," Elrond handed him a small bundle of dried leaves, "Eat this."
Legolas took the herbs and sniffed them. Recognizing the smell of athelas immediately, the elf glanced up again.
"You expect me to eat dried athelas leaves?"
"Yes. Is there a problem with that?"
The prince bristled and jerked his head around to look at Estel, who just shrugged.
"It's not that bad Maer. Just don't think about it and you'll be fine. Besides, it is better than having him make one of his horrendous teas for you to drink."
The human chuckled at his own words but abruptly stopped when he realized neither elf was following suit.
Legolas shook his head and quickly shoved the dead leaves into his mouth before he could change his mind. He really never would understand humans.
As his lips closed around the withered plants, the young elf tried not to gag. He had been given athelas before to combat the pain from the injuries he had received over the years, but Narril had always served them to him in a sweet tea or as a paste spread over the injury. Having to consume the herb raw was worse than he could have ever imagined.
The fragile leaves all but disintegrated as they landed on his tongue leaving Legolas with a chalky white paste coating his mouth that tasted extremely bitter. It was only the young elf's pride that kept him from spitting the repulsive leaves out. Casting another vengeful look at the older ellon the prince forced himself to swallow, but even after the powerful taste still lingered in his mouth.
"Penneth," Legolas flinched involuntarily as the elf lord placed both of his hands gently on the prince's shoulders, "I need you to relax for me and drop your concealment. It will not do you any good to conceal your hurts from everyone. I have to see what is causing you pain in order to fix it."
The Sinda once again found himself glaring at the elf lord.
"That's not how it works. I can't just drop my magic whenever I wish. I have no control over when it chooses to act and when it chooses to die down. So, unless you know something I have yet been able to figure out then you are wasting your time."
"You found a way to harness your inner light and use it as magic?"
"No," Legolas shrugged out of Elrond's grasp and spun around once more to face Estel, "I didn't find a way to do this. All of the Sindar can, I just cannot ever work mine to my advantage as my adar or brother can. So," he aimed his next words at the elf lord, "It is useless to try to tell me to lower the concealment. I can't."
Estel just stared at the young elf in bewilderment. He had only ever heard tales of elves being able to harness their light of the eldar and use it as a form of magic. He had never thought it actually possible.
Legolas was tempted to walk out of the tent right then and there. It was obvious to him that Elrond was just trying to patronize him. Surely such a great elf-lord knew that the magic gifts of the Sindar could not be controlled until the ellon or elleth had come to age, something that he had still not experienced. So, until that day came the reactions of his inner light were more of a defense mechanism or a nuisance that rarely proved to be helpful. That was, until he could control it.
As his emotions continued to grow as a strange tingling feeling began to flood Legolas's body and his vision began to blur. He felt himself falling forward into Elrond's arms as he gasped.
"What did you do?"
"Peace my prince. You will not be asleep for long. I only needed to calm your body down so I can heal you and this was the only way to do that."
A moment later Legolas's vision went black.
Flashback
"Legolas? What are you doing here?"
The young golden-haired prince stood beside Kélion's great bed, his big blue eyes only just peeking over the top of the blankets as he stared at his older brother.
"I am lonely."
The quiet voice the elfling just barely made it to the crown prince's ears. The ellon smiled at his younger brother and patted the bed next to him. Legolas's face broke into a grin and he scrambled onto the bed. A moment later both Sindar were sitting next to one another.
"Tell me penneth why are you still awake? You should have gone to bed an hour ago. I tucked you in, remember?"
The elfling's turned his azure eyes to stare up at his older brother.
"I know, but I am not ready to sleep and I got lonely. I went to go and see adar but he said to go back to bed and slammed the door in my face."
Legolas snuggled into the crook of Kélion's arm and did not see as a flicker of grief passed over the ellon's face.
"Adar is just tired. He has a lot of things to do."
"I know," the young prince sighed, "Will you tell me something Kélion?"
The crown prince raised a delicate brow.
"Tell me about adar's magic!" Legolas scrambled out of his brother's arms, suddenly full of energy, and jumped up and down on the bed, "I heard Meldir talking about the barrier adar created to protect us. Can I do that? Can I do magic too? Can you teach me how?"
"Calm down," the older ellon chuckled at the rapid flow of questions which caused the elfling to glare.
"I'm serious Kélion! I want to know!"
"Fine, just sit down before your screeching wakes up half the palace."
The young prince immediately sat down and put his hands on his chin looking at his brother with expectation.
Kélion moved forward on the bed until he was kneeling in front of Legolas. The ellon reached forward and grabbed the elfling's small hands.
"Muindor, first I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breath."
Legolas closed his eyes and did as his brother said.
"Do you feel anything?"
A quick shake of the golden head.
"Try again penneth."
There was a moment of silence and the blue eyes blinked open filled with frustration.
"I don't feel anything Kélion. I don't have it. I don't have any magic."
The elder prince chuckled.
"Here. Close your eyes again and calm your mind. Feel your hands in mine and try to hear the song of the Greenwood around you."
Legolas took a deep breath and felt his mind calm until he heard the melodic tune that he had become used to hearing; it rang of comfort and familiarity. As his body relaxed the young prince's fingers twitched in his older brother's strong hands.
"Open your eyes."
As the elfling did he gasped as he saw that his body was glowing in a soft, white light. It was as if his inner light had been magnified tenfold.
"Kélion! Look! I'm doing magic!"
The crown prince laughed softly.
"This is only a sample of the power adar possesses. But you cannot access your true amount of magic or control it easily until you reach your majority."
Legolas's eyes were wide.
"Like you?"
"Yes penneth, one day you will possess powerful magic too. Adar uses this inner strength from the eldar to conceal and protect us from evil things. It is like a wall of magic that surrounds the Greenwood. Do you understand?"
The elfling shook his head as his inner light dimmed back to its normal level.
"How can magic be a wall and why can't I see this wall?"
"You will understand in time Legolas. But for now do not worry yourself with these thoughts. Just know that your adar and brother will keep you safe."
"Forever?"
Kélion nodded, his eyes filled with love for his little brother at the young elf's innocent words.
"Forever."
The little elf flung himself into the older ellon's arms and Kélion's hands began to run through his golden locks. Finally letting sleep calm hold of him the elfling heard the crown prince say quietly,
"Never change Legolas. Never lose yourself and if you do, find your way back."
End Flashback
Estel watched as Maer's eyes flickered open and a soft groan left his lips.
"Feeling better?"
The young ellon shot up from the cot at the human's voice. The angered gaze found his as the prince felt the bandages wrapped around his injured arm again.
"Why did you drug me?"
The question was directed not at Estel, but at Elrond who had been talking quietly to Glorfindel at the door to the tent.
"Because penneth you were injured and I could not heal you without being able to see the wounds," Elrond walked over and stood behind Estel, "You needed to calm down and so I did what I had to do. Are you still in pain?"
Legolas shook his head reluctantly.
"Good. You will be sore as the athelas begins to wear off. Your back is heavily bruised. However, the spider bite on your arm has finally closed over and is beginning to heal."
Estel watched as a spark of confusion flashed in the elfling's eyes.
"How did you get the concealment to drop?"
"You dropped it as soon as you lost consciousness," Estel glanced at the young Sinda's bandaged wrist.
He had helped his ada heal Maer's many wounds. The amount of dark blue and black bruises beginning to form and had laid hidden under the elfling's concealment had startled the young human. As he had helped apply a soothing paste to the dark, painful marks a wave of guilt had settled over him. This had been all his fault. If he had only been strong enough to protect the ellon this would have not happened.
While Maer had only been asleep for a little over an hour, many things had taken place. The three ellyn who had been behind the attack had been tracked down by Elladan and Elrohir after they had helped the prince into the tent. He had heard Glorfindel was planning a very public punishment for the eldar to deter any more abuse from coming upon the Sinda. Not to mention his ada was trying to put together a company to escort the prince back to the Greenwood.
"I do want to apologize for the behaviors of my men," It was Glorfindel who spoke this time, "Be assured that they will be dealt with severely."
The elven general continued describing the reprimand that was taking place, but it was obvious to Estel that Maer was not paying attention anymore. His eyes looked glazed as if he were looking at something that was far off. Glorfindel's words died on his lips as both he and Elrond noticed this as well.
"Prince Legolas?" Glorfindel crouched down in front of the elf, a worried look on his face.
At the sound of his name, the gold-flecked azure eyes of the elfling blinked rapidly and the ellon shook his head as if clearing his mind of something.
Estel opened his mouth to ask his ada what had just happened when Maer suddenly gasped loudly and clutched at his chest as if in great pain. Elrond immediately sprung into action as the elfling breathed,
"Yrch. They are attacking the Greenwood."
Elvish Translations:
maer – golden
penneth – young one
adar - father
muindor – brother
ada – dad
yrch - orcs