Forgiven?
"Hîr Elrond, wait!" Cervus called as saw the Imladris lord walk a few paced in front of him.
"Cervus, what can I do for you?" Elrond asked as he slowed his pace so Cervus could catch up with him.
"How is hest Deawin?" Cervus asked as a frown grew on his face. Why had Elrond a need for three glasses of milk, as well as several slices of bread with butter?
"Stitched up and well. I would probably be able to remove the stitches in a couple of days."
"Good. Is there anything else I need to know?"
"Observant I see." Elrond smiled. "Glorfindel and Deawin returned our elflings." He whispered, lest someone overhear them. Cervus gasped and stopped walking.
"They are?"
"Bless the Valar that they are." Elrond nodded as he continued walking. Cervus hurried to catch up again.
"Are they in the Halls of Healing?"
"Aye, with Deawin and Glorfindel. They are dry now and slowly getting warm again, yet I do not wish for them to eat something warm just yet. They all had a bit of frostbite which I treated with burn salve, so that shall be fine in a couple of days too."
"Do you know what exactly happened?"
"Only that Glorfindel found them on a branch huddled together, but I think they can explain themselves very well what happened. I shall ask them tomorrow. First, they shall eat, and then I believe we shall have three very tired elflings." Elrond kept smiling as he entered the Halls of Healing, with Cervus on his heels.
"Good day, Hest Deawin." Cervus greeted with a nod before he turned his attention to the three elflings on the next bed. They sat next to each other, now with a slice of bread in their hands, and the glasses of milk on the tray in the middle. Silently they all nibbled from the bread. It indeed did not take long before all three elfling were about to fall asleep.
"Shall I help you, Legolas?" Glorfindel quietly asked as Legolas chin touched his breast for the tird time. Legolas blinked up at him, not answering. "Let's get you to bed, penneth." Glorfindel smiled as he picked up the little pince in one smooth movement and lay him down on the next bed. "Losto mae." Glorfindel whispered as he tucked the elfing in. As soon as Legolas had been tucked in, he had been asleep. Elladan and Elrohir followed only moments later.
"I will go to Celebrían now. I am sure she wishes to know."
"I will wait here." Glorfindel nodded as he settled in a nearby chair. With a nod, Elrond departed to their guest rooms.
"Celebrían?" Elrond quietly asked as he opened the door and walked inside, closeing the door behind him.
"How is Thranduil?" She softly asked as she stood from where she sat in front of the window.
"No change." Elrond quietly replied with a sad smile. "I have good news on the other hand." He said as his smile brightened.
"What good news?"
"Glorfindel found our elflings."
"They are back?" Celebrían as she looked Elrond right in his eye. He would never joke about such things. She had to see it with her own eyes if she truly would believe him.
"Aye. They are asleep for now, but I know you wish to see them. Come." Elrond softly said and placed her hand in the crook of his elbow as the slowly walked through the palace to the Halls of Healing. Tears of joy streamed down her face when she recognized her two sons underneath the pristine linen sheets. She cupped their cheeks and kissed their brows before she turned to Elrond and hugged him.
"How are they?" She softly asked as she looked up to her husband. Elrond gently wiped away the tears that still fell on her cheeks.
"Tired and probably very hungry when they awaken." Elrond smiled. "They had a little frostbite which will be completely gone in a few days. They have at least stopped shivering, which is good."
"Does Thranduil know?"
"Nay not yet. I shall take Legolas with me tomorrow after he explained to me why he had run away. I probably already guessed why he has done what he did, and I also know that Thranduil deeply regrets his words."
"Would you mind if I stay here tonight?" She had no intention of leaving her sons now that she was finally reunited with them.
"Nay. I was planning on staying here myself too." Elrond smiled. "But first I will go and see Thranduil. Then I shall bring Arwen with me. She is also part of our pretty family." Elrond smiled and kissed his wife before he left.
..
"Good morning, penneth. Did you sleep well?" Elrond softly said when he noticed that Legolas was awake.
"Good morning." Legolas softly greeted. When he looked next to him to see if Elladan or Elrohir were already awake, he found them both on the lap of Celebrían. Suddenly he found his heart ache again for his Nana as well as the realization that he might had hurt Anameleth.
"Legolas?" Elrond softly asked as he saw a tear run down his cheek.
"Would Anameleth be angry?" Elrond's face softened and sat down on the bed.
"I do not think she would be angry, but I know she was very worried. I think she would like an explanation why you ran away."
"Iston." Legolas said as he scrambled out of the bed.
"Legolas, where are you going?"
"To Anameleth."
"I think you should eat something, and then we will dress you nicely. Then I think Anameleth will be already here." Elrond explained as he put Legolas back on the bed. Elrond gave Legolas a moment to calm down before he placed a small plate with some bread and honey on his lap and held a fresh glass of milk for him. Legolas was about done when Anameleth quietly entered the Halls of Healing.
"Legolas?" She softly asked. Legolas looked up, hearing a familiar voice.
"Goheno nin." Legolas barely whispered as he threw himself in Anameleth's arms when she sat down next to him on the bed. She held him close as she felt him shake with sobs. Between his sobs Legolas kept muttering apologies.
"Legolas." Anameleth softly said as she lifted his chin, so he would look at her. "Promise me that you will never run away anymore and will be very happy to forgive you."
"Aye, saes." Legolas said after he drew a shuddery breath. Anameleth gently wiped away his tears and have him a tight hug.
"Then I will forgive you." Anameleth softly said. She held him till all the tears had stopped and Legolas' breathing was normal again. "I think hîr Elrond is eager for you to go and see your adar."
"Nay." Legolas shook his head.
"Why not?" Anameleth asked.
"Ada did not want to see me."
"Legolas?" Elrond softly asked. "Your ada is very ill. You must believe me that he regrets his words very much."
"Nay." Legolas shook his head again.
"Legolas, would you forgive your ada when he asked your forgiveness?"
"I think so." Legolas replied after a moment.
"Shall we go and ask him then?"
"Can Anameleth come?" Legolas hopefully looked up to her and Elrond.
"If Anameleth wishes, she may come." Elrond smiled.
"Then I will come with you, but firstly I will go and fetch you a nice clean leggings and tunic." She said and put Legolas back onto the bed. "I will be right back." She said before she was gone.
"Let's get you presentable for your ada." Elrond said and gently cleaned Legolas' face with a damp cloth and brushed his hair. When Elrond was done brushing Legolas' hair, Anameleth had returned.
"That looks much better." Anameleth smiled when Legolas was dressed and presentable.
"Hannon-le." Legolas quietly replied.
"Let's go." Elrond said, and they left the Halls of Healing. Legolas held on to Anameleth's hand as he walked. Elrond knocked twice before he opened the door and walked inside. It was deathly silent, except for the crackling fire, the howling of the wind outside and the breathing of Thranduil. Cervus stood and smiled when he saw Legolas.
"Suilad, penneth. I am very happy to see you again." Cervus greeted Legolas with a smile. "I shall see if Thranduil awakens. It will be soon due for another round of medicine anyway." Cervus said before he softly started calling him and shaking his shoulder. After a moment Thranduil grunted and tossed his head to one side.
"Be gentle." Elrond softly said before he lifted Legolas on the bed. "Awaken him yourself."
"Ada!" Legolas softly called and shook his shoulder. "Ada!" Thranduil softly grunted before he slowly opened his eyes. "Ada?" Thranduil turned his face to the sound and blinked a couple of times, but his dull blue eyes would not focus.
"L-Legolas?" Thranduil's voice sounded very weak.
"Aye ada." Legolas said while he gathered Thranduil's large and almost cold hand in his small ones. Thranduil slowly stroked with his thumb over Legolas' hand.
"You're back?" Thranduil made an attempt to sit up, not having the strength to do so, Cervus quickly took a few large pillows that helped Thranduil sit up a bit, without making him dizzy or nauseous.
"Glo'findel and Deawin rescued me and 'Dan and 'Ro." Legolas explained as Thranduil gently sought Legolas' cheek. Legolas could not help but lean into his ada's touch. He had missed him. When he opened his eyes he saw that his father's cheeks were stained with hot salty tears.
"Goheno nin." Thranduil barely whispered as it came out more like a strangled sob. "I never meant to sent you away like that. I am so sorry. Would you ever forgive me?"
"I love you." Legolas whispered in his ear before he gently wiped away the tears.
"I love you too, tithen lass-nin." Legolas leant forward and kissed Thranduil's brow.
"When you had medicine you owies will be gone. Your little leaf will watch over you." Legolas softly said when he saw that Elrond held a goblet, that was probably meant for his father.
"In a moment. Thranduil, I ask you once again to try and eat a little bit." Elrond gently said before he set the goblet aside. Feren entered a moment later with a small tray with a light broth and some sweet bread.
"I have no appetite."
"Iston, but I would like you to try." Elrond softly said and Feren placed the tray on Thranduil's lap and handed him the spoon. Thranduil ate two spoons full of broth before he placed the spoon down again.
"Saes, you have to eat a bit more than that." Cervus said while worry spread over his face.
"I tried."
"Would you try a little harder for me?" Legolas asked as he broke off as small piece of bread.
"Legolas?" Thranduil asked as he recognized the voice, while confusion washed over his face.
"Right here." Legolas softly said and put the small piece of bread against Thranduil's lips. "Saes, mad." Thranduil complied, for he opened his mouth just enough for Legolas to feed him the small piece of bread. Thranduil slowly chewed before he swallowed. Legolas continued to help his father eat for another fifteen minutes wherein Thranduil almost finished a half bowl of broth and three more pieces of bread.
"I cannot eat more. I'll be sick." Thranduil said as he turned his face away from where he knew Legolas held the spoon. Legolas looked up to Cervus and Elrond.
"You have done very well." Elrond praised with a little smile. "Do you think you can hold on for a little while without painkillers?"
"I think so."
"Then we shall give you two some privacy. Then I shall go and see how Elladan and Elrohir are faring."
"I shall stay close for if you need anything." Cervus said and collected a large tomb to read.
"I shall be back soon." Anameleth took the tray from Thranduil's lap before they all left, leaving Thranduil and Legolas alone.
"Ada?" Legolas quietly asked as he put his head on Thranduil's chest and drew Thranduil's arm over his back.
"Legolas?"
"Are you going to be better?"
"Maybe if you take good care of me. Why?"
"Then I really would go and miss our hugs." Legolas buried his face in Thranduil's chest and curled up at his side. "And I do not want to do any boring kingy-things."
"I will do my best to get better, so I can do my 'boring' kingy-things, and you can go and play hero or something." Thranduil softly chuckled.
"Good." Legolas mumbled, before he fell asleep with a little sigh. When Thranduil was sure Legolas would not say anything more, he simply listened to the soft breathing of his son, and enjoyed the warmth at his right side. After a little while, Thranduil fell asleep too, the first time in many days it was a true healing sleep. Slowly it stopped snowing as the wind stilled. After a while, the first rays of sun broke though the heavy clouds…
TBC?
-A/N Well dear readers, firstly I want you wish you a very merry Christmas and a very good and creative new year! Secondly, I want to thank you for all the wonderful reviews you have given me. This is where I had planned for the original story to end. If you are not quite done yet with reading about our mighty king and little leaf, you are very welcome to come up with suggestions and I might write you another chapter or two! (or three or four etc…)-
Dictionary:
Losto mae - Sleep well
Penneth - Little one
Ada/Adar - Father
Suilad - Informal greeting
Hannon-le - Thank you
Hîr - Lord
Hest - Captain
Saes - Please
Goheno nin - Forgive me
Iston - I know
Mad - Eat
Tithen lass-nin - My little leaf