OMG, a review after years...amazing. Well, in thanks for that, here is a post. Now don't hunt me down. ;) LOL, no, I was going to update it anyway, but that was the added boost I needed. Thanks everyone, and enjoy! Oh, and if there are any typos or mistakes, I'm sorry. I did this very hastily.
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Legolas pulled his horse to a stop desperately, scrambling down and unwrapping the children to lay them on the ground. Baindemil was crying, but Legolas was too worried about her brother to soothe her yet. Feeling so worried that he could barely breathe, Legolas felt Nanufiren, assuring himself that the child was indeed no longer breathing.. Baindemil wailed louder, and Legolas the corner of the cloak a moment, unsure what he should do. Everything he could think of just seemed like it would harm the child more. "Valar take it, Nanu, I won't let you die!" Legolas said firmly.
Gently, Legolas blew into the infant's mouth, then pulled back and massaged the child's chest, always worried that he was doing more harm than good. He did this several times without any visible reaction from the baby. Baindemil's cries became even louder the longer he tried, but Legolas would not give up. He had not brought the children this far for nothing! Trying again, he almost cried from sheer joy when Nanufiren drew a shuddering gasp that quickly turned into a sob. As the boy began to cry, his sister actually grew more quiet, her screams turning into small hiccupping sobs as Legolas gathered both children into his arms, letting out a shaky breath of relief. "Don't ever do that to me again, do you hear me Nanu! You're sister has already lost her mother, she will not lose you too! I promised to take care of you, and I am going to do that." Legolas announced firmly, before re-securing the children to him. He knew now that the only thing that would help Nanu would be medication and care that he did not have. There was no more time to lose. Mounting as quickly as possible, Legolas urged the horse to make haste for their home.
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The call began long before Legolas could actually see the guards. "Caun Legolas!" The shout seemed to come from the very trees, but Legolas knew that it was the guards stationed in them that the cries originated from. Without stopping, he called for them to open the gates, and he could hear the call being relayed until the gates began to swing open. They opened just in time for Legolas to ride through, feeling the rush off air as they barely made it through. He rode all the way up the entrance of the palace without stopping, before climbing down and relinquishing his horse to a servant.
"Ion nin!" Legolas heard a voice from inside, and smiled as he recognized it as his father's. Thranduil came bounding down the steps, smiling ear to ear, to clasp his son in a heart-felt embrace. Legolas smiled and returned it, before the children still bound securely to his chest began to wail in protest to being squashed between the two. Thranduil drew back with a suspicious look at his son. "Legolas, what stray have you brought home this time?" He demanded, knowing Legolas' reputation and non-existent will when it came to helpless creatures. The wailing merely intensified in response, however, and Thranduil's eyes grew as he recognized the cries as belonging to an infant. "Legolas, what in the world?" He demanded as he pulled back the cloak to reveal the children. His eyes grew and his voice trailed off as he recognized the children as being human. Looking up to his son, he waited silently for an explanation.
Legolas knew his father would have many questions, but he had to make his explanation short. "I found them near the borders of Mirkwood, father. Their mother was dead, and they are gripped with the same fever that killed her. They need care quickly." He said, his eyes wide with pleading. Thranduil nodded, and quickly called for a healer.
The elf that came waited patiently as Thranduil explained. "These human children are ill, and need the best care we can provide immediately." He said, his tone brooking no argument. The male elf nodded his understanding, and received the children from a hesitant Legolas. As the healer walked away, Legolas began to follow him, but his father's commanding voice stopped him. "Legolas, come with me!" He ordered, and Legolas sighed, but obeyed.
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"…There was nothing else to be done but take them with me, ada! They would have died without help!" Legolas finished his story firmly, looking to the older elf for approval. Thranduil nodded in response, and smiled softly.
"Of course, nin ion. You do not think me so cruel hearted that I would suggest you should have left them there, do you?" He asked. Legolas merely smiled in relief. "No, they are more than welcome to come here for healing. As soon as they are well, we will contact the men at Laketown to see if someone would be willing to adopt them." Thranduil finished, and began to turn away, thinking the discussion over. He could not have been more wrong.
"No, ada!" Legolas cried in shock. Thranduil turned around with a questioning expression, wondering what had provoked such a response. "Ada, I promised to protect them, I cannot send them away!" The younger elf explained.
Thranduil nodded his understanding, but still looked puzzled. "I understand that, nin ion. You did well in taking them, for surely they would have died without you. I do not understand your hesitance to let them go, however. I will, of course, see to it that they are cared for and ready for travel before we send them to Laketown, Legolas. What is the problem?" The elven king asked, confused.
Legolas looked down to his feet for a very long moment. Finally, he glanced up at his father nervously. "Ada, I promised to protect them always. Not just till they were well. They lost their mother, and I promised they would not be harmed again." There was another pause where Thranduil simply looked at his son, and Legolas sighed. "Ever, ada. Not just till I could find someone else to care for them."
Now Thranduil understood, and he fought his first reaction, which was to scoff and tell his son to stop joking, seeing how deadly serious the prince was. "Legolas..." He began slowly, trying to choose his words very carefully. Legolas could be very stubborn when he wanted to be, much like his father. "I understand your desire to protect them, but you must consider what is best for them. Surely you want them to recieve the best care they can recieve?" He asked, trying to appeal to Legolas' feeling for the children.
Legolas did not even flinch. "And that is exactly why they should stay here. I already know I care for them, I cannot guarantee that of someone else. Besides, you surely aren't saying they would be better off with men than with us? You are always telling me how uncivilized humans are!" Legolas returned.
Thranduil sighed. "I did say as much, Legolas, but I am too hard on humans. They do the best they can, but what can you expect of someone only meant to live less than a century?" He shook his head. "In this case, it does not matter, however. Hen ion, it is not a matter of which is better suited, it just simply who they are. They are humans, so they should live with their own kind!" He explained.
Legolas glared at his father. "Ada, it does not matter what they are. I know we have not humans here for too many years to count, and that is why you are hesitant, but perhaps it is time for a change!" He exclaimed, and Thranduil stepped in, grasping his son's shoulder.
"Legolas, these are not pets you can just take in on a whim!" He said angrily, and Legolas finally went quiet, shocked. "You are barely more than a child yourself, you are not ready to raise your own!"
Legolas pulled away. "Ada, I am NOT a child, and I am not just doing this on a whim. I have to protect those children, I gave them my word, and I will do what I said I would no matter what you say!" He returned, just as angry as his father.
Thranduil fought to control his frustration. "Legolas, stop being selfish!" That comment made the prince pause, and Thranduil pushed ahead with that. "Have you thought of what is best for them? They will grow and notice they are different from everyone else and start asking questions, and what will you tell them?" Legolas started to answer, but Thranduil wasn't finished. "Even if they deal with that without anger, Legolas, how will you feel having to watch them grow old and die while you still remain young and lithe. How will they feel having to watch everything stay the same as they die, and how will you deal with having to watch the children you raised fade before your eyes?"
Legolas was silent for a long moment, looking seriously up at his father. "I think..." He paused and thought a moment longer before finally answering. "I think that it would be worth it to watch them grow and get a chance to know them, and I think when they are old enough to understand, they will feel the same." He said, looking to his father seriously, hoping that Thranduil would listen to him. Thranduil looked as though he wanted to protest, but did not. "Please ada, please let me keep my promise to them. Let me try." Legolas said earnestly, and after a tense moment, Thranduil sighed and nodded.
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Well, how was that? Next chapter we will check in on the twins, see how they are, and then skip forward a few years. Leave a note if you read this so I will know I'm not writing to see myself write:P