Title: Until Hope Awakes Me
Chapter: Seeing With Eyes Unseen
The house of Elrond was abuzz with activity as Elrond, the twins, Estel and Legolas prepared to leave for Lothlorien. Elrond sighed as he rubbed his left temple where a headache throbbed. He had been chasing Estel around the palace all day, as of right now he had no idea where the boy was.
"Lord Elrond?" A soft voice questioned. Elrond blinked and looked down at Legolas.
"Yes Legolas? What is it?" He asked.
"I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to help, Lord Glorfindel said we were to be leaving within the next thirty minutes," Legolas replied.
"Oh, hm… yes! Go find Estel and make sure he is ready, I will see to everything else," he told him with a smile. Legolas bowed and left the room to find the hyper eight year old.
---
"Erestor, are you sure you will be able to handle everything?" Elrond questioned. Erestor smiled at his concern.
"Yes my Lord, your precious Imladris will be safe in my and Glorfindel's hands, she will still be here when you return," Erestor assured him. Elrond chuckled softly as he turned towards the horse that awaited himself and Estel, the twins and Legolas would be riding separate horses, since of course they could not all fit on one.
His sons had chosen slightly wild colts to try and prove themselves, Elrond had packed extra bandages and herbs to treat the scratches they would most likely get when the young colts threw them in protest. Elrond watched them mount up and then try to control the colts as they pranced quickly around the courtyard.
"Come on Ro! I'll race you!" Elladan called to his twin.
"It's not a race if one does not have good competition!" Elrohir called back.
"There will be no race you two, I do not want to treat anymore wounds than I have to," Elrond told them both.
"Awww!" The twins chorused in disappointment. Elrond shook his head in amusement and turned to watch Legolas mount his horse.
He praised Legolas's good judgment as he looked the white mare over, she was still young enough to be fast but old enough to have calmed out of her wild streak. Legolas spoke quietly to the mare and then put her into a trot to warm up for the long journey ahead.
"When will I get to ride a horse to Lothlorien ada?" Estel questioned. Elrond turned back to Estel who was sitting on the railing of the stairs watching his older brothers and Legolas longingly.
Elrond thought about that for a moment, anything he said would make Estel grumpy and very unpleasant to ride with, Legolas trotted around them again.
"When Legolas says you can," Elrond answered finally. Estel blinked in surprise and he looked over Elrond's shoulder at Legolas who was watching him.
"Well Legolas? When can I?" Estel asked getting excited. Legolas watched him with a small smile before he made his decision.
"When you can fire an arrow as well as Elrohir," he answered. Estel looked from him to his brother and then back.
"Okay! I will try really really hard!" Estel exclaimed and jumped down as Elrond motioned him over to help him onto the horse. Elrond looked at Legolas with surprise, Legolas just shrugged. Elrond shook his head as he mounted and took the reins into his right hand, his other rested securely around Estel's waist.
Erestor and Glorfindel waved as Elrond and Estel, the twins and Legolas left the courtyard.
"May the Valar be with you!" Glorfindel called.
"And keep you safe!" Erestor finished for him.
---
Hours later Elrond sat stroking the mess of hair that belonged to Estel as he slept in his lap leaning back against himself, the twins were bickering, yet again, up ahead and Legolas was riding beside him. Elrond turned slightly and looked at Legolas.
"Legolas," he said to get his attention.
"Yes my Lord?" Legolas questioned looking at him.
"Why will you allow Estel to ride when he can fire an arrow as well as Elrohir?" He questioned.
"Well my lord, to tell him when he could fire as well as I… he would never ride," Legolas replied. Elrond had to agree with that, Legolas had wonderful talent with a bow and arrow. "Giving him a person to look up to assures that he will try and not give up. But also, using a bow and arrow will make his arms strong for when he needs to use reins on his horse, he will learn how to use stances which will strengthen his leg muscles which is mainly what he uses to tell his horse what he wants to do," he finished.
"Very well explained," Elrond told him and Legolas smiled.
When it started to become dark they stopped and set up a small camp, rested for the night and then once the sun started to rise they started out again. Estel rode with each of them, switching each day, he often fell asleep soon after they had started in the mornings but then stayed awake until they stopped at night.
---
5 days later
"Are we there yet?" Estel whined playing with the horse's mane.
"No Estel, we are not," Elrond replied with a sigh as he rubbed his temple of the appending headache.
"Are we anywhere close to getting there? At this rate I will have another birthday before we get there!" Estel replied sagging against him in the seat of the saddle, he was so bored and there was nothing to do. The scenery had been fun to watch at first but then it to became boring and it had not changed in days.
Legolas trotted up beside them and looked over at Estel.
"Estel? Would you like to ride with me for awhile?" He questioned.
"May I ada? Saes, saes?!" Estel exclaimed bouncing excitedly.
"Yes please, go ride with Legolas," Elrond replied waving his hand, as he moved his horse closer to Legolas's.
They didn't even need to stop the horses, not that they had time to, between the time Elrond moved closer and Estel jumped out into Legolas's waiting arms. Legolas smiled at him and helped him get settled before they trotted on forward.
---
3 days later
"Estel…" Legolas called softly into the boy's ear. "Estel… wake up."
"Mmm… what? What is it Legolas?" He murmured rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"It is the golden trees of Lothlorien," Legolas answered with a smile. Estel's eyes instantly became wide and he sat up straighter looking around, his mouth fell open in awe as they crossed into the border of the trees.
They weren't but ten feet across the border when ten figures dropped down from the trees and Estel whimpered in fright, shrinking back against Legolas.
A smooth voice spoke then and Estel looked around at the faces that he now realized were golden haired elves, like Legolas, his eyes were wide as the fell upon the owner of the voice that was speaking to his father.
"We have been awaiting your arrival Lord Elrond," Halidar told him stepping in front of one of the other guards.
"I had no doubt you would be Halidar," Elrond replied with a smile. Halidar returned the smile and then looked over their small party. His eyes first fell onto Elladan and Elrohir, both had a few bandages placed here and there.
"Well, what happened to you two?" He questioned.
"Elrohir's horse threw him!" Elladan piped up quickly.
"Elladan fell off his!" Elrohir retorted. This quickly led to them bickering, as they had done for most of the trip. Halidar chuckled and looked from them to the small boy who was watching him with wide eyes.
"Ah, and just who might you be?" He asked.
"…Estel…" Estel whisper shrinking back against Legolas once more. Halidar gave him a kind smile.
"Do not worry little hope, you are the reason we are all here, I will not harm you," Halidar assured him. His eyes then traveled up to the only blonde elf in the party and his eyes widened slightly.
"Prince Legolas, it has been a long time since I have last seen you," he said. "How have you been?" Legolas gave him a warm smile.
"I have been well. I am staying in Imladris for a time," he answered. Halidar nodded, he had heard what had happened from his Lady… and thinking of her…
"Well now that we have all introduced ourselves, the Lord and Lady await you," he told them. Turning he led them through the forest to Caras Galadhon.
---
Once they had been welcomed by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galaderial they had been taken to their rooms to rest, they had all gathered once more to have their first meal together. Estel had been entranced by Lady Galaderial since the moment he had seen her, since then he had been talking to her nonstop, asking all sorts of questions, most she just laughed at but always rewarded him with an answer.
With his shadow gone Legolas was feeling something he had not felt since he had first met Estel… loneliness. Silently he walked through the paths of Lothlorien under the trees that glowed in the moonlight. He hadn't really been paying attention to where he was going, only walking and feeling alone.
Then… there was the soft sound of trickling water and he looked up trying to listen to where the sound was coming from. As if entranced he followed it once he had found it, he hardly even noticed that this part of the forest was glowing brighter. He descended a short flight of stairs, his steps still silent, it was only then that his eyes widened when he saw Lady Galaderial standing there, a small smile on her face as she watched him.
"My lady," he murmured bowing slightly. "I am sorry for disturbing you, I will leave." He turned but her voice stopped him.
"Legolas, it is you I have been waiting here for," she stated. He turned and looked back at her. Lady Galaderial's eyes were a clear blue, they could be harsh like ice but also warm like the sky, his mother had had eyes like that.
"You knew I would come here?" He asked.
"I did. You have many unanswered and unasked questions in your heart. You are afraid to voice them, afraid that you will hurt them or get yourself hurt in the process," she told him and he lowered his eyes.
"Am I that easy to read my lady?" He questioned. The corner of Galaderial's mouth twitched with a smile.
"Only to me penneth nin," she answered. She picked up a silver pitcher and dipped it into the water of the fountain behind her and then walked forward. "You have come to this place, unknowing what it is Legolas, but I will tell you now. This is my mirror." She held the pitcher up and poured the water into the small standing still fountain. "In it I can see things that are, things that have been, and things that will be. If I wish, I can allow others to see the things they wish to know as well. Would you like to know the answers to your questions without voicing them?" She questioned as she stepped back.
Legolas watched her, at first unsure but then he stepped forward, he very much wanted to know… at first he only saw himself as he stared down into the clear water, then scenes appeared before his eyes.
Galaderial closed her eyes, watching the scenes play themselves out in her mind. Although Hope had awoken him, Legolas was still very lost and needed answers to become what he would be in the future.
The door opened and Thranduil rushed in, an excited yet worried look on his face. It had been a hard time for his Ithilwen, the birth of their first child. She looked up at him with tired but radiant blue eyes, holding the baby tightly against her chest.
"Look my love, we have a son," she told him beaming with pride. Thranduil smiled down at her gently stroking the short blonde hairs on the sleeping baby's head. "Do you want to hold him?"
Thranduil blanked for a moment, unsure if he should, his son was only hours old yet.
"It's alright my love, just like this," Ithilwen said showing him the way she was holding the baby before gently holding him out for her husband to take. "Be mindful of his head."
Thranduil took the baby as gently as he could, holding him against his chest. Blue-gray eyes slowly blinked open and looked at him, hands moving just a little before the eyes closed back and the baby returned to slumber. Thranduil sat on the edge of the bed staring down at his sleeping son.
"What will we name him?" He asked and when he looked up at Ithilwen she was staring out the window at the green leaves of spring.
"Legolas," she murmured finally.
"Greenleaf?" He questioned. She looked back at him.
"Yes, Legolas Thranduillion." Thranduil looked down at his son once more, a soft look in his eyes.
"Legolas it is then, Legolas… I vow here and now to protect you from the horrors of this world," Thranduil whispered and then he kissed his son's head.
The scene changed with only a ripple in the water but Legolas's found he couldn't look away. There was still so much he wanted to know…
Thranduil collapsed into his chair, his face buried in his hands. Tithenaraf had just left, informing him that Legolas had run away. They were sending a search party out but with the horse he had taken he was probably halfway to wherever he was going by then.
Thranduil honestly could not say he blamed his son, not after the way he had treated him in the year's after Ithilwen's death. He had been so lost in his grief over her passing and the guilt of not being able to keep his vow to Legolas that he had become cold and heartless. Memories played before his eyes, Legolas's eyes each time he scolded him, oh how they broke.
Before he knew it tears were running down his face. He did not bother to wipe them away, why should he? They were only proof that he knew what he had done. It this moment… he did not know if he would ever stop crying again, or if he wanted to.
Another ripple and with it another scene…
Legolas rode up to the small camp and greeted his friends Elladan, Elrohir and Estel. Tonight they would catch up but tomorrow they would ride.
Storm clouds gathered to the east and the horses were becoming restless, able to feel the impending storm.
"We should find cover and put up camp," Estel stated. Legolas looked at him in shock.
"Come Estel! Where is your sense of adventure?" He questioned and then kicked his horse and took off chasing the quickly disappearing sun. The twins and Estel glanced at each other.
"Crazy elf," they all murmured before kicking their horses and following after him, the wind blowing their hair back from their faces.
There was a certain thrill they got from this feeling. No thoughts, just this feeling, freedom.
Legolas was about to step back but another ripple went through the water and he could not tear his eyes away.
Legolas rode the white mare that had been given to him by Lord Elrond into his lord's courtyard. He halted the mare and looked around, it had been so long since he had been in these woods that had once scared him so badly, but now he was grown, he was over two thousand years old! He was not so afraid anymore.
The great doors that led into the palace were opened and there stood a man he had never thought he would be facing willingly again. There stood Thranduil.
Thranduil stared down at Legolas, an unreadable look in his eyes as Legolas slowly walked up to him.
"Hir nin, I, Legolas Thranduilllion, have returned," Legolas stated and bowed. Thranduil watched him for only a moment before a smile broke out on his face and he pulled Legolas into a tight embrace.
"Ion nin, welcome home," Thranduil murmured. Legolas was frozen for a moment but then he smiled and returned his father's embrace.
-Seylin-
Elvish Translation
Ada/Adar - Dad/Father
Saes, Saes! - Please, please!
Penneth nin - Young one
Hir nin – My Lord
Ion nin – My son
A/N: Hello everyone, miss me? I know this took forever but there was major writer's block and then the research that held me back. Oh, I know what also happened to keep me from writing this. One night I came home and my laptop would not come on, it wouldn't even charge. Circuit City kept it for a month for repairs and I was worried I would lose everything but now it has been returned and I have no worries! Everything is here and safe. A little inside note, the third scene Legolas saw was actually an exert from my story/songfic "Friend's Like Us". I wrote this fic after ff .net stated songfics were no longer allowed, but you can find it on my live journal, the link is on my profile if you wish to read it and leave comments. You may have to travel a couple of pages back to find it though. I really need ideas for the nezt couple of chapters! Thank you for the continued support, oh and before I forget… -SDA-
