Title: Until We Reach Valinor
Chapter 5: A Few Upsets
NOTE: This story is sequel to "A Teacher's Duty" and you'll have to read that one first to understand this. Also, this story does not contain slash, and it is not a romance, despite what the first chapter might suggest about the latter.
SPECIAL THANKS to Orlando's Sweetheart for helping me pick the name of the woman, and the title of and in this story. Help is much appreciated; thanks a lot.
That said, on with the chapter.
…
Legolas looked upon the drowsy faces of seventy-two teenagers and took a deep breath, preparing himself. Today he was going to attempt to do something which would probably- no, definitely not be met by his class's instant approval. And it didn't help in the least that he had to announce it first thing in the morning, when everyone was half asleep and irritable to begin with.
"Good morning, all of you," he began.
A chorus of sleepy grunts and incoherent syllables reached his ears.
"I'm sorry I had to wake you so early today, but I have to give you a special lesson which will require us to walk some distances."
"Sir, is Celin going to be teaching us?" some one said from behind.
Legolas's eyes sought Celin's smiling ones in the crowd. The boy had been improving slowly and steadily and everyone was encouraging him enthusiastically. Legolas suspected it was also a feeling of triumph that they were being taught by one of their number that prompted some of their enthusiasm, but whatever it was, it spoke volumes for Celin's potential to improve.
"No, Elgalad, Celin is not going to be teaching you today," Legolas answered, "Because this is something he is cannot teach."
Celin's smile vanished. He did not know what this announcement boded for him, but he somehow knew he was not going to like it.
"But sir, what is it?" Linnor asked impatiently.
Legolas wished anyone but she had asked that question, "Well…Linnor do you remember last year when you got lost and were almost attacked by spiders?"
Linnor nodded, shuddering at the memory, which she would never forget as long as she lived.
"Well, I looked over that glade carefully," Legolas continued, "And it doesn't seem to have as many spiders as either of us thought."
"What are you talking about, sir- it had thousands!" Linnor said with conviction.
"Well, actually it didn't, it just seemed like that because we were both so tense at the time."
"That's not true!" Linnor said, her voice rising slightly, "I saw them with my own eyes, and so did you! There were thousands of them- millions!"
"Linnor, you were scared, and when people are scared, their minds tend to exaggerate things," Legolas said patiently.
"So, what are you saying, sir?" Linnor's said with a touch of barely concealed hysteria as she started to realize where this line of conversation was going, "What, are we going to go back there and risk our lives again?"
"Linnor, I have brought enough of the antidote with me!" Legolas replied, trying to placate her, "No one will get hurt this time, because unlike last year, we are going to be completely prepared!"
"That's not the point," Linnor said sobbingly, "You…I…I can't believe you would…after…" She couldn't get the words out. Fear washed over her, blocking out her reason, and with it came guilt that had haunted the periphery of her mind for more than half a year without her knowledge.
"This foe is something you will all face sooner or later, Linnor," Legolas said soothingly, trying to break through her inner turmoil and make her see that he was right, "If you live in Mirkwood, you have to accept the fact that it houses deadly spiders, and sooner or later, you have to face your fears and learn how to fight them. And that goes for the rest of you, too." he added, looking around at his class, who were almost as worried as Linnor.
Linnor could barely speak. Panic, anger, fear, guilt invaded her mind and body, overwhelming the rest of her senses. "You don't understand!" she sobbed, and stumbled blindly away, disappearing into the abating darkness of dawn.
Legolas looked after her and sighed. He glanced at Elano, who was looking none too amused. That went well, he thought sarcastically, as his eyes met the thunderstruck gazes of seventy-one now no longer drowsy teenagers.
…
"Was this the…er…surprise you were referring to earlier, sir?" Elano asked in an undertone, after everyone dispersed, muttering amongst themselves, to prepare for the half-day journey.
"Yes," Legolas said, having the grace to look abashed.
"From what angle exactly would you call this a good surprise?" Elano asked, referring incredulously to their previous conversation.
Legolas smiled ruefully. "Don't start with me, Elano," he said dejectedly, "You know quite well that this is necessary."
"Yes, sir, and you know equally well that this is very dangerous!" Elano exclaimed.
"Didn't you hear what I was telling everybody, Elano? Or do I have to convince you too? The antidote to their venom grows there, in that same glade! And moreover, I have brought a number of tinctures made out of the same plant, just in case!"
"Sir, it is still a very dangerous thing to take seventy-two teenagers into a spider's lair! Even with two adults present!"
"I'll be taking them in batches, and there will only be one adult present, thank you."
"That's beside the p- wait a minute, what do you mean, only one adult? Who do you think will heal them if-?"
"You will stay right here and keep an eye on Celin!" Legolas said firmly, "I don't want him to sneak after us."
"He's staying, oh no, I could kick myself!" Elano exclaimed in distress, much to Legolas's surprise, "Oh, why didn't you say so earlier, sir!"
"Of course he's staying! Do you actually think I'd let him come for something like this? What would happen if his ankle played up again, and he fainted right in the middle of an army of venomous spiders? You know I can't risk that."
"Oh sir, I never thought you would take him," Elano said, waving Legolas's exclamations, "It's just that it didn't strike me- we both took it so much for granted- neither of us even mentioned it to him! Now Celin's going to assume he's allowed to go, sir, and it's going to be an even bigger disappointment when we tell him."
"Well, I can't help that," Legolas said, more sharply than he had intended because he was angry with himself, "I can't take Celin along today, and that's all there is to it. It's too dangerous, and he'd only be a liability if he came."
There was a sharp intake of breath from behind them. Legolas swung around…and found himself looking straight into the hurt, angry eyes of Celin himself.
…
Legolas sighed. He had been doing that a lot lately. He sensed it was going to be a very long day. It was not even dawn yet, and he had already caused two upsets, albeit for different reasons.
"Don't worry, sir," the perceptive Elano interrupted his thoughts, seeming to know exactly what he was thinking, "You go and talk to Linnor, start on the trip. I'll talk some sense into him."
If Legolas had not been so preoccupied, he would have noticed from Elano's tone that he meant more than what he said. There was a grim, determined look on his face which rarely found occasion to grace the features of one so quiet and submissive. But Legolas had too much to worry about to notice such subtleties.
"Thank you," he said in response to Elano's offer, "The journey will be long, and if I want to get back here by nightfall, I cannot speak to both Linnor and Celin, much as I'd like to. Please…apologize to Celin for me. I did not mean to say such things."
You may not have meant to say them, but you certainly felt them, Elano thought, and it's high time Celin was acquainted with that, much as it hurts me to be the one to do it.
"I will, sir," he said aloud, "Don't worry yourslef, everything will be alright."
"I hope so, Elano," Legolas said, still dismayed by the way the day had started.
"I'll try," Elano said wryly, "In the meantime, keep the rest of them safe. I would very much appreciate it if my healing abilities were not in desperate need when you return. Take care of yourself, sir, and make sure you have enough of those tinctures with you."
"I will. I mean I do," Legolas said distractedly, already wondering how he would talk sense into Linnor, "Goodbye."
Elano watched Legolas's form retreating into the forest and then turned resolutely towards the tree house, where he was sure both Linnor and Celin had gone. After all, it was the only place in the clearing which allowed some privacy, which both were in desperate need of.
…
Linnor looked up through a film of tears and saw Celin's head appear above the wooden platform she was standing on. He had obviously not been expecting her to be present, because he appeared startled by her presence, and stubbed his toe against a protruding twig.
He swore colorfully, climbing up on to the wooden floor of the tree house and reaching down to rub his toe.
"Hello to you too, Celin," she said, rolling her eyes at his antics.
Celin gave her a sour look. "Very funny," he took in her tear stained cheeks and red eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked tentatively.
"Oh, I'm peachy, thanks," Linnor said sarcastically, glaring at him.
Celin threw up his hands in surrender, "Alright! I know you have cause to be upset. Don't jump down my throat, I wasn't the one to cause all this. It was sir."
Linnor caught the bitterness in his voice. "Are you alright?" she asked, looking at him more closely.
"Oh, I'm peachy, thanks," Celin repeated what she had said, and with a hollow laugh, he threw himself on the floor with a thud that rocked the entire tree house.
"Did sir say something?" she guessed intuitively.
His eyes suddenly filled with tears at the mention of his teacher. "That's not your concern!" he said, blinking them back, but not before she had seen them.
"I'll take that to be a yes."
"Yes, and if you were a bit more mindful of your own health, you'd also take that to be a sign that I want to be alone!" He was venting all his frustrations on her, and both knew it.
She raised an eyebrow at the empty threat, and said, her troubles forgotten for a moment, "You do realize I was here first."
"Please, Linnor," Celin was not in any mood to joke, and his tone showed it, "Either you leave or I will. Although seeing as you have to go on that trip, you might as well…"
Linnor's eyes hardened at the mention of the trip, which ironically was the root of both of their troubles, "That isn't fair, Celin," she said reprovingly, "There was no need to bring that up."
"I know, I'm sorry," he said earnestly, "But sir's going to hunt you down sooner than later, and I really don't want to be here when he does." He started to climb down the tree, but Linnor stopped him.
"Don't," she said, wearily, "You're right. He is going to hunt me down, and if I know anything about him, convince me that everything will turn out all right and actually make me optimistic about this trip," she sighed, shaking her head, "But I really do not want to go. I'm too scared."
Celin could not think of anything to say except, "Good luck." He bit back everything he wanted to say about how lucky she was to be able to go.
When she had gone, and he had nothing to distract himself with, his teacher's words replayed themselves in his head. He'd only be a liability if he came. So after all this time, that's all he was to sir. A liability. His eyes filled with tears again; he blinked them back, resolutely gazing at the canopy of tree-tops around him.
But even as he fought, the hurt and betrayal overwhelmed him. Tears continued to fill his eyes, and he continued to brush them away and pretend they weren't there. As he struggled with his emotions, he heard a log creak behind him. He turned, and found himself face to face with Elano.
…
TBC…
Again, my apologies for not updating this earlier. This is my first real cliffhanger of this story! I am back, people! And don't worry, there will be a lot more to come. LOL, I should really just stop talking.
Thanks to all my kind reviewers. A question: Do you want an elaborate description of the spider scene, or should I just cut straight to after it's happened? Please review and tell me!