Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess
Author's Note:
This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)
~ CVIII: The Actual State of a Matter ~
Mithlond, 3021, September 29th
Three Keepers had chosen to sail across the Sea on September 29, 3021, and Xena had travelled with her son and family to bid her father farewell. Arwen and she were saddened by the fact that they would not see Elrond and Galadriel again until the day they decided to seal as well. Everyone gathered to wish them a safe trip and express how much they will be missed.
"Farewell, go with blessings, for that I know, I always wish good fortune upon you," Galadriel said to the little elfing that Xena was holding inside her arms. Arwen and she had already given their goodbyes to her father and grandmother, as well as to Gandalf.
Xena pursed her lips, attempting to suppress a smile but failing, nodded indulgently, and remained silent; she hated to say it, but she would miss them. Since she gave birth to their child, her father and Galadriel were tremendous sources of support. The manner in which she got related to a family she did not know existed always fascinated her. She discovered love and family, as well as a cause to continue living, in a world that she had always believed had abandoned her.
"My last advice to you is to talk with Legolas and tell him the truth," Gandalf remarked without filtering his words. "How long will you hide behind your fear, Xena?"
Elrond looked at the white wizard and nodded in agreement with what he stated "We advised her for a very long time that she needed to end the prince's misery. He is unaware that he has a son!"
"I cannot help but question if I am doing the right thing. Nevertheless, I do not know how to communicate such a reality. 'Hello, my name is Xena, we have a kid, and we had a thing!' There is no way to give him the truth without adding to his anxiety. And he was plenty thorough!" As usual, she sounded somewhat irritated and unyielding on the matter as she mentioned.
The three keepers were peering in front of Xena as if they had seen a ghost behind her. Their expressions reflected their shock at what they had seen and what was to come. As for Xena, she was astonished by the weird atmosphere that immediately enveloped everyone. Before she could turn around to see what had rendered the three keepers mute, the ghost made its presence known.
"We have a son?" Behind her, a sharp, deep voice said, and on his lovely, elfin face, there was enormous sorrow. "How is this even possible? What are you concealing from me?"
Xena shut her eyes and longed to shout at her misfortune. She already knew who was behind her, but she wanted to confirm that it was him. She turned around and her eyes widened as she saw Legolas and the Elvenking standing behind her. They were there to bid goodbye to the three keepers. Legolas could not understand what this meant. He had often inquired about his dreams; he had dreamt of having a son, but he was never told the facts. His last remaining patience vanished. He felt like an idiot.
"Explain," he continued in a chilly voice, disregarding everyone else and looking intently at Xena and the child she was carrying. And Legolas could already tell by his son's hair and eye colour that he was his offspring. "What had occurred?" Now, his head was racing and he was attempting to absorb what he had heard and seen. However, his icy demeanour concealed his worry.
Xena remained silent, evidently deep in concentration, but he could see her neck muscles twitching softly. She finally turned her head and regarded his face with silent concentration. His expression revealed nothing to her, but her eyes were aflame and she was unable to conceal her own anxiety. "What happened was..." she murmured, unwilling to tell him the truth.
"Since when have you avoided a challenge?" Suddenly, Thranduil interrupted them "You have stood in front of me without fear, slaying enemies that I could not! And now you are frightened to reveal your identity to my son? Speak out and be reassured!"
Legolas had now moved his focus to his father. "You knew about this?" His voice boomed across Mithlond, and it was the first time anybody had ever seen the prince so enraged. "Is this why you've been making a monthly trip to Imladris? Because you knew!"
Xena could only see what was transpiring in front of her, and since her thoughts had wandered, she was unable to comprehend how such a thing could be possible. Thranduil assured her that he would not appear in Mithlond and had no cause to bid the three keepers goodbye.
"Lier!" Xena let out her first terrifying shriek while clutching her kid in her other hand. "You deceived me. I had faith in you, yet you lied to me. How dare you?"
Legolas had endured actual darkness and hell twice, and what could he do if he discovered that he had a son? Nothing. Initially, he would be furious, but ultimately he would be pleased. His son and Xena were both capable of finding happiness, but they were also obstinate. Therefore, he chose to take action before Elrond sailed away from Middle-Earth and was unaware that his daughter and grandson had achieved peace. Therefore, he lied when Xena inquired whether he would accompany them to Mithlond. He assured Xena that he would not attend.
Half of his pledge was fulfilled when he saw Legolas and requested that he accompany him to Mithlond. Legolas was pleased to go on a short journey with his father, and he wanted to say farewell to the three keepers and inquire about his dreams. However, there he discovered Xena, a son, and everyone who had lied to him.
Legolas spoke calmly, attempting to contain his fury before he unleashed the insanity that was brewing inside him, "You are incredible, father."
Thranduil signalled for them to retreat, then skipped up to Xena and removed the infant from her arms. He was concerned that she might drop the newborn since neither parent was capable of holding an infant at the time. "Find a quiet area and have a conversation; my grandson will stay with me till then!"
While they were still in disbelief, they were both pulled away. They began to walk away from the throng and the three keepers in search of a quiet space to converse. However, it took time for any of them to settle down, since the shock they endured was unfathomable. Eventually, Legolas was able to calm himself enough to be able to speak with her before he killed her.
"Is this why you inquired about me having an affair with a maiden? Is this what took place between us?" Legolas questioned avoiding staring at her. "What occurred? I want to know! No falsehoods!"
Xena felt numb, disoriented, and lost. And simultaneously really furious. Thranduil had entrapped her, so she had no choice but to confront Legolas. She hoped that he would eventually remember her and seek her out, but that hope was now dashed. However, at least her son would know who his father was.
"We occurred!" Xena proceeded to guide Legolas through his lost memories, or at least the significant ones. "I do not know how you felt, therefore I cannot provide a response! However, this is your boy, our son!"
Legolas was upset and dismayed that the truth had been concealed from him, as he was furious with his father. However, the fact that he had a son brought him joy. His son was a descendant of his, a child he had longed for.
"Did you love me?" Xena was more perplexed by Legolas' question since he did not inquire about his son, as he had already accepted that he was his. But what about Xena? If they chose to end up with her, they must have been at least fond of one another. "Answer me!" he demanded.
Momentarily, he wanted could recall her, as it would be simpler to be truthful with him, but now it stung her dignity to be the first to say that she loved the prince. She had gone insane. For the first time, she wanted to flee and not respond to him, but she was not who she claimed to be, had never played it safe, and would not do so now.
"You win, Prince!" Xena responded feeling her pride becoming damaged "I loved you, and that is all you need to know. What will you do with this knowledge, and how will it get you out of the situation you are currently in?"
Legolas scrutinised her intently, his face displaying a sardonic grin that unnerved her. Legolas had recently gone into the rabbit hole, and it was unknown if he would ever return. Real love was a guardian, a defender, an unbreakable bond that remained with them always and in all circumstances. He was already certain that they would have a boy. Legolas must have had a great deal of affection for her. He would never consent to such a relationship unless he was passionately in love with her.
He did not forget who he was, even if he had forgotten who she was. Regardless of what went wrong, he expressed his affection for him. Did she no longer cherish him? He feared that she would no longer love him and that he would lose her as his heart became heavier. Those feelings were familiar; he remembered having experienced them on the first day they kissed. They were quite intoxicated, yet he could recall the event.
Wait!
He could recall! In fact, he had kissed the girl, a very skilled and aggressive lady. It was as though his recollections were always there; he just did not consider her. How did this occur? Everything was too much for him to take at once, overwhelming him despite his urge to learn. So he asked, he asked her without consideration. "What now? You do not love me anymore?"
Her heart skipped a beat or two, and she wondered whether she was expected to respond. Should she tear down all of her barriers and abandon her defences? She realised she could not simply get around the elf. In reality, she did not want to. She wanted to be straightforward and honest with him. Enough with the games and secrecy; because he already knew the truth, he may now learn its whole.
"I answered a question of yours, and I expect a response," he pushed, maintaining a chilly demeanour and attempting to seem as indifferent as possible.
"I do, I still love you," Xena responded while obviously looking at him with tears in her eyes. "If that is what you must know, then! Here is the result! I love you!" She acknowledged and went forward in an attempt to get closer to him as the notion of embracing him arose.
Legolas took a step back and exhaled deeply, his respiration accelerating as if he were experiencing a panic attack. He had turned away from her and was bending slightly when his hand grasped his thighs and he became unable to breathe. He finally realised what had occurred. They had a son because they were attached; nevertheless, little of his memories were returning and he was experiencing another panic episode.
Xena was stunned by the result, and she did not want to see him hurt again. She made another step toward him with the intent of speaking with him and calming him down. However, suddenly Legolas endured the anguish and misery, stood up facing her, and raised his hand in front of her as a signal to cease. She regarded him with confusion and waited to hear what he had to say.
"We shall go to Imladris so that you may retrieve your stuff, and then you will accompany me to Ithilien, where you and our son will be residing." He commanded her while preventing himself from collapsing "I do not desire to hear your objections or more explanations.!"
Xena was rendered speechless by the unexpected turn of events as she accompanied him to Ithilien; what were they to do there? Obviously, he wanted to spend time with his son, but they did not speak much; he only wanted her to accompany him. "Why? Do you have the authority to request that I remain with you? We haven't even discussed this mess?" Xena finally spoke after a lengthy period of confusion.
Legolas was done. She lied to him and then asked him to sit down for a conversation. He would need time to process what was transpiring and to think clearly. "Whether you like it or not, you are bound to me, and we have a son. I hope my loved ones could remain with me! You will relocate with our kid to Ithilien. There will be plenty of time for discussion and set a date!" Legolas spoke as gently as possible, but he was on the verge of collapsing.
A new location and a fresh start might help them have a calmer dialogue and provide him with the opportunity to spend time with his kid. Xena inquired, "Set a date for what?" since this was the only portion that she did not understand.
"Our wedding," Legolas finished. "You will accompany me, and we will marry; if you don't like it, you'll have to present a valid reason!"
She examined him, and the sorrow in his eyes almost caused her to lose her resolve. Despite the persistence of disappointment and suffering, there was a glimmer of hope. Though she was bewildered as to why he desired their marriage. He nearly saw her as a stranger. "Wait," she cried out after him as he started to go. "You hardly know me, and you want us to marry?"
Legolas examined her once more; she was meant to be an elf, yet she was acting in an oddly human manner. In the other world, and when she was in this world, she believed herself to be human. This young woman knew nothing about elves; maybe she was still attempting to find her path. Because if she were, she would comprehend what it meant for an elf to connect with another. "I am knowledgeable enough for you to follow!" Legolas stated "You had best be prepared for I will not be kind to you. You had the opportunity to read more than the children's book I assigned you!"
She gazed defeatedly downward. She no longer had anything to lose. She observed him for a while before realising that he remembered the children's book he had given her in Rivendell. Perhaps he was recalling that they did have a modicum of optimism for a solution. This time, she could not give up on him. "I shall follow you, but do not presume to command me, Elf, or you will pay the price," Xena warned him.
However, Legolas had already turned aside and was heading for his horse. Gimli, who had travelled with him and was now hidden, awaited him. Because he was meant to be at Minas Tirith, but instead appeared in Ithilien when Thranduil asked Legolas to go to Minas Tirith to say farewell to the three keepers. And it was only when he was in the hands of a friend that Legolas collapsed on the ground, excessively panting and attempting to overcome his panic episode.
((Upcoming Chapter One-Hundred-Nine))
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