Just a Friend- Chapter 14
Next chapter! There will be two more after this, though the epilogue may be split in two.
I own Belhadron. That will make more sense after reading this chapter, but he is mine. I am planning to involve him in more stories with Legolas.
Disclaimer: see Chapter 1, but I own Belhadron.
Telan yawned as he rolled over, his arm dangling over the mattress.
It had been two weeks. Two weeks since Cat had found an unconscious elf in the woods. Two weeks since they had brought him home. Two weeks since everything had happened, since Strider had turned up at their door. Since those men had as well.
The man was still in the town. The soldiers had not come yet. Telan had heard Henric voice his doubts, about whether they could ever come. Yet he still hoped. It had only been two weeks. It took days to get to Minas Tirith from here, and Telan didn't know how long it would have taken Strider to convince those in charge in the city to send soldiers.
He yawned again and sat up, the blanket falling from his shoulders. Cat was asleep next to him, and he carefully rearranged the blanket over her as he got off the mattress, smiling slightly as she mumbled something and turned over. Stretching, he grinned as his stiff muscles protested. He had spent the afternoon yesterday sparring with Da, and was sore from it already.
He opened the door and padded into the other room in the cottage, yawning yet again. Alya was already awake, stirring a bowl over the fire. She glanced up as Telan came in and sat down at the small table, rolling his shoulders to get rid of the aches in them.
"Where's Da?" Telan asked, one hand rubbing his neck absentmindedly.
"Sit up straighter," said Alya in reply, pointing a spoon covered in porridge at Telan. "Slouching isn't good for you."
Telan grinned and sat up straighter. "Where is he?"
"Out getting more firewood from the shelter behind the house," said Alya. "We were running low."
Just then the door opened and Henric came through, stamping the mud off his boots before dumping the logs in a corner. "Ground's getting drier," he said gruffly. "Soon should dry out from those rains we had."
"Any signs of the soldier?s" asked Telan hopefully. He still hadn't given up on the idea that Strider would come back.
"Nothing," said Henric, a slightly sympathetic look as he smiled at Telan. "I wouldn't hold out much hope for Strider coming back, son."
Telan grimaced, but nodded. "I know," he said. "But I have gotten so much better since he left! I just want him to see."
"I know," said Henric, ruffling Telan's hair. Telan ducked out of the way with a scowl.
"Da!" he exclaimed. "I'm too old for that!"
"You are only thirteen," replied Henric. "You're never too old for your old Da to ruffle your hair."
Alya smiled. "Here," she said, placing a bowl of hot steaming porridge in front of Telan. "And here's some honey." She grabbed a pot and put it on the table. "I bought it yesterday. Might as well eat it now."
Telan grinned, and dolloped the honey onto the porridge, stirring it vigorously with his spoon. He took a mouthful, and then gasped, nearly spitting it out. "It's…hot," he said through a mouthful of porridge.
Alya laughed softly. "Aye, of course it is," she said. "It's come straight from the pot, Telan. You ought to be more careful, or you will burn your mouth."
Telan shook his head. "I'm fine, Ma," he said.
Henric looked around. "Is Cat awake yet?"
Telan shook his head. "She's fast asleep, as usual. Dreaming away."
Alya smiled. "Watch the pot, love," she said. "I'll go wake Cat." She turned and slipped into the other room.
Telan grinned at Henric. "More practice today, Da?" he asked through another mouthful of porridge.
Henric chuckled. "Only if your shoulders aren't too stiff," he said. "I saw you rolling them as I came in."
"Oh, they're not too bad," said Telan. "I'll be fine. I want to practise! I want to be the best swordsman ever!"
Henric smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I hope you never have to fight someone in a real fight, son," he said softly. "You should not fight because you like fighting. You should fight to protect those who can't fight for themselves."
"I know," said Telan. "And I want to do that."
"Aye," said Henric. "And I suppose it is not up to me whether or not you become a soldier. I just want to spare you some of the pain I had to deal with when I was a soldier. I don't like the idea, but I guess you have a few years to decide. But Telan," Henric said with a sigh. "If being a soldier is something you really want to be, I won't stop you."
"Thanks Da!" exclaimed Telan.
"But don't decide now," said Henric. "Eat your porridge instead."
Telan took another mouthful, but he had barely had time to chew the sweet porridge, sticky with honey, before he heard the clattering of hooves outside on the track going past their home, and raised voices.
Henric opened the door, and Telan saw how suddenly his body relaxed and his face broke out in a small smile. Telan got up, "What is it?" he asked, coming to the door.
He looked out from under Henric's arm, and suddenly smiled. "They came!" he exclaimed, pushing his way out of the door and outside the house. "They're here!"
The sun, having pushed its way out from behind the clouds, was glinting off the helms and bridles of the soldiers making their way down the track. As Telan watched, the two horses in the lead peeled off and began to canter towards them.
Telan's face lit up as he saw the face of one of the riders. "Las!" he cried out, running forwards slightly. The horses pulled up and stood, the rest of the soldiers waiting on the track for them.
Las swung himself easily off his horse, patting his horse's neck absentmindedly as Telan made his way to him. The other rider stayed seated, and as Telan glanced up, he saw another elf, the second one he had ever seen. This one had dark hair, though, and his eyes were also dark, nearly black. But despite this, he looked like someone who laughed a little too much, and as Telan gazed up at him in slight wonder, he smiled, genuinely, before turning to Las and saying something in the lyrical tongue that Strider had also used. Telan heard Las' name, though mentioned rather scornfully.
Las looked over at him and answered in the same tongue, laughing. He then switched back to Westron with a roll of his eyes.
"Belhadron, there is no need to laugh at that. Honestly, I don't know why I made you my second all those years ago."
The elf called Belhadron chuckled. "Because your father needed someone to scrape you off the ground after battles, and you needed someone to take your place at meetings."
Las chuckled, and then he turned back to Telan. Henric had now joined them, and Las bowed, one hand over his heart. "Greetings," he said to Henric. "We have picked up the man from the town, and will return him to Minas Tirith to face judgement."
Telan looked behind the two elves and their horses and saw the man, his hands securely bound, tied to one of the saddles of the soldiers. His legs, from what it looked like, were hobbled, so he could walk, but not run.
Las followed his gaze. "Aye, he will not trouble anyone again. The other two men are dead, by his hand. We made sure of that."
Telan nodded. "Is Strider here?" he asked hopefully, his gaze searching the soldiers on the track.
"Strider?" questioned the other elf, Bel-something or other, thought Telan.
Las turned and said something briefly in the other tongue that had the other elf chuckling again. Las smiled, and turned back to Telan. "I am sorry," he said. "But Strider was not able to come."
Telan nodded. "It's alright," he said, though he was disappointed.
Henric coughed. "I hope you are recovered, Las," he said gruffly.
Las smiled and nodded. "I am, thanks to all of you," he said. "But I am afraid I cannot stay long. We must return to the city, and it will take a day or two to make it back."
Telan nodded. "Will I ever see you again?" he asked. He still had little idea of who the elf was, why he had been in the woods, and why he had been unconscious and poisoned.
Las shrugged. "Who knows?" he asked. "You may. How has the sword practice been going?"
Telan blushed as Henric clapped his shoulder and answered. "He is getting better and better," his father said, and Telan was surprised to hear the hint of pride in his voice.
"Do you still want to be a soldier?" asked Las.
Telan nodded. "I think so," he said. "I do. I want to fight for Gondor."
Las nodded. He turned back to his horse and pulled something out of a saddlebag. Turning back to Telan, and only rolling his eyes slightly at the other elf's comment, he handed the object to Telan.
Telan turned it over in his hands. It was a metal disc, something that could be put on a bridle or saddle, or to pin a cloak in place, as there was a metal pin at the top. On one side there was a stamped insignia that Telan recognised, for it was the symbol of the white tree and the seven stars, the symbol of Gondor and the King. But on the other side was an insignia that neither Telan nor Henric recognised, the white tree below a bird spreading its wings, with the rays of a rising sun behind them. It was similar to the symbol of Gondor, but not the same.
Las looked at Telan. "If you ever want to come to Minas Tirith, if you ever want to serve as a soldier, come and present that to any soldier in the courtyard. Tell them…" Las paused for a second. "Tell them you were given to it by a blond elf. They will know what to do."
Telan's eyes were wide. "Thank you," he breathed.
Las nodded, and turned back to his horse, easily swinging himself on top. The grey stallion pawed at the ground and snorted, and Telan was reminded of Strider's horse, Hasufel. Las smiled as he saw Telan looking.
"This is Arod," he said. "Another horse of Rohan." He turned Arod around and Belhadron followed suit. Both elves looked back over his shoulder and nodded at Telan and Henric.
Belhadron spoke first. "I want to thank you," he said to Henric and Telan. He had a heavier accent than Las, his voice lilting as he spoke. "For saving the life of my captain and friend. I am in your debt."
Henric nodded, not sure what to say. Las smiled softly.
"My thanks," he said. "I hope to see you in Minas Tirith one day, Telan. I know you will be a fine swordsman. I wish you all the luck, you and your family." With one last nod at them, Las pushed his heels into Arod and together, he and Belhadron cantered back to the soldiers waiting on the track. The company began to move off, and as they rounded the corner and began to move out of sight, Las raised one hand in farewell.
Telan raised his hand in response, and stood there until, yet again, the horses were out of sight, beyond the horizon. He lowered his hand slowly.
Henric smiled slightly at his son. How much he had seemed to have grown, in such a small amount of time. He gently patted Telan on the shoulder.
"Do you want to practise?" he asked.
Telan nodded, slipping the metal disc into his pocket. "I shall fetch the swords."
To Be Continued...
As always, reviews are most welcome. Next chapter will be up on Friday.