Soooo, here's the next one, its a filler really but I promise speed will pick up a bit soon.
I appreciate the reviews so far thanks. All feedback is gratefully received! Thanks to those who have put this on their favourites list too.
Chapter Five
" And my heart nearly stopped altogether when I felt your hand on my shoulder Dan".
The young man lounging comfortably in one of the tall chairs punctures the comment by throwing a soft white pillow over at the eldest of the twins sprawled on the remaining two chairs opposite who snatches it out of the air effortlessly and returns it with far more force, hitting Estel squarely in the face.
"Elladan!" Comes the spluttered response, " that hurt".
A burst of musical laughter from the slender being at rest between them accompanies the affronted look in the silver grey eyes and the pretended childish pout.
" Well, I'm glad you found that funny Elf! "He looks towards the slight figure resting on the bed that the chairs have been clustered around his eyes glinting dangerously.
" It was only what you deserved foolish Man" comes the mocking retort from a smiling Legolas as he prepares to launch a pillow of his own in the young mans direction.
For the next few minutes all discussion of recent events is swept aside as the rooms four occupants indulge in one of their favourite pastimes and none of them hear the door open above the cacophony of laughter and childlike squeals accompanying the resultant pillow fight or notice when Lord Elrond enters the room. It is only when he finally raises his voice and shouts for silence over the din that the four younger beings suddenly take note of his presence and fall silent.
Feathers fall silently through the air as pillows are placed back down on the bed slowly and hands smooth down rumpled hair and clothing in attempts to reinstate order from the chaos which has so recently occurred.
" I can see you are feeling much better", the healer sighs in resignation as he crosses the room towards the elven archer " but please don't let these childish antics tire you too much pen neth, you are not yet fully recovered".
Legolas grimaces at the term used, he hates to be reminded of his youth compared to the other three elves present although he has to admit that the brothers always manage bring out their inner child when they are together excepting those times when they happen to be fighting for their very lives.
" I am sorry Hir nin, my lord," he places his hand over his heart and lowers his eyes " I should not have let them lead me astray". His blue eyes sparkle as he glances around at the brothers before solemnly meeting the lords gaze once more.
Elrond tries to hide a smile behind a slender hand raised to cover a false cough but is not quick enough to fool the blonde elf who raises dark eyebrows in salute.
" Yes, well. I need to check your dressings Legolas so I suggest my sons put this room back to rights quickly to enable me to do so in peace and quiet." His face assumes a stern mask as he glares at each of the brothers in turn. " I will return in ten minutes".
The elder leaves the room with a dignified walk and manages to close the door behind him before breaking down into unrestrained mirth in the corridor outside. How good it was to see the four friends back to their normal high spirits, he sent thanks to the Valar for looking over them all again. For a while even he had thought that this time would be the end for the young archer and he had dreaded what the consequences would then be for his youngest. The two were so closely bound in spirit that he feared he might lose both of them which would have not only had a devastating effect on their two families but would also have been disastrous for the future of middle earth.
Legolas leans his slender frame back against the remaining pillow behind him on the bed, smiling as he watches his friends move swiftly around the room picking up pillows, cushions and feathers in an attempt to restore order prior to their fathers return. Having been on the receiving end of many of the lords stern lectures upon the behaviour befitting their ages in the past the foursome have no wish to provoke another.
" I cannot believe that my memories do not return" he worries him greatly that he has no recollection of the events of the fateful evening between bending to fill his water container at the stream and waking to find himself in severe pain, surrounded by worried faces and lying, not under the stars, but in a soft warm bed two days ago. " They should have done by now surely, but the more I try to reach for them the further they seem to retreat from my grasp". His blue eyes flash a questioning glance towards the twins.
" We have told you before, this is perfectly natural mellon nin", replies Elladan with a reassuring smile. " You are still healing from the recent trauma to your body, it was very severe Legolas, we almost lost you", there is a slight hitch in his voice with this last statement.
" Do not keep worrying at it like a warg with a bone" breaks in Elrohir trying to lighten the dark clouds he can see beginning to form within the sapphire orbs again. " It may come to mind easier if you try less".
" You keep telling me this but it does not help!" The space in his memory torments the elven archer and he pounds on the bed with his fists clenched in frustration as he snaps out the words tightly. " Maybe if I were to return to the clearing it would spark some recognition in me", he suddenly sits up swiftly suppressing a grimace of pain. " Yes, that is what I must do. I must return to the place it happened to clear this mist from my mind."
" You are going nowhere for the present time pen neth", Elronds deep velvet tones brook no argument as he re enters the room and crosses elegantly over to the bed." Your body is not yet sufficiently healed for a journey, let alone one that will most certainly lead into danger."
" It is not my body that worries me" the archer replies ruefully " but my mind. Really hir nin, I feel fine, a short ride would not discomfort me at all and " a sudden sharp intake of breath stems the flow of words as the healers fingers peel away the dressing from the wounded stomach and palpate the surrounding area.
His eyebrows raise in reproof at the icy glare directed at him from the younger elf.
" Hmmm, I can tell you are just fine", the sarcasm in his voice brings a subtle blush of colour to the princes cheeks and he turns his head to see the three brothers standing watching the exchange with amused expressions on their faces.
A steely warning darts from his blue orbs to one pair of grey and two pairs of dark brown eyes which each challenge back, laughter within their depths.
" If you are careful and allow some assistance you may sit out for a while this evening" Elrond smiles as well practiced hands finish renewing the dressings on the slender body before him. He has felt that body tense and tighten under his ministrations and is aware of just how much pain Legolas is hiding with his usual strong willed nature. " Healing will be much swifter if you take care and not push yourself young one. Do not try to force things unnecessarily". With this said he turns to his sons. " I will ask the cooks to bring food up here for all of you and you may help our young friend to sit out to eat with you but the minute he begins to tire I trust that you will ensure he gets back into bed".
" Of course ada", three heads nod together in agreement, " you can depend on us" Estel smiles at his adoptive father then his brothers " we will pick him up and carry him if necessary". Legolas scowls at his friend but stays silent in case Lord Elrond should change his mind. He has no wish to be confined to bed any longer and is certain that once up it will only be a short step to about and a plan begins to form in his mind.