Legolas glared at Calelon as the older ellon stood stock still, arms folded across his chest and a firm frown upon his usually calm face.
"I am afraid I cannot grant you permission to see your Adar at present Ernil-nin," Calelon stood directly in front of the doors that Legolas so badly wanted to get through.
"Why not?" Legolas was all but growling at the royal healer now - he really was getting frustrated.
For the past three days Legolas had tried and failed to get any new information on his Adar. He had asked Rithel first thinking she would be most sympathetic to his plight but to his great surprise and annoyance she had given him the exact same spiel as Thanniel had before and she would not be moved from it nor had she answered any further questions from him. Rithel claimed to be just as in the dark as Legolas but the young Prince knew that to be entirely untrue. Still for the sake of not falling out with his big sister he had left the matter alone and instead gone to pester Thanniel.
The result was the same; Thanniel would not elaborate any further on his Adar's condition merely telling him that he ought not to worry, that his Adar was in good hands and that he should continue to keep being brave. Legolas had been unable to stop himself answering her sarcastically and they had ended up in a row. Indeed he had still been giving her the silent treatment this morning at breakfast.
Lord Arahaelon had been his last and final stop. Legolas had never wanted to go to his Adar's Regent; he was always so stern and grim faced and proper. He was sure the older ellon would tell him nothing new and he had not been disappointed. Lord Arahaelon told Legolas the exact same thing he had heard before from both Rithel and Thanniel. At that point Legolas had been enraged and ended up having yet another furious row - that time with Lord Arahaelon - which saw him grounded by the older ellon.
Legolas didn't really care – he'd hardly been going out since this had all started anyway – he was far too worried over his Adar and the potentially awful news that was being kept from him.
Finally Legolas had decided to something about it. If no one would give him an answer he would go and get one for himself.
And that brought Legolas to where he was now - just outside the private rooms in which his Adar currently resided in a standoff with Calelon. He had managed to sneak through the entire healing ward and had just been about to open the door when Calelon had opened it from the other side and looked quite shocked to see Legolas standing there. Calelon had swiftly shut the door behind him in a hurry before Legolas could even catch a glimpse of the room beyond. Legolas had demanded entry to see his Father and Calelon had denied him at once - so now here they were.
"I'm afraid he is asleep Ernil Legolas and cannot be disturbed just now. The more he sleeps the quicker he will get better."
Legolas pouted, "Well then can I come see him once he has woken up?"
"I am sorry Ernil-nin but it is for the best if your Adar has no visitors at all right now. He needs to be kept calm and stress free at the moment."
Legolas was in despair, "Why would seeing me stress him out? He is my Adar!"
Calelon gave a short shake of his head and began to speak again but Legolas interrupted him.
"Yes, yes I know what you will say Calelon – that you are sorry but I still can't see him and do you know what? That's just fine. I don't care anymore!"
With that Legolas turned on his heel and stormed off back up to his room. The young Prince bit his lip to keep the tears that threatened from spilling freely forth.
He felt so betrayed by everyone – Rithel, Thanniel, Lord Arahaelon and now Calelon.
Legolas threw himself onto his bed as he stomped into his bed chamber and at last let free his hot tears of frustration, anger and worry. He knew, he just knew that there was something gravely wrong with his Adar. The adults would not go to such lengths to keep him in the dark otherwise. Not only that but Mithrandir and Aiwendil were both still at the palace – had spotted them both the day before.
Legolas clenched his fists and buried his face in his pillows; he would never forgive any of them if something bad happened to his Adar.
Please Adar, he prayed, please, please be ok.
~o~
"…I don't care anymore!"
Thranduil clenched his fists in his bed sheets before he rapidly unclenched them when his singed skin protested such movement. It pained the elven King to hear his son so upset and it was all Thranduil's fault. For truthfully he could have visitors; he had just chosen not to and had instructed Calelon to keep everyone – Legolas included – at bay. The only ones he permitted to see him were Calelon, Aiwendil and Gandalf.
Thranduil really hadn't expected Legolas to turn up right at the very door to his private room on the healing ward. He would have to instruct Calelon to be a bit more vigilant; Legolas was wily and when he had his heart set on something he was not so easily dissuaded. Thranduil knew he would be back – anxious to see him and confirm that everything was alright with his Adar.
Thranduil frowned ever so slightly (too much facial movement hurt); everything was not alright. In fact things were as far from alright as they could be and hence Thranduil's refusal to see anyone just now. The elven King sighed as his thoughts turned to his current circumstances.
Thranduil was swathed in bandages from head to foot and he ached from head to foot. Valar how he ached. The pain varied from place to place on his body, from dull pain in his upper thigh to pure agony in his face. Not only that but his bandaged skin felt hot and way too tight, as if it were going to burst if he moved too much. That discomfort coupled with the pain his extensive burns caused him had seen Thranduil actually ask Calelon for one of his vile but potent pain killing brews. Thranduil had spent most of the past two days asleep and he doubted today would be any different. Already he could feel himself begin to be pulled under by the latest vile tea Calelon had given him.
Almost as if summoned by his very thoughts Calelon rested his hand on Thranduil's shoulder and spoke quickly to reassure his King. "Sîdh Aran-nin tis only me."
Thranduil forced himself to relax and pretended to himself that he had not jumped when Calelon had touched his arm. He was still not used to not being able to see and so every time Calelon approached or touched him Thranduil near jumped out of his skin. The healer had the uncanny way of moving as silently as a wraith and due to his injuries Thranduil was having a hard time in sensing his presence. With the two Istar Thranduil could at least smell them – Mithrandir smelt of pipe weed whilst Aiwendil smelled of hay and rabbits. Calelon however smelt of the very healing ward itself and so always caught the King unawares.
"Calelon when will my senses return to me? You scare me half to death every time you approach."
The healer gave a small chuckle, "My apologies Aran-nin, believe me it is not my intention – I worked too hard to keep you out of Mandos. Your senses will return in time – your body is pre-occupied with healing itself right now and so your ability to sense the presence of others will naturally be somewhat diminished but do not fear. All will get better in time."
Thranduil snorted softly - bitterly, "You know that is not true Calelon. You yourself told me my left eye will never get better."
The Royal healer sighed as he began to fuss round Thranduil smoothing back his hair, straightening his bed sheets and fluffing his pillows. Calelon knew the King was still rather upset over the news of his blindness and the healer fell silent for a moment as he searched for the right words to say. He didn't want Thranduil to sink back into the silent depression that had enveloped him when the King had first heard the news.
"I stand corrected. Nearly everything that ails you now will get better in time. How is that Aran-nin?"
"Hn," Thranduil made a small non-committal noise. He did not want to focus on his loss of sight; it was best if he pushed those dark thoughts right to the very back of his mind. Not to mention he was really starting to feel the effects of the pain killing draught now. Instead Thranduil apologised for his son's rudeness, "I am sorry about Legolas – the boy can be given to fits of temper from time to time."
"Oh think nothing of it, after all such a thing is expected from any offspring of yours Aran-nin."
Thranduil could hear the teasing smile in Calelon's voice and rolled his eyes. He regretted the action immediately as a sharp stinging pain flared in both bandaged eyes. The elven King could not help the groan that slipped past his lips – the pain was so intense.
Calelon was there in a flash. "What? What is wrong Aran-nin?"
Thranduil grit his teeth against the burning agony and remained silent for a moment as he slowly mastered the pain.
"Aran-nin?"
"Do…do n… not panic… Calelon," Thranduil heaved a great shaky breath as he regained himself, "I merely rolled my eyes forgetting that they have been all but scorched by that accursed worm. I am well do not worry."
The healer made a disapproving noise, "That little habit of yours will need to be put on hold for now Aran-nin."
Calelon rested his hand upon Thranduil's brow and the King suddenly felt ten times sleepier as Calelon sent a gentle current of healing energy through him and greatly eased his pain. This time Thranduil surrendered to the feeling completely and allowed pain free sleep to wash over him.
~o~
Flames. Flames were everywhere and no matter which direction, which corner, which nook or cranny Thranduil turned to flee in he could not escape them.
Some a brighter orange, others much darker, they leapt round him in a wild dance determined to devour him whole. Determined to incinerate him. Thranduil saw the smallest of gaps and ran hard for it, twisting and turning this way and that as the flames all shot out toward him desperate to reach him, to set him alight. Still Thranduil ran – he could see his maethyr, his army – just there, just through there, just a little more and he would make it. He could hear their voices – crying out for him, calling him back to them – back to flame free safety. He was almost there….
Suddenly with an almighty crash his way was blocked and the elven King could no longer see his elves; instead there were flames in the mammoth shape of a dragon burning brightly and wickedly. Thranduil felt his heart sink as he looked round frantically for any opening, any way of escape. But there was none – the long, flame wreathed, serpentine body of the leering beast had encircled him completely and the elven King felt despair, dread and horror roll though him in wave after sickening wave.
The flame dragon gave a horrid, sneering smile then opened its mouth wide – directly aimed at the elven King.
Thranduil screamed.
~o~
"Sîdh, sîdh Oropherion. Nothing can harm you here, you are well in your Halls and you are safe. Come now awaken and leave the nightmares behind."
Gandalf placed a cool hand upon the elven King's sweat soaked brow – one of the few parts of him not swathed in bandages – as he tried to coax Thranduil awake. It was clear he was caught in some nightmarish vison.
"Awake, awake Oropherion, awake and see that you are on the battle field no longer. Come now."
Gandalf pushed a small wave of calming energy through the hand on Thranduil's brow and heaved a sigh of relief as the King at last seemed to awaken. Gandalf kept up the little stream of energy until he saw that Thranduil's breathing had evened out and was gentle again – no longer the great heaving, panicked breaths he'd been taking.
"M…Mith…randir?" Thranduil's voice sounded weak and it cracked in places due to disuse and dehydration.
"Yes it is I Oropherion, now remain perfectly still," Gandalf placed a gentle hand on Thranduil's chest to stop the weak struggles of the King to sit up. "Remain still – do not try to move and undo all the good work Calelon has done."
"Ca..le..lon?" Thranduil rasped and Gandalf frowned at the state of the elven King's usually strong and commanding voice.
The Istar left the King's side, went over to the large sideboard and poured out a small glass of water, "You sound in dire need of a drink Oropherion."
Thranduil made no reply, only turned his head ever so slightly toward the wizard and Gandalf decided to take that as agreement. The Istar rested the glass upon the bedside table closer to Thranduil and then slowly and cautiously began the rather difficult task of manoeuvring the King so that he was no longer laid flat on his back but instead in a more upwards position that would enable him to drink the much needed water.
It was certainly a delicate task that required numerous pillows and the utmost care. Calelon had left Gandalf in charge after finally being persuaded to take some much needed rest and Gandalf was determined that Thranduil would not have a relapse under his care. Still, despite his best efforts every inch that Gandalf moved Thranduil - slowly propping him up with pillow after pillow - saw the elven King stiffen in pain or give a soft agonised gasp.
It took seemingly forever for Gandalf to get Thranduil into a low sitting up position and by then Thranduil was panting hard, breath coming in harsh, pained gasps.
"Sorry, I am sorry that it hurts so much Thranduil," Gandalf rested his hand on the panting ellon's brow and sent another wave of healing energy into him. "Here, you can have a drink now."
That too turned into another long, agonised task as most of the water splashed uselessly down past chapped lips unable to properly function on the left side. Gandalf realised then his mistake but it was too late – Thranduil was already caught in another wave of pain as the cold water soaked through his bandages and onto his still raw and wounded skin which sent sharp jolts of pain through him.
Gandalf had been hard pressed then to get the elven King to stay still rather than writhe in agony; the task was only accomplished in the end due to the aid of the Istar's rapidly dwindling healing energy.
At last Gandalf prepared another glass and moved back the King's bedside.
"Right Oropherion – your drink. I promise not to bathe you with it this time round."
"Hn," Thranduil gave a small grunt but his lips were quirked up into the very tiniest of smiles and Gandalf felt himself relax.
It hurt to see his long-time friend (and verbal sparring partner) laid so low in agony and Gandalf had been mortified to be the cause of further pain; so to see Thranduil's dry sense of humour was still intact was met with relief by the Istar.
"Right…" Gandalf mumbled more to himself that the ellon before him. The wizard dipped a spoon into the cold and now drugged laced water and began the task of easing his friend's thirst.
~o~
Thranduil let himself be spoon fed the cool, refreshing water that his parched throat had been crying out for. It was a huge indignity of course but he had no choice but to suffer through it; being spoon fed was far better than trying to make his useless lips work properly and risking another dousing of painfully cold water.
The elven King could still feel the slight sting of it despite Mithrandir's healing efforts yet he made no mention of it for he knew the wizard felt badly for having caused him pain. So Thranduil simply made light of it, going so far as to dredge up a small smile to put Mithrandir at ease.
The cool metal of the spoon against his lips was Thranduil's signal to open his mouth again and he did so mechanically trusting Mithrandir to not spill it over him despite the earlier mishap.
Truth be told Thranduil's mind still reeled and was struggling to free itself from the memory of his fiery nightmare and he only paid half a mind to what was happening. The memory of the huge flame wreathed beast of his dreams was proving difficult to shake off and Thranduil was glad for the bandages that covered his eyes. Glad for the peace and privacy they afforded him as he tried to forget his rather terrifying dream. Perhaps he would be best off not sleeping for a little while lest the nightmare returned with a vengeance.
Yes, Thranduil decided – he would get Mithrandir to read to him for a bit once they were done to help take his mind off his dark dreams and relax him.
Almost as if on cue Mithrandir spoke up, "Just a little more and you will have finished the cup Oropherion. I would offer you more for I know you are thirsty but Calelon warned me not to give you too much too fast to begin with."
"Hn," Thranduil gave the small non-committal grunt that was his only pain free way of communicating. He would save his breath for asking Mithrandir to read to him.
After another few spoonfulls Thranduil felt a dense fog creep up on him from all corners of his mind. His head felt decidedly fuzzy and his body as though it were about to float right off the bed. The King puzzled this out for a minute or three growing increasingly frustrated as he just could not seem to keep hold of one thought before it slipped straight into another. It was most befuddling not to mention aggravating and soon Thranduil struggled to remember what he was trying to figure out in the first place.
He remembered only as the creeping fog in his mind began to affect his ability to keep his eyes open and then it hit him in a brilliant flash of sudden clarity.
Drugged. Mithrandir had drugged the water and intended to send Thranduil right back to sleep – the very thing the elven King did not wish to do so soon after his night terror.
Yet it was too late. Thranduil's eyes were now like leaden weights and as they slammed closed he knew he would not be able to open them again for some time. The fuzzy fog in his head grew all the thicker and unable to even berate the wizard for drugging him Thranduil slipped helplessly back into his sleep induced world of torture, gore and fire clad serpents.
~o~
Gandalf let the spoon drop with a clang into the now empty glass and eased himself back into his seat. His fingers twitched with the urge for his pipe. He had not had a smoke since he had first arrived in the Woodland realm and now that the fatigue that came with excessive use of his healing powers slowly crept up on him the Istar longed for a nice, deep drag on his pipe.
The urge would have to wait though until Calelon returned to watch over the now peacefully slumbering elven King.
Gandalf felt bad for taking the easy way out for both of them and drugging Thranduil back into oblivion but… Valar! It was so hard to watch the way the pain of the slowly healing injuries tormented Thranduil. Everything seemed to cause him pain – even the very bandages that were supposed to help seemed to cause the great King discomfort as they put pressure on his burns.
Nay Gandalf had been unable to face the rest of his watch over Thranduil knowing he would be in nothing but agony and had decided putting him to sleep would be kinder to them both. The wizard only hoped that this time round Thranduil would be sparred any nightmares.
Gandalf studied the nearly completely bandage wrapped ellon before him and sighed.
"Tough watch Mithrandir?"
Gandalf startled and turned to face the culprit with a small frown, "You really ought to stop sneaking about so much Calelon." The Istar harrumphed and glared when the other smiled back at him.
"Aran Thranduil has told me much the same."
"Well then you should heed him and stop walking round as silently as though you were a mere ghost," Gandalf grumbled annoyed at the fact he had all but fallen out of his chair with fright.
"I am sorry Mithrandir truly – it is never my intention to scare anyone – this is just how I walk. Silently."
Gandalf only tutted and made a disparaging remark about elves as he gathered his robes and stood more than ready to find some quiet elf free corner in which to smoke his pipe in peace.
The wizard turned to face the Royal healer, "To answer your question – yes. It was a bit of a difficult watch." Gandalf pulled out his pipe and stuck it in his mouth as he rummaged round in his deep pockets for his small bag of pipe weed.
"Oh how so?" Calelon inquired, anxious to hear what had caused the Istar to sigh so heavily and forlornly a few moments before.
Gandalf at last located the small bag in one of his numerous pockets and held it out triumphantly before his face fell as he focussed on Calelon's question. "Well to start with he had a nightmare…"
Calelon listened silently as Gandalf recounted his watch over the King.
"I see," Calelon frowned down at the sleeping King. "Well you have my deepest gratitude Mithrandir for watching over him for me but now I must get to work. I need to develop a stronger painkiller for when next the King awakens – after all we cannot keep him in a drugged slumber forever. I need to make something strong enough to keep his pain at bay without putting him to sleep."
Gandalf nodded and began to shuffle out of the room – he was really feeling the effects of having used such large quantities of his power in such a short span of time and even going off for a quick smoke now looked like more effort than it was worth. Perhaps he would just head for his bed.
"Peaceful watch Calelon."
"Thank you," the Royal healer held the door to the private room open for him and Gandalf nodded gratefully.
"Oh Mithrandir?"
Gandalf looked behind him wearily.
"Could you please send Aiwendil my way? His knowledge of herb lore would be most helpful."
Gandalf nodded and trudged off as the door clicked shut behind him. He really wanted – no needed - his bed; not to go tracking down Radagast. Yet he knew Calelon was right – no one knew herbs and their medicinal purposes better than the brown wizard. Together the two would most definitely be able to concoct something that would save Thranduil from the anguish he had had to face today and the thought gave Gandalf new energy.
If the end result was Thranduil no longer feebly writhing and hissing in pain then he could easily push aside his exhaustion.
The Istar put his pouch of pipe weed and his pipe back into his pockets mournfully as he trudged down the long winding corridor. He hadn't even the faintest idea where to find Radagast. The brown wizard was something of an enigma and completely a law unto himself. Gandalf hadn't seen him for hours and drew a blank for any ideas as to where his fellow might be in the sprawling palace.
Aha! He had spotted a way to find Radagast.
Gandalf stopped near a shadowy corner and peered into it, "You there - young Thranduilion – I have seen you so you may as well come out."
"H-how did you see me Mithrandir?" The young Prince Legolas poked his head fully out of the secret door he had been hiding behind.
"I am an Istar Thranduilion – that's how. Now come lest a guard or Calelon find you skulking about and you get into trouble." Gandalf grinned at the young ellon, "I have a task for you."
~o~
"I am already in trouble so it makes no difference to me. I think I shall stay here thanks."
Legolas crossed his arms and pouted a little; he was here to see his Adar not to go off on some wizard's wild goose chase. After the few hours of crying and being upset Legolas had decided to try and see his Adar once more and had snuck out of his rooms where he was supposed to be studying and used the secret passage ways to make it up to his Adar's private rooms in the healing wing. It had all been going so smoothly until Mithrandir had accosted him. Curse the sharp eyes of wizards.
Still the blonde Prince had made it this far and wasn't about to give up now, "Truly I'd love to help Mithrandir but I need to see my Adar – it has been far too long since I have seen him and I must know the truth."
Legolas immediately bit his lip and swiftly averted his suddenly stinging eyes. He had said far too much.
He was not nearly fast enough however for the Istar had caught sight of the deep emotion that swirled in the young elf's eyes.
"Calelon will not let you through Thranduilion. Have you not already tried this? Why do you think this time will be different?"
Legolas blinked his eyes rapidly to get rid of the traitorous tears that threatened and turned his back to the wizard. Deep down he knew the gentle words Mithrandir spoke were right – Calelon would not permit him to see his Adar.
But still….
Legolas blinked again and made to brush past the grey wizard, "I need to see him Mithrandir…or at the very least force Calelon to tell me the truth."
Mithrandir's surprisingly strong arm shot out and held him fast in an iron grip effectively stopping Legolas in his tracks.
"Don't make a scene Thranduilion – you know Calelon will tell you nothing nor will you get in through the doors. You will only cause a great deal of fuss and disturb your Adar who needs all his rest." The wizard gave the young Prince a gentle tug on the arm so that the blonde faced him again. "Help me and I will help you."
Legolas' head snapped up then and he stared hard at the wizard. "What do you mean Mithrandir?"
"My task – help me with it and I shall tell you all I know about your Adar – the whole truth and nothing but the truth may the Valar themselves help me."
Legolas gazed at the wizard – would Mithrandir truly tell him what he longed to know? And more than that would he tell the truth and not just sugar coat things?
Legolas voiced his doubts, "I mean no disrespect Mithrandir but why would you help me? All the other adults have done their best to keep me in the dark about Adar. Why would you tell me what they are desperate to hide?"
Legolas trained his bright blue gaze unwaveringly on the Istar who did not so much as flinch under the heavy (even for child) elven gaze.
"I will tell you because you deserve to know," Gandalf stated simply. It was true; the wizard did feel that the way the young elf had been kept in the dark was a bit cruel – he was old enough now to know the truth about his Adar especially since the King was now out of the immediate danger of heading into Mandos.
Legolas felt the tension drain from him at the wizard's simple admission and he gestured to the wizard, "Ok then…thank you Mithrandir. What is your task?"
The wizard gave him a small soft smile and pulled Legolas further under his arm in an almost one-handed hug.
"I need you to find Aiwendil for me," Gandalf used Radagast's elvish name uncertain if Legolas would know the other.
Legolas raised a neat eyebrow. "Is that all? For some reason I had thought your task would be difficult Mithrandir."
Gandalf shot the Prince that he still held close a glare and harrumphed. "I'll have you know Thranduilion that finding my brown counterpart is no mean feat. Especially not in this labyrinth you elves call a palace."
Legolas gave the other a cheeky grin before he slipped from under the wizards arm and out of his loose (and rather comforting) embrace.
"The palace is truly not that difficult to navigate Mithrandir…well if you have any sense of direction at all that is…" The Prince paused to dodge a cuff to the ears, "but besides all that Aiwendil is not even in the palace. Come, come Mithrandir I'll take you straight to him."
Legolas grabbed hold of the wizard's grey sleeve and tugged him back into the shadowy corner from whence he came – into the secret passage ways.
"Where are you taking me Thranduilion? Don't you know better than to drag an Istar? And where is Aiwendil if he is not in the palace?"
Legolas gave another cheeky grin before he pulled Gandalf into the dark passage and slipped the false panel shut behind them.
"Aiwendil is with his most precious rabbits of course – in the stables. Honestly Mithrandir, he has been there morning, noon, night and any time he has not been needed by Calelon. How could you not have noticed?"
Gandalf gave Legolas a gentle whack with his staff, "Don't be impertinent elfling…just lead on in this accursed darkness."
"Oh sorry Mithrandir – here I have a torch if you need me to light it. I forgot that you do not have elven sight."
Legolas tried not to snicker when the Istar snatched the lit torch from him grumbling all the while about rabbits, silly brown wizards and cheeky elflings. The Prince fell completely silent then – he really did not want to aggravate Mithrandir too much – he wanted him to tell him all about his Adar.
Legolas glanced behind him with the most apologetic look he could muster on his face. "I'm sorry Mithrandir – don't be too annoyed with me. I'll take you straight to Aiwendil via these tunnels; we shall be there in no time at all. These secret passageways are quite a quick means of travel…also I'm not really supposed to have left my room."
Legolas gave another look back, this time with the tiniest of smiles and eyes that begged the wizard to keep his secret.
"Come Mithrandir – we want to take this next right."
~o~
Gandalf only smiled at the young elf's antics; he was not really annoyed with the youngster. He actually quite liked the Prince's youthful, jovial disposition. Gandalf could see though that those smiles did not quite reach Legolas' eyes at the moment. The smiles were forced in order to distract from the maelstrom of emotions that could be seen in the young one's eyes.
Gandalf frowned a little as he kept pace behind the child as Legolas continued to lead the way through the maze like passageways. The wizard was feeling rather annoyed with the Prince's current carers. Could they not see that instead of easing his worries over his Adar they had increased them tenfold by denying the boy the truth and thus allowing his no doubt overactive imagination to run wild?
Gandalf took a deep breath. He was in no doubt that the elves in question would accuse him of meddling in their affairs once they found out what he was about to do but he did not do it out of malice. He was only trying to do right by Legolas and the boy needed this. Needed to hear the truth and have his wildest fears put to bed.
Gandalf took another bracing breath – he would tell all to Legolas but he would leave out the part about the King's potential blindness. That tale ought to be reserved for Thranduil to tell and him alone.
"Right young Thranduilion – I shall tell you about your Adar now whilst we are quiet and private in this maze - …"
~o~
"Here we are Mithrandir."
Legolas made a small gesture to the grey wizard and ushered him out into the sunlit stable yard. Aiwendil was in plain sight fussing over his rabbits as Legolas had predicted. Mithrandir bid him thanks before giving him a clap of the shoulder and a meaningful look.
"Remember what I said Thranduilion – your Adar is on the road to recovery and though it will be long and hard you need fear for his life no longer. Let your mind and your heart be at ease now."
Legolas nodded, forced his brightest smile and gave a limp wave goodbye as the grey wizard turned to deal with his brown companion.
The young Price let the stone sliding door swing easily and silently back in place glad that none of the stable hands had been about and he had remained unseen.
For that was exactly how he wished to remain just now. Unseen and left quite alone to process the news he had been given. The news he had so longed to hear, the news he had been so sure he could handle.
Dragons. Nasty and greedy and pure slithering malevolence.
Fire. Hot and bright and full of spiteful evil.
Burns. Pain and torture and lifelong disfiguring scars.
Legolas felt his legs shake a little and unable to stop himself he slid down to the ground as he began to tremble violently.
Legolas had been sure that the adults had been being hurtful toward him –treating him like a mere elfling. The Prince had been sure he could handle it all.
But oh how wrong he was. So, so very wrong; and Legolas hated it. Hated that they had been right about him being too young to hear all the gory details.
More than anything however he hated the images that flashed round and round and round in his mind.
Destruction. Dragons. Death.
Legolas brought a shaking arm around his knees and curled himself into a ball. He should have listened; he should have listened to them all. Rithel, Thanniel and Lord Arahaelon. He should never have pushed so hard to hear the full gory truth and oh how he wished he hadn't now.
Flames. Fear. Fire.
Legolas dropped his head down to his knees and cried hard over all his Adar had suffered and the horrifying images that would now never leave him.
TBC.
Ellon – Male elf
Adar – Father
Ernil-nin / Ernil – My Prince / Prince
Sîdh – Peace
Aran-nin/Aran - My King/King
Istar – Quenya for Wizard
Maethyr – (plural) Warriors
A/N: My deepest apologies for the mega late update. Loss of inspiration attacked and I then managed to injure both my wrists which led to very slow going once I did manage to grab hold of the plot bunny. So mea culpa, mea culpa and thank you for sticking with me on this one. For those reading Friendship Amidst Loss – it's all plotted out its just the typing that is slow going at the moment (it hurts) – but I'll get the next chapter to you as soon as I can.
KimicT