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Twilight Tales - An Ounce of Kindness	By : MPB Category: -Multi-Age > General Views: 26421 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Chapter V

A year may seem like an inordinately long time for a visit. At least to mortal beings. But to those who live forever, it is naught but an infinitesimal thread in the unending tapestry of time. Yet Legolas never forgot his very first visit to Rivendell.

In all the centuries that followed, he regarded it as one of his dearest childhood recollections and not a single memory of this halcyon time did he ever relinquish unto the remaking of Arda itself. It was not that all other stays in the valley realm paled in comparison for in later years he was to know some of his most joyful or memorable experiences in hallowed Imladris. But this first was a new beginning for him, the start of his awareness that he was wanted and valued by others, not for who he was in a forest kingdom but for his own self, Legolas, an Elf of Eryn Galen. And thus he deemed his twelve-month in Elrohir's home a treasure of immeasurable worth.

What his sire had attempted but could not wholly accomplish for lack of time and adequate support, the Elves of the Last Homely House now did for him. There were hikes and rides for his amusement - he was taken everywhere in the valley and even the lands about; games enough to sate any child's hankering for fun and excitement; and refreshing dips in the tributary stream of the Bruinen while the weather remained pleasant. Almost everyone set aside time to entertain or teach him - regaled him with the lore and legends of the ancient past; recounted three Ages worth of deeds and words of renowned warriors, scholars and artisans, elven and otherwise; and did their best to satisfy his nigh bottomless curiosity about everything he saw or heard or sensed.

But it was when he was with Elrohir that he blossomed most. A bond of true friendship sprang up between them despite the wide disparity in their ages and the differences in their circumstances. It was no uncommon thing to espy the little prince hovering while Elrohir went about his duties whether it was serving out his apprenticeship in the Halls of Healing or going through his paces at the drill yard under the tutelage of Rivendell's finest soldiers.

The inhabitants of the vale grew accustomed to the sight of Elrond's younger son astride his white steed Uilos, the Greenwood prince perched before him. Or the Elf-knight striding about the grounds of the house, the fair-haired mite in his arms or on his shoulders. Or sitting side by side in one of the long couches in the Hall of Fire, listening to verse, prose or song.

Yet though they kept constant company, Elrohir still usurped the role of the Elf-woman assigned to care for Legolas during his sojourn in Rivendell. More oft than not, 'twas he who saw to it that the child had eaten his fill, bathed and dressed him, read to him come bedtime and stayed with him until he fell asleep.

Elladan was baffled by his twin's uncharacteristic devotion to the little prince, a devotion that patently went beyond mere sense of duty. For Elrohir had not previously displayed a propensity for the company of children and even less an interest in the care and rearing of them. It was one thing to indulge an Elfling for the length of a summer's visit, quite another to play friend, mentor and caregiver day after day for an entire year.

He questioned his brother about his newfound vocation one sunny morn in the middle of autumn. Earlier he had watched Elrohir instruct Legolas in the use of the bow out on the archery yard. The younger twin had gone so far as to have the weapons master fashion a complete set of bow, quiver and arrows to suit Legolas' height and tiny hands. The prince was a Wood-elf at heart and that portended an almost inherent talent in archery. He had already pleaded with Elrohir to teach him and the younger twin had seen no reason not to acquiesce to his wish. Of course, it was but a game to the Elfling for now, one of a child's many pastimes. But Legolas' affinity for the sport was apparent in his earnest practice and loving attention to the child-sized archery set Elrohir had commissioned for him.

But now his nurse had taken him for his writing lessons with Erestor. The brethren on the other hand headed for Elrond's study where they were expected to assist their mother in the cataloguing of rare and therefore precious manuscripts recently obtained from the northern Dúnedain kingdom of Arnor.

As they walked, Elladan sought to unravel the riddle of his brother's behavior. But in answer to his queries, Elrohir could only shrug and say: “I enjoy it. It contents me to take care of him.”

“Why, brother? 'Twas never a penchant of yours before.”

“But it is now and I cannot say in all honesty why. It simply feels right. Besides,” Elrohir added as they entered the study, “he is so sweet and loving, I find that I miss his company when we are apart. Indeed, it confounds me that his nurses in the Greenwood have not sought to smother him with love and affection as everyone does here.”

Celebrían looked up from the heavy tome she was consulting. She was as avid an historian as her husband and took every opportunity to add to her store of knowledge. Before her on Elrond's great desk were the lately acquired manuscripts. She was collating their contents with what was contained in the Last Homely House's vast collection of books on the Men of the West. It was time-consuming work that entailed painstaking attention to detail.

Hearing her sons' conversation, she ceased her scrutiny of the book and musingly commented, “I can think of one compelling reason for their seeming lack of attachment to Legolas.”

“Please explain, Nana”-Mama-Elrohir requested as he and Elladan joined her at the desk.

Celebrían leaned back in her seat and looked up at her sons. “There is a world of difference between attending to a guest's needs for a limited span of time and being in service to someone whether you desire it or not,” she pointed out.

“Do you mean to say that Moriel and Glorowen resent their service to Legolas?” Elrohir demanded, bristling with indignation.

Celebrían smiled, pleased with his protectiveness on the princeling's behalf. She shook her head.

“Not at all. I dare say they do care for Legolas even if they do not love him. But divided loyalties can inhibit them from showing more affection for him.” She tilted her head and regarded Elrohir keenly. “Did not Legolas say that Moriel was also day-nurse to Nimaras and Lalorn? And looked after them until they reached their majorities.”

Elrohir nodded. “And Glorowen helped raise the older ones,” he said.

“Do you not see? They most likely harbor much affection for their former charges and cannot help empathizing with their dismay at being upstaged by a late-coming brother. I warrant they do not wish to distress them further by seeming to change their allegiance in showing overmuch fondness for Legolas.”

Elrohir snorted. “Then King Thranduil would do well to dismiss them forthwith. I will demand that they be replaced with more suitable nursemaids come next autumn when Legolas returns home.”

Elladan huffed in some amusement. “Peace, gwanneth”-younger twin. “Prudence will best serve you should you speak to him on this. He will hardly appreciate being told how to do his business.”

“But he needs to know what goes on behind his back,” Elrohir countered. “While Legolas' brothers are quite open about their disdain, 'tis evident the nurses are not. Oh, I am not suggesting that they deal harshly with him but isn't indifference as much abuse as physical harm?”

Celebrían sighed and replied: “It is indeed. Such lack of concern can subdue the spirit as effectively as relentless beatings. You are not wrong in wishing to provide Legolas with more considerate caregivers. But let your father and me broach the issue to Thranduil. Elladan is not far off the mark about how he would respond. Thranduil has proved more benevolent than either of us expected but he is proud nonetheless. He is Oropher's son after all and your father saw more than he could stomach of Oropher's hauteur during the years of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. It will not do to offend he who may be your law-father one day by taking him to task about the governance of his household. And you many millennia his junior at that!”

************

The twins spoke no more of the matter. There was little use wondering about it. It simply was. For good or ill, Elrohir had come to dote on the Elfling who was his intended as fulsomely as said Elfling adored him. And adore him Legolas did. With all the zeal and ingenuousness a child was capable of. Once he realized that no one would take his displays of affection for the Elf-knight askance, he did not stint in showing it.

He would exuberantly throw his arms around Elrohir's legs after a victory in an Elfling race or a splendid showing in a contest of wits and beam at him so brightly that an overcast day seemed suddenly less shadowed. Even the most taciturn of Elves were dazzled by the brilliance of his smile and it certainly pleased Elrohir to be the most frequent beneficiary of it.

Many a time the younger twin would narrate a tale of some great adventure to him while they lounged in one of the reading alcoves in the library. Glorfindel's story was a particular favorite for the simple reason that he was one hero who had not remained among the fallen but returned to walk Arda once more. Legolas loved a rousing yarn as much as the next child but he was not over fond of tragic endings. On those occasions, he would quietly curl up on Elrohir's lap, his golden head tucked under the Elf-knight's chin. And if the tale proved especially dolorous, he would hide his tearful countenance against Elrohir's neck and wrap his arms tightly around his shoulders.

A bath was not always just a bath to the little prince. Not if he could coax Elrohir into joining him in the tub that they might engage in a soapy, slippery bout of mock wrestling. That such pursuits were apt to leave the Elf in charge of mopping up after them shaking his head in exasperation did not enter his mind and Elrohir did not trouble to enlighten him either. Not when the reward for his omission was his little leaf's blatant felicity for the rest of the day.

************

“I saw Lindir with an elleth in the Hall of Fire,” Legolas mentioned to Elrohir one crisp end-of-autumn evening while they strolled in the garden after dinner. Celebrían had wrapped him well in a warm cape beforehand. Elf-children of such tender years were not as resistant to the extremes of weather as full-grown Edhil, as was evinced by the cold-induced rosiness of his cheeks, nose and ears. “I have not seen her before,” he added.

“Was she pretty?” Elrohir asked with a smile.

“Very,” Legolas confirmed. “Prettier even than Glorowen.”

Elrohir raised an eyebrow at that. Legolas' day-nurse was considered one of the most beauteous Elf-women in the Woodland Realm. For Legolas to pronounce another to be far more comely was high praise indeed. He wondered if Lindir was a-courting and who the fortunate maiden was.

“But your mother is the prettiest of all,” Legolas went on with typical guilelessness. “She reminds me of Nana except that Nana had brown hair and eyes.”

“I will tell her you said so,” Elrohir mirthfully said. Celebrían would enjoy the compliment no end. “But why did you mark Lindir's lady friend so?” he lightly teased the child. “Are you smitten with her?”

Legolas made a face as if Elrohir had suggested something particularly nasty. “Nay! I do not even know her. But Lindir must be. I think he likes her a lot.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he kissed her. For a very long time.”

“What? In your presence?”

“Oh no! They did not see me at the door and I did not wish to disturb them so I let them be.”

Elrohir faintly chuckled. “So, you saw them kiss. And that proves that he likes her a lot, does it.”

Legolas looked up at him a little uncertainly. “Doesn't it?”

“Well, aye, sometimes it does.”

“Like when Lord Elrond kisses your mother behind the shelves in the library?”

The twin nearly choked at that revelation. “Embarking on a career of espionage, are we?” he wryly observed. “Valar, Legolas, you shouldn't sneak around and spy on people!”

“I wasn't sneaking or spying!” Legolas protested indignantly. “They just didn't see me.”

“As Lindir didn't see you?”

The prince shrugged. “'Tis not my fault that I am so small. But it can be a great help sometimes,” he mischievously added.

Elrohir guffawed at that and, catching Legolas up in his arms, swung the squealing child about a few times before seating himself beneath a tall beech, Legolas ensconced on his lap. The Elfling settled snugly against him with a happy sigh.

“Aye, 'tis certainly not your fault,” Elrohir snickered. “But do have a care, pen dithen.”-little one. “An embarrassed Elf can be quick with his or her words and not always in a nice way.”

“Embarrassed?” Legolas echoed in puzzlement. “Why, Elrohir? Do you get embarrassed when you are caught kissing someone?”

The twin shook his head in some disbelief at the prince's impudent query. “I can no longer kiss anyone else,” he reminded Legolas. “Now that I am promised to you. But to answer your question, nay, I was never embarrassed at being caught. But then, everyone says I am quite shameless and, I am proud to say, they are quite right.”

Legolas giggled at the cheeky statement. “Have you kissed many Elves?” he asked.

Again Elrohir nearly choked. “You are in fine form this eve, cunneth”-princeling-he dryly remarked. “Such unseemly questions you ask.” At Legolas' insistent gaze, he heaved a resigned sigh and said, “I have kissed a goodly number, aye.”

“Ellyn egor ellith?” Male Elves or Elf-maids?

“Both.”

“Which do you prefer?”

Elrohir stared at him. “Legolas, wherefore your prying?!” he exclaimed, somewhat scandalized by the prince's interest in so unchildlike a subject matter.

The Elfling pursed his lips into a pout then looked down. “I heard some of the maidens talking about you and Elladan. They said they were surprised about me because you'd seemed to prefer ellith. If they are right, why did you let us be betrothed?”

Elrohir fell silent for a spell, nonplussed by the unexpected turn their conversation had taken. At length, prodded by Legolas' nervous regard, he strove to answer simply yet truthfully.

“They are not right,” he demurred. “I did keep company with ellyn from my majority onward. But 'tis easier to be discreet when one is far afield as the warriors I favored oft were.”

Legolas frowned in that particular manner that indicated he was deep in thought. And then his face cleared and he asked, “You favor warriors?” When Elrohir nodded, he declared: “Then I will be one when I grow up. So you will like me that way, too.”

Elrohir caught his breath. “That way?” he warily probed.

“The way Lindir likes his friend and Lord Elrond likes your mother,” Legolas clarified. He hesitated then added, “The way Aelluin and Nimaras like you.”

That left the Elf-knight speechless for several seconds. “How in Arda did you-?” He stopped and tried to phrase his query as delicately as possible. “What led you to believe that they do?” he carefully asked.

“They talked about you a lot,” Legolas explained. “And one time, Nimaras boasted to Aelluin that he would have you first, whatever that means. They quarreled when he said that and then Galvreth told Nimaras that he didn't think you would ever dally with him because he wasn't to your taste. And that made Nimaras truly angry. But Galvreth was right, wasn't he? You told Nimaras so when he said those bad things about me.”

Elrohir did not know whether to smile in amusement, scowl in dismay or whoop with hysteria. What a thing to discuss within a child's hearing! Taking a deep breath, he answered: “It matters not how they feel about me, Legolas. I am not free to entertain their suits. But even if I were, I still would take no notice of them for I harbor no interest in any of your brothers. 'Tis only you who may hold that now.”

The Elfling dimpled in delight. “That gladdens me,” he said with satisfaction. “And I will work hard to become a good warrior. I want to please you, rochiren vell.”-my dear knight.

Elrohir groaned from the sudden surge of pleasure the trusting avowal evoked and he hugged Legolas close. “You already please me, pen vîreb”-treasured one-he murmured. “Just by being yourself. Do not think that you must do aught else to make me happy with you.”

Legolas snuggled against him, his temple pressed against Elrohir's cheek. “Do you think you will like me that way when I grow up?” he whispered.

Elrohir swallowed hard. “I - I hope so, lass dithen”-little leaf. “And I pray that you will feel the same for me should I-” He paused then pressed on. “Should I learn to love you as your father loved your naneth. And still does.”

The little prince drew away and looked long and searchingly at him. What he saw in Elrohir's eyes must have satisfied him for he beamed worshipfully at him.

“I think I already do,” he said with candid fervor. With that he kissed Elrohir's cheek before settling against him once more.

Elrohir slowly blew out his breath, feeling just a tad drained. Elbereth, but Legolas certainly knew how to stir things up. It seemed he would need to prepare himself for more surprises if this conversation was any indication of what was in store for him by way of his precocious betrothed. At least, it guaranteed that there would be precious few dull moments between them in the years to come!

He looked up at the firmament, the stars' sparkling clarity unobscured on this calm, cloudless night. One suddenly gleamed brighter than all the others and a moment after seemed to cast all its light upon him and Legolas. He stared raptly at the celestial beacon, unaware in his communion with it that Legolas was staring at him in mounting anxiety. When at last the star returned to normal brightness, he realized the child was looking at him with some alarm.

“Do not be frightened,” he hastened to assure the Elfling. “Remember what I told you of my grandsire, Eärendil?”

Legolas' fright swiftly changed to fascination. “'Twas he?” At Elrohir's assenting smile, he remarked, “You were staring at him. You looked as if you were listening to something.”

“I was,” Elrohir replied. “He speaks to us in our thoughts for he is so very far away. He watches over us even as he plies the heavens.”

Legolas was enthralled by the notion of that wondrous connection between the Mariner and his Peredhil heirs. “What did he say to you?” he eagerly asked.

The Elf-knight gazed once more at the brilliant pinpoint of light that was his father's renowned sire. He lowered his eyes and regarded the prince's upturned countenance, aglow with curiosity.

“He said he shares my hopes for the future,” Elrohir whispered. He dropped a gentle kiss on the tip of Legolas' nose. “Our shared future.”

****************************

Glossary:

forthwith - without delay

elleth - Elf-maid

Edhil - Elves

wherefore - for what reason or purpose (archaic)

naneth - mother

To be continued…
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Twilight Tales - An Ounce of Kindness