The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 60

Legolas sat quietly staring at the plate of food in front of him. He had hardly touched his meal his appetite strangely none existent. Lord Elrond had laid on a lavish affair to welcome everyone back to Imladris, and although it was not a feast as such with dancing and the like, the guest list still included all of Imladris’ dignities. Over the course of the evening Legolas had felt more and more estranged in the crowd. Everyone was older than him and all of them were chatting and laughing like old friends. As before at the feast in Lorien Legolas was sitting on the opposite side of the long banquet table to Glorfindel. Being now back in his position as Imladris’ seneschal, Glorfindel was sat proudly by Elrond’s side although his splinted leg was up on a stool under the table. Elrond’s two son’s occupied their fathers left side and were happily chatting away to both Glorfindel and Erestor. Filgree too was engaged in conversation with several of Elrond’s lower ranked advisors learning new things about the beautiful city of Imladris. Legolas sighed and gently pushed his plate away from him now feeling thoroughly ill for some reason.

Glancing up the table Legolas frowned as he watched Elrohir and Erestor make their apologise to Lord Elrond as both got up and moved out on to the balcony of the hall. Over the course of the evening Legolas had noted how close the youngest twin and Elrond’s advisor were and could only wonder if Elrohir was Erestor’s admirer. Elrohir had seemed awfully interested in everything Erestor had got to say and had done nothing but stare at the elder elf all night. Still Legolas did not have anyone to share his thoughts with and so turned his attention from the balcony doors back to Glorfindel. Legolas watched curiously as Elladan swapped sides and went and sat next to Glorfindel in Erestor’s newly vacated spot at the table. With growing envy the prince watched a whispered conversation passing between the two elves. Occasionally either one of them would laugh out loud at something the other had said and Legolas felt his hands clench into fists in his lap as he watched Glorfindel press a soft kiss to Elladan’s forehead after a particularly long conversation between them. Legolas could hardly believe what he was witnessing. Glorfindel had not said two words to him since entering the hall and he had at least expected a soft kiss of reassurance from the elder elf but he had received no attention what so ever. Now for him to see Elladan, the horrible elf that had called him fat getting all the attention from Glorfindel it was almost too much.

Legolas was so enviously engrossed in glaring at the pair at the head of the table that the prince hardly noticed he was being addressed ord ord Elrond before Filgree was nudging him forcefully in the arm. Snapping his attention away from the display at the head of the table Legolas focused on Filgree’s angry gaze.

“Prince Legolas, is the meal not to your tastes tonight?” Lord Elrond repeated his question having awkwardly sipped from his own glass of wine. Legolas hardly seemed to register the question however and merely stood from the table carelessly knocking over his glass of wine onto the table and all over his untouched plate of food.

“Legolas?” Legolas was expecting to hear Filgree’s chastise but instead felt his tutor stand up quickly next to him a concerned hand coming to rest on his shoulder. Swallowing hard Legolas looked around at all the people now staring at him including Elladan and Glorfindel who had ceased their conversation the moment Lord Elrond had begun speaking. Legolas felt the world tilt on his axis and he swayed dangerously as his vision swam.

“I apologise……” Legolas paused as he felt himself sway again. “I’m sorry I don’t feel very well.” The prince had hardly time to turn and run before his sudden dizziness sent his stomach into a twisting spiral. Legolas hit the floor before he could reach the planter box running down the side of the hall as he divulged the meagre contents of his stomach onto the polished wood floor. “Sorry… Sorry…Sorry.” Legolas coughed violently in between his apologies even though he could hardly hold his head up as he retched again. Filgree was at his side in an instant quickly pulling back Legolas’ long blond locks and soothing rubbing his hand in circles on the prince’s back as the prince threw up again.

“He is severely unwell. Quickly Elladan, pick him up and bring him to my chambers.” Lord Elrond stood concerned above Legolas heaving frame and gestured hastily for some of his healers to gather some specific herbs and potions. Legolas stiffened as he felt a strong pair hands wrapping around his waist. Of all the people in the room Elrond had to choose the hateful Elladan to pick him up. If his stomach were not already empty Legolas would have thrown up again at the mere thought of the horrid elf touching him. With ease Legolas felt himself being lifted into the arms and could only lie limply as he was whisked from the hall and up a set of winding staircases. Legolas hardly noticed the décor of the rooms changing from lavish to unbelievable until he was finally laid upon a large canopy covered bed. Too weak to be bothered with all the faces now staring at him Legolas rolled himself over and buried his face in the pillows. With his eyes squeezed shut Legolas listened as Lord Elrond shooed everyone out of the chambers leaving an eerie silence in their wake.

In the silence Legolas listened to Lord Elrond moving around the room before the bed yielded to the right and a hand came down to rest upon Legolas back. “Legolas, come on, sit up.” Obediently Legolas rolled over and weakly sat up against the pillows of the large bed. Lord Elrond was perched on the edge of the bed his legs crossed and his outer robes discarded for a more informal vest and leggings. Legolas swallowed at the foul taste in his mouth after his retching and grimaced as it went down. Seeing the grimace on the young elf’s face Lord Elrond reached over to his bedside table and poured a glass of wine from the decanter before passing it to the prince. Eagerly the prince drained the glass of sweet fruit wine, welcoming it’s masking flavour of the foul vile in his mouth.

“I am sorry for ruining your feast Lord Elrond. I will clean up the mess if you like.” Legolas guiltily lowered his head after handing back the empty chalice. Lord Elrond chuckled softly and shook his head.

”Nay, you will do no such thing. The maids have already cleaned it up and the feast was drawing to a close anyway. I should have known better than to let you out of bed before you were well enough.” Lord Elrond smiled warmly as Legolas nodded in quiet agreement still avoiding eye contact with the Lord. “I think it is time we talked Legolas.” Legolas sighed heavily as Lord Elrond shifted closer and got comfortable amongst the large fluffy cushions on the bed. Out of the corner of his eye Legolas watched as Lord Elrond reached over to his bedside table and brought out a loose sheet of parchment. “I took the liberty of writing to Haldir upon our return to Imladris. I am concerned for your health Legolas and I sought some answers only one who has experienced what you are going through now could provide.” Legolas frowned as he looked up cautiously from his chest to glance at Lord Elrond.

“I am sorry I snapped at you when you tried to help me back when we first left Lorien.” Legolas suddenly felt guilty for the consequences of his mood swings of late and although he didn’t want to admit it, Elrond had been true. Something was happening to him and he didn’t know how to stop it. It was his moods alone that had probably caused Glorfindel to stop talking to him. Elrond smiled and shook his head in gentle comfort of the young elf sitting next to him.

“Do not dwell on that Legolas, it is scary sometimes to not know what is happening to you, especially when us old arrogant healers ask personal and private questions of you.” Legolas could not help but blush at Lord Elrond’s cheeky grin. It was unusual to see such a regal Lord looking so childishly mischievous. “Now I received a letter in return just this morning via the wings of an eagle.” For emphasis Elrond waved the parchment in his hands indicating it to be the reply to his letter.

“And what does my father have to say?” Elrond smiled as Legolas turned to sit in front of him his legs now crossed as he listened intently to what Haldir had to say.

”Well it is not your father who replied to this letter as I had wanted but it is still interesting all the same.” Legolas frowned having heard that Haldir was not the author of the letter but continued to listen regardless. “Your uncle Rumli replied because Haldir is currently on assignment at the boarders and seeing that it needed an urgent reply took the liberty of answering it for your father.” Lord Elrond glanced down at the letter seemingly reading a few lines before looking back up to the expectant looking Legolas. “Rumli says that when his brother came of age that he experienced many of the same illness you are suffering now. Such as the coldness, mood swings, lack of appetite and even fatigue.” Legolas sighed in relief. At least he was not the only one to go through this and if Haldir survived and turned out to be march warden then Legolas would certainly get through this.

“So what does it all mean? Is it going to be like this forever?” Lord Elrond shook his head softly in reply almost watching as the relief poured from Legolas shoulders making the younger elf’s shoulders slump.

“No it does not last long, a season or two depending on the individual. As I predicted, it is your bodies way of preparing for a child.” Legolas grumbled causing Elrond to chuckle quietly to himself. As much as Legolas was forward in speaking his mind when he wanted to the younger elf was awfully shy when it came to discussing personal issues. “Now before you begin spouting again hear me out.” Legolas obediently nodded and closed his mouth as Lord Elrond continued. “Upon your coming of age you become fully fertile and your body goes through some changes in order to accommodate a child.” Legolas stared at Lord Elrond blankly unsure what sort of reaction the Lord wanted in regards to this conversation. “You feel ill because the chemistry of your body is changing and you are being forced to accommodate the changes. It will settle though and you will feel better again once it is over.” Legolas sighed and fiddled with the corner of a pillow unsure if he should ask the question that had been tugging at him since Gandalf had told him he was fertile. Elrond sensed the question in the younger elf and leaned closer encouraging the elf to speak.

“Will my thing disappear if I get pregnant? Will I be like a she elf?” Legolas blushed profusely as he dropped his gaze to stare at the bed spread. Lord Elrond swallowed his laugh knowing that any amusement on his part would severely hurt the fragile young elf that had just asked the question.

“Nay Legolas, you will remain a male for all of time. It is just that like a woman you will swell in the stomach and chest for the time you are with child. Then like Haldir you will return to your former state after the birth of the child.” Legolas smiled weakly not at all liking the sounds of anything Lord Elrond was telling him. Still it was a comfort to know he would not stay like a female forever and it was only temporary if indeed he wanted a child. Lord Elrond put the parchment aside happy that he had discussed one of the important things he had wanted to with Legolas. The next thing however was a little more tricky and considering the way Legolas had been glaring at Elladan and Glorfindel all night it would probably get a little heated. Taking a deep breath Elrond reached forward and placed a soft hand over Legolas on the cushion in his lap, stilling the younger elf’s nervous fiddling. “Now I would like to discuss Glorfindel with you Legolas.”

“Well I don’t want to talk about him.” Legolas reply was quick and sharp as he pulled his hand away from Lord Elrond’s. The elder Lord sighed heavily sensing immediately the jealousy, anger and sadness Legolas was hiding from him.

“Unfortunately that is not your decision Legolas and this is just as important as what we just discussed before.” Legolas folded his arms pointedly across his chest and shook his head defiantly.

“I don’t care. He hates me. I knew as soon as he got back to Imladris that he’d hate me. He thinks I’m a child still, helpless in defending myself and the cause of all his injuries. He ignored me totally tonight yet I thought it was he who invited me?” Legolas was clearly hurt and Lord Elrond let the younger elf blow off some steam before addressing the matter calmly. “Besides he seerettretty interested in your son Elladan. I did not know why Elladan called me fat this morning but having seen the way he was all over Glorfindel at dinner I’m hardly surprised. I’m a threat to his relationship with Glorfindel and he hates me for it. Not that it matters, now Glorfindel is home. I’m just a stupid little Princeling to him now, an annoyance and difficulty to be used and thrown aside.” Legolas felt the tears prick at his eyes as he said the nasty words but despite himself he couldn’t take them back. He had seen what he had seen at dinner and nothing was going to change his mind. Lord Elrond sighed heavily and shook his head as he handed Legolas a small piece of cloth to dry his tears.

“Legolas now you are being irrational.” Legolas avoided eye contact with Elrond as the dark haired Lord chastised him sternly. “You mistake my son’s advances on Glorfindel as something sinister, yet they are both innocent of any accusations you make.” Lord Elrond brought his hand to Legolas chin forcing the younger elf to look up at him despite the tears in Legolas’ eyes.

“But I saw…….” Legolas was cut off by Elrond’s finger pressing his lips closed.

“You saw nothing but a student eagerly telling his well loved tutor about his up coming betrothal, nothing more.” Legolas was stunned as Lord Elrond sat back and removed his finger from the prince’s lips. “Elladan in my absence from Imladris has become betrothed to his sweetheart, a young maiden from Lorien. They are to be bound in a ceremony at the end of the season and Elladan was simply sharing his wonderful news with Glorfindel at dinner. Like you and Filgree, my son’s are also very close to their old mentors.” Legolas swallowed guiltily and lowered his gaze now feeling thoroughly foolish for acting so jealously.

“Then why did he insult me so this morning in my room.” Lord Elrond sighed as he watched Legolas sink further and further into his guilt.

“That I must apologise for, it was wrong of him to insult you as he did and very uncalled for. Elladan is sensitive to matters concerning his close family and friends especially where life and death is an issue. After loosing his mother to orcs as a child he has become a vigilante of keeping all his remaining loved ones safe. When Glorfindel told us the story of how he had rescued you Elladan took that to mean you had been the cause of everything that had happened, and so he took his anger out on you when I sent he and Elrohir to watch over your recovery.” Legolas sighed heavily again feeling guilty for having caused Glorfindel’s leg to break. Elrond sensed the prince’s mood and instantly quelled the growing guilt in Legolas features. “Do not blame yourself Legolas whoever it was that was trying to take you from us, did not succeed because of Glorfindel’s determination. I know it is not my place to say this but he loves you. I see it in his eyes whenever he looks upon you and although he does not show it all the time it is still there regardless he is just trying to adjust himself to this new feeling. He has loved before but has been hurt by love too, it will take sometime for him to come around.” Elrond sighed as he watched Legolas swallow heavily before lowering his gaze to the bed spread again. At the moment Elrond knew that no matter how much he reasoned with the young elf, Legolas’ highly emotional state would always win out over any arguments.

A silence befell the Lord and the prince for a while as Elrond closely studied the turmoil driven young elf in front of him. He had not had the experience of having seen Haldir in his early stages of his maturity and could only speculate to how Legolas was feeling at present. For a long time Legolas had merely been an elf never talked of in Elrond’s household, but not a day had gone by since his birth that Elrond had not thought of the golden child he had witnessed being brought into the world. Despite their distance to one another Elrond felt an attachment to the young prince and partly responsible for the fate that had befallen the young soul. Unable to control himself Elrond leant forward and enveloped the prince in a warm hug, something he had longed to do since first seeing the babe in Mirkwood all those years ago. For a brief moment Legolas resisted the hug but when the shock passed Legolas melted into the e elf elf’s arms instinctively locking his arms around Elrond’s slim waist and nuzzling into the dark cherry coloured mane of hair.

“Aye I wish I could have protected you more Legolas. I was a fool to let Thranduil keep you locked away for so long, you should have been brought up by Haldir, things would have been so different. As it is, he has deprived middle earth of its most precious and shining jewel.” Legolas hardly heard Lord Elrond’s whispered words so captivated was the prince by the warmth and happiness he felt in Lord Elrond’s arms. While it was similar to what he felt when enveloped in Glorfindel’s embrace it was different as well. Legolas blushed as he felt Lord Elrond press a gentle kiss to his crown before pulling slightly away from the embrace so that they could meet each other’s eye contact. “I am scared Legolas. Scared that you will not find happiness in Glorfindel’s arms and that he is not your intended, yet I cannot deny you the freedom to choose willingly your mate as your peers before you have done. If it is as the valar told it you will find the one you were meant to be with as long as you remain free to do so without force.” Legolas couldn’t take his eyes from Lord Elrond’s as the elder elf stroked a soothing hand back and forth along the prince’s cheek. “It is strange that the fate of us all lies in your happiness Legolas and it is a fool of a king and two lords that have tried to prevent it from happening.” Legolas was a little stunned as he watched the dark haired Lord rise from the bed and move over to the large vanity under the window. Elrond stared at himself in the mirror as he began to unbraid his long dark locks so that they flowed in a cherry waterfall down his back and over his shoulders. Legolas did not know what to do and so sat still and quiet on the Lord’s bed observing Elrond as he moto hto his closet and pulled out a blood red silk robe. The robe was beautiful and shone in the candle light of the room, with its embroidered silk panels and gold piping. Unsure of what Lord Elrond had planned Legolas watched as the elf lord draped the robe over the chair near the fire and turned his back to the prince again, to this time face the fire.

Legolas’ eyes widened incredibly and his breath caught in his throat as he watched Lord Elrond begin to disrobe, his back still turned to the prince as he removed his vest and divested himself of his leggings. Legolas knew he should avert his gaze but could not tear his eyes from the sight of Elrond’s flank as the elvan Lord leant forward a little to kick his leggings free of his feet. The elvan lord was of a beautiful milky skin tone, almost like pearl compared to Legolas own mottled complexion. Legolas was unable to move, his body frozen to the spot as Lord Elrond slowly turned around to face him seemingly unaffected by his nudity. Legolas had never fully seen another naked elf before, having only glimpsed flashes of his friends in Mirkwood when they had gone swimming in the pools. “Am I pleasing to look at Legolas?” Lord Elrond tilted his head in question at Legolas who could only swallow heavily and continue gawking at the muscular frame of Imladris’ Lord. It took a moment for Legolas to register that he was required to give an answer but when he opened his mouth to reply his voice managed only a squeak.

“Aye…..” Elrond chuckled at Legolas lack of coherency noting with amusement the flush that had crept up into the elf’s cheeks and was slowly making its way to the very tips of Legolas ears.

“I know what it is that you do not say Legolas.” Legolas was shocked to find himself slightly disappointed as Lord Elrond picked up the silken red robe and put it on before tying it securely closed around his waist. Having the elvan Lord now fully covered again Legolas managed to regain his self-consciousness and became confused by what Lord Elrond’s display had been in aid of. Before Legolas could inquire however Lord Elrond silenced him with a wave of his hand. “You think I am a handsome elf, no?” Legolas nodded cautiously, suspiciously wondering what the elder elf was up to. Lord Elrond moved around the end of the bed and over to a small table where he picked up two beautifully carved long stemmed goblets and a large bunch of purple and white wild flowers. Legolas had not noticed the flowers being there until now. “You are thinking that I am a handsome elf and yet another part of your mind tells you that I am not as beautiful as Glorfindel, even without my clothes on.” Legolas was about to protest Lord Elrond’s remark but was once again silenced as he watched Lord Elrond move over to the entrance of the room still carrying the flowers and goblets. “It is a fear of you Legolas and your potential in this life that has brought me to my senses of late. The fear that all of this might end sooner than we plan, has forced me to face some items that have been pressing on my conscience for a very long time.” Legolas swallowed hard as he watched Lord Elrond pull back the tapestry hanging in the doorway. “You are in love Legolas, I now see it in you for I have only just recognised it in myself. Like you, I think of a great many elves as being handsome but a large part of me thinks of them as mere fading beauties compared to the one I love. The fear I will not have enough time to enjoy my love’s warmth has forced me into action. I was brought up thinking that I would have forever being an elf, yet seeing you here in front of me and knowing that so much depends on you finding your own love, has torn my believe that I will have forever to chase my own love.” Legolas stood quickly from the bed as he watched Lord Elrond step into the corridor outside the room. Elrond still held the tapestry open behind him so that he could glance back over his shoulder at Legolas standing dumb founded in the candle lit room. “Go to your love Legolas, as I go to mine and I pray to the valar you will find happiness in the arms of your own mate so that I may have time enough to enjoy the happiness of my own beloved.” With a small smile Lord Elrond turned and disappeared down the torch lit corridor leaving Legolas to stare blankly after him, shocked and stunned by what he had been told. Legolas did not know how to comprehend what had just happened and merely flopped ungraciously back onto the bed as he continued to stare into the darkened hallway outside Elrond’s bedchambers. Whatever had just happened had made Legolas totally rethink all that he had thought Lord Elrond was….

TBC......................

(A/n) Sorry the updates have been a long time coming this time around but I'm back at the government hell hole and I'm weighed down with heaps of assignments. Still I hope this makes up for the lack in posts and keeps you all entertained...if indeed you are all still reading that is.