Post by Móreadhiel on Jun 13, 2006 14:30:05 GMT -5
Legolas watched as the sun dipped in and out of the beautiful fluffy white clouds and played against the cobalt sky.
“The sky darkens, my lord, we shall reach Imladris soon.” one of the warrior’s escorting the royal family turned to Thranduil and smiled.
The elf king nodded and turned to look at Legolas who rode at a slower pace behind him, taking in the beauty of the forest.
It had been many hundreds of years since he had been in these friendly woods, he listened as the trees rustled their greetings and whispered amongst each other; the birds twiddled songs of joy and looked down upon the world with their small, dark eyes.
“Peaceful, is it not?” he turned silver-blue eyes upon his father who rode before him.
He smiled and nodded, not showing his true wishes to tell his father with words.
Another elven warrior beside him smiled and patted the prince upon the back, he was younger than the one guarding Thranduil and was a good friend of Legolas. He had seen the prince through many perils and had been there when Legolas’s mother had passed away.
“It will be alright Legolas.” he whispered so only the prince could hear. “It will be alright.”
The younger blonde elf went to speak, but could not form the words. He sighed softly and dropped his head, letting his horse follow the others as he contemplated on his quietness.
A few moments of silence and reprieve from speaking was well for Legolas, he did not feel he wanted to hear another speak when he could not answer with words. He missed the sound of his own voice, and while he was never one to be egotistical, he felt as if life would never be the same without.
The four elves approached the gate in an awkward silence, but that did not last long.
Thranduil’s horse snorted and reared low on his back legs.
“WHO comes upon the land of Lord Elrond, WHO dares enter Imladris?!”
Looking to Legolas, he smiled at his son’s wide eyed gaze. He mouthed the words he thought: ‘It is alright, fear not.’
He turned to the gates and coughed softly, summoning his kingly voice from it’s depths where it had been hidden in the sorrow.
“I, King Thranduil of Mirkwood, wish to enter Imladris. I have summoned Lord Elrond’s medical aid, will he aid me willingly?”
Not another strange voice came, instead, a young man, of about twenty, came forward on a white horse.
He spoke, but Thranduil was so surprised by a man that he could hardly hear the words; Legolas heard them.
“Aye, he has chosen to aid his ally. He apologizes in advance for the possibly crude welcome. We must protect what land is ours in these dangerous years.”
Legolas nodded and prodded his father was a gentle hand.
The king smiled at the man and nodded. “I understand completely, what I do not understand is why he has sent a human, I hope I am not being rude. But, men have never resided long in Imladris before, and they certainly do not guard the gates.”
The young man chuckled and urged his horse forward. “Have you not heard of Lord Elrond adopting a son, King Thranduil?”
Brows knit in confusion, he nodded. “Aye, we have, and how does this elfling fare?”
The man laughed harder this time, this elf was clearly not understanding. He answered: “I am quite well, my lord,” he bowed his head. “though I am complimented that you would confuse me with a young elf, that is quite flattering.”
Thranduil’s face paled a bit as he realized the he had just, almost, insulted the lord of Rivendell’s son.
“I am sorry.” he said, trying to his the blush that was creping to his face. Oh Eru, he never blushed, king’s just did not blush.
“Do not be, it happens all the time. I was sent here, Lord Thranduil, to escort you and prince Legolas to your bed chambers, and to escort you anywhere that you may want as well as show you the entire realm, if this suits you, of course?”
“My, I would never have imagined to be escorted by the lord’s children. That is quite generous.”
Aragorn reigned his horse around so that it continued and the rest of the elves followed, Thranduil rode beside him so that they could talk.
“Well,” Estel continued, “My brothers might have done it. But they are on a hunt, so I was left with this task. I hope I serve you well.”
The elf clapped the boy on the shoulder, “I am sure you will do fine.”
Thranduil asked various questions as they rode down the long sloping hill, he enjoyed making pleasant conversation with kind children and those risen by Lord Elrond were always most kind.
“How fares the weather?” he asked after a while, looking upon the shimmering sun and squinting.
The man nodded. “Quite fine actually. It stopped raining over a month ago, the weather has been somewhat brisk, but otherwise, fine.”
Aragorn noticed the silence the seemed to hang around Thranduil’s son, he had not heard the elven child utter a word, hardly even a breath.
“Forgive me, my manners are among humans, how do you fair Prince Legolas?” he turned in his saddle only to be polite, he could not see the prince and hoped that he facing the right direction, it was quite embarrassing to be corrected on where someone stood.
He assumed so, because no one made any move to correct him. No one even laughed.
The warrior’s lowered their faces and Thranduil coughed quietly, to redirect Aragorn’s attention. It did, the man turned.
“We seek the healing hand of your father for this reason.” he breathed. “The prince has lost his ability to speak.”
Legolas winced and slowed his horse, he hated being mentioned like this. He wished he himself could tell Lord Elrond’s son of his problems, though, if he could then there would be no reason for this trip.
Estel frowned and turned back to face the dusty path, he nodded in understanding.
“This is ill news indeed. I am sorry Prince Legolas.” he apologized.
The prince grabbed one of the warriors nearby and shook his head, the guard instantly caught the meaning.
“Prince Legolas would like to inform, our guide, that you need not apologize. You did not know.”
The younger blonde elf nodded and smiled as the warrior who had spoken for him.
Thranduil watched ahead as the valley fell below and the waters of the Bruinen rose up, roaring harshly at the travelers.
Estel smiled and urged his horse into a slow trot, the others followed his suite. Their elven eyes noticed the birds overhead and the beautiful flowers and trees that encompassed the elven realm.
Legolas saw now why their guide loved his home so much, the human seemed to smile more in the realm and he had good reason too.
A few richly dressed elves ran forward as they entered the courtyard. Estel spoke quickly in elvish and the three ran to grab the reigns of the four other horses.
“Hannon le.” he called to them as he, himself, dismounted alone and patted his horse on the hind-quarters.
The black beast nickered and ran for the large barn, neighing happily.
Aragorn turned to the four elves and bowed silently as the four horses were lead away by the stable hands.
“Now, if you will follow me, King Thranduil, Prince Legolas?”
“May I ask one question?” it was Thranduil’s voice that came to his over-sensitive ears. He Drew back the urge to wince as he spoke incredibly loud, for he did not yet know of the boy’s blindness and he was a good ten yards away, he was afraid the roar of the falls might take away from the words he spoke.
The question echoed in his mind, but he nodded. “Please?”
“What is your name? You have not told us.”
A look of embarrassment came over the young man’s face, he bit his lip hoping that Elrond would not hear of this.
“I am so sorry.” he lowered his head in respect and brought it up again. “My name is Estel, the youngest child of Lord Elrond Peredhil, and Lady Celebrian I suppose though she does not know of me and she is not my birth mother.”
The elf king nodded politely and spread his hand forward. “Than let us be off.” he said, his voice strong and pronounced.
Estel chuckled. “Yes, let us begin.”
“The sky darkens, my lord, we shall reach Imladris soon.” one of the warrior’s escorting the royal family turned to Thranduil and smiled.
The elf king nodded and turned to look at Legolas who rode at a slower pace behind him, taking in the beauty of the forest.
It had been many hundreds of years since he had been in these friendly woods, he listened as the trees rustled their greetings and whispered amongst each other; the birds twiddled songs of joy and looked down upon the world with their small, dark eyes.
“Peaceful, is it not?” he turned silver-blue eyes upon his father who rode before him.
He smiled and nodded, not showing his true wishes to tell his father with words.
Another elven warrior beside him smiled and patted the prince upon the back, he was younger than the one guarding Thranduil and was a good friend of Legolas. He had seen the prince through many perils and had been there when Legolas’s mother had passed away.
“It will be alright Legolas.” he whispered so only the prince could hear. “It will be alright.”
The younger blonde elf went to speak, but could not form the words. He sighed softly and dropped his head, letting his horse follow the others as he contemplated on his quietness.
A few moments of silence and reprieve from speaking was well for Legolas, he did not feel he wanted to hear another speak when he could not answer with words. He missed the sound of his own voice, and while he was never one to be egotistical, he felt as if life would never be the same without.
The four elves approached the gate in an awkward silence, but that did not last long.
Thranduil’s horse snorted and reared low on his back legs.
“WHO comes upon the land of Lord Elrond, WHO dares enter Imladris?!”
Looking to Legolas, he smiled at his son’s wide eyed gaze. He mouthed the words he thought: ‘It is alright, fear not.’
He turned to the gates and coughed softly, summoning his kingly voice from it’s depths where it had been hidden in the sorrow.
“I, King Thranduil of Mirkwood, wish to enter Imladris. I have summoned Lord Elrond’s medical aid, will he aid me willingly?”
Not another strange voice came, instead, a young man, of about twenty, came forward on a white horse.
He spoke, but Thranduil was so surprised by a man that he could hardly hear the words; Legolas heard them.
“Aye, he has chosen to aid his ally. He apologizes in advance for the possibly crude welcome. We must protect what land is ours in these dangerous years.”
Legolas nodded and prodded his father was a gentle hand.
The king smiled at the man and nodded. “I understand completely, what I do not understand is why he has sent a human, I hope I am not being rude. But, men have never resided long in Imladris before, and they certainly do not guard the gates.”
The young man chuckled and urged his horse forward. “Have you not heard of Lord Elrond adopting a son, King Thranduil?”
Brows knit in confusion, he nodded. “Aye, we have, and how does this elfling fare?”
The man laughed harder this time, this elf was clearly not understanding. He answered: “I am quite well, my lord,” he bowed his head. “though I am complimented that you would confuse me with a young elf, that is quite flattering.”
Thranduil’s face paled a bit as he realized the he had just, almost, insulted the lord of Rivendell’s son.
“I am sorry.” he said, trying to his the blush that was creping to his face. Oh Eru, he never blushed, king’s just did not blush.
“Do not be, it happens all the time. I was sent here, Lord Thranduil, to escort you and prince Legolas to your bed chambers, and to escort you anywhere that you may want as well as show you the entire realm, if this suits you, of course?”
“My, I would never have imagined to be escorted by the lord’s children. That is quite generous.”
Aragorn reigned his horse around so that it continued and the rest of the elves followed, Thranduil rode beside him so that they could talk.
“Well,” Estel continued, “My brothers might have done it. But they are on a hunt, so I was left with this task. I hope I serve you well.”
The elf clapped the boy on the shoulder, “I am sure you will do fine.”
Thranduil asked various questions as they rode down the long sloping hill, he enjoyed making pleasant conversation with kind children and those risen by Lord Elrond were always most kind.
“How fares the weather?” he asked after a while, looking upon the shimmering sun and squinting.
The man nodded. “Quite fine actually. It stopped raining over a month ago, the weather has been somewhat brisk, but otherwise, fine.”
Aragorn noticed the silence the seemed to hang around Thranduil’s son, he had not heard the elven child utter a word, hardly even a breath.
“Forgive me, my manners are among humans, how do you fair Prince Legolas?” he turned in his saddle only to be polite, he could not see the prince and hoped that he facing the right direction, it was quite embarrassing to be corrected on where someone stood.
He assumed so, because no one made any move to correct him. No one even laughed.
The warrior’s lowered their faces and Thranduil coughed quietly, to redirect Aragorn’s attention. It did, the man turned.
“We seek the healing hand of your father for this reason.” he breathed. “The prince has lost his ability to speak.”
Legolas winced and slowed his horse, he hated being mentioned like this. He wished he himself could tell Lord Elrond’s son of his problems, though, if he could then there would be no reason for this trip.
Estel frowned and turned back to face the dusty path, he nodded in understanding.
“This is ill news indeed. I am sorry Prince Legolas.” he apologized.
The prince grabbed one of the warriors nearby and shook his head, the guard instantly caught the meaning.
“Prince Legolas would like to inform, our guide, that you need not apologize. You did not know.”
The younger blonde elf nodded and smiled as the warrior who had spoken for him.
Thranduil watched ahead as the valley fell below and the waters of the Bruinen rose up, roaring harshly at the travelers.
Estel smiled and urged his horse into a slow trot, the others followed his suite. Their elven eyes noticed the birds overhead and the beautiful flowers and trees that encompassed the elven realm.
Legolas saw now why their guide loved his home so much, the human seemed to smile more in the realm and he had good reason too.
A few richly dressed elves ran forward as they entered the courtyard. Estel spoke quickly in elvish and the three ran to grab the reigns of the four other horses.
“Hannon le.” he called to them as he, himself, dismounted alone and patted his horse on the hind-quarters.
The black beast nickered and ran for the large barn, neighing happily.
Aragorn turned to the four elves and bowed silently as the four horses were lead away by the stable hands.
“Now, if you will follow me, King Thranduil, Prince Legolas?”
“May I ask one question?” it was Thranduil’s voice that came to his over-sensitive ears. He Drew back the urge to wince as he spoke incredibly loud, for he did not yet know of the boy’s blindness and he was a good ten yards away, he was afraid the roar of the falls might take away from the words he spoke.
The question echoed in his mind, but he nodded. “Please?”
“What is your name? You have not told us.”
A look of embarrassment came over the young man’s face, he bit his lip hoping that Elrond would not hear of this.
“I am so sorry.” he lowered his head in respect and brought it up again. “My name is Estel, the youngest child of Lord Elrond Peredhil, and Lady Celebrian I suppose though she does not know of me and she is not my birth mother.”
The elf king nodded politely and spread his hand forward. “Than let us be off.” he said, his voice strong and pronounced.
Estel chuckled. “Yes, let us begin.”
