Post by Móreadhiel on Jun 13, 2006 14:38:36 GMT -5
Drying his golden hair, Legolas smiled as he pulled out his deep blue tunic and gold Leggings, along with his sash that was to be tied around his waist.
The prince brushed his fair hair with a brush and went on to braid the innate braids that had been placed upon his head ever since he had hair to put them in.
“Legolas?” Thranduil’s voice called from the other side of the bathing room door. “Hurry my son, Estel is here and we are asked to join at the banquet hall.”
The younger blonde, nodded softly and proceeded to slip the leggings on, and then his tunic. He wrapped the blue sash around his slim waist and tied it tight, slipping an elven dagger into it.
He was taught to always carry a dagger with him, even to places where there seemed to be no danger. But more than that, it showed strength and wisdom in one of the royal family.
The young prince breathed a deep sigh as he looked upon his reflection in the mirror.
He readjusted the circlet upon his brow and turned his face the mahogany door, placing his pale hand upon the golden handle, he opened the door to see his father conversing with the young human who had gave them the tour earlier.
Legolas coughed and stepped forward to grasp the two’s attention, he bowed to Estel who was clothed in deep reds and gold.
The young man gave hardly an outward appearance for a moment, but then bowed his head and turned. “Shall we continue to the dining hall, King Thranduil, Prince Legolas?”
Clasping his son upon the shoulder, Thranduil smiled and rubbed his pale, golden hair.
“Let us celebrate, for tomorrow the true work begins.” he whispered, the words were only meant for Legolas, but Estel heard them.
His face showed sorrow for only a moment, he hoped dearly that his father could heal the prince. No one should be stuck with a disability, not after he has at least tasted the world in full flavor.
Aragorn had, he had been a healthy normal two-year old child. Happy and free to do as he please; as long as his mother or father approved that was.
But now, now he was slave to this house. His own father would not even let him outside the borders.
He did not want Thranduil to treat Legolas thus, but then again, the prince still had his eyesight, he was not quite a debilitated as Estel was.
Even Aragorn’s brothers had shown they felt he could not do too much.
The young man sighed as he led the two elves down the corridor.
“Estel?” he turned his head to the side and awaited the question. “Will Lord Elrond and your brothers be present?”
Chuckling, he nodded. “Aye, well, my father will. My brothers will not be home till tomorrow night.”
The king whispered something and the younger elf laughed softly, Estel decided to leave them to each others own company. He was too consumed in his own thoughts.
“Estel?” the familiar voice caught the man’s attention and he stopped, lowering his won eyes as the dark haired advisor walked slowly up, a smile on his face.
“Estel, your father requests your presence in his quarters, he told me to guide the prince and king to the dining hall.”
The boy nodded, turning around he smiled at the two elves who had stopped behind him, worry on their faces.
“Lord Elrond requests my presence, his trusted advisor, Erestor will accompany you to the banquet hall. Does this suit you both?”
The young elfling nodded and King Thranduil smiled back. “It shall be an honor. Besides, if Legolas and I are going to live here for a while, we might as well meet more than the lord’s foster son.”
Estel chuckled and turned back to Erestor, his eyes, as usual, not showing any emotion but his face expressing his excitement to meet with his father.
He had not talked with Elrond really in the past few days, only that one moment in his room.
Erestor smiled and patted the man on the back, before letting him slowly make his way down the stairs.
~_~
Aragorn reached the door to his father’s bedroom and stopped, carefully rounding the corner.
“Ada?”
The elven lord pulled his velvet green robe upon his shoulders, covering the white silk clothes beneath.
“Yes, my son?” he asked quietly, pulling his gold tinted circlet from stand and then grabbing his ring from another box.
No one knew he had it, save the twins and Glorfindel, not even Estel and he would never know, considering, he would never be able to see it.
“You summoned me, did you not?” the young man raised a curious eyebrow and stepped farther into the room.
“Aye, I did.” Elrond said checking himself over in the mirror, making sure everything was in place.
“Well?” Aragorn chuckled and turned as his father placed a gentle arm around his shoulders, leading the boy from his room and shutting the wide, mahogany wood door.
“I wanted to talk to you, well, more importantly ask you a few questions.”
Aragorn stifled a groan, whenever his father wanted to ‘talk’ it usually was questions about his headaches and things that had to do with ‘his condition’ as Elrond so kindly put it.
The elf lord did not mean to hurt the boy, but deep inside his heart, Aragorn felt an ache, an ache that could not be ignored.
He longed to see again, he longed to actually see his adoptive father, he wanted to see his brothers again.
“How are Thranduil and Legolas? Did you treat them well?”
He was, however, surprised by this question. He nodded lightly, just a bit of surprise in his movements. “Aye, Thranduil said I had been a gracious guide and he thanks you for your kindness in hosting them.”
The elf lord laughed and patted the boy upon the back.
Aragorn could feel eyes upon him, he knew what his father was looking for.
“You did not bring your cane?”
Estel hissed at the question, he knew his father would be angry, but the fear and anger combined the hung in his voice was a bit too much. “No.” he answered, ashamed.
“Estel, you are not at least carrying it with you?”
“But father, I- Thranduil does not know yet, and I would rather him not know. Everyone treats me different when they find out, for once I want to feel normal.”
Elrond smiled sadly and pulled his son in closer. “And what about the prince?”
Nodding his head to each side, the young man shrugged. “I can not tell. I think he suspects, but you know, it is a bit harder to tell without eyes.”
“Oh, is it now.” the elf lord chuckled. “I never would have guessed, the way you tramp around here without your cane.”
“Oh, father, come now.”
The elf lord pushed his son forward, “Go find your seat, remember, you sit beside me tonight, since your brothers are not present.”
The young man nodded. “Aye, I know.” With that, Estel ran forward lightly, careful not to bump into anything.
~_~
“Estel?” the man turned at the sound of his name and stopped. The voice sounded familiar, but who was it.
His head was throbbing and it was a bit harder to remember when his migraines got as bad as it was right now, he knew they could get worse, but this was seriously the worst so far.
“Yes?” he breathed, trying not to show the pain that he felt. He knew, who it was now! Thranduil! He must be waving to him. ‘Eru, do you hate me or what?’ he asked mentally as he called over the noise. “Hello, my lord. How are you?”
He felt a rush of wind as someone approached at a lope. “Fine. How do you fair?”
The man clucked his tongue, adding up truly how bad he felt. “Oh, just a bit of a headache. Elrond sends his best wishes during the dinner. He says he will meet you and Legolas afterwards, in the Hall of Fire.”
“And where is that, I have forgotten?”
Estel heard the words and took a moment to contemplate on what they meant. “Oh, just past those doors at the end.” he pointed back from the way they had come. “I can show you to your seats if you like, since we are all sitting in about the same place. The guests of honor always sit near the end.”
“That would be splendid.” Thranduil sighed when he felt Legolas pulling at his sleeve. “What, Legolas?”
The silence confused the man, but then he heard the king’s steady breathing. He waited patiently.
“Oh, Legolas. We will speak of this later, do not interrupt now.”
Aragorn smiled at the younger elf’s long sigh of frustration.
“Shall we?”
“Aye.” Thranduil and Legolas followed the short distance to the table and took their seat beside the elf lord’s son.
Thranduil and Estel quietly talked as they awaited the feast to begin.
“So, how did you come to be here?” Thranduil asked, careful not to tread to far.
“My parents were killed, the twins saved me after I was captured by the orcs. Though I did suffer debilitating wounds.”
“Oh, may I ask what those are? You seem fine to me.”
Estel smiled and lightly tapped his aching head. “I have awful headaches, they come and go, they have ever since I was rescued.”
“Oh, is that all?”
Just before Aragorn could answer, which was a gift to him, he really did not want to tell the king about his blindness not yet anyway, Elrond appeared from another door and slowly walked down to his won seat, smiling slightly.
All turned their heads and bowed, save Thranduil. Legolas bowed his head, as he had seen Estel do.
Elrond rose his voice so all sitting down the table could hear.
“I welcome you to Rivendell, friends. But this night is to honor King Thranduil and Prince Legolas, for they have traveled far and will be spending some time here.” he bowed his won head towards the two, who sat on the right side of his son.
“I welcome you, Thranduil.” he nodded and then his silver gaze locked upon Legolas. “And the same goes for you young prince.”
He turned his head up and spread his long arms wide. “You may all eat and enjoy good company, for tonight is a night of peace.”
With those last words, the elves began eating of the food that had been set upon the table.
Elrond walked down the steps and sat in his chair at the very head of the large table, near his son guests.
He smiled at the two Mirkwood elves and nodded his head towards Estel. “I believe that you have been treated with respect?” he asked Thranduil, his eyes laughing.
“Oh, yes. More so than even my own kingdom, my lord.” he smiled and patted Estel on the back. “He has been most gracious in giving his own time to show us the house and the ways of it.”
“That is well.” Elrond said as he put a careful hand on his foster son’s head, sensing the waves of pain that flowed he looked the boy in the eyes.
He let it go for the time being and continued to eat his own food, slowly and lord-like while he asked various questions.
“So what is this ‘medical aid’ that you seek?”
Thranduil’s smile faded and he took a sthingyful of soup.
“My son, Legolas, has been poisoned by orcs;” he saw the look of horror on the elf lord’s face and he hurriedly covered what he had said. “ I mean, he was poisoned, but not in that way. His voice has been taken from him.”
“He can say nothing?” Elrond asked, looking to the prince who was eating. He was not even paying attention, his attention was on the musicians that played down the hall.
“No, he has tried, but it is as if his tongue has been taken. When he tries, pain comes to his face and he holds his throat.”
The elf lord nodded and turned his eyes to Estel ,who sat eating, though he was listening to the words being spoken between the two.
“Estel? I will need some help and Glorfindel has come back, telling me that they have found nothing and Elladan and Elrohir will be gone another week, they are going to travel further. I would ask it of Glorfindel, but he is going back tomorrow and is sleeping right now. Would you help me?”
The boy swallowed, pursing his lip he thought a moment. “I have nothing better to occupy my time, so yes. I will.”
The elf lord smiled and nodded approvingly. “Then it is settled, get a fair amount of sleep tonight; tomorrow, we begin.”
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence at they all listened to the musicians. They did not tell stories, the only played their instruments. The stories were reserved for the Hall of Fire.
“Estel, would you bring Legolas into the Hall of Fire? I would like to escort the king.”
The boy rose from his seat, smiling gently as the candlelight played off his face.
“Yes, father.”
Legolas hearing this, panicked a little. His eyes went wider and he turned to look at Thranduil, he did not know Estel and he did not feel comfortable being led somewhere, alone, by a stranger.
“Legolas, it will be fine. I will be there shortly.” the King reasoned with his fair haired son. The younger elf rolled his eyes and sighed, smiling he let his father run a caring hand through his pale- golden hair. “You’ll be fine.” he whispered.
The younger elf nodded and pushed his chair back, Aragorn backed away and led the prince out of the hall, two pairs of eyes watched the youngsters exit.
Elrond smiled as they disappeared, but Thranduil was a less reassured.
“Elrond? Why did you do that? You saw the fear in Legolas’s eyes, he has not left my side ever since-”
Swallowing his last bite of food, Elrond’s silver eyes caught onto the king’s silver-blue eyes.
The elf lord put his fork down, interrupting the king. “Exactly why it had to be done, King Thranduil. Legolas has relied on you for so many months now, he does not know how to deal with things on his own, I know that you are worried. Fear not. Estel will take care of him, my child is capable of that and he needs it right now more than your son does.”
King Thranduil’s brow furrowed and he looked at the elven lord, aghast that he would even talk to him in that , and even more that he would, without his consent send his son away from him.
“I do not know the meaning, my lord,” the elven king growled, low and menacing. “Estel seems quite normal to me-”
The half-elf rose slowly to his feet, turning his cool gaze upon Thranduil. “You will learn in time, for now, trust my deductions, Thranduil, it was why you came, was it not?” the dark haired elf chuckled. “To seek medical aid and wise council, well, consider this the start.”
The noldo elf held out a hand and helped the Mirkwood king stand to his feet.
Thranduil was still quite mad, but by now most of the anger had died down and he readily accepted the elven lord’s company to the hall.
“I am sorry.” he apologized on the way. “Legolas is all I have left, I fear to let him to long from my sight.”
Elrond smiled and nodded his head as a guard bowed and opened the large mahogany doors that led to the Hall of Fire.
“Do not be. I would have acted the same, I think you will do well to be here as well Thranduil. Maybe your heart will be able to recover some.”
The Mirkwood elf nodded gently as they entered the bright, fire-lit room. Soft red curtains draped over the open windows and the mild sounds of crickets and frogs croaking filled the interior.
In the corner, Legolas sat his knees pulled to his chest, Estel sat beside him in another chair. His head leaning back against the chair and his eyes closed.
Thranduil smiled at Legolas and the prince smiled back.
Stars showed through the red drapes and the sounds that were on the night air drifted in, as well as the sound of the Bruinen. Its water rushing down the valley.
“Hello Legolas.” Elrond said as he sat down next to the prince.
The younger elf looked up and grinned a little at the darker haired elf, he pointed to Estel and laid his head on his hands, closing his eyes and breathing softly.
Elrond laughed and nodded at the young man in the chair.
“Yes, Estel has had a difficult week. I am glad he finally sleeps, he has not slept very well lately.”
Legolas smiled stood up, grabbing a blanket in the corner he stopped over Aragorn’s stretched out form and looked to the elf lord.
“Go ahead. He gets chilly on nights like these, he won’t mind at all.”
Carefully, the prince bent down and laid the blanket upon the sleeping man.
Estel breathed a sigh and smiled, rolling over slightly in the chair. Legolas chuckled at this.
Elrond raised his eyebrows at Thranduil who just watched with amazement. Legolas had not done anything like that in all these long months and he had definitely not signed to others.
The prince brushed his fair hair with a brush and went on to braid the innate braids that had been placed upon his head ever since he had hair to put them in.
“Legolas?” Thranduil’s voice called from the other side of the bathing room door. “Hurry my son, Estel is here and we are asked to join at the banquet hall.”
The younger blonde, nodded softly and proceeded to slip the leggings on, and then his tunic. He wrapped the blue sash around his slim waist and tied it tight, slipping an elven dagger into it.
He was taught to always carry a dagger with him, even to places where there seemed to be no danger. But more than that, it showed strength and wisdom in one of the royal family.
The young prince breathed a deep sigh as he looked upon his reflection in the mirror.
He readjusted the circlet upon his brow and turned his face the mahogany door, placing his pale hand upon the golden handle, he opened the door to see his father conversing with the young human who had gave them the tour earlier.
Legolas coughed and stepped forward to grasp the two’s attention, he bowed to Estel who was clothed in deep reds and gold.
The young man gave hardly an outward appearance for a moment, but then bowed his head and turned. “Shall we continue to the dining hall, King Thranduil, Prince Legolas?”
Clasping his son upon the shoulder, Thranduil smiled and rubbed his pale, golden hair.
“Let us celebrate, for tomorrow the true work begins.” he whispered, the words were only meant for Legolas, but Estel heard them.
His face showed sorrow for only a moment, he hoped dearly that his father could heal the prince. No one should be stuck with a disability, not after he has at least tasted the world in full flavor.
Aragorn had, he had been a healthy normal two-year old child. Happy and free to do as he please; as long as his mother or father approved that was.
But now, now he was slave to this house. His own father would not even let him outside the borders.
He did not want Thranduil to treat Legolas thus, but then again, the prince still had his eyesight, he was not quite a debilitated as Estel was.
Even Aragorn’s brothers had shown they felt he could not do too much.
The young man sighed as he led the two elves down the corridor.
“Estel?” he turned his head to the side and awaited the question. “Will Lord Elrond and your brothers be present?”
Chuckling, he nodded. “Aye, well, my father will. My brothers will not be home till tomorrow night.”
The king whispered something and the younger elf laughed softly, Estel decided to leave them to each others own company. He was too consumed in his own thoughts.
“Estel?” the familiar voice caught the man’s attention and he stopped, lowering his won eyes as the dark haired advisor walked slowly up, a smile on his face.
“Estel, your father requests your presence in his quarters, he told me to guide the prince and king to the dining hall.”
The boy nodded, turning around he smiled at the two elves who had stopped behind him, worry on their faces.
“Lord Elrond requests my presence, his trusted advisor, Erestor will accompany you to the banquet hall. Does this suit you both?”
The young elfling nodded and King Thranduil smiled back. “It shall be an honor. Besides, if Legolas and I are going to live here for a while, we might as well meet more than the lord’s foster son.”
Estel chuckled and turned back to Erestor, his eyes, as usual, not showing any emotion but his face expressing his excitement to meet with his father.
He had not talked with Elrond really in the past few days, only that one moment in his room.
Erestor smiled and patted the man on the back, before letting him slowly make his way down the stairs.
~_~
Aragorn reached the door to his father’s bedroom and stopped, carefully rounding the corner.
“Ada?”
The elven lord pulled his velvet green robe upon his shoulders, covering the white silk clothes beneath.
“Yes, my son?” he asked quietly, pulling his gold tinted circlet from stand and then grabbing his ring from another box.
No one knew he had it, save the twins and Glorfindel, not even Estel and he would never know, considering, he would never be able to see it.
“You summoned me, did you not?” the young man raised a curious eyebrow and stepped farther into the room.
“Aye, I did.” Elrond said checking himself over in the mirror, making sure everything was in place.
“Well?” Aragorn chuckled and turned as his father placed a gentle arm around his shoulders, leading the boy from his room and shutting the wide, mahogany wood door.
“I wanted to talk to you, well, more importantly ask you a few questions.”
Aragorn stifled a groan, whenever his father wanted to ‘talk’ it usually was questions about his headaches and things that had to do with ‘his condition’ as Elrond so kindly put it.
The elf lord did not mean to hurt the boy, but deep inside his heart, Aragorn felt an ache, an ache that could not be ignored.
He longed to see again, he longed to actually see his adoptive father, he wanted to see his brothers again.
“How are Thranduil and Legolas? Did you treat them well?”
He was, however, surprised by this question. He nodded lightly, just a bit of surprise in his movements. “Aye, Thranduil said I had been a gracious guide and he thanks you for your kindness in hosting them.”
The elf lord laughed and patted the boy upon the back.
Aragorn could feel eyes upon him, he knew what his father was looking for.
“You did not bring your cane?”
Estel hissed at the question, he knew his father would be angry, but the fear and anger combined the hung in his voice was a bit too much. “No.” he answered, ashamed.
“Estel, you are not at least carrying it with you?”
“But father, I- Thranduil does not know yet, and I would rather him not know. Everyone treats me different when they find out, for once I want to feel normal.”
Elrond smiled sadly and pulled his son in closer. “And what about the prince?”
Nodding his head to each side, the young man shrugged. “I can not tell. I think he suspects, but you know, it is a bit harder to tell without eyes.”
“Oh, is it now.” the elf lord chuckled. “I never would have guessed, the way you tramp around here without your cane.”
“Oh, father, come now.”
The elf lord pushed his son forward, “Go find your seat, remember, you sit beside me tonight, since your brothers are not present.”
The young man nodded. “Aye, I know.” With that, Estel ran forward lightly, careful not to bump into anything.
~_~
“Estel?” the man turned at the sound of his name and stopped. The voice sounded familiar, but who was it.
His head was throbbing and it was a bit harder to remember when his migraines got as bad as it was right now, he knew they could get worse, but this was seriously the worst so far.
“Yes?” he breathed, trying not to show the pain that he felt. He knew, who it was now! Thranduil! He must be waving to him. ‘Eru, do you hate me or what?’ he asked mentally as he called over the noise. “Hello, my lord. How are you?”
He felt a rush of wind as someone approached at a lope. “Fine. How do you fair?”
The man clucked his tongue, adding up truly how bad he felt. “Oh, just a bit of a headache. Elrond sends his best wishes during the dinner. He says he will meet you and Legolas afterwards, in the Hall of Fire.”
“And where is that, I have forgotten?”
Estel heard the words and took a moment to contemplate on what they meant. “Oh, just past those doors at the end.” he pointed back from the way they had come. “I can show you to your seats if you like, since we are all sitting in about the same place. The guests of honor always sit near the end.”
“That would be splendid.” Thranduil sighed when he felt Legolas pulling at his sleeve. “What, Legolas?”
The silence confused the man, but then he heard the king’s steady breathing. He waited patiently.
“Oh, Legolas. We will speak of this later, do not interrupt now.”
Aragorn smiled at the younger elf’s long sigh of frustration.
“Shall we?”
“Aye.” Thranduil and Legolas followed the short distance to the table and took their seat beside the elf lord’s son.
Thranduil and Estel quietly talked as they awaited the feast to begin.
“So, how did you come to be here?” Thranduil asked, careful not to tread to far.
“My parents were killed, the twins saved me after I was captured by the orcs. Though I did suffer debilitating wounds.”
“Oh, may I ask what those are? You seem fine to me.”
Estel smiled and lightly tapped his aching head. “I have awful headaches, they come and go, they have ever since I was rescued.”
“Oh, is that all?”
Just before Aragorn could answer, which was a gift to him, he really did not want to tell the king about his blindness not yet anyway, Elrond appeared from another door and slowly walked down to his won seat, smiling slightly.
All turned their heads and bowed, save Thranduil. Legolas bowed his head, as he had seen Estel do.
Elrond rose his voice so all sitting down the table could hear.
“I welcome you to Rivendell, friends. But this night is to honor King Thranduil and Prince Legolas, for they have traveled far and will be spending some time here.” he bowed his won head towards the two, who sat on the right side of his son.
“I welcome you, Thranduil.” he nodded and then his silver gaze locked upon Legolas. “And the same goes for you young prince.”
He turned his head up and spread his long arms wide. “You may all eat and enjoy good company, for tonight is a night of peace.”
With those last words, the elves began eating of the food that had been set upon the table.
Elrond walked down the steps and sat in his chair at the very head of the large table, near his son guests.
He smiled at the two Mirkwood elves and nodded his head towards Estel. “I believe that you have been treated with respect?” he asked Thranduil, his eyes laughing.
“Oh, yes. More so than even my own kingdom, my lord.” he smiled and patted Estel on the back. “He has been most gracious in giving his own time to show us the house and the ways of it.”
“That is well.” Elrond said as he put a careful hand on his foster son’s head, sensing the waves of pain that flowed he looked the boy in the eyes.
He let it go for the time being and continued to eat his own food, slowly and lord-like while he asked various questions.
“So what is this ‘medical aid’ that you seek?”
Thranduil’s smile faded and he took a sthingyful of soup.
“My son, Legolas, has been poisoned by orcs;” he saw the look of horror on the elf lord’s face and he hurriedly covered what he had said. “ I mean, he was poisoned, but not in that way. His voice has been taken from him.”
“He can say nothing?” Elrond asked, looking to the prince who was eating. He was not even paying attention, his attention was on the musicians that played down the hall.
“No, he has tried, but it is as if his tongue has been taken. When he tries, pain comes to his face and he holds his throat.”
The elf lord nodded and turned his eyes to Estel ,who sat eating, though he was listening to the words being spoken between the two.
“Estel? I will need some help and Glorfindel has come back, telling me that they have found nothing and Elladan and Elrohir will be gone another week, they are going to travel further. I would ask it of Glorfindel, but he is going back tomorrow and is sleeping right now. Would you help me?”
The boy swallowed, pursing his lip he thought a moment. “I have nothing better to occupy my time, so yes. I will.”
The elf lord smiled and nodded approvingly. “Then it is settled, get a fair amount of sleep tonight; tomorrow, we begin.”
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence at they all listened to the musicians. They did not tell stories, the only played their instruments. The stories were reserved for the Hall of Fire.
“Estel, would you bring Legolas into the Hall of Fire? I would like to escort the king.”
The boy rose from his seat, smiling gently as the candlelight played off his face.
“Yes, father.”
Legolas hearing this, panicked a little. His eyes went wider and he turned to look at Thranduil, he did not know Estel and he did not feel comfortable being led somewhere, alone, by a stranger.
“Legolas, it will be fine. I will be there shortly.” the King reasoned with his fair haired son. The younger elf rolled his eyes and sighed, smiling he let his father run a caring hand through his pale- golden hair. “You’ll be fine.” he whispered.
The younger elf nodded and pushed his chair back, Aragorn backed away and led the prince out of the hall, two pairs of eyes watched the youngsters exit.
Elrond smiled as they disappeared, but Thranduil was a less reassured.
“Elrond? Why did you do that? You saw the fear in Legolas’s eyes, he has not left my side ever since-”
Swallowing his last bite of food, Elrond’s silver eyes caught onto the king’s silver-blue eyes.
The elf lord put his fork down, interrupting the king. “Exactly why it had to be done, King Thranduil. Legolas has relied on you for so many months now, he does not know how to deal with things on his own, I know that you are worried. Fear not. Estel will take care of him, my child is capable of that and he needs it right now more than your son does.”
King Thranduil’s brow furrowed and he looked at the elven lord, aghast that he would even talk to him in that , and even more that he would, without his consent send his son away from him.
“I do not know the meaning, my lord,” the elven king growled, low and menacing. “Estel seems quite normal to me-”
The half-elf rose slowly to his feet, turning his cool gaze upon Thranduil. “You will learn in time, for now, trust my deductions, Thranduil, it was why you came, was it not?” the dark haired elf chuckled. “To seek medical aid and wise council, well, consider this the start.”
The noldo elf held out a hand and helped the Mirkwood king stand to his feet.
Thranduil was still quite mad, but by now most of the anger had died down and he readily accepted the elven lord’s company to the hall.
“I am sorry.” he apologized on the way. “Legolas is all I have left, I fear to let him to long from my sight.”
Elrond smiled and nodded his head as a guard bowed and opened the large mahogany doors that led to the Hall of Fire.
“Do not be. I would have acted the same, I think you will do well to be here as well Thranduil. Maybe your heart will be able to recover some.”
The Mirkwood elf nodded gently as they entered the bright, fire-lit room. Soft red curtains draped over the open windows and the mild sounds of crickets and frogs croaking filled the interior.
In the corner, Legolas sat his knees pulled to his chest, Estel sat beside him in another chair. His head leaning back against the chair and his eyes closed.
Thranduil smiled at Legolas and the prince smiled back.
Stars showed through the red drapes and the sounds that were on the night air drifted in, as well as the sound of the Bruinen. Its water rushing down the valley.
“Hello Legolas.” Elrond said as he sat down next to the prince.
The younger elf looked up and grinned a little at the darker haired elf, he pointed to Estel and laid his head on his hands, closing his eyes and breathing softly.
Elrond laughed and nodded at the young man in the chair.
“Yes, Estel has had a difficult week. I am glad he finally sleeps, he has not slept very well lately.”
Legolas smiled stood up, grabbing a blanket in the corner he stopped over Aragorn’s stretched out form and looked to the elf lord.
“Go ahead. He gets chilly on nights like these, he won’t mind at all.”
Carefully, the prince bent down and laid the blanket upon the sleeping man.
Estel breathed a sigh and smiled, rolling over slightly in the chair. Legolas chuckled at this.
Elrond raised his eyebrows at Thranduil who just watched with amazement. Legolas had not done anything like that in all these long months and he had definitely not signed to others.
