Post by Móreadhiel on Jun 13, 2006 15:42:06 GMT -5
Raindrops pattered on the hard floor of the balcony and Legolas watched in silence, letting all the beauty of Imladris sink in.
The small droplets hit the surface of his lukewarm bath water and he smiled as the sensation of rain hitting skin make his body tingle.
He hardly ever went in the rain anymore, he felt a pang of fear every time the snow came forth.
Sixty-seven years had passed, and this was his first trip to Rivendell since he had left Aragorn to die on that cold November night.
And although it was October, and although it was only rain. The memories hit him like a punch to the gut. He was breathless and he felt himself drowning in a pool of sorrow.
No one had spoken of Estel’s death when he had come. In fact, no one had spoken of the boy at all. They mostly kept to themselves and gave Legolas and his companions what they needed before sending them off to their guest quarters.
He took this as a sign that Aragorn did not travel the fair halls any longer. And he left it to that.
The prince did not want to start another time of mourning, not when he had so much to share of Mirkwood and his father.
“Legolas! Hurry up! Our guide is here!”
He turned at the sound of Adahelka’s smooth voice. He winced as rough memories clouded around him.
“One moment.” he coughed, trying not to choke on the lump that had formed in his throat.
Taking one last look at the rain, he climbed out of the deep set, marble bathing tub and dried his blonde hair.
He picked up his brush and gently began to attack the mass of pale hair.
Once this was completed and all his hair was straight, he began to braid the sides.
He bit his lip and dropped his head a little as he continued to twist the strands of blonde hair into the intricate elven braid that signified not only his position of royalty, but also his command in the Army of Mirkwood.
Silently, Legolas slipped his green leggings and slid the silver and white tunic over his pale head.
Then, grabbing his white sash, he tied it around his slim waist and turned to look at the mirror.
He was surprised at what he saw. A slim elven figure stood in the reflection, not as small as he had been, but tall and filled out.
His blonde hair shimmered as the sun began to shine through the rain and clouds. But he noticed one thing, the dark circles beneath his eyes.
Though it was true an elf did not need much sleep. Legolas had not slept much over the past sixty-seven years.
“Legolas!”
Shooting a glare at the cream door, the prince growled.
He reached out for the knob and his slender hand grabbed it. He opened his mouth to shout at the elves before him as he opened the door, but his breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened.
He looked past the four elves that stood facing him, his blue gaze traveled a ways behind them to the noiselessly standing being cloaked in red and gold.
He was a tall man, not shorter than most of the Mirkwood elves present, but his form was a bit slouched and his glassy eyes were almost white. He held in one hand a cherry-wood walking stick and his hair was combed back and braided in intricate design.
A scruffy beard ordained his face and he did not look at the elves but rather let his clouded eyes wander. He sighed and leaned so that the majority of his weight was on his right leg.
“Are we ready to go on?.”
The prince felt a hand lightly grab his arm, but he hardly noticed until he was being pulled along with the other elves, his eyes did not leave the human, who was slowly turning as one of the other Mirkwood elves answered.
“Aye, lead on surie pen!”
The prince did not notice the name that his companions seemed to laugh and snicker at. All his attention was on the man straight in front of him.
He felt his heart thump and his feet go numb. ‘Oh Eru! Is this true?’ he prayed inside his mind, but no answer came and he was left to stare.
“Estel?” Legolas uttered the name, hardly able to believe his own elven eyes.
He watched as a few of the elves snuck up on the human and kicked his walking stick, trying to trip him.
The prince felt his blood rise and he waited patiently for Aragorn to take care of it himself. But the man did nothing. He let the elves continue to taunt him and speak rudely behind his back.
And the sad part was that Legolas knew Estel could hear every word they said.
“Hey guys, think it’s safe, letting a blind man lead us?” one joked, pointing at the heavily limping human before them.
“No, he’ll probably run straight into that pillar there.” another laughed softly.
They whispered, barely able to be heard by human ears, but Aragorn had much more than human ears, his ears might even be as good as an elf’s, but the four other elves did not take the time to think on this.
“Guy’s, leave him alone.” the prince whispered, walking a little closer to the others and trying to get there attention.
He did, but they hardly listened.
“Oh, come one Legolas. We are just having a bit of fun.” As if to try and prove his point, one of the younger elves ran in front of the human and waved his hand in front of the man’s face.
The prince watched with tearful eyes as Aragorn just kept walking, he did not flinch, he did not eve seem to notice the hand in front of him.
Moving his hand away, the young dark haired elf spun around and placed his foot in Aragorn’s path.
Legolas was already moving forward, but he was too late.
Estel did not notice the limb until his left leg had made contact with it, a surprised look etched on his features he let go of his stick and fell forward onto the marble floor.
“Oooo. I am sorry.” the elf hissed, acting as if he really was apologizing. But Legolas saw the uncaring glint in his eyes.
Jumping forward, the prince slapped the other elf’s hand away. He would take no more of this.
He looked to Aragorn who was still on the floor, a look of pure agony on his features. His teeth were clenched together so tight that the prince thought they might break.
Turning his silver-blue eyes up, he starred with confusion and pain on his own face.
“I can not believe what I am seeing!” he growled, low and menacing and all the warriors bowed there heads and backed away. “I chose you four to travel with me because I believed that you were merciful and caring. Not immature and foolish!” He watched as their head bent lower and they bit their lips. “Get out of my sight! Go on!”
They began to leave but Legolas’s last words stopped them. “Oh! And I would apologize to Lord Elrond for causing his son so much grief and pain!”
A few turned to look at the human on the floor, and their faces paled further. They turned and continued on to the dining hall, following the other elves, men, and dwarves that were rushing to get there.
After he was sure they were gone, the prince kneeled down, placing hand on Aragorn’s right leg, so not to cause more hurt to his left leg.
“I’m sorry.” he whispered, looking at the human with sorrowful eyes.
But Estel just scooted away from him and bowed his head, he did not even show recognition in his face.
“Estel, it’s me. It’s Legolas.”
The man turned his head away. “I know.” he ground out, continuing to rub his hurting leg. Legolas watched as tears feel down the rough cheeks and fell onto the hard floor. “You can go, you know where the dining hall is.”
“What?” the prince shook his head and crawled closer to Aragorn, he starred at the man. “But, I don’t want to go without you.”
“Sure you do. Go with your friends, maybe they saved you a-”
“Shut up, Estel!” Looking up, the man felt Legolas’s eyes starring at him, and the burning in the gaze was not to be trifled with. “I thought you were dead! For over twenty years I waited for a letter to come! I waited for you to write and tell me you were alive! But, I never got that letter! And you know what?! I thought you had died, so I gave up! I let phony friends take over my life and rule me, even though I am the prince. I miss you, Aragorn! I-” the tears began to cascade down his pale cheeks and he felt his words all get caught in a lump. “I thought I had lost you, and for a while. I wanted to die too!”
“No,” Aragorn spoke, disbelief in his voice. “I sent the letter. I wrote it and then, I set it on my desk because ‘Dan and ‘Ro called me outside. I decided to leave the letter there and bring it out later.” he gulped and rubbed his neck. “But when I came back, it was gone. I thought Ada had taken it and sent it off already. So I waited, and I waited, and I waited until I thought I was going to go mad with worry.” The man shook his head. “But no letter ever came, I thought you had decided you did not want to be friends because of Arwen.”
Legolas looked up to see the tears that feel from Aragorn’s sightless eyes. He sighed and started to chuckle.
“What on earth are you laughing about?”
The prince laughed so hard that tears began to trickle down the sides of his face and he had to wipe them away so he could see.
“You, know.” he said as he finally gained composure. “This is all our fathers’ fault. None of this would have happened had Elrond just let me and my father stay.”
Aragorn chortled, “Well, you would have had to wait a week anyway. Ada said my coma lasted another week after you left.”
At the mention of that time, Legolas quieted and he thought back to that night, long ago, when he had saved Aragorn’s dying body from the wolves. Then to the night when he had said goodbye and thought it to be the last time he would ever speak to the man.
He looked up and felt a hand on his shoulder. “I am alive, Legolas. There is no need to go back and visit unpleasant times.”
Leaping forward the prince clasped his arms around the ranger’s neck and hugged him tight.
“I can’t help it.” he sobbed. “I thought I had lost my best friend! OH, Estel! I wanted to die!”
“Well, now. don’t go doing that!” The now eighty-seven year old man laughed. “I don’t want to go through what you did. I’ve already been through death and back.”
“What was it like?”
“Hmmm..” he felt the prince pull away and stare at him.
“Death, what was it like?”
“I was talking more about my long sleep. If you really want to know about death, ask Glorfindel. He’s more appt to know about that sort of thing.”
Legolas laughed a bit, then he looked down the hall where he saw two hobbits walking for the dining hall.
He had never seen one of small beings before, he was amazed.
“What are those?”
“If you are talking about the little men, they are called hobbits.” he turned his head and nodded towards them. “The raven haired one is Frodo. He is the halfling who was stabbed a week ago.”
“And he still lives?”
Aragorn rolled his eyes. “As I sit before you.” he grinned as the prince shoved his shoulder.
“Should we go, to the dining hall?”
Estel carefully, tried to stand, but his left leg collapsed. He was falling but he felt a strong arm wrap around his waist and hoist him up.
“Careful.” he chided as Aragorn took his cane from the prince who had grabbed it up.
“I can take care of myself.” the man said, trying to wriggle out of the elven prince’s grip.
Legolas smiled and let go. “Alright.”
Once the blonde elf’s hand was gone, Estel felt his left leg shoot with fiery tendrils of pain.
He turned his sightless eyes up to the retreating form of his friend. “Wait, Legolas!” he tried to walk, but his leg buckled and he leaned heavily against the thin stick. “Legolas?! I know you are there! I can smell you!”
The prince could not help but laugh. “Oh, and what do I smell like?” he walked over softly to his struggling friend and let Aragorn wrap his arm over the elf’s shoulder.
“You smell like-” he stopped and sniffed. “Lembas, wine, and a piece of cheese.”
“Well, the lembas was from the trip, the wine I got today when I arrived.”
“And the cheese?” the man grinned as they continued down the hall.
“Well, I taste-tested the cook’s food, without the cook’s consent.” he hurried along, half forgetting that Aragorn was hanging on to him.
“Well, this should be an enjoyable time. No doubt about that.” Aragorn snickered and Legolas knocked the human upside the head.
“Ow.”
~The End~
Or it is?
The small droplets hit the surface of his lukewarm bath water and he smiled as the sensation of rain hitting skin make his body tingle.
He hardly ever went in the rain anymore, he felt a pang of fear every time the snow came forth.
Sixty-seven years had passed, and this was his first trip to Rivendell since he had left Aragorn to die on that cold November night.
And although it was October, and although it was only rain. The memories hit him like a punch to the gut. He was breathless and he felt himself drowning in a pool of sorrow.
No one had spoken of Estel’s death when he had come. In fact, no one had spoken of the boy at all. They mostly kept to themselves and gave Legolas and his companions what they needed before sending them off to their guest quarters.
He took this as a sign that Aragorn did not travel the fair halls any longer. And he left it to that.
The prince did not want to start another time of mourning, not when he had so much to share of Mirkwood and his father.
“Legolas! Hurry up! Our guide is here!”
He turned at the sound of Adahelka’s smooth voice. He winced as rough memories clouded around him.
“One moment.” he coughed, trying not to choke on the lump that had formed in his throat.
Taking one last look at the rain, he climbed out of the deep set, marble bathing tub and dried his blonde hair.
He picked up his brush and gently began to attack the mass of pale hair.
Once this was completed and all his hair was straight, he began to braid the sides.
He bit his lip and dropped his head a little as he continued to twist the strands of blonde hair into the intricate elven braid that signified not only his position of royalty, but also his command in the Army of Mirkwood.
Silently, Legolas slipped his green leggings and slid the silver and white tunic over his pale head.
Then, grabbing his white sash, he tied it around his slim waist and turned to look at the mirror.
He was surprised at what he saw. A slim elven figure stood in the reflection, not as small as he had been, but tall and filled out.
His blonde hair shimmered as the sun began to shine through the rain and clouds. But he noticed one thing, the dark circles beneath his eyes.
Though it was true an elf did not need much sleep. Legolas had not slept much over the past sixty-seven years.
“Legolas!”
Shooting a glare at the cream door, the prince growled.
He reached out for the knob and his slender hand grabbed it. He opened his mouth to shout at the elves before him as he opened the door, but his breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened.
He looked past the four elves that stood facing him, his blue gaze traveled a ways behind them to the noiselessly standing being cloaked in red and gold.
He was a tall man, not shorter than most of the Mirkwood elves present, but his form was a bit slouched and his glassy eyes were almost white. He held in one hand a cherry-wood walking stick and his hair was combed back and braided in intricate design.
A scruffy beard ordained his face and he did not look at the elves but rather let his clouded eyes wander. He sighed and leaned so that the majority of his weight was on his right leg.
“Are we ready to go on?.”
The prince felt a hand lightly grab his arm, but he hardly noticed until he was being pulled along with the other elves, his eyes did not leave the human, who was slowly turning as one of the other Mirkwood elves answered.
“Aye, lead on surie pen!”
The prince did not notice the name that his companions seemed to laugh and snicker at. All his attention was on the man straight in front of him.
He felt his heart thump and his feet go numb. ‘Oh Eru! Is this true?’ he prayed inside his mind, but no answer came and he was left to stare.
“Estel?” Legolas uttered the name, hardly able to believe his own elven eyes.
He watched as a few of the elves snuck up on the human and kicked his walking stick, trying to trip him.
The prince felt his blood rise and he waited patiently for Aragorn to take care of it himself. But the man did nothing. He let the elves continue to taunt him and speak rudely behind his back.
And the sad part was that Legolas knew Estel could hear every word they said.
“Hey guys, think it’s safe, letting a blind man lead us?” one joked, pointing at the heavily limping human before them.
“No, he’ll probably run straight into that pillar there.” another laughed softly.
They whispered, barely able to be heard by human ears, but Aragorn had much more than human ears, his ears might even be as good as an elf’s, but the four other elves did not take the time to think on this.
“Guy’s, leave him alone.” the prince whispered, walking a little closer to the others and trying to get there attention.
He did, but they hardly listened.
“Oh, come one Legolas. We are just having a bit of fun.” As if to try and prove his point, one of the younger elves ran in front of the human and waved his hand in front of the man’s face.
The prince watched with tearful eyes as Aragorn just kept walking, he did not flinch, he did not eve seem to notice the hand in front of him.
Moving his hand away, the young dark haired elf spun around and placed his foot in Aragorn’s path.
Legolas was already moving forward, but he was too late.
Estel did not notice the limb until his left leg had made contact with it, a surprised look etched on his features he let go of his stick and fell forward onto the marble floor.
“Oooo. I am sorry.” the elf hissed, acting as if he really was apologizing. But Legolas saw the uncaring glint in his eyes.
Jumping forward, the prince slapped the other elf’s hand away. He would take no more of this.
He looked to Aragorn who was still on the floor, a look of pure agony on his features. His teeth were clenched together so tight that the prince thought they might break.
Turning his silver-blue eyes up, he starred with confusion and pain on his own face.
“I can not believe what I am seeing!” he growled, low and menacing and all the warriors bowed there heads and backed away. “I chose you four to travel with me because I believed that you were merciful and caring. Not immature and foolish!” He watched as their head bent lower and they bit their lips. “Get out of my sight! Go on!”
They began to leave but Legolas’s last words stopped them. “Oh! And I would apologize to Lord Elrond for causing his son so much grief and pain!”
A few turned to look at the human on the floor, and their faces paled further. They turned and continued on to the dining hall, following the other elves, men, and dwarves that were rushing to get there.
After he was sure they were gone, the prince kneeled down, placing hand on Aragorn’s right leg, so not to cause more hurt to his left leg.
“I’m sorry.” he whispered, looking at the human with sorrowful eyes.
But Estel just scooted away from him and bowed his head, he did not even show recognition in his face.
“Estel, it’s me. It’s Legolas.”
The man turned his head away. “I know.” he ground out, continuing to rub his hurting leg. Legolas watched as tears feel down the rough cheeks and fell onto the hard floor. “You can go, you know where the dining hall is.”
“What?” the prince shook his head and crawled closer to Aragorn, he starred at the man. “But, I don’t want to go without you.”
“Sure you do. Go with your friends, maybe they saved you a-”
“Shut up, Estel!” Looking up, the man felt Legolas’s eyes starring at him, and the burning in the gaze was not to be trifled with. “I thought you were dead! For over twenty years I waited for a letter to come! I waited for you to write and tell me you were alive! But, I never got that letter! And you know what?! I thought you had died, so I gave up! I let phony friends take over my life and rule me, even though I am the prince. I miss you, Aragorn! I-” the tears began to cascade down his pale cheeks and he felt his words all get caught in a lump. “I thought I had lost you, and for a while. I wanted to die too!”
“No,” Aragorn spoke, disbelief in his voice. “I sent the letter. I wrote it and then, I set it on my desk because ‘Dan and ‘Ro called me outside. I decided to leave the letter there and bring it out later.” he gulped and rubbed his neck. “But when I came back, it was gone. I thought Ada had taken it and sent it off already. So I waited, and I waited, and I waited until I thought I was going to go mad with worry.” The man shook his head. “But no letter ever came, I thought you had decided you did not want to be friends because of Arwen.”
Legolas looked up to see the tears that feel from Aragorn’s sightless eyes. He sighed and started to chuckle.
“What on earth are you laughing about?”
The prince laughed so hard that tears began to trickle down the sides of his face and he had to wipe them away so he could see.
“You, know.” he said as he finally gained composure. “This is all our fathers’ fault. None of this would have happened had Elrond just let me and my father stay.”
Aragorn chortled, “Well, you would have had to wait a week anyway. Ada said my coma lasted another week after you left.”
At the mention of that time, Legolas quieted and he thought back to that night, long ago, when he had saved Aragorn’s dying body from the wolves. Then to the night when he had said goodbye and thought it to be the last time he would ever speak to the man.
He looked up and felt a hand on his shoulder. “I am alive, Legolas. There is no need to go back and visit unpleasant times.”
Leaping forward the prince clasped his arms around the ranger’s neck and hugged him tight.
“I can’t help it.” he sobbed. “I thought I had lost my best friend! OH, Estel! I wanted to die!”
“Well, now. don’t go doing that!” The now eighty-seven year old man laughed. “I don’t want to go through what you did. I’ve already been through death and back.”
“What was it like?”
“Hmmm..” he felt the prince pull away and stare at him.
“Death, what was it like?”
“I was talking more about my long sleep. If you really want to know about death, ask Glorfindel. He’s more appt to know about that sort of thing.”
Legolas laughed a bit, then he looked down the hall where he saw two hobbits walking for the dining hall.
He had never seen one of small beings before, he was amazed.
“What are those?”
“If you are talking about the little men, they are called hobbits.” he turned his head and nodded towards them. “The raven haired one is Frodo. He is the halfling who was stabbed a week ago.”
“And he still lives?”
Aragorn rolled his eyes. “As I sit before you.” he grinned as the prince shoved his shoulder.
“Should we go, to the dining hall?”
Estel carefully, tried to stand, but his left leg collapsed. He was falling but he felt a strong arm wrap around his waist and hoist him up.
“Careful.” he chided as Aragorn took his cane from the prince who had grabbed it up.
“I can take care of myself.” the man said, trying to wriggle out of the elven prince’s grip.
Legolas smiled and let go. “Alright.”
Once the blonde elf’s hand was gone, Estel felt his left leg shoot with fiery tendrils of pain.
He turned his sightless eyes up to the retreating form of his friend. “Wait, Legolas!” he tried to walk, but his leg buckled and he leaned heavily against the thin stick. “Legolas?! I know you are there! I can smell you!”
The prince could not help but laugh. “Oh, and what do I smell like?” he walked over softly to his struggling friend and let Aragorn wrap his arm over the elf’s shoulder.
“You smell like-” he stopped and sniffed. “Lembas, wine, and a piece of cheese.”
“Well, the lembas was from the trip, the wine I got today when I arrived.”
“And the cheese?” the man grinned as they continued down the hall.
“Well, I taste-tested the cook’s food, without the cook’s consent.” he hurried along, half forgetting that Aragorn was hanging on to him.
“Well, this should be an enjoyable time. No doubt about that.” Aragorn snickered and Legolas knocked the human upside the head.
“Ow.”
~The End~
Or it is?
