The History of Legolas - The Last Green Leaf

The History Of Legolas – Part III
The Last Green Leaf
By Vendie

Author’s Note: The Lord of the Rings and all associated characters belong to Tolkien and his estate. I am not making any profit off of this story, save the enjoyment I had making it.

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The Last Green Leaf
Chapter Seventeen – Liberties


As it turned out, Arthion’s injuries were not exacerbated by poison too badly, as the healers were able to extract much of it before it entered his bloodstream. The eldest son of Thranduil was ill for a few days, but on the third day Nestadriel made it known that he would be able to leave the Houses of Healing after one more night’s observation. Upon hearing the news, Legolas noticed, that Elaneth seemed like a lamp that had just been lit. She busied herself with her children and was her cheerful self in essentially no time. Thranduil was also much at ease with this news. He paced less often and was, much to Legolas’ dismay, constantly prodding his youngest son about Mithrandir’s visit.

“I know not why he left!” Legolas said in an exasperated manner over their breakfast of eggs and lembas one morning. The young prince was getting rather tired of questions.

“He must have left so quickly for some reason,” Thranduil reasoned, giving a questioning look to his son. “Perhaps you can try and wheedle it out of our guest, then?”

Legolas sighed and stabbed his eggs most maliciously. In the silence he offered his father instead of an answer, his mind wandered over thoughts of Gollum and his strange mannerisms, his sudden and unannounced entrance into Mirkwood… And oddly enough, his mind wandered over a conversation he had with Alagos, Anariel’s father some nights ago. Without thinking, Legolas started speaking again.

“I wonder, Ada, if I might be able to persuade him to trust us enough to speak on matters such as this if we allow him some… liberties.”

Thranduil looked at his son and raised an eyebrow. “Liberties.” He repeated.

“Yes, perhaps, if we allowed him to walk about the forest at night and delight in some freedom, he might be endeared towards us and open up.” Legolas explained.

“Is he not a cunning creature that will run at any chance?” His father asked.

“Maybe so, but he is not as quick as ten elves, I think, if some travel ahead and some behind, we should be able to cover him.”

Thranduil regarded his son for a moment, and then turned once again to his breakfast and as he took a bite said, “Do what you feel is best.”

~

Later that morning, Legolas made his way to the Houses of Healing to visit his brother as he had done for the past three mornings. Seeing the vast improvement Arthion had made eased Legolas greatly, for he was rather worried about his niece and nephew. With both of his brothers gone, Legolas seemed to fill the void that Arthion had left for his children and was very fond of them. Seeing them fret over their father and being unable to assuage their fears agitated him greatly.

When the youngest son of the Elvenking entered his brother’s room in the Houses of Healing, the two elflings were jumping up and down on Arthion’s bed, shouting a story very loudly. When the door opened, however, all elfling activity stopped.

“Uncle Leaf!” Both children cried in unison.

“Yes, Good Uncle Leaf is here to save his brother from the terrors of you two goblins!” Arthion teased.

“We are not goblins, Ada!” Titheniel said, stomping her foot and mocking an upset face.

“Halfings then?” Arthion asked.

“We are not Halflings, either!” Erynion laughed, bouncing up and down again.

“What are you then, pray tell?”

“ELVES!” Arthion’s children cried out, simultaneously jumping upon the bed.

“Indeed you must be, for just now, Legolas, they were telling me the story of Melian and Thingol and the Sindar Elves from the days of old. I wonder who could have told them that?” Arthion said, smiling at his brother.

“Uncle Leaf did, Ada. He knows lots of good bed time stories.” Titheniel said, plopping down at her father’s side.

“Indeed he does. In fact, it looks like Uncle Leaf has a story to tell me now.” The elder of Thranduil’s sons said.

“Can you tell us too, Uncle Leaf?” Erynion asked.

“Indeed not, for it is a secret that you will have to ask your father about until he tells you, for I am bound by an oath of silence. But your father will certainly not be!” Legolas said to his niece and nephew, mocking urgency. Both children’s eyes grew wide as they looked at each other and smiled. “Your mother will be looking for you shortly, though. Find her first, and then come back and pester your father for the tale!” Legolas said.

“We will be back, Ada!” Erynion said, casting a glance at his father before sprinting off giggling, his sister not far behind.

“Erynion, you run too fast!” She shouted as she rounded the corner and exited the room, leaving both Legolas and Arthion chuckling in their wake.

“Legolas, I know not what to say. I am forever in your debt for all you do for Erynion and Titheniel. They love you so dearly.” Arthion said, suddenly serious.

“Brother, as you have done for me I do for you. You watch out for me in our mother’s absence as I watch out for your elflings in your absence.” Legolas said candidly as he sat on the chair next to Arthion’s bed. The elder, apparently speechless, smiled meaningfully at his younger brother and put his hand on Legolas’ shoulder.

After a moment, Arthion asked, “What news of Mirkwood, then?”

“Ah, yes, Mirkwood…” Legolas chuckled, and proceeded to recount his morning’s discussion with their father concerning Gollum.

“Do you feel as though you can truly trust the creature? He seems devious, all that I’ve heard of him,” Arthion asked after Legolas had told his story.

“Truly, I do not know, but this is the only way to show Ada that I am trying, and I believe that it will do Gollum some good. He is truly a pitiable creature. It is cruel that his life has been so altered by such a small but terrible thing.” Legolas said.

“You have ever been the compassionate one,” Arthion observed.

“Well, one of us has to be.” Legolas joked. His older brother laughed.

“Indeed!” Arthion chuckled.

At that moment, the door opened and much to Legolas’ dismay, Anariel walked in with extra gauze with which to rebind Arthion’s wounds. There was an awkward moment when the two caught each others’ gaze and looked away suddenly. It did not go unmissed by Arthion.

“Mae govannen, Lady Anariel, how do you fare?” Arthion asked, interceding for his younger brother.

“All is well with me, My Lord. Indeed, it is you we are worried about today!” She said as cheerfully as she could. Legolas stood and moved out of her way so she could re-bandage his brother’s shoulder. He felt something strange in his chest as he brushed past Anariel and caught the scent of flowers that ever lingered around her.

“Perhaps I should come back at another time…” Legolas started to say.

“You will do no such thing, brother. Stay, and tell me news. What adventures have you and Lady Anariel had lately?” Arthion asked.

Anariel and Legolas looked at each other, as if they were trying to get their stories straight through eye contact. It was almost more than the young prince wanted to bear, staring into Anariel’s deep eyes and seeing the fury that was within them.

“Not many, my Lord. For the Prince and I have both been rather preoccupied.” Anariel answered for them, breaking the staring contest.

“Indeed? That is unfortunate. I should hope my return should ease some of this for you two?” Arthion asked.

“Indeed I think not.” Anariel said matter-of-factly. Legolas felt a pain in his chest he could not describe at her words. He cleared his throat for no reason.

Arthion, dismayed at her words, spoke little more than to thank Anariel for her aide and to say goodbye as she left. After she was gone, he gave Legolas an incredulous look.

“What was that?” He asked.

“What was what?” Legolas replied.

“You know full well what I mean.” Arthion replied. “You two have been nearly attached at the hip since you met. Why do you now act as strangers?”

“I believe she is angry with me.” Legolas said.

“Thank you for that, brother, for it was very difficult to see for myself,” Arthion retorted sarcastically. “What happened?”

“I cannot answer with certainty. Things have been… confusing to say the least, for the longest time.” Legolas sighed angrily as he sat down with all the force gravity could provide on the end of Arthion’s bed. In his brother’s angry slump, Arthion suddenly realized Legolas’ plight.

“You have feelings for her.” Arthion said. Legolas turned his head and stared at his brother.

“Come again?” Legolas asked.

“The stare you two shared had more intensity than the rays of the sun on a hot day. There is more here than you realize, brother.” Arthion replied.

“Just because you are the elder and married of us does not make you the expert on all things concerning love, Arthion, how are you to know my feelings when I myself do not?” His younger brother said angrily.

“I do not pretend to be all-knowing, Legolas. Indeed, I do not know all love, but it seems to me that you and Anariel have a special bond that you share with no other person here in Mirkwood. And am I wrong, that she is most likely angry with you for not spending time with her, and that you do not spend time with her for your confusion about your feelings?”

Legolas was silent.

“Am I right?” Arthion prompted.

“I must leave. My duties begin shortly.” Legolas excused himself as he rose from his seat at the edge of Arthion’s bed and turned for the door.

“Think on what I said, Legolas.” Arthion said.

Legolas turned and nodded at his brother noncommittally before leaving the room completely.

~

That night, Legolas and ten other elves went down to collect Gollum for his walk through the forest. As two of the guards were trying to wrangle the creature out of his cell, thoughts of his afternoon’s interaction with Anariel coursed through the young princes’ mind, distracting him from the matter at hand.

How frustrating the dealings with elleth were, Legolas thought to himself. And how presumptuous was Arthion, to suggest that he was actually in love with Anariel. How, indeed, would Arthion know such things when he was absent most of the time? What a silly idea; Legolas in love with Anariel. Silly indeed!

“He bit me!” One of the elves suddenly exclaimed, drawing Legolas out of his brooding. Some of the others in the room laughed at their compatriot while Gollum hissed rather maliciously. Nonetheless, Legolas noticed that they had successfully gotten a rope around one of Gollum’s ankles and he was out of his cell.

“Captain, we are ready,” One of his subordinates said.

“Aye. Let us be on our way. We will take the north road, about a half-mile away from the halls, we will turn and come back through the deer paths. I do not wish to travel far at night, for fear of an attack. Is that clear?” Legolas asked.

Nods around the room told the young prince that it was time to embark on their experiment. Legolas walked towards the door and opened it.

“Come now, Gollum. We shall take you on a walk through our forest.” He said. Gollum tipped his head, examining Legolas carefully.

“Should we trust it?” He muttered to himself. Legolas tried with difficulty to repress the urge to roll his eyes. “No trust have we for the elvses… but go we must…” Gollum replied to himself in a different tone. The creature began to crawl towards Legolas and then through the door. The elf who held his rope followed the captive, and the rest of the company followed.

As Legolas followed his compatriots out the door, he caught the sounds of Gollum singing a song about fish, and this time did not bother to restrain his rolling eyes as he sighed.

“What am I doing?” He asked, looking up as if the ceiling had the answer.