An Affliction Of The Heart
Part 19
Posted: January 25, 2008
Title: An Affliction of the Heart
Author: Larien Elengasse
Summary: Legolas begins to take back control of his life.
*****
Legolas slept undisturbed for the first time since his encounter with the dragon, safely ensconced in the twins’ embrace. He had allowed them to softly caress his arms, chest and back, allowed them gentle kisses and deep murmurs of comfort. He could tell by the way that they were with one another, even though he could not see the looks of deep love and affection that passed between them, that they had resolved themselves to their fate. He knew that Elladan and Elrohir were now, and would always be, lovers as well as brothers.
This gave him comfort, for he could feel how much they loved one another. As for his own role in this unusual relationship, he took comfort in that, also. He would always be their friend, even if he could no longer school them in the arts of battle. His moment of weakness, and the strength that they gave him through their comfort, showed him that although he might never again wield knives or a bow upon the battlefield, he could still have a purpose. He could only hope that his people would accept what he now understood.
With a deep breath, he woke from reverie. As he did each time he opened his eyes, he hoped that there would be more than just darkness; but it was as it had been – he saw nothing. He was resolved to seek Glorfindel’s council in regards to controlling this . . . gift, if one could call it that. He was also resolved to look to Gildor for guidance in how to live in a world he could no longer see.
The ancient warrior knew more about war craft, and evil, than anyone Legolas had met other than Glorfindel. Since his father would not be comfortable with him learning to wield weapons, Glorfindel could not be his teacher – he would not ask the Elda to go against Thranduil. So it would have to be Gildor who would teach him to be strong in the face of what he could not see.
Gildor was a mystery to him, not only because he did not know the warrior, but also because the Noldo was most reserved. Gildor rarely said anything, unless prompted to, and since he could not see into the warrior’s eyes, Legolas was at a loss as to what Gildor was thinking or feeling at any given moment. He also wondered what Gildor looked like. Was he handsome? Was he plain? Did he have a warm smile and kind eyes, or was he steely cold and intimidating as those from the lands of the Valar could be?
Legolas hoped he would soon find the answers to these questions.
“Did you sleep well?”
It was Elladan.
“Aye. Thank you for staying with me.” Legolas felt the peredhel’s embrace tighten slightly.
“It was our pleasure,” Elladan answered quietly. “You are our dearest friend, and we love you.”
Legolas smiled and snuggled back against Elladan’s chest. “As the two of you are my friends and I love you. I am so happy for you both; you will have lives filled with love.”
“Perhaps one day everyone will see what you see; perhaps one day we can love one another openly.”
Legolas drew one of Elladan’s hands to his lips and kissed his knuckles. “I hold out hope for that day, my friend.”
“Good morn,” Elrohir said softly.
Legolas reached out and caressed Elrohir’s face. “Good morn, my elf knight.”
Elrohir stretched and yawned. “Is anyone else hungry?”
Legolas chuckled. “Aye, my friend. We could all do with some sustenance.”
“Then let us rise and dress. The king will be putting us through our paces this day, and I think we will need as much strength as we can muster.”
“You most certainly will,” Legolas teased. “I hope he goes easier on you than he did on me.”
“Let us not speak of it,” Elrohir mumbled. “I am nervous enough as it is.”
“Come, time to face the day, brother,” Elladan said with a smile, then he kissed Elrohir slowly before pulling his bedfellows from the warmth of the blankets.
* * * *
“I need your help,” Legolas said, as he and Gildor strolled along the path toward the stable.
“And I am glad to give it, my prince. What service can I provide?”
“I need to learn how to fight without seeing my enemy.”
“Do you plan to rejoin your warriors?”
“I hope I can, but I will not be a burden to them. At the least, I want to know how to defend myself, even if I can never return to the battlefield. I will not have my home become my prison.”
Gildor nodded. “Aye, I understand. I will do my best to teach you, my prince.”
“I must ask one more thing of you, Gildor.”
“Ask anything, my liege; I shall serve.”
“You must not speak of this to anyone, not even Glorfindel.”
“Of course. I shall tell no one.”
“Tell me, why are you so willing to do this service when you barely know me?”
Gildor looked at Legolas as they walked side by side. “Because I sense you are meant to play an important role in the future, though I know not what that is.”
“Is that the only reason? This sense you have?”
“I know a noble heart when I come across one, my prince. You have nobility in abundance.”
Legolas felt his cheeks color. “Thank you, Gildor.”
Gildor smiled. “You need not thank me for speaking the truth, my lord.”
As they reached the stables and stepped inside, Gildor watched the prince slowly move toward a table that held rough-hewn boxes filled with brushes. The prince felt his way past one box, then another, taking a tactile inventory of each grooming tool before settling upon the ones he sought. Grasping the handle, the prince lifted the box then slowly walked toward one of the horses, a fine copper-colored stallion with a black mane and tail and a perfect white blaze. He found the wall first, then the stallion nickered to him, and Legolas followed the horse’s low, rumbling voice until his hands found its velvet-soft muzzle.
“Hello there, my friend,” he said softly. “I have missed riding you these many weeks.” The horse nickered in response, as if to agree with the prince’s words and say he missed Legolas, too.
“Perhaps we should take a ride this afternoon,” Gildor suggested. “You do not need your eyesight to ride; your faithful companion will bear you safely.”
“Aye, that he will do. He has done so many times before, through rain and fire, never shrinking from anything that we have faced. He is indeed a most loyal friend.” The prince stroked the stallion’s face, and then pressed his forehead to the wide place between the horse’s eyes.
“What is his name?”
“Alchemy,” Legolas answered. “When he was born he was a dull, fawn colored, gangly colt. He was a runt compared to the other foals born that year, but I loved him immediately, and he would always come to me when I visited the pasture. Father had chosen another for me to train for battle, a tall filly bred of his prize stallion, but I persuaded him to let me train this one. As he aged, he filled out and grew stronger, and his dull coat became the color of polished copper. That is when I decided upon his name, for I felt as though he must have the soul of a wizard to transform himself into the strong, beautiful horse you see now.”
“The name suits him, my prince. He is a fine horse.”
“Have you a horse with you, or did you arrive on foot?”
“I have a horse. He is across the stable and two stalls to the left. He is a large, silver gelding with a coat the color of bright star. He is not the most refined horse in terms of appearance, but he is brave, smart, and sure-footed.”
“One can ask nothing more of a horse,” Legolas said, unlatching the stall door and stepping inside. “What is his name?”
“Nimbus,” Gildor answered, reaching inside a pack beside his horse’s stall and unlatching the door. “I shall prepare to ride.”
“It feels like a good day for it,” Legolas said as he brushed his horse’s coat. “It feels dry despite the time of year.”
“Aye, Anor shines bright for us this day. I can smell snow from the Misty Mountains.”
“It smells good, does it not? Snow mixed with cedar and fresh soil?”
“Aye, my liege. The ride will rejuvenate us, I wager.”
Legolas smiled. It felt so good to be doing something so normal as brushing his horse and preparing for an afternoon ride. “I think it will. The company will do me good as well. We should bring weapons; to venture into the wood without them is not wise.”
“I shall fetch yours as well as mine.”
“Make sure you are not seen, or our plans may be interrupted.”
Gildor grinned. “Of all things for you to ask of me…”
Legolas chuckled as he realized what he had just said. “I suppose asking you to be stealthy is a bit unnecessary.”
“It is a way of life for me, my prince.”
“Gildor?”
“Yes?”
“I think I would prefer it if you called me by name rather than title.”
“Of course, Legolas. I shall return shortly.”
Legolas smiled and spoke softly to his horse as he heard Gildor depart the stable. “What think you of him, my old friend?” The horse whinnied in response. “Yes, I think the same. He will prove to be a good friend.”
*****
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