Resurrection 47

Resurrection

Part 47

Posted: March 2, 2007
Title: Resurrection
Author: Larien Elengasse

Summary: Legolas tastes defeat for the first time, Gildor asks Thranduil a question, Thranduil and Legolas talk.

*****

“Good!” Gildor exclaimed as Legolas avoided a particularly skillful and forceful thrust by his captain’s training lance. “Do not take your eyes off him. Watch his feet as well; he cannot fool you that way.”

He felt Thranduil’s hand upon his shoulder and he took his eyes off the training field for just a moment. “My lord,” he said deferentially. While he addressed the king by name when they were alone, he insisted on being more formal amongst the king’s subjects.

“He is doing well,” Thranduil said quietly as he watched his son advance and retreat.

“Very well, my lord,” Gildor answered. “He has excellent instincts.”

“Ai!”

“My liege!”

Thranduil and Gildor turned to find Legolas on his back, holding his side.

“Legolas!” Thranduil shouted and they ran onto the field.

“Ai,” Legolas grumbled as he sat up slowly, his hand on his side.

“Forgive me, my liege…” the captain began.

“’Twas not your fault, Galen,” Legolas murmured. “I was too slow.”

“No, I pushed you too hard, my liege. I am sorry, my king.”

Thranduil held up his hand. “Do not apologize, Galen. It is your duty to train my son and prepare him for battle. Are you all right, Greenleaf?”

Legolas grimaced as he tried to gain his feet. “I think so.”

Gildor helped his beloved to his feet. “Come, we had best look at you to see if anything is broken.”

Thranduil placed his hand upon his captain’s shoulder. “Do not fret, Galen. All will be well.”

The captain nodded and walked back to the barracks, carrying their training weapons with him.

“I became tripped up in the sand,” Legolas grumbled. “It was as if I could not move my feet.”

“No worries, my love. We all fail from time to time. You should see the beatings I have taken at the hands of Glorfindel,” Gildor answered with a smile.

“That makes two of us,” Thranduil chimed in with a grin. “Is it painful, Greenleaf?”

Legolas managed a smile. “Not too much, father. I will be fine.”

Thranduil smiled and caressed his son’s cheek. “You are still young and in the early years of your training; this is not the first beating you will take.”

Legolas chuckled then grimaced again. “Aye, I believe you.”

“I will leave you to your love’s care. I will check on you again before the evening meal.”

Thranduil departed the field and made for the council chambers, as Gildor escorted his lover to his bedchamber.

Legolas sat on the bed as Gildor began unbuttoning his tunic. “I am sure I am fine, my love.”

“Perhaps, but I will feel better if I see it for myself.” He slowly removed the prince’s tunic and saw a large bruise forming on his ribs. “Can you raise your arm?”

Legolas clenched his jaw as Gildor helped him raise his arm, and he looked down at the large bruise that was forming. “I am supposed to go on patrol in two days.”

“That will not happen,” Gildor murmured as he gently felt his lover’s ribs. He stood up. “At least one is broken, but not badly. We must take you to the healer so that he can bandage you. We should immobilize your arm as well, you will heal faster that way.” Gildor chuckled when he saw his lover’s furrowed brow. “If this is the worst thing that ever happens to you, you will be lucky.”

Legolas smiled sheepishly and nodded. “Aye, I know you speak true. But it is one thing to be injured in battle, another to be injured because you cannot move your feet, especially when most of your regiment is watching alongside your lover and your father.”

Gildor retrieved a loose undershirt from the prince’s armoire. “Did I ever tell you the story of when my father taught me to ride a horse?”

Legolas smiled. “No, but I would like to hear it.”

Gildor helped Legolas slip one arm into a sleeve then draped the shirt over the other arm. “Well, I was just twenty years old and we had this pony that used to pull a cart. I wanted to ride my father’s horse, but I barely came to the beast’s shoulder. At any rate, my father put me on the pony, knowing that this pony was particularly cantankerous and did not like to be ridden. Thankfully, we were on soft ground, so when the pony bucked and I fell, I was not hurt. At any rate, my father insisted that I had to master riding this pony before he would let me ride a larger horse. So everyday he watched as I mounted the pony and would be promptly thrown off. After months of this, and most of my friends witnessing it, I finally realized that the one I needed to impress was the pony, not my father or my friends. I forgot that I was being watched and focused only on the pony. I brushed him, scratched his belly, fed him treats, played with him in the yard – I did everything but try to ride him. My friends teased me, called me a coward, but my father just watched and smiled. Soon, the pony and I formed a partnership of sorts, and he let me ride him. I was the only one who ever rode that pony, and when I grew taller, my father gave me the finest mare from his herd.”

“So what you are saying is that I need not worry about what others think, I need only worry about the task at hand and how to achieve it.”

Gildor smiled. “A true soldier knows humility; he knows that battle is not about glory, it is about fighting to protect what one loves. Seeking glory will bring a swift end to your life; but seeking to be a good soldier, one who cares about his warriors and whose aim is to win a battle with as little loss of life as possible will ensure the undying trust and respect of those who serve beneath you.” Legolas nodded. “You are yet young, my love. You have much to learn and have yet to be tested on the battlefield. Take this time and opportunity to build the skills you will need to keep both yourself and those who follow you alive.”

“I will,” Legolas said quietly, reaching up and drawing his lover’s lips to his own. “Thank you,” he murmured, before placing a soft kiss upon Gildor’s lips.

* * * *

A soft knock fell upon Thranduil’s office door, and he called for his guest to enter. A smile curved his lips as he saw Gildor step inside and he invited his friend to sit down.

“How is Legolas?”

“He has one injured rib, but it is not serious. He should be fully recovered within a week. Is it his first wound?”

Thranduil set the documents he was reading aside, a grin curving his lips. “No. He has always been a brave ellon. He broke his leg when he was twenty falling out of a tree, and he sprained an ankle shortly thereafter leaping from one rock to another. He has never lacked a sense of boldness.”

Gildor smiled. “Aye. He knows what he wants and he goes after it.”

Thranduil chuckled. “This is true.”

“Thranduil, I have something very important to ask you.”

“Ask anything, my friend.”

“You know I love your son. I would have your blessing to bond with him.”

Thranduil’s eyes widened.

“I know this is soon to ask, and I do not know how to explain it, but I love him with all of my heart, and he loves me. He wants this. I understand why you would be apprehensive, I was at first also, but when I look into his eyes, I know this is right. I will abide by your decision.”

“He is so young; he has so much yet to experience.” Thranduil focused on the desktop. “I would like some time to consider this proposal.”

“Of course. Take all the time that you need.” Gildor rose from his chair and began to leave the room.

“Gildor?”

“Yes?”

“Know that I do not doubt your feelings for my son.”

Gildor smiled. “I know.”

Thranduil nodded then watched his friend leave the room.

* * * *

Thranduil entered his son’s chamber to find him resting, propped up in bed with thick pillows. His right arm was in a sling and his chest was bound tightly. A book rested upon his lap, and as the king entered, Legolas looked up and smiled at him.

“Hello, ada. Do not worry; I will be fine. It looks worse than it is.”

Thranduil smiled and sat on the edge of Legolas’ bed. Lifting the book, he gazed at the engraved cover. “It was your mother’s favorite.”

Legolas smiled. “Aye, she left it to me when she sailed. She wanted to leave something important behind with me.”

“Do you miss her?”

“Yes, I do. But I understand why she could not stay. I know that had things been different, the two of you would probably never have married.”

“I do not regret marrying her, Legolas,” Thranduil said softly. “Had I not, you would not have come into our lives. She was a fine mother, and a dutiful wife, and a wise and beautiful elleth. Had things been different, we still would have been the best of friends.”

“And you are a fine father and were a kind husband. Now, you have someone whom you can love with all of your heart, and that makes me very happy.”

Thranduil picked up his son’s hand. “You have grown so fast. How did you become so wise about matters of the heart?”

“I had a good teacher,” Legolas answered with a smile.

“You love Gildor?”

“You know I do.”

“You are so young to talk of bonding. You have just begun to live your own life.”

“Years and experience will teach me nothing I do not already know about what is in my heart.”

“But years and experience do change who you are.”

“They will not change how I feel about Gildor.” Legolas squeezed his father’s hand. “Give him your blessing, ada. It means so much to him, and to me.”

“It still feels as if you were born yesterday.”

“I will always be your son, nothing will change that.”

Thranduil nodded, then leaned over, pressing a kiss to his son’s forehead. “You have my blessing. I will talk with Gildor.”

Legolas smiled broadly. “It is the greatest gift you could ever give me. Thank you, ada.”

“I never could say no to you, Greenleaf.” Thranduil caressed his son’s face, then departed Legolas’ chambers in search of Gildor.

*****

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