So That We Might Remember || stories of middle earth

VI. The Inevitability [part one]

For Silvan_Elleth because my spies informed me that she's looking for some classic Legolas angst.

Note: I wrote this when I was a child (meaning 16). Since then, I unpublished it because sometimes I do that when feeling particularly embarrassed by past work. That being said, here it is again! Fully cliché and trope-y with teenage Elladan/Elrohir/Legolas, but nonetheless here. Because who am I to keep already written works dormant in my drafts?

Rated T for slightly graphic injury.

—The Inevitability—

They were elflings. Every one of them. And I didn't care how many times they insisted otherwise.

The forest was abuzz as we traveled, delighted by the wood-elf I was in company with. Rarely, if ever, had these trees received such profound affection from a Noldo--and they were sure to tell me. I ignored them. They would not goad me into action that I did not wish to take.

"Hir Glorfindel!" Legolas's cry rang from above. "Why do you not join us? The forest is even more beautiful from above."

Despite my joy in seeing Thranduillion so contented, I shook my head, amusement being smothered. "Perhaps if you would return to your mount, elfling, we might be on our way to more thrilling events than speaking with the trees."

A tree's voice pierced my consciousness. Do you mean to tell the Sinda that we do not engage in nor appreciate his company, Balrog slayer? As if to accent the point, several acorns were dropped upon me. I glared up into the boughs overhead, a curse befitting of a dwarf barely keeping itself from my tongue.

"Ai, Glorfindel, leave him be." Elladan dropped from a low hanging branch and back onto his slowly moving horse, both legs hanging over one side. "He's happy and out of trouble, is he not?"

"Truly," Elrohir agreed, mimicking his brother's actions. "These moments are fleeting and far between." As he spoke, the Peredhel took a knife and whetstone from his pack, somehow managing to balance upon the bareback horse as he did so.

While Elrohir ran the blade down the stone, the ringing of it echoing in the forest, I sighed, bowing my head and pinching the bridge of my nose. "Ai, Valar, why did I agree to this?"

No sooner had the words left my mouth than a sudden flash of pale gold dropped in front of my face, followed by a lilting laugh. My mount quickly shuffled backward and I gained a clear line of sight to the appeared being. No other elf than Legolas hung from the trees, knees bent around a branch as he hung upside down, hands falling above his head. Still, a smile rested on his face, and he seemed to make himself swing back and forth.

"Thranduillion, come down from there now. I do not wish to be the one to tell your father of your injury while upon my watch."

The prince laughed again. "Sîdh, Hir Glorfindel. If you wish me to come down, I shall." His descent was quick and in an instant he was again upon his horse's back.

"At long last, some sense," I murmured, spurring my mount to a quicker pace. "Come now, pennyth. If we hurry we may just make it to the lake before sunset." Should we accomplish such a feat, I would consider it a blessing of Elbereth herself. Only now did I see why Elrond insisted upon an escort for his sons and Thranduillion. 'A simple camping trip,' he had said. 'A chance to show them more of the world,' he had said...

As it happened, little delay awoke throughout the rest of the day's journey. We came upon the river at the bare setting of the sun, the fading light beginning its charade as a mural upon the still waters. If I were to wager, two hours of decent light were left for our evening. It would be enough. "Find a place for the camp, near to the water's edge but not so close to be caught in a rising lap."