A/N: Sarah AK's story 'Return to Mirkwood' has an absolutely stunning
chapter on her Legolas/Gimli bonding ceremony that involves a little
meadow and a sapling similar to this, and I am as always inspired by
her views. This is different, but the idea of a fresh start from a
scene of great loss is the same.
A/N: MANY MANY THANKS TO TENAR! YOU ARE THE 5000TH Reader! There will
be a chapter dedicated to you as soon as I figure out how to work in
the number. Thank you to everyone who has been reading all this time,
it means so much to me!
Mereth Bardolel (The Homecoming Party)
Now the snow was an unexpected obstacle to Fearfaron, Gladhadithen and
Lindalcon, for they had not thought to have such bitterly frigid
climatic conditions arrive so soon in the season. Their plans for
Legolas' bonding party were severely impinged, for they had decided to
use the old overgrown clearing that had been their friend's haunt in
his young years to host the celebration.
Over the course of the new couple's romantic interlude, the healer and
the Councillor's apprentice had been working diligently to clean up the
little glade and make it festive and inviting. All the weedy,
disordered shrubs and grasses had been trimmed back or removed. The
gangly saplings had each been transplanted to other sites, since they
were dormant for the winter anyway. All except the little oak that
Legolas had graced with his touch. This one remained, for it was
growing close to the stump of the ancient beech that had been so
cruelly cut down in years past. For the Wood Elves, a stripling in such
close conjunction to a lost elder of the weald was called the daughter
of the fallen tree, regardless if the species was different, and none
would seek to displace such rejuvenation.
Gladhadithen understood some of the vale's history and significance to
the archer but did not realise what had ultimately transpired there.
She only comprehended that this was one of the Tawarwaith's refuges and
that more than any other place it had served for a home. Indeed, in one
of the trees ringing the meadow's margins was a painfully cramped and
simple talan, with absolutely no comforts of any kind other than a
dilapidated awning that had disintegrated as soon as it was unfurled.
The healer dragged Fearfaron to the spot and he physcally cringed to
see the poor quality of this abode's construction.
"This was before I taught him about wood and structure," he had
asserted defensively, concerned Gladhadithen might imagine he had
helped Legolas craft this deplorable bit of rotting, twisted branches
bound together with rope and wedged within the crux of the tall tree's
divided trunk.
The healer and Lindalcon had both laughed at that and were pleased to
see the carpenter become interested in their efforts. The Spirit Hunter
had been decidedly morose and taciturn ever since he found out that the
two had arranged for Legolas and Erestor to spend four nights in the
bonding talan. The three had argued stridently that first night, for
Fearfaron had been awaiting Legolas' return, thinking the Noldo only
wished to make peace with the Tawarwaith for contributing so greatly to
his distress and anguish. Fearfaron was convinced his ion edwen (second
son) was too vulnerable to exercise good judgement when deciding with
whom to share his body while the foreign elf had already admitted he
was unable to act honourably and refrain from satisfying his urges at
Legolas' expense.
Gladhadithen countered that she had seen more of the seneschal's true
nature than had the carpenter and disclosed the events that took place
in the stables.
As far as Lindalcon was concerned, he was convinced this liaison was
the perfect solution to Legolas' troubling dreams. The brothers had
been standing side by side when the Noldo stepped between them and
Thranduil's wrath, and that action was enough to overrule any doubts he
might have entertained. Only someone devoted to his heart-brother would
court the King's rage so blatantly, especially when Erestor was already
in a precarious position as a trespassing spy. Hearing of the sound
punishment the Imladrian had administered to the deceitful guardsman
underscored the young elf's decision to support Legolas' choice any way
he could.
"We are going to provide Legolas this short reprieve from sorrow. Has
he not earned it?" he defiantly interrupted the carpenter's ongoing
tirade against the healer's lack of wisdom.
This had silenced Fearfaron momentarily. While he still had misgivings,
what Lindalcon said was true and the youth's only desire was the same
as his own: to accord Legolas some measure of happiness.
"Of course he has!" the carpenter retorted. "But have you figured out
what we are to do when the Noldo leaves him, Lindalcon? Have you an
answer for that?" Fearfaron could not help bring this, his greatest
dread, to the fore.
"Nay, I do not," Lindalcon frowned as he spoke and sighed. "Yet perhaps
that will not happen. The seneschal does not wear any rings on his
hands, have you not noticed this? If he is bound to someone else then
why does he not bear the proper signs?"
"Who can say? They are Noldor; I know not what customs are practised
among them."
"Well Aragorn says his mates are not Noldor, they are silvan elves of
the Galadhrim. They would demand such outward tokens of his fidelity."
"From what I have overheard between the Grey wizard and the Brown, the
Noldo does not include this concept within his set of values."
"We cannot hope to judge his character prior to our meeting him here
and observing his manner toward Legolas. In this I have no
reservations; Erestor has put aside his interests to aid our
Tawarwaith. It is likely he will even face banishment as a traitor to
his Realm for what he does now. The situation with these other mates
will have to be sorted out between the three of them later,"
Gladhadithen had interjected her thoughts.
"Sorted out?" Fearfaron nearly shouted.
"Aye, that is between Erestor and those Lorien elves to decide. We need
not concern ourselves with that just now."
"Yet we all may guess how this will end for Legolas. Why would the
seneschal abandon an arrangement he has found satisfactory for several
centuries?"
"He may not have to do so. Mayhap they will not object."
"Mayhap! Perhaps! It is Legolas' feä that is in the balance with
those tenuous hopes!" the furious father fumed.
"There is Mithrandir as well. He will not let Legolas succumb to grief;
he has sworn it," Lindalcon reminded.
"Ai! The wizard's claim! Legolas has got tangled up in an unsolvable
riddle," mourned Fearfaron.
"You are ranting over facts, mellon vrûn (old friend), and while
your worries are understandable they do not serve to clarifying this
dilemma," the healer responded with compassion. She realised the
carpenter only wished he had somehow been able to prevent the train of
events that had brought his adopted child to such a convoluted impasse.
For several minutes the three were silent while Fearfaron assimilated
these words. As he searched his heart he had to admit he was pleased
that Legolas had freely chosen an elf, even if that selection was a
foreign Lord of dubious reputation. This was a level of independence
the carpenter had thought removed from his foster-son once Mithrandir's
infusion of vital substance had been accomplished. Still, the wild
warrior's predicament was definitely more irregular than any he had
ever heard recounted.
"Why must it be so complex; Legolas needs stability and permanence, a
lover who will be constant," he sighed.
"Fearfaron, you have given him stability and continuity; he needs a
mate for something rather less abstract!" laughed Gladhadithen.
"Can they even bond under these conditions? They hardly know each
other," he listed his second qualifying apprehension. "Legolas does not
begin to understand what is involved in such things."
"Do not expect us to heed these ridiculous statements! He most
certainly is aware of the traditions of our people, more than most in
some respects," she railed back.
"Nay, he thinks he is bound to Malthen and even you cannot deny that!"
Fearfaron's voice was raised and he turned from the healer, intending
to leave the clearing and have no part of their plans. "This can only
lead to more heartache for Legolas. You are both wrong to encourage it."
"I do refute it! He realises he does not belong to the corpsman. After
the hearing closed, did he wish to speak with Maltahondo or even ask me
what had happened to him? Nay, his eyes were for Erestor only," said
Gladhadithen gently. "If he returns to us and senses your anger that
will only serve to exacerbate the insecurity he must feel. Should he
turn from the Noldo now, whence shall he go? To Mithrandir?"
That struck a sore spot, as the healer knew it would, and the carpenter
halted, shaking his head, arms folded tightly around his chest.
"Legolas is willing to take this risk to his heart and after all it is
his. There is nothing you can do to alter that. Will you support him or
oppose him?" she pressed.
"Such a simple thing, Fearfaron, and it will give him so much joy! He
wants Erestor and the Noldo cares for him; is this so terrible?"
Lindalcon had heard enough of the bickering. "We are going to treat
them as if they had spent a year in courtship, pretend the required
gifts have been presented to one another, act as if Erestor formally
petitioned you for the opportunity to win Legolas' heart. We will
throw them the traditional Bardolel Mereth (Homecoming Party) when the
bonding is done, and if you do not help it will hurt Legolas more than
I care to think about!"
That last notion had been the critical element for Fearfaron. He would
approve no activity that would cause his adopted child pain if he could
knowingly prevent it. And there was likewise nothing he would not
attempt if its accomplishment would lessen Legolas' burden of grief and
grant instead peaceful contentment. The carpenter heaved a deep lungful
of disconsolation and blew back out a rather noisy capitulating sough,
adding a curt nod of his head in the healer's direction.
"That has to go," he stated, vision locking on the crude shelter high
in the branches above them.
Lindalcon flashed Gladhadithen a smile, the healer gave the carpenter's
arm an encouraging squeeze, and the trio set to work on the lowly
thicket that moment under the faltering twinkle of the cloud-hazed
stars.
By the following dawn, Fearfaron had enlisted the aid of two elves in
building a suitable domicile for Legolas and as soon as word spread
that the Tawarwaith would be settling in the glen with his new mate,
donations of all sorts of materials and supplies began to accumulate.
Everything, from linens and bedding to dishes and a wrought iron
brazier for warmth, was brought forth by smiling elves eager to do what
they could to make life easier for the former outcast. Furs and rugs,
netting for steamy summer nights and rich silk velvet curtains to
enclose the bed during winter's onslaught, tables and seats, a
diminutive settee upholstered in red satin and embroidered with forest
scenes in gold, pillows and pots.
Indeed, any item required to ensure a proper domestic environment found
its way to the weedy meadow. Every bit of it came from someone's home
or workroom and the generosity of the silvans was overwhelming. It was
clear none of the folk of the woods believed their Tirno should endure
further hardship or banishment.
Of course as excitement over the activity grew news of the goings on
reached Aragorn, Aiwendil, and Mithrandir. Just past midday the three
had marched down to the coomb, easily finding the locale due to the
virtually continuous flow of elves coming and going, carrying and
fetching. There they had stared at the spectacle of Gladhadithen
ordering the renovation's progress more like a captain of the guard
than a healer as Lindalcon directed the deployment of the
ever-increasing stash of goods and resources. As soon as he had sighted
the human and the wizards, he called out hoping to enlist their aid.
"Aragorn! What took you three so long? We have little time and much to
do," he laughed at their mystified expressions as they looked around at
the bustling bodies, busy hands, and laughing faces of the elves
employed in the labour.
"What is all this? A day ago the Wood Elves openly condemned Legolas
for his 'indiscretions' with foreign elves and now everyone wants to
behave as though none of that unpleasantness transpired," fussed
Gandalf gruffly as his fiery eyes nearly disappeared beneath his
furrowed brows.
Each and every elf ceased what they were doing and turned to the Istar,
their eyes serious and remorseful as they regarded him.
"We were wrong to doubt Legolas," one elleth spoke up contritely.
"And some of us never did," another elf added firmly.
"Consider this undertaking our attempt at restitution, meagre though it
may be," a Sinda warrior added quietly.
"Meagre indeed," mumbled the Grey Pilgrim, as he sent a smouldering
glare at the carpenter high in the boughs above their heads. "You
approve of this farce, Fearfaron?"
"Our intent is not false!" sang out a petite silvan inu before the
carpenter could reply. She wiped her soil-grimed hands against her
apron, converged upon the wizard's position, and stared up into his
menacing glower with cool resolve. It was none other than Ben'waith,
Meril's confidante on the palace staff. "We are here to offer whatever
assistance we can to ensure a cosy sanctuary for Legolas and his mate.
It is not enough to undo the wrongs of the past, but it is a start."
"Absolutely appropriate and I heartily agree with you!" exclaimed
Radagast and rubbed his hands together gleefully. "What do you need us
to do?"
With that endorsement the work details resumed their tasks and the dale
filled with the murmur of voices, the slice of scythes cutting grass
and trimming shrubs, the dull concussion of spades digging under roots.
From the limbs above the rasping grate of saws and planes shaping wood
blended with the clackering thump of hammers and the soft singing of
the Spirit Hunter. The Brown Wizard took from Ben'waith a list of items
known to be dear to Legolas that had been packed away upon his exile.
Aiwendil scuttled off to the stronghold to retrieve these objects,
calling for Mithrandir and the mortal to join him.
Gandalf and Aragorn exchanged gloomy glances, feeling it was perhaps
premature to plan such festivities with the Judgement yet to be
rescinded, but then the Man shrugged and allowed the jubilant
atmosphere to sink into his soul as a smile broke out on his features.
"I think it is useless to defy them, Gandalf; we may as well do our
part." He gave the wizard an encouraging slap on the back and followed
Radagast out of the croft.
The Istar sighed and peered one last time into Gladhadithen's
challenging countenance before relenting. Really, he had little to
complain of other than the fickleness of the forest citizens.
During the first night of the Tawarwaith's bonding, the wizard had
faced his hidden attraction for the outcast and admitted to Aiwendil
that his motives for assisting Legolas had in part involved the desire
to create a reciprocal attachment in the outcast elf. Aragorn and
Radagast had pointed out the selfishness of the Maia's designs and the
necessity for concealing these unrequited cravings from Legolas'
discovery. Neither of his friends, however, had been aware of how far
across the boundaries of decency the wizard had gone, for he had used
his link with Legolas to invade the privacy of the nascent couple's
most intimate moments early in the night. Gandalf had taken himself to
the base of the oak tree that held the lovers' nest and there indulged
his newly awakened lust.
Erestor's efforts to lift Legolas from his state of grief and despair,
to free him from the hold of Maltahondo's false love, had thoroughly
shamed the Istar. Though both the human and the wizard had harboured
strong reservations concerning Erestor's fitness as a mate for the
Tawarwaith, Mithrandir could not doubt the seneschal's sincerity any
longer. When the pair had lapsed into exhausted sleep midway through
the evening, the wizard had closed his connection to the wild elf's
mind, ensuring the sacramental secrecy of the moment of bonding, and
determined never to abuse the archer's trust again.
And I shall have to instruct Legolas in the means to prevent others
from voyeurism of this nature.
His thinking had been of Elrond, gifted in mind-speak, learning of the
outcast's new talent and manipulating it for his own pleasure. But the
disturbing remnant of a salty sea breeze had wafted through the
wizard's consciousness almost the next instant. Mithrandir did not like
how easily he had gained admittance to the wild elf's brain. It was
obvious the Tawarwaith's affinity with the Spirit of the Greenwood gave
him a natural ability in this area of which he was not even aware.
Additionally, it had probably never occurred to Legolas that anyone
would be interested in exploring what went on in his mind.
Nor had
that
idea entered my thoughts until now.
Resolved to address the issue at the first opportunity, the Maia had
gathered his wits, cleaned himself up, and returned to the stronghold
and the consolation of non-judgemental succour from his friends. He had
explained to the Man and the Maia what Erestor was attempting to do and
they had both pledged to back the seneschal's efforts unfailingly, even
to the point of convincing Legolas to leave the Greenwood and abide in
Lorien if the Judgement was lifted. None of them had considered that
the Wood Elves would turn out to be so considerate or willing to try
and make the wild elf feel welcome among them.
With a bemused shake of his head, Gandalf's features had at last
creased up in a pleased smile as he had exited the glen to assist
Aragorn and his fellow wizard in their assigned chore. That had been
sunrise of the day Elladan and Elrohir, Orophin and Dambethnîn
had left Lorien for Imladris.
By the frosty dawn of the fourth day, as Celeborn and his entourage
galloped toward the Forest Gate, while the twins were overcome with
sick despair for the depth of their father's obsession, in the
Greenwood all was ready for the Tawarwaith and his soul's companion to
commence their eternally united futures. Lindalcon, the healer,
and the carpenter stood at the entrance to the reclaimed dell, wrapped
up in thick fur-lined cloaks to keep the snow from saturating them in
sub-zero dampness.
"Bloody Vairë!" hissed Lindalcon.
"I am rather tired of folks blaming her for every single thing that
goes wrong," grumped Gladhadithen. "What has fate to do with the
weather? Has it never occurred to you that just as Mithrandir was sent
here to aid us, so some of Melkor's lesser disciples remain to plague
Arda in things both great and small?"
"Indeed, I had never thought of it quite that way," admitted Fearfaron
with a sharp laugh.
"Well, then, Angband take the devils perverting the works of Ulmo and
Manwë this day!" the young elf amended his curse.
"Never mind, we can yet salvage the festivities," encouraged the
carpenter. "Lindalcon, you make sure that our newly bonded couple is
distracted. I will see Legolas first and then while he is headed back
to the nest, you will escort the Noldo to me. No doubt they are both
stewing over what I will say to Erestor," Fearfaron chuckled smugly.
Lindalcon's mouth split in a huge grin. "Ah, that might present a
problem. You see, I discovered Legolas' clothes at the bottom of the
tree and…"
"You were in the maze?" Gladhadithen sounded appalled.
"His clothes? All of them?" parroted the carpenter, smiling as his
scandalised mind presented vivid images of why and how the garments
were discarded.
"And the seneschal's boots, too," Lindalcon shrugged as he chortled
over his prank. "I have everything stowed away safe and snug in the
trunk up there." He pointed to the talan, secure from the elements
beneath its watertight awnings and closely drawn curtains.
"Why leave the boots?" wondered Gladhadithen aloud.
"It is of no concern; we can embarrass them by insisting on an
explanation once everyone has arrived and the party is going well,"
Fearfaron answered. "This joke of yours will neatly fit into our plans.
I am confident Legolas will leave the nest first in order to forage for
clothing from his room in my talan. I will keep him busy so you can
take the seneschal something to wear and a cloak and guide him out of
the maze," he appointed this duty to the young councillor in training.
"Gladhadithen, you are to intercept our Tawarwaith on his way back and
while I make the Noldo squirm for a few minutes, you explain to Legolas
that Lindalcon will bring his mate along in due time. Encourage him to
bathe and relax, and make sure there is sufficient heat at the baths!"
"Right, and that they are unoccupied as well," she giggled, "for, if
our pair are like other new couples, the lovers may require more than
one dousing!"
"While they are both getting all freshened up, Mithrandir, Aiwendil,
and Aragorn can light bonfires to ward off the cold here," continued
the carpenter.
"Fearfaron and I will put up some canopies to keep the snow out of the
food," Lindalcon volunteered.
"And then Ben'waith and I will begin setting out the banquet," the
healer concluded their plotting.
"Excellent! Actually, this will not be so bad at all; the snow is
rather lovely," beamed the delighted foster-father. Once he had got
over his worries for Legolas' wellbeing and decided to make the best of
it, he found he was quite enjoying the role of the proud parent again.
Not since Annaldír's bonding over two thousand years ago had he
partaken in such an enjoyable enterprise. He gazed wistfully at the
talan he had rushed to build. "You do not suppose he suspects any of
this, do you? And is the home large enough for them?"
"How would he ever imagine all this was going on?" the healer reassured
and gave the Spirit Hunter a quick hug.
"Aye, and Legolas is a warrior, not one for elaborate dwellings,"
reminded Lindalcon. "That is more space than he is used to now, I am
certain. And there are just the two of them anyway; how much room do
they need?"
Fearfaron sighed blissfully and smiled at his cohorts. In silent accord
they parted to attend their various jobs, leaving the glade to be
transformed in the quiet of the falling snow.
TBC
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