31Chapter four: Unexpected day.
As the sun beat her warm rays on the gleaming white city below, a rather tense elf pulled his hood over the his head, covering his recognisable hair and pointed ears as he kept his eyes fixed on the white stone floor beneath his feet.
The fifth floor to the city was not as busy as usual. In fact, it seemed almost too quiet – especially seeing as it was market day. The accustomed sounds of adults discussing prices and events of the day were almost absent, as were the familiar sounds of laughter emitting from children running around the alleyways, whilst being scolded by their parents for exciting the dogs to the extent that they would not stop barking.
Legolas frowned at the strange quietness that had fallen over the city. This floor at least, he thought suspiciously.
Trying to repress the familiar paranoid feeling of the looming feast, Legolas concentrated on putting one light booted foot in front of the other. The sight of a hooded person skulking along the white stone side nearest the centre of the city was going to look suspicious, and a confrontation was not something he was wishing to obtain or partake in for the time being. Especially not on this floor after the events of the previous night that were still fresh in his mind.
He quickened his pace as he walked past one of the stone buildings in a little alleyway to his right that was, by the sounds of it, playing host to the midday tavern drinkers. He ignored the three men stood outside the tavern, pints in one hand and pipes in the other, and they in turn ignored him.
When he had passed the three men and was out of the sight of them and the tavern, Legolas let his tense body relax slightly.
It wasn't that he was embarrassed at being seen in the tavern, it was just that he was embarrassed at being discovered drinking some vile dwarven ale in preparation for a drinking game. Not that he considered dwarves an embarrassment, for he had learnt to respect them – Gimli, especially. But the thought of being caught trying to prepare for a drinking game was… humiliating. He did not feel embarrassed at being seen in the tavern, whether alone or not, for he had sneaked out into Mirkwood's wine cellars (royal and not so) many times during his youth to accomplish partially the same reason as to why he did not want to be seen in the tavern. So that he could be a citizen himself, for once. But you were still caught preparing for a drinking game!
spoke up a voice.
Annoyed that he had been unable to deter his mind from the looming feast declaring doom to his pride, Legolas sighed in frustration as he continued to journey down the winding levels to the fourth floor.
So wrapped up was he in his self pitying thoughts, Legolas failed to notice, and hear, the voices of many Gondorians gathering on the battlements and sides of the path leading up to the middle of each level.
As he passed through the gates, he stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes brushed over the heads of the people.
What. Is. Going. On. Here, he asked himself. So this is where everyone has gone…
Legolas passed the gate guards who remained faithfully at their post, and found himself at the back end of the crowd. The guards, although at their posts, completely ignored the hooded person stepping through the gates, as they craned their necks to try and view the source of the commotion.
Ensuring that his hood was definitely up, despite the heat of the sun, Legolas blended seamlessly into the crowd before him, finding it surprisingly easy to weave his way around the Gondorians with soft-footed steps.
The talking and laughing was all quite loud for Legolas' sensitive ears, with him catching snippets of conversations here and there.
"Can you see them?" he heard one woman ask as she stood on her toes.
"No, I don't think they've entered the gates yet!"
Frowning with curiosity, Legolas slipped past the two brown haired women and continued to pass his way through the crowd that was quickly becoming more busy and louder.
He was nearly thrown off of his feet when three young boys ran past his legs, waving sticks at each other. Legolas' knee buckled on impact and he staggered into the side of a man, grabbing hold of his shoulder, as it was the first thing he could reach.
A few gasps were emitted from the surrounding people as Legolas almost fell into the man, who jumped in surprise.
Finding his feet, the Gondorian man grasped Legolas' forearm and pulled the hooded elf to his feet.
"Are you alright, lad?" the man asked, as Legolas smoothed the front of his tunic.
"Aye," Legolas said, silently thanking the Valar that his hood had miraculously remained on. "I apologise for that."
The man waved his hand as though to brush away the comment. "Don't worry. Children will be children!" The Gondorian smiled, but paused as his eyes stole a sudden glance at the front of Legolas' green tunic. His mouth hung open, and he immediately began stuttering, but Legolas placed a hand on the man's shoulder, suddenly thankful the loud crowd that concealed his voice.
"Do not worry, friend. It would be much appreciated if you did not tell of my presence here today. At least, not to the crowd," he asked softly.
The man bowed his head in respect. "I shall, my Lord."
Legolas smiled despite having his hood up and squeezed the man's shoulder in thanks before he turned and walked away into the thick of the crowd.
The elf felt his heart calming down from it's rapid beating, and decided to change course towards the battlements on the outer edge of the level in order to get a better view – and hopefully away from the busiest part of the crowd.
Just as Legolas was finally starting to feel calmer than when he had been up in the Citadel, the sounds of large mithril gates opening hit his sharp ears. Whipping his head round and placing his hands on the gleaming white battlements, Legolas cast his blue eyes to Minas Tirith's main gate, three floors below.
"They've passed through the gates!" a voice cried out, and all faces turned towards where Legolas had already been facing.
Riding through, hundreds of feet below where Legolas now stood, a small group of riders passed through the gates and rode across the first level. Legolas cocked his head to one side slightly as he distinguished the riders with his keen eyes.
He caught the sight of blonde hair flowing behind one of the three riders, who were in front of what seemed to be a small group of guards. Looking harder, Legolas blinked when he recognised the Rohirric attire. Eomer…? he thought as he frowned in confusion. So whom are the other two riders accompanying hi – ah.
Legolas' eyes widened as he caught sight of the two raven haired beings he knew so well riding to the left of Eomer, their posture a look of perfection courtesy of their elven origins.
"They are on the second level!"
What were Elladan, Elrohir and Eomer doing in minas Tirith? Not that it was a bad thing, but surely Aragorn would have tol….
Legolas suddenly stepped back as something Faramir had said earlier replayed in his mind, causing a feeling of dread to wash over him. "These numbers for tonight are swamping my mind…."
Aragorn knew exactly what he was doing. Valar, had he been planning all of this just for he and Gimli's re-match? He must have been. How often do we have a feast where guests from other lands come too?
"Make room! They are approaching the third level!"
"Calthor get away from the wall!"
"Make way!"
Legolas felt as though the whole of Minas Tirith and time had started to go in slow motion. People were shouting for everyone to stand to the sides, whilst his elven ears could pick up the sound of horse hooves getting closer and closer.
Valar, do not let them see me!
"Calthor!"
With his hood still up to hide his distinctive features, Legolas whipped his head round to hear the source of the women's distressed cry. Following her gaze as she tried to reach towards the battlements, Legolas saw that a boy of about six was tiptoeing to gain a better look at the riders, less than two or so metres away from him.
How could he have missed a child that was so close to danger? Time seemed to slow further still as he twisted his body round to face the young boy, who lost his footing as the crowd backed up to the sides, oblivious of the boys cries and his mother's frantic cries. All the while, the hooves were getting louder and louder.
His elven instincts kicking in, Legolas lithely pushed his body towards the small boy, using agility and speed that only the Firstborn were capable of, and grabbed the child around the middle as he began to fall.
Gradually, time seemed to speed up, and the sounds around him that had appeared muted as he ran towards the boy were raised again, making him almost flinch at the sudden loudness.
Looking at the boy he held around the waist, Legolas felt him shake, his brown eyes wide with fear as he looked into Legolas' slightly flushed face.
"Calthor!" The woman screamed in relief, as she ran towards Legolas, holding her arms out to take the child.
"Mama!" he answered, as Legolas lifted him slightly, so that he held him comfortably, the boy sitting on his arm, whilst his other supported the child's back.
Legolas passed Calthor to his mother, who began showering her boy in kisses.
"Are you alright? Don't ever wonder from me again!" Legolas heard her say as he turned away with a smile upon his face. Her tone of voice seeming more out of relief than anger. "Wait!"
Legolas heard the word directed at him, and turned around, his hood sill on.
"Thank you! You have my thanks for until the day I die! You have no idea what I would have… if he… I would…" she broke off in tears as the realisation that she had nearly lost her son hit her. Several onlookers turned their attention away from the riders and watched the scene between Legolas and the mother.
Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort and placed a hand on Calthor's back. "My Lady, do not dwell on what could have happened, for it did not. Your son is with you now, is he not? He is in your arms, safer than he could ever be. I merely did what any other person would have done," he said with a soft voice in reassurance.
He felt something playing with his hair, and looked down at his shoulder to see a few strands of his golden hair being twirled around Calthor's fingers, a look of awe on the young boy's face.
"Cal! Stop playing with this gentleman's hair," she scolded, slightly embarrassed by her son's behaviour.
Legolas let out a small laugh as Calthor gave a small pout. "But it's nice, mama! The same colour as Lord Legolas!"
The Lord in question tensed at the child's observation, and quickly looked to see how far away Eomer and the twins were now. He could see their heads.
He returned his gaze to the boy, who was trying to argue that Lord Legolas was the only one he had ever seen with golden hair.
"But Lord Legolas has bright gold coloured hair! And he is a really good archer as well! And, he is an elf!" Calthor explained, sounding, if possible for a six year old, exasperated.
"Alright, that is enough, Cal," his mother said, trying to calm him down. She cast an apologetic look towards Legolas; unbeknown as to whom he was, as though saying a silent apology for her son's words. "Look now, you've missed seeing Lords Elladan and Elrohir, and King Eomer!"
Legolas felt a rush of relief pass through him at these words. Calthor, however, craned his neck to where the crowd was dispersing, and slouched his shoulders, a crest fallen look on his face. The mother bounced him a few times, trying to cheer him up. "Come on now, Cal. There will be plenty of other times to see them. Now, say thank you to…" she trailed off, looking up at Legolas.
Legolas smiled. "Legolas," he said softly, bowing his head to Calthor and his mother.
A mixture of emotions washed over the mothers face as Legolas said his name, but eventually her face displayed shock. Calthor, however, suddenly perked up at the name.
"Legolas? Lord Legolas?"
Legolas let out a small laugh and raised a hand to his hood, pulling it off, revealing golden hair bright in the sunlight and pointed ears. "You are most observant, little one," he said, feeling more relaxed at the thought that the twins and Eomer wouldn't be able to see him. That is twice in two days now I have been discovered!
Calthor's mother blinked a few times, and then suddenly looked at Legolas as though he had just appeared out of thin air. "My, my Lord! I am so grateful…" She bowed her head and performed a curtsey before the elf, who put a light hand on her elbow in a silent and gentle attempt to stop her.
"My Lady, please. I did what any other person would have done," he repeated with a reassuring smile. "Now, if you will forgive me, I have… pressing matters to attend to before this day is gone, so I must beg you for your leave."
A look of pleasant shock was made evident on Calthor's mother, at the kind words being directed at her making her blush slightly. Calthor however, began bouncing in his mother's arms in excitement.
"Like a secret mission?" he asked excitedly. "Can you tell me? Are you going to use your bow? Where is it?"
"Calthor! Don't speak to Lords like that! Where are your manners?"
"But I'm only asking!"
Legolas let out a laugh at the young boys enthusiasm, reminding him of Estel when he was that age. "Yes, Calthor. It is just like a secret mission. Unfortunately," he said with a smile in response to the numerous questions asked. "I cannot tell you; else it will not be secret. But I will not be using my bow this time."
Calthor's smiled faltered slightly at Legolas' gentle words, and lowered his head a bit in disappointment. An idea quickly popped into Legolas' head, and he placed a hand under the boys chin and raised gently it so that Calthor was looking at him.
"Would you still like to see my bow, little one?"
Calthor instantly forgot that he was feeling down as a he began to bounce excitedly again. "Yes! Can I see you shoot it?"
Legolas smiled and put on a contemplating face. "Well, I shall give you a secret mission if you wish."
"Yes please!"
"If you are good for your mother, help her out and stay away from the battlements, then I will come down either tomorrow or the day after, and take you up to the top level on my horse, and you can watch me shoot, and I will teach you how," Legolas said seriously, his eyes twinkling.
Calthor's mouth dropped open as his mother began blinking and wordlessly moving her mouth in surprise. "Yes please!" the eager Calthor squealed in delight.
Legolas smiled at Calthor's enthusiasm, and arched an elegant eyebrow. "Are you sure you are up to that?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Alright then, this is your secret mission. Your mother will tell me whether or not you have been good."
Calthor nodded solemnly and gestured the my-lips-are-sealed movement. Legolas nodded his head at the boy in approval and then met the gaze of his mother.
"I apologise, for I should of asked you first, my Lady. Is this alright with you?" Legolas asked, a serious expression on his face.
Calthor's mother set him down and allowed the young boy to run over to one of the market stalls near the wall. She straightened her back and returned her gaze to Legolas, who had thankfully forgotten the approaching event for this evening. Fortunately, the crowd had also dispersed, so Legolas did not have to really worry about being seen by anyone.
"Of course it is alright, my Lord. But are you sure?" she blushed as she questioned Legolas. "I mean, we are both most grateful, and…" she broke off, tears welling up in her eyes.
Legolas' eyes widened slightly at the sudden shaking in her voice and tears in her eyes. She closed her eyes for a few seconds to compose herself, whilst Legolas remained where he was, waiting patiently and not wanting to force her into saying anything.
"I'm sorry," she sniffed, the unshed tears still remaining. "Its just that Cal hasn't had the chance to do this sort of thing for over two years now. His father was killed when this city was under attack…"
Legolas placed a caring hand on her shoulder, and thought about how hard for her it would have been to lose her son just now as well. "I am sorry, for it was not my intent to bring back such memories."
"No, it is fine. Honestly. I was just being silly." She breathed in a large lungful of air and exhaled slowly, looking at her son as she did so. "I thank you, for showing such kindness."
Legolas gave her another reassuring smile, and then looked to the sky, his heart lurching as he did. It was late afternoon, and he needed to get ready for the evening, the remembrance of it had just hit him like a brick wall, making his face go slightly pale.
"My lord?"
Legolas snapped out of his nervous thoughts, and returned his gaze to Calthor's mother, who was looking at him concernedly.
"Sorry, I must be off now, for I have things that must be done."
"Of course! Sorry for keeping you busy."
"It is fine. It has been a pleasure to meet you and Calthor, my Lady, and I will see you in the next few days."
With that, Legolas bowed his head, and turned, raising his hood as he began to lightly walk up to the citadel at a fast pace.
The elf smiled to himself as he continued up the stone levels of the city, despite the fact that his nerves were beginning to make themselves known again. He had always liked to help others, but the fact that he had just saved this boys life, and saved his mother from further emotional torment, made him equally thankful that he had decided to come on down to the lower levels to avoid Gimli and Aragorn – even if he had seen the twins and Eomer.
He shook his head to rid himself of these thoughts as he passed through the gates of the fifth floor, allowing the sound of birds from the gardens on the higher levels to fill his sharp ears with the sweet sound of nature.
But, as he continued walking, the familiar feeling of anticipation began to creep up on him. He frowned, and picked up his pace to a light jog up the remaining two levels as he tried to calm himself.
Why was he acting like a nervous, paranoid elfling? His thoughts suddenly exploding in his mind at full speed. As Elf Lord of Ithilien and crowned prince of Greenwood, such a trivial thing should not bother him so much! Although, his pride was at stake… not to mention dignity…
Legolas continued his jogging up the levels, and slowed down to a walk as he made his way over to his room to prepare for the evenings feast. Maybe he needed to relax a bit more… for one night, at least. After all, it was not the end of the world if he made a fool of himself?
But I can choose not to drink so much of the dwarven ale… he thought, as he soundlessly stepped through the corridors leading to his private chamber. Or I could just drink slowly. Really slowly…
Snapping his door shut behind him, Legolas leant against it with a smile at his plan. It takes a lot to make a wood elf tipsy, after all. With a pang, he remembered Aragorn's words to him only this morning. He had been tipsy…
With a sigh, Legolas walked over to a basin of clean water, resigning himself to what was to come.
~~~oooOOOooo~~~
A knock on the door, followed by Aragorn's voice woke Legolas from his light elven sleep.
"Legolas? Mellon-nin," he called from behind the door. "The feast has begun."
Legolas blinked a few times and sat up from his bed, his blue leggings and silvery blue tunic put on.
"Hannon-le, Estel. I shall be over in a minute."
He heard a small chuckle from Aragorn as the man walked away. Standing up, Legolas straightened his tunic and proceeded to walk over to his door, shoulders squared with dignity.
Let the game commence…