Rating: K+ just to be safe
Summary: An uneventful day in Rivendell takes a surprising twist.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or the song line included in this story they belong to
JRR Tolkien’s estate and Phil Collins respectively. Unfortunately I’m
making nothing for writing this but I did have a wonderful time creating this story.
As always any similarities to other works of fan fiction are purely coincidental.
A/N: This story was written for the second TEITHO contest which is part of the MC world. The challenge was to write a story about ‘the games people play’ and to
include a line from the song “Son of Man” by Phil Collins. This is
my attempt to fulfill those parameters. You should be warned that I was extremely
stressed when I wrote this story and looking back on it now I think it shows. Enjoy
and polite reviews are appreciated.
A Matter of Honor
Elrond finished the document
he was working on and sat contentedly back in his chair – all was right in the world: he had managed to get his morning
work done early, there was a soothing gentle rain falling, and his sons along with Legolas were in residence but uninjured. The elf lord stood to his feet and stretched his aching shoulders before heading off
in search of his sons who were capable of anything when uninjured. On his way
to the family living area he passed the dinning hall and paused because he heard a very familiar voice floating out of what
should have been an empty room. “Estel, try not to move because if you
do something most unfortunate could happen.” Intrigued Elrond decided to
listen for a moment in order to find out just what his youngest son and the prince of Mirkwood were doing.
“That’s easy
to say from your position, Legolas.” The exasperated statement was followed
by a swoosh and a dull thunk. “When is the last time this thing was cleaned,
mellon nín?”
“Oh Estel, do stop
whining. Its perfectly clean so if you do move and something unfortunate happens
you’ll not suffer any additional harm.”
“You say that now
but what about when ada finds out what we’re doing in here?
“You worry too much
Estel, there won’t be any lasting marks. Thalinar’s band of warriors
did this in our dinning hall last year and once they are pulled out there isn’t a mark unless you look very closely. Trust me, no-one will get that close so stop worrying – your adar will never
find out.”
At that moment Elrond decided
he had heard enough so he pushed open the door and stopped dead in his tracks because against the far wall stood his youngest
son with his arms spread to the side, his legs a part, and a dagger embedded in the wood to the left of his head. The elven lord then looked to his right and saw the prince of Mirkwood in a throwing stance with a dagger
held tightly in his upraised hand. Although the elf lord had been struck momentarily
speechless he quickly regained his voice, “What in all of Arda is going on in here!?”
The room’s occupants
had also been struck speechless but seemed to regain the use of their tongues simultaneously, “Ada, it”, “My
lord”. The elven lord held up his hand and both young ones fell silent,
“One at a time if you please.”
The ancient elf then walked across the room and stood before his son who offered an explanation, “Ada it’s
just a game; Legolas was showing me how it’s played.”
The elf lord narrowed his
eyes at his son then pulled the dagger out of the wood. He hit the flat side
of the weapon against his open palm a few times before leveling a scathing glare at his youngest, “Just a game? Estel, two inches closer and this would
have been in your eye!”
During this discussion
the prince had crossed the room and now stood next to father and son, “My lord”
The elven lord turned toward
the prince and froze him in place with an angry glare, “And you, young prince, should have known better. What would you have done if you had hit him? Could you live
with his death on your hands?”
Although Legolas had great
respect for Elrond he couldn’t abide anyone insinuating he would ever hurt his friend so he narrowed his eyes and spoke
through clenched teeth, “I would never endanger Estel’s life; I have impeccable aim.”
In his anger Elrond broke
protocol and disputed his young guest’s claim, “That’s not what Glorfindel said.”
Aragorn’s eyes grew
into perfect imitations of the harvest moon. The human seemed to be forgotten
for the moment and for that he was eternally grateful but he couldn’t believe what his father had just said. Nobody was allowed to question the aim of a Mirkwood warrior – it was a source of great pride –
so it was with trepidation that Aragorn looked into his friend’s eyes. The
man could have sworn that lightening bolts were shooting out of the prince’s eyes as the elf growled, “Are you
doubting my aim, my lord?” When Elrond didn’t respond but continued
to stare straight at him Legolas took that as an affirmative and spoke in his most formal and menacing voice, “Then
as diplomatic envoy from Mirkwood, once known as Greenwood the Great, I demand retribution for your dishonoring statement.”
Elrond made no outward
reaction to the young one’s words but sighed internally – he had never meant it to go this far. Although this was not the route Elrond had in mind he knew he must abide the rules of protocol and
asked softly, “So be it Legolas, what would you ask in retribution?”
The prince became meditative
for a moment then replied, “A wise elf once told me that ‘in learning you will teach and in teaching you will
learn’.”*
Elrond looked questioningly
at Legolas, “And what do you mean by that young prince?”
The prince smiled openly,
“Why it’s easy my lord, in order for you to learn how good my aim is you will take Estel’s place on the
wall and then after we’ve played our little game you can teach Lord Glorfindel the error of his ways.”
Elrond momentarily closed
his eyes in frustration then opened them and leveled a formative stare at Legolas, “In light of this supposed slight
to your abilities I’ll concede to this course of action young one.” Elrond
sighed and pointed, “Down there?” Legolas was busy arranging his
daggers so he just nodded distractedly.
Just as Elrond had made it to the opposite wall Legolas finished his task and called, “Oh, my lord?” Elrond quirked an eyebrow at the prince indicating he should continue, “If you
have clothes on under your robe you should take it off.”
Elrond looked indigently
at the prince, “Of course I have clothes on under my robe but why must I take it off?”
“Well you see my
lord, the object of the game is to get the daggers as close as possible to the body and it will be much easier for me to do
so without all the extra fabric.” Legolas explained brightly.
Elrond scowled at the prince
but complied with the request, removing his robe and than assuming the same position Estel had been standing in just scant
minutes earlier. From his vantage point Elrond had a perfect view of the Mirkwood
prince and his youngest son, the latter of which was calmly reclining next to his friend, “My son, you could at least
look concerned for your adar’s safety.”
The young ranger smiled
cheekily, “I trust Legolas’ aim ada.”
The elf lord was fighting
valiantly to keep from walking over and shaking his son when Legolas called, “Are you ready my lord?” Thankfully distracted from his former occupation Elrond nodded and Legolas
immediately released his first dagger.
Elrond was fascinated as
he watched the dagger flipping end-over-end as it flew through the air. He was
startled when he realized the sharp object seemed to be on a path that would put it in his left ear but he resolutely held
his ground, not wanting to anger the Mirkwood elf further. Finally in what seemed
like years but in all reality were seconds he heard a loud thunk. It took him
but a fraction of a moment to come to the happy conclusion that he could move his head and felt no pain which could only mean
he didn’t have a dagger attached to his ear! The elf lord barely
had a second to celebrate his survival before another dagger struck on the right side of his head, coming close enough to
cut a few stray hairs. With the two daggers in place the elf lord noted he was
no longer able to move his head; however, he was only given a moment to ponder this before another dagger embedded itself
just a hairs breadth from his right side. Then in lightening fast succession
three more daggers landed: one on his left side, one by his right leg, and one
by his left leg.
Elrond immediately noted that all six daggers had landed so he started to pull away from the wall when
Legolas’ melodic call stopped him, “Just a moment if you please my lord.”
Elrond furrowed his brow in question, all the daggers were in place what more could the prince want? He got his answer as soon as he looked at the younger elf for there in his hand was one final dagger. Elrond couldn’t help but stare at this weapon, he knew it wasn’t there
before and found himself concerned about where the elf would place it. Although
one possibility immediately jumped to the elf lord’s mind he discounted it, Thranduil had instilled a respect for his
elders in Legolas at an early age so there was no danger the younger elf would do that.
However, when Elrond looked in the eyes of the prince he saw an angry glint, “Be sure not to move my lord,
we really wouldn’t want this shot to go badly.” Seeing the hard to
disguise fear in the older elf’s eyes Legolas smiled, “Fear not my lord you have three beautiful children so if
my aim is truly as horrible as you say than at least you have your heirs.” Elrond
opened his mouth, intending to tell Legolas that he had mis-spoken but it was too late for the projectile was already in route
and Elrond found he was mesmerized as the blade flipped over and over as it flew through the air disappearing out of sight
just moments before it impacted the wall. Elrond’s tight shoulders relaxed
as he realized the blade had indeed missed him and had embedded itself deeply in the wall.
After releasing a sigh of relief he extricated himself from the dagger frame he was currently residing in and made
his way across the room to his son and the prince.
As soon as his last dagger
hit its mark Legolas’ anger immediately dissolved and he was suddenly aware of what he had done. Because he had known the elf lord for a long time he found it impossible to meet his eyes and instead mumbled
an apology while gazing at the floor, “My lord forgive me, my behavior was inexcusable.
I’m . . . .”
The young elf’s tirade
was interrupted as his chin was gently lifted and he found himself looking into the kind eyes of the lord of Imladris, “You
are a warrior of Mirkwood and I dishonored your training.”
Legolas, however, was not
satisfied, “That is no excuse, my lord. I must apologize there was no call
to do what I did.”
The elf shook his head,
“I don’t hold you at fault, young one you were defending the honor of your people – a people which have
managed to keep the dark forces at bay for such a long time – and you did Mirkwood great service by your actions. Now tell me: do you feel your honor has been restored?” The younger elf nodded which made Elrond smile, “Good that’s settled then” The elf lord
was just about to leave the room when he turned back to the prince, “Oh Legolas, may I borrow your daggers?”
The young elf tilted his
head in question and responded hesitantly, “Of course my lord.”
Aragorn moved forward from
where he had been leaning on the wall and narrowed his eyes at the elderly elf, “What do you want those for ada?”
Elrond picked up the daggers
and turned toward the door, “To teach Glorfindel a lesson my son.”
The end
* Phil Collins, from his song: "Son of Man"
Translations
Ada/adar
– dad/father
