Child of the Stars

It had been agreed that considering all the ups and downs it would be best for Gilriant not to be present. All had met and gotten their impressions of the young one. That made his Atar the best person to explain the series of events that ended up affecting all of Ea so much. It had helped that the elfling had little interest in participating. Trusting that they would share the information about it with him. Trusting that the adults in his life would speak for him and his best interests, not any others.

Elrond didn’t know if he should be happy that the twins decided to distract him for the time period or concerned. It could be anything from an archery lesson to an elaborate prank that would be unleashed on the whole of Imladris. With them both were possible.

There was silence in the council as Maglor finished sharing the tale. It was the Lady of Lothlorien that finally broke the silence. “He is an agent of change. One that counteracts the Marring. What shape this will take, I cannot yet see.”

“He is a child,” Curunir stated dismissively. “Power he might have, but how can we trust in a child’s ability to understand anything?” Elrond gave the white wizard a level look. “A child in body, not in mind, not completely. To simply dismiss him as a child is to discount the war he already waged and won. He has already used his gifts to save Celebrian and many others.” The Lord of Imladris gently took his wife’s hand.

“I think we can all agree that he needs to be given time to learn and grow.” Thranduil’s tone was even but firm. “While I might disagree that this is the best place for that, I cannot advocate taking him away from his family, which is here.” None present had any doubt the elven king would much prefer to have Gilriant in his lands.

“Yes, he needs time to learn and grow.” Celeborn agreed. “When he is of age he should be invited to spend time in all of the elf havens.” There was a faint frown on Curunir’s face as he listened. “He is a child, he should go where he is instructed and learn what we have to teach him.”

Amusement was clear in Cirdan’s voice. “I very much doubt he will just do as he is told. Not without a good enough reason. Do not forget who he is descended from. You can see the spark in him even now. What he does when he is of age is his choice. All we can do is foster his interests and help him along his way. Hope can be a very strong power, but not if you try to force it into a shape.”

“Perhaps,” started Mithrandir, “Instead of trying to control the life of a young one that has a family here that is taking excellent care of him we should focus on what has already happened. The renewal of life across middle earth. It is a blessing we should be enjoying and encouraging.”

Before anyone could comment on that the cry of an eagle sounded in the valley. They looked up to see the shape of two great eagles descending. Maglor looked over, “If you will excuse me I will leave those matters to you all and greet our new guests. If I do not go I fear my son will try and talk someone into something foolish.” Elrond pinched the bridge of his nose. “Knowing my sons, that would not be too difficult. Please extend our hospitality to them.” Inclining his head, the bard turned to leave. Legolas had been sitting behind Thranduil, but when his father turned to look at him, he nodded and followed Maglor out.

By the time they reached the open area the great eagles had landed and both had their heads down towards the familiar black-haired elfling. One looked much younger than the other. As they approached they looked up, and Gilriant towards them. “Atar! Gwaihir brought his son Gwaendil to meet me! They were practicing long-distance flying.”

Maglor paused to bow to the eagles. “Lord Gwaihir, Gwaendil, welcome to Imladris. Lord Elrond is in council at the moment but bid me to offer you hospitality in his place.” The eagles bowed back. “If it is not too much of an imposition it would be helpful for my son to rest before we take the return flight home.”

“Father!” The younger eagle protested. “We do not need to stay just for that, I would be fine.”

“It’s okay that’s just what dads do,” Gilriant piped up to Gwaendil. The younger eagle bent his head back down and the elfling put a hand on his beak. “They stand between you and dangers and try to protect you. Also, sometimes they are right. I found out that if I rested when Atar says so I really can do more faster.” The younger eagle grumbled some but kept his head bent towards Harry. “Besides, he can show you what it's like to have a rider if you stick around!”

“This is true,” Gwaihir replied in an amused tone. “I did promise you some flying lessons as well when you are ready for them.” Maglor refrained from sighing. “Gilriant, you are still far too inexperienced to go flying with them.” The elfling protested, “I know that Atar, I wasn’t asking! I was just pointing it out.”

“True, the fledgling is too small to go flying with me on his own.” Gwaihir continued with his distinctly amused tone. “However, that one next to you is not. He seems capable enough for himself and the young one.” He nodded his head towards Legolas.

Before the prince could respond Gilriant’s eyes lit up. “Yes!” He ran towards his friend, grabbing the fabric of his leggings. “Please please please! Haldir is more like a rooted tree but you are a leaf, and leaves fly in the wind.” Legolas looked down at the wide-eyed elfling tugging on his leg. “You want me to what?” Both his eyebrows went up. “Go flying an the back of an eagle, with you?”

“Yes! Gwaihir carried Atar and I here, but I don’t think Atar liked flying much.” Then Gilriant slowly deflated. “Oh, right, some are scared of flying. It's okay if you are scared.” Before he could even think of it the protest popped out of Legolas’s mouth. “I am not afraid.” The elfling brightened, “So you’ll take me? Please?”

Now Maglor did sigh and turned towards Gwaihir. “Nothing that would put either of them upside down please. I really do not need King Thranduil to get more upset when he sees his son flying around.” The eagle gave a clack of his beak. “Of course. I would not do so with a fledgling or inexperienced rider anyways.” To his side the younger eagle looked on in interest.

“I didn’t say I would go!” The elven prince protested. Then he looked down at the pleading face of Gilriant. “Alright, fine. But you will listen to everything Gwaihir or I say or I am asking him to land immediately, understood?” The elfling latched on to Legolas’ leg in a hug. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” Resigned to his fate the woodland elf smiled as the elfling let go and raced back towards the great eagles. “You are the one explaining this to my father.” He called after the young one.

The twins had been watching off to one side. Elrohir commented to his brother. “That was rather masterfully done wasn’t it?” Elladan nodded his agreement. “Yes we will have to recruit Gilriant for more of our endeavors.” Since the elfling’s back was to them, Legolas made a rude gesture in their direction before walking towards Gwaihir. Maglor turned and gave them a look. “You do realize that you will be the ones explaining this to King Thranduil if they are not back before the meeting is over. He does not wish to speak with me and you were given charge of your uncle today.”

Exchange a somewhat apprehensive look Elladan called out. “Don’t stay out too long.” Legolas just gave them a wave of the hand as he was paying attention to the instructions Gwairhir was giving them.

***

King Thranduil strode alongside Lord Elrond after the council ended. They left with a fuller understanding of the current situation, if not what the long term effects might be. The general consensus was to keep watch and use this at least temporary advantage to clean out as many orc and goblin nests that they could. While he typically wasn’t one to step outside of his lands at all, there were some places that could be considered within his control. There was also the small matter of making sure the young one was safe.

What was perturbing was the manner that Cururin responded to everything. While it is true, Thranduil had little interaction with that particular Istari, he still found his attitude to be somewhat entitled. While the white wizard may be the so-called leader and collect knowledge in his tower, he was hardly experienced in the matters they in the Greenwood tended to. Nor would the King accept advice from an outside and implement it without question. The rumors of what the young prince had seen had also reached his ears.

If the istari chose to disregard the warning given, he could very well become a threat. King Thranduil would not tolerate a threat to the Greenwood, nor would he to the one that was very likely helping his wife. Her loss still haunted him, which is why he had never spoken of it to Legolas, though he may need to now. Regardless, Cururin bore watching if nothing else. If Elrond and the others wanted to try and ‘fix’ the white wizard they could try. He would be ready for if the istari turned to treachery.

At the end of the council Elrond had invited Thranduil to follow him down to where the eagles likely would be. Or eagle as the case may be. They had seen two fly in, and only one fly out. Irregular but they would find out soon enough the nature of the visit. As they got closer they could see the lord of Imladris' twin sons and the kinslayer keeping company with a rather young looking eagle. Despite the bird’s size, it was clearly younger than a full adult would be. Of his son and the young prince there was no sight.

When the young eagle picked up their head as they closed the elves turned around to face the newcomers. “Ada! Come meet Gwaendil, his father Gwairhir is teaching him long distance flying and they decided to take a rest here before heading back. Gwaendil, this is Lord Elrond that we were telling you about.” The Lord of Imladris inclined his head to the young eagle and he bowed his head back. “You are of course most welcome here anytime you wish to come.”

“Thank you,” The young eagle replied cheerfully. “My father should be back soon. He was showing me how you take off and land with passengers.”

“Passengers?” The smooth voice of Thranduil inquired. “Ah yes,” Elrohir’s gaze flicked around. “Gwaendil meet King Thranduil, Prince Legolas’ father.” The ruler of the Greenwood inclined his head shallowly as the young eagle bobbed his head in recognition. “Legolas was kind enough to volunteer to go with my father as everyone agreed Gilriant was too young to go flying on his own. So he took them both on a flight.”

“Though it's entirely possible if no one went with him Gilriant would have tried to sneak off on his own for a flight later.” Maglor interjected from the side. The bard's gaze drifted over to Elrond. “He is entirely too fond of flying not to have tried it.” While fond, the lord of Imladris’ tone held a hint of exasperation as he replied. “Of course he is. Though I am rather surprised one of you didn’t go up with him.”

“Gilriant is of the opinion that I am not fond of flying so Gwaihir suggested Legolas would be able to handle it just fine.” Maglor explained. Which made perfect sense in that manner at least to Thranduil. Of course his son could handle it. That didn’t particularly mean either he and the elfling should have done it.

Before the conversation could progress there was an eagle’s call in the air above them. They looked up and moved to the side as they could see the form of Gwaihir descending. Gwaendil paying close attention to what his father was doing. The downdraft pushed against them but briefly as the landing was completed. Legolas carefully dismounted, helping Gilriant and setting the elfling on the ground. “Elrond!” Came the cheerful cry as the young prince streaked straight towards his brother.

The elven lord bent down to scoop up his brother in a hug. “Having fun were you?” The elfing wrapped his arms around Elrond’s neck. “Yes! It was really great, even though Atar told him not to go upside down.” There was a trace of a pout on the young one’s face even as Thranduil felt a flash of faint gratitude towards the kinslayer. Who apparently had enough sense to lay down that decree.

“As he should have. While I am sure Lord Gwaihir is an excellent flier, I am a bit concerned about the potential dangers involved.” Thranduil remarked dryly as Legolas slowly made his way over to his father. Once there the elven king reached out to grasp his son’s shoulder. He gave the ellon a once over. “You look well enough, did you enjoy your flight at least?”

“I did Ada. It was quite exhilarating. I would not be adverse to doing this again sometime.” There went the small hope that his son did not in fact want to repeat the experience. “Considering that is exactly what your mother would have done, I am not precisely surprised you said that.” At Legolas’ wide-eyed look he simply squeezed the ellon’s shoulder before dropping his hand. He turned to Gilriant and commented, “Do refrain from going up on your own. While I prefer you did not do it ever, I am not foolish enough to try and forbid it.” That would just guarantee the young one would find a way to do so.

For the eagles' part, Gwaihir had gone over to his son. Quietly as he could for a bird of his size, he was discussing the finer points of the flight. Which mostly seemed to consist of being careful at the beginning and the end. The middle part was more about how to tell how your passenger was sitting on your body and what to watch out for that they might be slipping. Though this had to be more experienced than shown. Any such practical lessons would be much later in the young eagle’s flying education.

Elrond moved closer to the pair. “It would please us if you stayed the evening. A simple enough matter to have fresh fish for the river brought up for you to enjoy.” The younger eagle made a sound that was half creel and half cry and the older cocked his head to the side. “It would seem my son would very much appreciate it if we accepted your offer. If you are sure it is no trouble?”

“No trouble at all.” Elrond agreed with a smile. “We were having a council so if you are amenable to it, others would enjoy the chance of speaking with you.” Gwaihir inclined his head. “Of course, it would be good to speak with those that wish it.”

The evening festivities were enjoyable for all that attended. The opportunity to talk to the great eagles was rare and many took advantage of it. For Gwaendil he received more practice in speaking Sindarin, plenty of fresh fish from the river, and the opportunity to listen to elvish music. Gwaihir watched his fledgling with pride as he conducted himself well. He also watched the elven fledgling with both pride and amusement. Great currents of air swirled around this one, yet he was navigating them with skill. This young one had great potential. Yes he would continue to watch this elfling.

Afterwards, back in their suite of rooms Thrandul cradled the enchanted fire lily in his hands as he felt his son approaching. “Ada?” He turned to face Legolas. “You’ve never spoken about Nanath before.” He had known, even as he said it, that his son would have questions. While it may have seemed like such a little thing when he said it, he knew it actually was quite a large thing for him to have done. “In truth, I could not.”

The silence fell between them, and Thrandul knew his son would be considering why that might be, and likely coming to the correct conclusions. “What has changed that allowed you to do so now?” How to answer that question without causing his son to charge off in various directions was the problem. There was one path he could try. “She has always been referred to as your mother, my wife. Which I admit is a poor reaction on my part and on others when trying to help me with my grief. Do you recall her name? You were young when she . . . “ Even now it was difficult to say.

“I . . .” Legolas fell quiet and Thranduil waited patiently. It wouldn’t surprise him if his son could not. They both had a difficult time when they felt their bonds with her break upon her death. He could never bear to tell Legolas what it meant that they broke so completely. “I cannot, she was always Nana, or whatever terms of endearment you called each other.”

It was as he thought and Thranduil felt a sliver of shame wind through him. He should have not hoarded his memories and locked them away so thoroughly. “Her name is Narinzel.” Eyes lighting up with comprehension Legolas looked at the flower his father held. “She is named after the fire lily. That must be why they have always been in the gardens. Does this have something to do with me seeing them in the woods?” Thranduil tilted his head to the side, “In part.”

Now the part that would be most difficult, he moved over to a couch and gestured for Legolas to join him. “I am not yet ready to speak of how she died. What I can tell you is that when it happened, I feared that her fea had not reached Mandos’ halls. It turned out that my fears were correct.” Thranduil’s expression was tightly controlled, and his hands continued to handle the enchanted lily with ever so delicate care. Yet those thoughts were the ones that had once shattered his soul. He carefully set the enchanted lily on the side table.

“But how would you know that unless . . . “ Legolas’ eyes darted to the enchanted lily that he knew Gilriant brought here. He breathed the question, “She was one of the lost ones he brought back to Ea?” He started to get up when Thranduil reached out and clasped his arm to prevent him from doing so. “You cannot ask him to confirm. The message he was allowed to bring me was very clear in that. There is some sort of task that must involve her that he cannot speak of. If he speaks of it, the task will fail. His task will take centuries to complete. This was all he was allowed to tell me.”

Legolas looked at him, stricken. “But . . .” Thranduil continued. “The Starlight Wolves that Prince Gilriant created, he sent into the Greenwood on your mother’s request. The message she gave him to tell me that could have only come from her.” A very faint smile flickered on his face before fading away again. “I would not be surprised if she did not also ask him to make sure we were okay. Especially you. You were her greatest treasure.” Legolas’ hands balled into fists and then slowly relaxed as he exhaled. “The fire lilies showed up in the Greenwood after the wolves did.” It was a statement that did not need answering.

Reaching over with his unencumbered arm, Legolas put his hand over his fathers. “Your hands, they are a little warmer than they typically are.” Thranduil looked at his son sharply. “I did not ask you Ada, because I asked our healers about what can happen to a grieving elf. I did not want to make your grief worse, I did not wish to lose you to fading.”

Thranduil studied his son’s face, surprised to see the concern and yes love there too. “Did you think I did not notice your many restless nights? How you would just push your food around and not eat it even when admonishing me to eat mine? I know what fading sickness is Ada. What I did not know how to do was help you. So I just tried to be the best son I could.”

Shaking his head Thranduil placed his hand overtop Legolas, so it was now sandwiched between his. “There is nothing you need to do to be the best son I could ask for. I care not what you do with your life, I care that you are happy. Just be yourself my son. That is all I have ever wanted for you. All your mother wanted for you.” Legolas leaned forward and Thranduil matched the motion until their foreheads were touching.

They stayed that way for a long time. Just connecting and sharing. Thranduil knew the bonds he had were not necessarily the most vibrant of things. Touching any of them could cause him pain, this had been his truth for a long time. That had not stopped him from nurturing the one with his son to the best of his ability. Even if he hurt himself by doing so, he would make sure his son knew on a soul deep level that he was loved, cherished. He had just done poorly at speaking of it. Or showing it in softer moments.

After long moments Legolas finally spoke up. “So that is why Prince Gilriant is spending time with me? Nanath asked him to?” Thranduil pulled back so his son could see his face. “I highly doubt that is the only reason. He is still an elfling and quite incapable of hiding his emotions. You can see them quite clearly on his face.” He tilted his head to the side. “Is the only reason you seek him out because I said you should cultivate your friendship?”

Giving it honest thought, after a moment Legolas shook his head. “No, I find myself enjoying the time I spend with him. To the point of actively wanting to seek him out just for that.” Thranduil nodded. “Then be his friend. Just do me the favor of trying not to do too many crazy stunts. I very much do not want to see you falling from the skies.” That won him a laugh out of his son.

“I will do my best Ada, I cannot make any promises as from the tales I have been told he tends to attract at least some chaos.” Thranduil sighed. “Eru help me.” Legolas just smiled at his father.

Expression sobering Thranduil reached to pick up the lily once more. “This he enchanted for me, warning me that it would not last forever. We can nurture and make it last longer as he explained that either he or the Starlight Wolves of his could renew what powers the enchantment.” After a moment’s hesitation he offered the flower to Legolas. After glancing at his face and getting a nod, his son delicately took the fire lily. There was an expression of wonder on his face as he studied it. “Then we will treasure it for as long as we can. Does this mean it is okay to get close to the wolves now?”

Inclining his head Thranduil added, “There is one more thing I need to mention. I asked Gilriant before we left for the opportunity to meet his wolves. As he needs to summon them periodically to disperse power to them, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to inspect them myself.” He only paused a moment before adding. “You may come to this as well. That way they will know us both.”

Legolas was quiet for a moment. “We will be leaving soon will we not?” He offered the lily back to his father. “Yes. The swiftest ways home are the ones most likely to experience snow and all too soon that will be a concern. I would like to be home and be able to send guards back here before that occurs.” Thranduil took it and carefully set it back on the table.

“I have no doubt you will miss your new friend and he you. You can come back and visit him in the future. For now let him finish getting settled into his new life, learning and growing. And you need time to just be yourself.” Thranduil lifted his head. “Besides it will be difficult to tell you of your mother if you are not there. I cannot say when I will be ready to speak of it. But for you and her I will try.”