Growing Pains

A/N: I am SO SORRY! It has been so long since I promised this story to all of you, and I am deeply sorry for how long it has taken me to write this. I never publish anything until the entire story is finished, and it turned out that I had a lot to write with this story. I had written about half of it when I suddenly decided that I really didn't like where it was going, so I cut 20k words and decided to completely rewrite the main plotline of the story.

Unfortunately, that pushed the deadline back by quite a way. On the plus side, I am now very pleased with this story, and the change in the plotline actually resulted in me writing so much more than I had intended to, so I have a nice long 80k word story to offer all of you as a peace offering. It also means that my chapters can be a little longer now.

I will publish a story every other day, and it looks to be about 20 or so chapters in this story, so that should keep people going for a while :) If you are someone who has read my other fics and has stuck with me, thank you very much for doing so, it means a lot to me.

This is the story of when Aragorn and Legolas first met, as I go by the common idea that the two knew each other well before the Quest. At this point, Aragorn is 16, and so does not know who he truly is, and goes by the name of Estel. This also all happens a few years before Sauron openly reveals himself in Mirkwood and sends three of the Nazgul to occupy Dol Guldur, though that is mainly irrelevant.

Disclaimer: This is Tolkien's sandbox. I am just playing in it.

A lithe figure stirred as the first rays of pale sun rose over the city, striking the balcony. A light breeze accompanied the rays, stirring the long golden hair. The figure reached up and tucked the stray strands behind his pointed ear with a slight sigh.

Another figure appeared in the doorway, pausing before coming forwards and leaning on the balcony next to the elf. The elf looked over.

"Beautiful," he murmured. "Isn't it, Aragorn?"

Aragorn nodded. "Aye," he said. "It is."

Legolas smiled. "Strange," he said. "There is no sound of armies nearing, or screaming, or the clashing of swords. It is…quiet."

"Aye," said Aragorn. "It is. It is very strange. But we have only been in the city for a few days, mellon-nin. We will get used to it."

Legolas shook his head. "You have been to Mirkwood, Aragorn," he said softly. "I have not been in a place of peace for so long that I can't remember. I have not stopped fighting for hundreds of years. This…all this, I don't think I will ever get used to it. I have spent the past hundreds of years fighting, with my bow and knives. To put them down now..." He sighed.

"I understand," said Aragorn. "I do. But you have been in places of peace before, have you not, mellon-nin? You have been to Imladris."

"Aye, but the visits became few and far between as the shadow deepened," murmured Legolas. "Besides, when was it that I actually visited Imladris and was not injured?"

Aragorn chuckled. "Do you remember when we first met?" he asked. "That was a…memorable occasion, I believe."

Legolas laughed. "Aye, I remember," he said. "You were…seventeen?"

"Sixteen," said Aragorn. "And thought I was a man grown."

"Aye," said Legolas with another laugh. "It was autumn then, wasn't it?"

"Summer," said Aragorn. "It had been raining a lot. And I cannot believe that my memory is better than yours, mellon-nin!"

0-o-0-o-0

"Estel."

There was no noise from the room, apart from a slight groan from the tangle of blankets in the middle of the bed. A loud knock came on the door.

"Estel!"

The groan was slightly louder this time, but still there was no other answer. The door to the room opened and an elf looked in.

"No, he's asleep, Elrohir."

The door was flung open with an annoyed shout of "Estel!" and the tangle of blankets in the middle of the bed stirred. Suddenly the blanket was pulled away by two elves, and the dishevelled person lying on their stomach groaned again.

"What…is…it?"

"Estel, you need to get up," said Elrohir, grabbing hold of Estel's arm and shaking him. Elladan strode across the room and threw open the wardrobe, searching for clothes.

Estel tugged his arm back, and reached futilely for his blankets. "Why?" he groaned. "It is early. I am tired. Let me sleep!"

"You need to be up, little brother," said Elladan, coming over and dumping a fresh tunic, leggings and boots on top of Estel. "Now, Estel."

Estel groaned yet again. "For the love of the Valar, why?" he asked, pushing himself up to a sitting position. Elladan pushed the tunic at him again, whilst Elrohir moved over to the window, throwing back the curtains to let the light in.

Elladan smiled. "Because, muindor-nin, we have just had word from the border patrols."

"Why?" muttered Estel, rubbing his eyes and running a hand through his tangled hair. "What is happening?"

Elrohir looked over from the window. "Have you not been listening for the past week or so?" he asked in exasperation. "Get dressed, Estel."

Estel sighed and got up, splashing water on his face and then pulling on a fresh tunic and leggings. "Assume that I have no idea what is going on," he said. "That will make everything a lot easier."

Elladan rolled his eyes slightly. "Ai Valar," he murmured. "Legolas, Estel, do you remember us speaking of Legolas?"

"You mean Thranduil's son?" asked Estel. Somehow he knew that something was happening, but it had completely escaped his mind as to what. "What were you saying?"

"Do you honestly not remember?" asked Elrohir, handing Estel his boots and a hairbrush. "Legolas is arriving, little brother. Today."

"Actually, he is arriving about now," said Elladan. "Which is why you must hurry up!"

Estel grimaced, tugged his boots on and his nicer jacket, and then attacked his hair, trying at least to make it presentable. He envied his brothers for their long, sleek black hair that never seemed to become tangled, no matter what he had done as a child to it.

"I am done," he said, heading for the door. Elladan and Elrohir took one more look at him and, seemingly satisfied, opened the door and headed down the hallway.

"Keep up, Estel," said Elrohir over his shoulder, and Estel slammed shut the door behind him and jogged down the corridor to catch up with his brothers, all the time trying to stifle a groan. He had heard plenty of stories about Legolas from Elladan and Elrohir, but no matter how much they valued him, he was still not pleased with a prince who arrived early and disrupted his sleep.

0-o-0-o-0

Elladan and Elrohir walked swiftly down the corridors of Imladris, their faces bearing identical grins. Elladan looked over at Elrohir. "How long has it been?" he asked.

"Since Legolas last came?" asked Elrohir. "Too long."

Estel sighed, hurrying behind his two brothers and trying to smooth back the unruly black locks that were his hair. He hoped Legolas would not stay long. Judging by Elladan and Elrohir's excitement, he knew he would be shunted to the side all to easily if Legolas stayed for any length of time.

Actually, that might not be too bad.

It was not as if his brothers did not love him, thought Estel. They loved him, and he loved both Elladan and Elrohir fiercely, but sometimes they were too protective of him, too worried about him. He was sixteen now, nearly grown up. He had fought wild animals and even orcs before. Aye, he had been injured, but never badly, and Estel found himself irritated, sometimes, at the way his brothers tried to protect him and shield him. He wouldn't mind some time to himself.

Elladan and Elrohir sped up as they neared the courtyard. "I am glad Legolas finally managed to persuade Thranduil to let him leave Mirkwood, if only for a short period of time," said Elrohir. "That forest, even with the Necromancer gone, can be oppressive."

"He is also bringing news," pointed out Elladan. "After Mithrandir's tale, we have not heard much of the doings in Erebor and Dale. And I think Adar again knows more about the importance of such events than he is letting on."

Elrohir chuckled. "Do you remember the dwarves, Estel?" he asked the young man walking behind them. "That was a fun few days."

"Aye," said Estel with a grin. "I was ten at the time. It was the most fun I had had in my life."

Elladan laughed. "All I remember is a little child running around after the dwarves, constantly asking to look at their axes."

"Hey!" said Estel. "I actually got to hold an axe at one point."

"That was only because the perian Bilbo got it for you," said Elrohir with a grin. "You couldn't even lift it!"

"I could lift it now!" said Estel.

Elladan laughed. "I am sure you could, little brother," he said. "But please refrain from doing so right now. Legolas should be here soon."

Estel rolled his eyes behind his brothers' backs, irritated yet again, and tired on top of it all. Neither Elladan nor Elrohir noticed, for it was at that moment they reached the great doors opening out onto the courtyard of Imladris. Elladan pulled them open, and the three brothers went outside.

Glorfindel was coming down from the gateway as Elladan and Elrohir reached the courtyard. He smiled as he saw them. "They are coming," he said. "And I know Legolas is riding on his own, so that rules out that he is injured."

Elladan and Elrohir laughed. "Badly injured, at least," said Elladan. "We cannot rule out the possibility of minor injuries."

Glorfindel chuckled. "We will know soon enough," he said. "They are a few minutes out." He looked over at Estel. "You have not met Legolas yet, have you?"

Estel shook his head, and Glorfindel smiled. "Do not challenge him to an archery competition," he warned.

Estel frowned. "I can take care of myself," he challenged. "I would be able to hold my own."

"Against Elladan and I?" asked Elrohir with a chuckle. "Yes, you can hold your own. Against Legolas, the best archer in the Woodland Realm? I am sorry, muindor-nin, but you do not have a chance."

Estel glowered at Elrohir, but was stopped from saying something when a warm hand landed on his shoulder, and he turned to see Elrond looking down at him.

"You need to sort out your hair, ion-nin," he said with a smile. Estel grimaced and frantically tried to flatten it down as Elrond moved over and had a brief conversation with Glorfindel.

Elladan smiled. "Here," he said, moving in and trying to take over the failing attempts to smarten Estel. Estel pulled away with a growl.

"I can do it, Elladan!" he groaned, flattening down his hair. Elladan held up his hands.

"Just as long as you don't look like you woke up a few minutes ago," said Elrohir with a chuckle. Estel rolled his eyes, but was interrupted from answering by the loud clear call of a horn, sounding out over the valley. Elrond turned with expectant eyes to the gateway of the courtyard.

Before long even Estel could hear the hoof beats of the approaching horses. Elladan and Elrohir stood there with blank faces, Elladan slightly bouncing on the balls of his feet. From what Estel had been told by Elladan and Elrohir, he understood the twins to be good friends with Legolas. He wondered why the elf had never come to Imladris before, at least not in the past fourteen years that Estel had been here.

Estel didn't really know what to expect, yet when the first horse cantered through the gateway and pulled to a stop in the courtyard, closely followed by the escort of Mirkwood warriors, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

The first rider was undoubtedly Legolas, judging by the reactions of the twins when he had appeared before the rest of the escort. Yet if Estel had not been able to read his brothers so well, and had he not known Legolas was blond, he would have had a hard time distinguishing between the Prince and his escort. Legolas wore the same dusty travelling clothes as his warriors, the same weapons strapped to his back. His horse was no different from the others, no smarter or better looking. The only difference was that Estel could see the handles of two knives poking up behind his shoulder, rather than a sword at his waist. But then he noticed half the warriors were carrying knives.

The Prince looked no different from his warriors either, not counting the blond hair. To Estel, he looked weary, his face ever so slightly drawn. His eyes were piercing silver-blue as they darted around the courtyard, coming to rest on Elladan and Elrohir, and a smile spread across his face.

Legolas swung down from his horse in one fluid movement, and Estel watched him curiously as he approached Elrond. The blond elf bowed, one hand over his heart. "Lord Elrond," he said in greetings.

Elrond smiled, placing a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "You are welcome, Legolas," he said warmly. "As always."

Legolas briefly turned behind him and spoke a few words to one of the elves that had arrived with him. With a smile, the other elf clapped Legolas on the shoulder, and then signalled to the rest of the escort. Imladris guards stepped forwards to offer assistance, and the courtyard began to empty.

Estel watched as Elladan and Elrohir looked at Legolas, their faces blank. Legolas merely smiled, and Estel grinned as first Elrohir, then Elladan, lost control of their expressions and large smiles spread across their faces. Together they suddenly moved forwards, barrelling into Legolas as they embraced.

Legolas laughed. "It has been too long, mellyn-nin!" he said cheerfully, returning the embrace.

Elladan and Elrohir pulled back, both of them looking over Legolas intently. "No injuries, I assume?" asked Elrohir with a smile.

Legolas laughed, and lifted up his arms. "Not this time," he said. His expression was so different from what Estel was used to seeing, much less schooled than that of the elves normally around him. As Estel watched him, Legolas' eyes flickered over and landed on him, and a slight frown appeared on his face.

Elladan looked up. "Ah," he said, realising Legolas' confusion. "Legolas, this is Estel, our foster brother."

Legolas regained his composure quickly at those words. He bowed to Estel, his hand over his heart. "Mae govannen," he said to Estel.

Estel bowed back. "Mae govannen," he replied. He stopped. He didn't really know what else to say to Legolas, but thankfully Legolas turned his silver blue eyes away from him and back to Elrond and Glorfindel, the twins standing either side of him, as Elrond spoke.

"Legolas, you know where your rooms are. And then once you are settled I would like news on Mirkwood. Thranduil's letter said he had some things he wanted me to know."

Legolas nodded. "Of course, my Lord," he said. Turning to Elrohir and Elladan, Estel watched as his expression changed, and was again surprised at the blond elf. Estel knew he was a Prince, but if he had not, he never would have guessed that Legolas was Thranduil's son. He seemed more like a captain than elven royalty.

The three elves turned to head inside, Elladan and Elrohir flanking Legolas. Elrohir caught Estel's eye as they went inside. "I don't know how long we will be," he told Estel. "Don't wait for us. We will see you at dinner."

Estel glanced up at the sky. It was barely noon, and he didn't think speaking to his father could take until dinner. He shrugged. Elladan and Elrohir probably wanted to catch up with Legolas. It didn't matter, so he smiled at Elrohir. "I will go…I don't know, practise archery maybe. I will see you at dinner."

Elrohir ruffled his hair affectionately. "Have fun, little brother," he said, before turning and running up the steps after Elladan and Legolas.

Estel rolled his eyes. He was far from little anymore.

To Be Continued...

And that is the beginning of this all. There will be a few set-up chapters before the real action starts, but hopefully you enjoyed this. It would make my day if you reviewed. Thank you for reading- next chapter will be up on Thursday (also the day that the Hobbit trailer comes out- exciting!)