What can I say? I got bored... just to let you know, I DO have some drawings for this one, but unfortunately I don't have my scanner yet so I can't put them up...

Someone asked me if they could draw a picture of one of the characters. I reckon that if anybody does want to, you can go right ahead; in fact, when you're done mail it to me so I can see! =D

HELLO TO ANYONE WHO IS NEW TO THE SERIES!!! =D Just in case you're reading this without reading any of the others in The Nilmé Series, here is a list of all the other titles previously...

-= Hope and Greenleaf =-

-= An Inseparable Duo =-

-= Fight Your Fears =-

-= Woes of the World =-

This can be read as a stand-alone fic, but I'd recommend that you read the others; that way you would get a feel for the way I write the canon characters, not to mention the fact that you would also find out all the original characters invented (and there's quite a lot!). Most are pretty important.

Anyway, that's enough of my rambling; on with the story...

.: Chapter One :.

Estel parried the blow that was swung at him, the steel of his sword kissing his opponent's blade with a whispering hiss. The bright sun glinted on the metal as he swung his sword around, a clash as both weapons met again.

"Is that all you've got, human?" growled the other, pushing off with his own blade.

"Try me!" replied the teenager, his eyes alight with determination. All of a sudden though, the fight turned against him.

A tree root decided to wrap itself around Estel's foot, sending the sixteen year old flying. As he crashed to the ground in a daze, he blinked his eyes open to find the tip of his rival's blade pressing the soft skin under his chin.

"I believe it is," said the figure, grim satisfaction evident in his voice. Standing over the young human, he grinned darkly. "I guess I win."

Estel rolled his eyes. "What's new?!"

The other laughed. "Now we see who's been paying attention in training, don't we?! I can see Elladan now... 'Take note of your surroundings!' Wouldn't he be disappointed?!"

Estel's mouth hung open in exasperation. "Excuse me Legolas, but tripping over a tree root does not qualify as 'not paying attention in class'!"

Legolas arched an eyebrow. "Really?! Well you certainly make it look like a skill you've learnt; you did it with such precision..." The Elf extended his hand to Estel, who took it and was pulled up to his feet.

"Aren't you hilarious?" quipped Estel flatly. "Are you sure you're the Prince of Mirkwood? It seems to me that you'd be better qualified as a jester."

Legolas punched his friend playfully on the arm. "Oh Estel; you're just sore because I beat you, again!" He grinned.

Estel scowled. "One of these days Greenleaf, one of these days..."

Laughing, the two friends headed into Rivendell, where two others were waiting for them...

-=-=-=-

Lord Elrond was worried. No; the twins hadn't had a bad run in with Orcs, neither had Estel and Legolas managed to find trouble (again) within the relatively safe confines of Imladris, but it did have something to do with them.

They were heading off on a hunting trip.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, had it been any other group of people than those four. It was just that when they were together (and when they were apart as well actually), Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas, and Estel had a knack for attracting danger.

'Well at least we have a full store of healing supplies,' groaned the Lord of Rivendell to himself. He had a feeling they were going to need them. At that moment, a familiar she-Elf entered the room with a cloth in her hands.

"I've heard that before," said Tebridë. Elrond looked at her questioningly. She gave a wry grin. "Let me guess; they are off hunting?"

"How did you know?" replied Elrond half-heartedly. Perhaps a more appropriate question would be "Who doesn't know?" due to the fact that Estel had been telling anyone who would listen about today. It was his first hunting trip outside of the patrol area and he was very excited.

Tebridë laughed. "I wouldn't worry; there's no chance of them running into Orcs out there. Those beasts haven't come close to Rivendell for so many years and- Elrond?"

The Elven Lord seemed to have drifted off. Then she remembered; his wife Celebrían had been captured and tortured by Orcs. Elladan and Elrohir had pursued their mother's captors, but reached her too late – Celebrían had received a poisoned wound and had received tortures from which she would never fully recover. She had sailed away to the Havens, leaving her grieving family behind in the shadows of Middle-Earth.

"I... I'm sorry-" she began, but Elrond raised a hand, and she stopped.

"Think nothing of it," he told her, a weary smile on his face. Silence passed between them, making Tebridë feel nervous.

"I... I have to go," she said hurriedly. With that, she left the room. Elrond sighed and folded his arms on the balcony railing again.

"Stay safe..."

-=-=-=-

Elladan scrambled through the contents of his pack, scrutinising his supplies. "Ro, have you got any extra nealith? I'm running low..."

Elrohir looked up from the bedroll he was shoving with great difficulty into his bag. "Pardon?! What on Middle-Earth are you going to need that for?!" After all, nealith was an antidote to a poisonous plant found only in Harad; why his brother wished from some extra was beyond him.

Elladan looked at him, his face the picture of innocence. "Well you never know, do you?"

The younger twin rolled his eyes at his brother. Suddenly the bedroll popped out of the bag again and unfurled itself. In his frustration, Elrohir thumped the annoying camping equipment with his fist.

"Now now Ro," chided Elladan mockingly. "What has that blanket ever done to you?"

Elrohir scowled at him, before trying to shove it into his bag again. "It's annoying me; therefore I thump it."

Elladan looked over. "There's your problem," he said, picking up the bedroll. He folded it repeatedly until it was a small roll. "Use your brain next time little brother; I know you have one in there... somewhere!"

The older twin barely managed to duck in time to avoid a feather-filled pillow aimed for his head. Elrohir folded his arms.

"I'm not little. You're only older than me by about a minute!"

Elladan laughed. "Yes; that's one minute more experience in this cruel world than you, one minute of knowing what we were in for than you, one minute of-"

The Elf was unable to dodge the second pillow.

"One minute for Ada and Ama to panic that both their sons would be as bad as you, and one minute before they realised that they had me; the little angel!" finished Elrohir with a light laugh.

Elladan pulled a few stray feathers out of his dark raven hair. "Yes; the 'angel' who caused them so much trouble through the years..." He pulled another jar of powder of the shelf, looking at the label. It was a mixture for curing infection from a bite of a midge... which was only found in the marshes. "Hmmm... could be useful." He popped it into his bag.

Elrohir cocked his head to the side. "Why do you need all that stuff? Half of it's never going to be used anyway."

Elladan elegantly smirked at him. "Just because I'm more concerned about our safety than you little brother..."

Elrohir glared darkly at his twin for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. "I said, don't call me little," he growled.

Suddenly Elladan's whole body language took on the air that Glorfindel and their father's had, and he shook an accusing finger at his twin. "It's that temper that's going to get you into trouble one of these days..."

Little did either of them know how close that day was...

=) Well then; tell me what you thought of this first chapter! =) Namárië for now!