Title: To Mend What Has Been Broken

Sequel to: By Some Evil Spell and Exiled

Author: Elizabeth Goode

Disclaimer: I have never made money from any sort of fanfiction whatsoever and am more than unlikely to ever benefit financially from such endeavors in the foreseeable future. So, no actual rangers or elves have been harmed in the making of this work of fanfiction. So there.

A full month and half again as long was the time that it took for Estel's body to repair itself sufficiently to travel once again. Under the care of Elrond and the careful supervision of his brothers and Legolas, the young ranger healed quickly and well. A lingering stiffness that could turn to a throbbing ache if overextended in his left shoulder was the only remainder of the injuries he had sustained, and Elrond assured him that with proper treatment and exercise, it would eventually heal entirely. He was still a bit thinner than his father would have liked, but he had been gaining weight steadily, if slowly.

Legolas watched him closely, perhaps even more careful in his observations than the twins or even Elrond. There were things that Estel told Legolas that he told to no one else, shadows in the Dunadan's gray eyes that only Legolas would recognize. For his efforts, the only payment he desired was to hear his friend laughing and joking once again, to see Estel sparring with his brothers in the courtyard, nearly up to his previous strength.

Now, Estel had finished facing off against Elrohir in a mock-duel. The elf had been the victor, but his victory had been hard-won. Elrohir leaned heavily against a tree, breathing hard.

"By the Valar, Estel! You are terribly quick!"

The young human grinned at his elven brother, still too winded himself to speak. Sweat drenched his hair and clothing, but it did not appear to bother him. Elladan, who had been watching the duel from the opposite side of the courtyard, raced to his brothers' side.

"Well-fought, Estel. If you are fighting a foe that you cannot best, make them pay for their victory dearly. That is a brilliant strategy."

Elrohir and Estel burst into laughter, and Elladan frowned. "What? What is so funny?"

"That is your own advice, brother. You are the one who taught me to fight that way." Estel stifled his laughter for a moment. "So, you are saying that you find your own strategy brilliant."

Giving his twin an affectionate pat on the back, Elrohir added, "Braggart."

Elladan heaved a long-suffering sigh and glanced over to Legolas. "And there was doubt that I was brilliant?"

The Prince of Mirkwood played along. "Apparently. Perhaps they do not take your status of eldest brother seriously enough."

"Eldest by mere minutes. That does not count." Elrohir teased his twin good-naturedly.

Estel had regained his breath, and now straightened his posture, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair, an expression of distaste apparent on his face. "I must smell like a troll! If we are to have dinner with Ada and Gandalf, I will have to bathe and change first."

Looking down at his own more than slightly dusty attire, Legolas nodded his agreement. "The dust from the archery field seems to have permeated even my hair. I should do the same." He cast a dubious glance at the twins, who were even dirtier than he from sparring with Estel all afternoon. "We are all appallingly filthy."

The golden-haired elf was known for his dislike of dirt and grime, and long before Estel was born or thought of, the sons of Elrond had teased him about his meticulous ways. It wasn't that he could not bear the grime and dust that came of being out on a hunt, or the gore from kiling orcs, wargs, and other unpleasant creatures. It was that he simply preferred cleanliness whenever possible. So what if he insisted upon bathing when camped for the night near a pond or stream? What of his ability to perfectly re-braid his hair without the aid of a mirror?

Legolas shook his head as his eyes came to rest upon Estel, who at that moment was as disheveled as if he had been out in the wilds hunting orc for days.

"What? I've been working hard!" Estel knew exactly what his friend was thinking, and he grumbled defensively. "Prissy elf."

Half an hour later, Legolas was clean again, dressed and ready for dinner. He knocked on the door to Estel's chambers, and when there was no response, cracked the door open slightly. "Estel? Are you ready? It is time to go!"

When there was again no response, the elf began to worry. He pushed the door open the rest of the way and called out again, "Estel! If you are not decently covered, it will be your own fault if you are unpleasantly surprised - " He stopped when he rounded the corner into the bathing room at the sight of Estel up to his chin in soap bubbles, head leaned back against the tub, sound asleep. When he exhaled a soap bubble grew larger, just to the point of bursting. When he inhaled, the bubble shrank once again. For a brief moment, Legolas was torn between running to fetch Elladan and Elrohir to show them the hilarious sight and waking the young human to save his dignity. In light of recent events, he decided upon a compromise. He wakened Estel and resolved to tell the twins what he had seen rather than show them.

Gently, he laid a hand on Estel's soapy shoulder and shook him lightly. "Wake up, Estel. We are going to be late for dinner!"

Estel's eyes shot open, and he immediately tried to stand. The firm pressure from Legolas' hand on his shoulder kept him in place.

"You might not want to do that. You've fallen asleep in the bath."

The ranger blushed, the color starting at his cheeks and spreading until his entire face was red with embarrassment. He rubbed his eyes and swore as the soap stung.

"It appears that this is not my day. Would you care to pass me that jug of water, a towel, and that cloth?"

Legolas did as he asked, then turned his back to allow his friend privacy. "Are you well? I am certain that your brothers did not intend to wear you out so much. Perhaps tomorrow you should take it easier." He fully expected to hear a protest from Estel, and so when the ranger agreed with him, he was surprised.

"You are right." Estel sighed in resignation. "I was overtired, and my shoulder feels like dwarves are mining for mithril inside of it."

"If there is mithril in your shoulder, then we shall have to keep you away from any dwarves on this quest that Gandalf has for us. I believe they can smell it from miles away."

"Yes, Legolas. All dwarves lust for treasure, all mortals lust for power and lack hygeine, and all elves are prissy and prone to making sweeping generalizations."

"I never - "

"You just did. You said 'never'."

"But you know I don't - "

Estel laughed. "Peace, my friend. I was joking with you. Has your sense of humor gone?"

"I shall be sure to inform you when I hear something funny." Legolas went into Estel's sleeping chamber and rummaged in his wardrobe for clean clothing. They were already running late, and Estel seemed to have no intention of hurrying. When he entered the bath chamber once again, Estel had rinsed the soap from his body and hair and wrapped the towel around
his waist. Legolas tossed the clothing to the young human. "You are dawdling. Get dressed and come along, or I will do it for you and carry you to the dining hall over my shoulder!"

"That I should very much like to see." Elrond stood in the doorway with an amused smile. "Everyone is waiting for the two of you. Is anything wrong?"

Estel stood half-dressed, his hair dripping onto the floor, and Elrond could not help but to chuckle softly at the sight.

"I fell asleep in the bath."

Incredulously, the elf lord raised an eyebrow at Legolas, as if asking him to verify what he had just heard. "In the bath?"

Legolas replied, "In the bath."

The young human nodded, turning red with embarrassment once again. "Go ahead and laugh, it is funny, I know. Though, I would remind certain Princes of Mirkwood that there are things I could tell about him that might divert the attention from myself, if I so chose."

Legolas' blue eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare."

"I would."

"You would not."

Elrond ended their friendly banter by clearing his throat. Both elf and human turned their attention to him. "As entertaining as it is to listen to you both, we really must go downstairs, lest Mithrandir decide that his quest would be better suited to someone else."

Reminded of the mysterious quest that they had yet to learn about, Estel quickly dressed, and then wrung the moisture out of his hair, pulling it back with some string in an attempt to tidy his appearance. Without even looking in the mirror, Estel followed Legolas and Elrond to the dining hall.

Frowning slightly, Elrond glanced furtively at his human son. It was, on one level, entertaining to hear that Estel had fallen asleep in the bath. He was certain that the twins would never let him hear the end of it. However, a nagging doubt in the back of the elf-lord's mind would not let him forget that his son had only just recovered from a terrible ordeal. If he was tired enough after a day of leisure with his brothers and Legolas to nod off in the bath, was he up to Mithrandir's quest?

Estel noted his father's worry, and smiled, genuinely touched by the concern exhibited by the elf-lord. "I am all right, Ada. I wore myself out sparring with the twins. Though, I nearly defeated Elrohir this time. I believe it was worth it."

Legolas laughed. "You fought well, my friend. I considered joining in for a short while, but when I saw how ragged you had run poor Elrohir, I decided to keep my nose clear of it."