Author's Note: Here's the promised next chapter for you! I'm really happy that so many of you enjoyed my first little-Estel-story, thank you for all the wonderful responses to "A Danger in the Night"! ((hugs reviewers)) I hope you'll enjoy this story, too:)

As always, I also want to thank my beta, whose diligent work does not only improve my stories, but also my language skills! ((huggles Cami))


Title: A Touch of Magic

Author: Silivren Tinu

Beta: Imbecamiel

Rating: K

Series: Mirkwood Tales

Summary: Sequel to "A Danger in the Night". During Legolas' stay in Imladris, Estel learns something unexpected and fascinating about wood-elves. Written for Prompt #10 "Magic" on Aragornangst.

Disclaimer: I do not own any wood-elves (SOB), any other elves, boys, trees, or places in this story.


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- A Touch of Magic -

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After the fright Estel had caused him with his spider the night before, Legolas found it difficult to relax and calm his still-slightly-frayed nerves the day after. He had slept well for the rest of the night, but early in the morning someone had dropped something in the corridor in front of his room, and the resulting noise had caused Legolas to jump out of the bed once more and grab the nearest weapon, before he woke up completely and realized where he was and what was going on around him. Luckily he had not made it out of the door this time, and had been saved from scaring an innocent servant out of his wits.

Legolas had not bothered to try and find sleep again after that incident. He had appeared at the breakfast table still yawning and had been so tense that each loud sound around him alarmed or startled him. The wood-elf had been quite relieved when breakfast was over and he had managed not to further embarrass himself in any way. It had also helped that no one had made any comments about spiders this morning, which had been quite surprising.

After the meal he had left as fast as he possibly could without appearing to be impolite. Knowing that he had to remind both his body and his mind that he was safe now and not on a dangerous patrol anymore, he instinctively headed for the one place in Rivendell that always brought him peace and even some measure of joy, however troubled his heart might be: the gardens.

Being among trees immediately soothed his still-turbulent emotions, and Legolas slowly made his way to his favourite place in the gardens, enjoying the fresh air and the smell of the flowers and shedding his boots to feel the soft grass under his feet. He walked until he came into a remote part of the gardens and the familiar form of an old, mighty oak rose in front of him.

Most of the elves who lived in Imladris only came here when they sought solitude, preferring the places that were lovelier and less shady. For Legolas, this was the place where he liked to be most, and it reminded him of home. With a smile on his lips he went over to the tree, first touching the bark with his hand and then leaning against it with a contented sigh. Green foliage surrounded him from all sides now, as the lowest branches of the old tree nearly touched the ground around it.

Legolas closed his eyes and heard the tree whisper to him, welcoming him. The return of the wood-elf it had known for a long time now filled it with joy, and soothing warmth seemed to radiate from the old and wise being. Leaves rustled, though there was no breeze, and a small branch gently brushed against Legolas' head and shoulder, though he had not moved. The elven prince felt the tension finally drain out of him, as he relaxed against the mighty trunk.

There was nothing more wonderful in Imladris to him than to listen to the voices of the trees. Here, there was no shadow that poisoned them or ate away at them until they fell silent or turned into something dark and dangerous themselves. In Rivendell, the voices of the trees were clear and friendly and joyful, and there was nothing to disturb their song. It reminded Legolas of the green forest filled with light and life that Mirkwood had once been, and renewed his hope and his determination to restore what should have never been lost.

When Legolas was just about to join into the song of the trees, he felt a change in the air and the song around him. There was a new presence nearby. He opened his eyes, and saw Estel standing a small distance away, watching both the elf and the tree with a strange look on his face. It was obvious that he was not sure whether to leave or come closer. Seeing that Legolas was watching him obviously made curiosity win over whatever might want to hold him back.

"Did you just talk to the tree?" the boy asked, sounding slightly awed.

Amazed at the perceptiveness of the human child, Legolas smiled and answered, "Yes, I did."

The smile was obviously enough to reassure the child. Estel came closer until he reached Legolas' side. Looking almost shyly at the tree and the branches overhead, he said: "I saw the leaves and some branches move, though there is no wind today." He hesitated for a moment, then he added, "My brothers and my father do not talk to trees."

Legolas' smile widened. Somehow it was quite an amusing thought to find Elrond sitting in a tree somewhere and talking to it. Or the twins, for that matter. "They are no wood-elves," he explained, not sure if the child understood.

Estel looked up at the elf, who was still not much more than a stranger to him. "Is this magic?" he asked softly, wonder and fascination shining in his eyes.

Legolas laughed at that, a light and merry sound that made Estel smile and step even a bit closer to him.

"No, little one," Legolas answered, "I do not think so. It is something that is natural to me, like… the way your brothers are sometimes able to speak to each other without words."

"I see," Estel said. Again he hesitated, eying the elf that had captured his attention from the first day he had set eyes on him. "Could you teach me to talk to trees, too?" he asked.

"No, Estel, I am afraid I cannot do that. It is something you are, not something you learn to be."

Estel thought about it for a moment, and nodded, seeming to understand what Legolas was trying to tell him. "Will you talk to the trees again now?"

Surprised, Legolas nodded. "That is what I came here for," he said. "This tree is an old friend."

"Would you… would you allow me to stay – and listen?" Estel asked softly.

Legolas stared at him, taken aback. For a moment he did not know what to do. Estel would not be able to hear anything, and the elf feared that the boy might find that a very boring pastime. "Would you not rather go playing?" he asked finally.

"No," Estel answered. "Right now, I want to sit here with you and listen to the trees."

Legolas found that he had not the heart to send the boy away, and more, that he did not really want to. So he just sat down, leaning his back against the trunk. "Then come," he said.

Estel did not need a second invitation. He kneeled down beside Legolas and then clambered into the elf's lap as if it was the natural thing to do, beaming at him. The shining eyes of the child stopped any protest that Legolas might have made at being used as a seat. Instead, the elf simply accepted his fate and closed his eyes again as soon as the boy had stopped moving around on him. Almost immediately, the song of the trees filled his mind, bringing a smile to his face.

Estel's eyes widened as the leaves began to rustle again, a soft, almost… murmuring… sound.

"I think I hear it," he whispered, wonder in his eyes.

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When Elladan and Elrohir searched the gardens hours later in an attempt to find out what had become of their missing friend and little brother they were not prepared for the sight that greeted them. Legolas sat leaning against the trunk of the old oak, his face and posture relaxed as he walked in elven dreams. Estel half lay, half sat on the elven prince's lap, slightly curled up on himself. His head rested on Legolas' shoulder, and he was fast asleep.

The two brothers looked at each other, not sure whether to be surprised or amused, or both. "I think we should let them rest some more," Elrohir said finally, speaking softly.

Elladan nodded. Both of them were aware that at least Legolas needed the rest badly, though the way he had finally found it was not anything they had expected. Elladan set down Legolas' boots, which they had found on their way there. "We should probably come back and wake them before nightfall," he proposed.

"Agreed."

With a last smiling look at the slumbering pair, the two elves turned around and headed back to the Last Homely House to tell their father that there was no need to worry about his youngest son or his guest.

- The End -


I would really like to learn to talk to trees, especially with a certain wood-elf as teacher. ;-) Chapter 3 will follow next week – until then!

Tinu :)

P.S. I hope this chapter will show up at all, I had quite some problems with ffnet today. :(