Author's Note: I forgot to say in the first chapter that Estel doesn't know he's the heir to the throne of Gondor. So yeah, now you know that Estel doesn't know his heritage.
Disclaimer: Still don't own them... (sighs)
Chapter 2- The Race
"Wake up Legolas!" said Estel as he shook the sleeping Elf gently. "Today's the day. Ada said that we can go riding."
The Elf grumbled some incoherent words before blinking his eyes open as they adjusted to the light. "Have you had breakfast yet?" mumbled Legolas as he stretched.
"Yes, and as soon as you have yours and get ready, then we can go. I am going to get the horses ready," Estel said as he left the room to ready the horses.
Legolas sighed and got out of bed, changing into a dark green tunic and brown leggings. He then put on his boots and adjusted his quiver onto his back. Legolas stuck a small dagger inside his boot, grabbed his bow, and headed out the door to have breakfast.
"So Legolas, I hear you and Estel are going riding today. Is what I hear true?" asked Elrohir as he, Elladan, and Legolas sat at a breakfast table.
"Yes," replied Legolas. "We will be back by nightfall."
"Oh I highly doubt that," Elladan scoffed.
Legolas looked up at his friend, "What do you mean by that?"
"Well," Elladan finished the food he was chewing in his mouth and swallowed, "it just seems that every time you go somewhere with Estel, or even me and Elrohir, you always come back injured and have to visit the healing ward."
"He is right you know," agreed Elrohir, "you do seem to find trouble easily."
Legolas rolled his eyes and stood up. "Well hopefully this little ride will not end up like said situations," he said. "As I said, we will be back by nightfall." And with that, Legolas Thranduillion went to find Estel.
"If they are not back by tonight, I am going after them," said Elladan in a hushed tone, just incase Legolas was still within hearing of him.
"As am I, my brother," Elrohir added. "Those two attract trouble all the time."
"I thought Elves were supposed to be quick," said Estel, tapping his foot impatiently. "It took you thirty minutes to merely change clothes and eat breakfast!"
Legolas smiled at his impatient human friend. "And get my weapons, and pack some food for the ride, and tell your father that we were leaving," the Elf added as he leapt gracefully onto his horse's back.
"Well whatever you were doing, you took long enough," said Estel as he climbed on top of his horse.
"So, are we going anyplace in-particular?" asked Legolas as Estel began to steer his horse through the forest.
"No, not really," answered Estel. "But I did want to have a little competition with you today."
Legolas frowned. "Oh? And just what kind of, competition? Nothing that will put us in danger I hope."
"Oh no," replied Estel, "just a little race. I have heard stories about your magnificent steed, and I want to see if the stories speak the truth."
Legolas patted his brown stallion's side, receiving a whinny in response. "Believe me Estel, the stories tell the exact truth. Tálagor has never lost a race before. He is both friendly and loyal as well," said Legolas with a hint of pride in his light Elven voice.
"Well I have a feeling that Gílroch might be more of a challenge for Tálagor to beat. Perhaps she may be the one to out-run your horse," Estel said as he stroked his black mare, Gílroch, on the neck.
"We will see about that," replied Legolas with a smile on his face. "But it is not just the horse that determines the winner, Estel. The rider must be experienced as well."
"Are you saying that I am not as good a rider as yourself?" inquired Estel, wearing a fake-hurt expression on his face.
"Maybe," answered Legolas as he urged Tálagor into a canter an passed Estel. He stopped his stallion when he reached a large maple tree. "This looks like a good place, does it not?"
Estel looked around and then down a path that went to the left. "Yes, this is a good place to start. Let us race to wherever that path ends," he said, pointing down the path.
"As you wish," said Legolas. "But whatever path we take, Tálagor will out-run your mare." When Gílroch snorted in response, Estel had to laugh. "I was just kidding," replied Legolas as he reached over and stoked the mare's mane.
"Well, are you ready?" asked Estel.
"Yes, ready to win!" and Legolas took off down the path.
"Hey! That was not fair!" called Estel from behind. Legolas laughed and continued to steer his galloping stallion through the trees. Estel was doing good keeping up for a human, but not good enough.
The two kept racing quickly through the forest, jumping over fallen trees and ducking under low branches. Legolas, being in the lead, saw a low branch hanging from a pine tree and called over his shoulder, "Estel, watch out for this branch!" When Tálagor reached the branch, Legolas ducked. But then a few seconds later, he heard Estel cry out. I told him to watch it, stubborn human. Legolas, thinking that Estel was still following, kept racing.
Estel was lying on the ground, blood seeping out of his shoulder. Gílroch had ran off a little distance into the woods. What happened? He thought. Estel painfully moved his head to look at his shoulder, and what he saw startled him greatly.
There was an open field at the end of the path, and once Legolas reached it, he stopped and turned around. "Well Estel, it looks like..." he paused. Where is Estel? "Estel?" he called. No answer. "Estel? Where are you?" Legolas looked around the field for his missing friend, but the brown-headed man was nowhere to be seen. Legolas then looked back down the path, but could not see his friend because of the curve in the path. But then he saw her- Gílroch without a rider! Legolas turned Tálagor around and sped down the path.
Estel groaned when he saw what was sticking out of his arm. It shot pain down through his whole arm, but he struggled to sit up anyway. When he finally managed to sit upright, he felt the sharpness of a blade against his throat.
When Legolas made it back to where he thought Estel had hit the branch and fell off his horse, Legolas stopped dead in his tracks at what he saw: Estel, sitting on the ground with an arrow in his right shoulder, and an orc hovering over him with a knife pressed to his throat.
Oh my, an evil cliff-hanger ending to this chappie! What will happen next? Please review! And thank you for the reviews posted for the last chapter --Hugs reviewers-- Is the spacing better on it now? Thanks for reading! Arodiel
