Disclaimer: I do not own the Characters or places that hold pride of place in J.R.R. Tolkien's middle-earth. I do own Elliven, Colton and Túion. And any other unrecognisable names.
A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted! Constructive criticism is welcome.
2nd A/N: If anyone seems OOC I'm sorry. I'm still kind of new to this fandom. This is movie-verse with OCs.
Chapter Four – Legolas & Estel
Estel was woken early next morning. It was just getting light so the sky had been painted a dusty golden colour. He didn't quite understand why he had to be up so early but he tried to. He was only 7 after all.
"Come on Estel. Quickly." Elliven encouraged. He knew what she wanted him to do but it was hard he was still half asleep and he wasn't nearly as quick as an elf was. But Elliven was patient. And she helped him. She handed him a pair of moss green leggings and a matching tunic and told him she'd be in the kitchen getting his breakfast ready. He nodded and began to dress; he still wasn't sure what was going on. She had said today was a big day for him and he noted that the maids had tidied his room while he was sleeping. He had just pulled on his tunic and was fighting with the ties on his leggings when the door of his room opened and Glorfindel poked his head in, sent by Elliven to make sure he was getting dressed. Seeing the struggle Estel was in he came in and offered to help. Estel accepted. Once that was finished and he'd pulled on his boots Glorfindel picked the small child up and carried him down to the dining hall. Elliven looked up as they entered.
"Oh I'm sorry Estel! I forgot you need help tying your leggings. Did you thank Glorfindel for helping you?" Estel turned to look up at the Elf Lord.
"Hannon Le Glorfindel." The tall elf chuckled.
"Oh you're most welcome Estel." He said ruffling Estel's hair before taking a seat at the table. Elliven got Estel up beside Elrohir and Elladan. It was eggs and sausage.
"My Lord Elrond?" They looked up at the voice. An elf with dark-hair and bright blue-grey eyes stood in the doorway.
"Ardhor? What is it?" Elrond asked standing up.
"Sir, we've spotted Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, he's about an hour away." Elrond nodded.
"Boys, you know what to do." Elladan and Elrohir got up leaving Estel with Elliven to finish his breakfast. Which happened only moments after the twins left. Elliven led Estel out to the gates with Elrond as well with them. As they waited Estel started tugging on Elliven's sleeve.
"What does he look like? Is he really the best archer in all of Middle-Earth? Is he really tall like Ada and 'Dan? Tell me!" Elliven giggled.
"Well, you'll have to wait and see. But he'd very nice for a Prince, Estel. You don't have to be scared of him okay?" Estel nodded.
The gates opened a few moments later to let five horses parade in. One in the midst was a white stallion, standing tall. Onlt the one. Estel deducted that that horse held the Prince. Elladan and Elrohir were two of the five. The other three were two Mirkwood guards and the Prince himself. He dismounted gracefully and Estel felt his jaw drop open, he was tall but not quite as tall as Ada. Elliven glanced down at her brother and shook her head slowly. Legolas bowed his head in greeting to Lord Elrond.
"My Lord Elrond. My Father sends his greetings." The blonde Prince said as Elrond too inclined his head in greeting.
"Legolas Son of Thranduil. It is good to see you in our realm once more." He said; Legolas let a smile cross his face.
"I have longed to be here since my last visit was cut so short my Lord. I have missed Imladris and its…" His gaze swung to Elliven, "people." He then turned to Elliven completely, "My Lady, it is with great pleasure that I indulge in your presence once more." Elladan and Elrohir stifled laughter.
"Oh, Prince Legolas, it is wonderful to see you once more in Imladris." She replied bowing her head in greeting to the prince.
"And this," Legolas glanced down to where Estel had attempted to hide behind Elliven, "must be Estel." Elliven looked down also and brought the little boy forward.
"Estel," He looked up at Elliven, "he doesn't bite." Estel looked back up at Legolas, who slowly crouched down to his level.
"Mae Govannen. Elladan and Elrohir have told me all about you tithen pen. They say that you are going to be a great warrior one day." Estel brightened at the Prince's words. He looked past Legolas to his brother, who had blushed and turned away.
"I don't know about that. I'm only 7." Estel said looking back at Legolas.
"Well I'm sure you'll do your best to learn all the best techniques from your siblings. You might even be a better archer then me." He said, "that is only because you'll have Elliven as a teacher." He stood up again. Estel knew then that this was what Elliven meant by a big day.
Estel was in his room drawing absently on some old parchment that Elliven had sourced for him when he heard a massive crash from outside. Getting up had saw that Elliven was once more in the middle of an archery lesson. One of the students had accidently aimed too high and had hit a tree branch but it had fallen onto the targets that had taken Elliven months to build. She was taking a few deep breaths trying to calm her bubbling anger. Those targets had been perfect, each one, one-of-a-kind. Now she'd have to rebuild it and it wouldn't be the same. Estel stifled laughter only to turn when a voice spoke behind him.
"It was an accident you know. He didn't mean to." Estel spun around to see Legolas leaning casually in the doorway.
"Oh no…I mean I know he didn't mean to do it, but it's still amusing." Estel said quickly going to pick up his drawings. He never usually sketched quite so much but Elliven had told him that if he practiced he could draw anything. At that point he'd been sketching a bow and quiver of arrows. Legolas stooped and picked it up.
"Something you want?" He asked showing Estel the picture.
"Oh yes. If I'm gonna be a warrior I'll need a bow and arrows won't I?"
"That depends. I mean, I know how to fit with a sword but I prefer a bow and arrow. Elladan never learnt archery, because he felt more comfortable with a sword. It's all in the way you feel. Here." Legolas held out his bow, he'd been polishing it when he'd heard the crash from outside. Estel tentatively reached out and wrapped his little fingers around the mahogany bow. He tested the string and though it was taunt he could still stretched it slightly. He wasn't strong enough yet to bend it all the way back for an arrow but he could move it an inch or so.
"So maybe…one day when you're a bit older and stronger…maybe I'll teach you some techniques too." Legolas winked at the boy and left Estel feeling like he was on top of the world. Legolas could teach him techniques! Legolas had said he would help Estel learn the best techniques in archery.
Though the thought of having Legolas teach him skills was quashed as he heard Elliven and Legolas outside his room that night after Elliven had said goodnight to him.
"You're putting false hope into his head Legolas!" Elliven snapped.
"No, he wants to be a warrior Elli. He wants to fight Orcs and wargs and all those things that are just in a day's work for me, you, 'Dan and 'Ro. He wants to do that." Legolas argued.
"I don't care! He can be a warrior without learning how to shoot twenty arrows in succession from you. He's not Lorethan, Legolas. He was a good warrior I know. One of the best. But you can't expect Estel to be like us. You know he's a little slower and little louder and heck a little clumsier. But he knows that too. But he also knows that we love him. He's never going to be the same as us, but he'll be just as good at everything." Elliven said.
"Well I hope you're right Elli. Because Estel…though he's human…he's a smart kid. He'll figure everything out on his own. I just hope he knows that your love for him is beyond your contempt and annoyance at me." Legolas said, before Estel heard his door close and Elliven sighed heavily.
