Title: Estel's Childhood

Disclaimers: You already know none of this is mine and you wouldn't get this far if you didn't like the story, so go read it. You know you want to.

Note: As I've said before, the story will soon be drawing to a close because I'm not used to writing really long stories. It used to be that I was lucky if there was more than one chapter. I've also been meaning to put this in a story for a while. I'd like to thank the people who actually made and maintain fanfiction.net, I'm very grateful. Maybe someday, when I actually have money, I'll do that donation-thing for them.

Estel's Childhood

      Estel sat on a bed and looked out the window. It was a little brighter here in the Elven-king's house. Legolas had brought him here a few weeks ago to recover from his journey in general. He had set out from Imladris very ill-prepared. The Wood-Elves had been very kind to him and treated his injuries. He had also been given food and warm clothes for the winter weather. The door opened and he saw Legolas walk in. Normally, he was very happy to see his new friend, but today he just sighed. The prince came and sat next to him, his long hair falling about his shoulders.

      ~What is wrong?~ he asked.

      ~I miss Imladris~ Estel replied. ~I miss my mother and even Heru Elrond. I want to see the Bruinen again, and climb the trees in the valley.~

      Legolas placed a hand on Estel's shoulder. ~I know what it is like to be away from your home. Perhaps I can arrange passage for you back to Imladris.~

      ~Will you come with me?~ Estel asked. His eyes shone as he thought about traveling with Legolas. The Elf laughed.

      ~Perhaps, young Estel, but don't worry about it for now.~

      Glorfindel's eyes scanned the ground, trying to pick out Estel's small footprints. It was difficult because the edan boy was still you and it had been a while since he had passed this way. There were many other Elves out scanning the area. He saw a slight trail and moved forward. A few miles further on, the footprints grew smudged and there were other ones mixed in with the boy's, larger ones. He also saw the larger footprints leading away from the site towards the Misty Mountains. He looked carefully at the prints and recognized them as Goblin-prints, No! he thought. This couldn't have happened.

      He looked around and saw another scout not more than three miles away. ~Elmaén!~ he called. ~Come here!~

      Soon, Elmaén stood beside him. ~Yes?~

      ~What do you make of this?~ Glorfindel asked, pointing at the scuffle of footprints.

      ~It looks like there was a struggle.~ The scout studied them closer. ~With…two Goblins and…Estel?~ Elmaén's eyes opened wide.

      ~That is what I thought. Send someone to tell Heru Elrond.~ Glorfindel shook his head. ~He will not be happy…~ he muttered. He called a couple other scouts to come with him and followed the trail of the Goblins.

      Legolas strapped his quiver onto his back and stuck his daggers into their scabbards on his waist. He walked to the room that housed the edan boy, Estel and pushed the door open. The bed was made and the room had been cleaned up. He looked around, but did not see the boy or his small bag. He ran to the window and looked out. Not too far away, he saw the boy struggling through the trees. He sighed and climbed out the window. He moved along the trees until he caught up with the boy.

      ~What were you doing?~ he asked, exasperated.

      ~Going home.~ Estel replied with all the innocence of a child.

      Legolas put his face in his hands and shook his head. Finally, he said, ~Have you learned nothing?~

      ~About what?~

      ~Traveling alone. You are too young to travel the wilderness by yourself.~

      ~Am not!~ the boy replied stubbornly. ~I can do anything I want!~

      Legolas just sighed and, though he didn't know it, learned an essential rule of parenting. Never argue with children. ~Come on. I'm going to take you home.~

      Estel's face lit up and his gray-blue eyes shone. ~You decided to come?~

      ~Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't be out here ready to travel, mostly.~ He would have liked to get some more food before leaving, but they could make do with what they had.

      Estel looked at his friend and just noticed that he'd brought his weapons and a small pack. He started walking again with Legolas close behind him. He turned his head to look at his friend as they walked. ~You'll like Imladris.~

      ~I know I will.~ Legolas replied.

      ~How do you know?~

      ~I have been there before. It is very beautiful.~

      They kept walking until nightfall, though Estel still couldn't tell the difference between day and night in this forest. When they set up camp, Legolas took to studying the boy. ~What are you looking at?~ Estel asked.

      ~I was just wondering about you…~

      ~What about me? I can probably answer your questions.~

      ~Why are you called Estel?~

      ~Umm…I don't really know. My mother never told me. Neither has Heru Elrond.~

      ~Why do you speak Elvish? You are a human.~

      Estel frowned and looked at himself. ~I know I'm human. I wish I wasn't, though. I want to be just like Elladan and Elrohir.~

      ~You know the Sons of Elrond?~

      ~Yes. They have taught me how to hunt and fight and stuff like that.~
      ~Interesting.~

      ~And Lord Elrond has been teaching me some things, too, but I mostly learn from school. Some of the other kids don't like me, though.~ He pouted.

      ~How do you know that?~

      ~They tease me. They've teased me lots of times.~ Estel hugged his knees and started rocking back and forth. ~I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I tried to be good and ignore them, but they called my mother ugly.~ Legolas just watched the boy as he spoke. ~And then, everyone was mad at me. Even my mother and Lord Elrond. I don't think they wanted me anymore.~

      ~So you ran away?~

      ~I was just going to leave for a few days. I wanted to go see the Misty Mountains. I didn't want to come this far.~

      ~So what happened?~

      ~I was taken by Goblins and I escaped when they got really confused. Then I saw some Dwarves outside with a man and another man, a little man, appeared from nowhere. Then I got lost in the forest. I just want to go home…~ Estel finally broke down. After at least a month of being really brave and not letting his emotions show, he broke down. He sobbed openly. Legolas watched him, unsure of what to do. Eventually, Estel cried himself to sleep. Legolas noticed that when he was sleeping, Estel looked much younger than he pretended to be. He finally saw the troubled little boy who just wanted to see his family and friends again.

      Legolas and Estel traveled for most of the next week or so. Not much had happened while they were traveling. Legolas stopped and tilted his head. Estel stopped beside the Elf. He looked in front of him. They were nearing the edge of the forest, which made it a little easier to see. He studied the area intently for a few minutes before turning to look at Legolas again. 'Mani naa ta?'

      'Shhh…Yrchs.' Legolas whispered. He took hold of the boy's wrist and pulled him up into the trees. The boy couldn't climb high enough, so Legolas let Estel climb onto his back instead. They climbed as high as they could go and stayed there, perfectly still and silent. Below, they could see Mountain-Orcs, or Goblins, riding through the forest on the backs of wolves. Legolas wondered where they were going for a moment, but also realized that it would be safe to travel the mountains if the Goblins were not there. When they had all passed, Legolas waited for a few more minutes before climbing back down the tree.

      ~Where were they going?~ Estel whispered in his ear.

      ~I don't know,~ he replied, ~But we should be able to travel the mountains safely, now.~

      ~No more Goblins in there?`

      ~If so then not many.~

      ~Then let's go!~ Estel said, tugging on Legolas' arm. Legolas smiled, but said nothing as he followed Estel.

      One day, when they were very near the Misty Mountains, Legolas and Estel came across a Goblin sentry group. The Goblins spotted them before they could hide, though. Orc-arrows flew and Legolas strung his bow 'Nurta!' he called to Estel.

      The boy obeyed immediately, running into the trees. Legolas pulled an arrow from his quiver and aimed it at an Orc. The first one flew straight and true; and pierced the Orc through its heart. The others made more difficult targets, though, because they were moving. Two of his arrows missed before he shot the next one. As he reached back to grab another arrow, he found that his supply was running short. He was only able to shoot one more Goblin before throwing his bow on the ground and pulling out his daggers. He had to step swiftly and nimbly to avoid the flying missiles. Sometimes, he would bat one away with his knives, but he spent most of his concentration on avoiding the arrows while moving closer to the Goblins.

      Finally, the Goblins ran out of arrows, too, and pulled their own swords. Legolas looked at his daggers and back up at the two remaining Goblins with their scimitars. He didn't like the odds, but he liked them better than one untrained edan child with a toy knife against two Goblins with scimitars. He was forced to make full use of his Elven swiftness as he ducked, jumped, and spun to avoid the blows sent his way. He saw a momentary break in the attack and pressed forward, stabbing an Orc through the neck, one of the few unprotected parts of its body.

      That left one Goblin for him to deal with. The odds were starting to improve in his favor. The last one aimed a broad slash at his midsection, but he jumped back out of the way before jumping forward again and stabbing through the gap in the armor where arm met body. He sliced most of the way through the arm, which left it hanging on by just a few layers of tissue. He had planned it so that he attacked the Orc's sword arm, disabling him so that he would be easier to kill. He took careful aim and sliced the Orc's head off, letting it roll away as he went to retrieve his bow and arrows. One he had his arrows back in his quiver and his bow on his back, he went to go find Estel. He found the boy behind a tree, trembling, his face pale. In front of some nearby bushes, he saw a small pool of vomit. He put his arm around the boy's shoulders. ~I am sorry you had to see that, Estel. Are you well?~

      ~Yes,~ the boy replied weakly. ~I'll be fine in a little while.~

      Legolas reached into a pouch at his waist, pulled out a small herb, and ground it between two rocks he kept with him. He handed the pulp to the boy. ~Eat this. It will make you feel better.~

      ~Thank you, Legolas,~ the boy said as he swallowed the crushed plant. Estel grimaced as he tasted them, but swallowed them anyways.

      The two made their way closer to the mountains over the next few days, resting from time to time. They soon started up the mountains. As they walked up the rocky paths, Legolas clutched Estel's hand tight to ensure the boy didn't fall. Before they had even reached the summit, they came across the search party that had gone up looking for Estel.

      Glorfindel smiled as he saw Estel safe and sound. He did not recognize the other Elf with Heru Elrond's foster-child, but he was glad to know that the boy was alive. He was sure Heru Elrond would be, too. 'Vedui', Estel!' he called. He saw both the Elf and Estel turn to look at him.

      'Vedui', Glorfindel!' the boy called back. Glorfindel hurried forward, sure-footed on the treacherous path. He soon reached the two. He took Estel's hand away from the strange Elf. ~You may go home now, Wood-Elf,~ he said. ~I will take care of the boy, now.~

      ~I will accompany him home, as I said I would.~

      ~I said that you could go.~

      ~Glorfindel,~ the child interrupted. ~He's my friend. I want him to see Imladris again.~ Estel grabbed Legolas' hand ~Come on, Legolas. Come with us.~

      ~Legolas?~ Glorfindel asked, frowning slightly.

      ~Yes, I am Legolas.~

      Glorfindel bowed his head. ~You may come if you wish, prince,~ he said with exaggerated politeness. Legolas glared at Glorfindel, but followed the search party and Estel back to Imladris.

Okay. Another chapter done. Only one more…I think. If everything goes well. If not, who knows what might happen? I'm currently working on a couple other stories; big stories. And some not so big stories. You should all know how to find them if you want to read them.

Translations:

Mani naa ta = What is it?

Shhh…Yrchs = Shhh…Orcs.

Nurta = Hide!

Vedui' = Greetings