Hello, and welcome back after a…holy shit, nearly 3 year hiatus. Haha, old readers, if any of you are still out there and feel fit to review (probably after rereading the first six chapters), thanks for sticking around. New readers, welcome to the fic I started in my freshman year of high school and am now finishing during my last semester as a senior.

Good times.

For all those who were surprised to see this story pop up under your story alert thing you owe special thanks to CommicEssence, who guilt-tripped me into posting and also my renewed obsession with LotR.

Thank you CommicEssence and others who have reviewed over my hiatus period. One question, how in the hell did you find my fic? Jeeze, wouldn't it be like 25 pages into the search engines and whatnot? Cripes. Not that I don't appreciate your diligence, in fact I'm in awe.

Anyways, here's the chapter you've all been waiting for…or just discovered.

-o-O-o-

Legolas hastened to return to his room after breakfast, needing to prepare for the morning's meetings. He didn't give his open door a second thought as he rushed to gather a few documents from various drawers in his desk. He froze instantly when he heard soft shuffling noises behind him. He looked up from his work and felt alarm bells go off in his head. Estel's door was a ajar. He laid the papers back onto the desk and before Legolas had a chance to even thought about it, he was rushing toward the door, his presence instantly met with a pair of silver eyes.

"Estel." Several emotions clashed dangerously. "What are you doing here?" Legolas asked angrily. He didn't know if it was from concern or fury.

Estel instantly despaired at his friend's harsh tone, "Legolas, please believe me. I never left."

"Does it matter? The fact is that you were not here," Legolas snapped.

"No, I--"

"You have betrayed us all. I trusted you!" Legolas knew it was only the bitterness talking, but it had been hard and the ache was reluctant to leave. "My sufferance is of my own fault. However, I have learned my lesson. Humans never change."

Estel made no outward reaction other than to close his eyes and lean against the bed post. As the last vestiges of hope withered and died, Legolas suddenly noticed just how bad the boy looked. He skin was sickly pale, reminding him of the ghostly eyes of creatures that lived in the dark corners of the wood. There were numerous bruises, cuts, and abrasions on his face and skin alone and it took little imagination to deduce that his clothing hid even more. He sat huddled over his left hand that was covered in a wet sheen of blood. What had happened to him?

Legolas felt a wave of shame and regret wash through him. Whatever he had gone through must have been terrible and with no friend to aide him, no friend to even believe in him.

Legolas sighed. "Why aren't you home Estel? Look at you. You can't even take care of yourself. You didn't even bring any supplies. You foolish, stupid, reckless human."

Estel made no effort to open his eyes. Legolas, feeling all his emotions catching back up with him, belatedly felt relief at seeing his friend alive again. He sighed and reached out to touch his friend's cheek.

His hand had hardly come into contact with the boy's cheek when Estel jerked away violently, his eyes snapping open with fear. Estel's heart rate jumped to incredible speeds. That simple press of his face against the bedpost, brought back a thousand and one painful memories. Estel was a rabbit caught alone with wolves at every side. It was fight or flight and he had given up fighting a long time ago. Staggering past his bewildered friend, he made his way through the other room and into the hallway, ignoring Legolas' calls. He was stopped only by Legolas' hand on his shoulder.

"No wait," Estel struggled away, but Legolas continued to hold fast, "Wait Estel!"

Estel mumbled about going home before trying to tear away again. Fate was determined to keep the score unfavorable. Estel was captured: bad point one. Estel got out: good point one. It was time for another bad point. At the end of the hall appeared a few elves, looking for Legolas to inquire on his absence at the meeting. When they spotted Estel there was an immediate yell for guards. Estel felt a chill run down his spine. He was going to become a prisoner again. They were going to put him back in the dark.

He could hear their approach. Estel finally broke from Legolas' stunned grasp and ran.

"No Estel, don't run!" Legolas called, chasing after his friend. Running wouldn't help his situation.

Estel ignored him and fought to get away. The elven guards caught up with him and Estel's attempts became desperate, but he had no more strength left. The guards proceeded to drag him away despite Legolas' protests.

Estel's panicked cries rang across the hall.

-O-

The morning's meetings were postponed in order to attend the trial of the human traitor.

Estel sat alone in the middle of the room with only a desk on front of him, surrounded by Mirkwood's full council and many of its inhabitants also present. The king was in front of him, on his left his son, and on his right Enfin. To Enfin's right was a large elf who had a severe look about him and would be leading the day's proceedings.

"You are Estel, youngest son and heir of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, correct?"

"Yes," Estel responded meekly.

"You are charged with breaking an agreement of legal documentation and assault against the warrior Apres. Do you recognize the charges against you?"

Estel remained quiet.

"Do you deny the charges against you?"

Estel still said nothing. It was useless.

"The evidence against you consists of a letter detailing your desire to break the agreement and escape and several eye witnesses of your struggle which lead to your eventual desertion. At this time--" the prosecutor's lips continued to move, but not a sound was uttered.

Estel couldn't hear a thing. An unnatural silence stole over the room. Estel's breath quickened. It was as if his ears had been lowered into water, but he could hear his breathing and his heart beat. What was happening? The form of the elf swirled across his eyes and Estel began to have the distinct feeling that his whole face was now being lowered into the water. It was like looking at everything on the other side of the water's glassy surface. He could really feel it. His face was getting cold. He needed to take one last breath of air before the plunge. Estel opened his mouth.

"What…," sound switched back on and Estel blinked, the expectant looking council coming back into focus. He slammed back to reality. "I'm sorry, I-I did not hear you."

The prosecutor looked warily at him. "I asked if you had anything to say in your defense."

Shaking off the affects of his sudden loss of lucidity, Estel nodded and looked at the desk, trying to forget that this was a doomed cause. "These charges have been falsely accused. Part of that letter is forged. Although I had written the beginning, it had been at a bad moment in an ill mood, but I had never meant it to be sent."

"Do you have evidence for your claim?" the prosecutor questioned skeptically.

Estel swallowed and lifted his gaze to Legolas, sending a silent plea for help. If we have ever been friends, now would be the time to prove it.

Legolas stood, nodding towards the elf towards his left. "I bore witness to the event in question. It was I who convinced him to reconsider. The fact that the letter was not properly disposed of was my own fault."

Estel's weak smile was full of gratitude.

The prosecutor stared at him coldly. "If this is true then what is your claim on what has transpired?"

Estel could feel the threat of death wash over him as Enfin turned his gaze upon him. Estel plowed on.

"I didn't escape," the council looked cynical, "I fought with Apres to evade capture. I lost. Enfin captured me. I was drugged and held me against my will." An instant roar rose up from those gathered and Estel tried desperately to be heard, "He has been lying to you, creating dispute and baseless hate against Rivendell for his own gain."

Estel was drowned out by yells, heated debates erupting all around him. The constant interruptions made the words incoherent and quickly turned into racket and unintelligible cacophony. Estel turned about, surrounded by chaos and noise. Indiscernible questions barraged him and every answer he tried to give was immediately interjected by another. Estel's breathing accelerated as the noises sliced through his head, pounding across his temples. There were too many people in the room. Their faces blurred together into a collective shadow of hate and rage. He covered his ears and shut his eyes.

"Stop it, stop it, please," he whispered agonizingly to the desk.

Then it happened again. The sounds ceased other than a distant chime in the background of his mind. This time his whole body had been submerged into the water. His mouth filled with water. He was drowning. Estel gasped, his asthma had returned. No one would ever notice. Estel held his head tighter, gritting his teeth. He needed to relax. He had done this a thousand times before. But what if the next thing he heard would be his sentence for life imprisonment? Wouldn't it be better to die?

He forcibly halted that line of thought. He was past that now. He wouldn't heed those thoughts. He wanted to go home. He only needed to concentrate on one thing: in and out, in and out… His diaphragm reluctantly loosened, thus enabling the use of his lungs. Estel gulped down the much needed air. He laid his head upon the table tiredly. The room winked out and the sounds came back muffled. He drifted away slowly, a lone boat at sea. No one would notice. No one cared.

But there was someone who did care, someone who nearly had an asthma attack of his own when he saw Estel's struggles. When Estel had ceased movement Legolas had thought the worst. He stood abruptly and screamed into the row.

"Silence, silence all of you! Can't you see there is something wrong with him?!" the crowd died down into murmurs. Legolas took deep breaths to calm himself. "Please, someone check on him."

Emheril walked forward and lifted one of Estel's wrists onto the table to check for pulse. The room was in complete silence as they watched Emheril place a hand on Estel's cheek, feeling the radiating heat.

"My lord he has a high fever and…" Emheril drifted off as he felt the boy unconsciously move closer to the physical contact.

"Ada? Ada." Estel sighed softly, clinging to familiar feeling of comfort, easily foregoing reality for day dreams.

Emheril, surprised, quickly drew his hand away. Estel's fingers twitched, searched blindly for it, weakly calling out for his brothers and father.

The room remained silent. People were deeply touched and unsettled by it. The stark realization hit them all in the face. He was still a child. Estel had proven himself very capable of taking care of himself. He was both resourceful and intelligent and had earned his right to be looked at as an adult, but now with all that stripped away they saw only a boy who had not seen his family for over a year and then they could understand. Memories of their own children resurfaced, the king included. The tides shifted and Enfin was now in the hot seat. Enfin's insides boiled with rage. Curse that boy. His pathetic state had won him compassion. This was going to be much more difficult than he had originally thought.

"What do you have to say for yourself Enfin?" the king demanded, cooly.

"My lord, do not mistake my meaning for impertinence, but please do not insult me. I have been loyal to you and Mirkwood when you could not be. Does my unswerving allegiance count for nothing now that an upstart can so easily plant doubt among you with cheap theatrics?"

Legolas ran across him, looking to Emheril. "Do a diagnosis of Estel."

"In public?" Enfin asked, as much astonished as he was displeased.

The king nodded briskly in consent with his son's actions.

Mereth looked to the boy still draped across the desk. "Should not the patient have a say in this?"

"Do it."

Emheril moved cautiously forward, rechecking for fever and dilation within the pupils, although his flushed cheeks spoke enough for his fever. He assessed the normality of Estel's heart rate before moving on to the more physical aspects. He gently pushed Estel back onto the chair and winced when Estel cried moaned in discomfort.

Legolas looked concerned. "Check his back."

Emheril attempted to lift the boy onto the desk and was joined by several of his helpers in the crowd. Estel groaned as pressure was put on his ribs, but was too far gone to reawake. With great trepidation Emheril began to lift up Estel's shirt and revealing a poor sight indeed. Half healed lacerations covered his back. Dried blood stained his skin in splotches all over his back, moistened from his constant sweat. The cuts were only slightly inflamed, meaning only mild infection which was reasonable since none of the cuts were treated properly. The crowd stirred restlessly, a few now looking with anger at Enfin.

"Explain Enfin." The king's tone was less than kind.

"My lord, the boy is delirious. Do I face further insult that you would believe the word of a boy who cannot stay conscious long enough for a court procession over my own? The boy obviously wants to lay blame on someone and I am a perfect candidate. I was the one who brought him here and thus he has always regarded me with hostility. That is more than enough for a motive. Where he has acquired the wounds I can only guess. Perhaps he ran into orcs inside the forest."

"But the wounds are relatively clean," Emheril argued.

"He is a healer," Enfin countered.

"Then why is he running such a high fever without infection?" Emheril pressed.

"Orcs carry dozens of poisons and toxins."

"Which I treat every day. I do not recognize this and it is unlikely that a toxin would not affect his wounds."

"What about human sickness? That is an area I know you are not familiar with."

"Enough!" the king commanded. The two parties fell silent at once. "This will go no further today. We will continue this tomorrow. In the meantime Enfin will be put under surveillance and Estel will be relocated to the healing wards, but is to be guarded at all times."

Legolas worked not to let the utter relief of his father's statement reflect on his features. However, Thranduil could easily guess the feelings his son tried to suppress and was quick to inject the reality of the situation.

"There is a substantial amount of legitimate evidence against Estel. We will review this and come to an agreement on the morrow. The session is over Legolas."

"Yes sire."

Legolas bowed and left the council chambers. There might not have been a spring in his step, but Thranduil was sure he knew where Legolas was off to.

*~O~*

Legolas briskly made his way to the healing wards. The guards let him through without a word and it only took a moment's persuasion to convince the healers and guards to remain outside while he talked to Estel. The boy was in the bed closest to the window. His hand was bandaged and he looked a far prettier sight than before, but the way he stared out at the waning sun still made him seem strained and drawn.

Legolas took a seat on the bed and touched his friend lightly on the shoulder. "How are you doing, mellon-nin?"

Estel's eyes flicked towards Legolas' direction. "A little less sore. My back doesn't hurt as much."

"Estel, about the trial…"

His eyes dropped to the bed. "It didn't go very well."

"On the contrary, there is serious doubt on Enfin now. I apologize that I used your illness in such a fashion, but it worked to our advantage to gain public favor." Legolas sighed in Estel's lack of response, "Estel will you look at me."

Estel pursed his lips and stared out the window again.

"Legolas…when I was trapped in that room in perpetual darkness I had forgotten everything. I had forgotten the trees, the earth, and the sun, but now that I'm here again the colors are dulled, the air not quite as sweet. Even though I'm not there I still feel like…"

"Like you're trapped?"

"No, like I'm…dying," he whispered.

Legolas froze. "Estel…don't talk like that. You're here now and you're safe. Things will work out, you'll see."

"Work out?" Estel repeated bitterly, "Fine, I shall not be executed. Instead I remain a prisoner here. I just want to go home Legolas. Is that so much to ask?"

"Someday, but today it is Estel."

Estel swallowed. "Then tomorrow I fade."

"You are no elf Estel. You cannot fade," Legolas replied sharply, as if his will and logic alone could dissuade the young man from his decline.

Estel lay his head down on the pillow, eyes listless. "Watch me. Thank you for your help today Legolas, your friendship has meant a lot to me and I am sorry to have caused you trouble."

He began to roll onto his side, when Legolas' hand stayed him, eyes imploring him to seek life.

"Estel, stay with me here."

Even through his own despair, Estel could not ignore the raw emotion in his friend's plea.

He conjured up his best smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Legolas. You are right. I-I'll be fine after some rest."

Legolas still looked worried so Estel went to place a comforting hand on his friend's arm when Legolas' frown suddenly deepened.

"Estel…how long have your hands been shaking?"

Estel made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat as he withdrew his still shaking hand and brought it to his chest. "A little after Emheril put my bandages on."

Legolas' intended barrage of inquiry was halted by the guard announcing that his time was up. He said goodbye to Estel and was about to leave when he met Emheril in the doorway.

"A moment, Chief Healer, if you wouldn't mind."

"Yes, my prince?"

Glancing back at the bed, Legolas steeled himself for what he was about to ask.

"Emheril, do you think a human could fade?"

The older elf pressed his hands together and sighed. "Anything is possible, my prince. He could merely stop eating and that would certainly give him a slow, but steady death."

"I could get him to eat or even take up his sword again," Legolas said impatiently, "but what I am asking is whether his body could be whole and hale and yet his spirit slip away regardless."

Emheril gazed into the eyes of his prince and already he could see a future where the prince could resist the call of the sea for that of a dear friend.

"I will not lie to you. Whether it is because he was raised by elves or all that has happened to him, I think the boy's unquenchable spirit is waning."

"I see. Thank you Chief Healer."

He turned to leave when Emheril casually inquired about the weather.

Legolas frowned. "It's quite warm. It only just began to turn to summer."

The Chief Healer nodded and turned his back on the prince when he said, "Then I think I shall leave the windows open for the night. Estel could do with the fresh air."

Confused but unsettled, Legolas quickly agreed before taking leave of the healing wards. Such a simple announcement brought upon many a foolhardy plan to the prince's mind, but it would only be deep into the night when he would think of the most foolish plan of all.

-o-O-o-

Legolas crept down the main corridor past the dining hall. After a veritable maze of twists and turns he made his way to a part of the storage tunnels that were not lighted by torches. Using keen eyes and his natural glow he continued to trek into the darkened hallway. These were probably the oldest parts of the palace and consequently covered very faithfully in a fine layer of dust that an elf could probably not disturb, but for a sick and ailing human half dragging himself in the semi-darkness, it was pretty clear where the boy had been.

The trail through the dust led up to a storeroom full of boxes of what Legolas thought to be unprocessed cotton. Here there were definite trails through the dust, leading to the back of the room. Legolas searched, but the boxes scattered about the room were encumbering him. Squeezing behind two boxes Legolas knocked something with his foot, causing something small to go skittering across the floor. Escaping the boxes, Legolas bent down to pick up the object to find a vial full of a dark, viscous liquid. Legolas pocketed it carefully and as he stood up again, noticed some wood near the back wall of the storeroom that was darker than that of the surrounding boxes.

Pushing aside boxes he came upon a door that led to an adjoining storeroom, devoid of all light and even though Legolas could not see it, he could smell the lingering scent of blood and sweat. The place was entirely clean, far too clean. Someone had been there before to destroy evidence and since Enfin wasn't being allowed any visitors, he must have had accomplices during Estel's capture.

The room had three pillars, but the one to the left caught Legolas' eye. The base of it looked lighter than the other two and as Legolas drew closer, he could see that the large splotches on floor and nearby wall also showed the same signs of lightening. Legolas ran his fingers over one of the spots and held it to his nose, revealing a sharp acrid smell.

Someone had most definitely cleaned away any traces of blood here. Whoever had been working with Enfin may have thought that clearing an entire corridor of dust would be suspicious, but they probably hadn't thought anyone who found this room would think twice about the room's spotlessness.

Legolas ran his fingers along the pillar, finding rough scratches wound around in a semi-circle around one side of it. Pieces began falling into place in Legolas' mind as he sped back out of the corridor and back up to his room. Those people may have been about to erase the evidence in the storerooms, but there was no way they could have had access to the royalty's wing in the palace.

He entered into his room before making his way into the one adjoining it, searching the floor and there, curled up under the bed were a set of manacles. Sure enough, white scratches ran along the links towards the middle of the manacles.

It was all Legolas was willing to spend time looking for. He whirled about Estel's room, fetching quill and parchment, emptied a box of hopefully not too valuable personal effects, and an empty vial from the Elrondion's healing supplies.

Legolas sketched out a map with written directions to where he had found the storeroom along with his findings, before putting that, extra paper and ink, the manacles, some extra clothing, and half a vial full of the liquid he found into the box, while carefully stowing the other half of the liquid back in his pocket.

Without further ado, he placed the box securely under his arm and leapt out the balcony and onto the nearest tree and ran off into the night towards the healing wing. Jumping into the open window was slightly more difficult than the balcony, but he managed to do so without making a sound and quickly shook the boy awake.

Estel blinked sluggishly, opening his mouth to protest, but Legolas signaled him to keep quiet, before handing him ink, quill, parchment, and clothing from the box.

Estel squinted at the paper, trying to make out the flowing elvish script in the moonlight.

Write down everything that happened to you while captured by Enfin.

Estel stared at the paper and then at the clothes and finally up into the face of his friend. It wasn't hard to figure out what his friend intended. He tried pushing the clothes away, but Legolas firmly shook his head, eyes adamantly denying any chance for argument.

Estel felt tears prick at his eyes and wind their way down his cheeks as he mouthed, hannon le. Legolas smiled and brushed away the tears before tapping on the paper. Estel nodded and to the best of his ability, steadied his trembling hands enough to write, his normally neat hand becoming a wobbly scrawl. Legolas listened attentively for guards. Minutes passed and Estel's hand became shakier and shakier as he attempted to accomplish the simple task, taking breaks between spasms. Just when Legolas was sure a guard was about to burst in the room at the sound of Estel's unbelievably loud breathing, Legolas felt the parchment being pushed into his hand.

He placed it into the box, pointed at the clothes and made a gesture most commonly associated for one to wait before speaking before he sped away again through the window and back towards his room. Placing the box in a secure place in his closet, Legolas packed the minimum amount of gear for travel and made one last leap from his balcony, this time towards the stables.

When he finally returned, Estel was dressed, but already looking quite weary. Legolas considered a few options before gesturing for Estel to climb onto his back. Estel gave him a mute look of disgust.

Legolas raised his eyebrow and gestured first at the window and then towards the nearest branch that was at least six feet away and about a hundred feet from the ground.

Estel let out an imperceptible sigh before holding out his arms like a child wanting to be held. Legolas grinned before turning his back towards Estel and allowing the wiry arms to wind about his neck and shoulders while he hoisted the boy up onto his back and securing his legs with his arms so that he would not slip off. Legolas turned his head in concern at the slack grip Estel held onto him with, searching his friend's face questioningly.

Estel swallowed before tightening his hold about Legolas until he could easily feel the tremors in the boy's arms. Legolas signaled he was ready to go and Estel nodded before laying his head against the back of Legolas' shoulder and taking a few deep breaths to calm himself.

With the strength and agility of the firstborn, Legolas leaped from the window and onto the branch, but not before it made an audibly crack. Unable to do anything but to keep moving forward, Legolas began to run through the trees with the human clinging to his back.

Back in the healer's office, one of the assistant healers looked up at the sound.

"Master Emheril, did you hear that?"

"No, I did not." The chief healer didn't bother to look up from his herb directory as he answered.

"Are you sure? What if the human is trying to escape?"

"The boy can barely hold a spoon. I very much doubt he devised a way of escaping. He probably woke up and took the pain medication I left on the table and dropped the cup."

"Oh yes, should I check?"

"No, you finish checking inventory. I will look."

Emheril opened the door to his office and walked into the now empty ward. Taking the cup from the table, he emptied its contents out the window and placed it, overturned upon the floor before closing the window and returning to his desk.

"Everything is as it should be?" the other elf inquired.

Emheril smiled. "Yes, everything is fine."

-o-O-o-

Legolas finally made it down to his horse and placed the boy on top of it, who simply slumped over the neck of the noble beast, breathing raggedly. Legolas observed this worriedly before leading his mare out past where he knew the usual guards would not pass. He was nearly halfway towards the borders when he heard someone drop to the floor behind him. He flinched slightly and turned to face the captain of Mirkwood's warriors.

"Captain Iridor," Legolas said awkwardly, "I did not know you were on patrol duty tonight."

"Your father figured that covering the northern entrances would insure the prisoner did not escape into the night," Captain Iridor replied neutrally.

"And what do you intend to do now Captain?"

Iridor sighed. "Why now, Legolas? At least wait until the trial is over. By then the king may decide to release Estel legally."

"I fear it will be too late by then," Legolas gazed imploringly at his fellow warrior, "He is fading, Iridor."

"Fading?" the elf repeated incredulously.

"And to speak truthfully, I think he has been for a long time now. I cannot in good conscience keep him from what could save his life."

Iridor shook his head. "Nor can I. There is a spider's nest I asked my warriors to investigate east from here. If you want to make it outside the borders before dawn you better mount up now and ride out."

Legolas grasped the elder elf's forearm in thanks before climbing up behind his friend and holding him protectively against his chest.

"Make haste my prince, I owe that boy my life."

Legolas nodded. "Iridor, when you are asked to search my room, in my closet you will find a box with specific evidence to back up Estel's claims. Between you and your brother, I have confidence that you will get to the bottom of this."

Iridor nodded once before disappearing back into the forest as Legolas rode out towards Rivendell.

-o-O-o-

The days went by slowly and Estel spoke very little during the journey. Legolas then began to fear for more than just the withdrawal of spirit.

"Estel, are you well?"

"Just tired," Estel answered automatically.

"You're sweating, do you have a fever?"

Legolas placed a hand on Estel's forehead, but the skin only felt cold and clammy.

"Do you feel sick, Estel?"

Estel chuckled weakly. "Are you sure you won't consider giving up being a warrior and becoming a healer?"

"I think I will have to if I continue being friends with you, mellon-nin."

"I am glad you are Legolas, so glad we became friends. I can't thank you enough for doing this for me. I want to say I would have preferred if you stayed in the palace so that you would not get in trouble, but I fear I wouldn't be able to make the trip if you weren't here."

"Don't worry Estel. I will bring you home."

Estel smiled his first real smile in many days. "Do you think ada and my brothers will recognize me?

Legolas evaded slightly. "Why do you say that Estel?"

"I have grown taller since they last saw me."

Legolas laughed, feeling his spirits lift. "Indeed you have, maybe they will have to make you a new sword to match your miraculous height."

Estel pushed him. "Don't tease, prissy elf. Someday I may be taller than you."

"Or fatter. I have seen some astoundingly fat humans."

Estel laughed, pushing his hair out of his eyes. His hands were still shaking.

Legolas hid his worry by checking on his horse, unconsciously touching the vial in his pocket.

-o-O-o-

Although the weather was good, the mountain passes were still riddled with high water streams because of the recent spring thaws. Estel seemed to be more and more drained and Legolas was beginning to have difficulty waking him at times.

When Legolas asked about the drug, Estel only shook his head. There was not much they could do until they reached Rivendell.

Finally, on the sixth day, they reached the woods that would lead them to the hidden city. Legolas went to take the forest road further south, but Estel directed him west.

"It is a secret way my brothers showed me. It is known only to Lord Elrond and his kin and maybe Glorfindel and Erestor," Estel voice grew softer as he began to drift off into slumber once more, "he knows everything."

Legolas looked dubiously into what looked like wild forest. "Estel, how am I to navigate."

"Use the trees, they will lead you," Estel mumbled.

Legolas started forward cautiously and opened himself to the surrounding nature.

'Voices of nature, guide my way to the haven you conceal.'

The reception was not the one he was used to.

He is not of blood. He trespasses. Guard the way. Do not let him pass!

The forest seemed to darken as the boughs overhead blocked out the sun. The leaves rattled, the many trunks sidled towards each other to create walls, branches weaving together into impenetrable nets. Among the myriads of darkened greens and browns, Legolas suddenly felt disoriented.

'I need help. Please, let me through. I carry such precious cargo. I must make it to Rivendell,' declared Legolas determinably.

Nooo, the trees determinably whispered back.

Legolas, not knowing what else to do, shook his friend awake.

"Wha? Legolas," he groaned.

"Estel! Awake, mellon-nin. The trees are not cooperating!"

Estel groaned again. "What kind of wood elf are you?"

His voice sounded strained.

"What is wrong Estel?"

"My chest hearts," Estel forced between gritted teeth. He concentrated on breathing for several seconds before beginning again. "Can you see any trees with yellow, heart-shaped leaves?"

Legolas peered around, trying to discern between the many blending barks and leaves. Then, with his outermost peripheral vision, did he spot the desired tree. It's golden color, shining through the many shades of brown and green.

"Yes, there is one towards our right."

"Bring me to it."

Legolas brought the horse around and aided his friend on dismounting and half carried him to the tree. Estel's breath was ragged as he placed out a hand and whispered something in ancient Quenya. The tree seemed to shiver as something metallic slid down a branch and closer to Estel's reach. There, hanging by a leather tie was a bronze medallion, bearing the design of a star intricately wrapped around the winding branches of two trees on either side of it. Estel held the medallion briefly in his hand before dropping it to his side once more.

Immediately the forest began to awaken in excitement.

The fosterling! He has returned. Estel, Estel. Hope has returned to Imaldris! Let he and his companion pass. Make room, the trail must be safe. Go, wood-elf and make haste. The house has saddened without its charge. Follow the golden trees. Follow the markers.

Legolas had to suppress the urge to rip the nearest tree into cinders and instead gave the stubborn trees his thanks. Though, it did seem like the tree nearest him seemed to shrink away from his ire.

He sped even faster along the now fully formed trail, every fifty feet or so passing by one of the golden trees, bronze medallions glinting on one of the branches.

"Estel, what are those?" Legolas asked curiously.

Estel ignored the steadily growing headache and focused on the pleasant memory. "They were a gift from my grandparents, so I may use the trail. The trees," he fought a wave of dizziness that left him reeling, "the trees are baby mallorns. They'll never get to be as tall as the ones in Lorien, but still contain the magic of the wood."

"Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn gave you those?" Legolas asked, awestruck.

Estel laughed. "They thought it prudent after I tried running away when I was twelve, fell in the Bruinen and got washed up near the mountain with no idea on how to get home."

"So they planted unsympathetic trees," Legolas said, deadpan.

"They like me."

"Probably because you are always covered in dirt. They might think you're one of them."

"But they hate you, that's all," Estel gasped, "that's all I need to know."

Legolas urged his horse a little faster.

After passing half a dozen more of the baby mallorns, he came upon on old bridge that spanned some part of the Bruinen, meaning that they must be only another twenty minutes from the house. On the other side, perched in a tree under which a horse grazed was an elf with chestnut brown hair who turned at the sound of horses hooves on the stone bridge.

"Estel! Thank the Valar you've made your way home."

"Captain Raize!"

The two clasped hands briefly before the elf was nudging the horse forward again.

"Estel, hurry home. I shall sound the signal for your arrival. Don't wait, your brothers may be home yet."

Estel wasn't able to ask what he meant before they were off, the clarion call of an elven horn sounding behind him. On the way there, several other patrols joined them on the way, sounding horns of their own as they crossed the main bridge and into the courtyard of his home. Estel nearly flopped down onto the earth in his haste to dismount.

Almost simultaneously another party of elves entered from the west gate and at the forefront…

"Estel!!"

Two identical bodies slammed into the barely standing edain, pressing hard against him, almost as travel worn as their younger brother was.

Estel's tears ran with the force of over a years worth of sorrows as he held his brothers to him. His spirit rekindled as he was surrounded by the familiar warmth of his family's love.

Legolas smiled as he dismounted, whispering words of praise to his mount. He stood back and watched the reunion as the twins gently lifted his brothers, despite vehement protest, and carried him into the house.

"'Dan, where is ada?" Estel asked, peering around the doors, anxious to see his father.

Elladan exchanged looks with Elrohir.

"He is not here Estel."

-o-O-o-

Reviews are cool and I think I'd get a good laugh if any of the older reviewers chewed me out.