(-)Chapter 9(-)
Elrond and Glorfindel had both been invited to join the meeting with the men from Laketown. Legolas had decided to stay with Estel as soon as he had set eyes on the men... three days ago. He had refused to be near them since.
Estel glanced up at the elf, he didn't really know why the elf came with him, he wouldn't have been alone and the King seemed to have wanted his son at the meeting.
Legolas's expression looked slightly pained, with an edge of hatred that he seemed to be desperately trying to get rid of.
Estel was silent for a moment before turning and gently tugging on the elf's sleeve, "Le'las? Is you okay?"
Legolas started and glanced down at him, forcing a smile, "Of course."
"Awa says dat you look upset and you is wowwying him," he mumbled.
Legolas's shook his head, his voice going slightly flat, "I'm fine."
Estel bit his lip and edged away slightly, he didn't want to say anything but the elf's anger was scaring him, "Uhm... Awa wants ta know if he can talk to you fow a minute."
Legolas immediately jumped away, shaking his head vigorously, "No. No I do not want a human in my mind," he growled angrily, before turning and leaving the child standing alone.
Aragorn stood shocked, -What just happened?-
Estel just whimpered in fear and sadness. For the first time, at least in his memory, he had felt as though he fit in with the elves. He once again felt like an outcast.
Legolas shut his door and froze abruptly, his eyes widening, -Ai... what have I done?-
The elf spun around and flung the door open again, making his way back to where he had left the child, his guilt pushing all the anger and hatred out of his mind. His guilt rose terribly when he found the child sitting under the window, shaking slightly in his fear.
"Estel," he muttered quietly.
The child leapt to his feet and eyed the elf warily, edging away from him.
Legolas flinched and bowed his head, "I'm so sorry... that was completely uncalled for... I... I just..." he sighed, "there is no excuse for what I did. Estel I beg your forgiveness and if Aragorn still wishes to speak with me it shall be so."
Estel still shook slightly and warily inched his way towards the elf, something told him that the outburst really hadn't fully been the elf's fault, "I fowgive you... an' he says that if you isn't comfowtable with it than he'll leave you alone."
Legolas shook his head sadly, unconsciously falling to his knees, "Please... I... I think I owe him an explaination at least, as to why I did that."
Aragorn reluctantly left the child, and without physical contact ended up standing there, he stared at the elf a moment and knelt in front of him.
Legolas felt the presence in front of him and glancned up, blinking in shock when he realized he was staring at nothing.
Aragorn smiled slightly, not moving as he read the shock spreading over the elf's face. If he wanted to speak with him, it would be his choice alone.
Legolas knew suddenly, that he was being given the choice, whether to allow this, or back away. He stared a moment before inching closer, rather unsure of what he was supposed to do. He inched slightly closer again and gasped slightly when his hand hit something cold. He felt an odd connection and a cold wind, then nothing. He shifted, looking extremely unsure whether that was it.
Aragorn's eyes flit open and he frowned, he felt terribly stiffled by the guilt and anger that the elf's mind contained that he had to struggle more than usual after what had happened to simply sit up, -Legolas?-
The elf jerked in shock and his guilt increased immediately.
Aragorn gasped slightly, it felt as though a weight had been dropped on his head and it hurt terribly.
-Legolas?- he finally managed, speaking to the elf softly, -what's going on?-
-I... I am sorry...- he was extremely uncomfortable but he forced himself to do this.
Aragorn cocked his head to the side slightly, -Is this my fault? If it is I can fix whatev--
-No! It's not your fault Strider, you did nothing to upset me, it was...- he sighed, -I do not know how to explain...-
Aragorn thought back for a moment and frowned, -human...- he muttered unconsciously, before speaking up suddenly, -Legolas is it the other men that brought this on? What did they do?-
Legolas shifted, surprised at how quickly his friend had hit on what had been bothering him, -I must admit... it was them... but they, as well, did naught to warrant that reaction.-
-Legolas, forgive my slow thinking, but I don't understand,- he frowned.
Legolas sighed, -They bring back many memories...-
Aragorn's eyes widened slightly, -Ai... Legolas...- all the man knew was that the elf had been beaten by men when he was young, and had been enslaved for six years of his life, his hatred of men was understandable, Aragorn was simply surprised he had been able to make it past that barrier. But he was very glad of it.
Legolas shook his head, -But here's what no one else but my ada and yours know.-
-Legolas you don't have to speak of this if you do not wish too.-
The elf immediately shook his head again, -I want you to know Strider, you should know this, you should know why I had shut you out at first and why you were on the recieving end of... that, - he took a deep breath, -when I was captured my mother was as well... she was beaten to death by those men. I stayed with them for five months and was beaten each night. I was taken to a slave auction then. The man that bought me used me to keep his farm.-
Aragorn was shocked into silence.
Legolas snorted, -He was always drunk, he, as well, beat me, though not as often at least since he was unconscious half the time. I was sold a year and five months later to a woman and her husband who used me as a guard for their horrid child. I hadn't been beaten every day at least and it only lasted two months. I had then been bought from them to work in an inn, I had been beaten there at least every other day. I stayed there for two years. For the last two years I was stuck with an awful man. A lord of some sort near Harad,- the elf paused.
-You need not continue if it's too hard Legolas. I understand.-
-If I had been there for even one month longer I would have faded,- the elf couldn't keep the tears back, -he broke me Estel... one year into it... and he broke me... one year,- his thoughts seemed lower than a whisper.
Aragorn started, horrified, -Legolas... you... you didn't have to tell me this, I never judged you mellon-nin.-
Legolas smiled slightly, -I know this, but I am glad I finally spoke of it to someone other than my ada. Lord Elrond only knew through my father. I needed this Strider. I just never realised it until now.-
Aragorn smiled reasurringly, -Well I'm glad I was able to help you Legolas.-
-More than you know mellon-nin.-
Aragorn smiled, -Well... I really do hate to leave to soon but I should get back before I begin to wonder where I am.-
Legolas blinked, taking a second to sort through that, -Strider... I'd rather you stay a while... I'm... afraid if you leave too soon my thoughts will go right back to where they were before.-
Aragorn smiled, -I will stay... if you promise to get some rest,- he laughed, -you need it terribly mellon-nin.-
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Thranduil sighed slightly as he quietly knocked on his sons door, his son had been acting oddly and refusing to come to the meeting had only pushed the elvenkings worry higher.
Legolas shifted on his bed, suddenly surprised at himself for being able to sleep at all, and glanced over at the door, "Come in," he muttered, sitting up quickly.
Estel woke from the elf's movements and blinked.
Thranduil slowly opened the door and smiled slightly, "Legolas?"
"Aye ada?" he cocked his head to the side, eyes sparkling innocently.
Thranduil raised one eyebrow, "Are you okay? You've been acting oddly."
Legolas shrugged slowly, "Well... the men... I must admit brought back more memories than I had thought they would have... but I am fine now," he smiled.
Thranduil frowned, but quickly shook it off and smiled as well, "That is well."
"What was it they were worried about?"
Thranduil rolled his eyes slightly, "It turns out there was a pack of wargs that had come closer to the town than usual," he shook his head in amusement, "men are so jumpy."
-I take offence to that,- Aragorn joked.
Legolas smirked slightly.
Thranduil sat on the edge of the bed and stared at his son hard for a moment, he truly did look better. Better than he had in years in fact, the mischievous spark had returned to it's original brightness and his stance itself was happier and seemed more relaxed and confident.
"What has happened to warrant this sudden change?"
"I finally spoke of it," the elf muttered, he finally felt as though he could speak of it now and not try to hide from it anymore, "you had always been right, it was easier to simply get it out and put it behind me."
Thranduil smiled at his son and pulled him into a hug, he had a pretty good idea of who his son had told, he had no reason to ask.
Aragorn smiled, -I should go now Legolas.-
The elf smiled, -Of course. Thank you Aragorn.-
The human smiled and left the elf as soon as he let go of his father.
Estel smiled happily then and stood to go find his own father.
Elrond stood just outside the door where the elvenking had left him. He smiled and lifted the child as soon as he stepped through the door.
Estel blinked and smiled, yawning slightly, he shook his head as an odd, dizzy feeling came over him.
Aragorn as well felt the same dizzy feeling overcome him, he frowned and shook his head. This couldn't be good... or was it? His frown deepened.
Elrond frowned as he realised something was wrong, "Estel? Are you okay?"
The child whimpered slightly, "Feel all dizzy an' weiwd..." he muttered just before he passed out.
A/N
Elven Kitten: Hey all! :) This is gonna be another quick authors note so, I hope you all enjoyed it! Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! :)
Night-Owl123 - Hope you enjoyed! :)
Losing Grip - Glad you luv it! :)
sielge - Lol! Yesh, poor Glorfindel... :P
IwishChan - Oh yes, lol. Poor them... lol. :) I like the young Estel too... :( too bad we all know he has to go eventually... :( lol
Gwenneth - Wow, thank you for the review! I'm so glad you decided to come take a look! Yeah... I tend to allow my imagination to run off into a completely different world while I'm writing... lol, which would basically explain half of the things I write....... especially in this story... :S lol. I'm glad you think I'm doing well! :) Thank you so much for the advice! :)
tmelange - Thank you! I'm glad it's interesting! :) Glad it's funny! lol
Kalayna - Lol! It wasn't bad. lol, I'm glad you liked the chapter!
grumpy - Lol! No way... I gotta wonder about some of the things that drive some animals to do what they do... truthfully I'm not sure I really wanna know though... :S lol
Janna Hawkins - So glad you're enjoying! :)
marbienl - I'm glad it made you smile! :) Makes me happy! :P I'm glad you liked the bit between Elrond and Aragorn. I enjoyed writing it and I'm glad it was enjoyed. :) :). Glad you liked the bit with the snake too! Glorfindel is such a bully! Lol! No, he really does seem like an Uncle to Aragorn. I'm glad you're enjoying it! :)
Micro - Lol, glomp ish fun! :P Glad you liked it! lol Yay! Balrog! He ish my Balrog, and his name shalt be EVILELFYSLAYEROFDOOM! Hah! Poor elfy... of which I know not it's name... XP lol. No... his name shalt be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Iiiiiiii have no idea... lol. :P
E.K.: Heylo! :) I just gonna say quickly that I'm glad everyone liked it! Thank you all again for the wonderful reviews! Oh, yes... and... um... there's only gonna be like... two more chapters after this... yes... XP meh... 't is all comin' to an end... oh how sad... lol. :) I have to say that the next story may not be very good... I don't really know what to do with Aragorn's next four years in Gondor and I had to think of something. I have an idea, and I hope you'll all enjoy it! It might not be as long... I already had an idea before but it would have to occur after the four years so this one is more of a filler, because I've had enough of wasting good space by skipping several years. Lol. I hope you will all enjoy it as well, but in the meantime, I hope you all enjoy the next couple of chapters! :)
Namarie!
Elenmeoi
