A/N: Hello! I'm glad you're back! I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but the next ones will be longer. :)
So sit back, relax, grab a slab of chocolate cake, and enjoy!
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"I believe we have been found, Estel."
"What do you mean?" The boy's face was sewn with worry and anticipation.
Legolas merely shrugged and leaned back against the tree.
"You know Legolas," Estel grunted. "sometimes I think you just like to –"
Unfortunately, no one would ever know just what Legolas liked to do. For at that moment, Estel stopped. He felt a tingle slither up his spine, and shivered.
Someone or something was watching.
Looking around hastily, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Casting an anxious glance at Legolas who seemed just as content as ever, he settled back down with a sigh. His brothers were right. He was getting paranoid.
All of a sudden, without warning, two elves leapt from the shadows of the forest. Their lithe bodies poised into a position of attack, they stood deadly, yet silent.
One held a thin bow, already notched with an arrow. The glint in her eye told Estel one thing – She didn't need too much provocation to use it. In her partner's hands, a deadly and particularly sharp sword stood tall. His face was thin, but had an aura of power about it.
Their eyes scanning the glade, and their mouths pressed in a firm, grim line, the two's muscles were tensed like a spring, ready to strike. Their very presence was an echo of Legolas, breathing with the aura of the deep forest. It didn't take a genius to find out where they came from.
The boy's mouth dropped open in surprise. His eyes fixed on the sinister weapons glinting cruelly in the rain, he held up his hands in peace. However, the elves weren't watching him.
They were staring; slack-jawed, wide-eyed, and speechless, at Legolas. Three factors, mused Estel randomly amidst his alarm, that you would never think of to describe an elf.
"…Legolas?" The male elf said hesitantly.
"Is that…Is that really you?" his partner asked, voice clouded with confusion.
"I should hope so." Legolas replied, smiling calmly at the two warriors.
Meanwhile, Estel was frozen in a position of shock and surprise. His mouth was open in a silent gasp, his eyes wide and fixed on the male elf and his partner, and his tongue failing to find words.
"Forgive us." The male said solemnly. He bowed his head respectfully and put a hand over his heart, his partner mimicking his movements.
"Come now Urvaethil, there is no need for apologies." Legolas repeated the gesture and smiled in earnest.
Nodding respectfully, the two elves turned their gaze to Estel. Eyes scanning his features, they seemed to bore right into his very mind.
"And who, pray tell, is this?" The female elf's voice was laced with darkness.
Biting his lip and standing shakily, Estel set his shoulders. Trying not to appear afraid, he looked them in the eye – or did so for as long as he could, anyway. At a nod from Legolas, Estel, wiping his filthy hands on his soiled tunic, dipped his head, putting a hand over his heart.
"I am Estel, son of Elrond of Rivendell." He said, trying not to let intimidation leak into his voice.
The female elf seemed too stunned to speak, and then suddenly, understanding lit her face like a spark.
"Well met, Estel of Rivendell," she said softly, her face losing tension. "I apologize for any confusion."
With a strong gait, the male elf stepped before his partner, his face warm.
"I am Urvaethil of Mirkwood, and this is my partner, Laerel of Mirkwood. We arrived with the Prince."
Bowing slightly, the male elf nodded to his partner, and then to Legolas.
Estel noticed the gesture to the partner, but failed to see that when Urvaethil said "The Prince," he clearly nodded at Legolas.
Paling visibly at the mention of Mirkwood's Prince, Estel gave a shaky nod of understanding, and fell back, sitting down heavily. Grass and leaves firmly clung to his clothes, and he closed his eyes, leaning his head against the tree.
"By the Valar!" Laerel suddenly exclaimed. "You are both injured!"
"I'm fine…" Legolas protested, but it was too late.
Sheathing their weapons with a graceful precision, they both rushed forward and began checking the two over.
Poking ribs, pressing arms - Legolas was all too used to this sort of thing.
"Really, I'm fine." Legolas sighed as the older female elf tapped and checked his arm. "What do you expect to find?"
Giving a smirk, Laerel gave him a look that clearly said it all. Nevertheless, she shrugged and began gently setting his arm.
"Oh, you know – the usual. Mortal wounds, serious concussions, poisoned gashes…"
A disgruntled sigh escaped Legolas' lips, and he looked over to where Estel was being checked over by Urvaethil. The boy was eagerly flooding the elf with a barrage of questions, all the while Urvaethil chuckling and answering honestly.
"He is … something… isn't he?" came a hesitant voice from beside Legolas.
Legolas turned his head to look at Laerel with a satisfied smile on his face.
"What? I'm just saying…"
"Oh, no need." Legolas said smoothly. "I seem to recall, oh, I do not know, maybe yesterday. Remember what you said, when the messenger told you of the boy Elrond adopted? Remember how he told of how he got along quite well with elves?"
"I…I do not remember." Laerel's face was steaming up, bright red flushing her cheeks.
"Oh. Well I do." Legolas continued, looking innocently up at the misty sky. "The day that I am actually fond of a human, is the day the clouds start raining spiders!"
Ducking her head in shame, Laerel busied herself with Legolas' arm, which known by both her and Legolas, she had already set.
Smiling at his companion, Legolas leaned against the smooth wood of the tree. The peaceful song of rain and thunder began to lull him into a much needed rest.
And as the storm rumbled on and on, one would not be too surprised if it began raining spiders.
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A/N: Sorry for the shortness, and the lack of action, but we needed to just get to know these two. Thanks once again for reading – I appreciate your time!
-RiverOtter1