A/N: I'm very glad you've decided to join me again. :) I don't have much to say about this chapter, except that I appreciate your time.
So sit back, relax, grab a cherry Popsicle, and enjoy!
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CRASH!
The sudden shatter of thunder woke Estel with a start. Rubbing the weariness from his eyes, he peered around at the dismal clearing. Darkness splashed a deep veil of blue across the grass, and the trees stretched and sighed, pleased with the clear, cool water dripping down to massage their cracked and worn bodies.
His eyes rested on Legolas' sleeping form, propped up against a grandfather oak. Estel smiled as he saw that the heavy branches formed a roof of sorts over the elf's head, and the roots curled around him, almost making a cradle.
The boy grinned and shook his head at the relationship that wood elves had with nature.
Looking up at his own tree, he scowled when he saw that the branches were spread far apart, not bothering to shelter the child at all.
"Yeah, thanks a lot." Estel muttered.
Peering around at the rain-spilled land, Estel shivered in the chill. Wrapping his sopping cloak tighter around himself, he quivered in the cool air.
The sweet tinkling of rain no longer fluttered from the land. Now, the rain fell in heavy sheets, each drop stinging your skin. Thunder rumbled and shook the heavy clouds, provoking even more rain to crash to the ground.
Lighting streaked across the sky like the golden roots of a tree, reaching far, far out into the darkness of the night. Feeling a tingle go up his spine, Estel saw a long and deadly flash illuminate in a second above him, and then melt into blackness once more.
Sniffling, the child huddled back up against the tree, curling in on himself in an attempt to get warmth.
And as the child drifted into an uneasy sleep, the tree crossed and twisted her thin branches over the sleeping boy, sheltering him from the cold rain.
*******
Tormented by despair and anger, Estel could only watch, horror-struck, as the snake tensed, ready to strike.
'Estel!'
The boy turned heartbroken eyes to those of his brother.
There was fear.
Elladan's voice was pained and pleading.
'Please Estel…Help me!'
"I can't!"
"I need you Estel! Please, help me!"
"No! It's just a dream…just a dream…"
"Please…"
As the snake crashed down upon him, Elladan gave one last, forlorn look upon his brother, before disappearing forever.
"Estel!"
All of a sudden, the world shattered into a million glass fragments, as his brother's pleas, the snake's body, and the feeling of despair faded into an all too familiar clearing.
"Estel! Wake up!"
The boy woke with a start, gasping for breath, as he looked with wild eyes at the scene before him. The calm, compassionate face of Urvaethil smiled sadly at him, while the firm face of Laerel nodded solemnly before clapping him on the shoulder.
"Are you all right, young one?"Urvaethil's voice was gentle, and Estel felt himself nodding.
"Good." Laerel said briskly before rising swiftly to her feet. "I shall scout the area."
Promptly snatching her weapons, the elf disappeared into the deep green cloaks surrounding them.
CRASH!
Estel jumped and instinctively clung to Urvaethil as the thunder broke heavily across the sky. Streaks of lightning illuminated the forest with rims of gold as they dissolved into the blackness of the night.
"Oh, er... Sorry." Estel said sheepishly as he detached himself from the proud and dignified elven warrior.
"It is well, Estel." The warrior said kindly. "The storm frightens all."
Patting him on the back, he stood, and Estel could see Legolas sitting a few feet away, a scowl of obvious displeasure sewn across his face.
"Now, now Legolas. Do not be upset." Urvaethil said laughing. "We cannot have you moving about too often with your bruised ribs and broken arm. Why, it's almost dislocated as it is!"
"It has been set! Resting will do no good!"
Urvaethil raised his eyebrow.
Giving a sigh, the elf nestled farther back into the tree.
"You just wait, Urvaethil. Sooner or later, you'll be injured. And you will not receive any sympathy from me!" The tree seemed to shift and rustle as if supporting him.
"Come now. We both know that this is for your own good."
Rolling his eyes, but smiling nonetheless, Legolas ran a hand over his face.
"What would I do without you, Uruviel?"
"Sometimes I wonder that myself."
Grinning, Estel shuffled over to Legolas and leaned back against the tree.
"Have we any medical supplies?" Estel inquired, searching for the pack that held them.
"Wait…" Estel frowned, looking around. "Where is Urvaethil's pack?"
Indeed, the pack containing all of the necessary supplies was not there. Estel looked around wildly, his eyes overturning rocks, boring through trees, and penetrating thick branches.
But still, the pack was gone.
"Where did it go?"Estel called out, frustrated.
"Peace, Estel." The soft voice of Legolas drifted into his ear. "While you were asleep, Urvaethil hung the pack on a branch near the river. Most likely so that we wouldn't have any late-night visitors. You know how those foxes love Lembas!"
Estel snorted.
"Wait, there's a river?"
"Yes" Urvaethil nodded. "Just over there."
The elf pointed past the thickly threaded forest, and Estel could vaguely make out the distant crash of water.
"Your father won't be pleased that you've managed to injure yourself again." Urvaethil wrung a mass of water from his cloak, before easing down in the tangled roots of a tree.
"Oh, come now." Legolas said, playing on a sense of hurt. "You would not trouble my dear, busy father, now would you?"
Urvaethil actually seemed thoughtful.
"Yes, yes, I suppose you're right."
Legolas gave a triumphant smile.
"Legolas?" Estel asked quietly from beside the elf. "Why is your father so busy? I mean, what does he do?"
"Well, Estel," Legolas hesitated. "You see, my father has many jobs, the busiest and most harassing one being fathering me. Besides that, every day he must fight the shadows creeping up upon our land. He must organize troops, create trade agreements – and that's just the easy stuff."
"Wow," said Estel, looking impressed. "Your father must be pretty important to Mirkwood!"
Estel could clearly see Legolas bite back a smile, while Urvaethil huffed.
"Why, of course!" Urvaethil seemed almost affronted that Estel would say such a thing. "What is Mirkwood without their king?"
Estel nodded, and suddenly, realization hit him full in the face.
"Wait…" he said, confusion and alarm mounting in his voice. "Your father….Y-your father…is the…?"
"King of Mirkwood…" Urvaethil finished, eyebrow raised. Obviously, he thought Estel knew.
"Whoa…" Estel breathed, landing heavily back against a tree. So many emotions swirled and bubbled inside of him, he couldn't really tell which one he was feeling.
It was then that the biggest shock of all threw itself upon him.
"So…" he almost whispered, turning to Legolas. "That would make you…"
Estel swallowed.
"The Prince…"
His eyes widened in shock, and his breath caught in his throat.
Legolas was the Prince.
"No…Y-you can't be!" Estel cried, leaping to his feet.
"Estel…" Legolas started. The elf was looking with pity and sadness at the young boy, shifting his weight so he could stand.
"No!"
His sobs catching in his throat, the boy tore from the clearing, confusion and bewilderment suffocating his mind. Not looking where he was going, and frankly, not caring, Estel kept running. Stumbling through the thick trees, he wiped a clinging tear with his hand.
"Legolas is the Prince of Mirkwood."
On and on he ran, brambles clinging to his clothes, twigs snapping in his face. Dark trees loomed overhead, and the very air pressed down upon him.
Legolas can't be the prince! It doesn't make sense! He can't be!
When finally his senses started to return, the boy slowed as sobs wracked his body.
"Legolas is the Prince of Mirkwood."
Tears trickled down his face as emotions filled his heart to the brim and spilled out.
Estel could not believe it. This whole time, he had been running. Running from the Prince, trying to avoid him, but by doing so, that was exactly how he met him. How many times had he imagined the Prince of Mirkwood? Imagining the perfect figure riding in and stealing his family.
Fatigue and weariness dragging down upon him, Estel stopped. Breathing deeply, he leaned against a tree, closing his eyes to take it all in.
Once again, he was running. Once again, he was running because of the prince.
The boy sighed as he dropped onto a smooth rock. Thoughts and feelings tumbled in his mind, cascading and breaking, splitting and shattering.
"Legolas…Legolas is the Prince.
The young boy dropped his face into his hands.
He thought of Legolas.
The vision of the elf leaning against a tree crept into his mind. He was wearing no crown, no royal robes. He never once gave an order, and he treated his captains and warriors like friends.
He was compassionate, he was kind, and he was humble. Was this the one whom Estel had feared? Whom Estel had thought would steal his family?
'No…' Estel thought, burrowing the palms of his hands into his closed eyes. 'He is still the Prince.'
Though yes, he was humble, a regal aura swirled around him. His eyes were a chilling blue, and could make pretty much anyone look away if they wanted to. Thought, he did seem concerned greatly on a personal level of the well-being of others.
Legolas was a Prince.
This was the Prince of Mirkwood, who was perfect and rich.
This was the Prince of Mirkwood, who would abandon him and steal his family for himself.
This was the Prince of Mirkwood, whom Estel had feared.
Estel bit his lip.
…"Why? He's a Prince, Legolas. He's royalty! They're haughty and rich and they don't care about anyone but themselves! Personally, I don't see what 'Dan and 'Ro see in him! He won't like me, and that's fine with me, because I don't like him."…
…"Because I don't like him"…
Tears slithered down Estel's cheeks, and he felt anger at himself swirl around the sadness.
…"Because I don't like him"…
What had he done? Why had he said that? He shook and quivered, though with anger or despair, he did not know. Deep breaths flew in and out, trying to ease the young boy.
'What does together mean, Estel?' The soft voice of his conscience soothed the boy's mind.
"Together…" Estel swallowed. "Together is to not leave another behind. Together is to trust."
Slowly, Estel opened his eyes.
'Together… means you and me…. Friends."
Standing slowly, Estel took a deep breath in.
'Together means friends.'
Estel could almost feel his conscience smile.
"Is Legolas going to leave you all alone?"
His eyes wide with understanding the boy whispered.
"…No"
He took a step forward.
'Is Legolas going to steal your brothers?'
His brow furrowing with realization, the boy took a step another step forward.
'No.'
'Is Legolas your friend?'
A small smile warming his face, the boy took another step.
"Yes. Legolas is my friend."
Standing with his shoulders set, and his silver eyes directed before him, the boy felt courage glow in his heart.
"And we're going to Rivendell together."
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A/N: Thanks for your time!
-RiverOtter1