Chapter 14

The small group left the site of the battle behind them. They rode slowly, mainly due to the injuries suffered by Legolas and Tirinvo. However, none had escaped unscathed. Estel had a growing headache from the blow on his head. Elladan suffered a cut on his forearm. It was not deep, but as with any orc wound, it was red and painful, now that he was not distracted by other concerns. Elrohir and Poldon both had bruises from being hit by fists or blunt weapons.

They rode until the sun had set and the Eastern sky was darkening. When they reached a small clearing, Elrohir, who was leading, stopped. The others followed suit. He glanced around and noted the sound of a stream before saying, "We can camp here tonight. It makes no sense to keep traveling after dark."

The others nodded or murmured their agreement. All dismounted; Tirinvo and Legolas slowly and painfully. Elrohir gave out instructions. "Poldon, Estel, gather firewood and start a fire. Elladan and I will take the horses to the stream and then stake them to graze. After that, we will tend to the wounds while Poldon and Estel, you cook."

"And what shall I do?" Legolas questioned, even though he was standing with all his weight on his right leg and his arm was draped across Cordof's back for support.

"Sit with Tirinvo and rest," Elrohir replied.

"That is not much. I can do more," the Mirkwood Elf argued, despite the fact that he was even paler than normal.

"Well, then, supervise and make sure we do our jobs properly. I am sure as a prince you have a great deal of experience in supervising," Elladan said with a smile – the first from any in many hours.

Legolas glared at the dark-haired Elf before a small smile crossed his face. "Nearly as much as the son of an Elf-lord," he countered.

The other four grinned and chuckled, as did Elladan. It felt good to all to have some familiar banter back. The jovial spirit that had occurred during the dagger bet between Elrohir and Poldon had quickly passed.

Legolas and Tirinvo took a few steps away from the horses and sank to the grass. Legolas sat, but Tirinvo laid down, his bandaged arm lying across his chest. Poldon and Estel walked into the forest to pick up branches that had fallen from the myriad of trees that surrounded them. After removing the packs from the horses, the twins led them to the stream.

When they returned, Estel was feeding a small flame more kindling. Poldon was still gathering wood. Tirinvo was laying quietly, his eyes closed and his features blanched with pain. Legolas had moved and was now leaning against an oak tree. He watched the movements of the others even though his blue eyes were darkened with pain. Noting this, the twins exchanged glances before staking the horses. Then they went to the two seriously injured Elves.

"Estel, once the fire is big enough, heat some water, please. About half the dinner pot will work," Elrohir requested as he kneeled on the ground next to Tirinvo.

Estel nodded. "I will go get some fresh water from the stream now." The fire was now crackling nicely inside a ring of rocks that Estel had set up. He grabbed a pot from one of the packs and made his way to the stream. He quickly returned, carefully carrying the container.

Once the fire was hot enough, Estel put the pot over it on the stand that the twins had carried with them. Meanwhile Elladan had dug through the packs for bandages and more athelas. He handed Estel some leaves to put in the water. Soon a sweet and pungent smell filled the clearing. It lightened the pains all felt. During this time, Poldon continued to stack more firewood near the packs, which Estel had stacked neatly out of the way while waiting for the water to warm.

Elladan worked on Legolas while Elrohir took care of Tirinvo. They bathed the wounds with the heated water and then re-wrapped them with clean bandages. Once those two were treated, Elrohir took care of Elladan's cut. Finally, Poldon and Elrohir bathed their bruises while Elladan held a wet cloth to Estel's head. The teen's headache faded completely and he smiled his gratefulness at Elladan. The elder twin grinned back in companionship.

Poldon started a simple stew and Elrohir helped him finish it. Quietly the six companions ate and then Estel and Elladan cleaned up. Tirinvo was soon asleep. Elrohir added fuel to the fire where he was joined by Elladan. Poldon paced the edge of the clearing. He had taken the first watch.

Estel took the blankets from his pack and settled next to Legolas. The Elf smiled at him, but neither spoke. Soon the youth was asleep. Shortly after, Legolas stretched out on the grass and was also asleep.

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After another check of bandages and breakfast in the morning, the six companions headed out. They left later and rode more slowly then either group had on the way north. After a lunch break, they continued and rode until early evening.

The routine followed a similar pattern from the night before. Tirinvo and Legolas rested as the others gathered firewood, took care of the horses and started food. Once again, Elladan and Elrohir changed the dressing on Legolas' and Tirvino's wounds. The others' injuries needed slight treatment for probably the final time.

When dinner had been consumed and cleaned up, Estel sat down by Legolas who was sitting slightly apart from the others. He had grown quieter as the day had worn on. He had barely spoken to Elrohir, answering only direct questions, while the other Elf treated his leg injury.

"Legolas, is your leg bothering you?" Estel queried softly.

"Nay, it is not bad, young one. Why do you ask?" he returned, looking at the teen.

Estel shifted his weight and drew one leg up close to his chest. He wrapped his arms around it.

"You are sitting here so quietly. You did not even comment to Elrohir when you had the chance during dinner."

Legolas shrugged slightly but did not move away from the tree he rested against. His legs were stretched out in front of him.

"It is nothing."

"I do not believe you, Legolas." Gray eyes bore into blue ones, demanding an answer. After a few moments, the Elf broke the contact. It was the first time Estel could remember Legolas not holding his gaze. Before the youth had always looked away first. The blond-haired Elf sighed before responding.

"I am not happy with Elladan and Elrohir."

"Why? Have they not treated your wound well?" Estel's brow furrowed as he looked from his friend to his brothers and back.

"That is not why." Legolas paused and looked away from Estel. He muttered as if to himself and Estel barely heard. "What were they thinking? Bringing you?"

"Legolas," Estel said firmly. "Legolas," he repeated when the Elf did not turn towards him. "Look at me," he commanded in a voice that belied his age and the volume. He waited until their gazes met again. "I did not give them any choice."

Legolas' face was etched with disbelief. "No choice?" he echoed with a mirthless laugh. "You may be growing, Estel, but single-handedly either of them could have carried you to your room and dumped you there."

"Yes, they could have," Estel nodded in agreement, "and they threatened to. But if would have done no good. I swore I would follow even if they tied me up. As soon as I escaped I would be on the road to Mirkwood."

"Please," Legolas scoffed. "Like your father would have let you," he broke off suddenly as if just realizing what Estel had said. "Mirkwood? Why would you have gone to Mirkwood?"

"That is where we thought you went."

"What?"

It was Estel's turn to sigh. "That is where we thought you went. Elrohir, Elladan and me. We thought you were so mad you went home."

Legolas shook his head and gave a quick, short laugh. "I was mad, but you really thought I went home? Did you not ask your father?"

The teen's shoulders slumped slightly and he dropped his arms from his leg. He shifted and sat cross-legged looking intently at his friend. "We asked him if he had seen you and he said he did before you left. That is all we heard."

A reluctant grin tugged at the corners of Legolas' mouth. He could well imagine the impetuous sons of Elrond not getting the full story before jumping to a conclusion. "So if you thought I went to Mirkwood, how did you end up here?"

"We headed out and rode to a stream to camp. It was afternoon before we left." Estel stopped and Legolas nodded to encourage him.

"Poldon found out where you actually went and came after us. He found us before we broke camp in the morning. We then decided to head north to find you."

Legolas pondered the brief explanation. "There is still more I do not understand."

Estel unconsciously copied a movement of his father's and raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What?"

"If you knew I had not headed home, why did you not return to Imladris and wait for me there rather than come on this trek?"

"I refused. I felt bad about the putting the spiders in your room, Legolas. And I still do. I refused to wait two weeks to apologize."

Legolas smiled softly at the teen. "Estel, I have forgiven you. Now, you need to forgive yourself."

Estel nodded again. "I will try."

The Mirkwood Elf shook his head in puzzlement. "I still do not know why Elladan and Elrohir agreed to bring you."

"Legolas, I refused to stay home or go home." The tone of voice was matter-of-fact. "I threatened to spend every minute, day or night, trying to go after you. They simply realized that it would be easy to go with me than try to watch me at home all the time." The teen finished with a smirk.

For a long moment Legolas stared at Estel in disbelief, then he laughed, feeling the tension slip away. He had seen enough of Estel's stubbornness to believe him. His anger at the twins for endangering their brother dissipated. He could now understand. He most likely would have done the same if the situation was reversed.

"Are you not glad they did?" Estel asked.

"Very, Estel, very."

Estel returned the smile before pulling his legs back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around them again and dropped his head to his knees. The friends sat quietly watching the fire before falling asleep.

TBC…

A/N – I had some trouble with this chapter – hence the delay. Sorry! But it really was the squirrel's fault! It deserted me! I tried to call it back (and it sounded a lot like this)… Squirrel! – GET BACK HERE – It's winter! There's snow on the ground! It's not time to pick flowers anymore! Squirrel!... #Sigh#

Maybe lots of reviews will encourage it to come back? Shall we try? C'mon – log in and review!

Also – what's going to happen next? Well, they still have to journey home and then there are parents to face! Uh-oh! That could be worse than the orcs!