Hello dear readers, I hope you will not be too mad that I had decided to leave Legolas in the position he for another week ;) For the sake of this chapter please bear with me... somethings will seem out of place for now, but I will make motives and some triggers for things clearer later on.

For silverarrow: Yes, I will admit that that would indeed have been much easier! But alas, I have too much of a dramatic streak in me! As for your questions... You might have to wait a little bit to find out! I have to bring in more questions and drama before I can start answering :)

For Dream Plane: Glad to have you back mellon nin! Thanks, as always, for the wonderful reviews!

A huge thank you to elvenmaia for her undying support!

In Times of Trouble

Scribbles-on-Parchment

April 10, 2021

Chapter 4 – Of Hope and War

Estel cursed loudly as he heard his brother calling his name loudly. What in all of bloody arda could the ellon want now? Could he not ever be left alone even for one second?

"Nan belain Elrohir! What is it that you need now?"

The young human could not stop much of the frustration he was feeling come through in his harsh tone, yet Estel could not bring himself to care. There were precious few times when he was ever left to himself and this day he greatly desired time to be alone.

"Relax edan," Elrohir's words were quickly followed by the Noldor's light laugh, "I am not here to ruin your time of peace and quiet."

"It is too late for that," Estel grumbled to himself as he got slowly to his feet from where he had been sitting against a tree in the main garden.

"I am simply here to inform you that ada wishes to speak with you."

The human cast a dark glare at Elrohir who quickly raised his hands in a display of innocence.

"I am only the messenger toron. You need not take your frustration out on me for I do only what is instructed of me."

Estel let out a heavy sigh and ran his hand through his dark hair trying to force down the flood of anger and irritation that threatened to take over his next words. What was wrong with him today? Had he not promised himself that he would not allow this day to bring about such strong feelings in him?

The young man shook his head in an attempt to try and help him try to clear his mind before he strode forward, heading for the entrance of the garden. Estel brushed past Elrohir without a second glance, his mind too consumed by memories and emotions to deal any longer with the younger twin; he was not in the mood.

He had sworn to himself that this year he would not allow the painful memories to resurface, that he would not allow them to cause him pain – not again. However, this has obviously not worked, yet again.

Estel slammed the delicately carved wooden door behind him as he entered the main hall of Imladris. He took no notice of the raised eyebrows and stares that his loud presence had brought from the other Noldor elves in the room and instead made his way quickly towards his ada's office.

It had been four years to the day, four long years since he had last seen Maer in Mirkwood. And every year on this day he had to tell himself that he would not think about the blasted Sinda; yet every year he found himself falling into a dark hole of bitterness and anger.

Though he had only known the elfling for not even a month, he truly had grown protective over him. He felt a strange sense of loyalty to Maer, a feeling that he shared for few others. When Legolas had left and disappeared into the woods alongside of his own kin, Estel had felt something inside of him break. Ever since that day the young human had struggled with the emotions that those memories brought with them.

Part of him felt a great amount of anger towards Legolas, while another side of him brought about thoughts of insurmountable loss. He felt as though he had lost a friend - a friend that he would never be able to gain back. Maer had chosen his family and his kin over his freedom and their sprouting friendship.

As he rightfully should have, Estel reminded himself as he found himself entering the short hallway that led to the door to his ada's office, after all why would he have chosen to come with you over going with those whom he has known and loved for all of his life?

These thoughts echoed around in the man's mind as he knocked softly on the door. If these words were true then why did he feel so broken at the thought of the woodland realm? Why did he feel such great fear and sorrow whenever he remembered Legolas?

"Minno ion nín."

Estel snapped out of his thoughts at his ada's gentle voice that came through the heavy door that stood in front of him. The young man took a deep breath before gathering the nerve to enter. He knew that the Noldor lord would know exactly that troubled his mind and he was not in the best of moods to speak of it.

Estel entered the small, well-light room and instantly felt the penetrating gazes of both his ada and oldest brother. He lowered his head as to avoid making eye contact as he shut to the door softly behind him. This was not going to go well; he could already tell.

Elrond tilted his head slightly as he looked upon the forlorn figure of his youngest son. The sorrow and hurt almost seemed to radiate off of the young man, and the elf lord knew exactly why.

"Estel," Elrond said softly, "Tell me why you are so sad? What is weighing on your heart this day?"

Though he knew that this was to do with the young Sindarin prince, the ellon knew that it would do Estel good to speak of it himself, for keeping emotions and thoughts a secret was not a thing the human had ever been good at.

"Nothing ada. It is nothing."

"Nothing?" Elrond raised a slender brow, "Or nothing that you wish to speak to me of at this moment?"

The eldar saw Estel's body stiffen as could sense that the young human was becoming more and more uncomfortable.

"Elladan," the elf lord turned to his eldest son who stood by his side, "If you will please leave us."

"But ada…"

Elrond silenced whatever was about to come out of the young Noldo's mouth by giving the eldar a harsh look. Elladan's mouth snapped shut before it hardened into a thin line. His eyes flashed in briefly in irritation and annoyance before he turned and walked quickly out of the room. Elrond and Estel were left in silence.

"No ada."

"No what ion? I do not believe that I have yet asked you anything?"

Estel's eyes narrowed.

"You asked me to tell you of what my heart was troubled with."

"And you answered," Elrond smiled kindly at the exasperated look on the edan's face, "If there is nothing that you wish to speak to me about I shall not ask any further."

Estel crossed his arms over his chest.

"Then why is it that you asked Elladan to leave?"

"I merely asked him to leave because I desire to speak to you in private."

"Why? What do you need to speak with me about?"

Elrond's face suddenly darkened and his eyes hardened, "I brought you here to speak with me and Elladan about an issue that has arisen. However, I asked him to leave as I realized it would be wiser to speak with you alone about this for it pertains to you."

The elf lord could see the look of worry pass over Estel's features.

"It was not my desire to inform you of this predicament, yet I believe that it is important that you hear about this from me rather than from someone else."

"What is it?" Estel brow creased.

"I know that you still continue to stand up for and defend the Greenwood and her people whenever someone speaks out against them; yet I would like to now caution you against this."

"What do you mean? Has something happened that I do not know about? Have you received a letter from them that has changed something?"

Elrond saw the flicker of hope that flashed across Estel's face and could not help but feel a stab of regret in his heart at the pain he knew his words were about to cause his youngest son.

"I have still heard nothing from Thranduil, nor anyone from the Greenwood. The issue that I speak of does not lie upon them but insisted upon our own people, for I have gotten many complaints and angered words against you and your brothers."

"For what and from whom?"

"Many elves here in Imladris have allowed great anger into their hearts against our woodland kin and it has taken root. But this anger is not directed solely at you nor solely at the words you have spoken. Great unhappiness has been spoken to me for my continued support of Thranduil and his people. Some seem to believe that the Greenwood deceives us even now and will soon raise up an army against us. There are rumors going around that Thranduil has made a pact with a dark elf who controls hosts of evil creatures."

Estel's eyes blazed in anger at this, "How can they think that? It does not even make any sense. Why would they side with the very forces that almost destroyed them?"

Elrond just shook his head sadly, "Thranduil's past deceit and pride has hurt many here in Imladris. As a result, he has made many enemies against himself. I brought you here to tell you that you would be wise to watch your words more carefully after this. You must understand that your support of the Greenwood will do nothing more than cause great anger and resentment against you."

"So, you wish for me to simply accept the abuse that is thrown at them? You wish for me to say nothing in their defense? Are they not our kin? Why should we not stand up for them?" Estel's face was a storm of fury, "You cannot think that I would just agree with this? Legolas was my friend and I will stand up for him even if it causes me to lose favor amongst others. I had thought that you would do the same."

Elrond felt his son's words rip at his heart. If only Estel knew the anger that he would kindle up against him if he continued to speak out and get into brash arguments.

"Ion nín, I am certain that you will understand that I am not doing this because I do not agree with you. I am doing this because I need to protect you."

"And why do I need to be protected from the Noldor that live here? Are they not your people? Are you not their lord?"

Estel could not understand what his ada was saying to him. How could the ellon truly want for him to forsake the Greenwood and the elves that lived there? How could Elrond, Lord of Imladris, become a coward in the face of his own people? It did not make any sense to him.

"You cannot ask me to do this ada. You know that I will not… cannot do as you ask."

The young human watched as a sorrowful look passed over the ellon's face.

"I would not ask you to do something if I did not deem it is necessary. I worry both for your safety and for the safety of your brothers. You are too outspoken for your own good."

"Then tell them that they are wrong!" Estel was confused as to what his ada was insinuating, "You are their lord and they must obey you. Tell them of how their opinion is gravely mistaken. They will believe you - they have to."

But instead of agreeing, Elrond only shook his head again.

"Our people are growing poisoned against me ion and the counsel has given me an ultimatum. I am to either obey their consensus or I shall be at risk of being overthrown by those who do not agree with me."

Estel felt his blood run cold, "They cannot do this! Surely not! They will be leaderless and defenseless without you. They would not be so foolish as to think anything else. What has happened that has turned all of them against you?"

"Not all of them… but enough of them that I would consider what they say. You see they wish for me to declare war on the Greenwood and on all of the eldar who reside there."

Elvish Translations:

nan belain – by the Valar

ada – dad

toron – brother

minno – come in

ion nín – my son

ion – son

yrch - orcs