Chapter Six

While Legolas had become accustomed to a wild greeting from Estel whenever he arrived at Imladris, he wasn't prepared for a flying tackle that knocked him back onto the ground. Looking up into the familiar face, he marveled at home much the boy had grown in that year since they had seen each other. But considering that the human was now nearly thirteen, that shouldn't have surprised him.

"Goodness, Tithen Pen!" he laughed as he sat up and embraced his young friend, holding him in his lap. "If you injure me just with your greeting, I may have to spend the rest of my visit in bed rather than roaming with you!"

Estel laughed and squeezed him around the waist. "I really missed you, Las! I've been waiting for you to visit! Please don't ever wait a year to come again!"

The elf smiled and kissed his forehead. "I missed you too, Estel! And you're right! A year is far too long! If you hadn't tackled me, I don't know if I would have recognized you; you've grown so much. Maybe I shouldn't call you tithen pen any more!"

"It's alright, Las!" He turned serious, "As long as nobody is around to hear!"

Legolas bit back a laugh as he gave Estel another squeeze before playfully shoving him off his lap. Getting to his feet, he pulled the human up and tucked him under his arm. As they started into the house, Estel launched into his usual recount of all his past year's adventures. The elf listened intently, noticing how the boy's voice had begun to deepen, occasionally cracking as he spoke. His little friend was really growing into a young man. Judging from the many inches he'd grown in the past year, he could easily equal or perhaps surpass Legolas in height.

They entered the house and took Legolas's bag to his room. As the elf began unpacking his things, Estel sat on the bed watched him. Then the human asked a simple question the surprised him, though it shouldn't have. "Tell me about your adventures, Las! I want to know what YOU did!"

Legolas considered the request. Was Estel old enough to hear of all he'd done? Yes, he was growing up, but he was still a child in so many ways. But could he lie to him and tell him that he had nothing exciting to share?

But then he gazed at the boy, and for a moment, he didn't see Estel Elrondion. He saw Aragorn, son of Arathorn. A Dunedin who was destined to sit on the throne of Gondor.

Still, it felt too soon to share all his adventures with his friend. But if he refused, Estel would press him. He'd always been persistent, and now that he was getting older, it would only be worse.

The human was waiting expectantly, so Legolas finally spoke. "Not right now, Estel." There he hadn't given a specific time he'd tell him. "I have a better idea. I know you've been learning how to spar. Why don't you show me your skills." He was rewarded with the boy's eyes lighting up. The elf took his hand, and they walked out together.

Any doubt that Estel was growing up vanished as they fought. Legolas actually had to avoid several hard blows. After almost thirty minutes of continuous fighting, the elf dropped to his knees. "Enough, tithen pen! You have worn me out!" He stretched out on the ground, leaning against a nearby tree. Estel plopped down next to him, looking up at him adoringly.

"Now, Las?"

Legolas got a terrible feeling. "Now, what?"

"Now, will you tell me stories about your adventures?"

Legolas bit back a gusty sigh. When he spoke, he forced his tone to sound teasing. "Tithen pen, when I said not right now, I didn't mean in a few minutes or a few hours. I mean when I'm ready. Do your brothers and ada give you everything you want the moment you want it?"

"Well...no!"

"So sometime, I'll tell you my adventures, but not right now. And as I've already said, you've worn me out, Mellon nin!"

The human pouted, but when Legolas reached out, he cuddled up to him. "Alright!"

The nightmares came again that night. It had been a few years since his elven best friend had visited him in his dreams. The memories of the torture and blood the night he was slain. That face had been replaced by Estel's. He was slipping through the tree branches, just as he had as a six-year-old when he and Legolas had walked in the trees. But instead of the elf catching his hand, he watched, frozen in place, as the tiny human plummeted to the ground. Landing hard, body broken beyond repair. Legolas would scream, pleading for it not to be so. And then he would wake up. Knowing it had been a dream, but often filled with fear the next time he reached Imladris, wondering if it had been a premonition and something really had happened to his precious little friend.

Now he jerked awake, not realizing he'd cried out until a small hand touched his wrist.

"Las?" The human's voice was soft. "Are you alright? I heard you calling my name. You sounded scared!"

Legolas couldn't speak. Reaching out, he pulled the warm body onto the bed beside him. Cuddling him against his chest.

Estel didn't ask anything else. He just returned his friend's squeeze. After several moments, Legolas finally found his voice. "Oh, Estel! I...Do you remember the day when you were six that we were walking in the trees, and you almost fell?"

The human nodded up against him. "Do you remember how you said that you were never scared because you knew I'd take care of you?"

Again, the human nodded.

"Well, Tithen Pen, I was scared! In fact, it was the most terrifying moment of my life! The thought of losing you...it was, and still is, unbearable! You are absolutely wonderful, tithen Mellon nin! I love you more than life itself. And I don't know what I would do without you!"

As he spoke, his arms kept tightening around Estel until it must be hard for the human to breathe. But he didn't complain. He just hugged Legolas tighter too.

Finally, he spoke softly. "Las, I know you didn't want to tell me about your adventures because you thought it might scare me. But you don't have to worry! You always listen to me, and I want to listen to you! You can tell me what scares you too! Friends help each other, don't they" Please tell me, Las! Please let me help you!"

Legolas choked back another sob. To be so loved by this precious child, it still amazed him at times! Stroking back the soft dark curls, he spoke softly, "You are right, Estel! Perhaps I shouldn't keep it all a secret from you. But sometimes I forget that you're growing up. All I see is the child that used to try to hide my boots to keep me from leaving."

Estel pulled back with a pout. "And it never worked! You always knew where they were."

"Well, Estel, maybe you should try to walk softer when you take them in the first place. And when I come looking for them, perhaps don't stand in front of your toy chest giggling behind your hands!"

The human scowled playfully and squirmed out of the elf's grip. Jumping off the bed, he made to leave, but Legolas grabbed his wrist. "Oh, Estel, stay!" he chuckled, "I said I'd tell you my adventures."

Estel brightened at that and climbed back onto the bed. Settling down comfortably by his friend. For the next hour, Legolas told him stories of some of what he'd done over the past year and some from before that as well. While he left out some of the worst details, he held little back.

Eventually, the boy nodded off with his head on the elf's chest. Legolas gave a chuckle and shifted, so they were lying down. Estel had been right. He was old enough to hear more of the elf's adventures. Both the good and evil. They needed to share each other's burdens. And the human didn't even fully know yet how important that would become. Kissing the dark head, he too drifted off into sleep. This time, he didn't fear nightmares.

TBC

OOF. It's a relief to get that out. I was writing in my head at work today, and I couldn't wait to get to my computer to work on it.

It made sense to me that as Estel/Aragorn got older, their relationship would have shifted to more of an equal friendship rather than the elf and his little friend.

Anywho, please leave a review.