A/N: Lossie, Adrienne, this is what I mentioned earlier. It's for you both! ;)
OMG!! Could that be the slightest hint of an actual plot at the end?? NO WAY!!! Fear not! I shall proceed at once to squashing it until there is nothing left but tiny unrecognisable pieces of sewing-thread! (it is a 'plotline', right? No? Ah, forget it... I should know by now that my attempts at humour always end up like this... I'm hopeless... *sniff*) =] R/R, pliz!!
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Chapter IX - Estel
"You're not an Elf, are you?"
"Well, greetings to you too and yes, of course I'm an Elf! What makes you say that, little one?"
"Well, I've always been told that Elves are the fairest to walk on these lands and, besides, they all have long hair! You don't look too good and your hair is shorter than mine! So, you can't be an Elf!" Legolas smiled at the child's innocent comments.
"Is that so? Let me tell you then, my young friend, that I am indeed an Elf! Beware of what you are told, and of what your eyes may mistakenly see!" Young Aragorn just made a face.
"You're right. You must be an Elf, because I have no idea what you just said means! My mother once told me that one should never ask for advice to the Elves, because they will say both yes and no at the same time." He recited as if it was a poem known by heart. "So I guess you should be an Elf. But you still don't look like one, so I still think you're not."
"Really? Well, has your mother told you anything else about Elves?"
"No... not that I can remember."
"She didn't happen to tell you that all Elves have pointed ears, unlike humans, now, did she?" He showed the youngling his ears, or rather, pointed at them, since they were pretty visible without the hair covering them.
"No, she didn't. Those are great! I want to have ears like those too! But that still doesn't make you an Elf." By now, Aragorn was starting to have second thoughts, but he didn't want to give in to the other's talk. "Are you a Dúnadan as well?"
"Very well, you've made your point. Have it your way - I'm not. But if you were to see me in, say... two days' time, then you would believe me!" Legolas was rather enjoying himself playing along with the child's game. No matter how old he was, he could still be amused with little things as these.
"Oi! Two days?! Why so long? Couldn't it be right now? Or at least sooner than that, it's such a long time from now!... I can't wait all that long!"
"Long? Two days? You are most impatient, my little friend!" The Mirkwood Elf laughed. "No I'm afraid it can't be any sooner. But let me see... to quench your thirst for speed, what say you we meet again before then? Would that be enough for you?"
"Still not good enough, but better I suppose! What's your name, by the way?"
"Ah, but I have already told you! Short is the memory of Men. I'm Legolas, I'm the one who spoke to you yesterday, when I'd just arrived at Rivendell and you were telling your mother about some beautiful place you'd found! And if I'm not mistaken you'd be young Estel, wouldn't you?"
"Oh, right, Legolas! And how do you know my name? Well, I should go to my mother now. It was good knowing you, since now I know that my mother and I are not the only ones around here that aren't Elves. I'll see you again later!" With that, the youth took off, never giving Legolas a chance to answer. ~Impatient youngling! But you'll soon learn to be patient if you are living with Elves! Especially with this Imladris folk!~
Legolas laid back down and contempted himself with just watching the blue sky and the bright sun, revelling in the peacefulness, until the house's bell rang once more that day, announcing dinner. He really didn't feel like going inside, for night was beginning to fall and a gentle breeze caressed the land. It was very pleasant to be outdoors, but soon he gathered enough courage to rise and leave - there would be plenty of times like these in times to come.
He went directly to the room where meals were served. It was much warmer than outside, mostly because of the torches lit on every wall illuminating the house's divisions, but also due to the amount of people within it. There were far more than on the previous night. In the middle of all the elven heads, Legolas found where the twins were and made his way to them. Before he could reach it, however, a blur passed in front of him, stopped and took a good look at him from below.
"No, you're still not an Elf!"
"Do not worry about that! Like I said earlier, in two days, you'll believe me. And now, weren't you supposed to be eating? Where's your mother?"
"Over there. But can I stay with you? Maybe during dinner you'll change and I'll be able to see!"
"No, young one. I assure you, I will not suddenly transform. Now go to your mother, I'm sure she's waiting for you!"
And the same way he came, the same way he went - as a running blur amidst all the sitting people. Legolas then resumed going to sit beside Elrohir, where a food-filled plate was already waiting for him.
"What was that about, mellon? I guess Estel really liked you!" The trio laughed heartily. "And where have you been all day? We wanted to show you Imladris! Don't tell us you've been all this time just talking with adar [father]?"
"Well, not the whole day, but a very good portion of it, yes! These things bore me, I'd very much rather to have spent it with you two, even though I'm sure you wouldn't simply take me to show Imladris, as you put it, knowing Elrohir."
"Why do you say that? And what do mean, 'knowing me'?" Elrohir faked an indignant face to make his point clear.
"I think you pretty much made it obvious with that little act of yours, brother. Everyone knows that you're all mischief! That's why they come to me, when they need something important."
"Now Elladan, just for saying that, I think you're much worse than me!"
"Calm down, you two. If you ask for my opinion, I think you're both terribly childish still. Perhaps I should go and sit by Estel to have an adult conversation? Or perchance tell him that you'd like to go and play with him sometime?"
"You're not any better yourself, Legolas!"
And so they spent their meal, amidst bickers and jokes, and once more went outside afterwards. The night was fairest and more temperate than the one before, if it were possible. They sang and talked and enjoyed themselves teasing each other. The twins gave Legolas a small tour of the vale, and in the end, they all settled near a stream beneath a great oak tree. Legolas remembered something then.
"Ai, mellyn, as much as I like staying here, I'm needed at home and miss it very much as well. I'm thinking on returning in about a week from now."
"Pray tell Legolas, you needn't hurry back already! Stay here some more time! Father doesn't mind it, if that's what's bothering you, and we, well you know that we always enjoy your company. Please stay for a while longer!"
"Nay, I truly must go back. Perhaps you'd care to accompany me during the way or at least part of it, like the other times? It's still about a month's journey."
"We can't. Father wants us here to help him with Estel and lady Gilraen. It was hard enough to get him to allow us to go to Lórien. But lets make the best of these last days! Tomorrow morn we'll go out riding and have a little archery competition. I'm very certain that this time I'll beat you, Legolas. We've been practising all year and I'd wager we've had more experience lately than you with all the fights going on in the West!"
"Ah, but you are mistaken there! I too had plenty of opportunities to practice. Things are not any different in the East, you know! Perhaps even worse than on the Sea's side of Ennor, but I do not wish to speak of it now. It is agreed then. Tomorrow, we'll settle our score in archery! Do you not wish to have a race as well, or are you finally convinced that your petty horses are no match for my Mornië?"
"Petty?!... It will be so then! We are sure that this time, we shall both win at both competitions and your horse will stay far behind us! I still think you cheated last time, in those woods near Eregion! I still say you'd been there before."
"And I still say that it doesn't surprise me you keep saying that, silly as you are!"
It had been a good day and a most pleasant night. The trio made their way into the house but they all failed to notice a dark figure hidden in the nearby bushes that had overheard their conversation. ~Mayhap I can follow them tomorrow, I'm sure they're going West.~ he thought to himself.