Disclaimer: I do not own any part of LotR

True to Ones Heart

~*Chapter Four*~

Legolas' eyes fluttered open slowly as he woke to the numbing sensation in his shoulder. He groaned softly as he managed to rise to his hands and knees. He gazed at his surrounds, momentarily confused as to why he was laying on the ground with an arrow in his shoulder, then he remembered the boy, Estel.

His eyes came to a stop where the young child lay deathly still, leaning against a nearby tree. Legolas frowned as he got a good look at Estel, whose face was a sickly ashen colour. Slowly, the battered elf got to his feet and stumbled over to the motionless body. He cradled his injured arm against his chest in his other.

Legolas knelt down next to the unconscious child and held his breath as his fingers traveled up the Estel's pale throat. He let out a sigh of relief as he felt a weak, but steady pulse. Legolas' hand moved from Estel's throat to his forehead. "He burns with fever." He mumbled to himself.

Gently, Legolas probed his injured shoulder. The arrow had not gone all the way through, and if he did not take it out the wound would surely become infected.

Taking in a few deep, relaxed breaths, he took a hold of the arrow. It was now or never. Gritting his teeth, he quickly ripped the arrow from his shoulder it one swift pull. Legolas let out a small cry as the pain stabbed through him like a knife. Blood flowed from the wound staining his green tunic. Legolas pressed his hand against the open wound to stop the bleeding.

After tending to his injury, Legolas tested his shoulder by moving it in a circular motion, careful not to put too much stress it. He gave a quick glance to the blue sky, night would be falling soon, and Legolas wanted to get as far from here as possible.

He needed to get Estel to Rivendell, but first he needed to find Nenar… Legolas shuffled towards the human, he put his arms around the child and lifted him. Legolas bit his lip hard as the weight of Estel put unwanted pressure onto his shoulder. He had to find his horse.

After waking far enough from the old orc camp, Legolas lay the sleeping boy down to the ground, and slumped down beside him. He let out a small hiss of pain as the movement caused a sharp pain in his ribs. Legolas groaned, he no doubtingly had broken at least two or more of his ribs.

Placing two fingers into his mouth Legolas whistled. He then waited in the silence of the forest. A small noise startled Legolas, causing him to tense slightly. A soft neigh followed, and Legolas relaxed as Nenar came into view.

He got to his feet and knelt down next to Estel and stroked his brown tangled hair away from his pale face. Legolas smiled as he continued to stare at the boy.

Just a child he thought. The boy could do no harm to him, how could he have been so hateful of this race?

After struggling for a fair amount of time Legolas finally managed to get Estel up and into the saddle. The human was leaning heavily against Nenar's neck. Legolas lifted himself onto Nenar, behind Estel. Legolas took the reins into his hands and he shouted an encouraging word and they headed towards Rivendell. Legolas looked down at the boy, who lay comfortably against his chest.

Hold on Estel. Do not make me go back to Elrond with sorrowful news.

Estel woke when he felt a hand wrap securely around his waist pulling him close to a solid figure. He felt weak, and every bone in his body ached. It felt like he fallen from a cliff.

Estel sighed softly as he snuggled closer into the warmth that the figure radiated. He raised his head against the strong chest, thinking it was his father and those past couple of days were all but a bad dream. Estel's eyes widened as he got a better look at the elf holding him. It the fair haired elf from his 'dream', so it wasn't a dream, this was…real.

When Estel returned from his train of thoughts he noticed that the strange elf was staring back at him, smiling. "How are you feeling Estel?" the voice was unlike what Estel could have imagined, it was soft and what? It didn't belong to the fierce elf he had seen fighting the orcs.

Estel opened his mouth to answer, and then to his shock, he realized that this elf somehow knew his name. Before he could answer he heard the elf make a few clicking noises with his mouth, and Estel then felt the horse beneath him stop. Estel pulled himself away from the elf, and moaned softly at the pain it caused him. He desired so much to be home.

"Why have we stopped Master elf?" He asked, looking around slightly confused. Legolas grinned at the curious child. "It is getting late child. Rivendell is too far for us to make the journey in one night."

Legolas reached over and patted his horse. "Nenar needs a rest, it has been long since we have rested. You have been asleep for hours. And if you will let me I would much like to look at your arm." Estel nodded, all this thinking had made him lightheaded and he concentrated on listening to the elf. "Can you sit by yourself, I must get off?"

"I can manage." Estel's voice quivered slightly, worrying Legolas.

Carefully Legolas slipped of Nenar's back slowly, so he wouldn't aggravate his healing shoulder. He turned his attention over to the boy slumped over in the saddle. Worried, Legolas shook the boy lightly calling his name. He was rewarded with a small sigh.

"I need you to stay awake for a bit longer Estel." Legolas slipped his hands underneath Estel's arms and lifted up, careful of his broken arm, off the horse with slight trouble. Estel felt himself being lifted off the horse and into the elf's waiting arms. He shivered unconsciously and felt himself being pulled closer to the elf.

Weariness washed over Estel, as he closed his eyes. Legolas carried the shivering boy over to a large tree and settled him down comfortably on the ground and rose to his feet. Estel snapped open his eyes as he remembered he did not know the name of the elf that had just saved his life. "May I ask what you are called?"

Legolas turned to face the boy when he heard him talking. "Yes, it seems to have slipped my mind." Legolas took two quick strides over to Estel and kneeled in front of him and extended his hand forward.

"I am known as LegolasThranduilion of Mirkwood." Estel took the elf's hand and shook it. He then watched as Legolas got up and went over to the pack that he had strung over the horses back.

"What are you doing?" He craned his neck to get a better look at what it was the elf was doing. Legolas chuckled softly, "My, are all you humans so curious?" He said teasing the child. Legolas couldn't help but laugh when he turned to see the annoying glare that Estel threw at him.

Legolas shed himself of his cloak and draped it over Estel's shivering boy. "Here this will keep you warm." Estel accepted the cloak and wrapped it tightly around his body. "Thank you." His teeth chattered together.

Legolas leaned over once again to check the boy's forehead. Estel still was feverish and his eyes were glazed over, but it was not serious. All the boy needed was some rest and for the broken arm of his mended.

"I will go to fetch us some fire wood. Nenar will keep watch. I shan't be long." Estel was about to protest when he caught the sharp elven eyes that fiercely glared at him. Estel quickly closed his mouth and nodded. Legolas smirked at Estel before turning away and disappeared into the dark woods.

Estel waited in silence for Legolas to return.

Elrohir walked down the long hallway with a small try of food and water. He was heading towards his father's chambers. Both he and his brother were getting worried; their father rarely said anything and resided in his room sitting slumped over in his chair for most of the day. There was nothing much they could do but comfort him.

Juggling the tray in one hand Elrohir knocked softly at the door. He heard slight scuffling around and a soft elvish curse. Elladan opened the door. Elrohir could not help but grin at the face Elladan was making.

"Trip…again?" Elladan glared at Elrohir, and the together they walked back into the candle lit room. Elrohir spotted Elrond sleeping soundlessly on his bed. "How long has he been sleeping?" "Not long, but he is exhausted." Elrohir glanced over at Elladan, and knew that there was something else that his brother was not telling him.

"And?"

Elladan looked at him, there was a large grin plastered on his face. "I managed to drug his drink." Elrohir's eyes widened as he returned his eyes to the sleeping elf. "You did not!" Elladan nodded and Elrohir tried hard not to laugh for fear of waking their peaceful father. "He is going to kill you when he wakes! And I will have no part in that!"

Elladan took the tray from his brother and moved to put it onto a small night stand next to the bed. "Elrohir, he needed to sleep." He tried to justify his actions. Elrohir sighed softly and shook his head at his brother before slumping in a chair next to his father's side. "I do agree Elladan, with Estel gone…" Elrohir longingly looked up to meet with his brother's eyes.

"We have to find him Elladan we just must."

If anything had happened to Estel, Elrond would blame himself. A silent guilt hung over the two brothers, neither of them wanted to see their father succumb to grief. It was as much as their fault that Estel had run away as it was their father's.

"If only we had let Estel come with us on our hunting trip, this never would have happened." Elladan frowned at his brother's comment. "No." he said, "it would have been just as dangerous. He is still too young to be hunting in the forests with us." Elrohir knew that Elladan was right, but Estel had left because he was not allowed to go hunting, and now he could be anywhere.

For hours they sat in silence watching over their bedridden father. Elrond's face was drawn tight with tension, and his eyes were closed showing the exhaustion of the elf. They all needed the rest. And tomorrow would be a new day, another day to search for their missing brother.

Elladan found himself slowly falling asleep. He had spent most of the day trying to convince his father to eat something, but with no success. Laying his head down on Elrond's chest, Elladan quickly fell asleep. Elrohir soon followed curled up in the large chair he had dragged over.

Legolas returned with a handful of firewood, and after a few minutes had gotten a fire going. Legolas went to sit beside Estel, who scooted over to Legolas. He felt safe with the strong presence that the elf gave off. "Estel I must look at your arm." Legolas moved his hands and pried Estel's smaller hands away from the cloak. Slowly Estel loosened his grip and allowed for Legolas to pull the warmth away from him.

Gingerly Legolas took Estel's injured arm into his hands and soothingly run his fingers over it. Looking around for some thing to use as a sling, Legolas' eyes came to his cloak. He took the fabric into his hands and tore a long strip from it.

Estel watched in silence. His arm did not hurt so much anymore, the pain had become nothing more then a dull throbbing, which he was certainly glad off. Legolas was about to put his arm in the sling when he stopped, his face scrunched up as he pulled on his injured shoulder more then he would have liked to.

"Legolas?"

"Is it just your arm that is injured or have you sustained any other injuries?" Estel nodded, but Legolas needed proof. With some hesitance his slender fingers lifted Estel's tunic up and inspected his stomach. Legolas felt around for any broken or cracked ribs. Estel had indeed been lucky, it was not often when a child could run into a group of orcs and escape with a few bruises and a broken arm.

Satisfied with what he saw, Legolas pulled Estel's tunic back down and continued with his arm. Estel watched Legolas, and for the first time noticed that there was a dark patch of blood that stained Legolas' tunic near the shoulder…where he had been shot with an arrow.

Estel let out a sharp hiss of pain as Legolas pressed a piece of a cloth against a small gash on his forehead. Legolas frowned. "Sorry." He whispered the apology just loud enough for the human to hear. Estel also noticed something else, it seemed to him that the elf was almost nervous with touching him, but he quickly forgot of it when a sharp pain shot up though his arm as Legolas finished with slinging his arm.

"Thank you for saving my life Legolas." Legolas smiled, "I am glad that I have young one." Estel scowled at being called a 'young one' he never did like being younger then everyone. "I am not young." "Of course you are not." Legolas said the words slowly before heaving himself up off the ground.

He went over to his pack and brought it back to the fire where Estel was sitting with what was left of the cloak hugged tightly around him. Legolas pulled out a water pouch and handed it to Estel who took it gratefully, "Here drink this."

The water felt wonderful inside his dry mouth, Estel hadn't realized that he was so thirsty. His stomach growled softly. Legolas rummaged though his pack once again and pulled out some lembas bread. "Are you hungry?" Estel's face lit up at he mere mention of food. Legolas chuckled as he watched Estel stuff the bread into his mouth almost choking on it. "It is not much-" "It is much more then I have asked for." Estel crammed the rest of the bread into his mouth and chewed it. It may not have been the best thing he had ever tasted, but after not eating in two days, it was better then nothing.

The two sat in silence for some time, sitting in front of the fire. Estel then remembered the blood on Legolas' shoulder. "Are you all right Legolas? I saw the orc shoot you with his arrow." Legolas shook his head at the worried child. "Do not worry Estel, tis nothing that wont heal. It does not bother me at all."

Estel narrowed his eyes at the elf. He may be young, but he was not stupid. He knew that an arrow to the shoulder was not to be taken lightly. "Are you sure?" he asked as he pressed the elf for more answers. "I am fine Estel." Estel sighed softly, Legolas was being stubborn, he thought. But he gave up and leaned back against Legolas' shoulder and pulled the cloak tighter around his neck.

Legolas looked down at the child he held in his arms. It had been several centuries since he had encountered a human. He was never fond of the human race, especially since he and his friend had been captured by a group of men long ago. Legolas let out a sorrowful sigh and pushed those memories away, what happened had happened long ago, the men who had hurt him where gone. Men had evolved, they had grown friendlier to other races, or at least that is what he had been told by his life long friend Gandalf the Grey.

Estel made a small noise drawing Legolas away from the past and back to the present to find that Estel was talking to him softly. "Legolas what is it like in Mirkwood? Is it like Rivendell?" Legolas shook his head. "No Rivendell is truly a grand place to be, Mirkwood was once a place like that. My home was once called Greenwood, for it was lush with beauty and nature flourished. But no longer are the forests in Mirkwood, orcs, and poisonous spiders lurk about." Legolas' voice saddened at the reminder of how Mirkwood once was. Estel sunk deeper into Legolas' embrace. "What happened?" Legolas shrugged, "Do not worry about such things Estel."

"Do the elves in Mirkwood look like you? I have never seen an elf that looks so beautiful." Legolas felt himself blushing slightly. "I am flattered that you think I am beautiful, but we are all beautiful in our own ways you know."

Estel fidgeted against Legolas. "You are amazing with your bow! You're even better then Elladan!" "Well I was not always so swift with a bow, it took many years of hard practicing." "How old are you Legolas?" Legolas chuckled and decided that it was time to change the subject of their conversation. "How old are you Estel?" Estel's eyes lit up and he sat up straight to face the elf. "I am almost eleven years of age!" he said excitedly.

Legolas nodded slowly. "And what is an ten year old child doing so far from his home?" Estel swallowed the lump in his throat, he wasn't so sure that he wanted to tell his new friend the answer. "I…I…ran away." He looked at the ground sheepishly to get away from Legolas' surprised stare.

Legolas reached out and placed his hand on Estel's chin and moving the child's face to look at him, "And why may I ask did you run away?" He was curious as to what had driven the boy so far from his home. Estel squirmed uncomfortably under the intense, crystal eyes that stared back at him. "I was angry…at my father. He never lets me go anywhere! I wanted to go on a hunting trip with my brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, but they all said I was too young…and…" Legolas raised his hand to silence Estel, whose eyes began to fill up with unwanted tears.

They sat in silence, facing each other for a few minutes before Legolas broke it, "Your father…do you mean Lord Elrond?" Estel sniffed and nodded his head. "Yes he found me and decided to raise me. My parents died when I was a baby." Legolas sighed, and he reached up to brush away some of the tears that streamed down Estel's face.

"Your father loves you very much Estel, he does not want for you to get hurt." Estel looked back up at Legolas as tears began to spill over down his cheeks. Estel let out a loud sniff. "I know…I want to go home." "And I will take you home. I promise."

Estel yawned, and instinctively Legolas pulled him down into his embrace. "You look tired." Legolas felt the child shake his head against his chest. "No. I am just resting my eyes." Legolas chuckled, the boy was certainly stubborn, and it reminded him of himself.

"What is so funny?"

"Oh nothing child. But you should sleep; we have a long ride to Rivendell a head of us. You need your strength." Estel's body was still recovering from his ordeal with the orcs, and his body needed rest. Estel struggled to keep his heavy eyelids open, but he was fighting a losing battle. Faintly he heard a soft humming coming from Legolas.

Legolas watched Estel as he finally succumbed to sleep. Legolas rested his cheek against Estel's head and soon his eyes became vacant as he fell into a deep, much needed, sleep.

TBC…

*Admetwen: Lol…of course Legolas is all right…I would never dare to hurt him…too much =)

*Tithen min: There you go making me blush again *grin* I'm glad you enjoyed my action scene =) By the way I loved your fic…and I am waiting for your next one…*taps foot impatiently*…which better be soon. ^_^

*Dragongirl22: Of course I wont leave you guys hanging. Lol…I don't like it when authors start stories and never finish them…I go insane trying to think of what was going to happen! You don't like cliffs? *evil laugh* I just love leaving ppl hanging. Lol. And how was X-men 2?

*NaughtyNat: I just love these comments =) you should really see this grin on my face! Lol.

*Maverikgirl: Why thank you! I'm so happy you are enjoying my story…it's not very long, but I'm still trying. Hope you liked this chapter.