This is quite a short chapter I'm afraid (I'm not too happy with it), and due to my exams coming up, I'm only going to post once a week for the next two weeks. Sorry.
Inwe of Mirkwood – You have serious ego issues. Yes, it's you, as opposed to…? Tough shit, the kid's getting angst, deal with it sweetheart. I'll sort out all spell issues etc when I get the time, alright?
Trustingfriendship – I thought the prank was necessary, and Legolas has a few issues. All will be revealed… (when I write the chapter * cough *)
Silvertoekee – Ah, but I enjoy annoying her, it's fun.
Tithen Min – I thought you'd abandoned me * sniff * erm… nice to have you back, your comments are always appreciated :)
Louie – Ooh, I'm enjoying this whole slapping Legolas thing! Groovy.
Bulma Greenleaf – Yeah, I don't understand either. Shame on you.
Shavarian Draakami – Yep, Legless is an eejit. Don't kill any blondes in my name, it's not worth it in the end!
TigerLily713 – Lovely review as ever! Thank you.
Leggy-stinks – Is your name reference to a certain elf? I like it, he's certainly mean in this until I decide other wise.
Sorry, I'm rushing this – England v South Africa has probably already started, so erm… no smart arse comments today. Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, oh and Americans: Give Robbie Williams a chance! He's lovely really.
~*~The Quarrel Continues~*~
Estel yawned. Dawn had barely broken and they were already riding out into the wild. The cold mist that swallowed up the hills was particularly dense this morning and he struggled to see through the murky darkness. He shivered. It was much cooler than the warm early spring day they had enjoyed yesterday; clouds had gathered overnight, delaying the spread of daylight. The first birds had begun to chirp in the trees, the dark haired youth looked up into the leaves dreamily, a smile crept across his face.
"Watch out!"
Estel looked behind to Legolas who had cried out. It turned out to be a most unwise move and cracked his head on the low branch the elf had tried to warn him of, falling to the ground with a sickening thud. He lay still for a second, the cool morning dew clung to his skin as regained his senses. He raised his hand to his eyebrow, touching it tentatively. Hissing quietly, he recoiled his fingers and saw the blood trickle down his fingers.
"Your observational skills are exceptional, even for a human." Legolas smirked coldly.
Estel scowled and pulled himself back onto his horse quickly.
"Are you alright?" Elladan asked, concern written all over his face. "You are bleeding."
"I am fine. A scratch only." He replied irritably, moving to the front of the group beside Elrohir.
His elder brother smiled gently. "Ignore Legolas, he is wary of humans, give him time and he will except you."
"I do not wish to be excepted by him, he is arrogant and I have no desire to befriend him." Estel snapped angrily, wiping away the blood that threatened to run into his eyes.
Elrohir sighed. "Do not be so hostile. He will be a valuable ally to you in future years."
"I do not care. I cannot see why you hold him in such high esteem." The young child pouted.
"When you two trust one another-"
"What is with this 'when'? It is a question of 'if' at the most." He growled. "Legolas has no aspiration in getting to know me, but simply wants to lower your regard of me as much as possible."
"You are paranoid, Estel." The twin rolled his eyes. "I will have to treat that cut, it is bleeding too heavily to ignore."
The group stopped and dismounted, apart from Legolas, who sighed loudly, throwing a glance at the small boy sitting on a boulder while Elrohir tended to him.
"We are falling behind, it will be dark by the time we reach a good hunting site." He grumbled in the direction of Estel.
"I did not ask to stop." He replied sharply.
"Maybe if you looked where you were going…"
"It is done now so we will carry on, we have only lost a few minutes." Elladan interrupted the confrontation.
They continued in silence for an hour, the mist began to clear and the sun broke through. Small beams of sunshine burst through the thick canopy of the dense woods, dancing across their skin and warmed the chilly air, much to Estel's relief. Their pace was fast as they rode through the forest but suddenly Mastrovar; Legolas' steed, stopped in its tracks, bucking in defiance, refusing to venture any further. Legolas' eyes narrowed as he scanned the trees, before recognising the unfortunately familiar scene. He shared the same feeling his horse had objected so strongly to. They dismounted and drew their swords; the foul stench of decay clung in the air and they stumbled upon the rotting carcasses of the goblins that had attacked Legolas. They surveyed the scene with a great sadness, as nobody liked to see so much death, even if they were disgusting, hateful creatures such as goblins. Littering the floor like Bluebells did later in the season, their lay limbs contorted and twisted in the mud. Their dirty threadbare clothes ruffled in the gentle breeze; the only movement in the whole clearing, the silence echoed the stillness, as if time had stopped in this part. An unknown creature had fed on some of their corpses, but they were mainly untouched. There was blood everywhere; the ground, tree trunks and branches were all stained. Elladan suddenly covered Estel's eyes protectively, pulling him tightly to his body.
He struggled away from his brother's grasp. "Why do you shield my eyes? I have seen far worse things than a few dead goblins."
The twins looked at him ruefully for a moment. "Sorry." They mumbled apologetically before turning to their blonde friend. "You killed all of them, Legolas? That is an achievement indeed."
"Err… yes. I did not realise there were so many." He looked away uncomfortably.
Estel looked at him for a second, concealing a sly smile when he noticed how awkward the fair elf looked. "I am most impressed, Legolas. There must be nearly fifty here and you slaughtered all of them?"
He looked at the smirking boy, who had his back to his foster brothers and nodded slightly. "We should not linger, whatever has feasted on their wretched carcasses may soon return."
"Nay, not in daylight, my friend. You must tell us of your wondrous battle!" Estel continued.
"There is little to tell." He mumbled.
"It is not like you to shy away from a tale, Legolas." Elladan remarked.
"Perhaps another time."
The twins smiled and turned to mount their horses once more. Legolas pounced at the opportunity and clipped the smirking boy around the head. He let out a little yelp of pain but chuckled lightly soon after. Changing their path slightly so their reluctant horses would continue, they left the devastating scene. Their pace was quicker than what they had set before and rode until the late afternoon sun warmed their backs. The mood had become increasingly tense between the riders and the stony silence between Estel and Legolas was replaced by the two taking swipes at each other throughout the day.
"You are very scrawny." Legolas remarked casually.
"I am eleven, what is your excuse?" Estel smiled sweetly.
Elladan let out a most unelven snort before giggling. The fair elf scowled, mumbling a curse underneath his breath.
"Is your head alright? Perhaps I should give you more warning next time." He smirked.
Estel glared irritably at Legolas.
"Duck to the left, brother." Elrohir instructed calmly.
He quickly obeyed, but couldn't fail to miss the stray branch, scratching his cheek.
"It is amazing, either the trees are plotting against you or you are more witless than you look. I have never seen someone cause himself so much damage. Is it intentional?" He scoffed.
Estel blushed, the colour of his cheeks rivalling even Gandalf's scarlet beard. "Aye, I pick fights with trees and you pick fights with goblins. At least I choose opposition I can beat." He shot back.
"Ah, but Legolas did defeat the goblins and you have drawn blood twice against those vengeful branches!" Elrohir laughed.
The young child fell silent for a moment, holding the sour faced elf's gaze. "Oh, of course. My memory's playing tricks, forgive me." He mumbled, watching as the twins trotted ahead in search of peace.
"If you do not stop this, then Elladan and Elrohir will suspect something and your little secret will come out." Legolas hissed.
Estel shrugged. "I care not. The worse that will happen is that I am punished and hugged a lot, but your reputation, in your opinion, will be shattered. Saved by a little boy? How will you live with the shame?"
"Are you trying to blackmail me?"
He sniggered at the elf's incensed expression. "Do not worry, dear Legolas, I am not that spiteful. This is entertaining enough by itself."
Estel patted Legolas on the leg playfully and joined his brothers who were a few yards ahead. The fuming elf remained behind them, clenching his jaw. His eyes darkened and his usual frown had deepened considerably. He took a deep breath, glaring at the insolent child. Estel was the most aggravating, obnoxious, frustrating thing he had ever met. He was too cocky, too arrogant and had too many smart-aleck answers for such a young creature. Estel was too much like him, well; at least that was what Elladan had said last night. That was a grave insult. He had always prided himself in being an elf in the sense that he did not have the inadequacies of humans and would never lower himself to them. How could one little boy wind him up so much? Why did one little boy wind him up so much?
A couple of hours passed slowly, their pace slowed after they had met up with a hunting party who had told them, after they had stop laughing at the twins' colourful eyebrows – they had covered their hair with scarves, much to Estel's disappointment, that there was little game around and would fare better further upstream. There was no chance they would reach their new hunting site before nightfall so decided to slow down and find somewhere to camp. The sun was starting to go down, illuminating the whole land in a beautiful warm orange glow. The temperature had fallen slightly, which would have affected Estel if he had not been so engrossed in arguing with Legolas. The amusement of their constant bickering had long since worn off and the twins were becoming increasingly aggravated.
…"At least I do not look like an elven maid." Estel muttered under his breath, but loud enough for the rest to hear. "Princess Legolas… it has a certain ring to it."
"I do not." He growled. "You look like a drunken dwarf."
"Forgive me, I cannot see a beard hanging from my chin, your observational skills are worse than I thought."
"My eyesight is far superior to yours. I can see you for the snivelling little monster you are." The elf snapped.
"Maid."
"Troll."
"Wench."
"Or-"
"That is enough from you both." Elladan growled. "I cannot take this constant stream of abuse."
"Until you two can work together and start being civil, you will not return to Rivendell." Elrohir declared firmly.
"Fine. I will return to Mirkwood." Legolas sniffed childishly, crossing his arms.
"Aye, go ahead. You are too afraid that I will shame you more." Estel laughed triumphantly.
Legolas scowled. "Shame me? You will learn everything worth knowing from me, boy."
"This is so unfair, this was supposed to be my first trip with you." Estel whinged.
"I am sorry, but this trip would not have been remembered for the right reasons. We will do it properly another time when this is all resolved." Elladan replied sadly. "We will see when you two have sorted out your differences, however long that might take."
TBC…
