GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! I HAVE A TITLE FOR MY SERIES OF FICS (those being in this order: Shadows of the Heart, Piercing the Veil, Beneath the Surface, and Bridge of Remembrance) It is called: Tel' Malle N'Ner Lelya [the road less travel] YAY LINA!!!
Firniswin! LOL! I love em too!! They're soooooooooooo funny….and sexy (well, Jack/Johnny is sexy in a weird way, but that's okay!!)!!!
Barbara Kennedy……I'm flattered! More fun by the chapter?! LOL! I doubt Estel or Legolas could share that thought, but I'm glad you feel that way! I agree!! LOL!Oh, btw…..mine aren't fakes! See?! The test:
Lina: *waves run in front of jack's face*
Jack: RUM! The Rum is back! *reaches, wanting it like a kid wants candy*
Lina: *beams*
Arwen-evenstar………OH NO! I didn't mean to be "killing you here"!! LOL! *pulls out CPR dummy and practices CPR in case of an accident* Can't have my reviewers dying on me!
Musicgrl! THANKS!!!!
Marbienl……..as usual, you have the ability to see straight into what I want to purvey in my chapter! You're one of those reviewers that always seem to pick up on the things I want them to!! *huggles you* Thanks!!!!
Nili………….oh, Nili, Nili, Nili……what more can I say other than: Elrond without his medication……..lol.
Oh, Van Halen?! Well, I hadn't thought of it that way…………..
Ghost of Halen: *glares* I will haunt you for that, Nili.
Lina: *beams* Isn't he sweet?
Nili: *eyes get wider*
Lina: Well, that's what you get for comparing my characters names to old rock stars…. J Oh, and yes I do have two new loveslaves……and they love it. Don't you Will, don't you Jack?
Will and Jack: *shake heads with false smiles on faces*
Lina: *beams*
Carrie….exactly! Legolas is quite braindead, but he's soooo cute!!
Zam…..Spider Sense?! RIIGHT! But….I would love to see Legolas in spandex spider man costume………..*drools*
Xsilicax…………Yes, indeed Estel has been through enough between both yours and my stories! Heck, you can't tell me that I've put him through a lot! You've done the same thing. So there! *crosses arms stubbornly, but smiles* THANKS, BUDDY!
HaloGatomon, indeed…………..damn cliffies! *glares at TCOV* LOL! I know, doesn't it always seem to go that the twins never arrive in time, but just after the darn battle! Darn twins!!!
DISCLAIMER: Don't own, don't sue. Don't get it? That's your problem, not mine. I've said my disclaimer, that doesn't mean ppl have to understand.
NOTE : This is the prequel to Piercing the Veil, Beneath the Surface, and Bridge of Remembrance.
You don't have to read those to understand this, obviously, because this is a prequel.....it happens before all of that.....so, I hope you enjoy!
ALSO, you guys know this........Estel is Aragorn. Just so you know.....but you already know, I"m guessing, but still, ya know...lol
OH, BTW.....my translations are off. Forgive me.
Ch. 9
".....this was the son that I was told to find all along?"Legolas concluded, looking down at the slumbering Edan.
Elrond smiled faintly, nodding. "Yes, Estel came to us not even two decades ago. Upon entering Imladris, life was tough on him......"
"What do you mean?"Legolas narrowed his blue eyes in question.
"Though so young, he had to win over the hearts of his new family, which he actually did with relative ease........but as for his peers....."Elrohir explained, letting the statement hang.
"The Elflings were hard on him. But from what I gather he had to have had someone to care about,"stated Legolas slowly, drawing a conclusion from the mournful behavior of his new comrade, "and that someone was what drove him from Imladris?"
Elladan gave a slight nod, grief flashing across his features at the perceptive remark from the Prince. "Indeed, but not in the way you are thinking. Grief and sorrow from the loss of his dearest friend drove Estel from Rivendell."
Realization finally dawned on the Prince's features. That explained the human's hesitance to befriend him. But what of the feral gleam in Estel's eyes when he looked upon the horde of Orcs?
The pieces of the puzzle fell in place inside of Legolas's mind as everything finally made sense to him. "Estel's friend was killed by Orcs,"whispered the Prince, looking sympathetically down at his new friend.
As if on cue, Estel whimpered softly in his sleep. Immediately, Elrond leaned over his youngest son, whispering words of comfort and love in his native tongue.
Elrond gently ran a hand over Estel's fevered brow. "Yes, he was.....and Estel was forced to watch Halen be injured and die a slow, agonizingly painful death."
The Prince of Mirkwood winced visibly.
Someone so young as Estel should not have had to deal with the weight of loss so young, least of all in that manner.
After a heavy silence, Legolas murmured, "He fought well."
"Pardon?" Three sets of identical eyes inquired the same question.
"Estel fought with the skill of a trained, Elven warrior. He saved my life,"Legolas commented quietly. "For that, I owe him a great debt—"
"No, you don't, stubborn Elf,"slurred a soft voice.
The four Elves quickly glanced down to see bleary, pain glazed silver eyes staring back at them.
"You owe me nothing.......we are even, mellonnin,"Estel managed, his voice weak, his tone wry, "All of these debts that need being repaid are far too complicated to keep up with."
Legolas smiled faintly, resting a hand on the wounded human's shoulder. "Very well then. I owe you nothing, and you owe me nothing......a life for a life, agreed?"
"Not necessarily,"muttered Estel, eyes closing with sleep once again.
"What do you mean?"Legolas's eyes widened slightly, humor still evident in his voice as he spoke with the human that he regarded as a friend.
"You still owe me a full tour of your home,"mumbled the young Edan. "You said that you would show me...."Estel's voice trailed off as his body gave into the exhaustion that beckoned him.
"Fear not, my young friend......I keep to my word. When you are well, I will not fail in keeping my promise,"Legolas whispered, squeezing the slumbering human's shoulder in assurance.
The lords of Imladris watched the whole exchange in awed silence. Ever since Halen had fallen, Estel had been distant with everyone who came in contact with him, including his own foster family. Now, apparently the stone walls were beginning to crumble.
Seeing the expression on the other Elves' faces, Legolas remarked, "He is my friend, or at least that is what I regard him as. I pray that he trusts me as I trust him, now. One does not come from such a battle without a sense of trust towards the person they fought alongside."
"Very true, Prince Legolas. Perhaps Estel has found a true friend.......perhaps,"Elrond murmured very softly, pulling his youngest up into his arms. "But for now, I believe it is best we take him to your home. His recovery would be much faster if he were in the comfort of shelter."
Striding over to their horses, Elrohir allowed Legolas to sit behind him. Elladan mounted his horse and took the lead, senses poised for any immediate danger. Elrond merely allowed his own steed to follow the others, his full attention focused on his son, whom he held cradled against his chest.
* * * * * * * * *
Upon arriving at the palace, Estel had been laid back in his original bed. Beneath the care of his foster father and brothers, along with Legolas, it was barely a few days before he was fully conscious and quite annoyed at being kept indoors.
Most of the time, though, the duty of keeping the human occupied was thrown upon the unlucky Prince of Mirkwood.
".....great Manwe! Look over there, Legolas!"Estel pointed over Legolas's shoulder in a vain attempt to distract the Elven prince.
"Nice try, Estel."
"But oh—my gut! Quickly, go fetch father,"Estel swooned with an incredibly fake faint.
"Oh, joy.....now, I get peace and quiet."
A silver eye popped open to see a rather bored looking prince glaring back at him. "Um.......look over there?!"
"It didn't work last time, Estel. It is truly doubtful that it would work on the second try,"commented Legolas dryly.
"Fine......" Silence reigned in the room for a few moments before Estel spoke in a low voice. "Ada told you what happened, didn't he?" The question was more of a statement with the tone in which it was spoken.
Legolas nodded hesitantly, carefully considering his words. "I am truly sorry for the loss of such a dear friend, Estel,"he finally murmured, looking over to meet the young human's gaze.
Blue locked on silver as the latter misted over with sorrow. Tears were hastily blinked back.
"The show of emotion is not weak, my young friend,"Legolas remarked softly.
A sharp intake of breath answered the statement. Legolas's eyebrows arched with concern. "Estel?"
"Legolas......you are my friend......am I correct?"inquired Estel tentatively.
"Yes, Estel. I consider you one of my friends, now,"Legolas replied, "and believe me....my trust is not given with ease."
Contemplative silence followed.
"Do you consider me your friend, Estel?"Legolas questioned, abandoning all tact in the face of companionship.
Estel looked up from his bedspread, which he had at one time found so fascinating to look at. After a reluctant pause, he nodded. Abruptly, his youthful face broke into a small smirk, "Yes, but only if you bathe. I refuse to be in the presence of someone who smells so.....musty."
Legolas's jaw dropped. "You insolent—" He stood threateningly.
"Ut, ut, Legolas,"hushed Estel. "You can't hurt me. The Lord of Imladris would not be happy about finding his patient and son dead in bed at the hands of the Prince of Mirkwood."
Legolas glared as if he were attempting to bore holes into Estel's skull with his gaze. "You just wait, human. Once you are well enough to get out and about, we will see who wins this little war."
"War? War takes time, Prince Legolas. Time that Estel does not have in Mirkwood lest he is invited to stay,"a voice pointed out from behind, tinged with sarcasm.
Legolas smiled wickedly. "Of course he may stay.......that is if he is up to the challenge."
Now it was Estel's turn to glare. "Up to the challenge? Oh, please....."
Elrond grinned slightly, exiting the room as the pair continued their bickering.
*************
Well, this is the second to the last chap…….yes, I know this is ending rather abruptly, but there IS one more chap after this one. It's just that school is starting and I will have little time…………..so………forgive me if my chapters and stories are not long enough to satisfy, but let it be known……..THERE IS STILL ANOTHER CHAPTER COMING SOON!!
Lina: *leaps onto Eomer's horse, with Will and Jack upon their own horses in the Rohirrim gang* THEY ARE MINE! ALL HANDS OFF OF MY WILL AND JACKIE POO!!!
Eomer: ROHIRRIM! WE RIDE POINTLESSLY SOUTH!
