Summary: Another 'How Aragorn and Legolas meet' story. Not Slash.
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine… The story idea is not original… I just hope you like it
~*~
Chapter 3
The knock on his door, though quiet, was enough to wake Legolas. He hadn't meant to fall asleep and he hoped he hadn't kept Elrond's household waiting that long for lunch. The knock came again as Legolas stood up. "I'm coming," he called a little surprised at the knocker's impatience. Maybe he had kept them waiting too long.
As he pulled on a clean tunic the door opened. Legolas nearly laughed aloud when he saw Estel's face peering round the door. No wonder the knocker was more impatient than he had been expecting. "Come in Estel. I'm nearly ready for lunch."
"But," said Estel coming into the room carrying a tray "lunch was hours ago. Ada asked me to bring you something in case you got hungry before dinner."
Legolas looked out of the window realising he had slept much longer than he had intended to. "Hannon le Estel. Perhaps you would like to join me in eating some of this. It seems who ever prepared this tray placed enough food on it for two."
Estel nodded happy to spend time with the prince. He walked carefully over to the table, taking care not to spill anything as he slid the tray along its surface. He didn't want the prince to think of him as a clumsy edan- even if he was. Legolas moved over and sat down opposite the child.
For a while they ate in silence. Estel trying hard to be on his best behaviour fearful of offending, and thereby losing, this new friend. Legolas too sat in silence; he wasn't that good at making new friends and he hadn't been around an elfling in such a long time that he didn't know what kind of things Estel might enjoy. They were saved from their mutual solitude by the arrival of the twins.
"Dan, Ro," cried Estel standing up. His movement rocked the table and three elves and one human watched as one glass rocked back and forth. It eventually settled without spilling and Estel released the breath he had been unconsciously holding. He moved more slowly away from the table and then flung himself at his brothers.
Looking at each other over Estel's head the three elves exchanged a glance. All of them were relieved they would not be explaining to Lord Elrond how yet another piece of his glassware was broken. Between the three of them they had been responsible for several isolated breakings and none had forgotten when they had been responsible for the entire cupboard falling that resulted in the smashing of many plates and glasses.
"Estel how is your foot? Ada said you weren't to be walking on it to much remember?" said Elladan to his brother as Estel released his grip around his brothers' waists.
Legolas raised an eyebrow, but was unable to ask what had happened to Estel's foot as Estel answered quickly. "I haven't done that much. *And* I stayed in bed for a few hours. Besides I thought Legolas might be hungry."
"More likely you were hungry, but didn't want to be told off for eating so much," said Elrohir trying hard not to laugh.
"Maybe a bit" said Estel looking at a space between his shoes that he suddenly found interesting.
"Honestly sometimes I think you are more a halfling than a man," continued Elaidin. Estel looked up, he was blushing but seemed interested in something his brother had said.
"What's a halfling Dan?"
"Oh no. I'm not telling you a story now. I've still got things I need to get done this afternoon."
"Ro?"
"Me too Estel. Maybe before you go to sleep tonight."
Estel tried to hide how upset he was, though the three noticed the slump in his shoulders. Legolas felt uncomfortable. He had nothing of importance to do but he wasn't sure if his stories would be appropriate for one so young. "Maybe I could tell you some stories," suggested Legolas.
Estel swung around, "You would?" The excitement clearly showing in his eyes.
"You were supposed to have training this afternoon," Elrond said stepping into the room behind his sons.
"How can I train if I'm not supposed to do so much with my foot?" Estel asked. He didn't mind training too much if it was just Glorfindel or his brothers there but today was one of those sessions when the other young elves would also be there and that was much worse. Every time he faulted he could feel several glances in his direction and no doubt with an injured foot he would just make even more of a fool of himself.
"Perhaps instead of telling you a story Legolas might begin to teach you how to shoot." Elrond suggested calmly.
"But I can shoot," said Estel a little disappointed to be missing out on a story.
"Your brothers are nothing on me," said Legolas with a note of challenge in his voice.
"Oh really?" said Elladan and Elrohir together. "I guess we will just have to prove that you aren't the best shooter in Middle Earth anymore," continued Elrohir.
"You're the best shooter in Middle Earth?" Estel wasn't sure that anyone could be better than his brothers. If his new friend was a better shooter then he must be very good. But would Legolas be willing to teach him?
"Let's put it this way," said Legolas, "I've not yet found anyone better than me in 2000 years."
"Even Dan and Ro?" said Estel. Something about how casual the elf was about 2000 years made Estel feel very insignificant.
"Even them."
"Perhaps you could all go down to the archery fields and spend what is left of the afternoon finding out who is the best." suggested Elrond. "And maybe also helping Estel to improve his aim a little too. Unless you all intend to be his pin cushions."
"That was an accident Ada," said Estel. Elladan elbowed his twin before the twin could open his mouth to speak or laugh.
"I know ion-nin. But don't you think your brothers could help teach you so that you don't have such an accident again?"
"Yes Ada."
"Off you all go then. Elladan and Elrohir you are both relieved of your afternoon duties, just take care of Estel and make sure he doesn't put to much strain on his foot."
"Yes Ada" said Elrond's sons. Elrohir ran back to the twins' room to pick up their bows, and Elladan collected Estel's smaller bow from his room. Legolas moved to his pack and picked up his quiver and bow quickly strapping them on. He watched as Estel moved out of the room before him, favouring slightly his right leg.
"Would you like a piggy-back Estel?" Legolas asked. Estel looked up grateful for the offer, though a little concerned. "I promise I won't tell your Ada that I did it." Relieved Estel nodded. Legolas stopped and unstrapped his quiver, and lent his bow against the wall. He then restrapped the quiver onto Estel and got him to climb on his back. Picking up the bow they continued down to the archery practise grounds.
"How did you manage to hurt your foot?" Legolas asked a short time later.
"Promise you won't laugh?" Estel asked. He felt foolish admitting what he had done, but Legolas had promised to be his friend even though he was an edan. The elf shook his head gently. "I landed kind of funny when I jumped out of the tree this morning."
"When you landed on me?" Legolas was having a hard time not laughing aloud. It was not good that Estel had hurt himself he told himself.
"I suppose I'm just a clumsy edan," said Estel softly more to himself than Legolas.
"Your brothers used to hurt themselves a lot when they were elflings. Only most of the time they were falling out of the trees, not jumping out of them" said Legolas, laughing at the memories.
"Will you tell me about it sometime?" asked Estel. Legolas was glad to hear the upset tone had almost disappeared from his rider's voice.
"Maybe later tonight. After dinner," agreed Legolas. "First though I have to prove once again to your brothers who is the best archer." They had reached the archery fields.
~*~
A/N 1) the elvish used
Hannon le - thank you
Edan - mortal, man
Ada - daddy, dad
Ion-nin – my son
A/N 2) I don't know if I should continue this further. I'm almost tempted to stop this story here… and then maybe continue on in a new story. Let me know what you think. I hope you all like this instalment.
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine… The story idea is not original… I just hope you like it
~*~
Chapter 3
The knock on his door, though quiet, was enough to wake Legolas. He hadn't meant to fall asleep and he hoped he hadn't kept Elrond's household waiting that long for lunch. The knock came again as Legolas stood up. "I'm coming," he called a little surprised at the knocker's impatience. Maybe he had kept them waiting too long.
As he pulled on a clean tunic the door opened. Legolas nearly laughed aloud when he saw Estel's face peering round the door. No wonder the knocker was more impatient than he had been expecting. "Come in Estel. I'm nearly ready for lunch."
"But," said Estel coming into the room carrying a tray "lunch was hours ago. Ada asked me to bring you something in case you got hungry before dinner."
Legolas looked out of the window realising he had slept much longer than he had intended to. "Hannon le Estel. Perhaps you would like to join me in eating some of this. It seems who ever prepared this tray placed enough food on it for two."
Estel nodded happy to spend time with the prince. He walked carefully over to the table, taking care not to spill anything as he slid the tray along its surface. He didn't want the prince to think of him as a clumsy edan- even if he was. Legolas moved over and sat down opposite the child.
For a while they ate in silence. Estel trying hard to be on his best behaviour fearful of offending, and thereby losing, this new friend. Legolas too sat in silence; he wasn't that good at making new friends and he hadn't been around an elfling in such a long time that he didn't know what kind of things Estel might enjoy. They were saved from their mutual solitude by the arrival of the twins.
"Dan, Ro," cried Estel standing up. His movement rocked the table and three elves and one human watched as one glass rocked back and forth. It eventually settled without spilling and Estel released the breath he had been unconsciously holding. He moved more slowly away from the table and then flung himself at his brothers.
Looking at each other over Estel's head the three elves exchanged a glance. All of them were relieved they would not be explaining to Lord Elrond how yet another piece of his glassware was broken. Between the three of them they had been responsible for several isolated breakings and none had forgotten when they had been responsible for the entire cupboard falling that resulted in the smashing of many plates and glasses.
"Estel how is your foot? Ada said you weren't to be walking on it to much remember?" said Elladan to his brother as Estel released his grip around his brothers' waists.
Legolas raised an eyebrow, but was unable to ask what had happened to Estel's foot as Estel answered quickly. "I haven't done that much. *And* I stayed in bed for a few hours. Besides I thought Legolas might be hungry."
"More likely you were hungry, but didn't want to be told off for eating so much," said Elrohir trying hard not to laugh.
"Maybe a bit" said Estel looking at a space between his shoes that he suddenly found interesting.
"Honestly sometimes I think you are more a halfling than a man," continued Elaidin. Estel looked up, he was blushing but seemed interested in something his brother had said.
"What's a halfling Dan?"
"Oh no. I'm not telling you a story now. I've still got things I need to get done this afternoon."
"Ro?"
"Me too Estel. Maybe before you go to sleep tonight."
Estel tried to hide how upset he was, though the three noticed the slump in his shoulders. Legolas felt uncomfortable. He had nothing of importance to do but he wasn't sure if his stories would be appropriate for one so young. "Maybe I could tell you some stories," suggested Legolas.
Estel swung around, "You would?" The excitement clearly showing in his eyes.
"You were supposed to have training this afternoon," Elrond said stepping into the room behind his sons.
"How can I train if I'm not supposed to do so much with my foot?" Estel asked. He didn't mind training too much if it was just Glorfindel or his brothers there but today was one of those sessions when the other young elves would also be there and that was much worse. Every time he faulted he could feel several glances in his direction and no doubt with an injured foot he would just make even more of a fool of himself.
"Perhaps instead of telling you a story Legolas might begin to teach you how to shoot." Elrond suggested calmly.
"But I can shoot," said Estel a little disappointed to be missing out on a story.
"Your brothers are nothing on me," said Legolas with a note of challenge in his voice.
"Oh really?" said Elladan and Elrohir together. "I guess we will just have to prove that you aren't the best shooter in Middle Earth anymore," continued Elrohir.
"You're the best shooter in Middle Earth?" Estel wasn't sure that anyone could be better than his brothers. If his new friend was a better shooter then he must be very good. But would Legolas be willing to teach him?
"Let's put it this way," said Legolas, "I've not yet found anyone better than me in 2000 years."
"Even Dan and Ro?" said Estel. Something about how casual the elf was about 2000 years made Estel feel very insignificant.
"Even them."
"Perhaps you could all go down to the archery fields and spend what is left of the afternoon finding out who is the best." suggested Elrond. "And maybe also helping Estel to improve his aim a little too. Unless you all intend to be his pin cushions."
"That was an accident Ada," said Estel. Elladan elbowed his twin before the twin could open his mouth to speak or laugh.
"I know ion-nin. But don't you think your brothers could help teach you so that you don't have such an accident again?"
"Yes Ada."
"Off you all go then. Elladan and Elrohir you are both relieved of your afternoon duties, just take care of Estel and make sure he doesn't put to much strain on his foot."
"Yes Ada" said Elrond's sons. Elrohir ran back to the twins' room to pick up their bows, and Elladan collected Estel's smaller bow from his room. Legolas moved to his pack and picked up his quiver and bow quickly strapping them on. He watched as Estel moved out of the room before him, favouring slightly his right leg.
"Would you like a piggy-back Estel?" Legolas asked. Estel looked up grateful for the offer, though a little concerned. "I promise I won't tell your Ada that I did it." Relieved Estel nodded. Legolas stopped and unstrapped his quiver, and lent his bow against the wall. He then restrapped the quiver onto Estel and got him to climb on his back. Picking up the bow they continued down to the archery practise grounds.
"How did you manage to hurt your foot?" Legolas asked a short time later.
"Promise you won't laugh?" Estel asked. He felt foolish admitting what he had done, but Legolas had promised to be his friend even though he was an edan. The elf shook his head gently. "I landed kind of funny when I jumped out of the tree this morning."
"When you landed on me?" Legolas was having a hard time not laughing aloud. It was not good that Estel had hurt himself he told himself.
"I suppose I'm just a clumsy edan," said Estel softly more to himself than Legolas.
"Your brothers used to hurt themselves a lot when they were elflings. Only most of the time they were falling out of the trees, not jumping out of them" said Legolas, laughing at the memories.
"Will you tell me about it sometime?" asked Estel. Legolas was glad to hear the upset tone had almost disappeared from his rider's voice.
"Maybe later tonight. After dinner," agreed Legolas. "First though I have to prove once again to your brothers who is the best archer." They had reached the archery fields.
~*~
A/N 1) the elvish used
Hannon le - thank you
Edan - mortal, man
Ada - daddy, dad
Ion-nin – my son
A/N 2) I don't know if I should continue this further. I'm almost tempted to stop this story here… and then maybe continue on in a new story. Let me know what you think. I hope you all like this instalment.