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
A/N 1) Well to all those who told me that I shouldn't stop… I hope you enjoy… I really should be studying for an exam tomorrow but this is just much more fun.
~*~
Chapter 4
The twins had beaten Estel and Legolas to the archery fields and now lay in wait. It wasn't the most well planned of their pranks and they weren't entirely sure it would work either. Still that hadn't stopped them crouching down either side of the path holding the end of a partially hidden trip wire.
Legolas was smiling; trying to decide what story he should tell later that evening. The twins hadn't fallen out of trees all that often though when they did it was normally with spectacular displays of lack of grace and usually resulted in impressive injuries afterwards. Just before stepping through the last trees that marked the borders of the archery fields Legolas got the feeling he was being watched. He looked up in the trees and so failed to notice the rope before he tripped over it.
Estel let out a cry as Legolas fell forwards, also caught unaware by his brothers' prank. He felt himself fall to the side although somehow he managed to avoid getting tangled with the bow for which he was grateful. The fall had jarred his already sore ankle, but refusing to be a baby, he bit his bottom lip and tried to will away the pain.
As the twins emerged from their hiding spots beside the path Legolas gave then both a glare that, Estel thought, must have been practised for many years. It had little effect on the twins who smiled at one another and the two before them. "Really Legolas," began Elrohir, "I thought I remembered you saying something about you being more graceful, because you were not partly mortal, last time you were here."
"Now Elrohir, be nice" cut in Elladan trying to sound serious even though he had a smile across his face. "You haven't even asked Legolas if he enjoyed the trip."
"I didn't" muttered Legolas brushing the few leaves off his leggings.
"You didn't what, Legolas?" asked Elladan innocently.
"Trip. I didn't trip."
"Oh… of course you didn't. How silly of us Ro. He didn't trip. He just fell asleep again. Dear me Legolas are you sure you wanted to leave your bed chambers at all. You didn't have to come all this way to prove how good we are if you are so tired."
Legolas' face had turned red but the other elves could see him trying to hold back a smile. Unfortunately Estel couldn't and he was getting angry on his new friend's behalf. Even though it hurt his ankle more he jumped onto Elladan causing the both to fall, then began to tickle his brother without mercy.
"Peace Estel," said Elrohir as he managed to detach his human brother from his twin. Legolas helped Elladan off the ground.
"But he hurt Legolas," complained Estel.
"No he didn't," said Legolas. "I'm fine I promise."
"That's normally a sign for us to drag you back to Ada," said Elrohir, causing the other two elves to laugh with him. Their numerous adventures together had often seen the trio stumbling back into Imladris or Mirkwood with injuries, and Legolas was well known to protest that he was fine even when it was obvious to everyone around him that he wasn't.
Estel didn't look convinced by his friend's promise and scowled. "Peace Estel. I meant your new friend no harm," said Elladan extending his hand. Estel regarded it briefly with suspicion, then shrugged his shoulders and hugged his brother instead.
Satisfied that all was resolved the four began to walk the last few meters to the shooting line. Estel was limping more after the fall but he told himself it was nothing, and none of the elves thought to ask about it.
"What shall we do first?" asked Elladan. "Do we help Estel or do we challenge this haughty prince to prove his skills against us."
"How about we ask Estel," suggested Legolas. He was happy with either option but was wary about upsetting Estel further.
"I'll just watch," said Estel. In truth he wanted to be taught more but his foot was throbbing now and he didn't know how much longer he could stand on it. The others nodded and set about preparing themselves strapping on their quivers and testing their bow strings.
Estel wandered off and sat down under a near by tree happy to watch the action from there. He wasn't sure who he wanted to win. If it had been just another elf from Imladris he would have undoubtedly be hoping for the twins to win, but a part of him also wanted his new friend to win. He was sure that Legolas was good with the bow. The twins didn't waste time challenging others unless they were sure it was going to require some skill to beat their opponent.
A shout drew his attention back to the three elves. They were ready to begin and approached him. "We each have eleven arrows," Legolas told him. "We are aiming for the targets that are right down the other end of the field. Can you see them?" Estel nodded. He could see the targets though he could not tell where one colour band ended and the next started.
"We are going to fire as quickly and as accurately as we can," Elladan continued
"When we are finished we will go and see whose arrows hit the bullseye most often," concluded Elrohir. Estel nodded. "You are responsible to see no-one cheats" said Elrohir with a cheeky grin "especially not Legolas."
Estel nodded again and the three returned to line up in front of the targets. When he was sure they were ready Estel called out "Go". And the competition began. Estel barely had time to compare the differences in styles. His brothers mirrored each other perfectly, unaware that they fired in unison with each other. But it was Legolas who Estel focused on. The blonde's movements were even more rapid than the twins and there was something almost fluid in the motions. Even without seeing the targets Estel was reasonably confident he knew who had won.
It only took a moment, though Estel felt he had watched it all in slow motion. Then the three of them called to him and urged him to come with them as they retrieved their arrows. Estel got up to find the pain that had diminished slightly as he had been resting had returned with a vengeance. Carefully he limped after his brothers and friend.
It wasn't until they reached the targets that Elladan looked back and say Estel limping after them. Forgetting the targets he ran to his brother. "Estel what is wrong with you?"
"Only my foot. It will be alright soon," said Estel. He didn't really know what else he could say. He didn't want his brothers fussing over him, and especially not Ada.
Legolas and Elrohir could easily overhear the conversation and made their way to the pair. "You landed badly when you fell off my back Estel. Did it hurt your foot again?" Legolas asked concern evident in his voice.
"A little" admitted Estel.
The twins looked at each other guiltily; communicating it seemed by looks alone. Already Elrohir could see the beginnings of disappointment in his twin's eyes. Elladan had promised to protect his little mortal brother the night he had been brought to Imladris and each time Estel got injured Elladan tried to convince himself that somehow he was entirely responsible. "I'll fetch the arrows," said Elrohir. "Dan, you and Legolas take Estel back to the house."
"But," said Estel, "won't Ada mind that I'm not training?" It seemed like Elrond had wanted him to do some training today no matter what and he didn't want to disappoint his ada because of some foolish injury he had caused himself.
"Dan will explain it to Ada," said Elrohir deliberately ignoring the look his twin gave him. "And maybe Legolas might be able to tell you one of his stories before dinner." Estel seemed reasonably content with this idea and turned around. A low gasp passed his lips as he tried to put enough weight on his foot to walk.
"Would you like another ride Estel?" offered Legolas. Estel nodded and the prince of Mirkwood picked up his friend and gently carried him back to the house.
~*~
A/N 2) the elvish used
Ada - daddy, dad
A/N 3) The comment Elrohir remembers Legolas making isn't meant to be taken in a bad way. Let's just pretend that the twins did something not so graceful and Legolas managed to keep out of it. They are friends… I'm sure he was only joking (and I'm thinking that Elladan and Elrohir also know that
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine… The story idea is not original… I just hope you like it
A/N 1) Well to all those who told me that I shouldn't stop… I hope you enjoy… I really should be studying for an exam tomorrow but this is just much more fun.
~*~
Chapter 4
The twins had beaten Estel and Legolas to the archery fields and now lay in wait. It wasn't the most well planned of their pranks and they weren't entirely sure it would work either. Still that hadn't stopped them crouching down either side of the path holding the end of a partially hidden trip wire.
Legolas was smiling; trying to decide what story he should tell later that evening. The twins hadn't fallen out of trees all that often though when they did it was normally with spectacular displays of lack of grace and usually resulted in impressive injuries afterwards. Just before stepping through the last trees that marked the borders of the archery fields Legolas got the feeling he was being watched. He looked up in the trees and so failed to notice the rope before he tripped over it.
Estel let out a cry as Legolas fell forwards, also caught unaware by his brothers' prank. He felt himself fall to the side although somehow he managed to avoid getting tangled with the bow for which he was grateful. The fall had jarred his already sore ankle, but refusing to be a baby, he bit his bottom lip and tried to will away the pain.
As the twins emerged from their hiding spots beside the path Legolas gave then both a glare that, Estel thought, must have been practised for many years. It had little effect on the twins who smiled at one another and the two before them. "Really Legolas," began Elrohir, "I thought I remembered you saying something about you being more graceful, because you were not partly mortal, last time you were here."
"Now Elrohir, be nice" cut in Elladan trying to sound serious even though he had a smile across his face. "You haven't even asked Legolas if he enjoyed the trip."
"I didn't" muttered Legolas brushing the few leaves off his leggings.
"You didn't what, Legolas?" asked Elladan innocently.
"Trip. I didn't trip."
"Oh… of course you didn't. How silly of us Ro. He didn't trip. He just fell asleep again. Dear me Legolas are you sure you wanted to leave your bed chambers at all. You didn't have to come all this way to prove how good we are if you are so tired."
Legolas' face had turned red but the other elves could see him trying to hold back a smile. Unfortunately Estel couldn't and he was getting angry on his new friend's behalf. Even though it hurt his ankle more he jumped onto Elladan causing the both to fall, then began to tickle his brother without mercy.
"Peace Estel," said Elrohir as he managed to detach his human brother from his twin. Legolas helped Elladan off the ground.
"But he hurt Legolas," complained Estel.
"No he didn't," said Legolas. "I'm fine I promise."
"That's normally a sign for us to drag you back to Ada," said Elrohir, causing the other two elves to laugh with him. Their numerous adventures together had often seen the trio stumbling back into Imladris or Mirkwood with injuries, and Legolas was well known to protest that he was fine even when it was obvious to everyone around him that he wasn't.
Estel didn't look convinced by his friend's promise and scowled. "Peace Estel. I meant your new friend no harm," said Elladan extending his hand. Estel regarded it briefly with suspicion, then shrugged his shoulders and hugged his brother instead.
Satisfied that all was resolved the four began to walk the last few meters to the shooting line. Estel was limping more after the fall but he told himself it was nothing, and none of the elves thought to ask about it.
"What shall we do first?" asked Elladan. "Do we help Estel or do we challenge this haughty prince to prove his skills against us."
"How about we ask Estel," suggested Legolas. He was happy with either option but was wary about upsetting Estel further.
"I'll just watch," said Estel. In truth he wanted to be taught more but his foot was throbbing now and he didn't know how much longer he could stand on it. The others nodded and set about preparing themselves strapping on their quivers and testing their bow strings.
Estel wandered off and sat down under a near by tree happy to watch the action from there. He wasn't sure who he wanted to win. If it had been just another elf from Imladris he would have undoubtedly be hoping for the twins to win, but a part of him also wanted his new friend to win. He was sure that Legolas was good with the bow. The twins didn't waste time challenging others unless they were sure it was going to require some skill to beat their opponent.
A shout drew his attention back to the three elves. They were ready to begin and approached him. "We each have eleven arrows," Legolas told him. "We are aiming for the targets that are right down the other end of the field. Can you see them?" Estel nodded. He could see the targets though he could not tell where one colour band ended and the next started.
"We are going to fire as quickly and as accurately as we can," Elladan continued
"When we are finished we will go and see whose arrows hit the bullseye most often," concluded Elrohir. Estel nodded. "You are responsible to see no-one cheats" said Elrohir with a cheeky grin "especially not Legolas."
Estel nodded again and the three returned to line up in front of the targets. When he was sure they were ready Estel called out "Go". And the competition began. Estel barely had time to compare the differences in styles. His brothers mirrored each other perfectly, unaware that they fired in unison with each other. But it was Legolas who Estel focused on. The blonde's movements were even more rapid than the twins and there was something almost fluid in the motions. Even without seeing the targets Estel was reasonably confident he knew who had won.
It only took a moment, though Estel felt he had watched it all in slow motion. Then the three of them called to him and urged him to come with them as they retrieved their arrows. Estel got up to find the pain that had diminished slightly as he had been resting had returned with a vengeance. Carefully he limped after his brothers and friend.
It wasn't until they reached the targets that Elladan looked back and say Estel limping after them. Forgetting the targets he ran to his brother. "Estel what is wrong with you?"
"Only my foot. It will be alright soon," said Estel. He didn't really know what else he could say. He didn't want his brothers fussing over him, and especially not Ada.
Legolas and Elrohir could easily overhear the conversation and made their way to the pair. "You landed badly when you fell off my back Estel. Did it hurt your foot again?" Legolas asked concern evident in his voice.
"A little" admitted Estel.
The twins looked at each other guiltily; communicating it seemed by looks alone. Already Elrohir could see the beginnings of disappointment in his twin's eyes. Elladan had promised to protect his little mortal brother the night he had been brought to Imladris and each time Estel got injured Elladan tried to convince himself that somehow he was entirely responsible. "I'll fetch the arrows," said Elrohir. "Dan, you and Legolas take Estel back to the house."
"But," said Estel, "won't Ada mind that I'm not training?" It seemed like Elrond had wanted him to do some training today no matter what and he didn't want to disappoint his ada because of some foolish injury he had caused himself.
"Dan will explain it to Ada," said Elrohir deliberately ignoring the look his twin gave him. "And maybe Legolas might be able to tell you one of his stories before dinner." Estel seemed reasonably content with this idea and turned around. A low gasp passed his lips as he tried to put enough weight on his foot to walk.
"Would you like another ride Estel?" offered Legolas. Estel nodded and the prince of Mirkwood picked up his friend and gently carried him back to the house.
~*~
A/N 2) the elvish used
Ada - daddy, dad
A/N 3) The comment Elrohir remembers Legolas making isn't meant to be taken in a bad way. Let's just pretend that the twins did something not so graceful and Legolas managed to keep out of it. They are friends… I'm sure he was only joking (and I'm thinking that Elladan and Elrohir also know that