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 5
When they got up to the main courtyard the four were surprised to find the stable hands leading several horses to the stables. They were not elven mounts and all four recognised the saddles of the rangers of the north. "At least it means Ada is busy," said Elladan in a low voice, he still wasn't sure he wanted to explain how Estel's ankle had become even more injured during their time down at the archery fields.
They made their way to Estel's room carefully avoiding the more populated corridors where they might run into an over inquisitive servant or advisor. Legolas laid Estel on his bed and sank into the chair beside it. Elladan and Elrohir decided against fetching more chairs and sank to the floor instead.
For a while there was silence and the sounds of quiet conversations from around Imladris reached them, in the distance the Bruinen could be also heard- though perhaps less clearly by Estel. "I'm bored," said Estel. "Legolas," he rolled over slightly to look at his new friend, "would you tell me a story now?"
"What do you want to know about," asked Legolas.
"You said you'd tell me about the time Dan and Ro fell out of a tree," Estel reminded him. Legolas and Estel both heard the twins move. Though only Estel could see them coming up behind his friend. Estel gave no indication that he knew they were there though just before they reached him Legolas moved from his seat and caught the two arms that had been reaching for him. Surprised, Elladan and Elrohir fell forward over the chair their prey had just vacated.
"Honestly, no wonder your brother thinks nothing about jumping out of trees onto strangers." Said Legolas now in relative safety having moved to the other side of Estel's bed. "You two were so noisy you don't deserve to be called elves."
"We're not. We get called half-elven remember." said Elrohir good naturedly. He knew that he and his twin had been quiet enough that even Legolas, with his hearing skills that had been heightened from living in Mirkwood, shouldn't have been able to detect them. "What story were you going to tell Estel anyway?" he said sitting down on what he presumed to be a now vacant chair. With a gasp he found himself on the floor again, looking up at his twin.
"I don't look that much like a chair do I Ro?" asked Elladan and joined Estel and Legolas in laughing at his twin. Elrohir looked like he was going to say something but gave in and started laughing too.
"So what story were you thinking of telling our little brother," he asked Legolas when the four had managed to calm down somewhat.
"Well I couldn't decide between the incident in my father's gardens or one of the times that you did something here." Estel's eyes grew round and seemed almost to twinkle as he watch both his elder brothers suppress groans.
"You promised never to tell anyone about the incident in those gardens" said Elladan raising an eyebrow, unconsciously mirroring his father's gesture. "I wouldn't be so quick to tell that story either. Unless you want to tell our brother about the incidents which led to our own."
"You are blackmailing me," Legolas told him calmly.
"Of course," replied Elrohir. Estel looked at the three elves and held a hand over his mouth to stop them from noticing his smile, and the laughter that was threatening to make him explode at any minute. He didn't really understand what black mail was but the tone of his brothers made him realise this was a story they really didn't want him to hear. And of course that just made him want to hear it even more.
"Very well," said Legolas, "you didn't swear me to secrecy over the various accidents you had here. I will just have to tell Estel one of those instead." Estel tried hard not to show how disappointed he was at missing such a tale as the three elves looked at him. 'Later' he saw Legolas mouth at him. The blond's eyes also were dancing with some inner mirth as he sat down on the chest that stayed at the end of Estel's bed. The twins seemed happier with this arrangement and Elrohir moved back until he was leaning against the chair his twin was sitting on. Neither had seen Legolas' comment to Estel.
"I would like to tell you a recent one but most of their most recent injuries would probably make the seem brave to you," said Legolas as if addressing Estel alone, "foolishly gained yet brave nonetheless. So instead will go back a bit further in their lives. To when they were a little over a thousand."
There was a soft groan from one of the twins, though neither Legolas nor Estel were fast enough to identify which one had interrupted the story. Instead they settled for given the two dark haired elves their best glares. The twins seemed unaware of the looks they were receiving and eventually Legolas turned away to begin the story anew.
"As I was saying the twins were both about 1000 at the time. Definitely old enough to know better." There was another noise at this but Legolas ignored it. "Your brothers, myself and a few other members of my ada's court had been travelling from Mirkwood to here.
"We kept watch every night in pairs, normally sleeping in trees with the horses nearby."
"You can sleep in trees," Estel asked impressed. He had often found himself having troubles staying in trees when he was wide awake, and wondered what it would be like to sleep in one.
"It's not all that comfortable," said Elrohir with a smile having remembered the incident he thought Legolas was now retelling to his little mortal brother. Legolas and Elladan, for reasons not yet clear to Estel began to laugh at Elrohir's comment.
"It is perfectly comfortable," said Legolas when he had managed to overcome his laughing to speak again. "Provided you don't fall out." Elrohir in a moment of childishness stuck his tongue out at his friend. Legolas started laughing again at the display of immaturity yet Estel waited patiently for the story to continue.
"As I was saying," said Legolas. "We all slept in trees. Only some of us were more used to it and more comfortable with it than others." He was grinning now, and looked at the twins to see the look that passed between them.
"We had travelled hard that day, hoping to reach Imladris before it was to dark to find our way. Unfortunately the night came on quickly, and there was no moon. We had decided to keep going but then heard the cry of wolves nearby and changed our plans. We urged the horses on to Imladris and took shelter in trees planning to continue after the sun had risen the following day on foot.
"It was your brothers who were to be on watch. In fact I think they volunteered for the tasks saying something about needing to stay awake so they could tell Lord Elrond why wolves might roam so close to his valley. Not surprisingly they chose a tree with two branches close to each other of equal height above the ground.
"Your brothers however barely managed to stay awake longer than the rest of us. Despite all the howls of the wolves nearby we were all exhausted and soon fell asleep. The wolves managed to trace us to where we were but could not reach us in the branches or so they thought.
"Elladan began to have a nightmare at some point in the night and began to roll around slightly." Legolas was trying hard not to laugh as he continued the tale. True at the time it had not seemed funny, nor had it for a few weeks afterwards, but now over a millennia and half later he could see the humour in it.
"He rolled off the branch." said Legolas watching as Estel's eyes grew wide and stole a quick look at his eldest brother. "The wolves were surprised to see an elf fall from the tree and I think it's the only reason they did not attack straight away. Elladan's nightmare and his resulting movements had woken the rest of the camp- though it seems not everyone was awake to the same extent. Elrohir in his concern for his twin rolled over to help."
"And also fell out of the tree," Estel guessed. Legolas nodded and smiled as the little edan began to chuckle.
"Shall I continue?" he asked. There was only a little more of the story to tell, and it wouldn't hurt to not tell it. Estel nodded, his laughter coming under control apart from the occasional little hiccup. "Well as you can see your brothers managed not to be eaten by the wolves as my friends from Mirkwood and I were all more awake and fired arrows killing the five wolves of the pack without joining them, or your brothers on the ground.
"When we reached them we had to check these two for injuries. Elrohir had fractured his tail bone, and Elladan had a fairly serious concussion."
"It was the other way round and you know it," said Elladan taking over the story for the moment. "I had fallen back first from my branch, whereas Elrohir had fallen with his head being the first thing connecting to the ground."
Legolas laughed and began a new tale. One of Mirkwood and his own adventures whilst growing up in the great forest.
Elladan couldn't help smiling when he saw the effects of the stories Legolas was telling on his littlest brother. Their were things that had been left out of the stories. In the first story Legolas had how all the elves had been bone weary from fighting several orc packs on their journey, but it seemed for now that Estel wasn't going to ask any difficult questions.
"Ada" cried Estel suddenly. Elladan looked up from his little brother, to over his shoulder where the lord of Imladris was now standing at the door way. He smiled warily, it had been delegated to him to explain what they were doing back inside, and he wasn't sure if his father would be pleased with the twins after he had finished.
"Greetings Estel," said Elrond moving into the room. "Would you like to tell me what you are doing in your room on such a beautiful day as this? Especially when only a short time ago you were going down to the archery fields with Legolas and your brothers?" Estel shook his head, and Elrond raised an eyebrow.
"Perhaps I can explain," said Legolas before Elladan could open his mouth. Elrond looked at the visitor and nodded for him to continue. "I had offered to give Estel a ride on my back as we made our way down to the fields. When we were almost there I tripped. Estel, though he didn't tell us at first, landed on his ankle and caused more damage to it."
Elrond gave his best penetrating glare. It had no effect though as Legolas has turned to get Estel a glass of water even though it hadn't been asked for. "It is not like the elves of Mirkwood to lose their footing, especially not their prince," he pointed out but received no answer from the other occupants of the room. He thought Estel looked ready to say something but the boy remained quiet instead.
"Very well then. I shall return sometime before dinner and have a look at your foot Estel. Until then I would appreciate if you put no weight on it at all. Furthermore I am afraid I shall have to ask your two brothers to come with me. There are some men who have arrived who wish to speak with them," said Elrond getting to his feet. "Legolas, the afternoon is yours to do what you wish. If you tire of your own stories my library is always available." The twins got up with their father and left the room.
The door shut behind the three and Estel waited for a few moments to pass making sure that even with exceptional hearing his father wouldn't hear his next words. "Legolas," he asked, "would you teach me to shoot like you?"
…
Further away and nearer to the healing rooms Elrond looked at two of his sons. "I would advise the two of you not to trip your friend up any more. Especially when he carries your little brother on his back." The twins could on stare at their father's back for a brief moment wondering how he had learnt of their prank, before following him into the healing area where the leader of the rangers lay.
~*~
A/N 1) Elvish used in this
Ada- daddy, dad
A/N 2) Sorry this took so long… it was meant to be done sooner – only I got a new computer and was unable to get part of the story off the usb stick onto my computer sooner. Hopefully the next update won't take so long.
I hope you are all enjoying this… and that you liked how the twins came to fall out of the trees…
Thank you for the reviews and I'm always happy for more… lol subtle huh?
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine… The story idea is not original… I just hope you like it
~*~
Chapter 5
When they got up to the main courtyard the four were surprised to find the stable hands leading several horses to the stables. They were not elven mounts and all four recognised the saddles of the rangers of the north. "At least it means Ada is busy," said Elladan in a low voice, he still wasn't sure he wanted to explain how Estel's ankle had become even more injured during their time down at the archery fields.
They made their way to Estel's room carefully avoiding the more populated corridors where they might run into an over inquisitive servant or advisor. Legolas laid Estel on his bed and sank into the chair beside it. Elladan and Elrohir decided against fetching more chairs and sank to the floor instead.
For a while there was silence and the sounds of quiet conversations from around Imladris reached them, in the distance the Bruinen could be also heard- though perhaps less clearly by Estel. "I'm bored," said Estel. "Legolas," he rolled over slightly to look at his new friend, "would you tell me a story now?"
"What do you want to know about," asked Legolas.
"You said you'd tell me about the time Dan and Ro fell out of a tree," Estel reminded him. Legolas and Estel both heard the twins move. Though only Estel could see them coming up behind his friend. Estel gave no indication that he knew they were there though just before they reached him Legolas moved from his seat and caught the two arms that had been reaching for him. Surprised, Elladan and Elrohir fell forward over the chair their prey had just vacated.
"Honestly, no wonder your brother thinks nothing about jumping out of trees onto strangers." Said Legolas now in relative safety having moved to the other side of Estel's bed. "You two were so noisy you don't deserve to be called elves."
"We're not. We get called half-elven remember." said Elrohir good naturedly. He knew that he and his twin had been quiet enough that even Legolas, with his hearing skills that had been heightened from living in Mirkwood, shouldn't have been able to detect them. "What story were you going to tell Estel anyway?" he said sitting down on what he presumed to be a now vacant chair. With a gasp he found himself on the floor again, looking up at his twin.
"I don't look that much like a chair do I Ro?" asked Elladan and joined Estel and Legolas in laughing at his twin. Elrohir looked like he was going to say something but gave in and started laughing too.
"So what story were you thinking of telling our little brother," he asked Legolas when the four had managed to calm down somewhat.
"Well I couldn't decide between the incident in my father's gardens or one of the times that you did something here." Estel's eyes grew round and seemed almost to twinkle as he watch both his elder brothers suppress groans.
"You promised never to tell anyone about the incident in those gardens" said Elladan raising an eyebrow, unconsciously mirroring his father's gesture. "I wouldn't be so quick to tell that story either. Unless you want to tell our brother about the incidents which led to our own."
"You are blackmailing me," Legolas told him calmly.
"Of course," replied Elrohir. Estel looked at the three elves and held a hand over his mouth to stop them from noticing his smile, and the laughter that was threatening to make him explode at any minute. He didn't really understand what black mail was but the tone of his brothers made him realise this was a story they really didn't want him to hear. And of course that just made him want to hear it even more.
"Very well," said Legolas, "you didn't swear me to secrecy over the various accidents you had here. I will just have to tell Estel one of those instead." Estel tried hard not to show how disappointed he was at missing such a tale as the three elves looked at him. 'Later' he saw Legolas mouth at him. The blond's eyes also were dancing with some inner mirth as he sat down on the chest that stayed at the end of Estel's bed. The twins seemed happier with this arrangement and Elrohir moved back until he was leaning against the chair his twin was sitting on. Neither had seen Legolas' comment to Estel.
"I would like to tell you a recent one but most of their most recent injuries would probably make the seem brave to you," said Legolas as if addressing Estel alone, "foolishly gained yet brave nonetheless. So instead will go back a bit further in their lives. To when they were a little over a thousand."
There was a soft groan from one of the twins, though neither Legolas nor Estel were fast enough to identify which one had interrupted the story. Instead they settled for given the two dark haired elves their best glares. The twins seemed unaware of the looks they were receiving and eventually Legolas turned away to begin the story anew.
"As I was saying the twins were both about 1000 at the time. Definitely old enough to know better." There was another noise at this but Legolas ignored it. "Your brothers, myself and a few other members of my ada's court had been travelling from Mirkwood to here.
"We kept watch every night in pairs, normally sleeping in trees with the horses nearby."
"You can sleep in trees," Estel asked impressed. He had often found himself having troubles staying in trees when he was wide awake, and wondered what it would be like to sleep in one.
"It's not all that comfortable," said Elrohir with a smile having remembered the incident he thought Legolas was now retelling to his little mortal brother. Legolas and Elladan, for reasons not yet clear to Estel began to laugh at Elrohir's comment.
"It is perfectly comfortable," said Legolas when he had managed to overcome his laughing to speak again. "Provided you don't fall out." Elrohir in a moment of childishness stuck his tongue out at his friend. Legolas started laughing again at the display of immaturity yet Estel waited patiently for the story to continue.
"As I was saying," said Legolas. "We all slept in trees. Only some of us were more used to it and more comfortable with it than others." He was grinning now, and looked at the twins to see the look that passed between them.
"We had travelled hard that day, hoping to reach Imladris before it was to dark to find our way. Unfortunately the night came on quickly, and there was no moon. We had decided to keep going but then heard the cry of wolves nearby and changed our plans. We urged the horses on to Imladris and took shelter in trees planning to continue after the sun had risen the following day on foot.
"It was your brothers who were to be on watch. In fact I think they volunteered for the tasks saying something about needing to stay awake so they could tell Lord Elrond why wolves might roam so close to his valley. Not surprisingly they chose a tree with two branches close to each other of equal height above the ground.
"Your brothers however barely managed to stay awake longer than the rest of us. Despite all the howls of the wolves nearby we were all exhausted and soon fell asleep. The wolves managed to trace us to where we were but could not reach us in the branches or so they thought.
"Elladan began to have a nightmare at some point in the night and began to roll around slightly." Legolas was trying hard not to laugh as he continued the tale. True at the time it had not seemed funny, nor had it for a few weeks afterwards, but now over a millennia and half later he could see the humour in it.
"He rolled off the branch." said Legolas watching as Estel's eyes grew wide and stole a quick look at his eldest brother. "The wolves were surprised to see an elf fall from the tree and I think it's the only reason they did not attack straight away. Elladan's nightmare and his resulting movements had woken the rest of the camp- though it seems not everyone was awake to the same extent. Elrohir in his concern for his twin rolled over to help."
"And also fell out of the tree," Estel guessed. Legolas nodded and smiled as the little edan began to chuckle.
"Shall I continue?" he asked. There was only a little more of the story to tell, and it wouldn't hurt to not tell it. Estel nodded, his laughter coming under control apart from the occasional little hiccup. "Well as you can see your brothers managed not to be eaten by the wolves as my friends from Mirkwood and I were all more awake and fired arrows killing the five wolves of the pack without joining them, or your brothers on the ground.
"When we reached them we had to check these two for injuries. Elrohir had fractured his tail bone, and Elladan had a fairly serious concussion."
"It was the other way round and you know it," said Elladan taking over the story for the moment. "I had fallen back first from my branch, whereas Elrohir had fallen with his head being the first thing connecting to the ground."
Legolas laughed and began a new tale. One of Mirkwood and his own adventures whilst growing up in the great forest.
Elladan couldn't help smiling when he saw the effects of the stories Legolas was telling on his littlest brother. Their were things that had been left out of the stories. In the first story Legolas had how all the elves had been bone weary from fighting several orc packs on their journey, but it seemed for now that Estel wasn't going to ask any difficult questions.
"Ada" cried Estel suddenly. Elladan looked up from his little brother, to over his shoulder where the lord of Imladris was now standing at the door way. He smiled warily, it had been delegated to him to explain what they were doing back inside, and he wasn't sure if his father would be pleased with the twins after he had finished.
"Greetings Estel," said Elrond moving into the room. "Would you like to tell me what you are doing in your room on such a beautiful day as this? Especially when only a short time ago you were going down to the archery fields with Legolas and your brothers?" Estel shook his head, and Elrond raised an eyebrow.
"Perhaps I can explain," said Legolas before Elladan could open his mouth. Elrond looked at the visitor and nodded for him to continue. "I had offered to give Estel a ride on my back as we made our way down to the fields. When we were almost there I tripped. Estel, though he didn't tell us at first, landed on his ankle and caused more damage to it."
Elrond gave his best penetrating glare. It had no effect though as Legolas has turned to get Estel a glass of water even though it hadn't been asked for. "It is not like the elves of Mirkwood to lose their footing, especially not their prince," he pointed out but received no answer from the other occupants of the room. He thought Estel looked ready to say something but the boy remained quiet instead.
"Very well then. I shall return sometime before dinner and have a look at your foot Estel. Until then I would appreciate if you put no weight on it at all. Furthermore I am afraid I shall have to ask your two brothers to come with me. There are some men who have arrived who wish to speak with them," said Elrond getting to his feet. "Legolas, the afternoon is yours to do what you wish. If you tire of your own stories my library is always available." The twins got up with their father and left the room.
The door shut behind the three and Estel waited for a few moments to pass making sure that even with exceptional hearing his father wouldn't hear his next words. "Legolas," he asked, "would you teach me to shoot like you?"
…
Further away and nearer to the healing rooms Elrond looked at two of his sons. "I would advise the two of you not to trip your friend up any more. Especially when he carries your little brother on his back." The twins could on stare at their father's back for a brief moment wondering how he had learnt of their prank, before following him into the healing area where the leader of the rangers lay.
~*~
A/N 1) Elvish used in this
Ada- daddy, dad
A/N 2) Sorry this took so long… it was meant to be done sooner – only I got a new computer and was unable to get part of the story off the usb stick onto my computer sooner. Hopefully the next update won't take so long.
I hope you are all enjoying this… and that you liked how the twins came to fall out of the trees…
Thank you for the reviews and I'm always happy for more… lol subtle huh?