Author: Mirrordance
Title: Exile
Summary: An elf is exiled as a suspect to his own brother's murder. A young king goes out into the Wild. Two warriors cross paths and embark on a common adventure as one seeks to escape his past and the other to reclaim it. How Aragorn and Legolas met.
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PART 14
Poised above their horses and towering over their multitude of foes, Estel raised his sword over his head and struck his enemies one by one. The steed was undoubtedly agitated, but it was raised by elves, and whose master was himself a King. It had a similarly stout heart, and it held its ground, bearing wounds that were made no more worse by its ever watchful master.
But it was not the only one that held the human's attention. Estel found a breath from battle to glance at the elf, who was holding his own amidst the attack, resorting to his knives at close-range.
Orcs were easy enough to fell, they were prone to some careless, jerky movements. Impulsive, seldom calculated moves were made successful only by brute force and sheer number. Still… it was a force that was significantly strong, and a number significantly greater than the pair of them, mighty and experienced warriors though they may be.
He was tiring quickly, and though the flood of his foes was thinning at last, he knew that his body's own lingering weakness made his own strength wane, inopportunely collecting now after all his neglect and stubbornness.
It was at this time that he found the elf inching towards him, on guard for any eventuality. Legolas had his own foes to fell, but his vigilant eyes have been keeping watch over his human companion as well, and as long as he drew breath, no harm would come to this friend who risked life and limb for him, who made all his impossibilities seem so profoundly near and attainable.
When Legolas saw a pair of Rivendell soldiers—specifically, the twins of Lord Elrond themselves-- emerge at a frantic pace from the woods, he felt more relief than defeat. Estel did say they rode hard and fast, and probably did not even stop for the night.
They have been found. And though it also meant they--or perhaps just he-- have been caught, at least Estel would not have to pay for Legolas' foolish dreams with his life.
Between the four of them, the orcs did not have a prayer.
Breathing heavily, Estel turned to his brothers and smiled gamely. The twins exchanged identically wry glances, before cautiously reaching for Estel's and and Legolas' horse reins.
No more running indeed, Legolas thought.
* * *
"You, Estel," said Elladan, "Have sent us in a merry chase."
"Did you not say I make your life interesting?" Estel asked, blinking innocently at him.
"Ohhh, you do find trouble," said Elrohir, looking about the carnage around them, "Ada is not pleased with you at all, by the way. But I suppose it would be rather obvious. He said he wished you consulted with him first."
"And what?" asked Estel, "If he did not agree, which most likely would have been the case, then I would have had a throng of you in our way, making escape impossible."
"Either way," said Elladan, "You've been caught."
"The thing is," said Elrohir, his lips curving to a slight smile as he watched Estel's disappointed face turn up at him hopefully, "After your little escape attempt, Ada realized that you believe in this crazed elf with your life. Mithrandir also seems to be a stalwart champion of his. And so, though we have been sent to catch you, it is only to keep you in check."
"And not," added Elladan, "to drag the both of you troublemakers back to Rivendell. As you can see, your search party is made up of just Elrohir and myself."
Estel's jaw dropped. "Truly?"
"Absolutely," replied Elladan, "This is one adventure of yours that we are definitely going to be a part of. You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say ada is giving you the easy way out and has a partiality for you."
"What do you mean if you didn't know any better?" asked Estel.
"Well I'd hate to think you were his favorite," Elladan said, feigning offense, "It must be something else then. Your spirit, and your way with your convictions… they're very… hm…" he paused, searching for the most appropriate word.
"Convincing?" Estel guessed.
"Conniving?" Elrohir hazarded.
"Close," laughed Elladan, "But I was looking for something along the lines of… contagious. You make the disastrously outrageous seem the most viable way across a situation."
"Should I be flattered?" Estel asked wryly.
"Mostly," Elladan smiled, "but you still owe us for that little prison escape. You know an arm's reach is very relative? You left that key a little too far."
Legolas watched the three brothers exchange light conversation with veiled envy, and far less concealed wariness. He did not desire to bring anyone else into his situation, into his problems. His pride was pricked, dangerously threatened. His expression remained closed as they all turned to look at him.
"This is not your battle," he told them coldly. Estel looked perplexed at the sudden change in him.
"Our brother," said Elrohir, "therefore, our responsibility."
"Then take him with you and leave me alone," Legolas snapped.
"Well, as you can see, he will not be taken," said Elladan, "And we will not leave him."
Legolas turned turbulent eyes towards Estel, "I will not be a burden to anyone."
Estel did not bother to deny how much of a complication the elf had indeed brought into his life. Legolas would have easily seen through the lie. Instead, he said, "It is not so much of a burden if more carry its weight, mellon. That is what we are here for."
"I will not be the cause for any of you to get hurt or killed," said Legolas, "You have gone far enough with me, Estel. I've taken much from you. Leave with them. Leave me alone."
"Oh we cannot do that either," said Elrohir, "Fate brought us together, Legolas. While I'd have seen things simpler if we never saw each other again, there are things that must be done. Untold stories, unfinished tales. Restless ghosts."
Legolas looked at his solid, unwavering, determined gaze. It is at this time that he remembered Elrond's twins were great friends of Lesandro, once upon a time. They share his loss. They share his desire for justice, possibly even for vengeance. At first, all this animosity had been directed his way, perhaps for lack of a more convincing suspect. But now, he felt that they were on the same page at last, though it still remains to be said if they were on the same side.
Either way, there was no dissuading Elrohir. Or his twin. Or Estel. They grow up strong of heart in Rivendell, he thought. And he knew that for what it was worth, he now had a crusade made up of the best of what elves and men have to offer with him on his quest.
TO BE CONTINUED…