Here we go with chapter 2... ^_^ Nice to see some of my regulars back! You're all wonderful, really!

Twinlakeshgrl; Actually when I write my fics I have rough idea of the beginning, the middle, and the end. Then I write the first chapter and post it. I write each chapter just before I post it, but I do all the checks and everything. Yes, you're right! I'll go check out your fic, if it's not up yet tell me when it is!!! ^_^

Estel Elven Enchantress; Thanks Jo!!! ^_^ Hmmm... I wonder? Threats of Spiders, Wargs, and Orcs... what could happen?!

saxaphonebaby; Thanks! ^_^ I'm glad you liked the apple bit- I like putting bits like that into otherwise quite serious fics!

Mellaithwen-ElvenMaiden; Wahey!!! I know, that bit made me cry!!! Saw it again a few days ago... still sat there bawling my eyes out. I'm surprised the people in front didn't need lifejackets...

Dha-Gal; ^_^ Lol, yes, those are among many things that could go wrong... oh yeah, you know your wonderful, excellent (I'm not worthy!!!) fanfic? Y'know you said something about drawing covers for it? Make sure you tell me when you put them up... I can't wait to see!

frodo16424; ^_^ LOL!!!

Kawaii Elf Girl; Erm, SPIDERS!!! ^.^ Ooh, scary... they'd better watch it, that's all I can say...

elfmage; I hope you had a nice Xmas too!!! ^_^ Oh stop, I'm blushing! ^.^ I think you may well be on the right track there... =) I mean, come on, do you think I could write just one story with no Elf Angst in? No. Exactly...

Ivory Novelist; That's ok! ^_^ Lol! I was just going to say... you know on your bio, you've got that bit about saying if the fic ideas you've got are liked? I like them both, could you do them please? Especially 'Delirrium'. Thanks!!!

Nikki1; Thanks! ^_^

leggylover03; Thank you!!! ^_~

Astievia; I loved writing that bit with Estel and Legolas, I thought that up while I was listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack... don't ask me how... ^.^

Anarya; I'm glad you like, you like! ^_^ Lol!

.:Chapter 2:.

"Do not dare to get yourself in any trouble, do you understand?" said Elrond, clasping Estel's brooch at his neck to hold his deep red cloak on around his shoulders.

"Yes Ada," sighed the boy, exasperated. "I can take care of myself now."

Elrond straightened up. "That's what you told me when you and Legolas went swimming at the water hole..."

Estel stopped straight away. "That was not my fault!"

"Well you still both came home looking like drowned rats!" laughed Elrond. He tousled his young adopted son's hair. "Just stay close to Elladan and Elrohir, ok? Do not go running off on your own, especially once you get to Mirkwood."

Legolas heard all this from the top of the stairs. He grinned slyly, and climbed up onto the banister, sitting on it. Then he pushed himself and he went sliding down the wooden handrail, his cloak acting as a frictionless aid at top speed...

"LEGOLAS!" shouted the Elven Lord loudly as the young Elf flew off the banister, crashing into him. "What have I told you?!"

"Sorry..." mumbled the Prince. As Elrond rolled his eyes and picked himself up off the floor, the young blonde Elf was barely able to suppress a snigger...

~*~*~*~

The four were walking through a low path in the mountains. The grass beneath their feet was brown and prickly, some shrubs had grown up from the rocky earth, and the white fluffy clouds rolled along against the blue sky. It was a casual journey; nothing had cropped up yet, much to the twins' relief. Estel had not yet started learning how to wield a sword properly yet and Legolas wasn't the best archer in the world; yes he could shoot, but not very well... and his knife work was terrible...

Right now, Estel was silently listening to his best friend, who had been continuously talking for the past hour or so.

"...And then we can go swimming, and you can see the trees, and maybe we can sneak into the wine cellar- Ada gets really nice wine by the way- and we can tease the girls, and we can even-"

"That's enough you!" laughed Elladan, interrupting Legolas' plans to Estel. "Anyone would think you were trying to drive your Ada mad!"

"Actually, he's said that himself," replied Legolas seriously. He had said it in all honesty and truly did not understand why Elrohir suddenly burst out laughing.

"Can't get anything past you, eh Legolas?" he said, grinning. He enjoyed going to Mirkwood. The forest was beautiful, especially at this time of year. And there was something else that was particularly beautiful in Mirkwood as well...

Elladan noticed the faraway, dreamy look on his twin's face and guessed what he was thinking of. He absent-mindedly walked alongside his brother.

"So, do you think there's any chance of seeing the darling Lissenen in Mirkwood then?" he smirked.

Elrohir was oblivious to his intent, and simply nodded his head with the pathetic grin still plastered across his face. Elladan just smiled and left it at that...

~*~*~*~

It was about a week later when they finally reached the edge of the woods. Legolas brightened up immediately.

"Right, come on!" he laughed, pulling on Estel's arm. The two younger ones went to run off, but Elrohir stopped them by pulling on their hoods, jerking them back alongside him. Estel rubbed his neck, scowling.

"What was that for?!"

"No you don't," Elrohir told them. "You're not running off anywhere, either of you!"

Legolas purposefully fell behind a bit, watching the two brothers walk on in front just a little ahead. His bright smile faded and his face became troubled, his eyes fixed on Estel as the boy giggled when the younger twin made some witty comment. The Prince had kept up this façade for days and he was getting tired of it...

~*~*~*~

That night, after entering the trees of the forest, they stopped to make camp. The stars had began twinkling against the velvet black sky like little fireflies, the silvery moon riding high like a horse-drawn chariot in the sky.

Elladan was bust making a fire, and Elrohir was equally busy pointing out everything his twin was doing wrong.

Estel laughed loudly at his older brothers. He turned around to talk to his friend. "Legolas, don't you thin-"

He stopped when he realised Legolas was not there. "Legolas?"

A slight rustling above him revealed to him the Elf's hiding place. Estel frowned as he looked up. He cast a quick glance to his brothers, now trying to pat out a small spark of flame that had landed on Elladan's arm. He shook his head, rolling his eyes.

Striding up to the tree, he placed a foot on a knotted root. "Legolas?" he called. "I'm coming up!" He began to climb up.

"Don't Estel!" called a disembodied voice. "You'll only fall..." it finished, grumbling to itself. Legolas suddenly appeared, falling back and hanging upside down, hooking onto the branch with the back of his knees. His head was now level with his human companion's. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Estel noticed that Legolas looked a little worn out. "Don't be concerned with me, are you well?"

Legolas sighed and flipped out of the tree, landing on his feet on the leafy ground. Estel's descent from the tree was less than graceful, as he slipped on a patch of moss clinging to the bark, and fell to the ground with a bump.

Legolas shook his head slightly and extended a hand to pull him up. Estel declined with a shake of his own dark tresses.

"You come here and sit and tell me what is wrong."

Legolas complied half-heartedly, dropping tiredly onto the ground beside Estel. "There is nothing wrong."

Estel stared at him with the 'you-really-expect-me-to-believe-you?' look upon his young face.

Legolas hated being scrutinized in this way, shifting uncomfortably in Estel's steely gaze. He looked away for a moment, before reluctantly returning to his friend.

There was silence from them both, the thickness of it only broken by Elladan's yelps at Elrohir for causing the spark to jump from the fire in the first place. The two youths ignored it though, now trying to outstare each other; one in the hope he could keep his secrets and the other in the hope those said secrets would be revealed...

Legolas froze as he saw something small and dark crawling over Aragorn's hand. A spider. Aragorn noticed his friend's wide eyes and looked down.

"Oh!" he smiled, and raised his hand up. He actually rather liked spiders, and was quite comfortable to have this albeit slightly larger than normal arachnid crawl up his arm. He looked back towards Legolas, and to his surprise saw that the Elf had shuffled back a few paces.

"What's the matter?" he asked. Legolas looked terrified. Aragorn looked first at his friend, then back to the spider that was now creeping around his elbow. Slowly a sly grin crept over his face. "Oh, I see..." He slowly turned away from his friend, before suddenly spinning back around, and watched Legolas jump a foot in the air.

"You don't like spiders, do you?!" he realized triumphantly letting a wry grin spread on his face.

Legolas shook a little. "No, no I don't, so, so y-you just put that... that thing down right now, you hear me, alright?!" he cried. His eyes were as wide as saucers, never letting his gaze move from the hairy creature.

Aragorn was taken back, and gently put the spider down, watching as it quickly crawled away into the forest. "I didn't know you were afraid of spiders Legolas," he said softly.

Legolas looked up at him and met his gaze.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me..."

Well... not so much of a cliffie in the traditional sense of the word... but you can tell me what you think! ^_^ Please R&R! I know there are silent readers out there too and people who can't review; I still love you all!!! Well, not in that way, but you know what I mean!!! ^_^