^_^ Lovely to see so many nice reviews! Thanks!

Twinlakeshgrl; I used a feature on the website Council of Elrond. It doesn't use HTML... oh, what are your websites?! I'd love to see them!!!

Anarya; *gasps in horror and faints. Suddenly sits up, remembering something. Realises Anarya is being sarcastic* Oh!!! ^_^ You had me worried there!!! Lol, oh yeah, you can count on me for that!

Viresse0; Yes, the last chapter is over, but this one is beginning... ooh, that sounded deep!!! ^.^' Lol!!! Wow, so he can be useful... hey Leggy, how comes you're never that helpful for me?!

     LEGOLAS: Because you're evil...

     Oh. Fair deal I guess...

Astievia; Oh, thank you! ^_^

eruve tinwen; I know, I'm evil to him, aren't I?! ^_^

BabeyRachey; Thank you very much!!!

The joyous pumpkin; Lol, I like your name! ^_^ Tee hee, I don't think so... though that would be quite an interesting idea! Oh, you're great at reviewing... I mean, you wrote something, didn't you?! ^_^

Gwyn; Adorable eh? Hear that Hal?!

     HALLATAULË: Me, adorable?! =( NOBODY CALLS ME ADORABLE!!! I AM NOT ADORABLE!!! *Star puts waste paper basket over him.*

     Face it. You. Are. Cute.

     HALLATAULË: No!!! I'm not going the same way as him... *points to Legolas who is happily signing autographs as he wears shades*

     LEGOLAS: Don't hate me just because I'm beautiful bro...

     Erm... I'd better have a word with him... thanks for reviewing though!

leggylover03; Thanks!!! ^_^

Estel Elven Enchantress; Mwuhahahahaha!!! Such sweet revenge... =) Hope you're feeling better now though! They love us!!! I'm loved!!! You're loved!!! We're loved!!! All is right with the world once more!!!

     LEGOLAS: *to Aragorn* Someone loves them?! Sweet Eru, they must be desperate...

     Shut. Up.

Ivory Novelist; Thank you!!! Hang on... it's alright now Hal; someone thinks you're an ass!

     HALLATAULË: *from under waste paper basket* WHAT?!?!?! THAT'S AN INSULT!!!    

     Oh do shut up Hal... thanks for the review!!! ^_^

Mellaithwen-JediKnightess; Ah, you've changer your name again! Let me guess... Star Wars?! ^_^ I'm sorry I made you cry! Actually I've got nearly this whole series planned out... (look further down to see just how planned!)... so that idea might just feature in it... =)

Yavie Aelinel; Oops! Sorry, I didn't make that last chapter too short, did I? Well if I did, I think I may have made up for it in this chappie! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!

BlueRaie14; Thanks!  

And now for some rather gloomy news; this is the last chapter! But of course, as always, there will be a preview for the next instalment at the bottom!

FACT: Did you know this series is almost entirely planned out? And did you also know that there are 32 still un-viewed stories in the works for this series... and that's not all of them!!! Ah, the joys of being organised... lol!

.:Chapter 5:.

Legolas stormed out of the throne room, his vision a blur of tears. A servant of the palace nearly dropped the tray of sweet smelling forest dew that he was carrying as the Prince tore past him.

"Estel can't die... he can't... I don't want him to..."

Legolas didn't even notice where his feet were carrying him. If he had, he would have realised that he was heading for the dark forest...  

~*~*~*~

Estel heard quick footsteps down one corridor and turned to see Legolas half running towards the great gates. He was mighty concerned at the distraught look on the Elf's face.

Without Sólia even noticing, Estel silently slipped away and followed his best friend...

~*~*~*~

Hallataulë sat alone in his room. How dare Elladan talk to him like that?!

But he was rude to Dan...

He was a Prince. Nobody should talk to him like that!

Maybe... maybe he didn't understand. Maybe this Estel child was different...

Hallataulë could have slapped himself. 'What am I thinking?!' he thought to himself. "He's just the same... just like them..."

Looking absentmindedly from the window, the oldest Prince sat bolt upright as he caught sight of his younger brother heading off into the forest.

"What's he doing?!" thought Hallataulë. He watched in horror as the young Elf disappeared between the trees.

Had he stayed sat a few seconds longer instead of immediately jumping up and grabbing his daggers, bow, and quiver of green fletched arrows, he would have seen the hated human following Legolas silently from the Elven realm's boundaries...

~*~*~*~

Legolas' feet slowly stopped their running, and for the first time he actually looked around to see where he had ended up.

"Oh Eru..."

A spider's nest.

But where was the spider?

A leaf dropped down lazily from above him, landing by his feet on the forest floor. Legolas, puzzled, bent down and picked it up. The leaf was still green; it should not yet have fallen...

It dawned on him. Almost afraid to look, his eyes looked upwards...

~*~*~*~

Hallataulë picked up his speed as he heard a terrified cry from up ahead. "Hold on tithen gwador, I'm coming!"

~*~*~*~

Legolas rolled out of the way before the spider, which had dropped down from its hiding place in the tall tree, could crush him. It screeched loudly, making the young Elf clap his hands over his pointed ears. He jumped up and grabbed an overhead branch as the spider lunged at him again.

"Help!!!" he screamed. The ravenous arachnid now steadily ascended the tree, drooling in the promise of fresh meat...

~*~*~*~

Estel jumped at a sound behind him. The bushes rustled, and the boy picked up a large stick that lay on the floor, holding it almost like a sword.

The foliage rustled yet again, and Estel was almost about to strike out when Hallataulë tumbled out of them.

"You!" cried the Prince. "Where's my brother?! If you've done something to hurt him-"

"I haven't done anything!" interrupted Estel indignantly. "I'm looking for him!"

Another yell signalled the whereabouts of Legolas. Hallataulë eyed the human suspiciously.

"Come on..." he snarled, running off towards the danger. Estel followed obediently...

~*~*~*~

Legolas glanced up, spying another branch above him. He leapt again, hoping to grab it, but his fingers merely brushed the bark. Landing back on the previous branch, he jumped, this time grabbing the limb with both hands. He started to pull himself up.

The spider however was adamant on this Elf becoming a meal and launched itself upwards too. Its fangs clamped shut on Legolas' trouser leg, pulling down on the fabric, causing Legolas to lose his already weak grip on the bough.

All seemed to go in slow motion as he fell from the tree and hit the ground. The spider towered above him as he shrank back. This was it...

Suddenly the spider let loose a terrible shriek as a mithril-tipped arrow sank into its back. It whirled around to see Hallataulë and Estel.

The older Elf shot another arrow into one of the spider's many eyes. The creature squealed again, stumbling around slightly. Hallataulë sped over to Legolas and pulled him up.

"Quick, get in the tree, now!" he ordered the younger Prince. He gave Legolas a push to help him up. The distraction however diverted his attention from the danger behind him.      

The spider rose up monstrously behind Hallataulë, its stinger poised and ready. If the Elf didn't turn now, he'd have no chance...

"Hal!!!" cried Estel, praying to the Valar that the Prince would turn around. His prayer was answered as the Elf spun on his heel, unsheathing his dagger, bringing his weapon up to block the sharp poison-laced object. The spider, angered by this, knocked him flying with a swipe of its front leg.

Legolas gasped as he spied the creature's next move. "Hal, watch out!!!"

Hallataulë looked up in a daze, shaking his head. His eyes went wide as he caught sight of the stinger thundering down towards him. He rolled quickly, barely getting out of the way. He kept rolling, the sting driving itself into the ground each time, sending dirt up in showers.

Estel realised that he had to help, somehow. He eyed a large rock lying on the ground near his feet...

The spider span round sharply as the rock bounced off its head and caught sight of the little boy, stalking towards it.

Estel was immobilized by fear. The spider was huge, its pointed fangs dripping with a yellowy slime, hairy legs pattering on the ground swiftly, silently, while all the time that ominous stinger was displayed to the helpless child. It leapt towards him...

Another arrow found its mark in the beats underbelly, knocking it wildly off course. The spider writhed in pain on the floor, but it would not give up this easy prey without a fight.           

Without warning, Estel suddenly felt a sharp jab of pain in his neck. His hand went up to feel a spiky splinter-like sting just above his shirt collar. The world went hazy, spinning wildly, and the last thing he heard was someone screaming his name... 

"ESTEL!!!"

~*~*~*~

Legolas watched in horror as his friend fell limply to the ground with a thud. Hallataulë had a sudden feeling of numbness inside of him. Estel had saved his life...

And then, then he felt anger. No, not just anger. It was rage; pure rage.

He let loose a terrifying cry that would have frozen any enemy solid, and raising his dagger, he ran towards the hideous beast.

The spider gloated over Estel, oblivious to the Elves... thank Eru then, that it was, for it gave Hallataulë the opportunity that he needed. The blade sank into the spider's back, black blood washing over the Elf's hands... the killing blow.

The spider screeched a long pitiful cry as it died, twitching as it curled up on itself. Hallataulë shoved the dagger into the brute's head, twisting it viciously, until finally it stopped twitching and lifelessly lay on the floor.

Legolas breathed a sigh of relief; one which lasted barely any amount of time before pictures of Estel came flooding back to him.

The adrenaline left Hallataulë and he slid down from the giant monster's back, panting heavily. He stumbled over to Estel and dropped to his knees beside the boy... the one who had save him.      

He could hear Legolas panicking, asking questions; "Is he ok? Hal... is he ok?!"

Hallataulë was almost in a state of shock. Estel had put his life on the line for him and his brother... the human had saved his life. He slid two fingers underneath Estel's jaw and searched for a pulse. He shook his head.

"I don't know... come on, quick!"

All of a sudden, that adrenaline rushed back. He scooped up the unconscious boy and ran back toward the palace, his younger brother in tow...

~*~*~*~

Sólia flew to her smallest son, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him on the head. "Don't you dare run off like that again, do you hear me?!"

Thranduil turned Legolas towards him. "You... you... you had us worried sick!" he said, before hugging him.

Legolas pulled back. "Ada, Ana, I'm sorry... the spider... Hal..." He gasped. "Estel..."

The twins ran out of the palace gates, only to be greeted by the sight of Mirkwood's Heir cradling their brother.

Elrohir took Estel from Hallataulë's arms.

"Oh no..."

Elladan ran up alongside his twin and moved some of the young boy's hair back to get a clear view of his neck. As he took sight of the sting, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's alright Ro, he's alright. It's only a sleeping sting, he'll wake up."

Hallataulë came over, checking on the child. "So he'll live?" he asked. He had felt something in his heart for Estel, and now he found himself unashamedly anxious over his welfare.

"Yes." replied Elladan. As Elrohir carried Estel through the tall gates into the palace, the older twin hung back.

"Hal?"

The Prince looked up at his friend.

Elladan looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry," he said shamefully. "I'm sorry for shouting at you. I'm sorry for not understanding... I know that, what happened, I know that was hard... turo lle doheno nin?" [Can you forgive me?]

Hallataulë smiled calmly. "O rant." [Of course.]    

~*~*~*~

Legolas sat silently outside of Estel's room. His friend had been in a deep sleep for hours now, and although Elladan had said it would be alright, Legolas couldn't help but feel fretful. This was, after all, his fault. If he hadn't ran into the forest, if he hadn't fled straight into the spider's nest... he shut his eyes in defeat.

"Legolas?"

He opened his eyes to see Hallataulë in front of him. The older Elf flopped down beside him.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," replied Legolas meekly.

Hallataulë frowned. He should have known that Legolas would feel guilty. That was one problem the young Elf got from his mother; he would blame himself for bad weather if he could.

"I'm sorry."

Legolas looked at his sibling, bewildered. "Pardon?"

"I was wrong about him. He saved your life," said Hallataulë sincerely. "And mine. I think I understand now..."

Legolas looked at his brother uncertainly. "I don't know what you mean."

"I mean, I understand why he is your friend." Hallataulë flashed Legolas a wry grin. "You're both exactly alike! Stubborn, cheeky, sometimes downright annoying..." He pretended to punch the little Elf playfully.

Legolas grinned back. "I learnt from the best."

The older Prince burst out laughing. "So you did..." Sighing, his tone sobered.

"Legolas... I know what Ada told you. All I can offer is that you have got yourself a great friend there, and you should never be unthankful for that. Yes, Estel will inevitably die one day... but you have to appreciate every day you have together like it is his last."

Legolas looked up at his brother for a moment, before finding himself buried in a hug.

"Never forget how precious life is, gwador nin," murmured Hallataulë. "Never..."

~*~*~*~

The first thing he knew was that there were birds nearby. He could hear them twittering. Next was the smell of flowers and fruits.

Estel's eyes fluttered slightly before sliding open. A figure stood above him with dark hair.

"Ada?" he groaned. The colours swam about a little before settling back into place.

Elrohir stood above him, smiling. "I wish..." A mock horrified look passed over his face. "Actually... no. No I don't..."

Estel smiled weakly. "What happened?"

"The spider stung you with a sleeping sting. You'll be fine." replied the younger twin. "Don't go scaring me like that ever again though, understand?"

Estel nodded, before pausing slightly.

"I'm thirsty," he mumbled. Elrohir shook his head.

"I thought you'd say that." He helped Estel to sit up and picked up a cup from the bedside cabinet. "Here, drink this," he said, handing the boy the drink. "You'll feel much better."

The drink was slightly thick, but it tasted sweet and delicious. This was some of the warm forest dew that was being carried by the servant earlier, though Estel obviously didn't know that.

A slight cough reminded Elrohir of who else was in the room.

"Estel?" he said. The youngster looked up. "King Thranduil wants to talk to you."

Thranduil slowly walked over. "Thank you Elrohir. If you don't mind...?"

Elrohir nodded and exited the room, looking back at his little brother tenderly as the door gradually shut.

Thranduil sat down on the side of the young boy's bed. Estel didn't even realise that he was wringing the quilt between his hands.

"Young human, I thank you," said Thranduil sombrely. "For saving the life of my sons. I want you to know that you are welcome to return to Mirkwood whenever you like."

Estel stopped trying to bury himself in the sheets and looked at the King, confused.

"You mean you don't hate me?" he asked.

Thranduil laughed, a merry gentle laugh that made Estel smile.

"Of course not my lad! I never hated you... it was merely the mistake of an old Elf trying to protect his son, not realising that, maybe, the said son should be allowed to make his own decisions..."

A frown flickered over Thranduil's face, and he rose, his feet carrying him towards the window, out of which a tree stood. On one branch was a nest, where a fatherly bluebird was trying to teach a young chick to fly.

"I have to let him chart his own course..." whispered Thranduil aloud to himself. The little chick flapped its wings hard and took off, becoming lost to the rising moon towards which it flew.

"Let him fly the nest..."

Estel simply watched his best friend's father silently, sadly, and listened once more to the Elven King's wise yet poignant words.

"Letting your child grow up is always the hardest thing to do..."

~*~The End~*~

^_^ *leans back and cracks knuckles* Ah, I'm pleased with myself... *falls off chair* Ow! Anyway... *rubs head* Here's the preview of the next story, as promised...

Woes of the World

Estel is fed up of being told he is too young to go hunting by himself, so goes off on his own. Worried, Legolas goes after him. Unfortunately, the teenager quickly learns that rules are made for a reason when it's Legolas who becomes lost...

"Estel!" shouted Elladan angrily. "Why won't you learn, you are too young!"

"I am fourteen years old, Elladan!" replied the teenager, spitting his older brother's name. "I can take care of myself-"

"You are a child!" bellowed the raven-haired Elf angrily. This time... this time, Estel had gone too far. "And don't try to tell me otherwise!" he cut in when the boy opened his mouth. "You act like a child, even now! Hasn't it occurred to you to wonder where Legolas is?!"

Estel was stunned. "Well I... see... erm... no," came his final reply.

Elladan seethed. "He went out there to look for you!!! He panicked and went out because he was worried sick about you!!!"

Estel's mouth dropped open. His gaze went again to the whirling snow that fell from the stormy sky. "He's... he's out, out there?!"

"Yes," snapped Elladan coldly, turning away from his little brother. He ran his long fingers through his hair, distressed, and he gave a great sigh. "And he hasn't come back..."

~*~*~*~

The snow drifted down from the grey skies, the white flakes twirling in all directions as they tumbled gracefully through the air, speeding about when caught in the swift air, before becoming a crisp thick blanket on the ground as it fell to the floor, the din of creaking branches and stormy howling winds.

It covered not just the ground, but the unconscious Elven Prince as well...

So, tell me what you thought, and I hope to see you all for the next part! ^_^

~*~ Star-Stallion ~*~