Whoah, when did I become 'Alice7'? Curious.

Well, you told me to continue, and well, due to events concerning the sale of Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham from Manchester United to two different rivals, I have tried to stream my frustration and anger to this story. Oo-er. We'll have to see if anyone survives. The Americans might actually know what I'm on about for once, thanks for Tim Howard by the way – he looks like a big talent. Sigh. I'm depressed, and why in the hell is it 36C in England? People in this country aren't designed for sunshine; give us a flood and we'll float merrily along… give us strong sunshine and we turn lobster pink. It's simple genetics.

Feh. Not even Jamiroquai is cheering me up… maybe my exam results next week will. Umm… where's the shotgun?

Chapter Two: An Ill-fated Arrow

The day began as it had for the past few weeks - scorching, without a cloud in the sky. The sun was already burning feverishly in the early morning sky, and the humidity rampaged relentlessly on despite the light breeze that rustled through the parched vegetation, the forest floor dusty and dry. They rode quietly, Estel in the middle, a little more cheerful than the night before, fresh from an early morning pep talk from his brothers that had eased some of the tension. There was still a rather uncomfortable hush amongst them, which Legolas sensed needed drastic action to eradicate and so burst into a raucous, if not strangely out of tune rendition of an old travelling song. The dark haired youngster giggled, and put his fingers in his ears.

"I still cannot see why you befriended this old maid!" He spoke over the elf's loud singing. "She may be easy on the eye, but it does not make up for her monstrosity of a voice!"

Legolas fell silent and turned to his smaller friend. "You do not approve of my singing?"

"You expected me to?" He laughed.

"Did you just call me an old maid?"

"Did you just refer to that screeching as singing?" The tanned child shot back, and began to ride a faster pace, moving to the front of the group.  

"Estel, slow down! The river will not disappear." Elrohir laughed.

"But a snail could get there before us at this rate." He whined. "You are so old, I don't think you can keep up with this pace and that is why you are complaining!" He grinned wickedly.

Estel got the reaction he was looking for and both his brothers and Legolas challenged him to a race to the river. Elrond looked on with concern as they sped into the distance, and he and the grey wizard increased their pace. They wouldn't dare strike when he's with all of them, surely? He didn't know. This was a bad idea; he should not have taken the risk, he thought angrily.

"He is safer with us than he is alone." Gandalf reassured him quietly.

The elf turned to him. "Am I that easy to read?"

"It is on all of our minds, none less than Elladan and Elrohir's, they may look as if they are larking around, but they are keeping a close eye on him."

Elrond nodded gently, but his nerves had not settled.

It was late morning when they reached the borders of Rivendell and set up camp about a mile South of the Ford, where the river ran less fiercely, the temperature rose drastically and soon it was baking again. Estel was quick to strip down to a pair of shorts, dashing to the river edge and climbed an ancient crooked Ash tree with long, tough branches that hung over the water. He shuffled along the bough carefully and tied a thick length of rope around it as a swing. He climbed back down the winding tree trunk and was immediately grabbed by Legolas, who had also undressed down to a pair of loose cotton trousers cropped at the knee, his pale skin glowing in the sultry sunshine.

"I think we need to discuss your dislike of my singing." He said melodically, holding tightly onto his bare arms.

"Did I ever say I didn't like your singing? It was the most beautifully harmonious voice I have ever heard, simply divine-"

"Really? Then you would like to join me in another verse…?"

"I would not pollute your delightful song with my pubescent warbling." He smiled warily, noticing how close to the edge they were getting. "You wouldn't…"

The elf grinned wickedly. "Never underestimate an elf scorned, my dear human." He whispered, before shoving the young boy into the river with an evil cackle.

Elrond watched this with a mixture of amusement and anxiety. "That was a little unfair!" He cried as Estel rose to the surface coughing and wiping the water from his eyes, before braking into a huge beam.

"Underestimate an elf scorned? A woman scorned more like!" He laughed, splashing the cool water at the grinning blonde elf.             

"It is hard to tell which one is eleven isn't it?" The raven-haired elf laughed, as Elladan swung on the rope and dropped down beside his brother with a great splash, and the other two dived in gracefully after them.

Estel immediately sank below the surface and pulled Legolas' feet from under him. His foster father watched their water fight and settled down beside Gandalf, who was setting up a fishing line a little further down the shore. He kept an eye on both the commotion in the river and their surroundings, alert to the slightest disturbance on both sides of the river. A squeal from Estel made him jump and his head spun to see what was wrong, only to see him swinging on the rope, desperately trying to avoid Elladan and Elrohir's desperate swipes at him from the shore and Legolas' lunges from below. He chuckled as Elrohir was sent sprawling into the water, with an unconvincing apology from his twin. 

An hour passed, by which time they had started a game, where two would sit on their teammate's shoulders and try to drag the other down. It was the turn of Estel (considering he wasn't strong enough to hold an elf on his shoulders, it was always his turn) and Legolas, and it had become very competitive. The bronzed human had a handful of his opponent's blonde locks and his other hand was wrapped around his neck, while Legolas too, was pulling on his hair and was also trying to smother his face with the other hand, avoiding Estel's attempts to bite his fingers off. It looked like stalemate, with neither daring to move a hand. Elrond and Gandalf looked away for a moment, glancing at a deer as it ambled in the shade of the trees. There was a massive splash and both turned to see Estel resurfacing and spluttering out some swallowed water as the blonde elf raised his arms in triumph. Although his smugness was short lived as Elladan stepped backwards and tripped over his brother's foot, which "just happened to be there" and both descended into the river with an almighty, most unelven, mix of curses and cries.

The day sauntered on, the sun high in the clear sky blazing down furiously on them. It was too hot to do anything in the early afternoon, and Estel took refuge under the shade of an old Willow tree, sitting beside Gandalf as he fished quietly for their supper. He lay on his scarred stomach, watching Legolas swimming gently, with his brothers reading side-by-side on the opposite bank. He longed to be in the water again, but couldn't bear the sun beating down on his back any more. He closed his eyes and listened to the chorus of the crickets in the long grass and the low buzz of a nearby bumblebee, trying to ignore the stifling heat as he drifted off.

It was late in the afternoon before he awoke once more; the sun was setting slowly and had become hazier as the hours passed. Gandalf was still beside him, with a pail full of fish. He climbed to his feet, brushing a couple of dead leaves and the dry earth from his skin and joined his brothers, who were setting up a campfire.

He grinned, the cooler air much welcomed and he began to help. "Where is Ada?"

"He is fetching some firewood, it shouldn't take long; the forest is dry as a bone." Elladan replied.

"I had not realised I had slept so long, you should have woken me." His young brother said as he placed a final rock in the fire barrier.

"You looked exhausted, we had not the heart." Elrohir explained. "Besides, it was too sweltering to even sneeze." He shot a mischievous smile at Legolas, who scowled.

"Aye Estel, the sun glared so strongly, even your brother's formerly orange hair couldn't have matched it." The blonde haired elf grinned, ruffling Elrohir's locks playfully.

Elrond emerged from the forest with a bundle of dry wood in his pale arms and set then down beside the group. Glancing up with a bemused smile at his foster son, as the other elves quarrelled like little child, he raised an eyebrow.

"They seem intent on teasing one another about my pranks, it is very strange." Estel smiled. "I'm afraid they may turn on me at any moment."

His foster father laughed, shaking his head. "Legolas, why don't you do something productive and try and teach this one how to arch. His aim is abominable."

"It is not that bad!" The young boy cried defensively.

"Last time you tried, you shot Glorfindel in the foot by accident." Elrond replied flatly.

"Who said it was an accident?" He grinned mischievously, before following Legolas away.

They walked along the bank, to what Elrond considered a safe distance, followed by the twins, who were eager to sample the evening's entertainment, and see their friend's reaction to their brother's archery skills. Legolas stood behind the young boy, trying to adjust his posture.

"That tickles!" Estel giggled childishly.

"Don't be silly." He eased away. "Now release the arrow."

The arrow whistled along, going high and wide of the target, and nestling in the tree trunk about ten inches out.

"That was… good for a first attempt, but you must concentrate more."

"First attempt?" Elladan sniggered. "We've been trying to teach him since he was eight."

Estel scowled. "Maybe it was just my teachers." He shot back. "And maybe I'll accidentally shoot you in the foot too…"

Legolas smiled. "Try again, Estel, and ignore your brothers, they are hardly qualified to tease you about bad aim." He looked over at them with a mischievous glint in his eye. "You are putting him off, go and help with the dinner."

He laughed, watching his brothers' skulk off like scolded children. Tucking his black ringlets behind his ears, he lifted his bow once more. The beautifully streamlined arrow flew through the air again, this time whizzing past the target and into the forest behind. Estel giggled loudly, annoying the elf.

"Perhaps if you took this a little more seriously…" Legolas began sternly.

"Perhaps if you took things a little less seriously, then you would not frown so much."

Estel trampled into the shadow of the dense forest, ambling over a fallen log and was quickly followed by Legolas. It was surprisingly thick, the uneven ground making it hard to move around. He didn't like this, there were too many places to hide and so moved to the laughing child's side.

"If frowning allows me to hit the target I was aiming for, then so be it." He smiled, scouring the trees for the arrow but keeping an eye on him at the same time.

The young human shrugged. "We will never find the blasted thing if you stay this close." He grinned, pushing Legolas away playfully.  "Or have you come to have your wicked way with me, you despicable wench?!"

The blonde creature chuckled and ruffled his hair affectionately. "I think you may have lost your mind as well as your arrow!"

He turned to him with a look of feigned hurt. "My dear elf, I'm offended! And I thought you loved me!" They ventured further in and he spotted his arrow sitting in the middle of a young birch, and jogged toward it. "Aha, there it is; precisely where I meant it to be." Estel laughed, stepping over an old tangled bramble.

As if out of nowhere, a man appeared from behind a tree and grabbed the startled human, holding a dagger to his throat. Legolas pulled his bow out with lightning speed, aiming at the both of them; he would have fired it at that moment, but couldn't get a clear shot. Their attacker smiled wickedly, his dark, menacing eyes gleamed with hatred and twinkled with triumph. He had dirty black hair with the shadow of his stubble accentuating his deep tan, and looked as if he had been travelling under the baking sun for weeks. 

"Release him." Legolas growled.

The man laughed coldly. "You are in no position to give orders, elf." He replied, as three other men surrounded them. "Utter a sound or move a muscle and I will cut his throat."

Legolas narrowed his eyes, staring at him silently before lowering his gaze to Estel. He looked confused and terrified; eyes wide, struggling desperately in vein to squirm from his captor's hold. He elbowed him in the stomach, but still couldn't break free and felt the sharp blade press further into his skin, drawing blood.

"He's a strong one." He tightened his grip. "Lower your bow, or be witness to his slaughter. I will not warn you again."

The blonde elf glanced sideways, his accomplices were heavily armed and their swords were readied. He glimpsed at the young human again, blood trickling down his neck and reluctantly relaxed his grip.

"Who are you?" He snarled.

One of them men who stood his left; a burly figure with a mop of scruffy brown curls and podgy cheeks, grunted and lashed out, striking the elf in the back of the head with the hilt of his sword. He fell to the ground, head swimming and throbbing painfully, his slender fingers sunk into the damp ground that had been heavily sheltered from the sun. Taking a moment to find his bearings once more, he listened as the ebony haired man who held Estel scolded the brawny one who had hit him, angrily, and took his opportunity, charging at him with speed and surprising power. They fell to the ground with a bump and his grip of Estel disappeared.

Legolas grabbed his hand and pulled him along, they hurried deeper into the forest, hotly pursued by their attackers. Faster, they had to move faster. But it was overgrown and Estel was so frightened his legs trembled he struggled to climb over the rocks and fallen branches. Legolas stumbled, still groggy from his blow to the head, and quickly was caught. Estel stopped and watched in horror as they knocked the elf to the ground and beat him mercilessly.

"Run, Estel!" He cried, before the larger man kicked him hard in the head and he fell into unconsciousness.

His legs wouldn't work. Whether it was out of shocked terror or he couldn't leave his friend when in peril, he did not move. He stood, frozen to the spot, staring at the bloodied form of his friend on the ground. The one with the vicious eyes laughed grimly and pushed him onto the brambles, the thorns cutting into his skin. Estel looked up briefly, his lip bleeding and swollen, before the base of his sword connected with his skull and he descended into darkness.

"What do we do with the elf?" One grunted, pushing his blonde hair that was now streaked with blood, from his pale but battered face.

"Take him, I want something to play with." He replied with wicked smirk.

Tbc…      

Thank you my reviewers:

Maranwe1 – Of course I had to ask, but I can find some things to criticise. Glad you found the last chapters funny, I can't remember what they were about oddly enough.

Trustingfriendship – ooh, you'll have to wait and see. I'm in a vengeful mood, so who knows what in store for him!

Lina Skye – you wicked woman! Me put Estel in peril? Never. * cough *

Inwe of Mirkwood – honestly, why did you pick such a long name? Impeccable eh? Didn't realise you knew how to compliment me…It's necessary that Estel's this young alright… omg there's a bee in your room. Shit.

Grumpy – I like that description… lovable imp. That's cute.

Leggylover03 – of course I ended it there, cliffies are the most satisfying thing about writing. Mwahahahaha. Have you still got little Legless in your butterfly net?

Alex mistress squirrel – omg that's a great name! Joke: how do you catch a squirrel? I'll tell you how next Saturday…

Tinnuial – damn, your senses are wrong. The heat of England has got to me, so my other chapters make little sense.

Nayru – Alright, I'm carrying on, I wouldn't call it excellent though.

Silvertoekee – I'm after Estel. Mwahahahaha, it's official: I've gone insane, all I ask for is rain! Is that so hard?

Tithen Min – Yes, where is SoS, you're making me vengeful! Torture? Mwahahahaha… enough with the evil laugh Alice. I am the Queen of Evil, you cannot take my crown.

Dragon girl – Aaw, thank you, I will. Can you manage a Mwahahahaha for me?

Enough, I'm going to see a counsellor.