Sorry! Its a few hours late I know… I saw the RotK trailer today! *Squeal* Damn I'm excited now. I also went to the LotR exhibition, which was wonderful, although I did have another close encounter of the cardboard kind… damn that bloody staff! Gandalf, you're going to hell, and cardboard cut outs don't last long there, savvy? And now I have been witness to a Cave Troll's penis…ahem…what?! You couldn't help but look man, he wasn't very well endowed for someone so big, but I guess he doesn't get to use it much. Oh my god. Am I discussing a Cave Troll's sex life? Hmm… that's a tad worrying. Oh, has anyone seen this Derren Brown (the slightly less hairy English version of monkey boy Blaine) he's going to play Russian roulette live on TV. Morbidly fascinating you might say, but wait for it… his advert says: 'Who says magic is dead?' Erm… are we playing magical Russian roulette with a fucking wand instead of a gun. Yup, magic is dead. There is an illusionist sitting in a box waving at unimpressed crowds as they throw food at him, and a magician playing with a gun, woo, feel the sorcery! Tell you what, lets get Michael Jackson in on the act, maybe he can sit on a balcony for 44 fucking days with only one baby to throw off it. I'm a little emotional here, any Johnny Depp worshipper who's seen Once upon a time in Mexico will know why… he says 'savvy' though! Brilliant! And Enrique with a gun, too funny!
Chapter Nine: Questions and AnswersEstel looked down the cold steel blade, his heart pounding so hard he thought his ribs might crack. Stumbling backward a little, until his body was pressed against the wall, the figure's face finally came into view. He relaxed a little; it wasn't Raenir or the others, however, his face was a little familiar, but where he recognised him from he didn't know. He recognised little anymore. But although he was relieved it was not they; there was still a knife drawn and it was uncomfortably close. Dark, untrusting eyes glared down at him.
He sighed quietly, and slumped to the ground. It was hopeless. He no longer cared if he lived or died. Life without his family and his home was more wretched than death. Estel sat in the mud silently, head bowed, staring at his sore bloodied wrists blankly. He no longer had the will to fight. He couldn't do this alone and he didn't want to. He was petrified, but his fear was rapidly being suppressed by his emotional exhaustion. An elf, that he had despised so much in the spring, was now his best and what seemed his only hope. But, Legolas was gone too. His heart sank miserably. He heard someone cry out but he didn't react; what was the point?
Roi opened the door and shook his head sadly, looking to his son. Kaimin looked much like his father; wavy blond hair that was shorter than Roi's, and dark brown eyes that twinkled with suspicion. He was not much older than Estel; sixteen or seventeen and was only a few inches taller than him, but much broader in build and to the terrified youth, he looked horribly imposing. His strong powerful arms from years of working with his father on the river were visible under his soaked tunic.
"I was tending to the horses, the storm had spooked them, and then I suddenly spotted this one climbing down our house." Kaimin explained, lowering his father's fishing blade.
He nodded and ushered his son away and back into the house, before kneeling beside the teary boy. The man offered his hand, but Estel simply looked away, staring at the dark shadow of the small forest down the shallow valley. Roi followed his gaze and furrowed a thick blond brow.
"You weren't alone, were you?" He asked gently.
Estel turned to face him, and shook his head. "I must find him before they do-" He immediately went silent, afraid he had said too much.
"So, you are running from someone?" Roi murmured, watching the mysterious child carefully but Estel avoided his gaze. "And your companion is in danger?"
He neither nodded nor shook his head. "I must find him." He muttered cautiously.
The older human nodded. "We could not leave someone out there alone, especially if he has been through the same as you."
"Then you will let me go?" Estel asked hopefully, his grey eyes lighting up.
"You are not well enough, little one. I will form a search party and we will look for him. Come on, we can't discuss this in the rain." He replied, pulling the small figure to his feet as he spoke.
"No! No one must know of my presence, they cannot find me!" He cried anxiously, turning to face the fair-haired human.
"Alright. My son and I will go alone, but only after you answer some questions."
Estel nodded reluctantly and trudged inside, where all but their young daughter waited. Shana quickly wrapped a warm blanket around his shivering shoulders and handed him a mug of steaming tea. He stared at her, a little surprised, but grateful.
"Kai, go and get dressed, we need to look for someone else tonight." His father instructed, before sitting opposite Estel, who was staring anxiously at the numerous knives on the table. "Oh, there's no need to worry unless you're a fish." He smiled.
The ebony haired boy smiled uncomfortably and sipped his drink.
"Who are we looking for? Father? Brother?"
A rueful smile crept across his dark features. "No, it is a dear friend I bid you find."
"What does he look like? He is your age I assume." Shana asked quietly, her eyes shining kindly.
"No," He laughed, surprising both himself and the couple. "He is somewhat older than me, but looks not much older than your son. He is an elf."
"An elf?" Roi raised his eyebrows in astonishment. "This tale continues to mystify me."
* * *
He pushed a sopping lock of long blond hair behind his pointed ear, and sighed heavily. The rain was making his search harder with every second, and raised his fears that if Estel were still in the water unconscious as last time he saw, the weather was shortening his odds of survival even further. The river had calmed down after several hours of wildly fast currents and impromptu rapids, and Legolas had managed to swim to the waters edge easily and wait for his young companion, whom he was almost certainly sure was not far behind, and he, no matter how exhausted, would be able to do the same. But he was only greeted with the unconscious, or possibly dead, form of Estel bobbling along the deeper part of the Loudwater, out of reach, and instead found himself racing along the riverbank after him. It had been over three hours since he had lost sight of him, and he had found no sign of Estel since.
He stopped. There were tracks in the sludge near the water, and reeds that had traces of blood that had not been washed away by the abominable weather. His footprints were now just pools of water, the heavy pelts of rain splashing readily in them, clearly they were a few hours old. Legolas glanced around the creaking old trees, the branches groaning threateningly and the winding screaming around him, sending his hair flailing around his fair face. Spotting the 'E' carved gruffly in the bark of a thick tree trunk, he smiled with relief. He was alive and able. Though judging by his tracks, he was not in the best shape. Buoyed by this discovery, he quickly followed this friend's path before freezing. There were more tracks than Estel's. Big, deep footprints belonging to men, men that Estel had clearly run from. And they had clearly followed him. Legolas' heart sank; Estel was not fit enough to outrun grown men nor clear headed enough to out wit them in the trees, he could only hope something ill had not befallen his young friend.
A remote voice travelling in the wind caught his attention and his elf eyes scanned the small but dense woodland. He spotted a faint light in the distance and carefully edged closer, walking so softly that no twig broke or puddle splashed, until he was barely ten feet away. Legolas glanced at the couple from behind a bushy mound and listened to their muted conversation.
"…All I am saying, father, is that trusting him blindly will lead to trouble." Kaimin muttered lowly.
"He is just a child, too afraid to give us even his name. Trusting him is not the issue, helping him is. He is separated from his family and needs our aid."
Legolas raised his eyebrows and continued to eavesdrop silently.
"Are you sure it is out of fear that he doesn't give his name?" The younger human asked, his blond hair poking out of the hood of his cloak. "And what kind of family is he away from? This so called friend that he's sent us looking for in the lonely hours of the night, is an elf. An elf. How can you trust someone who associates himself with that kind?"
The fair elf pursed his lips irritably at the young man's comments, but at least he knew Estel was safe and in seemingly good hands, they would lead him to his friend and that was all that mattered at this moment. His body ached and his head was weary but he followed them silently for a while, hoping they would soon turn back and return to their home. He listened tiredly to them, and it was not long before he took a strong disliking to the younger man, but he warmed to his father, who seemed a courteous and kind-hearted soul.
He halted in his tracks and glanced down. He had stepped on an old stick and cracked it. Scolding himself mentally, Legolas looked up at the inevitable sight of the two men. The fair elf watched them warily, his distrust of humans still burning in his soul.
"We have been searching for you, young sir!" Roi spoke warmly. "You are searching for a boy, are you not?"
He stiffened instinctively. "What makes you think I am looking for anyone?"
"Because we found a child, near to death, who asked us to find his companion, an elf, and begging your pardon, master elf, we do not get many folk around here, especially of your kind, so unless for some remarkable coincidence, I believe you to be the person we are looking for." The blond human replied calmly.
"How does he fare?" Legolas asked softly, the words of this strange worrying him greatly.
"So, you are the one he bids us find?"
He nodded. "I am, he is dear friend though I have not known him long. I have been looking for him desperately since we were separated several hours ago." The elf replied politely, reasoning that sincerity and not caution would get him further in this situation.
"My wife is caring for him as we speak. Too scared to even tell us his name and barely trusts us enough to treat him." He replied grimly. "I trust you have a name, Master Elf, or are you to remain as mysterious as he?"
Legolas gazed at him warily. "My name is Legolas, he is Estel, please forgive his caginess, he has been through a lot."
"That is a strange name for a boy." Kaimin smirked.
The elf turned to the shorter human, and frowned. "It is the name his father gave him and I would you show more respect, boy." He growled irritably, his patience for rude humans spent.
"Do not speak to me as if I were a child, you barely look older than I." His dark eyes glowering in the torchlight.
"Your ignorance of an elf's lifespan does not surprise me." He muttered, before turning to his father. "Please forgive my rudeness, I am weary and long to see Estel again."
The man shook his head, his weather beaten face breaking into a gentle smile. "I understand and we are not offended. I am Roiderick; please excuse my son's disrespect, his mouth moves faster than his head. Come, let us retire to our home and you can be reunited with your young friend and my wife can see to your injuries as well."
Walking in an awkward hush, they moved at a quick pace toward the dark village, the slight glow from their window the only light across the vast land. They were simple houses, a little worse for wear, but sturdy enough, the dirt track that wound around the few houses was now a slick sticky mass of mud. They trudged on, until finally they reached the battered red door and were greeted by Shana, her hair now loose around her shoulders.
She stared at his, a little taken aback by the fair elf. He bowed graciously, his long blond hair dripping down his pale skin.
"You must be frozen! Roi, why did you not give him your cloak?" She flustered, wrapping a blanket around his lean body.
"He offered it to me, but I do not feel such things, it is better served on your husband's shoulders, I assure you." Legolas smiled softly, warmed by her kindness.
"Oh, of course." She murmured. "You must be hungry, come, I will fix you some soup and Kai will get you towel to dry off-"
"Shana, I think perhaps, that he may want to see his friend before he eats." Roi interrupted gently.
There was a creak of a door from upstairs, and Estel limped into view, his dark curls sitting upon his slim shoulders, and the colour in his face returning. He smiled and lip quivered a little.
"Le abdollen." [You're late] He said quietly, his eyes twinkling a little.
Legolas broke into a relieved smile. "Dhored nín." [Forgive me]
The elf jogged up the stairs lightly and the young human threw himself into Legolas' arms. The fair being closed his eyes, needing the friendly touch as much as his scared friend did, both clinging onto each other's warmth.
Estel broke away, and looked up at him. "I thought I would never see you again."
"I would not leave you." He replied, his voice so soft that only Estel could hear.
Glancing to their left, Legolas spotted Roi standing, his arms crossed.
"I think we are owed some answers." He spoke firmly. "Young Estel here promised us that much."
He nodded and they gathered in the small bedroom where Estel had slept, at Shana's insistence, so that she could clean some of the elf's already healing wounds the feverish child would go back to bed. The dark haired youth settled under covers, and Legolas sat beside him as she gently rubbed salt water over his slender back.
"Where do you hail from?"
"We both are from the north." He replied simply.
"Is that as precise as you will be?" Roi frowned.
"It is as precise as I need to be."
"How did you get those injuries and whom are you running from?" He asked cautiously, his hazel eyes glinting in the soft candlelight.
Legolas eyed them warily, before glancing briefly at Estel. "Our company was ambushed by bandits, to our misfortune they were particularly nasty and we were taken. They have been brutal toward us but we managed to escape." He lied calmly. "The memory is very evil and I would rather not speak of it."
Shana nodded. "We will leave you both to sleep, I'm afraid you will have to share a bed."
"Thank you for your help, we will not burden you long."
You are not a burden, I bid you stay as long as you need." She smiled warmly, and they were left alone.
"I have my own questions." Estel said quietly, and the fair elf turned to face him. "I ask that you reply truthfully."
"Of course."
"Why were they trying to kill me?" His voice was barely audible.
"You are Lord Elrond's son. He has many enemies that seek to harm him anyway they can." Legolas whispered, hoping that his eyes would not show his lies.
"Elladan and Elrohir are his real sons, why not them?"
The elf shook his head grimly. "I do not try to understand these men."
"Why did you deceive me about their threat?" Estel murmured; his eyes stained with hurt.
He looked at his young friend solemnly. "We were trying to protect you."
"How was that protecting me?" He asked furiously.
"What would you have done if you had known? Stayed inside your room until the fear and boredom drove you mad? You deserved your childhood."
They sat in an uncomfortable hush and Legolas rose to his feet and stood by window, gazing out into the gloom.
"I'm sorry, Legolas, I am not angry with you." Estel spoke softly, looking at his hands. "I just feel so… helpless." His lip trembled. "I cannot bear this anymore, we are so far from home a-and… will I see my family again? Where are they?"
The fair elf sat by his side once more and traced his hand along his cheek before pulling him into a tight embrace.
"We will see your family and Rivendell soon. They are searching for us as we speak." He whispered gently in his ear. "You must stay strong, little one."
"I was lost in despair when I could not escape here. There seemed no point in trying without you."
He closed his eyes. "There is always hope. I would not let you die without correcting that abominable aim of yours."
Estel snorted. "My aim is not abominable, I mean to miss as it boosts your egos."
Legolas laughed. "I don't think Glorfindel's ego was boosted by your arrow."
"No, but after we had removed it and he could walk ably again, he had learned a vital lesson."
"Which was?"
"Not to declare that I would miss him if he were only three feet away." He smirked wickedly.
TBC…
Sorry, I had to leave it somewhere or this chapter wouldn't have been posted tonight.
Thank for my lovely reviews, always a joy (and laugh) to read. But, hah! You can't scream about a cliffy this week, whatever will you do with yourselves?!
Jadelyn Rashwe – We, the authors of these top quality…ahem…stories, are evil, and I personally take delight in torturing you all like this. It's how the world works. Wait, that really doesn't make any sense, oh well, the sight of Shelob has made me into a jibbering wreck.
Grumpy – I'm well trained in the art of cliffhangers, I took a course… well kind of. I sit in my English Lit class, so bored out of my brain that I devise my story in my head, so it's kind of a course of sorts.
TigerLily713 – Aaw, the poor wee lad was frightened and wanted his friend, you can't scold him for that! I could do with jumping out a window tomorrow before my uncle and co come to visit *groan*
RougeElf – This isn't very soon, but hey, at least it's regular dammit!
Greenarrow – The whole stunned thing can't be good for your heart dude, though the whole Legolas with his hood up has left me pleasantly stunned. Mmmm… Legless.
Eph – I've never been called a wicked little thing before, I kinda like it. I don't like being forgiven though; it ruins the whole evil persona!
Wolfete – Okay, he was not found by the assassin again. Happy?! There are, however, 11 more chapters to go, so I can't promise anything. My chapters are short I know, but I'll try and work on that in my future stories.
Lita of Jupiter – Get your book out and flick to the maps, follow the Bruinen south until you reach Tharbad, they're just above there. It took me a while to work out where they were, I appear to have lost the family in Moria, damn that malt beer!
Tithen Min – Don't you puppy-dog eye me, missy! I have an umbrella and I know how to use it dammit! Feel the pressure! Woo, I need those randomness pills. Too much Johnny, Orli, Viggo and Hugo for one day, I think I need a hug…
Alex mistress squirrel – Bring it on, rodent girl! No cliffy this week, but ooh, I have something extra special planned for you next week. Hope for ickle Estel? Hmm… It depends whether I'm feeling nice that day.
Leggylover03 – You're very mean, how can you like an eleven year old boy being scared and pitiful? You monster!