"The phone rings, it's early, it's seven o'clock/He says 'Sorry I woke you
but I just had to talk'" --The Barenaked Ladies, The Flag
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places thereof
*****
Estel slept fitfully, and woke again to the sounds of voices raised in cheer and crickets singing their greetings or farewells. He was vaguely aware of his position, one arm lolling over the edge of the bed gone numb, for he had slept on it, his vision blurred as that of a dream short in waking from a long or pleasant dream. Because his mouth hung half-open he closed it, then rolled off his arm and forced himself to sit up.
For a goodly while he stood by the window, watching the world go by, acutely aware of every little thing. A squirrel raced along an oak branch to carry a nut to his stores. A marmot munched happily on a juicy root. A nesting bird shifted atop her eggs, seeking a more comfortable position. Somewhere two starlings twittered angrily at each other in a battle either of food or territory.
Estel sighed. To be such a creature! So simple and easy, eating, sleeping, the occasional fight and, in autumn, preparations for the winter. Or did these preparations go on all year? Realizing that he did not know, Estel straightened. He should have to find out, he decided, tomorrow. That should be interesting to know.
Not now, of course, for he had best get more sleep. He was tired yet. Crossing from the window to the bed, Estel shifted the covers and crawled beneath them, then, although it was warm enough of a night, pulled the covers up to his chin, and felt quite secure this way. He closed his eyes, all ready for a night of peaceful slumber. This was not forthcoming.
Estel found himself suddenly wide awake, and his mind all full of thoughts. His conscience troubled him for lying and for rudeness. Surely Ada did not know that Estel was not truly ill. . .right? And what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. . .would it? So long as Legolas did not know that Estel was faking his illness, and so long as Ada did not know, no one was being hurt. This Estel resolved, and resigned himself a second time to a night of pleasant sleep.
But this again would not come. "All right," Estel grumbled, "I understand it. They may not know, but I do. Fine, foul beast, take thy victory!" With no further curses Estel threw the covers away from him a second time and climbed from bed, left the room in a decisive huff and sulked to the library.
Taking one of the lanterns from near the window, Estel shed light on the dim room, his gaze wandering over careful shelves of books. He found three with promise of the knowledge he sought, drew these with him and plunked down in a nice corner to read. Here he fell asleep, and here he was found the next morning, the lantern burned low and his head resting heavily on a book of animal studies.
*****
"Do not take offense by his actions," said Lord Elrond, after explaining to Legolas where Estel was, and his suspicions about this so-called illness.
"Of course not," Legolas replied, "we were all young once." He was in slight put-off that the mortal should act this way, for he had thought them friends, but of course understood. Men were susceptible to illness; if Estel should be taken with such symptoms as had been described then Legolas was indeed glad that the boy had taken rest.
"Legolas," Elrond began again, uncertain but daring not let it show in his voice, "you count Estel among your friends, do you not?"
Legolas paused, finding Elrond's elusive behaviour and over-cautious speech suspect. The younger Elf stood beside his horse, the reliable mare he rode in on the night before. Birds twittered outside in the bright, clear morning, and horses within ruminated, in one sense or another. The prince of Mirkwood had not roused himself very early, being tired from yesterday's ride a feeling slight effects of the quantity of alcohol he and the twins had imbibed the previous night, but had nevertheless seen with a care to his mount; she had never once failed him, and he was glad and thankful for this. Now he stopped, a brush gripped in his hands only half drawn across the mare's flank.
"What does this mean?" asked Legolas, levering himself over the stall door. The mare voiced her protest and nudged Legolas's shoulder. "Shh, quiet, girl," the Elf soothed, rubbing the mare's head gently. With an indignant snort, she resigned herself to hay and Legolas returned to Elrond, who waited patiently.
"If you count yourself his friend, or he yours, then you must help him." Taking a deep breath, Elrond continued, "He never was the same after Eregion. This may seem odd, my asking your help, when you know not who my son once was. Nevertheless, it seems I must ask this of you. Help him, Legolas, please. There is naught we have been able to do, but you--I believe he fears you, Legolas. Everything about you reminds him of Eregion, of the time before. No one in Imladris holds this fear over him."
"You said he was ill," Legolas said after a long silence in which he could decide on no thought to give voice. There was accusation in his voice, though he had no place to take it and at once regretted his tone, not after the slight pleading edge Elrond had been unable to keep from his own tongue. "Forgive me, I spoke out of turn. For your son, I will do what I can."
Elrond smiled. "Thank you, Legolas. Forgiven, of course."
Returning to his work, Legolas confided, "In truth, this lightens my conscience as well as your own." He laughed a little at Elrond's noise of surprise. "I saw the ease on your face at the prospect of having back your old Estel. For myself, I have long owed you a debt. Now, I think, if Estel's ailment is within my power to heal, we will be even."
"We are even," Elrond replied, his conscience shaking slightly. "But if you do this only for me--"
"For him, of course," Legolas replied. "Only it is my upbringing that teaches me lose a debt soon as it is earned."
This was the custom of some, Elrond knew, and though it was not his manner, he accepted it. "Luck of the Valar be yours," he said, quietly that Legolas did not hear it, and left the stable quietly. Legolas took his time tending the mare. A plan slowly began to form in his mind.
Not more than half an hour later, Legolas found a sleeping adan boy in the library. "Estel," he said gently, crouching to be level with him and shaking the boy's shoulder. "Estel, wake up." His first instinct had been to run when he saw Estel's eyes closed, but by virtue of memory he recall in the nick of time that mortals slept this way, and it did not mean grievous injury. "Perhaps awake but keep those eyes shut; your not wishing to see me is perfectly understood. However, from what your family tells me, we need to have a serious talk, Estel."
"I do not want to talk to you," replied Estel, sitting up but keeping his eyes closed tight.
"Very well. Then would you come riding with me? It is only courtesy, as you well know--"
"All, right, all right!" Estel muttered, then stood, looked away and opened his eyes. "I will meet you in the stables, then." Legolas only hoped Estel would keep his word as the boy left to dress in his own room. Not that one such minor setback would have caused him to give up, of course.
*****
To be continued
Author's note: The ruminating joke: 'ruminate' means either to meditate or to 'chew the cud', as cattle do. And no worries, Legolas's plan is nothing ill.
Daw the Minstrel: He, er, has not longer got a dog. It's addressed in an earlier story. (Badly organized? Yes. Just my way of doing things. I do so apologize for it) By that age, I reckon growing up is not really a choice any longer, especially not in that sort of a society. Don't you think? The Elves keep fifteen as youth, but surely Elrond--with Elros, and all--must realize.
Deana: VERY lucky you! Each finger meaning ten I could maybe count on one hand! No, after all, he has the twins and Elrond to welcome him and explain about Estel. He'll understand; he's a grown-up. Even for an Elf, he's grown- up, lol.
Star-Stallion: It's awful. . .
Pink Satin: He doesn't dislike Legolas, only he doesn't want to see Legolas because his memories of Legolas all tie into Eregion, which he tries hard not to remember or think about.
For everyone waiting for the bite: all in good time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places thereof
*****
Estel slept fitfully, and woke again to the sounds of voices raised in cheer and crickets singing their greetings or farewells. He was vaguely aware of his position, one arm lolling over the edge of the bed gone numb, for he had slept on it, his vision blurred as that of a dream short in waking from a long or pleasant dream. Because his mouth hung half-open he closed it, then rolled off his arm and forced himself to sit up.
For a goodly while he stood by the window, watching the world go by, acutely aware of every little thing. A squirrel raced along an oak branch to carry a nut to his stores. A marmot munched happily on a juicy root. A nesting bird shifted atop her eggs, seeking a more comfortable position. Somewhere two starlings twittered angrily at each other in a battle either of food or territory.
Estel sighed. To be such a creature! So simple and easy, eating, sleeping, the occasional fight and, in autumn, preparations for the winter. Or did these preparations go on all year? Realizing that he did not know, Estel straightened. He should have to find out, he decided, tomorrow. That should be interesting to know.
Not now, of course, for he had best get more sleep. He was tired yet. Crossing from the window to the bed, Estel shifted the covers and crawled beneath them, then, although it was warm enough of a night, pulled the covers up to his chin, and felt quite secure this way. He closed his eyes, all ready for a night of peaceful slumber. This was not forthcoming.
Estel found himself suddenly wide awake, and his mind all full of thoughts. His conscience troubled him for lying and for rudeness. Surely Ada did not know that Estel was not truly ill. . .right? And what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. . .would it? So long as Legolas did not know that Estel was faking his illness, and so long as Ada did not know, no one was being hurt. This Estel resolved, and resigned himself a second time to a night of pleasant sleep.
But this again would not come. "All right," Estel grumbled, "I understand it. They may not know, but I do. Fine, foul beast, take thy victory!" With no further curses Estel threw the covers away from him a second time and climbed from bed, left the room in a decisive huff and sulked to the library.
Taking one of the lanterns from near the window, Estel shed light on the dim room, his gaze wandering over careful shelves of books. He found three with promise of the knowledge he sought, drew these with him and plunked down in a nice corner to read. Here he fell asleep, and here he was found the next morning, the lantern burned low and his head resting heavily on a book of animal studies.
*****
"Do not take offense by his actions," said Lord Elrond, after explaining to Legolas where Estel was, and his suspicions about this so-called illness.
"Of course not," Legolas replied, "we were all young once." He was in slight put-off that the mortal should act this way, for he had thought them friends, but of course understood. Men were susceptible to illness; if Estel should be taken with such symptoms as had been described then Legolas was indeed glad that the boy had taken rest.
"Legolas," Elrond began again, uncertain but daring not let it show in his voice, "you count Estel among your friends, do you not?"
Legolas paused, finding Elrond's elusive behaviour and over-cautious speech suspect. The younger Elf stood beside his horse, the reliable mare he rode in on the night before. Birds twittered outside in the bright, clear morning, and horses within ruminated, in one sense or another. The prince of Mirkwood had not roused himself very early, being tired from yesterday's ride a feeling slight effects of the quantity of alcohol he and the twins had imbibed the previous night, but had nevertheless seen with a care to his mount; she had never once failed him, and he was glad and thankful for this. Now he stopped, a brush gripped in his hands only half drawn across the mare's flank.
"What does this mean?" asked Legolas, levering himself over the stall door. The mare voiced her protest and nudged Legolas's shoulder. "Shh, quiet, girl," the Elf soothed, rubbing the mare's head gently. With an indignant snort, she resigned herself to hay and Legolas returned to Elrond, who waited patiently.
"If you count yourself his friend, or he yours, then you must help him." Taking a deep breath, Elrond continued, "He never was the same after Eregion. This may seem odd, my asking your help, when you know not who my son once was. Nevertheless, it seems I must ask this of you. Help him, Legolas, please. There is naught we have been able to do, but you--I believe he fears you, Legolas. Everything about you reminds him of Eregion, of the time before. No one in Imladris holds this fear over him."
"You said he was ill," Legolas said after a long silence in which he could decide on no thought to give voice. There was accusation in his voice, though he had no place to take it and at once regretted his tone, not after the slight pleading edge Elrond had been unable to keep from his own tongue. "Forgive me, I spoke out of turn. For your son, I will do what I can."
Elrond smiled. "Thank you, Legolas. Forgiven, of course."
Returning to his work, Legolas confided, "In truth, this lightens my conscience as well as your own." He laughed a little at Elrond's noise of surprise. "I saw the ease on your face at the prospect of having back your old Estel. For myself, I have long owed you a debt. Now, I think, if Estel's ailment is within my power to heal, we will be even."
"We are even," Elrond replied, his conscience shaking slightly. "But if you do this only for me--"
"For him, of course," Legolas replied. "Only it is my upbringing that teaches me lose a debt soon as it is earned."
This was the custom of some, Elrond knew, and though it was not his manner, he accepted it. "Luck of the Valar be yours," he said, quietly that Legolas did not hear it, and left the stable quietly. Legolas took his time tending the mare. A plan slowly began to form in his mind.
Not more than half an hour later, Legolas found a sleeping adan boy in the library. "Estel," he said gently, crouching to be level with him and shaking the boy's shoulder. "Estel, wake up." His first instinct had been to run when he saw Estel's eyes closed, but by virtue of memory he recall in the nick of time that mortals slept this way, and it did not mean grievous injury. "Perhaps awake but keep those eyes shut; your not wishing to see me is perfectly understood. However, from what your family tells me, we need to have a serious talk, Estel."
"I do not want to talk to you," replied Estel, sitting up but keeping his eyes closed tight.
"Very well. Then would you come riding with me? It is only courtesy, as you well know--"
"All, right, all right!" Estel muttered, then stood, looked away and opened his eyes. "I will meet you in the stables, then." Legolas only hoped Estel would keep his word as the boy left to dress in his own room. Not that one such minor setback would have caused him to give up, of course.
*****
To be continued
Author's note: The ruminating joke: 'ruminate' means either to meditate or to 'chew the cud', as cattle do. And no worries, Legolas's plan is nothing ill.
Daw the Minstrel: He, er, has not longer got a dog. It's addressed in an earlier story. (Badly organized? Yes. Just my way of doing things. I do so apologize for it) By that age, I reckon growing up is not really a choice any longer, especially not in that sort of a society. Don't you think? The Elves keep fifteen as youth, but surely Elrond--with Elros, and all--must realize.
Deana: VERY lucky you! Each finger meaning ten I could maybe count on one hand! No, after all, he has the twins and Elrond to welcome him and explain about Estel. He'll understand; he's a grown-up. Even for an Elf, he's grown- up, lol.
Star-Stallion: It's awful. . .
Pink Satin: He doesn't dislike Legolas, only he doesn't want to see Legolas because his memories of Legolas all tie into Eregion, which he tries hard not to remember or think about.
For everyone waiting for the bite: all in good time.
