Summary: Continuing on from Mistaking Ada, 6 months later the time has come for Estel to visit Legolas in Mirkwood. Reading Mistaking Ada first might be of some help.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or places. All I own is my copy of some lord of the rings merchandise.

A/N 1) Sorry that it's been a while since I last did anything… I had no idea what I wanted to do with this story but then got to go see ROTK and one particular scene inspired me to start writing again. Then it took me ages to think up a title for this. I hope everyone enjoys... please review and tell me what you think.

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Chapter 1

It had been almost five months since Estel had last seen his best friend Legolas, the blonde elf prince of Mirkwood. In the mean while to pass the time he had continued with his weapons training- especially archery and close contact fighting- and his lessons about the cultures and history of middle earth's inhabitants. As well as the dagger he had given as a birthday present Elrond, Lord of Imladris, had begun to teach his adopted son some elementary things about healing though most of the time it was Estel's injuries that they were tending to.

There had been a few more overnight excursions with the twins within Imladris' boundaries that Estel had enjoyed immensely and it wasn't long before he got over his nervousness of being near rivers with horses near him. However the twins had also spent time away with the Dunedain, or just orc hunting together, and had arrived home from their most recent expedition a week ago. Estel missed his brothers when they were away but had received his ada's permission to go for day rides and practise the skills he had been taught on his birthday trip.

Legolas had been true to his word and had sent the formal invitation to Estel and his brothers to share the winter with him at Mirkwood so rapidly Elrohir had wondered aloud if the prince had even made it home to send it. So had begun a great correspondence between Legolas and Estel. In each other they found a trustworthy friend and someone to whom they could tell all of their insecurities to without fear of judgement – Legolas finding himself especially surprised by his young friend's maturity and perceptiveness.

It was drawing to the close of the day before the three brothers would be departing for Mirkwood and Estel was in his room packing under the supervision of Elladan. "Do I really need so many formal robes?" asked Estel looking at the pile of clothes that were on his bed waiting to be packed.

It was a pointless question as he knew the answer before his brother began to speak. "You have to take them with you Estel. Even though Legolas doesn't care for formality his adar does. If you don't take all of these and wear them it will reflect badly on our ada. You wouldn't want that would you?" Elladan threw in his trump card and the soft sigh he barely caught told him Estel wouldn't argue the point any more. He hadn't really wanted to blackmail his little brother but he needed Estel to understand. However he wasn't going to tell Estel that even if the edan was on his best behaviour it was likely that others would question Elrond's wisdom in adopting a mortal as a son.

Estel was sent to bed soon after the evening meal had finished with Elrond predicting that it was not likely to help him get much more sleep because of his excitement but that they could only try. However, by the time Estel had fallen over his own feet three times before the morning meal, and despite the excited fervour that shone in his eyes it was obvious that Estel had not slept much at all. By mid morning the brothers were organised to ride out and the day was clear though somewhat chilly as autumn began to turn towards winter.

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The three week journey on horses had been easy, they had not hurried despite Estel's apparent eagerness and neither had there been anything unexpected happen. Their father had reminded the twins to take special care of the one they called their brother and they had kept watch for any dangers. Even so the journey had past pleasantly with the twins pointing out places or plants that Estel had heard about in his lessons, as well as swapping stories about Mirkwood both as it stood at present and how it had once stood as Greenwood the great. Time had also been found to re-establish and extend Estel's tracking skills.

So it was that at the beginning of the fourth week the trio were making camp at the edges of the forest where they were to spend the winter. Rather than enter the wood with evening approaching as Estel had hoped to do, Elladan and Elrohir decided they would wait until the following morning.

Over dinner Estel asked if he could stay on watch on his own that night that he might be awake should a patrol with Legolas come out to greet them. Reluctant to disappoint their little brother further, and trusting that there would be little to endanger them provided they stayed outside the woods for the night, the twins agreed making Estel promise he would wake them if he saw or heard anything strange.

It was a long time after darkness had fallen, yet still a while before the sun would rise, when Estel thought he heard something move in the forest. He stared into the darkness that lay not far from him trying to see shapes by the little light the quarter moon and stars provided. He thought about waking his brothers up but when there was no more noise he decided not to and removed the blade his ada had given him turning it over in his hands.

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Estel awoke with a sudden jolt. He hadn't meant to fall asleep whilst on watch- perhaps he was more tired than he'd thought he was. He looked over at his brothers they were both stirring as if they had heard something but it wasn't enough to wake them. Looking around for what had caused them all to wake Estel found his eyes drawn to the forest edge again.

Between the trees stood a figure though it was impossible to tell much about them as they were still among the shadows. Estel bit back a gasp when he realised the figure was coming towards him, and tried to move unnoticeably nearer to his brothers. When the figure finally stepped out of the shadows he removed the hood that had been covering his face and Estel found himself smiling despite the fear that had been recently filled his body. Legolas grinned, "Hello again mellon nin."

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A/N 2) Well that's chapter one. Hope you like it… let me know what you think.

A/N 3) Elvish used in this chapter

Ada: dad, informal version of father.

Adar: formal version of father.

Edan: a human.

Mellon nin: my friend