~*~Chapter 12~*~
When they entered the clearing Aragorn and Legolas smirked. Halbarad had apparently tried to help the elf with something and said elf had decided that he didn't need the help and was trying to push the ranger away.
"And you always called *me* stubborn," Aragorn said in amusement.
The two looked up and gave the man an innocent look.
Aragorn rolled his eyes and laid the hobbit on his own bedroll.
Elrond sat back up and Halbarad glared at him.
The elf looked over at the hobbit, "Hello my friend," he smiled at the hobbit.
Bilbo looked much more comfortable now that he was in the presence of friends, he looked back to the elf, "Hello…" he looked over at Aragorn, "Who is he?"
Elrond looked startled, "What? He did not tell you?" he raised his eyebrows at his foster son.
Aragorn shrugged with a slight smirk, "But it was always so much fun making him uncomfortable!"
Elrond just sighed and shook his head before giving his son a meaningful glare.
Aragorn made a face at him and sat down in front of the two, "Oh all right," he smirked, "you never let me have any fun ada…"
Bilbo's eyes widened, "Estel?!"
Aragorn laughed and smiled at him, "Long time no see."
The hobbit looked stunned for a moment then blushed deeply, "And I thought you were going to kill me…"
Aragorn shrugged, "You know how often I get that?" he joked.
"All the time I'll bet…" Legolas muttered, coming over to sit next to his friend, "mae govannen holbytla." // Well met halfling. //
The hobbit smiled, "Mae govannen!"
Legolas laughed and then glanced over as Aragorn gave a surprised 'oof' before falling over. What they saw only caused them to laugh.
Aragorn was on his back, staring at the sky with an annoyed hobbit sitting on his chest.
"What took you so long?" Terrian demanded.
Aragorn couldn't help but roll his eyes, "I wasn't that long…"
There was silence for a while until, "I'm hungry…"
Everyone laughed at the hobbit who just made a face at them.
Elrond looked purely amused, the rangers were all laughing silently. Legolas and Aragorn were trying to hide snickers and smirks behind their hands and Bilbo and Gandalf smiled knowingly at the young hobbit.
Aragorn then began to examine his older friends ankle while Halbarad and Legolas starting preparing for an early dinner.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Aragorn glanced over at his father with a sigh, the elf knew he was wounded and soon, if the man wasn't careful, he would know how he came across the wound.
Not too long ago, he had told everyone where he had been. For the last four years he had been in Rohan, only in the last few months he had been a captain and he knew if he didn't return soon he wouldn't keep the position long… Gandalf and the rangers already knew but it was news to the others.
Bilbo had been thrilled when he finally noticed the grey wizard and now they were all getting ready to go to sleep for the night.
A smirk slowly grew on Elrond's face and he turned to Terrian, "Who would like to hear a story?"
Aragorn narrowed his eyes.
Terrian perked up, "A funny story? I like funny stories!"
"Oh yes, a *very* funny story…"
Aragorn shifted uncomfortably and Legolas snickered.
"Oh I'd *love* to hear this story," the elf said.
"You wouldn't do this to me in front of Bilbo and the rangers would you?"
Elrond's eyebrow rose.
Aragorn slumped, "Of course you would…"
Elrond nodded with the smirk re-plastered to his face, "It happened when Estel was but 8 years old…"
() () () () () ()
- - -
Estel yawned as he woke up. He groaned and turned over, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep. He shivered and dove under the covers, trying to keep warm.
He pulled himself out of bed grudgingly and stomped across the floor, flinging open the door and glaring up at the being standing in his doorway.
Elrond stood and stared down at his youngest, fighting the groan that threatened to come out. His mortal son was never a morning person…
The elf shook his head and lifted the child, "Look outside."
The child blinked and looked outside. His eyes widened, "ADA! The ground turned all white!!"
Elrond laughed, "Aye my son, that's snow."
The human made a face, "It looks like sugar…"
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" Elladan asked from the doorway.
Estel giggled and nodded, his bad mood gone.
The twins rolled their eyes and smiled.
"Been a while since it's snowed," Elrohir shot his father a grin.
Elrond smiled back at his son and put Estel on the ground when he started squirming.
"C'n I go outside?"
Elrond shook his head, "You must have breakfast first."
Estel sighed impatiently and nodded, "M'kay but c'n I go out after?"
"Aye. But you must dress warmly and the twins will go with you."
Estel nodded eagerly, "Okay, okay, c'n we go now?" he tugged on Elrond's robes.
Elrohir laughed, "You must get changed first Estel."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Estel sat in the snow poking at the surface at it and making an annoyed face. He glanced up at the twins who quickly hid their smirks and snickers and smiled at the young child. Though as soon as he looked back down they started again.
The young human was currently trying to figure our how the twins had managed to walk on top of the snow when he couldn't and hadn't been able to figure it out.
He sighed loudly and fell back, making a deep imprint in the snow, "I tried," he complained to the twins, "how d'you do it?!"
Elrond came up from behind and lifted the child out of the snow, "There is no secret young one, and all elves can."
"Oh…" Estel's small shoulders slumped and he sighed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Estel had been out in the snow for a long time now and the twins were both trying to entertain him by trying to make taller snow-towers than that of the other.
So immersed in their *contest* were they that they had failed to notice that the young human had been completely buried under one of the fallen towers.
Estel climbed out of the pile, covered from head to toe in snow. Literally. He looked like a walking snowman. The white powder stuck to his clothes and hair and when the twins glanced over they jumped a foot let out a yelp and ran.
Estel blinked from where he stood and started following them back to the house where he found a bewildered Elrond in the doorway staring down the hallway. Elrond didn't even look in the human's direction.
"What happened," he turned a jumped slightly, "Estel what happened?"
The human smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
Elrond shook his head and smiled.
Estel's eyes flashed, "Can we not tell'em?"
Elrond laughed, "As revenge for leaving you outside alone with the *snow-monster*."
Estel giggled and ran down the hallway, water puddles following him everywhere.
() () () () () ()
- - -
Legolas looked disappointed, "That's it? That isn't embarrassing…"
"It was for the twins…"
Aragorn looked relieved, "They still think there's an evil snow-monster in the forest…"
Bilbo and Terrian laughed while the others attempted to hide snickers.
Gandalf turned to Legolas, "You wanted an embarrassing story?"
Legolas smirked, "Anything to embarrass him."
A/N
Elven Kitten: Hey y'all!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the long wait but I'm currently working on a story. I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for, but it's turning out really well! Even though it a 1 in a million chance, I kinda wanna see if I can get it published. I'd say it's better than this story anyhow… ^_^ so far… meh.
Kandice- Eeeeeeeeeeeeezactly. ^_^ but still… I can't see how it's funny. ARAGORN WAS SHOT!!!!!!!! THAT'S NOT FUNNY!!!!!!!!!! Lol! ^_^ and I'm sure he'll find out eventually…
SilverKnight7- … yup. Obsessed with the word… -.-
Tychen- Hey! And yeah… very much in character. ^_-…
elvendancer- Sorry I didn't post as soon as you wanted! But at least I'm in a good mood this time!!!!
Elf Side: That is a good thing as long as you're not hyper too…
-.- right… ^_^ hope u enjoyed!!
Viresse0- Lol. I like u already! ^_^ yur review was great! Made me laugh. U sound so much like me… it's kinda scary… ^_^ :P homework sux… sssssss… ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ now I'm so happy!! ^_^ :P Luv the name! ^_^ Kool! ^_^
leggylover03- thanx! ^_^
Macilwen- ^_^ I liked his last sentence too! ^_^ Is okay! ^_^ Grumpy, grumpy Elrond!!!! ^_^ At least he's not mad… lol ^_^
grumpy- ^_^ I like Bilbo… most people don't but… meh? Whateva… ^_^
mascara freak- Hey!!! Yes! More Legolas soon!!!!!!! This one wasn't great for him but they're getting' better! PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^ yes! The dragon will return eventually!!!!!!!!
Elenoharthad- how much longer do I have to sit here and do nothing?
E.K.: If I knew… I'd tell you…
E.S.: You know nothing.
E.K.: That's not true!
E.S.: What do you know then?
H.S.: *Giggle* yeah? What?!
_ _
E.K.: … I know what a circle looks like! I_I see? It's a circle! And a square (_) this – means positive and this + means negative!
E.S.: ^.-
G.S.: …even I iss sssmarter than that…
E.S.: For once I agree with you.
G.S.: -.-
E.K.: Uh oh… gotta go! Bed time! -.- … c y'all!!!!!!!!!!!! G'night!!!!!
All: Namaarie!!!
~*~Elenmeoi~*~