Wow! People like my story! Wow! *roz faints in surprise* 9 reviews for one lousy chapter...you guys are great! So heres the next one, no Estel angst, just a bit fluff kinda explaining why they're in the forest....Also got to say, sorry, but my (well, he really belongs to another friend of mines) OC comes in. He's called Thanan. Hes going to feature A LOT in my next story...when i get it written....ehehehe *nervous laugh* So in this story, he's just backround, so don't be put off by him.
Trin:*nervous laugh* eh he. I'm too lazy to write your whole name! *choking in trin's grip* o-o-ohk~! New chappie! For you! *stands up* Roz: Hi, my name is Roz and i'm sadistic and evil. Other authors: Hi Roz! And Estel is 13, just turned 13. So really, a 13 year old boy with the mental age of like 11. You know, boys!
I thought that i'd only answer reviews with questions, otherwise it just ends up with every answer being: Glad you liked it! Heres another chappie for you! Oh yeah, *waves madly* HI SPADES! Glad you could make it to read my crummy story with your hectic schedule! And let that be a lesson to you, Cliffhangers are EVIL! So, here it is - the fluff chapter.
****"Legolas!" The prince was startled as a blur of arms, legs and dark brown hair flung itself at him and nearly made him fall over backwards and roll back down the hill he had just trekked up.
"Estel." The flaxen-haired elf sighed in resignation. "It is good to see you."
"Estel!" A laughing yet reprimanding voice rang out in the valley, and the boy blushed before scrambling off the blonde elf.
"Yes Elrohir?" Estel smiled sweetly, his innocence given away by the slightly devious look held in his eyes.
"Estel, you know that that is no way to greet the Prince!" Elrohir gently reprimanded the Edain child. He was joined by his twin whose eyes also sparkled merrily at the sight of the Silvan elf ruffled.
"That's right Estel. We talked about how you should greet the Prince." Elladan laughed at the expression of panic that momentarily crossed Legolas' face.
"Ah, so sorry my Lord." Estel bowed deeply before Legolas and the elf grimaced at hearing his much hated title. He turned abruptly to the twins, and watched in disbelief as they held their sides while laughing.
"You know how much I dislike hearing my title from friends!" Legolas fumed gently and tried pick the grovelling boy off the ground.
"I'm sorry my Lord." Elladan grinned.
"Is there anything that I can do for you my Lord?" Elrohir chimed in.
"Perhaps you should like to go to the Throne Room my Lord?" Estel innocently added from his spot on the ground.
Legolas looked around in panic. He was surrounded by servants! "By the Valar! Stop with the m'lording stuff! You know I can't stand it!"
"Alright my Lord!" Estel got up and ran away in the direction of Imaldris, but not before he had given the blonde elf another quick bow.
"ESTEL!" Legolas yelled, "Just you wait! Archery practice for YEARS! That's all you can look forward to!"
Merry laughter was all that he heard as Estel's form disappeared quickly to the protective sanctuary his father offered.
"Edain brat." Legolas muttered as he gingerly picked up his bow which had fallen from his shoulder in Estel's ambush, while warily keeping an eye on the raven-haired twins that closed in on him.
"Legolas!" Elladan laughed as he walked a bit closer to the Silvan elf.
"What?" The prince's tone was edged with suspicion.
"We were only going to ask if you'd had a pleasant journey!" Elrohir couldn't help but keep from laughing.
"As pleasant as could be." Legolas began to relax as he gained confidence in the thought that the twins wouldn't pull any of their well-known-for pranks. Legolas was no coward, but he had seen Glorfindel, the almighty Balrog slayer, mutter and make protective signs when the twins came into view and then abruptly turn around and walk very quickly back the way he came, sometimes even locking himself in his room and refusing to come out until told in a firm, comforting voice that the twins had left Rivendell.
Some of the pranks that the twins could come up with were amazing.
"So your journey?" Elladan prompted.
"Oh yes. It was uneventful." Legolas nodded at the expression of disbelief on the twin's faces.
"Uneventful? What? No attacks by spiders?"
"No."
"No orc attacks?"
"No."
"No wild wolf or warg attacks?"
"No."
"No falling into underground traps or getting caught in snares?"
"No."
"No capturing by evil humans, then being sold as a slave?"
"No."
"No sudden evil surprise, like having to fight off Nazgul's or witch-kings or some other evil spirit in the forest intent of capturing, hurting or at least maiming you?"
"No!"
"Not even tripping over your bow and falling off a cliff?"
"NO!" Legolas' brow creased into a frown, "I wouldn't do that anyway!"
"Oh yes. That is what you said the last time you fell off the cliff. Do you remember that Elrohir? I seem to distinctly recall our friend here, getting a thorough soaking after falling off that cliff into the water."
"You pushed me!"
"I did not! I would never do a thing like that!" Elladan's face radiated honesty but the other 2 elves could see the twinkle of mirth in his eyes.
"I find that a very hard thing to believe Elladan." Legolas muttered as he continued walking towards the elven realm of Rivendell.
"Is that so my dear prince?" Elladan couldn't help but almost prance on the spot. It had been a fair while since Legolas had visited the twins, and Elladan couldn't help thinking about all the fun that they would have together. Just imagine all the pranks and heart attacks we could pull! With Legolas by our side, we will be INVINCIBLE! Mwahahaha!
"Elladan, I can see the look in your eyes and by the Valar, I will not be helping you in any of your pranks!" Legolas swore an oath to himself as Elladan pouted.
"Aw, Legolas. It won't be as fun!" Elrohir joined in with the jesting. "So what is the reason that you grace us with your presence?"
"Must there be a reason?" Legolas asked, hurt.
"There is always a reason."
"Then I am just bringing a message of goodwill and greeting from my father to yours." Legolas spoke formally.
"C'mon Legolas! As if you'd travel all this way just for that! What is the real reason for you being here?"
Legolas blushed and answered in a hushed voice, "Well, Thanan and I, well, we kind of played a prank of my father, to which he didn't take too kindly to, and then, well, several of my pets that father detests got out and into his room, and his bed, and into his drawers, and chewed holes in all his clothes and then when we were out hunting, I accidentally-on-purpose spooked father horse, I seriously didn't expect him to get thrown into a puddle of mud, and Thanan laughing the whole time didn't help. So I made a strategic decision to withdraw from Mirkwood until father's temper eased slightly."
The whole time that the younger elf had been recounting his story, the twins couldn't help but allow expressions of amusement and horror on their faces.
"THAT is the reason why you came here? You thought that you could stay in Rivendell, under the protection of Elrond, until your father calms down??" Elrohir's eyes were wide with disbelief.
"Well, yes."
"And you left Thanan to face your father alone?" Elladan asked incredously, "Where's your sense of together-ness? Of us-friends-stand-together-under-terrible-odds?"
"Yes, well, that tends to evaporate when Thraundril gets mad. Everyone scatters to wherever they can."
"Well, poor Thanan. Hopefully, he will still be alive and in one piece when you return home, if you return home. If you plan on staying here until Thraundril calms down, I'm guessing you're going to be here for a while." Elladan sympathised with the elf that had been left behind.
Elrohir nodded slowly, "So how is Thanan? It's been a while since I saw him last. I keep forgetting, is he older or younger then you?"
"He is younger, only by a couple of years though. And the last time I saw him, he was doing well."
"When was the last time you saw him? Shackled to the wall, in your father's dungeons? Where he'd undergo his interrogation so that they could find out your whereabouts?" Elladan joked.
"Elladan! Don't say things like that! And no, that wasn't the last time I saw him. I think the last time I saw him was," Legolas frowned in thought, "was the night that I ran away, I mean, the night that I left, Mirkwood. We wished each other luck!"
"I'll bet you did." Elrohir said dryly.
Thankfully, Elrohir was spared from being hit by a quickly angering prince as the elf trio entered the Rivendell courtyard where Estel waited impatiently.
"What took you guys so long? What did you do? Dawdle? Sniff the flowers?" Estel tapped his foot impatiently as he saw the grins on the faces of the elves around him.
"Oh yes, of course Estel." Elrohir answered with a playful grin. "Of course, we walked slowly. We watched the clouds pass overhead-"
"-we watched the grass grow under our feet-" Elladan chimed in and the twins got into their routine.
"-we watched each erratic path of each butterfly that passed us-"
"- we smelt each flower as we passed-"
"-we touched each leaf that grew along our path-"
"- we listened to the songs of the birds and the rustlings of the forest animals-"
"-we talked to every tree-"
"-we didn't want to run into you again so soon." Legolas muttered the last line that stopped the twins in their tracks and caused them to start laughing.
A hurt expression spread over Estel's face and he pouted, "Legolas!"
Legolas couldn't help but grin at the upset expression on the child's face. "Peace Estel! I jest only in high spirits. I only jest, the barb was not meant to be taken seriously."
"Well, that's ok then!" Estel's hurt expression disappeared quickly and he smiled widely as Elrond, Lord of Imaldris entered the courtyard.
"Legolas! It is indeed a pleasant surprise to see you again. What bring you to our fair realm?" Elrond's eyebrow lifted at the end of his question as he heard the twins laughing quietly beside him.
"Oh yes, why are you here Legolas?" Estel asked, not realising what the twins were laughing about.
"I came only to see how Rivendell was faring my Lord. The weather seemed good, and I needed to travel a little bit. It has been a fair while since I had seen the twins, and as there were no, er, pressing matters in Mirkwood, I just decided to come for a visit. My father sends his greeting to you also." Legolas stretched the truth a fair bit but although Elrond could see there was more to story then the young elf said, he let the matter pass him by.
"Then we would be glad if you would stay with us a while. Please join us for dinner tonight in the Hall, and how long do plan on staying?"
"Uhm, it is hard to say my Lord. It all depends on the weather and if any matters of urgency come up in Mirkwood." Legolas spoke carefully.
"Ah yes. Of course. Then I wish you a pleasant stay and I look forward to seeing you in the Hall tonight. We shall hold a celebration for you arrival, young prince."
"Thankyou, my Lord." Legolas bowed formally and tried to ignore the sniggering from the twins. As soon as Elrond had left, wearing his annoying 'I-know-everything-and-you-can't-hide-it-from-me' smile, Legolas spun around and hissed, "SHUT UP!" at the twins.
"Pray do tell, WHAT are you sniggering about??" Legolas glared at the twins who straightened up.
" 'depends on the weather'?" Elrohir snorted, "Prince Legolas Greenleaf, I thought that you'd have come up with a better excuse then that!"
" 'I needed to travel a little bit'??" Elladan laughed shortly, "I'll bet you needed to travel! Either get out of Mirkwood by your own steam or get kicked out by your own father!"
"Uhm, did I miss something?" Estel piped up from where he had been listening to the conversation confusedly.
"Oh, only we know the real reason why Legolas is here." Elrohir eyed the suddenly nervous Silvan elf.
"Oh! Tell me why Elrohir! Oh! Tell me!" Estel danced on the spot in his excitement.
"I think that Legolas can tell you himself," Elladan spoke out and watched in delight as he saw horror take over the fair elf's features.
Legolas tried to close his gaping mouth and hesitantly started to speak. "Uh, well, er……..well, the point is…….what happened was that……."
"What is it that you're trying to say our dear prince?" Elrohir slowly turned the knife in the wound and watched with amusement as the prince's face blanched.
"Uhm….what I'm trying to say is….well….what happened……I decided……."
"You decided what Legolas?"
"I….er…..decidedtotakeEstelhunting!" Legolas spoke the first thing that came into his mind as an excuse while staring at the young Edain child's face.
"You WHAT?" The twins spoke out together incredulously.
"You did??" Estel jumped up and down on the spot, things were getting better and better!
"Uh, yes. Yes, I did. I certainly did. That's the reason why I came! Yep! I came, to take Estel hunting." Legolas gave the twins pointed looks that suggested that if they didn't play along, they might run into other pointed things, and those pointed things definitely weren't looks…..they were more…..physical.
"Ah……" The twins saw the unveiled threat and wisely decided to go along with the story. "…..yes. Yes indeed! We invited the prince down so that he could take you hunting. After all, you only went hunting with us….and Glorfindel……" Elladan's face twitched as he remembered the last time Estel had gone out hunting with Glorfindel.
The elf lord had come back, his normally placidly neutral face definitely settled on the expression of anger and terror, an unusual mix but commonly worn by all users who happened to spend more then five minutes with the Edain child. His normally immaculate robes were covered in mud, not the easy-to-wash-off variety, but the gluggy, almost like glue variety that, if it contained anymore dirt and bacteria, could probably evolve its own legs and walk away. His fine fighting bow had been broken in half, his horse was nowhere to be seen, apparently spooked, and even his sword appeared to be bent. He also had a pretty bad limp, where after a lot of confusion and yelling (mostly by Glorfindel) it had been ascertained that Estel had accidentally shot the elf lord in the foot.
After that incident, Glorfindel had to undergo counselling and if ever the words "Estel" and "hunting" were used in a sentence, had a tendency to undergo a relapse and mutter continuously about the stupidity of humans, how some insanely evil demon had taken over the Edain child's mind and would constantly shoot the child dark, death glares and unconsciously make warding off signs with his hands. Occasionally, his eye would twitch. It truly fascinated the human child.
"….er……er yes, you only went hunting with Glorfindel……uh…..once…..uh, so we decided that we should get you a new companion, er, fresh blood so to speak." Elladan ended lamely as Elrohir viciously elbowed him to stop him from making anymore puns.
"Fresh blood?" Legolas asked, bewildered.
"Ah ha, my twin is joking….a pun….ha ha ha" Elrohir tried to smile to relieve the suddenly nervous Mirkwood elf. His smile not working, Elrohir nudged his twin.
"Oh yes, ha ha ha" Elladan spoke the words dutifully but allowed a smile to play around his lips. Something that worried the prince even more.
Oh Valar! Whatever have I got myself in for? Legolas thought frantically but when he looked into the beaming face of Estel, knew that he no choice.
He was going to go hunting with Estel.
That night, Legolas ate his food at the Hall with everyone else, yet he hardly tasted the fantastic elven food. Everything tasted like cardboard. When he had informed the congregation that he was going to take Estel out hunting, the place had quiet, so very quiet. The music had stopped, the soft elven voices speaking volumes while saying nothing. Then a choked voice floated on the air to the Mirkwood prince:
"A-are you b-being serious?!?!" It was Glorfindel's voice, normally strong and confident which shook with disbelief. "You're going to take this demon-child out hunting?? Do you realise what you've let yourself in for? Do you realise that you might not get out of THIS ALIVE?!?!"
Elrond sighed, "Glorfindel. You are my best advisor and one of my bestest friends, however I thought we'd talked about you referring to my adoptive son as the scrounge of evil, the eater of worlds and souls, who was only put on Middle-Earth to slowly suck the life out of the Eldar while being in the disguise of a small, innocent Edain child. I am sure that it does not bode well for his self-esteem Glorfindel."
"You'veneverseenhiminfulldemonswingmylord." Glorfindel muttered darkly, "Nomerehumanchildcangetintoasmuchtroubleashedoes."
"What was that Glorfindel?" Elrond asked suspiciously.
"Nothing my Lord." Glorfindel inclined his head formally, "It shall be as you wish it." After all, it's not me this time that has to take the little demon-brat!
"However, Glorfindel does have a point. The forest can be a dangerous place and Estel, my son, you are still only very young. Nowhere near mature."
"I am matured enough Ada! I am a grown man!" Estel's voice was high with injured pride as he tried to puff his chest out to look more manly.
Elrond ignored the human for the moment and instead turned to Legolas, "Do you wish this 'fate' Legolas?" The elf lord smiled gently at the stricken prince who turned to stare at the child who stared back.
"You said….." Estel pleaded with the prince with his big, brown eyes.
Legolas relented. It's only hunting. Not much can happen. And we won't wander far from Rivendell. We shall be fine. "Yes my Lord. I do wish to take Estel out hunting. It would be an honour and privilege to."
"Very well, so be it. You shall of course be taking a complete medical set, with EVERY herb and lotion I can think that you might use. And you will take plenty of bandages as well."
"Is that all quite necessary my Lord?" Legolas asked, puzzled. It seemed like quite a lot medicinal supplies.
"Oh yes." Elrond gazed fondly at his human son who had now turned and was harassing his twin brothers. "It is very necessary, in case anything should happen." He then turned to Legolas and spoke seriously, "This child must not, EVER, pass through the veil. He has a destiny to fulfil, and his destiny is tied with our own. Legolas, you must protect him."
"Of course my Lord. I will do all I can." Legolas nodded solidly in affirmation.
"Good. Then I wish you pleasant journey and safe hunting." Elrond then turned to the whole table and raised his glass, "A toast to the hunters! May you find what you wish and may the Valar bring you safely back to us!"
And so the toast was made, the night was spent packing and sleeping and the next day, Legolas and Estel rode out of Imaldris and the hunt began.
****Be nice and leave a review! And the next chappie will be up soon!