Chapter 2
"Eye on the arrow," Legolas reminded, as he knelt beside Estel, who was practicing his archery. The elf helped the young human take careful aim, then let him fire.
Thwack! The arrow landed perfectly in the center of the target.
"Ro! Dan!" Estel exclaimed excitedly, skipping to where his brothers stood with Adrahil, Brethilorn, and Thalion. "I got a bullseye!"
Elladan and Elrohir smiled, rumpling their brother's hair.
"You are a deadly marksman," Elrohir said.
"Those orcs had better watch out," sad Elladan.
Estel grinned, then ran back to Legolas, to continue his archery lesson.
The elves watched as Legolas demonstrated to Estel. His arrow flew straight and true, piercing the exact center of the target.
"When did our little Tithen-las get to be so good at archer?" asked Thalion.
Adrahil shook his head. "It seems overnight. Now he's better than even you."
Thalion protested, but gave up as they watched Legolas shoot a second arrow, this splitting the first, and then a third, splitting the second.
"Years pass by so quickly," said Adrahil. "Remember when it was us who used to train him?"
Brethilorn and Thalion nodded, remembering a three-and-a-half foot tall Legolas in the archery pits, determined to beat his older brothers.
Elladan and Elrohir sighed. "At least you saw him grow up. Only three coranar have passed since Estel came to Imladris. Humans grow too fast," said Elrohir.
"Such is their curse and their gift," said Adrahil softly.
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Brethilorn ducked a blow aimed at his head, then turned, stabbing. Legolas parried the blow and spun, trying to kick Brethilorn's feet from under him. But the older elf was too quick, and grabbed Legolas's foot. Caught in the awkward position, the youngest prince of Mirkwood found his brother's blade against his neck.
"I win again, Tithen-las," Brethilorn said, lowering his blade from his brother's neck, and letting go of his foot.
Legolas turned, slashing at Brethilorn, who parried the blows easily.
Adrahil grabbed Legolas by the back of his tunic, holding him back. "Unfair of you," he said. "I called winners."
Legolas dropped his knife and turned, pretending to try to pummel Adrahil. Adrahil placed a hand on his brother's head so that he couldn't be reached. Elladan and Elrohir with the other two elves stood laughing.
Suddenly, Adrahil let go of Legolas's head. The younger elf, who had been leaning his weight against the hand nearly fell over.
"Listen!" said Adrahil suddenly before Legolas could say anything. "That bell sound..."
"The elves all heard the sound of a bell ringing.
"Estel is coming," said Elladan when he heard.
Sure enough, moments later, the boy appeared, carrying his archery equipment, a bell tied around his neck.
"Why does he have a bell?" asked Thalion, voicing his and his brothers' questions.
"So that we know where he is," answered Elrohir simply. "After all, a bell is more reliable than you four."
The four brothers grinned, remembering the day before, when they had left the twins to search almost all of Rivendell for Estel before telling them he was napping indoors.
"Ah well," said Adrahil, "you must forgive us for that."
"It was very amusing," said Legolas.
"The twins wore identical pouting expressions. Their friends simply cracked bigger grins at this.
"Come now," said Brethilorn. "Would you two have told us if you know if we were searching for our baby brother here?" he asked, draping an arm around Legolas' shoulders, which was almost immediately thrown off.
Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other, then looked back at their friends. "No."
"Point taken," said Elladan. "Yes?" he answered his younger brother who was tugging at his sleeve.
"Can I go hunt orcs?" Estel asked, eyes wide in hopefulness.
"I don't know, can you?" Elladan asked.
Elrohir, Adrahil, Brethilorn, Thalion, and Legolas all rolled their eyes.
"May I go hunt orcs?" Estel corrected himself.
"Well…"
"Please?"
Elladan made a great show of thinking and pondering the question.
"Oh, come now, Dan," said Adrahil. "Let Estel go."
"He is a brave warrior and an expert marksman and archer," added Legolas.
"I agree with Blondie and Blondie," said Elrohir, earning himself two swats across the head.
"Well, alright," said Elladan.
Estel jumped up in delight, hugging Elladan and all the other elves tightly. Then, he gathered his equipment, strapping on his quiver, refusing help from his brothers.
"Le cenithon ned lû thent!" Estel said, and ran off into the forest, hunting for orcs.
"Quit worrying," Elrohir said to his twin. "He couldn't possibly meet any danger. Besides, he is only playing a game."
"I know, but if anything should happen to him…" Elladan trailed off.
"Nothing will, you worrywart."
Adrahil walked over to the twins, draping an arm over each of their shoulders. "So, which of you two calls winners?"
Elladan smiled. "I do."
"Very well then," said Adrahil, drawing his blade and facing Brethilorn.
Adrahil whirled, his knife flashing as it sliced through the air. Brethilorn met his brother's blade with his own, then spun away from him, whipping his own knife around at Adrahil. The elder parried the blow then drove back, slashing at his brother, who parried each blow easily.
The other four elves watched the match intently, engaged in the show, for both opponents seemed almost evenly matched. Suddenly their thoughts were broken by the loud tolling of a bell. Rivendell was under attack.
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Tithen-las = "Little leaf" – Legolas' nickname
Coranar = 1 solar year – more or less 1 human year.
Le cenithon ned lû thent = "See you later"
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