4. To Hunt a Fowl
"We have been gone for months and our first day home you run off again." Elladan teased, "I am beginning to think you do not like us."
"I needed time to think." Estel said happily, drawing his arms around each of their shoulders as they made their way down the passage. "It is so good to be home!"
"We have only been gone three months." Elrohir pointed out.
"It seemed like longer." Estel said heavily.
"You did well." Elladan said with a smile. "You are a fine warrior, Estel, Father is very proud of you. So proud, in fact, he has probably forgotten all our accomplishments."
"Really?" the young human asked, "You're not just mocking me?"
"No," Elrohir said with conviction "We could not be more envious or spiteful even if you were our brother." Estel and Elladan both laughed at the joke.
"You have been better to me than even my own family could have been." Estel said, looking at his feet. "I am proud to be of the line of Numenor but I am prouder still to call you my brothers."
"Oh, do not go soft on us now!" Elladan answered with a wicked grin.
"If you think that sentimental rubbish will shame us into treating you any better, you are sadly mistaken." Elrohir agreed, "nothing has changed."
"We fully intend to torment and despise you for the rest of your life." Elladan added, giving the human a rough hug.
"Is Lord Elrond allowing the riffraff into Imladris now?" a voice called from one of the doorways, Estel whirled at the sound, an idiotic grin spreading across his face.
"Legolas!" he cried happily giving the elf a fierce hug. "Mellon nin, What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I have so very little to do with my time these days." Legolas grinned, he gave the young human an appraising glare, "You look terrible."
"We told him that." Elladan said as his brother nodded. "but he didn't believe us"
"Perhaps you should tell him." Elrohir added with a smile "after all we are only his brothers, what do we know."
"Estel, you are not taking care of yourself." Legolas shook his head, glaring at the swollen black eye, "Have you been set upon by orc's at the gate?"
"Two big ones." Estel grinned at his brothers. Legolas let out a laugh, noticing the fresh battle scars the twins now wore.
"It would seem our borders are less safe than we deemed." Elladan said seriously, and Elrohir nodded in agreement.
"They are on their own." Legolas grinned, steering Estel toward his room.
"Let me show you what to do about your mark of honor."
********************************************************
"I come down to breakfast this morning only to hear that you had already left." Legolas said, trying to sound annoyed as he rummaged through his pack. "I traveled well into the night to reach Rivendell and I did not come here because I enjoy Elrond's company."
"I needed to think." Estel replied, he had flopped down on Legolas's freshly made bed, covering the blankets in dirt.
"Oh, of course, you can't think in Imladris." Legolas said rolling his eyes as he came to sit beside the young human.
"Ada told me about my father." Estel said quietly, Legolas sighed, looking at the jar in his hand absently.
"Arathorn was a good man," the elf shook his head, "A good friend."
"You knew!" Estel sat up, staring at his friend, wide eyed.
"Really, Estel," Legolas frowned "Of course I knew. I was here the day your mother brought you to Rivendell. I even pleaded her case." The human pushed himself off the bed, tense with frustration as he turned his back on the elf.
"Does everyone know but me?"
"Everyone here does." Legolas said seriously, pulling the human back down beside him and tending to his now swollen eye.
"Ouch!" Estel snapped. "What is that foul brew?"
"You should speak of foul." Legolas wrinkled his nose with a smile "You come in smelling of trolls and track filth around my room." the young human grew silent.
"Why did you plead?" he asked suddenly.
"What?"
Why did you... Didn't Elrond want me?" he looked wounded and Legolas scolded himself for his choice of words. He had never heard the boy refer to the Elf Lord as anything but his father.
"That is not what I said." the elf replied, a little more harshly than he had intended to. "You are human Estel. Do you not ever wonder about your own people? Do you not consider how they live, who they are? Do you not think of them at all?"
"I hardly know any humans." Estel replied uneasily, "The Dunedain I met when I rode out with my brothers are brash and coarse, largely ignorant and on the whole rather foul. They are like..."
"Men." Legolas said firmly, Estel began to protest but finally gave in. "Elrond was afraid of this but I told him the son of Arathorn would never abandon his people."
"I don't know anything about humans." Estel sighed "And Ada tells me I am their Lord. I'm proud of who I am, but I'm not sure I would make a very good king of men."
"They are your people... Aragorn." Legolas said and Estel smiled at him, "You are still young. Believe me, I know it is a heavy burden to be heir to a throne but you will grow into it."
"I hope you're right." Estel replied with a crooked smile. He looked at the elf uneasily for a moment before staring at his feet. "Tell me of my Father."
"He was as fierce as a lion." Legolas said with a sentimental smile, "I once saw him face down a host of orcs alone. I have never known a warrior so fearless. Nor so compassionate. Did Elrond tell you he once carried Elladan from battle, more than three leagues down the Bruinen?" Estel shook his head with a grin.
"I found them not far from the fords." Legolas said with a far off look. "Elrohir had wounded his arm and Arathorn carried his twin unaided through the trollshaws. It was the first we had met. The bloody fool was little more than a boy at the time. I can say truthfully that I have not known many elves that would have made it so far. I would never have thought a child could have shown such loyalty to one who was not even of his own race."
"It's still hard for me to think of you as being so much older than I." Estel sighed.
"Then do not think about it." Legolas said practically. "You must get yourself ready for the ball. How is the eye?"
"Much better." Estel grinned, the swelling had all but disappeared and the bruising faded as they spoke. Legolas gave his young friend's shoulder a squeeze.
"Well then bathe." he said, shoving the human off his bed. "You carry the soil of a thousand battlefields on you!"
*****************************************************
Legolas wandered down the steps and into the lush courtyard, making for the gardens. A brisk walk and then a fashionably late appearance at the ball was exactly what he needed. For once everything seemed right in the world. Estel had grown to be a fine young man and would now begin the long journey to reclaim his heritage. Arwen was in Rivendell again and for once had not managed to involve him in anything that was likely to have him throttled. Elladan and Elrohir were on speaking terms with him again and Haldir's brothers were too busy imbibing large amounts of wine to make trouble for him.
All in all it looked to be one of his better days.
He had worried about Estel and it was one reason he had so readily befriended the boy. But now he was Estel no longer, he was Lord Aragorn and Legolas was hopeful that the future of men would be brighter because of his young friend. It was nice to have both of his best friends here at the same time. Perhaps he would introduce them tonight and arrange for a leisurely hunt tomorrow, Arwen loved to hunt and goodness knows she seldom got the opportunity in Lorien. He hoped they would be able to get along, he only had a few days in Rivendell and he wanted to spend time with both of them.
There was a noisy crunching in the hedge ahead and Legolas paused on the trail, knitting his brow as Haldir fought his way through the brush. The March Warden's face was contorted in an angry grimace and there were several leaves sticking in his usually perfect hair.
"Haldir, I thought you were taking in the garden with Lady Arwen." Legolas blurted out. Haldir turned, his face growing red with either rage or embarrassment, Legolas wasn't sure.
"The bloody bird has flown from me!" he said viscously.
Rage, definitely.
"Flown?" Legolas said bewildered.
"Aye!" Haldir replied, brushing the leaves from his tunic "One moment we are walking along and the next I am standing on the path alone speaking to myself like a lunatic."
Legolas groaned inwardly, what had she done now? His peaceful evening seemed to be crumbling around him. Legolas couldn't say that he was particularly fond of Haldir but the March Warden was a good, loyal elf and if Arwen wasn't at the ball on time Elrond would likely skin him alive.
"We'd better find her before Elrond does." Legolas sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Have you checked the rose garden?"
"And the pool and the waterfall." Haldir said with a curt nod, "Not to mention nearly every rock and bush in the garden."
"Well, the first thing she likely would have done is leave the garden." Legolas shook his head, this was quite out of hand. He didn't so much mind Arwen getting him in trouble, he rather enjoyed it. Haldir was another matter. "I'll check the stables and the kitchen garden, you should probably speak to the guards and see if any of them saw her head out into the forest."
"She would go into the forest alone, this near to sunset?" Haldir asked in shock.
"Believe me," Legolas nodded with a hint of exasperation, "she would walk into a dragon's den if the idea struck her fancy. She has absolutely no sense of fear."
"Exactly why are you helping me?" Haldir asked suddenly, Legolas was Arwen's friend and considering the way his evening was playing out he didn't think it was beneath the Mirkwood prince to have a joke at his expense, everyone else certainly seemed to think it was a good idea.
"It is quite simple." Legolas said icily "The sight of blood makes me loose my appetite and I hear Elrond's chef has outdone himself." Haldir couldn't argue with that. He didn't expect to have much of an appetite himself once Elrond was finished with him.
"If we can't find her by the time the ball begins I will have to tell Lord Elrond." Haldir sighed in resignation. Legolas nodded in agreement, moving rapidly back down the trail the way he had come.
"Haldir?" he called back, the March Warden paused with a frown "Would you mind not mentioning my name?" Haldir sighed, grumbling as he disappeared down the path.
Why in the world had she taken off? It's very simple, he told himself, you were a drab, rude arrogant, bore and she couldn't stand you. Haldir thought his heart would break. Why in the world was he doomed to love an elleth he could not even speak to in complete sentences?
************************************************
Sorry I didn't reply to the reviews in the last chapter but between Christmas and work I'm swamped. I will try to put a new chapter out every weekend so long as my sanity holds.
Loves to everybody who reviewed, my ego will need a room of its own soon.
Daisy Princess - Thanks so much, I picked Eirien's name just for you. (I keep a Sindarin list of acceptable names and Daisy won this round) You have more nice things to say about me than my last 3 English profs combined.
The Converted - *Gasp* I am speechless. I don't know what to say except that I will try to cling to cannon and preserve your illusion.
Orelinde - So far the story is much longer than I planned originally so you should be very happy. The best bits are finished in my head so I hope the parts in between live up to your high praises.
"We have been gone for months and our first day home you run off again." Elladan teased, "I am beginning to think you do not like us."
"I needed time to think." Estel said happily, drawing his arms around each of their shoulders as they made their way down the passage. "It is so good to be home!"
"We have only been gone three months." Elrohir pointed out.
"It seemed like longer." Estel said heavily.
"You did well." Elladan said with a smile. "You are a fine warrior, Estel, Father is very proud of you. So proud, in fact, he has probably forgotten all our accomplishments."
"Really?" the young human asked, "You're not just mocking me?"
"No," Elrohir said with conviction "We could not be more envious or spiteful even if you were our brother." Estel and Elladan both laughed at the joke.
"You have been better to me than even my own family could have been." Estel said, looking at his feet. "I am proud to be of the line of Numenor but I am prouder still to call you my brothers."
"Oh, do not go soft on us now!" Elladan answered with a wicked grin.
"If you think that sentimental rubbish will shame us into treating you any better, you are sadly mistaken." Elrohir agreed, "nothing has changed."
"We fully intend to torment and despise you for the rest of your life." Elladan added, giving the human a rough hug.
"Is Lord Elrond allowing the riffraff into Imladris now?" a voice called from one of the doorways, Estel whirled at the sound, an idiotic grin spreading across his face.
"Legolas!" he cried happily giving the elf a fierce hug. "Mellon nin, What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I have so very little to do with my time these days." Legolas grinned, he gave the young human an appraising glare, "You look terrible."
"We told him that." Elladan said as his brother nodded. "but he didn't believe us"
"Perhaps you should tell him." Elrohir added with a smile "after all we are only his brothers, what do we know."
"Estel, you are not taking care of yourself." Legolas shook his head, glaring at the swollen black eye, "Have you been set upon by orc's at the gate?"
"Two big ones." Estel grinned at his brothers. Legolas let out a laugh, noticing the fresh battle scars the twins now wore.
"It would seem our borders are less safe than we deemed." Elladan said seriously, and Elrohir nodded in agreement.
"They are on their own." Legolas grinned, steering Estel toward his room.
"Let me show you what to do about your mark of honor."
********************************************************
"I come down to breakfast this morning only to hear that you had already left." Legolas said, trying to sound annoyed as he rummaged through his pack. "I traveled well into the night to reach Rivendell and I did not come here because I enjoy Elrond's company."
"I needed to think." Estel replied, he had flopped down on Legolas's freshly made bed, covering the blankets in dirt.
"Oh, of course, you can't think in Imladris." Legolas said rolling his eyes as he came to sit beside the young human.
"Ada told me about my father." Estel said quietly, Legolas sighed, looking at the jar in his hand absently.
"Arathorn was a good man," the elf shook his head, "A good friend."
"You knew!" Estel sat up, staring at his friend, wide eyed.
"Really, Estel," Legolas frowned "Of course I knew. I was here the day your mother brought you to Rivendell. I even pleaded her case." The human pushed himself off the bed, tense with frustration as he turned his back on the elf.
"Does everyone know but me?"
"Everyone here does." Legolas said seriously, pulling the human back down beside him and tending to his now swollen eye.
"Ouch!" Estel snapped. "What is that foul brew?"
"You should speak of foul." Legolas wrinkled his nose with a smile "You come in smelling of trolls and track filth around my room." the young human grew silent.
"Why did you plead?" he asked suddenly.
"What?"
Why did you... Didn't Elrond want me?" he looked wounded and Legolas scolded himself for his choice of words. He had never heard the boy refer to the Elf Lord as anything but his father.
"That is not what I said." the elf replied, a little more harshly than he had intended to. "You are human Estel. Do you not ever wonder about your own people? Do you not consider how they live, who they are? Do you not think of them at all?"
"I hardly know any humans." Estel replied uneasily, "The Dunedain I met when I rode out with my brothers are brash and coarse, largely ignorant and on the whole rather foul. They are like..."
"Men." Legolas said firmly, Estel began to protest but finally gave in. "Elrond was afraid of this but I told him the son of Arathorn would never abandon his people."
"I don't know anything about humans." Estel sighed "And Ada tells me I am their Lord. I'm proud of who I am, but I'm not sure I would make a very good king of men."
"They are your people... Aragorn." Legolas said and Estel smiled at him, "You are still young. Believe me, I know it is a heavy burden to be heir to a throne but you will grow into it."
"I hope you're right." Estel replied with a crooked smile. He looked at the elf uneasily for a moment before staring at his feet. "Tell me of my Father."
"He was as fierce as a lion." Legolas said with a sentimental smile, "I once saw him face down a host of orcs alone. I have never known a warrior so fearless. Nor so compassionate. Did Elrond tell you he once carried Elladan from battle, more than three leagues down the Bruinen?" Estel shook his head with a grin.
"I found them not far from the fords." Legolas said with a far off look. "Elrohir had wounded his arm and Arathorn carried his twin unaided through the trollshaws. It was the first we had met. The bloody fool was little more than a boy at the time. I can say truthfully that I have not known many elves that would have made it so far. I would never have thought a child could have shown such loyalty to one who was not even of his own race."
"It's still hard for me to think of you as being so much older than I." Estel sighed.
"Then do not think about it." Legolas said practically. "You must get yourself ready for the ball. How is the eye?"
"Much better." Estel grinned, the swelling had all but disappeared and the bruising faded as they spoke. Legolas gave his young friend's shoulder a squeeze.
"Well then bathe." he said, shoving the human off his bed. "You carry the soil of a thousand battlefields on you!"
*****************************************************
Legolas wandered down the steps and into the lush courtyard, making for the gardens. A brisk walk and then a fashionably late appearance at the ball was exactly what he needed. For once everything seemed right in the world. Estel had grown to be a fine young man and would now begin the long journey to reclaim his heritage. Arwen was in Rivendell again and for once had not managed to involve him in anything that was likely to have him throttled. Elladan and Elrohir were on speaking terms with him again and Haldir's brothers were too busy imbibing large amounts of wine to make trouble for him.
All in all it looked to be one of his better days.
He had worried about Estel and it was one reason he had so readily befriended the boy. But now he was Estel no longer, he was Lord Aragorn and Legolas was hopeful that the future of men would be brighter because of his young friend. It was nice to have both of his best friends here at the same time. Perhaps he would introduce them tonight and arrange for a leisurely hunt tomorrow, Arwen loved to hunt and goodness knows she seldom got the opportunity in Lorien. He hoped they would be able to get along, he only had a few days in Rivendell and he wanted to spend time with both of them.
There was a noisy crunching in the hedge ahead and Legolas paused on the trail, knitting his brow as Haldir fought his way through the brush. The March Warden's face was contorted in an angry grimace and there were several leaves sticking in his usually perfect hair.
"Haldir, I thought you were taking in the garden with Lady Arwen." Legolas blurted out. Haldir turned, his face growing red with either rage or embarrassment, Legolas wasn't sure.
"The bloody bird has flown from me!" he said viscously.
Rage, definitely.
"Flown?" Legolas said bewildered.
"Aye!" Haldir replied, brushing the leaves from his tunic "One moment we are walking along and the next I am standing on the path alone speaking to myself like a lunatic."
Legolas groaned inwardly, what had she done now? His peaceful evening seemed to be crumbling around him. Legolas couldn't say that he was particularly fond of Haldir but the March Warden was a good, loyal elf and if Arwen wasn't at the ball on time Elrond would likely skin him alive.
"We'd better find her before Elrond does." Legolas sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Have you checked the rose garden?"
"And the pool and the waterfall." Haldir said with a curt nod, "Not to mention nearly every rock and bush in the garden."
"Well, the first thing she likely would have done is leave the garden." Legolas shook his head, this was quite out of hand. He didn't so much mind Arwen getting him in trouble, he rather enjoyed it. Haldir was another matter. "I'll check the stables and the kitchen garden, you should probably speak to the guards and see if any of them saw her head out into the forest."
"She would go into the forest alone, this near to sunset?" Haldir asked in shock.
"Believe me," Legolas nodded with a hint of exasperation, "she would walk into a dragon's den if the idea struck her fancy. She has absolutely no sense of fear."
"Exactly why are you helping me?" Haldir asked suddenly, Legolas was Arwen's friend and considering the way his evening was playing out he didn't think it was beneath the Mirkwood prince to have a joke at his expense, everyone else certainly seemed to think it was a good idea.
"It is quite simple." Legolas said icily "The sight of blood makes me loose my appetite and I hear Elrond's chef has outdone himself." Haldir couldn't argue with that. He didn't expect to have much of an appetite himself once Elrond was finished with him.
"If we can't find her by the time the ball begins I will have to tell Lord Elrond." Haldir sighed in resignation. Legolas nodded in agreement, moving rapidly back down the trail the way he had come.
"Haldir?" he called back, the March Warden paused with a frown "Would you mind not mentioning my name?" Haldir sighed, grumbling as he disappeared down the path.
Why in the world had she taken off? It's very simple, he told himself, you were a drab, rude arrogant, bore and she couldn't stand you. Haldir thought his heart would break. Why in the world was he doomed to love an elleth he could not even speak to in complete sentences?
************************************************
Sorry I didn't reply to the reviews in the last chapter but between Christmas and work I'm swamped. I will try to put a new chapter out every weekend so long as my sanity holds.
Loves to everybody who reviewed, my ego will need a room of its own soon.
Daisy Princess - Thanks so much, I picked Eirien's name just for you. (I keep a Sindarin list of acceptable names and Daisy won this round) You have more nice things to say about me than my last 3 English profs combined.
The Converted - *Gasp* I am speechless. I don't know what to say except that I will try to cling to cannon and preserve your illusion.
Orelinde - So far the story is much longer than I planned originally so you should be very happy. The best bits are finished in my head so I hope the parts in between live up to your high praises.
