Chapter 2

The prince of Mirkwood sighed, watching from outside the gates of the palace, waiting for an expected visitor.

"Legolas," Thranduil called seeing his son gazing into the distance, "come on inside ion nîn, it is getting late."

"So is Estel," the prince replied quietly, "he should have been here days ago Father..."

"I'm sure he's fine..."

"You obviously don't know him that well then, he is prone to getting into trouble, getting him out of it..." Legolas trailed off, a ghost of a smile touched his lips.

"You worry too much over him, he probably took a detour," Thranduil reasoned.

"You're probably right," he sighed, "I'll give him until tomorrow night, and then I'm going to look for him." He sighed, "I'll be in shortly Father," he said, Thranduil nodded and went back inside. "Hurry here Estel, let me know you're safe." He murmured before walking inside.

Two travellers were on their way to Mirkwood, one more deterred than the other.

"I see why Estel hardly travels here," Elrohir muttered, looking through the dark, dank forest.

"You can always turn back if you wish," Elladan suggested.

"What...travel back...alone...leave you here...alone..." the younger twin stammered.

"Come on then," he smiled, "don't worry little brother, I'm right here beside you, nothing will harm you while I am here," he smiled patronisingly, and was received with an irritated glance, "come on, we're nearly there."

Again Legolas stood outside the palace gate, about to go inside, when he saw two others heading his way.

"Elladan, Elrohir; mae govannen mellyn nîn, what brings you here?" he smiled.

"Father wanted us to deliver a message," the elder smiled.

"Suilad mellon nîn," Elrohir greeted.

"Come on, it's getting late, let's go inside." Legolas suggested.

The three friends sat at the dinner table, talking quietly when the presence of one was missed.

"Where is Estel?" Elladan asked, "Shouldn't he be here?"

"He has not arrived yet, I am going after him tomorrow," Legolas told him.

"We'll come to,' Elrohir offered.

"So," Thranduil interrupted, "you said you had a message from your father."

"Of course my lord," Elladan smiled, and then turned to Elrohir, "what did you do with the missive?"

"Missive?" the younger twin looked around nervously, "I thought you were bringing it..."

"Elrohir...you forgot it, didn't you?" Elladan stated; Elrohir nodded sheepishly, "if you want something done, better do it yourself..."

"That is why I decided to come myself," a voice came from the back of the room.

"Ada," the twins smiled in unison, running up to the Noldor lord embracing him tightly, "Glorfy," they grinned seeing the blond Elf lord close behind.

"How many times must I tell you not to call me that" he growled.

"Sorry Uncle Glorfy," they chimed in unison hugging the now bright red Elf tightly.

"Mae govannen Elrond," Thranduil tried to stifle a laugh at the other blond lord.

"Suilad Thranduil, I think we should go somewhere quieter to discuss these matters." He suggested.

"All work, Peredhil, why not rest up for the night and wait until tomorrow? Or can it not wait?"

"Aye, I suppose it can." He looked around the room to see the three Elves were talking amongst themselves again, "where is Estel?" he asked Elladan.

"Not here," the older twin replied.

"I can see that, so where is he?" Elrond asked, more irritably.

"He has not yet arrived my lord; I thought he may have taken a detour, you know Estel is not renouned for his time keeping," Legolas told him, "I think I am going to look for him tomorrow."

"He should be here, detour or not, he left home over two months ago, he said he was coming straight here." Elrond argued, a fathers worry, gnawing at him.

"Father does have a point," Elladan muttered, "he has been planning coming here for ages."

"Yeah, what as it he said," Elrohir spoke up, "oh yeah, 'not even a horde of Orcs can keep me away'..." his eyes widened in realisation.

"Thranduil, we must speak of this immediately," Elrond said, a new urgency in his voice.

"Father?" the twins looked at him.

"You three may as well come too," Elrond sighed, "you would only eavesdrop anyway."

"Us?"

"Eavesdrop?"

"Don't know what..."

"...you're talking about."

"Will you two stop that?" Glorfindel growled, annoyed.

"Sorry Uncle Glorfy." They chimed in unison, he just glared at them, making Legolas laugh.

"Come, we should go somewhere more private." Thranduil suggested leading the others to his study.