Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! Thank you so much for your encouraging reviews! They mean so much to me. I am glad that you are all enjoying this fic so far. Many many thanks to my incredible beta enb2004! Here is Chapter Three as promised! Enjoy!
Glorfindel smirked as he watched the woods from his post in the courtyard. Earlier in the afternoon, Elrond had informed him of Legolas's impending arrival.
Having known the youngest Prince of Mirkwood for many centuries, Glorfindel knew that Legolas would most likely arrive during the dead of night after having pushed himself hard and fast to reach Imladris.
Glorfindel could not help but to snicker at the lack of communication between Elrond and his sons.
The twins had thought that Elrond had told Thranduil while Elrond had thought that the twins had informed Legolas of their new family member.
Legolas was in for a very large surprise, that was for certain. Legolas would be so mad at the twins when he found out about Estel!
Already, Glorfindel could picture the pranks that he Legolas would more than likely play on those twin terrors Elrond called sons, and possibly Elrond himself, if Legolas was feeling daring.
The twins did deserve it after all though. After that prank that they had pulled on Elrond, almost anything was fair game. A fact that Glorfindel would not fail to mention to Legolas once he arrived and had found out about Estel.
Normally, Glorfindel would warn the poor unfortunate soul who was about to be pranked or surprised, but for tonight, however, he would play his own trick on Legolas. He knew he would regret it later, for Legolas gave as good as he got, but it would be worth it just to see the look on Legolas's face.
Thinking about Legolas, Glorfindel could not help but wonder at what Thranduil's reaction to Estel would be.
Thranduil was well known for his dislike of men, but Glorfindel was willing to bet his horse that Estel would melt even Thranduil's heart. Oh he would love to see Thranduil's reaction when he found out! He just hoped to be there when it would eventually happen. It was bound to be enjoyable, at least for him and probably Legolas as well.
It was not often that one could surprise the King of Mirkwood, and those few occasions when he had been surprised were few and very memorable, particularly for the King's offspring.
"Speaking of," Glorfindel muttered aloud as he heard a horse fast approaching the courtyard, which was more than likely Legolas.
Only minutes later, Glorfindel's suspicions had been proven correct as Legolas galloped into the courtyard.
"Well met Legolas. It is good to see you again," Glorfindel said smiling.
"Thank you Glorfindel. I must say I am somewhat surprised. I had not expected anyone to meet me at this hour," he said truly surprised.
"My dear Prince, considering your past history and tendency towards getting injured, how could someone not be posted to watch for you?" Glorfindel asked teasingly.
Legolas scowled playfully but immediately became serious when he remembered why he had come to Imladris with such haste.
"Glorfindel, how is Elrohir?" he asked worriedly.
"Fear not Legolas, Elrohir is fine. He is sleeping at the moment along with nearly everyone else in the household," Glorfindel said, somehow managing to keep a straight face.
"I would like to see him," Legolas said insistently.
Inwardly Glorfindel rolled his eyes. By the Valar this one was stubborn.
"Legolas, by now you ought to know Lord Elrond's rules regarding visiting his patients, particularly in the dead of night when they are sleeping," he said with mock sterness.
Glorfindel knew that Legolas knew all to well those rules. Generally, it was Legolas who was injured and the twins who were sneaking in to visit him at all hours of the night.
This time it was Legolas who rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Aye, I know, but that does not mean I have to like those rules," he said petulantly.
Glorfindel laughed and began to lead Legolas's horse to the stables for a long rest.
"I know. Why don't you go and get some sleep? Your room had been set up and is ready and waiting for you," he said, struggling not to laugh seeing as that the room Legolas normally stayed in was now Estel's. This was going to be good beyond belief!
"I suppose," Legolas agreed.
"All right then, I shall see you come the morning," Glorfindel said cheerfully.
Legolas looked at the Balrog slayer oddly but went inside without saying anything.
Once Glorfindel was certain that Legolas was out of hearing range, he burst out into hysterical laughter. Legolas was about to get the shock of his immortal life. One that he would neither forget nor forgive anytime soon.
Legolas headed for the House of Elrond and once inside, he headed for the room that was his whenever he visited Imladris.
As he walked towards his room his mind drifted back to the conversation he had just had with Glorfindel.
To
Legolas, Glorfindel had seemed rather, well, odd. Odder than normal
actually. He seemed to be very different from the last time Legolas had
seen him. Admittedly, it had been a few years since he had last visited
Imladris but surely the twins would have told him if something had
changed.
Legolas brought himself out of his thoughts when he saw that he had reached the door to his room without even realizing it.
He
opened the door and threw his stuff on the floor with out a thought. He
was truly to tired to care where it ended up at the moment.
Unbeknownst to Legolas though, his opening the door and scattering of supplies had awoken the occupant of the room.
"Glorfy?" A voice said from behind Legolas.
Startled by the sudden voice, Legolas whirled around and stared in shock at the "elfling" who was on the bed.
As
Estel cleared the sleep from his eyes he saw that the blonde elf was
not Glorfy, and that frightened him. The last time had woken up to find
a strange elf in his bedroom, he had been hurt!
"You're not
Glorfy? Who are you?" the elfling said sounding very frightened to
Legolas' ears. But then who wouldn't be if they woke up to see a
strange elf in their room?
"My apologies young one. I mistook
this room as the one I usually sleeping when I visit. My name is
Legolas Thranduilion, what is yours?" he asked soothingly. The last
thing that he wanted to do was to upset the 'elfling' and have him cry
out for his parents who would surely be most displeased to see Legolas
in their sons room.
"You're the one who cut Dan and Ro's hair
short and was pushed into the river by Elladan's horse!" Estel
exclaimed excitedly, completely forgetting about Legolas asking him his
name. Ever since the twins had told him of Legolas, he had very badly
wanted to meet him.
Legolas stared at the elfling in shock. How
had this little one known about the prank that he had pulled on the
twins? And how had he known about Elladan's horse pushing him into the
river? That could wait for the moment however. He still needed to find
out the name of this little elfling.
"I'm afraid that you did
not answer my question tithen pen. What is your name?" he asked softly,
not wanting to frighten the 'elfling' again.
"Oh, I'm sorry Leggie. My name is Estel," the elfling said shyly, embarrassed at not remembering Legolas's question.
Legolas
raised any eyebrow at Estel's name and the nickname, but said nothing
about it. There was more to this elfling than met the eye for sure.
Legolas
knew that he should probably leave for his room at this point and let
the elfling get back to sleep, but something was compelling him to stay
with Estel.
"So, Estel, how is it that Elladan and Elrohir told you about the prank I pulled on them?" he asked curiously.
As far as he knew, the twins had silenced everyone who might dare to tell the tale in a most painfully way.
"They didn't silly! Arwen did!" Estel exclaimed.
Legolas's
eyebrow nearly reached his hairline at that piece of information. How
did this little one know Arwen? Wasn't she currently dwelling in
Lothlorien? Those questions could be answered in the morning however,
when both he and Estel had rested.
"I am sorry to cut our
conversation short Estel, but I am tired, as are you I am sure. Also, I
still need to find the room next to the twins bedrooms," Legolas said
more to himself than to Estel.
Estel looked at Legolas strangely and then started to laugh.
Legolas
turned in surprise when he heard Estel laughing. "What is so funny
tithen pen?" Legolas asked, being somewhat confused by the sudden
laughter.
"You silly! This is the room next to the twins rooms," Estel said will laughing.
Legolas
looked at Estel incredulously. The elfling could not be serious...
could he? When Estel didn't stop laughing Legolas realized, much to his
horror, that Estel was not joking. Glorfindel had set him up! Oh, that
elf would pay for this later!
"Estel? Are you all right? What is all the talking and laughing?" a sleepy voice said from behind Legolas.
"Oh
thank the Valar. Elrohir, that blonde elf that your father calls his
advisor has set me up! He told me that my room was ready for me, but to
my surprise upon entering it, I find a little 'elfling!'" Legolas
exclaimed.
All traces of sleepiness gone, Elrohir broke out into
hysterical laughter. He could not believe that Glorfindel had done
that! Oh, Legolas was going to kill Glorfindel before the night was out!
"Ro!" Estel cried happily and ran out of bed and gave his brother a hug.
"Estel, I realize that Legolas woke you up, but you should be in bed tithen pen," Elrohir said fondly.
"Nuh uh, I'm not tired," the four year old protested even as Elrohir carried him back to his bed.
"Maybe
so, but Ada will not be pleased to learn that you didn't sleep the
night before the stitches are supposed to come off," Elrohir said.
While
Elrohir and Estel were debating, Legolas watched their whole
interaction with shock. What on Arda was going on here?! And wasn't
Elrohir injured? He shouldn't be carrying Estel around injured!
"Elrohir! You are injured! Allow me," Legolas said, reaching out to pluck Estel from Elrohir's arms.
Elrohir laughed and quickly moved away from Legolas and sat his little brother back down on the bed.
"Legolas, look at me. Do I look like the injured one in this room?" he asked.
Legolas frowned but saw no sign of bandages nor stitches. In fact, the only one who had stitches and bandages was Estel.
"No,
but Estel does," Legolas said, puzzlement showing in his eyes clearly.
"Mellon nin, I don't understand. In the letter, your father said that
his youngest son had been injured," he said.
"Yes, his youngest
son. Legolas Thranduilion, I would like you to meet my little brother
Estel Elrondion," Elrohir said grinning.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Tithen pen: Little one
Arda: Middle Earth
Mellon nin: My friend