Disclaimer: ((writes Christmas list furiously)) Just you wait. One day, I will own a hot Elf and a bumbling Ranger so I can lock them up in my closet and make them get over their denial. Are you even listening Santa????
Yeah, right. In my dreams.
Chapter 8: Preparations"I don't see how we can travel lightly and inconspicuously when we've to carry something of that size and shape with us," Estel complained as he flung himself down on the bed in Elladan's room, where the brainstorming session regarding the transport of the portrait was taking place.
His brother raised an eyebrow. "Since when were you coming with us?"
"Ada didn't say I wasn't to come. Besides, I was the one who found it," the Human pointed out as he rolled over on his back.
"No, that's because we haven't seen Ada the whole day, so he hasn't told you whether or not you're coming with us," Elrohir drawled from the chair beside the bed where he had draped himself, legs hanging over one arm.
"And King Thranduil is very suspicious of strangers," Elladan warned, as he moved about his room and tidied it. "Especially after what happened the last time he allowed a group of strangers travelling with an Elf he knew stay under his roof."
"But that doesn't concern me. I'm only trying to help Legolas, I'd never harm him!"
A knock on the door interrupted the discussion, and Elrond entered the room, followed by Erestor and Glorfindel.
"I've sent word to Thranduil that we've found the portrait of Legolas and that we'll be journeying to Mirkwood within the week. I've also sent messengers in search of Mithrandir, though I suspect that Thranduil will do the same upon hearing the news. Have you come up with a plan to get the painting there without attracting too much attention?"
His sons looked at each other, then spoke simultaneously:
"Drag it behind us with ropes."
"Take it out of the frame and roll it up."
"Just... carry it?"
The three older Elves looked at each other before Elrond sighed and shook his head in exasperation and his advisors burst out laughing.
"I think we should consult Legolas on this delicate matter. And I don't think it'll be an easy task, especially with the kind of ideas you've come up with."
X.x.X.x.X.x.XThe Moon rose to find them gathered once more in Estel's room, waiting for Legolas to emerge from the painting. Elrond had decided to leave it there, believing that it would be less traumatic for the young Elf to stay in more familiar surroundings when he chose to come out.
Before long, the smooth surface of the painting began to move, and the Golden Prince emerged. After introducing him to Erestor and Glorfindel, they sat down to the serious task of discussing how to get him from Rivendell to Mirkwood in one piece.
Legolas listened to Elrohir's suggestion with a look of horror on his face. "You seriously don't mean to say that you actually contemplated rolling me up?! How would you feel if someone rolled you up into a bundle and carried you around?!"
Elrohir tried to placate the offended Elf. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you could feel what the portrait goes through. My apologies for being so inconsiderate."
Legolas huffed and pouted slightly. "Of course I can feel what it's going through. I happen to be trapped in it."
"But surely we can at least remove the frame?" Elladan suggested. "I believe that is the bulkiest part of the painting. With that out of the way, I think I would be easier to transport just the canvas on some backing."
Legolas shook his head. "You can't remove the frame either. Danin put some sort of spell on it so that the painting wouldn't get damaged. Who knows, I might just crumble to dust in front of you if you take the frame off."
Elrond gave a sigh. "It appears that we'll just have to take Estel's suggestion and carry it with us, since loading it into a cart would draw even more attention to us."
Estel shot a triumphant grin at his brothers.
"Well, everything looks settled. I suggest that we get some rest. We will spend tomorrow packing our supplies for the trip and leave the day after." Elrond stood up and prepared to exit the room.
"Ada? Who's going this time?" Estel asked hopefully.
Elrond looked hesitantly at the Human, wondering how Thranduil would react to his presence. Then he smiled and turned to Glorfindel. "I suppose you wouldn't mind staying behind to keep Erestor company and make sure he doesn't fret too much?"
The blonde Elf laughed lightly as his dark-haired counterpart scowled. "Of course not. I don't envy you, though, having to travel alone with your twins and Estel. And not to mention, the terror of Mirkwood."
Legolas blushed slightly as he heard the nickname he had been given as an Elfling when he managed to get into all sorts of trouble. Elrond gave a wry smile as he replied, "I'll manage somehow, don't worry. Now, off to bed, all of you."
X.x.X.x.X.x.XEstel found himself alone in the room with Legolas, after Elrond had finally managed to evict the twins from his room.
They stared at each other for a moment in uncomfortable silence before Estel coughed.
"Well, I'll be going to sleep now. You can go explore the halls if you like. I don't think Ada would mind."
"I'd rather stay here. If you don't mind, that is."
"Oh, it's fine by me. There're some books on the shelf over there if you're interested."
"Actually, I'd rather just watch."
"Watch what?"
The Elf shrugged in embarrassment. "Watch you sleep. I've never exactly been at such close quarters with a Human before. Your race is quite fascinating, really."
Estel's mouth opened and closed as he tried to think of a suitable answer to this strange request. But all he came up with was a rather gruff reply, "Suit yourself, although I don't really like to have people staring at me."
The Elf coloured as he recalled exactly what he had been doing three nights ago. "I'm really sorry about that."
"It's alright. I suppose you couldn't help it, seeing that you hadn't come out for a few years."
"It was partly that, I suppose, but more so... well, you felt different from the other Humans I've been around, and I was curious."
"Felt different?" Estel was starting to think that perhaps the centuries of living alone in a painting had taken their toll on the Elf's sanity.
"It's hard to explain, really. Your presence just... isn't like theirs, strange as it sounds. There is always this sense of urgency and chaos around them, but yours is more peaceful. I suppose it's because you grew up with Elves."
"Maybe."
There was another long silence as Estel got into bed and Legolas curled up in a chair by the window to watch the Human sleep.
"Do you sleep? In the painting, I mean."
The Elf turned to look the Human, who lay on his side watching him with steely grey eyes.
"Not really. When I'm in it during the daytime, everything is muted, as though I'm wandering in a fog. And when I try to emerge, it feels like I'm swimming through a paste of some sort. I can see and hear everything more clearly, but it's hard to get out. I don't believe I sleep in it; my body does enough of that in Mirkwood. I don't know what it means to be fatigued, I guess. I don't even remember what it is like to sleep in a bed."
Silence.
The Human rolled over to, facing his back to the Elf, and muttered, "There's room for two if you want."
"Pardon?"
"I said, you can share the bed, if you want. I don't think I'll ever get to sleep if you sit there staring at me all night long."
The Elf blinked a few times in surprise at the offer. Finally, he got out of the chair with a strange smile and walked towards the edge of the bed.
Estel felt the bed rock slightly as the Elf lay down near the side of it. It was strangely comforting to feel his presence, even though he could not feel any heat radiating off his body.
'It's not his real body,' he reminded himself. 'Just his soul.'
Legolas began to hum softly, and Estel felt himself relax, dropping off into a deep sleep. His last conscious thought was that perhaps... he could get used to having this stranger in such close quarters...
X.x.X.x.X.x.XThe slow, even breathing informed the Elf that the Human behind him was asleep. Leaning up on an elbow, he turned and looked down on the slumbering form. He gently brushed away the dark hair that covered the peaceful face and smiled slightly.
This human was different. He felt different and made him feel different.
He got out of the bed carefully, so as not to disturb Estel, and walked around to the other side, bending down in order to look closely at him. It was very much like their first meeting, but this time, Estel did not wake up.
He ran a finger across the slightly parted lips, then hesitantly pressed a soft kiss against them and whispered, "Sleep well, Estel. Dream sweet dreams of the future."
Legolas turned and walked back to the painting, pressing his hand against the cold canvas and melting back into his prison.
'You are my only hope.'
X.x.X.x.X.x.XTBC
Author's notes:
Hee... confession. I almost forgot that I was due to post today. ((sheepish grin)) But! THEY FINALLY HAVE SLASHY INTERACTION!!! ((bounces off the ceiling))
Ok. So it wasn't explicitly slash, nor was it 2-sided. Yet. ; D but I think it was kinda cheesy though... ((scrutinises fic)) Don't really like that part of this chapter, but oh well, it'll get better. Nyuk nyuk nyuk. And... ooooh... was that a hint of Glorfindel x Erestor up there? XD
And to those who actually remembered me complaining in one of the first few chapters about having a hard time writing "real" slash, this chapter was the one I was having problems with. I mean, it's just... weird somehow. Argh... let me go bang my head on the wall. But I think this was one of the most awkward (in terms of slash) chapters. The rest went fine and are going fine.
Next chapter (my favourite actually) will be the twins getting high, and miscellaneous crap that my brain threw up at... 2 am maybe? I can't remember. But I know that most of this fic was written past midnight. Oh, and I've finally started writing this again. Tsk tsk tsk. I got inspired one boring day in school and decided to start writing in the middle of the staff room. Just hope I can finish it fast and soon, 'cos the exams are coming up in a fortnight and I'm down for script marking. Bleh. I wanna go back to studying... not teaching... even if the pay as a temporary teacher is good compared to a desk job...
Review replies time! The number of reviews I've received so far is... amazing. I still can't believe the numbers. ((stares at computer screen in shock)) Huh? What? Oh. Replies. Right. (brace thyself for utter crack and crap from the queen of sugar overdoses and hyperness, all ye normal mortals... mwahahahhahaa)
Azla: They'll be in Mirkwood chapter after the next. Which makes it in 2 chapters time. Uh, wait, let me go count again... ((sneaks off to take a peak at current chapter count)) Yup, 2 chapters time. Which would translate to about a month from now if I post every fortnight.
Sielge: Thanks! They got to meet!!! But... they didn't do anything else. Shucks. ; P I am evil. And I think I might have scarred them mentally for the rest of their happy life together. XD
Empath89: Hee hee... Thank you! Me is one happy writer on crack now. ((bounces))
RMC: Um... Correction... I'm actually setting the exam papers, not taking them. I'm pretending to be a teacher while waiting to enter university. XD This story won't have much slash in it... it'll be about the level of that ((points up at the kiss)) maybe a bit more descriptive, but they do not end up sleeping with each other. Or if they do it's not written in. XD Can't write lemons. Reading them is fine... but writing them... haven't reached that stage of warped fangirl nirvana. Oh, and welcome to the slash lover's club. ((waves banners)) It gets addictive after a while. ((wink wink))
Marbienl: Wahahaha!!! You know, your comment on wrapping the soul body in cloths to block the sun made me think of mummified Legolas. XD And I think the minute he gets out of the painting, he'd probably want to grab hold of a knife and shred the canvas. Or if he doesn't, I bet Thranduil will. Over-protective father. XD Yep, I think the arrows would feel real enough if they hit someone... but I never thought that deeply into what would happen to the wounds. ((sheepish grin)) And... ((slaps forehead)) why didn't I think of the eagles?! But then again, Estel wouldn't have as much of a chance to jump Legolas on a giant chicken, right? ((evil laughter)) Thanks for the review! Appreciate all the thinking I'm forced to do because of you... XP
Tmelange: Thank you! I'm writing/prodding myself to write as fast as possible. ((angelic grin)) ((horns and tail appear for a moment)) ((stuffs them back behind the halo and wings))
Lady Laswen: Ouch... poor brother of yours... hope his hand gets better soon. Hmm... never heard of Bagenders before... Somehow it sounds like hobbits having an orgy in Bagend. O.o ((smacks self hard)) Must. Get. The. Mind. Out. Of. The. Gutter. Gahhhhh... Oh, and I finally managed to see how the alarm clock thingy from Ikea you were talking about looks like... and... it looks like a piece of cheddar cheese. XD Talking cheddar cheese? ((raises eyebrow)) I have food on the brain.
The: Sniffle... I get sidetracked easily. But I swear that I will give Leggy and Estel all the slash they want (which I can write without blushing) in this fic before moving on to other things. ((determined look)) And ta-da! They met! And they kissed. Sort of. Bad Leggy stealing Estel's first kiss? ((waggles eyebrows)) Now to be a good author and get more slash out...
Smiley: Err.. heh heh... 'next next Tuesday' is just bad English/loose translation of another local language. That's what we say over here 'cos it's faster and less tongue-tying than 'Tuesday after next'. And methinks that this story will be pretty fluffy too, in terms of the relationship. Oh wow. For once I'm not breaking them up for the sake of canon. This is a good excuse for Leggy to jump Estel now. XD
Losing Grip: Thanks! Here's the next chapter and I'm trying my very very best to update faster! Really! ((crickets start chirping)) ((nose grows longer)) Ok. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough, but I am trying! D
Someone Stupid: Erm... Curtains???? ((confused)) Wahahhaha... eating curtains in your sleep sounds very... fun. XD Tastes of sunshine, dust, and loads of fibres. XD Fortified with vitamins and – ((plot bunnies attack rambling author)) Ahem. Yup, there's an OFC but no romance. Just... atonement. ((evil wink)) She's a push factor and disappears after 3 chapters. I can't remember off-hand. Kind of like those supporting actress roles? I scrapped the previous version of my story because she got too... err... 'pushy'. So I hope she'll be well received by my readers. ((crosses fingers)) Considering all the problems she's caused me...
Nienna Coamenel: Hee hee hee... YES!! Another person who got creeped by the creep factor!!! ((dances madly around the computer)) Ahem. I think I creeped myself out while writing that part too, cos it was written really late at night, and I was all alone downstairs... and... ((creepy music)) ARGH! I'm freaking myself out again! ((hides under covers)) Glad you like the story!
ElvenRanger13: Thank you! You've just given me an ego boost. ((big big big happy grin)) Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and there's much more coming!
The-Serious-Padfoot: ((salutes)) New chapter!! Oh wait, that wasn't as fast as possible was it? ((sheepish grin)) ah well, better late (or on time) than never? And since when did I remember so many proverbs? Anyway, enjoy the slash, next chapter will be utter crack. XD
Black Mirror: Hai hai I get the picture. Ooh... pun. Leggy is a picture too... heheheh... Here's more, cos you asked nicely. XD Kidding. I'm kinda high now so bear with my rambling...
Goldmund: Haha, no worries, Leggy's going home soon. Next chapter in fact. So he can have a tearful reunion with his daddy dear and inform him that he's going to marry a Human and won't be able to leave him any heirs. XDXD Ok. I think I'm being too evil to the Elfy... ((pats Leggy and shoves him into Estel's arms. Bed. Whatever.))
Tonianne: Thanks for the compliment and the review, here's the next chapter, enjoy! ((bounces))