Reviewer responses:
Aislynn Crowdaughter: Thanks for the review and I'm glad you think it interesting. Yes, now that you point it out, that question was out of place. After being attacked by men Legolas would have had reason not to trust them or like them. I think I was stuck in the mindset that Estel knew nothing of Legolas past with men…I wasn't think of his "very recent" past! Thanks for pointing it out. I hope you like the rest.
Sielge: Oh thank you! So glad you like it! Now you find out BOTH of the things you wished to know after reading chapter three! I hope it is as good as you hoped it would be.
Deana: Yep, both injured…now…what happens? Read on!
Kelsey Estel: Hey, mellon nin! Thanks for dropping by! Glad you like it already! And glad you found that line of Estel's so funny. I wanted that to be the reaction. He is 20, naïve, and it was a part I wanted to show. He too should grow in this story. I'm sorry about Shadows, I WILL finish it…I promise. I just need to get to my beta again. That one I can't do alone because we came this far together. And thanks for pointing out that chapter 3 wasn't showing up…I added an A/N at the top of 2 to warn people until it did.
InsanePirate624: Hello! I'm good.. Glad you like it already. I hope you found your way to chapter three and then this one…it is and has been up but didn't notice right away!
Hekate: Glad you like! Enjoy the rest…
KeshieShimmer: Nope…not gonna get that spider yet! I kinda like her!
Losing Grip: Thanks for reading, I am glad you like it. And I hope you found chapter three and this one as well!
A/N: I don't know when will be fully functioning again, but if it doesn't show you chapters; please do try a few times by putting the chapter number in the address and hitting enter a couple times. It works for me.
Estel was getting more and more dizzy and unfocused as they walked. It was mid-afternoon and they were definitely nearing the wood-Elves haven. The trees were greener and the foliage lush. The magic of the Elves had not left this part of the forest and it was brighter and more alive than the rest of Mirkwood.
Legolas, for the most part, had been silent as they drew nearer to his home. He was worried. He didn't know what he was going to say to convince his father to let Estel stay. But he knew he did not wish the man to leave.
He had noticed the wood-Elf sentries ten minutes ago, but he had not mentioned anything to Estel. No doubt, the Elves had already identified their prince and were keeping a safe distance behind him, but following nonetheless.
Legolas fully expected, however, that one; they were unaware he was injured, and two; they had sent advance notice to the palace…to Thranduil.
Sighing, he glimpsed the palace gates in the near distance and he hefted Estel a little, dragging the man back to awareness.
"Are we there yet?" Estel asked looking up, but being so dizzy he could not make out much more than a green haze.
"Aye, we are nearly to the gates and have had an Elvish envoy in the trees for a quarter hour already," Legolas answered.
Estel shuddered beside him and Legolas looked over at him. The man was scared to death. And Legolas felt guilt stream through him. Estel was afraid of Mirkwood palace and the Elves within. He was afraid of how they would receive him.
But so was Legolas.
The man had grown on him in the past 48 hours and he didn't want to destroy this budding friendship. He found the mortal intriguing and trustworthy.
I do trust him then…
"Estel, I need to tell you something before we reach the palace gates, for I do not know what will happen beyond them."
Legolas turned Estel around until they were looking at each other's faces. For a moment, Legolas saw clarity in Estel's eyes as the man struggled to remain with him.
"I do trust you, Estel. In so short a time you have undone a lifetime of misgivings I've harbored against men. I do not yet know how you managed to do it, whether it be you entirely or the likeness you have to an Elf. But I do know this, I am proud to call you my friend."
The man smiled broadly with relief. "That is good to hear, Legolas. It means a lot to me. Let us face the wrath of Mirkwood together."
Legolas steered his new friend toward the palace gates, which immediately cycled open to reveal a blonde Elf in emerald robes.
Thranduil rushed forward, but came up short when he noted the companion accompanying his son. A human.
His eyes darkened and he scowled. "Ion nin? Who is this human?" As he spoke, somewhere deep inside he knew Legolas had a good reason for this, especially since the Prince had held some of the strongest feelings against Men.
Legolas, squeezing Estel's shoulder, moved him forward. "Hir nin, this is Estel, adopted son of Lord Elrond of Rivendell. He saved my life and in bringing me home was slashed by a spider as we escaped the grasp of Unglisen."
Only now did Thranduil see the bloody mess of his son's midsection. The red stain had spread further during their walk, but Estel had been too delirious to notice or help.
Legolas was wavering, but he was firm in one thing. His resolve to remain with Estel. "He needs a healer, Ada."
Thranduil, angered at the sudden thrusting of an edan into his midst, was about to resist, but he saw the look in his son's eyes and thought better of it. And there was no arguing that the both of them needed attention.
"All right, take him with you to the healers then," Thranduil muttered, taking his son's arm.
He led the man and the Elf toward the inner sanctum of the palace, a place where no human had been in many years. They drew stares as they moved through the palace gardens toward the healing wing.
Legolas was losing strength rapidly and his steps were dragging. His struggle seemed to be the only thing to get through to the hazy mind of Estel.
"Legolas, you are weakening. You must rest. Please don't push yourself too hard, we will get there soon," Estel muttered, not realizing that they were within the palace gates while in his fevered state.
The Elf laid a hand on his arm. "All is well, Estel. We are in the palace. We are nearly to the healing chambers."
Thranduil watched as Estel's grip on Legolas' arm tightened. "We are in the palace?" he said, the fear permeating his words.
Legolas glared at his father. Thranduil was startled to see the man afraid of being in the palace. Why was he afraid? And why was Legolas so protective of him? Yes, he had saved the Elf's life, but Legolas had hated men for many long years? What was it about this man that his son found to be different?
"You have nothing to fear, Estel," Legolas murmured. He gestured toward Thranduil. "This is my father, Thranduil."
The Elvenking, put on the spot, no doubt intentionally, by his son, nodded and smiled. "Yes, I am Thranduil. You are…welcome…in these halls…Estel."
Legolas knew the words hurt for his father to say. He knew that of everyone in Mirkwood the King held the harshest feelings against the race of men. They had taken his love and nearly taken his son in the process. Legolas had not mentioned the latter part to Estel.
But the thankful expression Legolas shot the King made the words worthwhile. He was a sucker when it came to Legolas. He would do anything for his son if he could. And if it meant accepting this man into his home, he would do that. Or at least try very hard to do that.
He trusted Legolas' judgment in most things. He would not start doubting him now.
The rest of the kingdom would be another matter. They loved their prince but held no room in their hearts for men.
Legolas, upon entering the healing chambers, was immediately swarmed by bouncing Elves. They looked him over in a frenzy, not noticing the other patient in their midst.
That is, until Estel toppled over, only to be caught by Thranduil, who did so as a reflex. He balked at the thought of holding a man, but thought better of letting him go. Estel would have fallen to the ground if he had.
"A little help here," he called.
One of the healers hurried over. "Hir nin! It's an edan!"
Legolas, hearing the exclamation, shrugged away from his healers. "Ada! Is he all right!?"
Thranduil laid Estel down on a bed and shook his head. "I do not know, Legolas. I know nothing of the physical capabilities or make up of men."
The healer, getting over the initial shock of the man in their midst, immediately began to examine the man and asked Legolas what ailed him.
The Prince explained what had happened as he was forced to lay back and have his own wound attended to. The healer at his side smiled. "This was treated with athelas. Probably saved your life. I didn't know you carried them, Legolas."
The Prince looked pointedly to his father. "I do not. Estel did."
The healer looked over at the man. "He must have healing abilities akin to the Elves, from what I see here. This was well cared for, even though you two obviously got into a battle after it was dealt to you. How did you get it?"
Legolas chose not to answer that, instead looking to Estel who was waking up. The man sat bolt upright, nearly knocking his healer over.
"Easy!" the Elf called. "We're helping you, we won't hurt you."
But the man did not relax until he saw Legolas in the next bed looking over at him. Only then did Estel let himself slump down again.
Thranduil watched the exchange and frowned. Legolas seemed to be quite friendly with this man. How had that happened? Legolas had nearly died alongside his mother and yet he had befriended the very race that killed her. He did not understand.
But now was not the time to discuss this. "You will both rest here until you are released by the healers. When you are both well enough to leave, you will seek an audience with me and we will…discuss matters."
Legolas knew what those matters were and a glance to Estel told him the man had a good idea of what the King meant as well.
"Yes, Adar."
But for right now, the important thing was getting Estel and Legolas well. So Thranduil put aside his feelings toward men and let the healers do their job.
He hurried from the chambers and set about the task he wasn't looking forward to doing. Informing his council, who would want to know what was happening with the Prince, that their own heir to the throne had been rescued by a man.
And that said man would be staying with them for a time. He would have to see to it that the man was not harmed by the people. But he knew it would be difficult.