For the Love of the Golden Prince: I
Estel gasped as the Elf entered the room. His hair was deep, shining golden, caressing his back and moving like liquid as he walked. His steps were strong, sure and deliberate, long strides full of confidence. He was clad in earthy green garments that looked to be soft to touch. Estel badly wanted to touch and find out for himself. The Elf's dark leggings were tight and the young Man fancied he could see muscles beneath the hugging fabric. This Elf carried no bow or quiver and his back was straight. He turned his gaze to Estel as he crossed the floor, showing a face of fair, pearl-like smoothness and flawlessness. His eyes were deep pools of crystalline water, the sea on a summer's day, the sun causing small sparkles on its surface and deep ripples below. Estel was captivated by the eyes. He tore his own away, taking in the strangely sharp points of true Elven ears and the clear, white smile of the Elf as he viewed the Man crouched in his seat, book in hand. He inclined his head as he passed, nodding slightly to acknowledge Estel's presence. Then, as quickly as the vision came, he turned away and kept walking towards Elrond's chambers, hair shimmering with movement, long, slender arms swinging by his sides.
Estel let out the breath he had been holding as the wooden door closed behind the Elf. Then he turned and ran as fast as he could to his father's stables.
When he arrived, panting and skidding to a halt, he held up a hand in order to be seen.
"Elladan? " he called, steadying his breathing, "Elrohir?"
An Elf appeared from behind one of the stable doors. His hair was deep chestnut brown, and his eyes also. His flowing hair reached his shoulders, as did his brothers'. These eyes had a certain sparkle of a mischievous nature.
"Elladan," Estel said, recognising his brother at once, "whose horse are you tending to? Did it just arrive?"
Elladan stepped out of the stable, tugging on a rope. "This horse is as stubborn as his master," he muttered. The horse was white and tall, saddled with a brown, well-cared-for saddle. It's head was held high and it appeared altogether snooty.
"Who does he belong to?" Estel said, running his eyes over the beast. He was almost certain that it belonged to the golden Elf. They had the same sort of air about them.
"A Prince," Elladan grunted, trying to keep the horse within easy reach. The animal had other ideas.
"Who?" Estel demanded.
"Legolas. Prince of Mirkwood. Thranduil's eldest. Come back here!" The horse tugged sharply on its rope, pulling Elladan away. "Estel!" he called, "come here and help!"
But Estel had other plans. He ran as fast as he could back to his fathers' chambers and pressed his ear hard against the door.
"...father wishes a message to be brought to you, Lord Elrond."
"What is it, Legolas? You know that I am always willing to help your father if possible."
"He wishes for you to speak with the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien."
"Why?"
"Imladris and Lorien have a far stronger alliance than that of Mirkwood and the Fair Realm, my father wishes that..."
Estel stepped away from the door. He did not want to hear stories of war, alliances or messages. He simply wished to see the golden Elf. Legolas. The young man sank into a chair, casting his mind back to the Elf's spectacular entrance. Such confidence, such an air, such beauty. Estel wanted badly to meet with this Elf, converse with him, find out for himself if that hair was as silken smooth as it had looked.
Perhaps if he listened once more, he would find out the Elf's plans for staying.
"...need time to think, Legolas. My acquaintances cannot be used as you would -"
"My Lord, we understand this, we just wish for your aid in our present troubles."
"Give me time, let me think about this. If I am to do as your father asks, I shall need to formulate my questions very carefully. Surely you must know that the Lady Galadriel is not one to be trifled with."
"Thank you, Lord Elrond."
"How long are you to stay in Imladris?"
"As long as I am welcome and needed, Lord. As long as it takes for you to decide. I trust that is convenient?"
"Oh, of course, of course. I shall make a up a room for you in the -"
"Estel!"
The man jumped as two long fingers were sharply pushed underneath his ribs. He whirled round.
"What are you - Arwen?"
His sister stood, smiling down on him. "Eavesdropping were we?" she asked.
"What are you doing here?"
"I have come to visit father and my brothers. I suppose this is not a problem with you, Estel?"
The man shook his head.
"Hear anything interesting?" she nodded towards the closed door.
"Oh, not really," Estel tried his hardest to look innocent. Arwen saw straight through him.
"Tell me," she urged, "what is happening?"
"Father is just talking with someone."
"Who? We do not usually find you listening at doors when father is talking. It must be someone special."
Estel could never lie to Arwen's knowing eyes. He sighed. "An Elf," he confessed. "I believe his name is Legolas, he arrived -"
"Legolas?" Arwen said, frowning slightly. "Of Mirkwood?"
Estel nodded.
"I wonder what he is doing here?" she pondered. "Legolas has not been here for many a year...something must be wrong in the Dark Forest. Do you know how long he will be here?"
Estel shot his sister a piercing glance. "That was what I was trying to find out when you disturbed me."
"Oh," she said. "Why are you interested anyway? Travellers do not normally take your interest."
The young man looked down at the stone floor, long dark hair covering his face.
"Aaaah," Arwen said knowingly, "you've seen him, then, I take it." She kneeled down beside him and gently stroked hair away from his face. "He is not all he seems, Estel. Take care."
Then she was gone, almost floating through the room, leaving Estel crouching before the door. He frowned, trying to make sense of what she had said. Then the door opened.
"Estel!" cried Elrond, almost falling over the man as he exited his room.
Estel quickly righted himself, adjusting his clothing and pushing back his hair. "Suilaid, Ada," he said in a low voice. Then he raised his face to Legolas. "Suilaid..."
"Legolas eneth nin...Estel?" he inquired.
"Yes, Estel eneth nin. Suilaid Legolas. Welcome to Imladris."
"Hannon le."
"Estel, could you please find one of your brothers to take Legolas to his room. He will be staying with us for a while."
"Certainly Ada," Estel replied, taking one last look at the golden Elf before leaving the room.
As he walked the stone passages around the main rooms of Elrond's Imaldris, Estel's cool blue eyes searched around him for any sight of his brothers. He was without luck that day. Walking back towards the stables, he began calling the names of the twins. As he drew closer, two chestnut heads appeared over the door of a stable. One had eyes of smooth, chocolatey brown with a hint of a sparkle, those of Elladan. The other had eyes of dark brown, knowing, the eyes of an elder. This was Elrohir.
"Father wishes one of you to show our new guest to his rooms," he said to both his brothers.
Elrohir pushed open the stable door and brushed down his tunic. "I will go," he said in a deep voice.
"You are not going to leave me with this beast?" Elladan asked, gesturing into the dark stable.
"I will have to, little brother," Elrohir replied, smiling at his brother's plight. "Estel will help you, surely."
"I will not!" Estel cried. "I am coming with you."
But Elrohir had already left.
"I am not your little brother!" Elladan shouted after his sibling, who simply waved over his shoulder as he carried on walking. "Estel, if you do not come here right now, I shall feed you to this beast while you sleep. Stubborn animal!"
Estel looked into the stable. The white horse belonging to Prince Legolas was tied on a short leash to the handle of the stable door. It was tugging sharply on the rope, wrenching the door as it did so. Elladan sighed. "Exactly like its master," he spat. "Stubborn, prissy and self-conceited."
Estel stepped inside the stable and began stroking the animal's back. "Surely the Prince is not quite so unsociable?" he asked.
Elladan stepped back and watched his brother. The young man had a way with horses that he had rarely seen even in Elves. "Believe me, pen dithen, Legolas has a worse manner than this horse and all the stubborn beasts in Arda. He is truly unsociable."
"How can that be?" Estel asked, rubbing the creature's nose gently. It had not moved since the Man had begun his actions.
"I believe it comes from Thranduil. A conceited Elf is there ever was one. Very protective over his land, far too protective. To the point of paranoia. At the faintest sign of Orc or other beast he calls up his army. Any visitors are kept in his prisons for months before they are even spoken to. He is a cruel ruler, with no friends save those he has bought or bribed."
"I believe the saying says that it would take one such as that to judge the other...am I right, Elladan?"
If Estel had not already been holding his breath at Elladan's hateful words, he would have gasped now. Legolas was standing behind Elladan, speaking in a harsh voice. Estel found himself shrinking down behind the body of the horse.
"You are very much mistaken, I judge because my faults are not so prominent as those of the person I judge."
"Then you are not merely recognising your faults in another?"
"I am not. Only one Elf in this land holds as many faults as your father, Greenleaf."
The two Elves were facing each other now, slowly taking steps towards each other, fire and ice shooting from their eyes.
"Well, I believe that I at least have the courtesy not to insult my host, nor his family."
"I would never gladly become a guest to you or your father. It is not my wish to live on bread and water, I prefer a bed to a prison!"
"My father's halls are -"
At that time, Legolas' horse whinnied, piercing the mood and revealing Estel where he was crouching. Legolas turned away from the fuming Elladan and strode into the stable. He quickly calmed the animal, whispering soft Elvish phrases into its' ears. Then he turned his gaze to Estel. "It takes a boy to care for the animals. I did not know Imladris was so far behind the other realms."
"The beast is as stubborn and fussy as it's master, Estel was the only one who could calm the wretched animal." Elladan muttered, stalking away from the stable door.
Legolas ignored Elladan's comment and turned back to Estel. His eyes were welcoming, the colour of bluebells in Spring. He offered a hand to the Man. Estel took it, finally feeling the impossibly soft skin as he used the Elf's strength to right himself.
"You have much skill with horses, Estel," Legolas said, inclining his head slightly, "Celebros only responds to those who have certain qualities and I have never seen a Man handle a horse so well myself. Mae carnon. It seems that not all of Elrond's offspring are incompetent."
Estel heard Ellladan sigh and storm away. "I am not sure, Prince," Estel stuttered, "that I ... er...can agree with those remarks."
Legolas bowed his head. "I apologise. It is not right to insult one's host or his family. Especially when certain members of that family," he turned his cornflower eyes to Estel, "are so kind and gifted."
Estel basked in the smooth smile of the Elf. He shyly smiled back. "Hannon le, Prince."
Legolas shook his head, golden hair falling over his shoulders with remarkable fluidity. "There is no need to call me 'Prince', mellon nin. Legolas will be quite sufficient. Especially amongst friends, which I believe we now are." He stood up sharply. He had been stooping slightly to speak with the Man, something Estel always hated. "But now, my friend," he continued, "I wish to retire to my room. I came to see how
Celebros was being cared for and now I see that he is in very capable hands, I feel able to rest. Good day, Estel. Shall I see you at Elrond's table tonight?"
Estel nodded, still incapable of speech.
"Good." Legolas smiled again. He took Estel's hand and clasped it gently. The Man's heart fluttered. "Until then, mellon nin," the Elf said, "navaer."
"Navaer, Legolas," Estel said, nodding his head in acknowledgement. As the Prince strode away, Estel suddenly felt the urge to follow him. Then he turned away. No doubt the Elf would notice the clumsy steps of a Man. But perhaps he would come to know where Legolas was staying, they did seem to have become friends. The young man walked away from both Legolas and the stables, dreamily watching
the leaves in the trees. Greenleaf. Legolas.
Elladan frowned as his young brother walked past, seemingly floating on the words of Thranduil's son. "So the Prince has taken another prisoner," he mumbled.