Mornflower; I HAVE to tell you this!!! Right, I was reading your review and just happened to glance at the top of the page where the adverts show up, and guess what it was for? NADS NO HEAT HAIR REMOVAL... LOL!!! Right on the same page as your review!!! That just made my day!!! Thanks for reviewing!
Deana; Ah, about that... have a look at my 4th author's note paragraph!!! ;-)
Estel; Aye, I is back, innit?! LOL, soz, I had Drama today... I LOVE THAT SONG SO MUCH!!! I could watch that trailer again and again... it's so cool! sobs Why can't MY trailers be that good?! I did have a great b-day by the way, and I did get your text, but I got so many I couldn't reply to them all!!! -smirks- What can I say; I'm a popular person...
galadriel evenstar; Thanks! ;-)
Faerlain; YAY! I'm glad you thought Hal was hilarious... I love him to bits! I'm seriously mulling over doing some original writing using him as the main character... what do you think?
Mellaithwen; Ooh!!! Hope your ankle's better by now!!! Sounds painful...
Lynx Yamato; ;-) Thanks!
Stoneage Woman; I love it too!!! Lol! I don't have black hair though, mine's a nice brown colour... very shiny... I don't necessarily think of myself as pretty; I leave that up to whoever's looking, lol! I'm happy with myself though... I'm sure you're VERY pretty! ;-)
leggylover03; LOL! You're really desperate for that Estel pain, aren't you?! D Well, don't worry... its coming soon... :-)
Terreis; Yup, poor Ro! Another 6 words no-one in Imladris wants to hear... "Ada, eh, someone's slightly hurt... -walks in with someone pouring blood- Yeah..." LOL! ;-)
Shadowfaxgal; Thanks! Ooh, sounds sore! Poor you! ;-)
Dha-Gal; -narrows eyes- You're never going to let me live that down, eh? Lol! IT WAS A GODDAM TYPO!!! -breaks down-
ELROHIR: Jeez... someone's stressed...
A title for you? I don't really know... any ideas?
shadowfox8; Lol!!! Thanks! ;-) Happy belated b-day! Ok, thanks; I'll remember that...
Astievia; That's the same with me; I need something to listen to while drawing, even if it's just the telly on in the background to make some noise... it's weird! Thanks for the compliments!
Lexial147; Thank you! -blushes- Ok, I'll check it out... ;-)
AND FOR ALL OF YOU LUVERLY REVIEWERS... AN OFFICIAL A/N!
Yes, I'm back again... I must say; if you sent me a review last chapter and there's no reply to it here, I'm VERY sorry; ff.n seemed to have screwed something up and there were some reviews not being sent to me and some sent but eaten on the site... I've tried to get everyone... -sigh- Bloody website...
ALSO I APOLOGISE FOR THE LATENESS OF THIS CHAPTER!!! My computer had troubles... aka. refusing to connect. No emails, no Internet, no nothing... :-' Bloody thing...
In case you haven't noticed, I'm in love with the word 'bloody' at the mo...
Oh! hits forehead I forgot!!! Most of you readers are American, aren't you?! Sorry about the temperature mix up in the last chapter! . YES; I meant 36C! I don't know Fahrenheit you see... sorry about that! You see, I checked on the Net and it said the normal human body temperature was 35C. I decided to make it one more in Elves because... well, they're not humans, are they? Exactly... ;-)
Enjoy... I got a little carried away length-wise with this one... :-'
.: Chapter Two :.
Later that evening when the three Elves and Estel returned from swimming, they immediately went to visit Elrohir. The younger twin was bursting with eagerness to tell them of the good news.
"...And he said 'yes'!" he finished, grinning brightly. The others were equally as pleased, and they were just discussing their plans when the door to Elrohir's room suddenly burst open with a bang.
Tebridë strode into the room with all the anger an Elven maiden could muster (which was actually quite a lot) and scowled at Hallataulë and Estel, who were still dripping water.
"Look at that floor!!!" she hissed, pointing at the puddles they were standing in. "I just cleaned that floor!"
"And it was shiny enough to eat off of Tebridë," said Hallataulë, a cheeky glint in his eye. He instantly regretted it as her eyes narrowed and she approached him steadily. Elladan and Elrohir exchanged glances; they knew what this meant. After all, Tebridë had helped raise them as Elflings... they knew this scenario very well...
"Three people have slid on the little water trails you've helped to leave Prince," she spat. "Myself being one of those three people." She paused, deliberately letting the tension rise. She took some pleasure in seeing Hallataulë shrink back a little. Now, as her face gradually turned a shade of purple, even he knew this wasn't going to be pretty...
"NOW GO AND GET IT CLEANED UP BEFORE ANYONE ELSE DOES!!!" she screamed suddenly. The twins and Legolas had to hold back their laughter as Hallataulë blanched before running to fetch the mop. Then the furious She-Elf rounded on Estel.
"YOU TOO!" she bellowed. Estel quickly followed Hallataul's trail.
A snicker from Elrohir brought Tebrid's attention to those left in the room. She glared at them, putting a stop to their laughter like water quenched a fire.
"You three are lucky you are injured or you'd be scarpering just like them..." she warned darkly. Then, with a quick turn on her heel, she stalked out of the room, barking orders to Estel and Hallataulë who were now slaving over the floor, cleaning their mess.
Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas just about managed to hold their composure to allow the door to click shut before bursting out laughing.
"Ow!" groaned Legolas, though still half-laughing. He rested his hand across his stitches. "Being here has to be a hazard to my health..."
Elladan wiped tears from his eyes. "Why is it that Hal is always guaranteed to get on Tebrid's bad side whenever he's here?!"
"Maybe she likes him?" suggested Elrohir jokingly. The other two Elves suddenly stopped laughing, looking at him with a mix of horror and disbelief. "What? It was a joke!!!"
Elladan wrinkled his nose. "Can you imagine Tebridë and Hal together?!"
There was complete silence for a moment. Well, almost; apart from Tebrid's voice still echoing down the passages noisily.
It was probably the audible whisper from Hallataulë that they heard which caused them all to shake their heads and chorus the same word. "No!"
The evening was warm as the sun set over Imladris. Little did anyone know that trouble was just around the corner...
----
Estel groaned as he woke up for the third time that night. Even with his shirt off, the heat was practically unbearable, and the sheets of his bed which he now lay on top of instead of under were sticking uncomfortably to his back.
His dry throat tickled mercilessly. There was just one small problem though. If he went down to the kitchens, and was caught, he'd probably receive a tongue lashing akin to the one he'd received earlier. Tebridë could be terrifying when she wanted to be...
He could be quiet though, stay in the shadows. Finally unable to ignore his thirst any longer, Estel forced himself up and staggered over to the door of his bedroom. He couldn't be bothered to put his shirt on again; it was far too hot for that.
Opening the door quietly, he looked both ways down the corridor, keeping a sharp eye out for any flickering candlelight, before venturing out.
His bare feet pattered against the marble floor, its coldness soothing him, feeling pleasing against the hot and stuffy night air. He was so hell-bent on getting that drink which he so desperately needed he did not notice the figure in the shadows, watching him.
He opened the door to the kitchens and peered around the corner, ensuring that Tebridë wasn't stalking the room before walking in. The room was empty, filled with a silence that was strangely homely and, dare-say, cosy. A beam of moonlight shone in through the window, lighting his intended path. He immediately made his way over to the water tap.
Grabbing a cup from the side, he licked his lips. He pumped the tap quickly and the clear water splashed as it filled the cup. Estel drank it greedily, draining the cup before beginning to pour out some more.
"Thirsty are you?" said a voice behind him.
Estel choked on the water in his surprise and began coughing. Elrond quickly walked over and rubbed his adoptive son's back.
As he did so, the Elven Lord noticed with some despondency the scars that decorated Estel's back. They were but a month old. Elrond knew not of the full horror that his sons and their friend had seen under the Orc Captain Garvorg's brutal hand, but he knew it had been terrible.
Estel's coughs subsided and he regained his breath.
"Are you alright Estel?" asked Elrond. Estel nodded.
"That's what I hate about Elves," he commented sarcastically. "They have an annoying habit of sneaking up on people..."
Elrond laughed. "Well, people aren't usually wandering the corridors this early in the morning!"
"Is it my fault I can't sleep?" asked Estel innocently.
"Well, we'll see about that," replied Elrond. He chuckled as Estel yawned loudly. "I think someone ought to be getting to bed..."
Estel scowled. "Ada. I'm sixteen years old..."
"And to me, you are still a child," said Elrond quickly. He began to gently usher Estel, who was yawning again, out of the kitchen, a fatherly arm around his shoulder. "Come along now."
Estel couldn't help but agree though; he was still very tired, even if the heat was unbearable. He rubbed his weary stinging eyes and began to ascend the stairs when he noticed that Elrond looked at him with a troubled expression on his face.
"Something wrong Ada?" he asked. Elrond seemed to shake himself of whatever was distracting him
"Estel... make sure that when you all go... make sure you all stay safe, alright?"
Estel nodded. "Don't worry Ada. We'll be fine."
With that, he turned back and headed up the rest of the stairs back to his bedroom. Elrond watched him, hoping his son was right...
----
Time seemed to pass dreadfully slowly for the five. Each day seemed to be hotter than the last, and they found themselves visiting the water hole more frequently than normal. The best event of those plodding days was that Elrohir was now allowed to join them in their activities (although he was banned from leaping like a lunatic off of the great rock for a few more weeks), though that did nothing to hasten the hours.
And then, far too sudden for Lord Elrond and the other healer's liking, the dreaded, or for some wonderful, day arrived. The twins had managed to wake the entire household hollering for their friends, and Legolas and Hallataulë had caused equally as much trouble doing a final check on their supplies. How it was possible to be as bright as they all were at five in the morning was beyond most of Rivendell's inhabitants' level of comprehension.
As Estel packed the food bags, a task he actually greatly enjoyed due to the fact that he was able to steal a few treats for himself, the two Mirkwood Elves were busy executing yet another 'final' check on the supplies... for the third time that morning.
Elladan plonked another pack by them. "I think we have everything; we did the last three times you checked..."
"No harm in being cautious!" replied Legolas, looking down his nose at the older Elf. Hallataulë bit the inside of his lip to suppress a laugh; Elladan was much taller than Legolas, creating a comical scene.
Elrond watched all of the exchange, rolling his eyes. 'I'd better double check those medical supplies...' he thought ruefully. If this was how the entire trip was to go then he would seriously consider an extremely long break to Lothlorien...
"Well Ada," said Elrohir, looking about himself. "I think that's us!"
Estel came bounding down the steps holding the food bag, stuffed to the seams. "I agree! Come on, let's go, quick!"
Legolas laughed. "I know you're desperate to go Estel, but we don't have to rush off!" Estel grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
"No; we do!"
Legolas looked at him, bemused. "Why?"
Estel looked back towards the kitchens nervously. "I think Tebridë is getting suspicious of me."
Legolas sniggered. "Ooh, someone is in trouble!" Estel's nervous look seemed to grow worse.
Elrond approached the party, sighing. "Well now... what did we agree?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No Orcs..." said Legolas, remembering his part on the list.
"No Wargs..." replied Elladan.
"No going beyond Border Patrol..." continued Estel.
"No moronic actions... that means you Hal!" laughed Elrohir.
"And no getting into trouble!" finished Hallataulë, before adding, "And Ro – you might be my best friend but I don't have to forgive you for that... I... Am not... Moronic..."
Elrond finally gave in completely. 'Well, I suppose they're as ready as they'll ever be...' He simply raised a hand towards the gate, pointing. Sly grins crept over the faces of each, and they quickly headed off, led suspiciously hastily by Estel, into the forest.
Elrond didn't notice Tebridë until she coughed accusingly behind him. He turned to find her glowering, tapping an impatient foot against the stone.
"Lord Elrond," she said, sounding utterly at the end of her tether. "I believe someone has been poking their fingers into my sugar..."
----
Later, when they had been wandering for hours, Estel posed a question.
"What exactly is the purpose of this trip?"
Elrohir shrugged. "To catch some game I guess. That's what most hunting trips are for Estel..."
The other Elves snickered softly.
Estel suddenly looked at his brother with an air of superiority. "Well, I haven't seen any game yet, Ro..."
Elrohir was instantly quieted. "Oh..."
Elladan looked up at the sky. The sun was setting in the sky, casting the shadows of the trees far across the litter of leaves on the floor, blending the colours of the sky together like an artists brush stroke.
"I think we'd better stop for the evening. We can look a bit more tomorrow, agree?"
"Alright then," said Hallataulë, pulling his pack off of his shoulders. Legolas followed suit as did Elrohir and Estel. They would get some rest (their early morning had tired them out more than they cared to admit) and carry on the next day...
----
He was in a peaceful sleep when suddenly something wet and cold hit his face softly. Elrohir blinked himself awake.
The first sight to greet him that morning was a dreary grey sky from which fat raindrops were gradually beginning to fall. The Elf groaned. It looked like the heat had finally cumulated in what looked like was going to be a very heavy storm.
Rolling over to see if the others were awake, he was somewhat surprised to see that everyone was still asleep. He'd already known that Estel was still sleeping of course; the human denied that he snored but the whole of Rivendell could account for it. Elladan, Hallataulë and Legolas were still contentedly dozing though.
Legolas seemed to have entangled himself in his blankets; one arm was draped lazily over his head, thin hand covering his face whilst the rest of his head was hidden under the woollen covers. One foot, still in his boot, stuck out at a strange angle at the foot of the bedroll. In contrast, Hallataulë was lying perfectly still on his back, covers neatly draped over him.
The rain began to fall harder now, and Elladan was woken by it also. This gave Elrohir the chance to ask who had been on watch. Elladan thought for a moment, trying to remember what they'd decided last night.
"I don't actually think we set a watch..." he replied finally. "I'm pretty sure we agreed to all get some rest seeing as we're inside the area of the border patrol."
A yawn suddenly attracted their attention.
"Mind keeping it down a bit?" groaned Hallataulë, rubbing his eyes. "Some people are still trying to sleep..."
"I seriously doubt that," said Elrohir, crawling out of his bedroll. "Haven't you noticed the rain, or does it simply deflect off of you wonderfully special Mirkwood royals?"
Hallataulë shrugged his shoulders. "Now Elrohir; the green of jealousy doesn't suit you..." Pulling the covers off of himself and grabbing the pack which lay by his bedroll, the blonde Elf quickly pulled a cloak out of it. "Typical you Ro; choosing a day when it's tipping down..."
Elladan simply looked at his younger brother and his friend. "I'm surprised that Legolas and Estel are still sleeping..."
Hallataulë smirked. "Dan; Legolas is a lazy sluggard, surely you've worked that out by now?" Fixing the brooch of his cloak comfortably, he strode over confidently to his younger brother. He shook his head as he took in the strange position the Elf had ended up in whilst sleeping. "How on Arda does he do that?" Shaking the thought from his head, he leant over quietly tapped Legolas lightly on the cheek.
"Come on Thent, up you get..." he whispered. Shorty
Legolas blinked blearily and groaned. "You're enjo-" He paused to yawn. "...enjoying this, aren't you?"
Hallataulë grinned, a darkly amused expression on his face. "Of course I do; I'm your brother..."
A loud groan from Estel's bed let the Elves know he was awake.
"Peace and quiet is an unknown quality to you blasted immortals, isn't it?" he grumbled. Then he grumbled about the rain... before he returned to grumbling about Elves. By the end of it all, Hallataulë was on the verge of stuffing one of the human's holey socks into his big mouth...
They each packed away their things, grabbing a quick bite to eat from the food pack, though Hallataulë could be sure that Estel seemed to have more than they did ('Oh well... perhaps it's a human thing?'), and generally chatting amongst themselves. As Estel finally shoved his bedroll, which had insisted on rebelling and springing open continuously, into his bag, Elladan piped up.
"I think we'd better find somewhere to get out of this rain," he said pulling his cloak further around him. It was plain to see everyone agreed.
Estel shivered and pulled up his hood. "I'll have a look a little way on; stay here and I'll come back and tell you if I find anything." He immediately strolled off through the trees.
Elrohir rolled his eyes. "Never mind telling us where you're going..." he sighed. He was gradually beginning to regret this idea...
----
Estel was pretty sure this area of Imladris was familiar. If he was right then it should still be here...
Years ago, before he'd met Legolas or Hallataulë, when he was young and imaginative, he'd found somewhere he'd called his 'secret place'.
Clambering up a hill, he suddenly slipped. Estel ignored the mud now covering his hands and knees and continued to climb. This had to be the right place...
He could remember chalking little drawings on the walls in his boredom, sometimes even drawing children his own age; people he could talk to, confide in, tell his secrets. These friends would never turn away or be to busy to listen. They were always there.
A shadowy corner at the top of the hill was covered in vines. Estel's brow furrowed, remembering. Approaching the twisted plants slowly, he raised his hand and pulled them away. The sight that greeted him made him smile with fond memories.
His secret place...
----
"Shouldn't we follow him?" asked Hallataulë, concerned that the twins were quite content to let Estel wander off.
Elladan, sitting casually on a tree stump, shook his head. "Don't worry Hal; we're still miles within border patrol. Estel knows his way around, he'll be fine."
Elrohir, comfortably positioned on a convenient fallen log, smirked. "Yes Hal – you're not in Mirkwood at the moment..."
A superbly aimed lump of mud hit the younger twin on the head. Elrohir scowled at a now far more cheerful Hallataulë...
Hearing a muffled noise, the Elves turned to find the human returning. They all rose from their seats and walked towards him, noticing Estel look mighty pleased with himself. "There's a cave up ahead. We could stay in there until the rain eases off."
Elladan and Elrohir nodded in agreement, and Legolas saw no problem with the plan. Hallataulë however stopped dead in his tracks.
"A c-cave?" he sputtered suddenly, his eyes wide.
The party turned to him, confused. Legolas touched his older brother's arm gently.
"Are you alright Hal?" he asked. Hallataulë looked at him, and for a brief moment, Legolas saw a flash of a cold fear in his eyes; a distant memory that had sealed its place in time and in his memory, inerasable, using it's stinging, icy grip to cool a once fiery, passionate soul for eternity.
And then it was gone.
There was complete silence within the group. Too late did the twins realise they had touched on a tender subject. Hallataulë swallowed thickly, eyes now lowered to the floor. His hair covered his face, hiding it, the rain soaking the long blonde tresses, dragging them down, rendering his expression unreadable.
Hoisting his pack onto his shoulder, Hallataulë cleared his throat and began to walk. He didn't look at anyone; not the twins, not Estel... not even Legolas. His voice, when he did finally speak, sounded strangely cracked and forced.
"Let's go..."
Please R&R! And you'll find out what's up with poor Hal later on... I hope you liked Estel's 'secret place'; it's going to be quite important later on in the series...
Jeez, that was a damned long chapter... you'd BETTER have enjoyed it!!! Lol! ;-)