Part 2

"Estel is such a lively little boy. Always so full of energy and enthusiasm. He's hardly ever indoors. Likes to spend most of his day out in the fresh air. He's learning to ride you see. Spends hours in the paddocks. And I do believe the twins will be teaching him how to fight with a short sword soon. I understand that he's really looking forward to it…"

Legolas nodded politely in agreement as the Elf rambled on. He was interested to hear about Estel, but this Elf could talk non-stop if he was allowed. He hadn't even told the Prince his own name!

He sipped from his wine goblet. It was dark in colour, though not as strong as the Mirkwood beverage he was used to. He felt he would need a good few more glasses before he could drown out the strange Elf's rather monotonous voice.

"Legolas! We've been looking all over the place for you."

He grinned at the twin's interruption. These two had the most uncanny timing. At times like these, it could come in handy.

"I've been here all along," he told them. "You wished to speak with me?"

"Yes," Elladan replied, glancing at Legolas' companion. "Sorry we have to steal him, but…"

"That's fine. The Prince and I have had the most wonderful conversation. Maybe we can finish it another time my Lord?"

"Yes, maybe we can." He rose and quickly followed the other two out onto a balcony.

"Emphasis on the 'maybe'," Elrohir muttered as they left.

The three of them laughed. "So, why were you looking for me?" Legolas asked.

"We were lonely," Elladan replied.

Legolas smiled. "Thanks."

"Well we got you out of there didn't we?"

"Very true. That's what I meant by thanks."

"Sure you did," Elrohir said with a grin. "Anyway, we were wondering if you had seen Estel anywhere around."

"No. Why, what's wrong?"

"He's not here," Elladan told him. "And he's supposed to be. Adar isn't angry, but worried. He isn't in his room or any of his other little hiding places. The ones that we know of that is."

"Do you want me to have a look round?"

"Could you? It would be a great help. And we are gettingrather worried now."

Legolas placed his goblet in Elladan's hand. "My little sister was always running off when she was younger," he told them. "I know all the possible hiding places ever thought up by a child."

The twins light laughter followed him as he left the hall and made his way down the corridor. He kept his eyes and ears sharp, taking his time so as to make sure he didn't walk straight past a possible hiding place.

He came to Estel's room, and after knocking went in. Sure enough, it was empty. No candles were lit, and it was cold, the wind blowing in through the open balcony doors. He went and pulled them shut, drew the curtains, and after a quick search round left again. Estel was definitely not in there.

So where was he? Either of the twin's rooms? He went further down and entered Elladan's first. The candles in here were lit, but there was no one in the room itself. Then he tried Elrohir's. It too, was empty.

Now he was starting to worry. This was not like Estel. He had known the boy only a couple of weeks, but knew him to always be obedient, and he would never miss the dinner and dance purposefully. Something was keeping him from going, something he couldn't get away from. And after his assumptions from the first time he had met him, Legolas didn't like to think what that something could be.

He came to his room then, and only glanced at it as he walked past. Estel wouldn't be in there…

But the door was slightly ajar. And Legolas knew he had shut it and heard the lock click into place. He pushed it open, peering round as it swung silently on its hinges.

His room was in darkness, just as he had left it. He grabbed a torch from in the hallway and lit the nearest candle, plus a few more around the room. Then he looked to see any differences.

A vase had been knocked over on a table. He up-righted it carefully, and then looked down at his feet. The floor was darker. Maybe it was just shadows, but he had to make sure. He crouched down, placing the flame as near to the rug as he dared.

Blood. There was blood on his bedroom floor. Feeling it, he found it to be still warm and wet. There had been a fight of some sorts in here, and blood had been spilt.

"Estel," he whispered to himself. He got quickly to his feet and left, slamming the door behind him.

Running down the hallway, he glanced into every room, just to make sure. Every now and then, his keen eyes spotted a small droplet of blood on the floor. He picked up his pace. Where was Estel? Was he ok?

He came to the steps then and ran down them into the darkened gardens. Where now? He looked desperately around, listening for any sounds that might lead him to the young boy. Estel was in danger, Legolas could feel it. He had to get to him as quickly as possible. He chose a path and ran down it. He would know soon enough if it was the right or wrong one.

It was the wrong one. He stopped for a moment, the only sounds being his own harsh breathing and the wind rustling the leaves of the undergrowth around him. Shutting his eyes, he let himself calm down and tried to feel the boy's presence. There were a few Elves walking about, and he could sense them easily. But he searched harder, straining himself to find a human.

There! Back behind him and slightly to his right. Heading even further away from the House. As he turned to head that way, he stopped, feeling another presence at the edge of his vision. Two humans?

He ran, darting apologetically around anyone he met. He kept listening, kept his eyes wide open. Estel was around here somewhere. And he was in trouble, Legolas could feel it.

Suddenly he stopped dead. Was that crying he could hear? Yes, it was. More of a whimpering actually. And a harsher voice, growling at someone to shut up and lay still. Legolas felt the anger rise up inside him. Someone was mistreating Estel, and no one elseknew about it. He had a knife sheathed at his waist, for ceremonial reasons. He now took it out and held it in front of him. He was quite willing to spill more blood to make up for that that Estel had lost.

He walked on, not making a sound as he drew nearer. The cries were nearer, but growing weaker, as though Estel was giving up. He peered through a gap in the bushes, and his stomach flipped.

Estel was curled in a ball on the ground, and a huge man was standing over him. He was kicking the boy over and over again in the small of his back. Estel was silent now, and Legolas could see more blood around his frail body. He lifted the knife, and threw it.

It landed directly in the man's left shoulder, and he bellowed, grabbing hold of the handle. Legolas leapt in and wrestled him to the ground; punching his face and ripping his knife back out.

But whoever this man was he was strong, and soon Legolas had a bloody lip. He leapt back onto his feet and stood protectively over Estel. The man glared at him, and Legolas glared right back. He wiped his lip on his sleeve before saying, "You bastard."

"Shut it Princeling," was the reply. "You don't know nothing."

"I know enough. And I've certainly seen enough. It wasn't a good idea really, fighting him in my room. There's blood all over my floor. You think I wouldn't have been the tiniest bit suspicious?"

The man grunted. "He deserves it. Little whelp is a thick as two short planks, and so was his father…"

Legolas grabbed him in a headlock then. "You take that back!" he hissed. His knife was hovering dangerously close to the man's vulnerable throat. "Don't ever insult Estel's father!"

"Like you even know who I'm talking about!"

Legolas lowered his face, whispering right against his ear. "Of course I know who you're talking about," he told him. "I know more than you think. His father was an honourable man, and anyone who insults his name will end up with my knife in more places than just his shoulder."

The man was silent now, though struggling to breathe. Legolas gave him one last kick in the groin for good measure, and then let him slump to the ground. Sheathing his knife, he went over to Estel, crouching down beside him. "Estel?"

The boy looked up at him between his fingers. Legolas brushed a stray hair out of his face. "Its ok, you're safe now," he assured him. "I'm going to take you back to the Houser, and we'll get you patched up nicely."

"I'm…I'm sorry," Estel whispered.

"Shh," Legolas told him, stroking the blood stained face. "You have nothing to apologise for Estel. It's not your fault."

"Legolas look out!"

If Legolas had been human, he would never have turned in time. Reaction times of Elves however, are much greater than that of a human, and so as he whipped round and saw the broad blade slicing down to meet him, he took his knife and parried the blow. The rebound jarred his arm and he bit his lip, drawing more blood in the process, to stop himself from crying out.

"Estel, run!" he told the boy. "Get your brothers, now!"

He didn't see if Estel went or not. He just focused on not getting his head cut off. The man was still very strong, and Legolas' arm throbbed from the blow against his blade.

"Give it up Elf! The boy is mine and I shall treat him as I wish."

"He is not yours; you are not his father!" Legolas spat straight back. They were pressed up together, their blades sliding along each other. The glares between them were electric, full of hostility.

Legolas summoned every ounce of strength remaining and shoved the man back as hard as he could. He stumbled, and the Prince took his chance. He brought his knife down, sweeping it cleanly through the man's left arm, weakening that side even more. A string of curses were flung his way but he ignored them, instead using the opportunity to get some feeling back into his numbed arm. He walked backwards as the man staggered to his feet.

"Just because you're a Royal Elf, doesn't mean you can beat me in a fight," he growled.

"I never said it did," Legolas reminded him. "I am fighting for Estel, seeing as he is too young to fight back for himself against someone like you."

"He deserves what he gets. He should have had it all years ago."

"Who are you anyway? To treat him that way? What do you know about him that makes you think he needs to be beaten time and time again? I certainly can't find a reason. Estel is awonderful little boy who deserves love, not hate."

The man scoffed. "His father was a rude and cheating man…"

"That is not true," Legolas interrupted. "I knew Arathorn in his younger days, and he was one of the most decent humans I have ever met. You cannot say that about him."

"Well he was, and you're just going to have to accept it. He cheated and gambled his way through life, taking but never giving. He was a Ranger, and they're all shady folk."

"So you are not a Ranger?"

"No."

"How did you get into Rivendell then?"

Legolas could have sworn the man grinned. "There are such things as disguises Princeling. Let's just say I'm good at what I do."

"Arathorn is dead. And you cannot take revenge for whatever he supposedly did to you out on his only child. I doubt Estel was even born."

"It's in his blood. He needs to learn before he cheats other men."

Suddenly, Legolas found himself shoved up against a tree, the man'sblade drawing a thin line across his throat. He raised his knee and thrust it forward into the man's stomach. His grip weakened slightly, but not enough for Legolas to wriggle free. He tried to bring his hand with his knife up, but it was pinned down against the trunk.

So he head-butted him. The human staggered backwards, and Legolas stepped away. He saw a few stars, but got his balance back first. He pounced on him, and held him down with his legs, his knife hovering at the back of his neck.

"Give it up human," he hissed. "You're at a major disadvantage now. On your front, your weapon several feet away." He looked over to where the sword had been carelessly dropped. "And I have people coming to help me at any minute."

"You're the bastard around here, letting that kid grow up with this life. He deserves to know what his father was like, what a swindling, false rat he really was…"

"Legolas!"

The Elf looked up. Estel was stood a few feet away, the twins flanking him. They came to take the man, and Legolas got to his feet. Next thing he knew, Estel was in his arms, clinging to him tightly. Dropping his knife, he went down onto his knees and held him back, fingering the messy dark hair.

"Its ok Estel," he soothed. "It's over now."

"Hannon lle," the boy whispered.

"Let's go and get you cleaned up." Legolas sheathed his knife, and picked Estel up, balancing him on his hip. He looked over at the twins, grinning as he saw the man dangled loosely between them.

"We knocked him out," Elladan informed him. "Though you already did quite a good job yourself."

"I have a strong head," Legolas shrugged.

----

Legolas made his way back inside, cradling Estel against him protectively. The boy's head lolled on his shoulder, his fingers loosely gripping Legolas' shoulders. Not a word was spoken between them, and the Elf Prince could feel Estel's exhaustion and the traces of fear that remained after the attack.

He entered a guest room and placed him down on the bed. "I'll make up a bath for you," he told him. "Get undressed, and I'll make sure the water's nice and hot."

He gave Estel a bath gown, and then went through to the bathroom, giving the boy some privacy. The baths in Rivendell were varied, and in this room it was built into the floor, like a miniature swimming pool. Using the pumps, he filled it almost to the top and added some lavender oil. There were numerous fluffy towels around, and he laid a few out.

As he turned round, he saw Estel standing in the doorway; the bathrobe hanging off him as it was far too big. Legolas couldn't suppress his smile. "I think that might be a bit too big for you Estel," he told him dryly.

He got a small smile in return. He padded forward and looked down into the bath. "I like lavender."

"I think everyone more or less does. I'll leave you to get washed, and fetch you some clean clothes."

But Estel shook his head. "Stay," he pleaded. "I don't want to be on my own."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. And you need to wash your neck. It's still bleeding a little."

Legolas looked in the mirror behind him. "Can't say I really felt it till you mentioned it. Does sting a little." He faced Estel again. "But you need clean clothes, and your room is just a few doors down…"

"Be quick then. I hate being alone."

"All right, I promise I'll be back in a minute."

Once in Estel's room, he grabbed a long loose shirt, a pair of dark leggings, and a band to tie the long hair back. When he got back to the bathroom, Estel was in the water, floating lazily on his back. There were plenty of bubbles to make sure he kept his decency in front of the Mirkwood Prince.

"Thanks Legolas. Now sort that cut out."

"Estel, it's tiny. It's not as if I've lost a lot of blood."

Estel floated over to the side and looked up at him. Legolas knelt so he could talk properly. "But it might get dirty."

Legolas chuckled. "You never give up do you?"

Estel shook his head, smiling a little as he did so. "The waters lovely, why don't you come in? You look like you've been rolling around in the dirt."

"You could say that," Legolas mumbled. He smiled warmly at the boy. "I'll have a bath later. For now, you're the most important thing around here, and I intend to make sure that you get seen to properly."

He kicked off his boots, and rolling up his leggings, dangled his feet in the water. "Come here, and I'll do your hair."

Estel laughed as the Prince washed his scruffy locks. "Something tells me you've done this before."

"I have three brothers and a sister, all younger than me. I have looked after them for years and years, and so know how to do such things. Plus, I think my sister washes her hair more or less every day, and she is always giving people tips." Estel giggled.

He loved hearing the young boy laugh. It was sweet music compared to the screams and crying he had heard earlier that evening. It made him smile, and he did so openly.

After he had finished, he sat on the edge and watched as Estel paddled round for a bit. "My brothers have been teaching me how to swim," he explained. "But I'm still not very good."

"You're doing just fine," Legolas assured him. "And learning to swim can be difficult for a lot of people. You'll get it in time, I promise you."

"But I don't like not being able to put my feet on the floor."

Legolas frowned a little. "But surely that is the case in here. That pool is rather deep you know."

"Yes, but I know the floor is there. This doesn't make much sense I know, but…in outside pools and the river, the floor is uneven, and seems to disappear completely in places. That frightens me."

Legolas smiled affectionately. "Well then why don't you learn to swim in here? It would make more sense surely?"

Estel shrugged as he came back to the side. "Can you swim?"

"Yes."

"Can you show me?"

"Estel, this is meant to be a bath…"

"It can become a swimming lesson too." He held out his hands to the Prince. "Please?"

Legolas sighed. "Very well." He removed his tunic and undershirt. Sliding into the water, he went and sat on the bottom, opening his eyes to look up at Estel. He waved, and saw the boy laugh.

As he resurfaced, Estel was laughing harder than he thought. "I want to do that!"

"It's not impossible. It's quite easy to sit on the floor. Come down with me."

He faltered. "I don't know Legolas…I don't really like going underwater…"

"You don't have to open your eyes. Just hold your breath, and I'll take you down. Hold onto me, there's no need to be afraid. Its only water."

Estel nodded. "I trust you Legolas." He slipped into the Elf's gentle embrace, and they spent a few moments just holding each other. "Can you be another brother to me?" he asked in a whisper.

Legolas smiled, feeling tears prick behind his blue eyes at the innocence of the child he held in his arms. "Of course I can," he promised. "I'm an expert I suppose." He looked down at him. "Ready?"

Estel nodded and breathed in deeply. As he shut his eyes, he felt Legolas pull him down, and then the water swallowed them completely. He gripped onto Legolas' arms for dear life, feeling safe with the strong arms encircling him. Then they had reached the very bottom and Legolas pulled him into his lap. He dared open his eyes, and grinned at the Elf, who already had his open. Legolas gave him the thumbs up, and then they returned to the surface.

"That was fun!" he exclaimed, grinning widely at Legolas. "Can we do it again?"

Legolas laughed. "I thought you hated going underwater?"

"I feel safe with you."

Those few words sent tremors throughout Legolas' body. He felt a great wave of love and protection crash over him for this boy, so young and so innocent. To think he had been abused and maltreated made him angry, but he hid his emotions well. Having four siblings around him all the time had helped him do that.

"I'm glad you do," he replied, stroking the wet face. "Why don't we do a bit of swimming now though? Show me what you can do on the surface of the water, and we'll go back down later."

Estel nodded, and set off through the water. Legolas swam slowly along beside him, guiding him if he needed help. He then showed Estel how quickly he could go from one end of the pool to the other, and the scowl on the boy's face just made him laugh again. They had races, all of which ended up in fits of giggles after splashing fights to beat each other.

Once Estel's fingers started wrinkling up, Legolas made him get out. "And the water is starting to get cold," Estel told him.

Legolas got out first and held out a large towel. Estel wrapped himself up in it, and Legolas rubbed him down, laughing as the dark locks got in Estel's eyes. "This hair is so unruly! It needs sorting out."

Estel grinned. "My mother says I have my father's hair."

Legolas was silent for a moment. "Indeed?"

Estel nodded. "I'm not stupid Legolas; I know Lord Elrond isn't my true father. I don't who my real father is, but Lord Elrond has always been there for me, he has brought me up along with my mother, and the twins have been my brothers, so…I call them so."

Legolas stopped his drying for a minute. "Always remember than Lord Elrond and his family love you very much," he told him. "They love you as a son and brother."

"Did my father love me Legolas?"

"Of course he did." He brushed back another stray hair. "He loved you very much."

"Did you know him?"

Legolas sighed. "We shouldn't talk about such things now Estel. You are too young."

"Did you know him Legolas? Just tell me that much."

"A long time ago, yes, I did know him."

"And?"

"And you remind me of him so much, it is like looking at a reflection of him, only younger." He smiled. "Now, let's get you into these clean clothes. You're clean and smell nice now so get dressed, and I'll see if the cooks can rustle up some food for you."

"And a hot drink?"

"Of course, a hot drink as well." He grinned. "I won't be long."

"Will you tell me stories of Mirkwood?"

"If you wish. Get dressed, and don't take too long. I don't want you catching a cold." He pulled on his shirt, and walked on down to the kitchens.

----

Aragorn was silent. Legolas looked at him sideways. They were both sat cross-legged on the ground, away from the campfire and other members of the Fellowship. The man had his chin balanced on his clasped hand, his elbows resting upon his knees, and he was staring out towards the horizon.

"Aragorn?"

He did not look at the Elf. "I was beaten?"

"Yes. But it did not last long. The man was sent away into the wilderness, and nothing was ever heard of him again."

"And you looked after me?"

"Yes," he repeated.

Aragorn gave a small smile, and turned his head to the Prince. "Hannon lle," he whispered.

Legolas reached forward and cupped his chin. "Aragorn, I love you," he replied in a hushed voice. "As a brother, as a son, as a best friend… you mean the world to me. I would never, ever let you get hurt like that ever again. I was justthankful thatI was there when I was."

"And so am I," Aragorn replied. "I don't think I can ever thank you enough."

Legolas grinned. "Not so eager to hear about your childhood now are you?" He laughed as Aragorn pouted. "You should have learned long ago that pouting never got you anywhere with me."

"It did earlier."

"Maybe I knew it was time you learnt about the past. We shouldn't keep things bottled up for so long. You were right; it was your childhood and you deserved to know about it. And I think it was good I told you. You had to find out sooner or later I guess."

"And I was bound to ask questions eventually. You know what I'm like."

"Yes, I do." He looked over his shoulder. "I think the Hobbits are about to keel over with sleep."

Aragorn followed his gaze. "You could be right. We had better get back."

"Yes. I don't want that Dwarf getting the wrong ideas. Dirty sodding Dwarf."

Aragorn couldn't help but burst into laughter.

See? Totally random and a bit OCC, but I thought you might like it. See you all soon.

Faerlain