Summary: Estel and Legolas go off in search of the simple things.
Disclaimer: I do not own them, lest they be covered in drool
A/N: This fic would take place in 2991 of the third age, other than the ages in the fic, it is AU. Any reviews are welcome, flames shall keep me warm
Now to the reviewers!
Ceyxa: LOL outdrink a hobbit hehehe
Ithil-valon: yes it is
Aranna Undomiel: The pain of hitting a boulder is painful has done it
A. NuEvil: Here is the next chappie! and yes willingly LOL
Elven Kitten: Yes ouch and thanks!
QueenofFlarmphgal: Yes I LOVE angst, and there is a wee bit here
theo darkstar: Yes he is alive still
CKLovesme2040: He is not having a great time yet no
Catmint: Yes to the Shire!
Slayer3: here is MORE!
HarryEstel:LOL nothing is ever simple, now UPDATE your fic
Estelle1: yep of course he has to, but the elf will have his time for you as well
Thank you for the reviews they make me smile, now to the fic! It is short so I should update sooner
Chapter 10
"Estel!" Legolas shouted from where he was. "Do not move, I will come and help you."
Estel didn't really want to move anyway. He could feel the pain in his hands, as he had smacked the rock palms first, trying to break his fall. If not for his ranger skills and elven upbringing, he would have fallen into the rapids below. Instead, he only had a very sharp pain in his wrist and his knee, he knew, was bleeding, but he clung to the slippery rock.
Legolas had climbed over from where he stood and was now holding his hand out for Estel. "Grab my hand and I shall pull you over," he called out.
Estel very slowly stood, making sure to plant his feet firmly, but as soon as he placed the other foot down he fell back on the rock again. "It is too slick, I cannot stand."
"Wait there, I will retrieve you then," Legolas called to him.
"No!" Estel yelled rather sharply. He did not wish to test the elvish grace by seeing if Legolas could stand on the rock. Instead, Estel crawled until he reached the side, grabbing a root for support. Once he was sure he would not fall, he took the offered hand of Legolas. The two said nothing until both were back on the solid ground of the path.
"Estel, are you sure you are well?"
"Aye, Legolas. A little battered and bruised, but nothing severe. Why do we not hurry along, I wish for a warm place to sleep tonight." He knew Legolas would be watching for any wince he made. He would be very sore in the morning, but his pride would keep him from telling anyone.
"We should be no more than three miles from the smoke I saw earlier. Can you ride?"
Estel rolled his eyes. "Of course I can ride. I have suffered worse falls than that." He caught the look Legolas gave him, but he did not back down. Both of them gathered their things, forgetting about lunch and instead focusing on getting to the smoky chimney. Estel was so busy trying to wrap his ailing knee as he rode that he did not notice Legolas stop. As his horse jolted to the quick halt, Estel instinctively reached for his sword.
"The trees speak of no danger, but, Estel, I see only children here," Legolas said, pointing further into the field. "Where are their parents?"
"We shall find no answers waiting here," Estel said, heeling his horse forward.
As they got closer, Estel was also amazed. Why were these children laboring in the fields, and why was one of them smoking a pipe! Estel, without thinking, dismounted his horse and walked over to the boy with the pipe. He snatched it out of his hand and proceeded to scold him. "Where are your parents? My Ada would have skinned me alive for smoking when I was a child!"
The man's face had grown red as Estel ranted, and he snatched the pipe out of Estel's hands. "I am no child! I am forty-five, and that is plenty old enough to smoke a bit of Old Toby. Now who are you, and what are you doing in The Shire?"
Legolas was the first to recover from the shock. " I am Legolas, and this is Estel. We are travelling the lands of Arda and happened upon your place."
The hobbit did not look ready to believe either one, and his gaze was still upon Estel, who now had fallen silent. "The name is Hamfast, and we do not readily accept big folks here, but your grabby friend seems to need his hands tended to. You may stay the night with me and my family."
Estel, choking back the humiliation he was feeling, finally spoke. "We thank you, kind hobbit, for your hospitality. A friend of mine speaks highly of the hobbits of The Shire."
They said no more as Hamfast led both men through the small door.