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! Who I hope will not turn in the fic for replies to reviews.
Catmint: I want to thank you for your encouragement and greta reviews!
Eleven Kitten: Thanks!
CKLovesme2040: yes Pippin is quite the little imp! hehehe
Aranna Undomiel: Yes another is coming and thanks!
A. NuEvil: yes it would be bad but alas they do. He will never find out LOL
QueenofFlarmphgal: Yes he will find his peace
HarryEstel: I must hang you by your feet till I get your update! and thanks!
invisgoth: yes that is how it got started, and glad you like the fic!
Slayer3: here is more!
Thanks to all of you who stuck with the fic. My new one shall be posted soon, it shall be called Worthy. Now on with the last chapter!
Chapter 15
"Awake, you slouches!" Estel called, while pulling on Frodo's arm. "The day will be gone before any of you open your eyes."
"We are hobbits, Estel, and have no need to wake before the hour of noon, unless we are to tend to the fields. I, for one, am not a farmer."
"Come, Master Hobbit, Legolas and I will be in the gardens when you wake."
Estel went out the door intending on speaking with Legolas. When he spotted his elven friend off in the party tree, he called out to him. Legolas jumped down and sat at the base of the tree, waiting for Estel to join him.
"You are up early, Estel. Any reason why?"
"I wanted to not miss a thing about the day, for it could be our last. I have no worries here, I am a free man to do what I will, and when I want. Is there anything better?"
"Aye, many times I have felt the need to get away from the lectures, the meetings, and the endless tasks that come along with being the king's son. The simplicity here is like nothing I have seen since before my home fell into the darkness."
Estel grew quiet, sighing before he spoke again. "I wish not to leave here, Legolas. I know I would miss out on my destiny, but that promises me nothing but uncertainty. Can I not linger here and just be Estel, and not Aragorn?"
Legolas' smile disappeared and his brow wrinkled. "Could you give up Arwen, your brothers, or your father? Would you dishonor Arathorn and his sacrifice to make sure you lived?"
The choked back lump rising in his throat could not be hidden, and Estel's eyes watered with unshed tears. "If we cannot stay here, then let us have one last day of peace before we leave."
The thought between them was the same. Today they were free, no worries, no commitments, but tomorrow they would leave to go back to being a prince and future king.
Legolas thought nothing more about their leaving, nor did Estel, as they munched happily on the lunch brought to them by the hobbits. Frodo sat down, passing an apple to Estel.
"Tell me again of Rivendell. Bilbo has spoken of it many times and the kindness of Lord Elrond, but he always gets a faraway look in his eyes when he recalls it, as if it pains him."
"I suspect Bilbo misses the harmony within the realm, for it is filled with music, and Bilbo has supposedly been found many late nights in the library studying books and maps. He is a curious thing, so I have heard."
Frodo then turned to Legolas. "Tell me of Mirkwood. Bilbo claims it was once a beautiful place in the pictures of old."
"Mirkwood's beauty could rival anything in Arda at one time, but, alas, her trees are filled with dark creatures, and they have haunted us for many years."
Frodo shuddered at the vision and looked over to see Merry, Sam and Pippin playing by the water's edge.
"Be careful, lest you..." but that was all Frodo got out as Pippin stepped too far back and plunged in. Had he been older, the four feet of water would not have even covered his head, but being only one, he went under and came up sputtering.
"Help!..." came the screams from Sam and Merry, drawing the whole of The Shire to them. Everyone stood around, as no hobbit here could swim. Merry tried to jump in and save Pippin and even Frodo jumped in, but Pippin, in his panic, almost drowned them both.
"He will take you with him," yelled Estel. He was about to jump in after Pippin when he saw Legolas wade in.
As he grabbed up Pippin, Estel watched as the frightened hobbit immediately calmed. Legolas wrapped him in his cloak and went to sit with him on the grass.
"You gave us quite a scare, little one. Are you well now?" Pippin answered with a sniffle and grabbed a handful of Legolas' hair, rubbing it between his fingers. Legolas sat with him all through lunch and afterwards, when they were finished, he watched Pippin sleep. "He seems fine now. All he needed was a nap."
The others walked over so that Estel could give Sam a swimming lesson to prevent such things from happening again. "Water is not to be dangerous, once you learn to stay afloat," he told Sam as he held him in the waist deep water. Sam cringed, but eventually he could float on his back without aid. A round of applause came from the others, but a horrified look came over Merry's face as they got out of the water.
"Peregrin Took, drop that bow!" he yelled.
Legolas' head spun around like lightning and his eyes fell on Pippin toting his bow around and trying to pull back the string, shooting imaginary creatures. "Pippin! Drop it now, for your life depends on it!"
"Legolas! He is but a child, a babe, you cannot harm him. Simply remove the bow from his grasp."
"Do not be fooled by his innocent look. That one could bring down all of Mordor with his curious ways, and I shall have my bow back unharmed and undrooled upon, or he shall hang from the party tree."
The other three watched as the nimble elf dodged left and right chasing his beloved bow and the child who had it. Legolas could have grabbed it at any time, but he did not wish to break the string, being so far from resources to fix it. Twenty minutes and four curses known only to dwarves later, Legolas had his bow back.
"I think it is time we settled in for the night," Frodo said, escorting his guests back toward Bag End. "A hot meal and a good smoke is needed, and perhaps some of the elven wine Bilbo keeps for the elf."
Dinner had been filled with small snickers by Merry and Sam, as they talked quietly about the new words they had learned, while Frodo and Estel smoked for a bit by the fire. All was quiet in the house. Pippin had fallen asleep right after dinner, and everyone else was exhausted as well. Sleep came easily that night, but Legolas was the last to let his eyes glaze over, entering the world of dreams. His bow laid under him, he too was soon fast asleep.
Elrond Peredhil was aggitated. The scowl on his face had become permanent, and not even the Istari could rouse him from his worry. He was so lost in his own thoughts, he had not noticed as they passed out of the forest and into The Shire.
"If I were to guess, I would say the sun shall rise soon," Gandalf said, trying to hide his smirk.
Elrond paid the wizard no mind, until he felt his horse jerk to a stop over the small bridge. "Why, are we stopping here? I am in no mood to play games."
"If you would stop brooding, you would have seen we have arrived at our destination."
Elrond looked up, but he saw nothing but smoke coming from chimneys rising out of the ground. "And just where is it we have arrived?"
Gandalf lit his pipe, "Welcome to The Shire, my friend. Not far ahead is Bag End, and I have a feeling we shall find our wandering pair there."
Frodo grumbled about big people who thought it was funny to wake others so early as he stumbled to the door, half asleep. When he got into the sitting room, he expected to find Legolas and Estel causing some type of ruckus, but instead he heard the rapping on the door. Opening it, he came face to face with Gandalf, and a smile to light all of The Shire came over his face.
"Gandalf! It is so good to see you. Have you come for a long visit?"
Frodo had not noticed Elrond step in behind the wizard until he released his grip on Gandalf. It suddenly occurred to him that he had not introduced himself to his guest. "I am Frodo Baggins. Welcome to Bag End, Master Elf?"
Elrond shook the hobbit's hand firmly. "I am Lord Elrond of Imladris and I am looking for my son, Estel."
"Estel, is your son? I mean he said his father lived in Rivendell, but an elf and the Lord of the realm?"
"There shall be time for questions later, some of which may be answered. Is my son here?"
Frodo pointed to a small room off the entryway and Elrond opened the door. Once he stepped inside, he found an arrow poised at his heart.
"Be wary, Legolas, but do not shoot without finding out who your victim would be."
Legolas dropped his bow and his face reddened. "Lord Elrond, how, when, where did you come from?"
Elrond seemed amused by Legolas' lack of verbal skills. "I think it was long ago, and the matter of my birth is not something you should discuss early in the morning."
Legolas' mouth fell open. "I only meant how did you know we were here?"
"I believe you should ask Mithrandir. He is outside with the perian?"
Legolas slipped out and Elrond walked over to the bed. Peering down, he did not see a fully grown man lying there asleep, instead he saw the little boy who had stolen his heart so many years ago.
"Estel, awake now, for it is time to go," Elrond whispered, stroking the hair from his forehead.
Estel stirred on the bed and slowly opened his eyes. He had to be dreaming, for Estel saw his Ada staring back, but when he blinked again, he knew he was wrong.
"Ada, you came? Why?"
"I was worried, why else would I traverse many days with the Istari while he rambled on and on with his riddles. I came, Estel, to lead you home."
Estel stared at the only father he could ever remember. "Ada, I..."
Elrond sat down on the edge of the bed. "You need not say anything, Estel. I think I understand."
Estel swung his legs over and stood up. "Ada, here I am free, I am just Estel, son of Elrond. I do not want to dishonor you, or Arathorn, but the destiny laid before me is not one I would have chosen. Here I was free, without the worries of Arda laying at my feet."
Estel said no more, hanging his head in shame.
Elrond stifled the flow of tears before they could fall. "Estel, you have many years before your destiny is fulfilled. I would not have you walk it alone, either. Do you think your friends would let you travel alone?"
Estel did not aswer Elrond. He could find no words, so Elrond spoke again. "Time for destinies can wait, for today, and many more to come, you shall be only Estel, my son. That is, if you want to go home."
Estel's heart felt as if a weight long ago placed on it had lifted. "I have wanted nothing more ever than to just be your son."
Both stood for a few minutes simply holding one another, silent tears shared between father and son.
That morning was spent with hobbits, elves, and one adan sharing tales and laughing at the stories of each. A breakfast unmatched ever again was laid before them, and then it was time to go. Many tears were shed all around, Pippin clinging to Legolas, but they all told how they would see each other again soon. Gandalf proposed a toast and passed around some of his special wine.
"One last toast before we depart." All glasses were raised, and even a small amount was given to the little ones. " A toast to friendships and happier times."
Eight glasses tinked together, and then the four were off. "Ada, do you think I will ever see the hobbits again?"
"Of course you will, Estel," Legolas piped in. "We can come back as soon as we get the chance."
Gandalf the wise and Elrond said nothing in reply. They both knew they had given them something to wipe away the memories they had cherished. It was not uncruel, but to have Estel and Legolas in The Shire was dangerous to the hobbits. One day they would meet again and, until that day, The Shire and its hobbits would be safe from the rest of Arda.
Many years Later...
My name is Strider, and I will help you, Master hobbit. Frodo did not know why, but instantly he trusted the man. It was as if somehow he had met him before.
Estel did not know why Gandalf had him seek out this hobbit, but something about him made Estel recall something in the back of his mind and it sparked a friendship from that day on that would last all of his life.
See you at the next fic I hope! It should start posting within a week.