Summary: Estel feels he must prove himself worthy to many, one in particular
Disclaimer: I do not own any of them, lest they be covered in drool
A/N: Of course it is AU!
Now to the reviewers!
Riva van Dyk: Thanks!
KerowynGreenleaf: Welcome to the fic and thanks!
Elven Kitten: Tact, those elves maybe
Catmint: You are correct it was an orc that shit Rumil
Dee69: hope you enjoy it
HarryEstel: Yes a chance to prove himself
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Your reviews make my day so thanks! btw the chapter is uber short, I will update soon for it.
Chapter 3
Estel once again was being plagued by the nightmare, seeing his mother fall mere feet from him, dead. His father had also fallen to the orcs, and he could hear the screams in his head. His whimper went unnoticed by all except Haldir, who had awakened from his own nightmare. Should he go to the adan, wake him? Not knowing what to say or do if he awoke, Haldir went to relieve Elrohir from guard duty.
Haldir had not said anything to the twins or Estel, but seeing the boy's troubled dreams made him forget his own troubles for a while.
"Let us break camp and, Elladan, will you see if you can pick up the trail again?"
"Haldir, how dare you question my tracking abilities," Elladan jested. "This trail could be found by a blind man. The ground has been trampled, as if they held no fear of being caught."
A snort was heard by the Noldor elf, and soon Haldir was dodging a swiftly moving Elladan. He was actually glad for the diversion, as his thoughts had often wandered back to Rumil. "Was he doing well? Had they made it back in time?" These were questions he wanted to know the answers to, but his first task was to serve the Lady Galadriel. It was her realm Haldir and his brothers had grown up in. He had found that she was kind, but a fierce warrior unlike he had ever seen.
Rumil had once joked that no she elf would ever best him in swordsmanship or with a bow. Rumil had found himself in the healing flet hours later, suffering not only bruises and cuts, but the humiliation of having the Lady of the Wood best him in both sword and bow in front of the other elflings. Never again did he doubt her prowess, her strength.
Haldir chuckled to himself outloud.
"What is so funny that it brings merriment from one such as you?" Elrohir questioned.
Haldir walked behind the other three and told them of how, years after Rumil's untimely choice of words, he had also found himself at Arwen's mercy, her blade inches from his throat.
"Is that all," Elladan snickered. "Ada taught her to defend herself from any elf who wished to place hands where they had no business being." It only took a minute for Elladan to whirl around, his face gone from one of mirth to one of anger.
"You did not try anything with Arwen did you, Haldir? Tell me it is not so, for I would hate to have to cut off the hand that you touched her thusly with."
Haldir backed up, facing three very upset sons of Elrond. "Nay, mellyn nin. I had only spoken of how dainty and sweet she was and that such a thing of beauty surely could not harm a living creature."
The angry faces of the twins melted away, but when Haldir glanced at Estel, he could see the scowl on his face. Not understanding the adan's anger, he walked over to him.
"Estel, it was nothing more than what I spoke of. I would not dishonor her."
"Be sure that you don't, Haldir. The Lady Arwen deserves nothing less than the perfection she is," Estel said, stomping over to join Elladan in the tracking.
Haldir thought the adan even more odd, but knew he spoke only in protectiveness and shrugged it off.
