Title: Worthy

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!

To the reviewers!

Luna: Of course Estel is brave

Arrana Undomiel: Yes, Haldir will see in the end

grumpy: If only the twins had known sigh

Ilaaris: Thanks! I did!

Ymmas Sirron: hehehe!

Enmity: errr he is not ok, but he is stubborn

Catmint: yes it was typical Estel, and thanks I will try

Inuyashaloverfan: update! and thanks

Hippielover459: lips are sealed

Elven Kitten: thanks!

HarryEstel: Yes very stubborn indeed!

Your reviews brightened my day! Now on with the fic!

Chapter 5

Haldir drifted off and on in sleep, often hearing small moans of pain and then the soft breathing that followed would soothed him back to his blissful sleep. When he awoke the next morning, the previous nights events came hurtling back to him. Scanning the campsite, he did not see Elrohir or Estel anywhere, and Elladan was packing the horses.

"What time did Elrohir depart to return Estel to Lothlorien? I wished to thank him."

Elladan just stared at Haldir and then nodded to the two approaching figures.

Haldir stared in disbelief at the pair. Estel had taken an arrow that would have sent him to the healing flet immediately had they been back in the Golden Wood, but here he stood now leaning on Elrohir.

Haldir stood from his bedroll and walked over to Estel. Placing his hand upon his shoulder, he spoke. "Estel, I wished to thank you for saving my life. I was not aware of the arrow and surely would have died had you not stepped in front of it, but why are you not on your way back to the Golden Wood?"

"It is because he is a stubborn as Glorfindel's horse. This stubbornness cannot be squashed, as I have tried for numerous hours to convince him to go back and he is wise to the tea." Elrohir said, glaring at the now smiling Estel.

"I was raised with Ada's teas. Do you think I would fall for that old trick?"

Elrohir and Elladan both agreed that Estel would not, but neither could convince him to go back.

"Are you both quite mad? He is wounded, and needs a healer."

The fear for Estel showed clearly on the twins face, but Estel spoke up for both of them.

"Unless you have plans of rendering me unconscious and carrying me back over your shoulder, Haldir, then I say we should move on. We have orcs to hunt, so that Grandmother's realm will once again be safe."

There were no more pleas for Estel to go back, and soon all were mounted once again, headed back toward the Golden Wood where the remaining orcs had fled. Estel had even been glad to see the rain that now pounded down on them, for when he raised the hood of his cloak to keep dry, then they could not see the tears of pain fall from his eyes.

"My brothers and all others will see I am no longer a child," he thought to himself and urged his horse forward.

The hours of riding through the rain had started to bother Elladan. He was tired of being wet, and he knew that Estel was shivering underneath the cloak, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. He knew they were still a day's ride from The Golden Wood, and he was already trying to think of someway to trick Estel into swallowing some tea.

He made no progress after the second cup of tea went flying from his hand. Standing up, he went to get the cup that had flown across the entrance to the cave.

"Estel, you are more stubborn than even Glorfindel deemed you to be! I know you are pained, but come and at least try to rest."

"What of dinner, Elladan?"

Elladan looked shameful as he stared back at his brother. "All my arrows, I am sad to say, still reside in the orc bodies we left. I did not think to retrieve them when I saw you were injured. We are not hungry anyway."

Estel snorted when he heard the rumble from Elrohir's stomach from where he sat. They were trying to protect him, just like they always did. He would show them.

"I shall go and bring back dinner soon," Estel said, grimacing as he stood.

"Estel, you must have a fever as well. It is raining so hard even the orcs have sense enough to take shelter."

Estel snorted but started backing away from the trio, who now gaped at him, mouths open.

"Do not fret, Elladan. We shall have a feast soon enough."

Haldir knew surely that Elladan would drag Estel back, and when he didn't, he had to inquire.

"Estel shall return swiftly, for he has left his weapon here. What shall he hunt with, and why did you let him out in this?" he said, pointing to the rain coming down in torrents.

"We learned long ago that when Estel was determined to do something, any hindrance, short of having to save his life, would only make his desire to do it grow. If he is not back within the hour, Elrohir will stay with you while I search for him."

"Search for him? Elladan, you are an elf, he is an adan. You would not have to search far, for his tracks alone would lead you straight to him."

Elladan let loose a snort at the rather perplexed look on Haldir's face.

"Do you think he has learned nothing in all his years in Imladris? When Estel does not wish to be found, even Ada cannot find him."

"Do you not worry for his injury?"

"Aye, I worry that he will push himself to the brink of death."

Before Haldir could ask why Estel would do such a thing, he walked back through the entrance to the cave, soaking wet through and through and carrying the four rabbits.

"Estel, how did you catch rabbits in this weather?" Haldir said, actually awestruck.

"They are not unlike we, for they too hide when weather like this comes."

"But how shall we cook them, the wood is wet."

"The small place the rabbits use to stay dry also had kindling for the fire. It will not last long, but the rabbit will not be raw."

Just as Estel leaned down to start the fire, his knees buckled from the pain and he fell hard against the stone floor of the cave.

"Estel!" Elladan shouted. Hurrying to his brothers side, he noticed that the makeshift bandage around Estel's stomach was now drenched in blood.

Haldir dropped the cup he was drinking water from when he saw the blood and rushed over to help if he could.

"Why?" was all he could ask, as he watched Elladan rewrap the clean bandage around Estel's abdomen.

"Why what?" Elrohir asked.

"Why would he push himself so hard even though he was injured?"

Elladan finished wrapping the wound and lay Estel down on the floor, laying his cloak under his head. He then turned his attention back to the blond elf that was still waiting for an answer.

"I thought it was obvious by now, even to you, Haldir. Estel wants to be accepted, to be counted as one of the group, and yet he knows he is not. He will push himself past his limits, and beyond that, to prove his worth.

Haldir sat back down. He needed to rethink his judgement about the adan.