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!

My reviewers!

Ymmas Sirron: Yes Estel is very loved

HarryEstel: yes he is! and thanks!

Elven Kitten: yes to be different from the others is hard on him.

KerowynGreenleaf: He does it because he thinks he has to.

Catmint: Thanks, I do dwell on the ranger

Slayer3: thankies!

Only 1 more chapter after this one, but I am typing quickly to finish the next fic.

Chapter 6

Only an hour later the rain stopped and the bright sun now streamed into the opening of the cave, bringing with it the rousing of Estel.

"Elladan," he whispered as he rolled over to stand.

Haldir was at his side in seconds, placing his arm around Estel and helping him to his feet. He thought Estel would fall back down to the floor if he were not holding him, but when he let go, Estel straightened and started to walk shakily to the cave entrance.

"Well, I thought you wanted to get back to Lothlorien. Aren't you coming? We have a few orcs to find along the way."

Not wanting Estel to attempt to mount his horse alone, the twins ran out behind him, leaving Haldir to shake his head in wonder and follow suit.

The four of them had ridden almost the entire way back when they heard the foul speech of the orcs. Leaving the horses, they crept up to the small group and listened in.

"The elves will never know what hit them. I am sure Master will not mind if we take a few for fun."

The orcs never expected to see Estel and the elves charging from their hiding places. The first one raised his crude weapon but he was too late, and he was relieved of his head for his tardiness.

The fight was intense, neither side giving an inch. Estel was tired before he even began the fight, but the thought of eminent death kept him on his feet, the adrenalin pushing him to raise his sword. He watched as his brothers slew one orc after another, and Haldir was keeping his own.

"Estel, look out!"

The words of Elrohir were too late and Estel went down to his knees from the blow. He was about to stand when the orc that had been coming towards him fell right on top of him. Not that he wasn't grateful for whomever had taken down the orc that was trying to kill him, but now Estel could not breathe and his wound had been ripped open.

Estel only saw a faint glow around him, and then he slipped into unconsciousness again.

"We must get him back quickly, he is bleeding too badly."

"You cannot move him, he will never survive the trip on horseback," Haldir pleaded.

"We have to take the chance, for he will surely die if we stay here."

Haldir nodded and helped Elladan lift Estel up on the horse. Elrohir jumped on behind Estel, held him in place, and, whispering a gentle word to the horse, took off in the direction of The Golden Wood.

"The healers need to be ready for Estel, ready to treat his wounds." Haldir spoke aloud. He was then startled when Elladan began to chuckle.

"Grandmother has known we were gone for days now. The healers will be ready Haldir, I guarantee it."

"How do you know this?"

"Because Estel draws trouble wherever he goes, and it is usually he who is dragged back broken and bleeding."

This seemed to bother Haldir as much as it did Elladan and, when he heeled his horse to go faster, Elladan followed. Once they passed the gate and entered Lothlorien, Elladan and Haldir jumped from their horses, not even waiting for them to come to a stop.

Both ran to the healing flet and straight to Estel's bed. Elladan sat down on the edge, stroking Estel's sweat drenched brow, while Haldir simply stood, mouth agape, for in through the door walked Rumil looking healthy.

"Rumil, you are well!" Haldir shouted, forgetting his usually calm demeanor.

The two of them, along with Orophin, left the healing flet and the sons of Elrond to go and have a talk about all that had happened in the past few days.

Elladan and Elrohir had their hands full trying to keep Estel in the bed, but the glares from Maeglin the healer kept him from escaping ... at least for the first two days.

When the third day came, Estel was getting tired of counting the leaves of the nearby tree, and when Maeglin left him to bring back what Estel was sure was another horrid tea, he shimmied down the tree, using every elven trick his brothers had taught him.

When he made it past his grandmother's glade, he sighed in relief - that was until he turned around and came face to face with Lord Celeborn.

Estel was stunned, and the impact of running into the Lord Celeborn did little for his stitches. Covering up his wince of pain, Estel turned on his most charming face.

"Lord Celeborn, fancy meeting you here."

Celeborn's eyebrows rose, making him look way too much like Elrond. "I see you have reverted to titles, instead of Grandfather, or is this only when you are trying to escape the healers?"

Estel tried to straighten up and stand without the sweat dripping from his brow, but he was unsuccessful in his attempts, and he was amazed at how swiftly Lord Celeborn caught him before he fell. He remained standing, but a chuckle escaped before he could stop it.

Celeborn made sure Estel would not fall before letting him go.

"Do not think simply because I am centuries old that I am teetering on the edge of senility. I do, however, think you should head back to bed before your Grandmother finds you."

"I am well enough. I do not need to be tended to like a child," Estel huffed, arms crossed.

Celeborn snorted, despite himself, and ushered Estel to the waiting dinner.

All around were the elves of The Golden Wood, but as always, standing at the door, was Orophin, and, to his left, was Rumil. Estel did not see Haldir, but his stomach made him forget everything but his gnawing hunger.

Two plates later, Elladan and Elrohir declared he was back to his old self. Estel and they walked back to their flet to get some much needed rest, for tomorrow they would be heading home.

"Sleep well, Estel," each of them said before departing.

Estel climbed to his own flet and sat down on the feather bed. Before he had not wanted to lay down for one more minute, but now his eyes were drooping. When Estel went to pull the covers back, he noticed a note. Opening it up, he saw but two words, "Thank you."

Not really knowing who would send him a note, Estel crawled into is bed and closed his eyes, and the lull of the wind whisked him away to dreams in minutes.