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Chapter Two: Welcome to My Life

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Do you ever feel like breaking down?

Do you ever feel out of place,

Like some how you just don't belong,

And no one understands you?

Do you want to be somebody else?

Are you sick of feeling so left out?

Are you desperate to find something more,

Before your life is over?

Are you stuck inside a world you hate?

Are you sick of everyone around?

With the big fake smiles and stupid lies,

While deep inside you're bleeding?

No, you don't know what it's like,

When nothing feels alright,

You don't know what it's like,

To be like me:

To be hurt, to feel lost,

To be left out in the dark,

To be kicked, when you're down,

To feel like you've been pushed around,

To be on the edge of breaking down,

When no one's there to save you,

No you don't know what it's like

Welcome to my life.

-Simple Plan

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A quarter-hour later, Estel had discovered that the Palace of Eryn Lasgalen was indeed far more grand than even he had imagined, but although he was now probably due to return for the banquet that would be served in a mere fifteen minutes, he was loathe to return without the Prince, whom he had seen no trace of. Something told him that the King would be very angry if his son did not attend the meal, for reasons he could not fathom, and he did not wish to bring the King's wrath down upon anyone.

Finally, after some time of wandering aimlessly through the halls, he decided to search near the place where the twins said they usually stayed when they were in Mirkwood. Neither knew the Prince beyond bare formality, but he guessed the Royal chambers would not be far from the guest's. At least, that was how it was in Rivendell. Perhaps things were different in other elven realms.

Much different, it turned out. On his way to the guest chambers, he finally came across the first servant he had seen as of yet and asked the way to the Prince's room. The servant seemed dubious, but when Estel had assured the elf he was with Elrond of Rivendell, the servant had been more than willing to point him to the last door on the right three halls down. The elf bustled away again before Estel could ask him three-halls-down in which direction, leaving him to discover this on his own by simple power of elimination. The first direction he tried turned out to be a storeroom, but the second held what he was looking for.

The door to the last room on the hallway was half-open, and at first Estel was sure he was in the wrong place. He poked his head inside, about ready to pull back out and continue searching when he spotted the young elf lying on the bed, and stopped, frowning in confusion. The elf, who looked as if he could only be barely pushing the age of the twins, was still fully dressed, minus the weapons on the bed beside him. But it was his eyes, apparently shut that caught the human healer's attention. Elves slept with their eyes open, unless they were ill or exhausted to the point of collapse.

A frown creasing his brow, Estel hesitated only a moment before he entered the room and walked towards the bed. He had been correct; the elf's eyes were shut, but he was mostly struck by the sorrow on his pale face. The dried tracks of moisture down his cheeks told him that the prince had very likely fallen asleep weeping, but for what reason? It was something he could not fathom from the ethereal being he now beheld, but he almost instantly became self-conscious.

It was now, feeling very much as if he had just barged into something very private and personal, Estel hurriedly retreated to the open door. He stood, just outside of the threshold, and knocked softly.

However soft the intended sound, it startled the prince awake, causing him to bolt upright and begin to stand before he even realized where he was. He stopped then and swayed, taking a moment to regain his bearings as he blinked at the human in the doorway.

"Prince Legolas?' Estel proceeded cautiously.

"Yes?" Legolas stood fully, slowly coming to the door as he tried to dispel the lingering effects of his unintended rest.

"Forgive me," He murmured unnecessarily, seeming almost nervous to Estel's scrutinizing eyes, "I did not intend to fall asleep." When Estel did not explain himself, the elf cleared his throat and questioned him politely. "May I ask why you are here…?" He trailed off, leaving an obvious opening for Estel to explain why a human he had never seen before had shown up at his door.

"Perhaps you needed the rest." Estel said, ignoring the hint, studying the slightly shorter elf's face. "When is the last time you slept?"

Legolas blinked and gave the man an odd look, before brushing the question off somewhat curtly. "That is none of your concern. Did you wish to see me?"

"Yes, actually." Estel was not put off in the slightest. "I am Estel, and my foster-father, Lord Elrond Peredhil of Rivendell, requested that I seek you out and ask if you would care to come down to dinner, which should be served in a matter of minutes."

Legolas gave a mirthless, almost anxious laugh, blinking incredulously. "Well, I must truly have needed the rest then, young Estel, for I was to meet you ere you arrived at the gates." He sucked in a deep breath, looking down as his shoulders dropped slightly, and Estel was struck at how quickly his mood had changed to match that of a man facing an impending doom. "But you have my great thanks, Estel, for now there will be one less reason for my father's displeasure."

Estel frowned again, about to question the elf's words, but he was waved off as if Legolas had only been talking aloud to himself. "I will be down right away. Thank you for awakening me."

Estel nodded, unconvinced, but took a step back anyway as the elf shut the door almost all the way. He waited for a long moment, staring at the space between the door itself and the wooden doorframe without hearing any kind of movement from within, and then made up his mind. Knowing it was impolite, but worried about the blonde elf, Estel pressed his eye to the crack in the door. The elven prince sat on the bed with eyes tightly shut and his head cradled in his hands almost gingerly, as if it were glass to be easily shattered.

Estel backed away, torn, realizing the elf was hiding something but unsure what to do about it. As ever, he quickly gave back into his impulsive human nature and resumed his half-kneeling stance before the door.

The elf had stood now, moving slowly to a closet and fumbling inside for a clean tunic. He found a light blue one and pulled it out unceremoniously, stripping of the dirty grey one he had worn and quickly replacing it. In that brief moment, Estel caught a full glimpse of the elf's lithe, well-muscled torso, and something else that he did not like. A large, ugly bruise decorated most of the elf's upper stomach and chest, ugly red marks signaling at least several cracked if not broken ribs.

Confused, he backed away once more to stand beside the doorway, wondering why Thranduil was going to make his son come down to dinner wounded, and why the injury had not been tended. And if Thranduil did not know, and the elven prince was hiding the injury, then why?

None of it made any sense to him, but the longer he was in Mirkwood, the more interested he became in the Elven King and his mysterious son.

Sighing, Estel folded his hands and leant against the wall, waiting patiently for the Prince to emerge as he mulled over what he had learned so far about the blonde elf. It wasn't long before the door opened soundlessly and Legolas stepped out, pulling it shut behind him and straightening his tunic.

"You need not have waited, Estel." He said quietly without turning around.

"'tis nothing." Estel shrugged, although he knew the Prince had not been thanking him. "I am not quite certain I could have made it back on my own in any case—this place is larger than anywhere I have ever been."

Legolas smiled lightly as they walked down the corridor. "Aye—as a child I often lost myself in its halls. When my mother came to find me, I would insist that I had known exactly where I was."

Legolas' eyes were strangely distant as he spoke, and Estel glanced at him out of the corner of his eye as the elf ran a hand over his face, his long fingers trembling with lingering weariness.

Estel took half-a-step forward, alarmed at the elf's actions. "Are you well? Perhaps you should not come down after all—"

"No, no." That thought seemed to unsettle the elf, making Estel even more suspicious. "I do not wish to anger my father further."

Taking a shot in the dark, Estel tried a question he hoped would catch the elf off guard. "Why will your father be angry with you?"

It didn't exactly catch the elven prince off guard, but he did hesitate. "He has his reasons." The elf said almost defensively, leaving no doubt that that was the end of what he was willing to say.

Estel had never been one to heed warnings. "Reasons…?"

Irritation flashed through the elf's crystal-blue eyes, but it quickly fled as he answered curtly. "In aiding a human village under threat of wargs, three of my warriors were felled this day. That is a loss I cannot so easily amend with words. Thus, my father is angered with me."

"For helping people?" Estel confirmed, shocked.

"Welcome to my life, Edain." Legolas muttered quietly, eyes on the floor.

Both fell into thought as they walked, Legolas of the lives lost, and Estel of the Prince. He was usually curious about everything, but the Elven Prince had him unusually intrigued. It was obvious he and his father clashed, but why? And why was Thranduil so cold towards his son?

Presently, his attention was drawn outwards once more as he became aware of a strange, echoing howl in the corridors around them. "What is that sound?" He finally questioned, frowning as he glanced about.

"Aedril and Huor…" Legolas shook his head in amusement, and Estel shot him a questioning look.

"My pets." Legolas expounded, "Aedril is a ferret I adopted from a human huntsman some time ago, and Huor a hunting hound. My father hates them both, but does not complain as long as I keep them out of range of hearing."

Estel smiled, amused at the thought of two animals locked in unending pursuit of each other around the Palace. "And you need not stop them?" He questioned as the hound again began to bay after a short pause.

Legolas shook his head smilingly. "Why? They would only start again as soon as I turn around."

"Well that's true." Estel agreed with a smile, unable to find a flaw in the same logic he often applied himself back in Imladris. The sounds stopped for a time, and then Estel could just make out the thuds of tiny paws against the carpet in the hallway ahead.

The next moment, a tiny ferret zipped around the hall corner at top speed, and Estel careened backwards just in time to avoid stepping on the animal. Legolas, in turn stumbled backwards to avoid the unsteady human, just as the ferret ran underneath the Prince' feet.

Legolas lost his footing and fell to the ground, causing Estel to teeter to avoid falling on top of him. It was at this unfortunate moment that a huge, baying hunting hound bounded around the corner in hot pursuit of the ferret, ramming straight into the unbalanced human's knees.

Estel fell hard, his shoulder slamming into the Prince's chest. Legolas gasped as the air was knocked painfully out of his already burning lungs, his damaged ribs screaming at the force of the blow, and Estel quickly rolled off of him, alarmed.

"Legolas!" The human gasped, spinning towards the elf. The Prince had turned deathly white, and one arm was wrapped around his chest, heaving for breath. Estel scrambled back over to the Prince, eyes wide as he gripped the elf's upper arm. "Legolas are you alright?" He repeated anxiously.

Worried when the elf couldn't find the breath to answer, Estel stood and tried to help the elf to his feet. As soon as Legolas was standing he pushed the human away, leaning heavily against the wall and continuing to fight for air.

Legolas, you are hurt—" Estel tried, concerned, but was instantly cut off.

"It's nothing!" The elf gasped, panting in exertion.

"Nothing?" Estel scoffed somewhat boldly, seeing as he was the guest in the other's realm, "That is nothing? What is something, then? A missing limb?"

"You will say… nothing… of this!" Legolas ground out by way of answer, glaring daggers at the man.

"Forgive me." Estel sighed, changing tactics. "At least let me give you something for the pain—"

"Do not bother." Legolas said curtly, brushing unsteadily past him. Estel frowned, but hurried to catch up.

"Oh?" He returned, matching strides with the elf, who was still breathing heavily and had both arms curled around his ribcage, "And why ever not?"

"I will be leaving on patrol once more this evening, and medicine will dull my senses, causing me to endanger many more lives than my own." The elf returned matter-of-factly, jaw muscles tightened in pain and irritation.

"Patrol?" Estel repeated with a frown, ignoring the subtle warning in the elven prince's tone. "Again? Why? You just returned, and it is plain you are exhausted."

"That has nothing to do with it, human." Legolas all but growled, darkly flashing eyes signaling the nearing end of his patience. "I was to meet your party at the gates. I was to be to dinner on time. I was to return from my last patrol with all those under me alive and well. Since it seems I am incapable of any of those things, I will be punished, and my father will send me back out on patrol. Satisfied?"

Estel was not satisfied, but it was truthfully not the best time to continue the argument, since they now stood before the side door that led into the banquet hall.

Legolas took a deep breath and straightened his back, carefully smoothing out his tunic and hair. Estel self-consciously did the same, before stepping forward to follow the Prince as the elf brushed aside the hanging curtain and walked into the hall.

The servants were only just placing the first dishes on the long wooden table, causing Estel great relief that they were not as late as he had thought. One glance at Thranduil's dark face however, told him the Prince was late enough, at least for the predicted punishment.

"Ah, Legolas." Thranduil said coolly. "So kind of you to grace us with your presence at long last. Where have you been hiding?"

Legolas flinched ever so slightly at the words, but his face remained otherwise blank and impassive as he took a seat on one side of the table to the King's right. He did not answer immediately, as if trying to come up with something that would not upset the King further.

There was an empty seat across from the Prince, and Estel moved toward it, but Elrond subtly motioned him to take a different seat. Although curious, Estel passed it and went to sit beside Elrohir, who was fighting hard not to start snickering.

"Forgive me, your majesty," Estel smilingly answered for Legolas as he sat, "for the fault lies in me. I was clumsy and fell down a stairwell, wasting time."

Legolas shot the human a puzzled, incredulous look, but quickly banished it as his father glanced at him sharply.

"It is of no consequence, Estel." Thranduil smiled back at the human almost pleasantly, "I am sure he would have found a way to arrive late in any case."

Legolas cast his eyes down briefly in shame, and Estel was shocked at how cruel Thranduil was being to his own son.

Elladan and Elrohir were both concentrating intently on their food, and Elrond wore a polite mask smoothed over his own features, although Estel could see a spark of disappointment and disapproval flashing in the depths of his eyes. Towards Thranduil, Estel knew, and not towards the elven king's son, although as Legolas glanced apprehensively at the Quenyan Lord, the human realized that the Prince would probably not be able to tell the difference.

Legolas' eyes quickly flew back to his own plate, as if he saw some rare thing of interest there.

"Legolas…" Thranduil scolded mildly, "Are you not even going to greet our guests?"

Face flushed in embarrassment and another unreadable emotion that Estel could only pin as fear, Legolas quickly stood and bowed to all four guests in turn. "Welcome to Mirkwood, Lords of Imladris." He murmured as if he were reciting a line from a scroll, "I hope you can forgive my rudeness in being unable to meet you upon your arrival."

Elrond nodded and smiled compassionately, and Legolas resumed his seat as soon as possible, seeming to Estel even paler than ever. Frowning, the young human returned his eyes to his food, thinking that things had just become a bit more interesting.

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TBC…

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Well, now the angst is kicking in, lol!

Thank you ALL for such wonderful reviews and encouragement! This update is for you. And yes it is about time the twins got in there—they're coming, trust me! I hope you will not be disappointed!

Also, thanks to all of you who expressed sympathy concerning the death of my horse. It isn't an easy thing to get over, but life is going to move on, and I will see him in heaven someday! So things truly aren't all that bad. -)

Toodles Y'all!

-Skande

P.S. Barbara Kennedy: Sorry, forgot about your question: Sure I'll check out your story! Maybe I'll have time to drop a review even, but I can't promise regularly doing so! Thanks for asking! Take care!

P.P.S. –sigh- I knew I was forgetting something… I will TRY—try, mind yoou—to have Grey Ship updated before the end of the month! No promises, so don't mob me-runs- ;-)

And, for the last time: (Promise!)

Toodles!

-Skande