(-)Chapter 2(-)
Aragorn bowed his head in shock and obvious sadness for his friend, he had always assumed that she had headed into the west.
Legolas managed a slight smile, "But I have not heard much of yours either."
Aragorn sighed, "She died when I was twenty. Not long before I met you actually," he laughed slightly before wincing, "she... went the way human's do."
The man started slightly when he felt the elf's hand on his shoulder, he glanced up at him and smiled slightly before standing alongside him. Aragorn sighed when he caught the look in the elf's eyes, knowing he had just brought up the subject all the elves he knew wished to avoid. He smiled slightly then, realising that he'd at last found someone who could understand how he felt about the death of his mother.
The elf smiled as well and turned, "I will meet you at the table," he laughed slightly and pushed open the light, wooden door.
He froze as he turned around and glared at the twins, "Have you two been standing out here the entire time?"
"Nay! You know we would not mellon-nin!" Elrohir feigned horror.
Elladan smiled innocently.
"Don't even try the innocent look, you two, you're horrible at it."
They glanced at each other and mock winced at the other's expression.
"Indeed you're correct Legolas," Elrohir sighed, slinging an arm over his friend's shoulder, "I do not understand why we insist on trying."
Legolas gagged slightly, "Ugh! 'Ro! You smell of raw meat! What have you been doing?" his face had contorted to one of obvious disgust as he ducked away from the elf.
Elrohir grinned, "Absolutely nothing," he glanced over at his twin, "he is right though, you know, we do smell of meat."
"Indeed," Elladan made a face, "come, we have to get rid of the smell or it will be too easy for ada to pin it on us."
"What did you do?" Legolas asked again.
"You will see mellon-nin," Elladan replied casually, from half way down the still-dark hall.
The elf frowned nervously before shaking his head slightly and walking back to his room, sniffing unconsciously to see if whatever they did, they did in his room. Luckily they hadn't. He quickly shut the door behind him and walked the few feet to the closet near the foot of the bed.
Elrohir glanced over at his twin, "I think he's suspicious of us brother!"
"I believe he is 'Ro, he'd have to be crazy not to be."
"True... very true."
Elladan shrugged, "Let him worry, it's amusing."
Elrohir grinned and the two quickly parted to clean up before breakfast.
Legolas exited his room to find the man already standing in the hallway, with his nose plugged and a disgusted look on his face.
The elf snickered slightly, "Can the Ranger not stand the smell of uncooked meat?"
Aragorn shot the elf a glare, "Of course I can. But this stuff smells as though it's been sitting in the sun for a month."
Legolas winced and nodded his head in agreement, "I do not wish to know what your brother's have done this time."
"Nor do I my friend. Come, let us leave this hallway before we both suffocate," he shook his head and sighed, "ada will not be pleased."
Legolas shrugged, "Lord Elrond will know immediately who did this. Even you wouldn't go this far."
"Sure I would, I would, however, wait until I was sick and couldn't smell it myself," he spoke with an odd smile that managed to look evil and innocent at the same time.
Legolas blinked at the look and shook his head slightly, "Men are so odd," he muttered.
Aragorn blinked, "And who are you to call me odd?"
The elf just rolled his eyes with a good-natured smile.
Aragorn sighed and crossed his arms, following right behind the elf as they quickly decended the marble staircase and headed towards the dining area.
The elf glanced out one of the many windows that lined the halls and smiled at the sight of the red and golden leaves of the trees.
Aragorn watched him in obvious amusement as the elf almost walked into a corner while he wasn't paying attention, he snickered at him when he just barely managed to jump out of the way.
Legolas frowned, "You understand it's not kind to laugh at other's misfortunes?"
"Aye, but it's still funny."
The archer rolled his eyes, "I see."
The two pushed open the heavier wooden doors that opened into the dining area and took their seats, knowing that the other's wouldn't be here for a little while yet.
Sindiyen wandered in from the kitchen and cocked her head to the side, "You two are here early."
Aragorn smiled, "Maybe so," he shrugged.
She smiled at him and ruffled his hair, "Couldn't sleep?"
Aragorn winced in embarrassment at the gesture but smiled, "Nay, I couldn't."
"Same nightmare?" she frowned worriedly.
Aragorn shook his head and paused as a sudden crash and cries of dismay came from the kitchen.
Sindiyen glanced up, "Oh dear... that'll be Sar," she laughed.
Aragorn snickered, "A new student?"
"What can I say? He's helpless at cooking."
Legolas smirked, "I'm sure he'll appreciate the comment."
She laughed again, "Ah well."
"You'd better go chase him out before the other cooks kill him," Aragorn joked.
"Probably a good idea," she muttered, and quickly left the room.
Sardyn quickly came out through the kitchen doors, an embarrassed look on his face.
Aragorn smirked at him, "Having trouble Sar?"
The elf frowned at him.
Aragorn rolled his eyes, "You have to stop spending so much time with Erestor... it's starting to scare me... you're turning into him... and he's smiling at me more."
"You've simply been unusually happy as of late and it's been rubbing off on everyone Estel," Elrond smiled slightly from the doorway.
Aragorn shrugged and yawned slightly, then sighed in aggravation.
Legolas shook his head in amusement, "You are not usually this tired after a short night mellon-nin."
Elrond frowned and was next to the man in an instant, "You are not sick are you?"
"No ada, I'm fine, I've simply been too lazy the past few months," he laughed, stretching in the delicately carved chair.
"Of course," the elf muttered, eyeing him slightly before shaking his head and sitting next to his son.
Aragorn watched him a moment, the elf didn't seem surprised or curious as to why they were up so early. He shrugged slightly and glanced back to Legolas.
The elf stared right back at him for a moment before smiling, "I say we go for a ride after breakfast in that case, perhaps I can shake off that laziness."
Aragorn laughed, "Good idea mellon-nin."
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
Legolas reigned his horse in suddenly, a slight frown overcoming his features. The golden horse stood ridgid, adgitated. The elf's sharp gaze shot around him, his senses warning him of something dangerous nearby. This alone confused him since they hadn't left Imladris' boundaries and the elven realm was known for the peace and tranquility. No evil flourished here.
The twins continued on ahead with Sardyn, who had accompanied them when they asked him along, the two dark-haired elves bickering about whether or not the Mirkwood spiders liked their food better talkative or quiet. Elrohir's point of view was that since they creatures obviously lacked normal amusement among themselves that they would enjoy the talk, 'dinner and a show' was how he'd put it. Elladan figured they'd just want to do it and have it done than listen to their dinner squeak at them, after all, why else would they poison them into silence first? Elrohir had argued that it would be so that when they woke up they'd be extra talkative.
During all this Sardyn had just laughed and rolled his eyes.
Aragorn had stopped when his friend had and frowned at him, "Legolas?"
The elf started slightly and turned his gaze away from the orange and yellow trees to the man, "Yes Estel?"
Aragorn's frown deepend at the elf's reaction, "Are you okay mellon-nin? You seem nervous."
The archer frowned, "I am fine. But I sense something wrong here."
Aragorn's gaze turned to worry, his first instinct was to deny the elf and wave off the warning, not thinking anything dangerous to be in his home's boundaries. But that thought had dissapeared as quickly as it came, he'd learned to trust the elf's instincts and he wasn't going to ignore them now.
"Elladan! Elrohir! Quiet!" he hissed at them, narrowing his eyes slightly and scanning their surroundings.
The two elves quieted immediately, their mirthful stature instantly changing to one of wariness.
Sardyn blinked in surprise at their sudden silence but didn't say a word.
"Estel?" Elrohir said after a moment, his confusion obvious.
"Legolas senses something," he answered simply.
The elf was still and silent, his eyes closed as he concentrated on what the trees had to tell him. After a moment he opened his eyes and frowned, turning his gaze back to the other four around him slowly.
A/N
Elven Kitten: Well... apparently they're not allowing people to reply in chapters anymore... :( Is sad and mad I'll reply to any signed in reviews but all I can do is thank the rest. I hope you all continue to review anyhow as they're all greatly appreciated :) and thank you to MicroChips, grumpy, flamesofthemo0n, pippin the hobbit elf, Inuyashaloverfan, Ilaaris, Elentariel, Elven hope, SalanTrong and Aranna Undomiel for reviewing :D I hope you enjoyed this chapter:)