Estel resisted the urge to fidget with his tunic as he and his brothers stood outside the throne room of King Thranduil. Legolas stood at the door, waiting for the proper moment to introduce the guests. The prince seemed cool and collected, but Estel wondered what emotions were just under the surface. He had seen Legolas' reaction to Belegdur's thoughtless words, and knew that Legolas was keeping his true feelings about his brother hidden. What could it be?
Legolas turned around. "Follow me," he hissed unnecessarily, leading the trio into the throne room. "Adar," he announced in a loud, strong voice. "May I present the sons of Elrond; Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel."
Estel knelt beside his brothers, forcing his gaze to stay on the floor rather than travel up curiously. He waited until Elrohir, kneeling to his left, began to rise before standing himself.
"Greetings, King Thranduil," Elladan announced, taking one step forward. "Our father, Lord Elrond, sends you his greetings and hopes that you are well."
The king nodded, his expression neutral. His gaze passed over the three brothers, and Estel found himself comparing the king with his youngest son. Thranduil did, indeed, look like an older version of Legolas—to a point. He had the same bright golden hair and deep blue eyes, but was built slightly larger than his son. Everything about Thranduil seemed sharper and harder in comparison to Legolas, from his unreadable sapphire gaze to the air of self-possession he wore like a second cloak. Estel could not help but think that Thranduil just looked like the king he had heard so many stories about—not necessarily a tyrant, but not a jolly, easygoing elf either.
"Welcome to Greenwood, sons of Elrond. I hope you had a pleasant journey," the king commented, his glittering gaze turning back to Elladan, the spokesman for the group.
"Oh, yes," the dark-haired elf nodded. "It was Estel's first journey here, so we were very glad to have a smooth trip."
"You had no trouble with orcs in the high pass?"
"Surprisingly none, My Lord."
"Good," Thranduil sat back. "And you are Estel?" he asked, his eyes traveling back over to the human.
"A-aye," Estel stammered nervously, stepping forward, "My Lord."
Thranduil studied the human for what seemed like an eternity. Estel had to again resist the urge to fidget as he was scrutinized by that unreadable gaze. "You are the human son of Elrond?"
"Yes, My Lord."
"How have you found life in Imladris?"
Estel blinked. This wasn't exactly the sort of question he'd been expecting from the King of Mirkwood. Why would Thranduil be concerned with something like that? "It has been good, My Lord," Estel replied.
"And you are happy there?" Thranduil asked, one corner of his mouth quirking up as he noticed Estel's puzzled expression.
"Oh, yes," Estel nodded emphatically. "Very happy, My Lord."
Thranduil's gaze remained largely unreadable, but Estel thought he saw a faint glimmer of something like acceptance in the king's eye. "Good," the rather austere elf said, turning back to Elladan.
Estel took a small step back, nearly slumping forward in relief. He glanced over to catch Elrohir's encouraging glance and shot a small grin to his brother. He had survived an interview with the king.
While Elladan and Thranduil continued to share formal pleasantries and discuss the upcoming tournament, Estel took in the rest of the throne room. There was an empty throne next to Thranduil, where the now-deceased queen would have once sat. Four attendants stood beside the thrones, two on either side.
But wait. Estel sneaked another quick glance to the king's right. They were not merely attendants. On the far right of the king was Belegdur, a dark expression on his face. A brown-haired elf was between Belegdur and the king, and Estel could only assume he was the crown prince, Aranion. That meant that the two elf-maids beside the queen's throne were Legolas' sisters. Estel glanced over at them, but realized he had no way of identifying them. Short of having never met one of the princesses of Mirkwood, Thranduil had six daughters and it would be difficult to guess which two these were.
"Estel."
The human looked back up at the king, surprised to be called upon again.
"I hope you enjoy the tournament, and your visit to Greenwood," Thranduil said. "As the son of Elrond you are welcome here."
"Th-thank you, My Lord," Estel stammered, bowing his head.
The king nodded, then glanced over at his youngest son. "Legolas, I would like to speak with you a moment."
"Come on," Elrohir hissed, tugging Estel's sleeve as the human stood confused by the sudden change in conversation. "We are supposed to leave now."
Estel followed his brothers out of the throne room, looking back one last time to see Legolas standing in the middle of the room in front of his father.
He nearly collapsed with relief when they reached the hall. "Is he always that intimidating?" Estel asked his brothers.
"Of course," Elladan replied. "In fact, King Thranduil has single-handedly kept the orcs and spiders of the forest away by the sheer terror of his presence."
"Elladan!" Elrohir jabbed his twin with an elbow. "He is a bit intimidating," the slightly younger twin agreed with Estel. "But Thranduil is a good king, even if he is seems distant."
"At least he is not like Belegdur," Elladan interjected playfully. "That elf acts as though he sat on a tack and is too proper to stand up and remove it."
Again, Elrohir elbowed his brother in the side. "Quiet! So what did you think of the king?"
"He surprised me," Estel admitted. "I did not think he would speak to me, since I'm not an elf."
"King Thranduil has trade agreements with the Lake-Men," Elrohir explained. "He is used to dealing with humans, even if he does not befriend them easily."
"It is just the dwarves that he cannot stand," Elladan added. "You should have heard the stories that hobbit told us about the way Thranduil treated those dwarves."
Elrohir sighed and rolled his eyes. "Are you quite finished with your comments, Elladan?"
The slightly older twin laughed and stretched his shoulders. "I apologize. I am merely glad to be free of the burden of speaking with the king. I have feared for days that I would say the wrong thing and begin a war between Mirkwood and Imladris."
Elrohir let his head drop forward and shook it in exasperation.
"I thought the king call the forest Greenwood?" Estel asked.
"Aye, It used to be called Greenwood," Elrohir explained, "until about two thousand years ago. Most of the elves call it Mirkwood now, but there are some, like the king and a few of his children, who still call the forest Greenwood."
Estel nodded in understanding and glanced back at the ornate doors that led to the throne room. "What do you suppose he wanted to speak to Legolas about?"
"Who knows?" Elladan shrugged. "Maybe he had some details about the tournament to discuss, or wanted to know if other guests had arrived."
"Should we wait for him?"
The twins glanced at each other. "Why not?" Elladan grinned, leading the way to a nearby alcove where the three could sit comfortably on a small bench. "Although it might be a while if the king has something important to discuss."
The brothers sat quietly for a few moments, Elladan studying the intricate scrollwork decorating the arch of the alcove, Elrohir and Estel discussing the upcoming tournament.
"Quiet!" Elladan suddenly whispered, holding one hand up. "You hear that, 'Ro?"
Estel looked at his brothers, puzzled. "Hear what?"
"Raised voices," Elrohir explained, his brow furrowed in concentration. "In the throne room."
"Can you tell what they are saying?"
The twin elves were silent for a moment, concentrating. "I cannot make anything out," Elladan admitted with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "But it sounds like the king's voice."
"He must be shouting," Elrohir mused. "Those doors are quite thick."
"I would hate to be on the receiving end of Thranduil's temper," Elladan murmured.
Estel fidgeted in his seat as his brothers strained to hear. Part of him wanted to run into the throne room to see what was going on, while the rest of him was glad he was out of the king's sight.
Suddenly, the doors to the throne room opened and Estel leaned forward to see Legolas slip out and pause with his back to the closed doors. The prince lowered his head and sighed, and Estel noticed that he seemed more subdued than before, less confident and a bit withdrawn.
"Legolas?" Elladan called, stepping out of the alcove.
The prince looked up, startled. "I did not know you were out here," he admitted, walking forward to meet the brothers. "Did you forget the way to your rooms?"
"We were just waiting for you," Elrohir explained. "Is everything all right?"
"My father merely wanted my assurances that I would behave in front of the other guests."
"What do you mean?" Elladan asked, his voice slightly suspicious.
Legolas gave the dark-haired elf a puzzled look. "Well, this is the first time the tournament has been open to other realms and he is concerned that we all behave as members of the royal family."
"We heard shouting," Elrohir interjected. "What was that about?"
"Oh." Legolas' face fell. "Belegdur told my father about what happened in the courtyard."
"What!" Elladan nearly shouted. "I am going to snare that brother of yours and lock him in the dungeons!"
"Elladan," Elrohir rolled his eyes. "Was that why your father was shouting?"
"Not exactly," Legolas sighed, looking down at his feet and shifting his weight uncertainly. "Their discussion grew a bit...heated. Belegdur seems to think you are a bad influence on me and wants our father to forbid me from associating with any of you."
"What we heard was more than a 'heated discussion,' Legolas," Elrohir rebuked the prince gently.
The blonde elf's eyes saddened. "They were arguing," he admitted. "My father was shouting at Belegdur."
Legolas shook his head and looked away, his gaze growing distant. "I hate to cause such discord in my family," he whispered.
"It sounds to me like your brother is causing the discord," Elladan said.
"He only says what he thinks is right," Legolas replied, repeating his words from earlier. "I know he can be a bit argumentative at times,but that is no reason to lock him in the dungeons."
"Belegdur is a bit argumentative in the same way an orc is only a little ugly."
"Face it, Legolas, your brother is stubborn and self-absorbed, and there's nothing anyone can do to change him," Elrohir commented lightly.
Legolas half-snorted in agreement.
"What did your father say to him?"
"Well, he told Belegdur that he appreciated his concern, but ultimately it is up to me to choose my friends," Legolas said, a small grin growing on his face. "He also said that my behavior around certain sons of the Lord of Imladris is perfectly acceptable."
Elladan laughed. "I knew your father was a good king for a reason!" he exclaimed.
"So do you promise not to lock my brother in the dungeons?"
"I make no promises," Elladan replied with exaggerated malice. "Where to now, Highness?"
Legolas turned to look at the human, who had been rather quiet for the past few minutes. "Estel?"
Estel looked up, startled. His brothers and the prince were looking at him expectantly. "I'd just like to see the palace," he replied simply. He hadn't been many places other than his home, and the sheer size of Thranduil's palace astounded him.
"The grand tour it is then!" Elrohir announced, throwing an arm around his little brother's shoulders.
"From Belegdur's room all the way down to the dungeons!"
"Elladan, I am not letting you lock my brother in the dungeons."
"Not even if I win the tournament?"
Legolas sighed in mock exasperation. "No, not even if you win the tournament."
AN: I have to say, I loved writing that paragraph about Thranduil putting Belegdur in his place. It's the one time I regretted writing this story entirely from Estel's point of view.
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