Chapter Ten: Champion of Mirkwood
Estel cheered as Elrohir took the field along with the other fourth-class archers. He and Legolas had all come down to watch the final exhibitions, seeing as the healers had finally given the prince a clean bill of health (with the stipulation that he try to take it easy for a few days).
"They're really good," Estel commented.
"You should see the fifth class," Legolas replied. "Tarathdur is in that class...and I believe Finen is in there as well."
"Are any other members of your family archers?"
"Just my brothers-in-law and my oldest brother, though only Brithdil is competing."
Estel nodded, having already spotted the brown-haired elf in question on the field.
"Belegdur was an archer when he was younger, but he decided to train with the sword instead. He doesn't like to participate in the exhibitions, though. Two of my sisters were archers, Eldawen and Meluial, but Eldawen is a diplomat now and Meluial retired from her patrol when she got married."
The two watched the rest of the exhibition in silence, Estel cheering loudly when Elrohir was one of the three archers who managed to complete the final trick shot.
"What about your other brother?" he asked as the archery field was cleared to make way for the fourth-class swordsmanship exhibition. "Why wasn't he in the tournament?"
"Because Aranion has already won the tournament once," Legolas explained. "It was before I was born, but he decided not to compete again."
Estel had to wonder if that meant Legolas would never enter the tournament again. But before he could ask, Elladan and Elrohir appeared to join them for the rest of the exhibitions.
He was glad that his brothers had obviously not decided to bring up his nightmares when the prince was around. He'd had another one last night...not as terrible as the first but bad none the less.
"Why didn't you try out for the sword exhibitions?" he asked his brothers.
Elladan shrugged. "We didn't come in time for evaluations."
"Maybe next time all three of us can enter."
Estel grinned, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his folded arms across them. He had been training with the sword and he would probably be considered old enough by the time of the next tournament...it would be great if he could join the exhibitions with his brothers.
He didn't want to admit it to Legolas, but he found the sword exhibitions more interesting than the archery ones. He studied the elves intently, hoping to remember some of their exercises to practice on his own. The current elves cleared to make room for the next class—all bearing swords. He glanced at his brothers questioningly.
"Archery is very popular here," Elrohir explained. "They hold the final class for the finale."
Estel nodded, turning back to watch the elves.
Legolas pointed out his brother-in-law, Gilfaroth, who Estel had met two days ago outside the healers' ward. Estel marveled at the elves' skill, hoping he could one day match it.
Finally, the fifth class of archers took to the field.
Estel was astounded at the roar of applause that greeted the archers, and he grinned at Elrohir as his brother's words were proven true.
But they were all astounded, including the prince, when the Master of Archery invited Legolas down to fire the first shot to start off the exhibition.
An even louder thunder of applause followed the Archery Master's announcement, drowning out Legolas' protests as he indicated the sling on his arm.
But the crowd, the fifth-class archers, and the Archery Master were all insistent.
Legolas grinned. Slipping his arm out of the sling and laying it on his vacant seat, he slowly made his way down to the field where he accepted a bow and arrow from the Archery Master.
Estel caught his brothers exchanging concerned glances, and knew it was still a bit early for him to be doing something like this.
But he stood tall, though Estel could have sworn he saw just the slightest tremble in the elf's stance. He chalked it up to his imagination, as the prince showed no other signs of weakness.
The target was set up down at the end of the field, and Legolas took his stance on the starting line. Estel watched carefully as the prince drew the arrow back, his heart nearly skipping a beat when he saw the slight waver of the prince's left arm.
The arrow flew true, embedding itself in the center of the target as his first shot had done at the tournament. Even with his left arm weak from the spider's bite, Estel reflected, Legolas was still very much the tournament champion.
The crowd rose to their feet, something of a spectacle to Estel as the elves in his home were rarely this exuberant, as Legolas left the field so the exhibition could begin. His face a little paler than before, but cheeks flushed with excitement, he made his way back to where Estel and his brothers were waiting.
"You know, 'Dan, I think the prince might have a future as an archer," Elrohir said teasingly.
Legolas made a wry face as he sat down, massaging his shoulder and gently slipping the sling back on. "It's remarkable, considering you were my first teachers," he retorted.
"Is that what's wrong with me?" Estel asked before his brothers could retoret, shying away as one of themswatted at him. "Should I enlist a wood-elf for a tutor?"
"You'll have to enlist one for a bodyguard if you don't hold your tongue," Elladan growled playfully.
"Oh, but you two make such good bodyguards," Legolas interjected, leaning forward to rest his good arm across his knees. "Why, I don't believe I was 'thronged' at any point during the tournament."
Estel burst out laughing at the look on his brothers faces, laughing even harder as Elladan remembered what the prince was talking about.
"Someday, Legolas," Elladan mock-glared at the prince. "I will have my revenge."
Legolas laughed, but suddenly winced and pressed one hand to his head.
"What is it?" Elrohir asked sharply, pushing past his brothers to be beside the prince.
"Nothing, I just got a little lightheaded, that's all," Legolas twisted to get away from Elrohir, who was trying to pull his eyelids open to check his pupils. "I am fine, Elrohir."
"You don't look it," the younger twin commented. "Maybe we should go back."
"No," the prince argued. "There's nothing wrong with me...and the exhibition's almost over. We don't need to go back."
Elrohir looked doubtful, but finally returned to his place beside Elladan.
Estel, his heart back in its place from where it had jumped into his throat, carefully sat back beside the prince. "Is that Finen?" he asked quietly, pointing out a lighthaired elf.
"Yes, and there are the two archers from Lorien who made it to the sixth round, and there's Tarathdur," Legolas said, indicating the other elves. Estel recognized a few of them from the tournament, but was startled to see that many Mirkwood archers of this level hadn't even entered the tournament.
"Some of them have won in previous years," the prince explained when Estel asked why. "Some just don't want to participate. And there are a few who were on patrol duty, or ready to move out if danger were sensed nearby. Like the spiders."
Estel winced at the mention of the spiders. "It's a good thing, too," he said.
Legolas smiled, right hand absently rubbing his left shoulder. "That it is."
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The exhibitions concluded, Estel, his brothers, and the prince waited for most of the crowd to disperse before making their way to the palace. They pretended it was because they were talking animatedly about something, but Estel knew it was because they needed to go slow and Legolas didn't really want anyone coming up behind them.
And so, when the gathered elves had gone back to the palace or chosen to wander the grounds the four carefully made their way down the stairs and started the walk back.
Estel was energized by the excitement in the air, and found himself chafing at the pace they were going. His brothers pulled slightly ahead, talking about one of the archery stunts. Legolas was keeping up, but Estel noticed he looked tired.
"Are you all right?" he asked, concerned when he saw his friend waver.
Legolas nodded, pausing for a moment to rest. "I didn't expect it to be this hard," he admitted.
"Do you want some help?"
"No, I'll be..." Legolas' voice trailed off as one hand went to his head, and he stumbled. Estel caught him to keep him from falling, relieved when the prince immediately got his feet back under him.
"El?" Estel called, knowing both his brothers would turn. They did, and ran back the few yards they'd gotten ahead when they saw the prince leaning against their brother.
"You overdid it today," Elrohir said with a sigh, supporting Legolas on one side, careful of the sling.
"Aye," Elladan agreed, supporting him on the other. "You'll be fine after a bit of rest, though, right 'Ro?"
"Right," the younger twin affirmed. "Come on, Estel," he beckoned his brother, and they easily found a side-door into the palace.
"Not the healers," Legolas protested as they began to turn down that corridor. "They just let me go this morning."
"But what if you injured something in your shoulder?"
"It just aches," the prince said. "If you take me back and tell Celebalqua what I did she'll lock me in there for the next three days as punishment," he said, a pleading tone in his voice.
The twins glared at Legolas, but Estel could see them softening under the prince's pleading gaze.
"All right," Elladan relented. "But we'll stay with you, just in case something happens."
Legolas grinned. "If it will make you feel any better I'll go to the healers if my shoulder gets any worse."
"It would make me feel better for you to go now," Elrohir grumped, turning to head down to the royal wing of the palace.
"But the award ceremony is tonight," Estel piped up. "You wouldn't want him to miss that, would you?"
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged glances. "No," Elladan finally said with a sigh. "I suppose not."
Estel grinned, following the three elves down the hall. Then he stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. The award ceremony. He'd have to wear his formal robes again.
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The young human resisted the urge to tug his sleeves further down his wrists as he stood side by side with his brothers back out on the archery field that night. Elladan was wearing the more comfortable of his two sets of robes (the maroon set), and Elrohir was wearing the only pair he'd brought (much like Estel).
For once, Elladan had been the one to tease his twin about being unprepared.
Lit torches lined the field, illuminating the elves who had gathered for this special occasion. Estel gasped as he caught sight of the Elvenking, resplendent in his royal robes with a crown of summer flowers in his hair. The rest of the royal family except Legolas, including Belegdur who had come back for the ceremony, stood gathered behind the king.
Applause began toward the far end of the field, where the elves parted to reveal the Archery Master, followed by two honor guards (Ceretín and Relfían, Estel noticed) and Legolas. The clapping rose to a roar as the procession continued down the field, stopping in front of the king. The Archery Master held his hands up for silence.
"King Thranduil," the elf intoned in a loud, formal voice. "I present Legolas Thranduilion, Archer of Mirkwood and champion of the tournament."
Thranduil stood as Legolas approached, picking up the ceremonial arrow that Estel knew was engraved with Legolas' name and the date of the tournament.
Legolas received the arrow and knelt before his father, and Thranduil placed one hand on his son's head and looked down at him with a tender smile. "Rise, Legolas Thranduilion," the king said clearly.
"Champion of Mirkwood."
Reviews? Flames? Tar and Feathers?
Just the kinda short epilogue left...but we have company coming for Christmas so I won't be able to put it up until Monday.
Happy Holidays, everybody!