Fate's Plan
A/N Ok I know this has been done a thousand times but you people know most authors of LOTR fiction has to do this some time so bear with me.
Disclaimer: I don't own them Tolkien does.
Morning rose slowly over the blessed valley nestled in the Misty Mountains. One of the last peaceful places in all of Middle Earth, Imladris began to wake. There was nothing but color in this serene Elvish realm and they all shown brightly today. The trickling of the hidden fountains could be heard behind the songs of the birds. It was a very special day today in the Last Homely House because a special guest was returning after a very long absence.
Legolas Greenleaf, Crown Prince of Mirkwood, rode at a light canter into the gates of Rivendell and dismounted swiftly. 'It is so good to be back!' Legolas thought as he surveyed the once familiar landscape. "Welcome back good Prince! It has been far to long. Even by Elven standards." the stable hand said taking the reigns of Legolas' horse.
"Hannon le. It has been to long." Legolas had barely gotten those words out of his mouth when two identical blurs plowed into him. By some miracle of the Valar he had managed to stay on his feet and the chuckle of the stable hand didn't escape his attention. "We agree!" The blurs said in unison.
"Elladan! Elrohir!" Legolas greeted the twin sons of the Lord of Rivendell.
"Princeling!" They replied. Legolas glared at them for the use of that name but embraced them never the less.
"Legolas." Another, deeper voice said from the top of a flight of stairs that led into the houses. Lord Elrond Perendil strode down the stairs with a broad smile on his face. Legolas matched the smile with one of his own and put a hand over his heart and bowed low as was the elven custom. "Lord Elrond." He said.
"There is no need for formalities here ion-minya (Second son)." Legolas stood up and smiled even more.
"Ada you know the little prince here is always on his best behavior!" Elladan said with a sly grin.
"Not so, Elladan." Said Elrohir. "I remember like it was yesterday the time Legolas was found in his fathers wine seller smelling of alcohol and not being able to walk out the door on his own!" By now both twins were doubled over in laughter. Legolas felt his ear tips redden and he could have swore he had hear a snicker coming from Lord Elrond but the Keeper of Vilya just arched an elegant eyebrow and said, "I do believe he was dared to drink so much by The Terrible Twins." Legolas sent Elrond a grateful look and the twins sobered up immediately.
"Tell me Legolas how are things in Mirkwood and with Lord Thranduil?"
At Lord Elronds comment Legolas' eyes visibly darkened and became emotionless. He went rigid as if he was just delivering a message to any other diplomat. Elrond frowned at the sudden change, deeply troubled. "Mirkwood is increasingly becoming more dangerous as the spiders, Orcs, and other foul creatures are becoming more aggressive and daring. Three immortal lives have been lost this year alone. My father is very concerned about what to do and…" Legolas trailed off as his elven eyes noticed a small head peeking out from behind Lord Elronds robes.
Legolas subconsciously cocked his head to the side and his eyes widened as he realized the head belonged to a young human child. Lord Elrond brought the boy out from behind his robes and stood the child in front of him. "Legolas this is my adoptive son, Estel." The boy bowed awkwardly but Legolas just raised an eyebrow at the twins, doing a perfect impression of Elrond.
Both the twins looked uncertainly between their friend and brother. Legolas had not reason to dislike humans but all of Mirkwood elves where known to be stand offish around them. Legolas, however, just looked at the boy.
Later that evening Legolas was found in the twin's rooms drilling them about Estel, where he came from, and why he lived here.
"He's an aden!"
"We know that Legolas." Elladan said with a slight roll of his eyes.
"How old is he?"
"Seven."
"How long has he been living here?"
"Since he was two." Legolas stopped at that answer. "So young. What of his parents?" Elrohir sighed as Elladan got up to close the door.
"Legolas what we are about to tell you may not leave this room and you must promise never to tell Estel." Elrohir said with the most serious of tones. "I promise." Legolas said automatically.
"Estel's real name is Aragorn. His parents were Arathorn and Gilrean."
"Arathorn? The chieftain of the Dunadain? Legolas asked with mild shock. "Aye." Elladan answered.
Legolas was suddenly lost in memories of a hunting trip on the outskirts of Mirkwood when he and his party had come across Arathorn and his rangers camping. Gilrean and her baby had been with them, along with some of the other wives, a true testament of the growing danger. The baby was but a few months old at the time. The elves knew Arathorn and his company very well and the man was well liked by the elves.
They had stayed with the company for some time into the evening, telling stories of adventures long past, when the young baby had begun to cry. Gilrean had politely excused herself and walked into the forest to try and calm the boy. Knowing firsthand how dangerous the woods where, Legolas had followed her.
The mother was rocking her baby and talking softly to him but the boy refused to stop crying. Gilrean tried to reach into her pocket but was unable. She saw Legolas and asked if she would mind helping her. Before he could answer her she had thrust the babe into his arms and reached for her pockets again. Her actions were halted when she heard…nothing. The child had stopped crying and was looking directly into Legolas' eyes and the elf was looking right back.
In those few minutes Legolas saw a dangerous but bright future, filled with hardship and anguish but also with love. Legolas could also see the kindness and compassion in the depth of the boy's eyes. "His name is Aragorn." Gilrean had said. She also say she had suspected that what the boy wanted was Legolas' attention. "He's been cooing and reaching for you all night." She said. Legolas was baffled but said nothing.
Two years later Mirkwood had received word of Arathorn and Gilrean's death and all elves mourned there passing. Legolas had been very disturbed by the news and the fact that there was not word of what had happened to the child.
"I thought he was dead." Legolas said mostly to himself.
"His mother brought him here and died shortly after." Elladan said.
"He's had a hard life, Legolas, but he is a happy and well loved child. Our father took him as a foster son and he is now our brother. We love him." Elrohir said with pride in his voice.
"He is destined to be King, mellon-nin. Please do not tell him of this. Let him have his childhood." Elladan spoke these words with grief and concern laced in his eyes. "I will not breath a word." Legolas promised. Relief shown in the twin's eyes as they spoke in unison, "Hannon le."
"If you'll excuse be I would like some time to myself now." Legolas said and has the twins nodded he left the room. Legolas took a little used hallway through the house on his way to his favorite garden. As he was about to turn the corner the elven prince's sensitive ears picked up the sound of voices. Deciding he did not wish to exchange pleasantries with anyone Legolas turned to leave when he heard a distinctively young voice say, "But why can't I come?"
'That is strange. There are not elflings in Rivendell.' Thought Legolas. Peeking around the corner Legolas saw a small hunting party of elves standing around Estel. "Because you are to young." An elf hunter named Lokel said as kindly as possible.
"What you mean to say is," a third voice said with cruelty, "There is no way and Aden could ever be skilled enough to hunt with us."
At this Legolas focused his eyes on the owner of the third voice and saw that it belonged to Tarmoth, a particularly vicious elf with absolutely no love for humans, though no one knew why. Estel took the verbal blow with grace far exceeding his years and looked straight into the elf's eyes and said, "I only wanted to help."
Tarmoth laughed harshly. "The only way you can help Aden would be to leave or turn into and elf so we wouldn't have to listen to your brothers talk about your growing skill with a bow, though I doubt you can even hold one!"
Legolas had head enough and straighten up putting on his most regal face and lifted his chin as he turned the corner. "Now, now Tarmoth I remember a certain elflings who couldn't hit the broad side of the stables." Legolas said glaring coldly at the other elf.
The rest of the hunting party bowed respectfully and left quickly. Tarmoth too tried to leave but Legolas advanced on him a few steps and stopped the young elf. Lowering his voice to a fierce whisper Legolas said, "If I ever hear of you talking to that boy like that again or harming him in any way know that you will have to learn to shoot a bow with only one hand." The dangerous glint in the blonde elf's eyes told that he meant every word. Tarmoth bowed and said, "Yes prince Greenleaf." And with that he left.
Legolas walked back over to Estel and knelt in front of the boy. The prince took this moment to study the boy taking in the small form, which seemed to fit the elven cloths perfectly, his dark hair brushed neatly behind his rounded ears, and finally the boy's dark gray eyes that were now filled with tears. "Estel, I'm…" Legolas never got the change to finish his statement because the young boy had launched himself into the prince's arms, crying softly against his shoulder. Protectiveness suddenly grabbed the elf's heart as he hugged the small boy back.
"I'll make sure they never tease you again." Legolas swore. Estel pulled back from the embrace and looked directly into Legolas' eyes as if searching for something. Legolas looked back into the familiar gray eyes and suddenly saw a scene before him of an older man being crowned in a courtyard of stone. Legolas even saw himself standing behind the man matching the human's grin. The prince was brought back to the present but the boy saying "Hannon le."
Legolas smiled and replied, "No thanks are needed. I would, however, like very much to be your friend." Estel grinned. "You've always been my friend!" He said, although he himself didn't fully understand why he had said that. Legolas just laughed and embraced the boy again.
From around the corner identical smiles light the faces of Elladan and Elrohir. They had no doubt that these two would be a pain in their arse for years to come but they were filled with joy because of it.
TBC?
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