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The Meeting

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Two days later, after being warned by a runner, the family assembled on the steps to the courtyard to greet the prince. Estel stood tall and proud in robes just like his father's and brothers'. From time to time he gave a bow to nothing as he practiced his greeting. In between bows, he asked his brothers if they could see anyone coming. Just when the patience of every adult in the group was beginning to fray, Elrohir hissed, "They come! Be still now, until you are introduced!"

A group of twenty or so elves rode into the courtyard. Some were in Imladris red, russet and gold, and Estel's eyes slid quickly over them, looking instead at those in the more somber green and brown livery of the Mirkwood elves. Unfortunately for the future amity between Estel and Prince Legolas, the escort sent to welcome the visiting elves had included Glorfindel. He rode side by side with the prince and then walked with him to greet Elrond. Estel demanded of Elladan, "Which is the prince—I do not see him."

"Hush! He is the one next to Glorfindel. Now mind your manners."

Estel looked at the prince—if he was one! He was not tall, or covered in jewels, or fancy clothes or anything! Glorfindel was much more beautiful with his wide smile, blazing blue eyes and hair that was the color of the sun, not dull corn silk. He stood half a head taller than Legolas and the tired, dusty Mirkwood elf did not compare well with one who shone as did those who had been born under the light of the Two Trees. A grown man would have seen the steadfast eyes, the wisdom of the serene brow, and the strength in the controlled movement of the body. A grown woman would have seen that the hair was fine and flowed around his shoulders like silk, would have admired the high cheekbones and sensitive mouth, and would have appreciated the lithe, long-limbed form. But Estel was a little boy—with a fairy-tale idea of princes.

After Elrond had spoken formal words of greeting, and the twins had embraced their friend, Elrond placed a gentle hand on Estel's shoulder and moved him forward. "Prince Legolas, may I present to you my son, Estel."

Estel, frowning, bowed low and said, "Good afternoon, Your Highness." As he straightened, he looked sternly at the fair face above him. "If you are a Highness."

Elrond regained his grip and added a little shake. "Estel!"

At this point Legolas made the first of several errors in his dealings with Estel. Although familiar with adolescents from his work with warriors in training, he had little exposure to small children. Every elleth in Mirkwood knew it was her responsibility to keep her children from bothering the royals. Therefore, he often had no casual interaction with elflings from one year to another. No doubt this contributed to what happened next. Legolas leaned down, ruffled Estel's hair and said with a rather forced smile, "What a dear little human."

Elrond instantly tightened his grip, and Estel bit back a scathing retort. Then, before he could insist his Ada tell this fake prince that he was not a little human, or a little anything, or 'dear' for that matter, the adults moved from their formal positions and began to mingle, speaking about the journey, the evening's scheduled activities, and other extremely boring things. Estel found himself ignored as he moved from one conversational group to another. He watched as Elladan and Elrohir spoke warmly with the Prince. He tried to enter their conversation but Elrohir hushed him. Estel watched the animated faces of his brothers, saw the affection they had for this false prince, and suddenly felt a little lonely. The prince would stay for months and Estel had a vision of himself on the same steps where he stood at this very moment, only in his mind he was waving good-bye to three elves who hardly noticed they were leaving him. His excitement at meeting a prince drained away and was replaced by a horrid fear. He looked calculatingly at his chatting brothers and decided on Elladan. Elrohir was normally more inclined to be sympathetic but Elladan had the more finely developed feelings of responsibility. Estel shifted over to Elladan, pulled at his sleeve and turned up to him a face remarkable in its resemblance to an abandoned waif. "Elladan…my tummy hurts."

His brother quickly excused himself from his conversation and knelt next to Estel. "Does it? I think you have had too much excitement and sampled too many treats for the feast tonight. Shall I take you to your room and get you some tummy-tea?"

The pathetic child nodded with huge, swimming eyes. "Yes, please, 'Dan." The young warrior stepped to his father's side and spoke quietly. Elrond cast a concerned glance at Estel and nodded. Elrohir came to listen as well, and the boy was soon the center of attention with the false prince relegated to the sidelines. As Estel was led away, he shot a smug look at Legolas from over his shoulder. The prince looked surprised and then frowned; he had been outflanked!

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Later, when Legolas had been escorted to his chambers and was preparing for his bath, he thought ruefully of his anxiousness to meet the human that was to be his hope. No doubt his expectations had been unreasonable, but the reality was quite disheartening. The child was surely small for his age, with skinny arms and legs, and not very attractive compared to elven children. On top of that, he was rude and manipulative. That look the little devil had given him as he was led victoriously away! He had waited seven years to see this human that was to help save Middle-earth and thus, Mirkwood. It appeared he had waited in vain.

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As the next week passed, neither Legolas nor Estel saw the other at their best. Quite the contrary. On Orgilion, Legolas happened to walk past the open door of Elrond's study and glance in just as Estel was upended over the elf lord's knees and given two resounding smacks. Oranor morning, before the day's serious business began, Estel gave himself hiccups laughing at Legolas training with the twins. The child did not know that Legolas had just taught them an unusual means to disable an opponent in hand-to-hand combat. What he saw was first Elladan, then Elrohir, throw the prince repeatedly to the ground. The Mirkwood elf did not appear to be making any attempt to fight back at all. Legolas, slowly getting to his hands and knees after the seventh throw, saw Estel through the hair falling to veil his face. Later, as elves assembled in the Hall for dinner, Legolas heard Estel singing under his breath as he passed him, "Mirkwood Princes falling down, falling down, falling down. Mirkwood Princes falling down, mighty warriors!"

On Orithil, Legolas went to the library to visit with Erestor and Glorfindel while there was a break between conference sessions. He saw Estel standing with bent head, sniffling a little, before the Balrog slayer. "I am sorry, Glorfindel. I did not mean to break it."

Glorfindel said brusquely, "I suggest you think about what your carelessness has done. Perhaps you should forego the ride we were going to take tomorrow. Then you may take more care next time."

The boy began to protest but was ushered out of the room by Erestor's firm hand. Glorfindel looked at Legolas and shook his head, but before he could speak, Legolas said, "He is a little limb of Sauron! Every time I see him he is in trouble!"

At that Glorfindel became cool and formal—it was one thing for him to call Estel a limb of Sauron and quite another for Legolas to do so! "Estel should not have broken the artifact, but he is a thoughtful and intelligent child who is always sorry when he has caused any trouble. I am quite fond of him. Now, if you will excuse me, I have matters to attend to."

Legolas watched as Elrond's marshal left the room and raised an eyebrow to Erestor. "What has curdled his cream?"

Erestor shrugged. "He constantly spoils that child—along with everyone else in this house except for myself—and will not hear a word against him." The advisor searched his desk for a misplaced parchment as he continued, "Of course, it was an accident; there was no need for Glorfindel to take away Estel's promised ride tomorrow! He is rather frustrated with the progress the conference has made thus far." This remark led the Prince to ask Erestor for some clarification on several points and the discussion moved away from the behavior of certain human fosterlings.

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The next day it was Legolas who was not at his best. A long series of unfortunate circumstances, beginning with a desire to explore a bit on his own, and concluding with a life and death struggle in the only swamp in Imladris, led to the prince limping up the courtyard steps just before the evening's formal meal. Estel, the first to be dressed, was looking in a mirror in the hallway while he waited for the twins to fetch him. Suddenly he heard a very odd noise. It went something like: shhlurp, shhlurp, mutter, shhlurp, groan, shhlurrp, swear, ssshhluurrrp. Estel ran behind a tall chair and peered around it.

Now, all children, as much as they may trust their loved ones, know their families are wrong about one thing: there really are monsters. Estel now had proof as he saw a hideous monster coming toward him—a swamp monster. He darted from his hiding place and ran for Elrond's quarters, crying, "Ada! Ada! It's after me!" in a piercing near-scream.

Every doorway in the family wing was flung open and elves in every possible stage of undress came flying to the rescue of its smallest inhabitant. They converged on the entry hall and all stopped dead; stunned. Legolas faced a semi-circle of elves that included:

The Lord of Imladris, regally dressed in midnight blue and silver, looking like he would kill with his bare hands anyone daring to threaten the child clinging to his robes.

Glorfindel, only half his hair braided, standing with his hunter green underrobe dragging on the floor with a torn hem. He carried a sword which was raised threateningly.

Elladan, who was as naked as when the Valar had sent him to his loving parents, fists clenched and murder glaring from his eyes.

Elrohir, wearing a towel and foam—in his hair and running down his face. He had grabbed a spear from the wall—one without an edge—but he looked quite capable of thrusting it through anyone or anything, dullness notwithstanding.

Erestor, the first to recognize the monster, quickly removed the dagger from between his teeth after placing the two he had in his hands in the cavernous sleeves of his formal robes. He glanced around to make sure no one had noticed before assuming a haughty and disapproving expression.

Five elves and one human gazed upon the Prince of Mirkwood as he dripped upon the fine mosaic of the hall floor. The cause of yearning among the elleth of three kingdoms was covered in ropy pond slime from the crown of his head to his lone bare foot. It drooped in swags across his chest and from his arms, decorated with snails, leeches, and the greasy black muck that lay beneath the stinking waters. The elf's eyes contained the only area not black and glistening on his face, and from his hair wriggled a crayfish that fell with a splat to the floor and scuttled toward a dark corner. Elrond's eyes followed it balefully. Behind Legolas a trail of creepy-crawly things, black puddles, and more pond scum decorated the gold, russet, and cream of the entry hall floor.

Estel released his father's robe and made his way to stand before Legolas. He looked him slowly up and down, like a potentate rather disappointed with the slaves offered him. He next observed the trail behind the Mirkwood elf. He finally turned his head and asked his father, "Are you going to spank him until he cannot sit down?" This was a dire threat occasionally held over Estel's head although, in reality, it had never been carried out.

Elrond frowned as four elves choked on their laughter. He frowned darker still when Legolas looked like he was going to make an angry grab for Estel. The Lord of Imladris hissed, "You dare?" and Legolas' arms fell quickly to his sides.

The completely demoralized Mirkwood elf whispered, "Forgive me, Lord Elrond. May I please go to my quarters now? I would like to, if possible –" He shot a glare at the twins. "- forget everything that happened this day."

"I think that would be best. You will not be able to be ready in time for dinner so I shall have something sent to you." He stepped closer to the younger elf, although not too closely. "Tomorrow I would like to hear what happened, but I am sure that you will be able to put this unfortunate episode behind you very soon. Er – perhaps you could be sluiced down outside in the courtyard before you bathe? I am not sure our drains can cope with -" he gestured to indicate the algae, snails, and so forth. "I will send some servants with buckets of water."

With this final humiliation the prince's shoulders slumped, and he slowly turned to go back down the steps. Estel felt a tug of sympathy for the elf, even if he was the poorest excuse for a prince he could have imagined. He ran after him and whispered to his back, "Ada will not spank you, Your Highness; I am sorry I said that. He never spanks me when I am sad or embarrassed. And you must be very, very, very embarrassed."

At that Elladan and Elrohir fell on each other in hysterics and even Erestor chuckled. Legolas' shoulders slumped even further, and Elrond felt enough was enough. "Everyone, especially you, Elladan, return to your rooms and prepare for dinner as quickly as you can. Our guests must be wondering what has become of us. Thank the Valar they have their own stairway to the dining hall!"

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That night it was Elrohir alone who put Estel to bed. Just before the goodnight kiss, Estel said thoughtfully, "'Ro, the prince did not come to the Hall tonight at all."

Elrohir laughed. "No, I expect it took him a long time to get completely clean. By then I am sure he was very tired and just wanted to forget what happened."

"Have you been to see him? Has anyone? He needs someone to be sure he is alright." Estel knew that no matter what the problem, fear, or illness that might assail him, his father and brothers would never leave him to deal with it alone.

"I think tonight he just wants to be by himself. Tomorrow we will find out how he came to be in such a fix and tell him we are sorry we laughed at him."

Estel accepted that his brother knew best and snuggled into his comforter. A light caress brushed the hair from a small brow and the lamp was then extinguished. Elrohir closed the door softly behind him and returned to the Hall.

Once Elrohir was gone, Estel continued to think about the prince. He remembered the slumped shoulders and the laughter that followed the elf as he walked back to the courtyard. He hesitated only a few minutes before he threw back his covers and jumped down from his bed. He padded to the door and did not even pause before opening it and heading for the prince's room. He knocked and listened carefully but no voice bid him enter. He waited for several more minutes, tapping at intervals, but still the door did not open. He shrugged and did what he did in any other room in the family wing when he knew there was someone inside: he opened and went in. He saw the lovely sitting room and the brightly burning fire in the hearth, but no prince. He went on more slowly—it was one thing to go freely into the 'public' area of the suite and quite another to go into the bedroom. Just as he was debating whether he should leave, the door to the bath opened and Legolas walked out, toweling his hair and wearing another towel around his waist. He had changed the bath water four times before he felt all the slime and the stubborn lingering stench were cleansed from him. He looked up and saw a small human staring at him with wide eyes.

"Valar! You startled me! What are you doing in my room?" The elf reached quickly for a robe and pulled it on with rough jerks.

"I came to see if you are all right. I would not be all right if I had been like that in front of everybody and –"

"You came to see if I was still slimy, you mean?"

"No! I came…" the boy faltered; suddenly he was not sure why he had felt he needed to come.

"It is surely time you were in bed. Do you want me to tell your Adar that you came to vex me further tonight?"

Estel became angry that his concerned gesture would get him in trouble. "I did not come to vex you! I was worried about you! But now I am sorry because you are not a real prince and you are just mean, and I am glad you fell in the swamp that nobody does unless they are very stupid and careless!"

Legolas started toward the boy with his breath coming audibly, short and sharp, through his nostrils. Estel backed away, then stopped and stood his ground although his heart thudded in his throat. He fisted his hands at his side and prepared to meet his doom without a whimper. To Legolas' credit, though, he simply put his hand on the child's shoulder and turned him, quite gently, to the door. He ground his teeth but said in a nearly normal, courteous voice, "Good-night, Estel. Go back to bed now."

Estel, relieved that the elf had not committed some furious outrage upon him, returned to his room meekly, but as he climbed back into bed one lone tear trailed down his cheek. He dashed it angrily away. It was not as if he wanted that fake prince to like him or anything!

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End Chapter 2/6