-Chapter 37-
(until I think of a title)
-ElvenHope-
Rogir glared at Admir as she spoke gritting his teeth.
"Your voice Rogir?" Thranduil asked looking at the younger elf. By now most people who had met Rogir in the past few days knew that his voice was breaking, yet no one had mentioned it. "And why is that troubling you?"
"It is not," Rogir said defensively.
"Oh yes it is," Admir said glaring at the raven haired elf. "Hir-nin I was telling Rogir to talk to his brother because it is bothering him. Aradwyn's voice sounded like that only a few years ago so I thought that if..."
"Go away Admir," Rogir growled. "I did not ask for your help." He looked Thranduil in the eye glaring at him defiantly. "Or yours. I just want to be alone, and it seems like the whole of Arda wants to come in here and disturb me!"
Thranduil stared back at his son. "Rogir just because you are older than Admir it does not give you the authority to order her about especially when she is trying to help you. And I never want to hear you speaking that way again do you understand me?"
Rogir mumbled something inaudible.
"I said do you understand me?" Thranduil asked sternly.
"Yes Adar," Rogir said glowering at his father. "I understood you perfectly. Now please, I wish to be alone now so can both of you leave me?"
Thranduil went to leave and Admir followed swiping at her eyes furiously.
"I will send for you when it is time for dinner Rogir," Thranduil said turning back to his son, "until then you are not to leave this room."
With that the elven king shut the door leaving Rogir to his thoughts.
Admir turned down the corridor away from Thranduil, for apart from anything the elven king scared her. Only a little way down the hall she ran into the twins.
"Admir," Elrohir panted. "Have you seen-"
"Estel?" Elladan finished. "He's not in his room-"
"Or in the kitchen-"
"Or in the gardens-"
"And we have no idea where else he could be," Elrohir said.
"Alright," Admir said thinking. "He was in my room last I think."
"We should tell Ada," Elrohir said slowly. "He could have just gone to him or something."
Admir nodded. "Alright."
Arrow. Aim. Fire. Arrow. Aim. Fire.
He had been doing this for an hour now or maybe longer and it was helping to calm the elfling's mood. Archery was very useful for getting rid of anger. Firstly it took concentration to aim the arrow so one did not have to think. Secondly he was so used to this by now that it was not difficult and he knew he would not fail at it. And thirdly there was the satisfying thud when the arrow hit its target. He was angry and if he could take his anger out on nothing else then he would take it out on the circle of wood at the end of the archery field.
This had been working well until now.
As Legolas grabbed another arrow Estel had stepped between the elfling and the target. Legolas strung the arrow and sighted it.
"Move!" He ordered threateningly. The stupid human was so annoying. Estel always had to get in the way of everything.
"No," Estel said defiantly hands on his hips. He didn't really know why he had decided to annoy Legolas, but the young human and elf had been known to rival one another at most things. Mainly because Legolas was the closest to the human's age for he had only just turned eight in human years whereas Admir was nearing her next birthday and Arwen not close behind her. The other reason was because the pair had a lot in common when it came to their skills and it always annoyed Estel that Legolas was better at him because of his elven abilities - and it annoyed Legolas even more when Estel won.
"I'll shoot!" He shouted sighting his target again, right through Estel's chest. "Get out of the way you stupid Adan!"
At the last word Estel simply flopped onto the floor his back heaving slightly and Legolas wondered what on earth he could have done and was just lowering his bow when Elladan and Elrohir came racing across the archery field. The twins immediately read the signs in front of them wrongly, for who couldn't? From where they were it looked almost certainly like Legolas was threatening the human. Elrohir rushed over to the shaking child whilst Elladan grabbed Legolas' arm jerking it up into the air and pressing down hard on the pressure point near his wrist so that he involuntarily let go of the arrow and fired it into the trees.
He dropped the bow in surprise more than anything, for Elladan had snuck up on him before the elven prince had even caught sight of Elrohir.
"Ow," Legolas said pulling away from the elder elf watching Elladan warily. "What was that for?"
"For hurting our brother," Elladan snapped.
"I didn't touch your precious brother," Legolas scowled.
"No but he's terrified and you were the one wielding a bow," Elladan said looking at Legolas seriously.
"I did nothing to him," Legolas growled. "He wouldn't get out of my way!"
"Then why is he acting like that?" Elladan asked glaring at the younger elf.
Legolas was watching Elladan worriedly now; whenever his brother used that tone of voice with him it was most likely that he was going to be hit next. He backed off a little hoping that he would be able to dodge the elder twin if he decided to strike him.
"I...I didn't..."
"For Valar's sake Legolas!" Elladan shouted. "Talk some sense!"
Legolas stepped back tripping over a stone and landing with a bump on the ground still trying to back away from Elladan as the elder twin advanced upon him.
"Legolas?"
The younger elf screwed his eyes tight shut raising his hands slightly in defense. "Please, please just get it over with."
"Get what over with?" Elladan asked bending down in front of the younger elf, noticing how he shied away from him, his anger gone.
Legolas opened his eyes a fraction. "Ar-aren't you going to hit me?" He asked quietly looking down.
Elladan just looked at the elfling shocked. He didn't know what to say to the young prince, it hurt Elladan that Legolas would ever think that he might hit the younger elf.
"Legolas..." Elladan managed eventually.
"I-I know I deserve it," the young prince stammered. "I'm not disputing that... I-I just... Please..."
"Legolas," Elladan said again cutting the younger elf off. "What are you talking about?" He asked pulling the blond prince towards him. "I would never hurt you, we've been friends ever since you came here when you could barely walk, why on earth would I hurt you?"
Legolas shook his head. "I don't know you were so angry..."
"I was more angry with myself than you," Elladan said slowly. "We thought that Estel had run off and I was angry with myself for letting it happen, when I saw you with your bow and Estel sitting on the floor like that I jumped to conclusions and used you to vent my anger. It was wrong of me."
"Do you think that's what Rogir does?" Legolas asked quietly hoping that maybe his brother didn't actually hate him and he was just a way for Rogir to vent his anger.
"Why?" Elladan asked forgetting his younger brothers for a moment. He was worried about Legolas. There was something terribly wrong here if Legolas thought that whenever someone was angry or annoyed with him they might hit him. There was also the added fact that from what Legolas had just said he had implied that it was Rogir who had been doing the hitting - not that Elladan couldn't guess that already. "Does Rogir hit you?"
"Sometimes," the younger elf looked away; he didn't like to admit that Rogir hit him. It made him feel weak that he couldn't stand up to his elder brother on his own - but it was the truth, he couldn't, and he needed help. Aradwyn knew how rough Rogir could get with the younger elf, although he didn't know the full scale of it and Thranduil seemed completely oblivious no matter how much Legolas and Aradwyn tried to tell him on many separate occasions, he wouldn't listen. Another problem was that now that Aradwyn was old enough to go out on patrol he wasn't always there to protect the younger elf.
"Sometimes?" Elladan raised a questioning eyebrow at the younger elf as he relaxed slightly against the elder elf. The adrenaline that had been churning through the child moments ago was now leaving him and with it so was his strength.
"Yes," Legolas said showing Elladan that he would not go into detail on that subject.
"And do you get bruises?" Elladan asked worriedly. "How hard does he hit you, Legolas?"
The young elf shook his head mutely; he didn't want to talk about this anymore. Rogir had always told him that crying to adults was a childish thing to do. He didn't want to seem childish.
"Please tell me," Elladan chided.
"Estel needs you," the younger elf said getting up and collecting his bow and quiver. "You should talk to him." With that he ran back up the archery field to the Last Homely House.
"Legolas!" Elladan called after the prince, but he did not turn.
"Elladan," Elrohir shouted to his brother from where he sat with Estel in his lap.
Elladan looked after Legolas for a moment before turning to Elrohir and Estel. The young human had calmed down a bit now and was sitting on Elrohir tugging at the elf's raven hair as he tried to get his attention.
"What is it Estel?" Elrohir asked.
"Can we go back inside now?" The human asked looking up at his brother.
"Sure," Elrohir said lifting the young human up.
"What was the...?" Elladan began, but Elrohir cut him off with a look.
"I'll tell you later."
Admir was still looking for Estel when she saw Elladan and Elrohir walking up one of the sloping lawns away from the Archery field with her younger brother. She rushed down to her brothers' and hugged Estel taking him off Elrohir.
"Oh Estel I was so worried!" Admir said hugging her brother. "Why on earth did you run away like that?"
"I don't want to be human," Estel said simply.
Admir hugged Estel even tighter. "There is no shame in being human," she said fiercely walking towards Estel's bedroom, the twins following behind her. "I am half human, Ada is half human, Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen are a quarter human. You should not be ashamed of who you are."
"But..."
"No buts Estel," Admir said finally reaching the human's room and setting Estel down on the bed.
"But humans are weak; we're clumsy and loud..."
"No," Admir corrected him. "You're clumsy and loud on your own. But compared to most humans you're very skillful. It must be hard to grow up imperfect in what seems to be a perfect world."
Elladan and Elrohir sat down on either side of their brother and sister.
"She's right you know," Elrohir said hugging Estel.
"You're the best human there is," Elladan grinned at the young human's smiling face, it was rare that he got this much attention without screaming or throwing a tantrum.
"And you're ours," Elrohir hugged Estel even tighter pulling him into his lap. "And we're not letting you go."
"Ever." All three of them said in unison. Admir broke the embrace first - for in an attempt to embrace Estel they had ended up all hugging each other - to take a book from her book shelf. It was large and one of her favorites and she opened it on the contents skimming down it.
"Here Estel," she said proudly sitting down amongst her brothers', "is proof that humans are not bad. Which of these do you want to hear?" She looked at the contents page. "Beren and Luthien? The story about Earendil? There are thousands."
"Beren and Luthien!" Estel shouted. "But none of the lovey dovey stuff; just skip straight forwards to the killing!"
Some king he'll make the twins thought looking at their little brother. They could both imagine the massacre that would occur if Gondor was ruled by a king who was obsessed with killing.
Admir found the page in the book and opened it beginning to read the tale from the start despite how much Estel ordered her to skip to the parts containing bloodshed.
At dinner everyone was silent. Elrond sat at the head of the table with Thranduil, Erestor and Glorfindel (who usually joined the Peredhil family at mealtimes) Estel sat at the other end of the table with the twins on either side of him, then Admir and Arwen and Rogir and Aradwyn. Legolas was sitting at opposite Glorfindel, next to Aradwyn and his father.
Estel wasn't talking to Legolas or Rogir. Admir wasn't talking to Rogir; Elladan and Elrohir weren't talking to Rogir; Legolas wasn't talking to either of his brothers' or Estel; Aradwyn was avoiding Erestor. And Rogir wasn't talking to anyone. Despite how much the elder elves tried to strike up conversation the room once again fell silent.
"Oh for Valar's sake you lot, lighten up," Thranduil said eventually tired of the morbid feeling that had settled about the room. "We're leaving tomorrow you won't see each other for another year or two so I suggest you enjoy yourselves."
There was an awkward silence, broken suddenly by a small voice. "Why are we leaving?"
Thranduil looked down at his youngest son. "Because-" Because your brother's have pushed me far enough and I don't want to be embarrassed by them again. "-we have to, something has come up."
Rogir's fork clattered down onto his plate. "Why don't you just tell him the truth?" He asked crossly. "You're too embarrassed of your own sons to let us stay here in case we do something!"
Thranduil gave his son a hard look and said in a low voice. "Rogir I do not think that this is something we should be discussing at the dinner table."
"Why not?" Rogir asked jumping up. "You never want to discuss it anywhere else!"
"Rogir sit down this instant!" Thranduil snapped.
"Make me!"
"Go to your room!" Thranduil shouted, when Rogir didn't move Thranduil stood up and Rogir backed off immediately.
"Alright, alright I'm going!" He yelled turning on his heel and stalking out of the room muttering something to himself.
Thranduil sat back down in his chair the sound of the wood creaking loud in the silence. He covered his face with his hand before placing them flat on the table top and looking at the others.
"I'm so sorry for my son's behavior," Thranduil managed. "He's not normally like this."
"Yes he is." It was Legolas again.
Thranduil rolled his eyes.
"It's age Thranduil," Glorfindel said. "You don't know how many rebel elflings I've tried to teach."
Thranduil smiled at the other elf, inwardly thanking him for saving him from the awkward situation.
"I don't want to leave," Legolas said pushing his food around his plate. "It's nice here."
"Well I'm sorry ion-nín, but you have no choice in the matter," Thranduil said quickly.
"Why not?" Legolas asked looking at the peas on his plate.
"Because I say so," Thranduil said calmly.
"So what?" The younger prince asked. "Rogir never does what you tell him to why should I?"
"Don't take that tone with me Legolas," Thranduil said dangerously he really didn't want another of his son's to cause a scene, his temper was already at boiling point.
"May I be excused?" Legolas asked. "I'm not hungry."
Thranduil looked at his son's untouched plate. "Not until you've eaten some more food."
"I said I'm not hungry." Legolas said firmly.
"Do as I say Legolas," Thranduil said trying to ignore the fact that everyone in the room was watching him and his son.
"Make me!" Legolas shouted sounding too much like Rogir for either Thranduil or Aradwyn's liking.
"Legolas, please eat your food," Thranduil said through gritted teeth.
Legolas raised his eyes to meet his father's gaze taking his plate in one hand and tipping it onto the floor the crash as it broke loud in the tension filled room.
"Pick that up," Thranduil said quietly. When Legolas didn't move he slammed his fist down on the table making all of the objects on it jump and clatter about. "Pick that up right now!" Legolas flinched, but didn't move staring his father straight in the eye. Thranduil reached out in a moment of rage to strike the younger elf but Aradwyn jumped up and caught his hand.
"Don't you touch him," he hissed before grabbing his brother's hand and leading him out of the room. The elder elf had never hated his father so much before in his entire life. Legolas always had Rogir beating him up; he didn't need his father too as well. He led Legolas into his room and shut the door pulling the younger elf onto the bed and hugging him tightly as the golden haired prince began to cry.
"It's alright," Aradwyn cooed as the younger elf cried into his shoulder. "It's alright."
Rogir glared at the full moon from the window of his room. He could hear shouting outside and then someone stormed down the hall. It didn't matter who it was, as long as it wasn't his father. Rogir slammed his fist into the wall not caring how much his hand stung. He hated his life! He was rubbish! His family was rubbish! Everything in the whole of Arda seemed out to get him. If only his mother was here...
Well I think someone requested Legolas angst, is that enough for you? And then the will probably more later because soon the only one Rogir will have left to attack is Legolas.
Basically the aim of this story is to ruin all of the children's lives. Oh well, at least it makes us feel better about ourselves. (Or maybe that's just me). Anyway, yeah more fighting, you'd be surprised how easy fighting is to write.
Oh I finally saw Narnia on Monday! It was really good! I'm still searching for the wardrobe in my Grandma's house lol.
Well thanks to all those who have reviewed! I hope we reply to them, they'll probably be short though, because the other day I wrote out a really long reply to a review and then the review had already been replied to so it deleted what I had written!
So whether you hear from us or not, we are both very grateful for the reviews!
Namarie,
ElvenHope
P.S. On stats we have like 63 hits for our last chapter now and like 2 reviews. I know sometimes there are anomalies, but I don't think the error margin is that large, so if some of you guys could just take 2 seconds to write a review it would be very much appreciated.