Title: Salty Orc 3

Author: Sivan Shemesh

Beta:Niroveka

Rating: G

Characters: Estel/Aragorn, Legolas, Elladan & Elrohir, Elrond, and might Glorfindel.

Warning: Angst a little bit, fluff, and humor.

Disclaimer: "Estel look!" Legolas said as he pointed over to the author. Estel on the other hand, grabbed Legolas, as he tried to tell him who his original creator was, but Legolas did not listen. Legolas grinned, though. "But I can see our names in it...oh, Estel…" he said despairingly. Estel poked Legolas, and said in rough voice "We belong to Tolkien; she only owns the plot, and the right to torture us, nothing else!"

Spoiler: Total AU.

Summary: After a year, Legolas comes back to Imladris, only to find a horror and a new game that might be the end of all.

Note: Estel's age are 8, and Legolas's age is 12 and only an elfling compared to the other elves.

Note2: A game I used to play in my child-days. Was meant for Teitho Challenge at MC group, but as Legolas said to Aragorn, and I quote "Le ab-dollen" – 'You're late', so am I…blame RL.

3.

"This is called: 'Salty Orc'," Estel said.

"What is called...?" Legolas blinked in confusion.

"The game! The game is called 'Salty Orc', you stubborn elf."

"Huh…"

"I will start counting, while you stand where the twins are sitting. And while I am counting, you walk towards me, but if I am turn around and call 'Salty Orc!' and you move, or even blink, you're out and I won, but if you do not, then I kept counting, until you near me, and touch my shoulder. Then, you have to tell me a story that do not use the words 'Salty Orc'; if you say those words, I will have to chase you down and take you as my hostage for a week. Clear, prissy elf? Or should I repeat myself?"

"No, you are clear, like the sun on a bright day."

"Good! Now get ready!"

Legolas watched the boy as he walked over to a tree and began to count. He used his advantage and stepped forward quickly, suddenly stopping, not even blinking, when he thought Estel was about to turn on him.

Estel did turn around, and walked over to Legolas, trying to see if the elf remained still.

"Oh, come on, Estel, stop it! You did not do that to us; leave him alone!" Estel heard his brothers shouting at him.

Estel walked back to the tree, turning his head back very often to catch Legolas' movement, but the elf seemed rooted in place.

"This is going to be so much fun," Elladan giggled.

Estel finally turned to count.

Legolas blinked as he heard Estel's counting resume, took a few large steps, then stopped. He feared what Estel would do to him if he got caught.

Estel turned in advance and saw Legolas blink. "I caught you! You blinked!" he shouted happily.

At that point, Elrohir stood, furious at his brother, for he thought that Estel wanted more stories, though he did not look like it.

"Little brother, he did not! Elrohir defended his friend that was still rooted to the spot, seeming afraid of Estel's wrath..

Estel hung his head; he needed to poke his friend, to see if he would move. He walked over to Legolas, his eyes on his friend, and poked him repeatedly, but somehow Legolas's legs seemed stuck like a tree in the grass.

"Estel!" Elladan called to his brother, hoping that Legolas was alright after all the poking that he was getting from Estel. "Little brother," he added, "I thought that you love to hear bed-time stories," Elladan teased him. He knew his brother's weakness.

Estel looked at his brothers; smiles were on their faces. He sighed, his brothers knew him too well.

He did love to hear stories of heroes, battles, and of Saruman's creatures. It seemed that he felt curious about everything, about what was happening outside of Imladris. So he gave in.

Estel looked one last time at his frozen friend, only to make sure that Legolas did not move, then he headed back to the tree to continue his counting; while walking he wondered what story Legolas would tell him…

End of Chapter 3.