Title: Maethor Ada

Chapter 2: Protective Spirit

Legolas was running. He was running from the only home he had ever known. Mirkwood was no longer welcoming to him. It was now foreign; it held no meaning. Legolas was scared, frightened, he was starting to become tired as he ran; his throat was dry and his lips were chapped. He tried to call for help, but he couldn't even form the words. When he could look back at Mirkwood, he heard a horse coming around the well-beaten path. He started to run again, but he fell because of a root that grew above ground.

He froze once he heard the horse come to a stop. The rider dismounted and knelt down beside him. The man softly exclaimed, "Bragol fuin." Legolas felt himself being lifted up onto the horse that stood patiently and silently. The man led the horse forward, letting Legolas rest on the horse's neck. Soon Legolas was asleep, but some six miles from Mirkwood, in another town, he woke up. "Pedich Edhellen?" Legolas nodded in return.

"Aragorn eneth nîn." Legolas forced himself to respond truthfully. "Estannen Legolas Greenleaf." Aragorn looked up at that. "Prince of Mirkwood?" Legolas' glance told Aragorn that he didn't want to talk about it. But instead, Aragorn let Legolas take care of the spirited stallion he rode. The chestnut horse searched Legolas for any treats like carrots, but when the horse found none, the stallion sighed and started to doze.

Legolas brushed the horse as best he could, after which Aragorn said, "You are very skilled, Legolas." Legolas hesitated before reaching up to take the bridle off, he feared everyone that could easily be in a leadership role over him. He unbuckled the bridle but did not know how to take it off the horse. He tried and Aragorn said, "Legolas." Legolas saw Aragorn get up and walk towards him. He cringed and quickly stepped back, away from Aragorn. Aragorn saw fear in Legolas' eyes, and he also saw what looked like hurt and pain. "Legolas, I'm not going to hurt you."

"I'm sorry, it's just that…it's just that my father…would have punished me for something like that." Legolas sat down and began to cry, only stopping every minute to take a deep breath. Aragorn knelt down in front of Legolas and gently took the young elf into his arms. Legolas cried well over five minutes, all the while the hurt and fear he felt slowly was washed away. Aragorn quietly whispered that everything was going to be all right. When Legolas' tears finally subsided, Aragorn heard Legolas whisper, "Hannon le, maethor ada." Aragorn was astonished at what Legolas had just called him. Legolas asked softly, "Do you mind if I call you my father?"

Aragorn replied softly and gently, "I don't mind at all." Legolas smiled and repeated himself; "Hannon le, maethor ada."

Bragol fuin—sudden darkness (brah-goal foo-in)

Pedich Edhellen—Do you speak Elvish? (peh-deekh eth-ell-ehn)

--eneth nîn—my name is your name here (eh-nehth neen)

Estannen-- —I'm called your name here (ehs-tahn-nehn)

Hannon le—Thank you (hah-non lay)