Legolas and the Rangers

Disclaimer: Glorfindel, Elrond, Celebrian, the Twins, Legolas, Thranduil and Erestor are not mine nor are any other of Tolkien's characters. I make no money out of this and it is merely for my enjoyment and that of others. I would appreciate it if you didn't claim any of the characters that I made up as your own, especially not Threwen and her kittens. You may use them if you want, referencing would be nice but it's not required, so long as you don't claim them as your own.

Summary: Young Legolas and his father have returned to Rivendell after 70 long years. Legolas meets a Ranger and for the first time, his curiosity of men is unleashed. When disaster strikes, can they put aside their differences and work together? Sequel to 'Happy Easter Legolas.'

Prologue:

Glorfindel grinned wickedly to himself as he spotted the person he sought in the far distance. He was tall, proud and stern, with golden hair and bright blue eyes, several shades darker then Glorfindel's own eyes. Beside him rode a second figure of equal bearing yet younger and without the wisdom of many years.

Glorfindel could hardly take his eyes from the youngster who rode beside the first elf. It had only seemed like yesterday yet Legolas Thranduillian had changed much over the years and had grown to be as tall, proud and stubborn as his father, Thranduil, King of Greenwood.

As Thranduil rode beneath the tree on his way to Rivendell in which Glorfindel hid, he readied his trap. He took careful aim and then up ended the bucket and its contents. Somehow, Thranduil sensed it coming and ducked to the right but it was too late as a strangely familiar red paste poured down onto him and his mount.

He heard something whistle past his head, then several splats and a loud thump followed by a gasp. He righted himself just as Legolas' horse dashed past him. He turned to see his son sprawled in the dirt with the bright red paste plastered across his chest and stomach.

The sound of someone laughing caught Thranduil's attention and he whirled in his saddled to gaze up at the source of the laughter. Glorfindel grinned brightly and waved a cheery hello. 'I can't believe you held a grudge against me for seventy years!' Thranduil said furiously.

Glorfindel chuckled; Thranduil had certainly not changed since he had last seen him. 'Well I'm not stupid,' said Glorfindel. 'I know it was you who set the twins and Legolas up to play that prank on me right before you left and me being a Noldor and all, I would have thought you'd remember that we love a good prank but even better, a payback prank. I got the twins back years ago and have been waiting ever so patiently for you to come along so that I may extract my revenge.'

'Why you little beast! When I get my hands on you, you won't be wearing just red paste but all the colours of the rainbow!' cried Thranduil in fury. Glorfindel just laughed and vanished into the branches.

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And so it was that with great embarrassment, Thranduil had to ride into Rivendell with Legolas seated behind him and the remnants of the paste still covering him and his son. The twins were there to greet them at the gateway and they laughed at the sight they saw then immediately took Legolas off to go and find Glorfindel.

Thranduil had just blinked and hardly said a word for the twins had grown to be just as tall as he and as brave as their father. They had changed much, just as Glorfindel had thought with Legolas.

With a sigh, Thranduil steeled himself and rode on to the House of Elrond. He had told only Elrond, his family, Glorfindel and Erestor that he was coming so the guards on duty were quite surprised to see him and would have barred his way had not Elladan and Elrohir mentioned to them earlier that Thranduil was headed their way and that he was to be allowed entry. Fortunately, they did not know it was the King of Greenwood they spoke to else the news would have been all over Rivendell within hours.

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Elrond smiled warmly as he caught sight of the twins and Legolas in hot pursuit of Glorfindel down near the kitchen gardens. It was too far to see Legolas, yet the elven Lord knew he would have changed much as his own sons had done. Turning his gaze away, he spotted Thranduil trotting into the courtyard, the same as ever and scowling furiously.

He chuckled to himself as he caught sight of the red paste smeared upon the elven lord. Glorfindel had been planning his prank for weeks ever since he had learned that Thranduil was coming though it appeared that he was now going to have to deal with the twins, Legolas and mayhap Thranduil later.

Elrond sighed peacefully, all was right in the world and Glorfindel had fulfilled his promise: that Legolas and Thranduil would return to Rivendell and see them all again.

Chapter 1

Settling In

Glorfindel sighed and leaned back, his stomach content. Not surprisingly, the golden haired elf was the first finished. The twins, once upon a time, had always given him a run for his money when they had been just teenagers and always starving. Now however, the twins were fully grown and though they still behaved like twelve year olds at times, they could no longer match the ever hungry pace of the Balrog Slayer.

Legolas was openly staring at Glorfindel. He did not remember ever having seen anyone devour a meal in a matter of minutes. Glorfindel chuckled and smiled at Legolas.

The prince flushed and turned his face away; he remembered having been comfortable around Glorfindel once but that was many years ago when he was only an elfling. Now it felt like he was meeting a whole new Glorfindel all over because he no longer had the understandings of a child but of an adult.

Glorfindel was the only elf the prince had ever met that made him shy to be around. Legolas was fine with any other person, just not Glorfindel.

He guessed it was simply because he was extremely sharp sighted like his father and he didn't miss the grace and respect Glorfindel wore like a cloak or the ancient wisdom carefully hidden behind those blue eyes.

Elrond possessed such qualities too but there was one major difference between the two elven lords that set them worlds apart: it was the horror and sadness Legolas sometimes glimpsed in the eyes of Glorfindel. Legolas was no stranger to the stories of Glorfindel the Balrog Slayer and he knew perfectly well that this was what caused that pain and sadness. Sometimes he wondered what it was like but he didn't dare ask Glorfindel to tell the tale himself.

Legolas' thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his father and Erestor heatedly arguing over one matter or another. The twins were watching with rapt attention while Lord Elrond looked slightly amused and Lady Celebrian not at all pleased

Legolas smiled impishly at the lot of them and he too settled back to watch the scene unfold.

The entire room quietened when a number of cats suddenly came charging into the room just after the serving staff had collected the empty dishes, led by a light grey cat with large blue eyes. Several of the other cats were fighting and making a terrible racket.

'Threwen!' roared Elrond springing to his feet. He was too late as the mother cat led her litter under the table where they proceeded to race about and fight. Legolas jumped as one playing pair crashed into his legs. He looked up just in time to see Glorfindel stand up to catch the mob of rampaging animals and trip over his chair trying to avoid a fighting pair. The Balrog Slayer fell back with a sharp cry. There was a loud crash as the chair hit the floor followed by Glorfindel.

With a scraping of chairs and a clatter of cutlery, the entire table got up and rushed around to the other side of the table to bend over Glorfindel, the cats forgotten for the moment.

The golden elf stared up, his eyes dazed, into the faces of everyone else.

'How many fingers am I holding up Glorfindel?' asked Elrond quickly showing him two fingers. 'Four?' guessed Glorfindel haphazardly. 'Close enough,' responded Elrond realising that his friend only had a slight double vision at the moment and that it would soon clear.

Together, Elrond and Erestor pulled Glorfindel to his feet scattering cats left and right. Everyone watched as the two dark haired elves took Glorfindel up stairs.

'Where on earth did you come by so many cats?' asked Legolas curiously. The twins chuckled.

'They were born under Glorfy's bed and he was most unhappy about it as he had to take care of them. At the time my brother, father and I already had too much to take care of and Erestor didn't have the time so Glorfindel had to. He was most unhappy about it until about a month ago when those "clumsy" cats managed to save Glorfindel's life,' explained Elladan.

'Really? What happened?' asked Legolas.

'A cave in occurred and the mother cat managed to find Glorfindel in the debris and lead the rescue team to him. He was badly injured and dehydrated. I don't think I've ever seen anyone covered in so much blood,' replied Elrohir solemnly.

'What was he doing in a cave in the first place?' asked Legolas, slightly apprehensive at the idea himself. Elves were definitely not fond of caves and some could not even go into one because of the claustrophobia that went with entering a cave. For some it was simply too much to handle.

'I'm not exactly sure,' replied Elladan. 'I don't even think we asked him El,' agreed Elrohir. The twins abruptly turned and took off up the stairs after Glorfindel.

Celebrian smiled lightly. 'Never mind, this is not an unusual occurrence in the House of Elrond. Why don't you finish up and I'll have someone prepare your rooms for you? I'm sure you're both very tired.'

Thranduil smiled. 'Thank you Lady Celebrian, I must admit that it is so and that I am a little wearied from the long journey here and the mischief of Glorfindel.' Legolas too, agreed with his father.

Celebrian laughed lightly then stood and quietly departed leaving the King and his son to prepare themselves for bed.

'You know what Adar?' asked Legolas. 'I think we're really going to enjoy it here.' Thranduil laughed. 'I couldn't agree more Legolas, I couldn't agree more.'

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Legolas hummed softly to himself as he went to retrieve his pack from where it had been left in the main hall. His father was already upstairs, probably tucked up in bed and sound asleep. Distantly over the rain pouring outside, he could here the twins' raised voices, Glorfindel's and Erestor's as they argued over something or other. Legolas guessed that it was what had Glorfindel been doing in that cave. He smiled softly as he picked up his pack.

He was just about to turn and head upstairs when there was several loud knocks on the door he stood next to. The Prince jumped and swore softly at his own fright. 'Could you get that Legolas?' asked Elrond racing past, his arms filled with blankets.

Legolas sighed and cautiously opened the door. The door was only halfway opened when the person on the doorstep suddenly fell forward pushing the door aside in the process and landing straight on Legolas.

The young Prince dropped his pack and struggled instead, to keep the fallen person on his feet. He was slightly taller than the Prince and very heavy. Legolas was shocked to see a long arrow protruding from the person's back.

Gently Legolas laid the injured person down and was horrified to discover that it was not an elf as he had presumed but a man.

'ElroooNNNDDD!