A.N: Sorry for the delay, real life intervened as it is wont to do occasionally.
italics:elvish
One Friend to Another
Chapter 5: Feel
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"Well" Elrohir started as he pulled himself to his feet and dusted crumbs from his tunic "I believe the sun is telling me it is time to get back to my unruly class of elflings" He stretched like a cat, then bent to pull his brother to his feet.
"'Ro….. 'Dan…" Estel began softly from his spot on the grass next to the now empty picnic basket. He looked up with pleading in his eyes. "Can I come with you? Please?"
The twins looked at the boy, then looked over to Legolas who stood a little way off, then they looked at each other. They knew what had prompted the request, but they also knew the words of their father earlier this morning after Legolas and Estel had left the breakfast table.
Elrond had not given either of them any details, but when they had both turned raised eyebrows at him after his surprise announcement that Legolas should give the boy archery lessons, the Lord of Rivendell had just answered "Trust me. It will be good for both of them" and had left it at that.
Estel knew by their faces he wasn't going to like the answer.
"I am afraid not, Estel" Elladan told him, not without sympathy for the boy's feelings. "We are both busy little one, and Ada has important business to attend to. Legolas is the only one free to keep an eye on you….."
"..and see that you do not get into any trouble" Elrohir interjected with a grin "Like putting more spiders in my boots!" His cheering -up tactic did not work, however.
The young boy glanced over at the prince, who was retrieving his arrows from the most distant target at the far end of the practise field. He hung his head with a pout.
"I do not like him" he stated honestly "He scares me"
The twins exchanged glances again, then Elladan crouched down in front of his tiny brother and ruffled the unruly mop of hair, his favourite sign of affection.
"Legolas does not mean to scare you, Estel. He is a good, kind and brave elf and he only wishes the best for you" He chucked the boy gently under the chin. "Be good for him and do as he says and you will be fine"
The twins retrieved the picnic basket and headed back across the meadow towards their home. They turned as one before they disappeared to wave at Estel.
"We will see you later, pen neth"
From his spot just a few yards away from the reclining boy, Legolas had heard Estel's words to his adoptive brothers. The blond elf stood near the weapons table where he was once more filling his quiver after another lightening fast round of target practise. During the picnic he had eaten little, only choosing an apple from the basket and a flask of clear clean water.
His quiver filled he leaned against the trunk of a great old oak, and watched the twins leave the field. He sighed despondently. A great weariness had settled over him again, and he raised one hand to press it to the gnarled bark of the tree, seeking whatever strength the ancient tree could offer him. The tree in truth brought little comfort. It returned the wood elf's greeting with respect, but mostly he felt worry and concern from it. Concern for him and worry for the state of the wood elf's health.
Estel had stood to fetch his own arrows and quiver when he noticed Legolas standing at the tree, eyes closed as if deep in thought, one hand pressed to the bark. He saw various emotions pass over the elf's face, even a brief smile, and his curiosity got the better of him.
"What are you doing?"
Legolas jumped at the sudden query and his eyes flew open to gaze at the boy. He had briefly forgotten Estel was in his company as he communed with the old oak. He patted the tree as he would a friendly dog in farewell, and once more approached the weapons table.
"I was talking to the tree" he stated to the child.
Estel was astounded. His eyebrows shot up into his hairline and he stared at Legolas like he had grown another head. Then a horrid thought entered his own head and he looked like he might cry.
"You are teasing me" he said in a small hurt voice and Legolas looked at the child, surprised in the sudden change of tone.
"No, little adan" he assured the boy. "I speak truthfully. I am a Wood Elf. We can all speak to trees, and they to us"
"But I didn't hear anything" Estel replied. "What do trees sound like?"
Legolas couldn't help a small smile at the boy's innocence
"I was talking to the tree with my mind, Estel. With thought. And the tree responded with thoughts of it's own"
He paused to find the right words to describe something that came as naturally to him as breathing. He approached the boy and sat down on the dry warm grass with a languid folding of long legs.
"The tree conveys thoughts to me and all elves of my kind, by emotion. I can hear what it says by feeling what if feels. I feel if it is happy, if it fears danger….and if it feels worry"
"Danger?" the boy repeated. He glanced about the large meadow warily. "Does the tree sense danger here?"
"No, not here. In my home of Mirkwood, the trees warn us of danger. Approaching bands of orc, spider nests and the like"
"You are the prince of Mirkwood" Estel stated obviously. "What is it like to be a prince?"
It was Legolas' turn to be astounded, by the sudden change in topic. Was it a human thing to talk thus, or a childish thing? He couldn't tell, and he did not have the words to answer the boy's question. Did he tell the truth and go into details about his responsibilities to his people, his command of warriors, the fight to keep back the ever-encroaching shadow? No, in true elf style he answered with a question of his own.
"What is it like to be a human boy?"
The boy frowned as he digested the new query, and he plopped down on the grass beside the prince, deep in thought.
"I do not know" he eventually answered with a shrug of small shoulders. "I just am"
"That is what it is like to be a prince" the elf returned. "I just am, too"
Estel found himself smiling at the blond elf, all previous declarations of fearing him vanishing as they talked and relaxed finally in each other's company.
"I suppose if I asked 'Ro or 'Dan what it feels like to be a twin they would reply the same" he declared.
"Probably. They 'just are' too" Legolas agreed. "though they may add that it is wonderful and horrid all at the same time" he added with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Horrid?" the boy frowned.
"Oh yes" Legolas lent back on his hands in the grass and gazed up at the cloudless sky. "They would both say that it is wonderful to have a brother and friend, one to watch their back as they steal pastries from the kitchen…and to share the punishment from Elrond when they get caught"
Estel giggled at the mental image the prince's words cast.
"But horrid to have to share everything they own, have no privacy from thought or deed" Legolas continued lightly. "Getting blamed for what the other has done……and being treated by others as if they are one and the same elf and not two"
"Then it is the same as being a human boy" Estel stated, suddenly serious again. "It is wonderful to have the elves spoil me, looking after me and helping me when I am scared or lost or lonely" He plucked absentmindedly at a daisy at his knee. "But it can be horrid knowing that I can never be as good as them in everything I do. I cannot talk to trees or shoot arrows like lightening. I can never be an elf" he sighed.
Legolas glanced over at the downcast head and raised a hand to stroke the dark locks in a small gesture of comfort.
"As it is for me, Estel" he replied, dropping his hand back to the grass. "I have the love and trust of a whole realm of elves. They look up to me as their prince and leader. They respect me as the son of a great and powerful king. All that is wonderful" he sighed "And it is horrid"
He closed his eyes against the dark thoughts of grief and fear that threatened to rise up again in his heart. Then he felt a small hand stroke his long hair in much the same manner as he had just done for the child, and the strong emotions that welled up from just that simple gesture threatened to engulf him. He swallowed dryly, struggling to hold back the dam that threatened to burst. He pushed the emotions deep into his gut and sighed, casting off his dark thoughts as if they were a cloak to be tossed aside. He sprang to his feet in one agile leap and bent to help the boy do the same.
"Do not worry that you cannot talk to trees, Estel" he told the child with a smile he had conjured up from the deep of his heart. "Neither can your two clots of brothers"
"Truly?" Estel grinned.
"Truly" came the assurance, and boy and elf retrieved bows and arrows and once more, but with much lighter hearts than before, resumed their archery lessons.
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TBC.
Just a few elvish translations for anyone who is new to LOTR fic.
pen neth: young one, or little one.
Adan: human