They approached the edge of the forest and already it was surpassing his every possible expectation. The elves at home in Imladris have nothing but rumors to tell him about the Woodland kingdom, since it had been so long since any had been allowed inside. And the visiting Silvan elves said almost nothing about where they came from.

Legolas included.

The valley had been shocked when King Thranduil had allowed Estel to come and learn from his people. But Estel himself had been thrilled.

When they finally reached the forest edge, Legolas turned around to make sure that their escort from Imladris was well and truly on their way home. Seemingly satisfied, Legolas entered through two large trees and towards what appeared to be a statue not too far into the forest.

"Come, Estel."

Shaking himself out of his amazement, he followed Legolas inside to where he was cleaning off the statue of a beautiful smiling elleth who had one arm bent by her side to hold a basket of flowers in the crook of her arm and one arm extending outwards in a welcoming gesture.

"This is my mother, Mereneth." Legolas introduced, standing back to scrutinize his work for several seconds before returning to banish several more leaves.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Estel said with all sincerity, knowing the pain of having to have one's mother captured in a statue to never forget her likeness. He approached and used the corner of his cloak to clean the grim from the folds of her dress and hair, "I would imagine that you were an amazing soul to behold, to have captured King Thranduil's heart so thoroughly."

Legolas looked over to him appreciatively, "Thank you, little friend."

"Thank you for introducing me."

The prince turned to look at him then, his face uncharastically serious and thoughtful, "How are you feeling about your own introduction to yourself?"

Estel blinked at him in surprise for several moments, stunned. His foster father, Elrond, had told him that nobody else knew his true name yet. Not even his brothers. That the information was his to distribute at will.

Perhaps sensing his rapid thoughts Legoals laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Relax, I know not your identity but guessed the veil had been lifted from you. I saw the questions in your eyes and the new burdon in your shoulders. It's part of the reason that my father had allowed you here."

"Because of the questions in my eyes?"

Legolas laughed and began to guide him back out of the forest, "Because you want to figure out who you are beyond the borders of your city. Beyond the opinions of those you love the most. Estel was told many opinions whether he noticed it or not, and we hoped we could help introduce whoever the real you is to a broader view of the world."

The broke out of the treeline and Legoals began to guide him to the left and down the treeline, "We just ask one simple thing from whoever you are going to be."

"And what is that?" Estel asked, still bubbling with excitement to be here.

"That you do not share what you learn here, because we are not teaching it to Estel from Imladris." Abruptly, Legoals stopped walking and placed his hands over Estel's heart, "We're teaching it to you."

Estel placed his own hands over Legolas, "You're teaching it to Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

The elf's eyes conveyed as much warmth as his smile did, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Aragorn. Thank you for introducing me."