"Ada, what's going on?" Elladan asked the next morning at breakfast. He glanced at the servants rushing by with arms full of blankets and other such supplies. The place was unusually busy at this hour. Lord Elrond looked up from the head of the table, where he was concentrating on his food.

Wiping his hands on his cloth napkin, Elrond said:

"We are expecting company later today," he reported in his deep voice, picking up his fork once more. "At near sundown."

"Who, Ada?" Estel squeaked from the other end of the large mahogany table. He swung his legs in the large chair and leaned forward to try and see his foster father's face. Elrond smiled benignly in the little boy's direction.

"Royalty from Mirkwood," he replied, the answer aimed at everyone seated around him, for he could tell by their faces that they all had the same question.

"The king?" Arwen asked.

"No, the prince," Elrond said. "As well as the chief advisor."

"Why could not the king come?" Elladan questioned. "And if the chief advisor is to be present, why is the prince coming as well?"

"The king has duties in his own realm that he must see to," Elrond informed his inquisitive children. "He normally would have come, but the matters are too pressing. As for the prince, the king has insisted that he go. It seems Prince Legolas has been…slightly ill at heart lately, due to the memory of a tragic event, and King Thranduil thinks spending some time away from their realm would do him some good."

"What tragic event, Ada?" Estel asked. He had stopped eating and was leaning over his plate, eager for news. Elrond turned his gaze upon the boy and his eyes softened.

"He lost his nana, Estel," the elven lord replied quietly, "at the hands of orcs." Estel's eyes grew large. He knew what it was like to lose parents; he had lost his own almost a year ago. The pain was still as fresh as ever, for he still had nightmares about the terrible event.

"But what about his ada?" the small boy asked. "He still has his ada, doesn't he?" Elrond lowered his eyes.

"Legolas' ada does not have time or love to spare for his only child," the lord whispered. "He spends all of his time working on the matters of the kingdom. Their relationship is…awkward, it has been ever since the queen's death. He actually seems to look for matters that need handling simply so he will not be alone with his son." Estel stared at his plate of food, suddenly not hungry anymore. He could imagine losing a mother, but then having a father who shunned you was probably even worse than losing him as well. He felt an unexplainable amount of pity for this elven prince who he had never even met.

"Ada, may I be excused?" Estel asked quietly, so much that a normal human might not have heard him, yet elven hearing could clearly hear it. All eyes around the table turned to him, filled with concern.

"What is the matter, Estel?" Elladan asked, setting down his fork and gazing at his foster brother.

"I…I'm not hungry anymore," the child replied. His elven siblings turned to look at their father, who nodded mutely. Estel pushed his chair from the table and slid from the seat. They all saw his curly brown head bobbing from the room, his bare feet barely audible. They waited until he was definitely out of earshot before they began speaking.

"What do you think happened?" Elrohir asked, gazing seriously at his father. "Did we awaken some memories?"

"I do not believe what I saw in his eyes was remembrance," Elrond mused, watching the doorway the young human had left through. "I think it was pity."

"Estel feels sorry for the prince?" Arwen asked curiously. "But he has never even met him!"

"That does not mean he cannot feel sympathy for him," Elladan pointed out, lifting his fork and taking a bite of his food. "He could have constructed how he must think the prince is faring with a dead mother and a negative father."

"But we've lost a mother too," Elrohir whispered from across his twin. It was true. She had died also at the hands of orcs, after being brutally beaten and raped. The children of Elrond shuddered as they remembered how horrible she had looked when they had found her.

"Yes, you have, but I do not spend all my time ignoring you," Lord Elrond replied coolly. "You still have me."

"Yes we do, Ada, and we are grateful for that," Arwen murmured, nodding her head in her father's direction. The twins voiced their agreement. Elrond stood and kissed each of his children on the brow.

"Let us make Prince Legolas feel welcome," Elrond said, gathering his robes and striding from the hall. The remaining elves at the table silently finished their meals and cleaned the plates from the tabletop, handing them over to the servants. They walked outside together, intending to find Estel.

They found him sitting on the lowest branch of an oak, swinging his legs and humming a nonsense tune that they didn't recognize.

"Estel?" Arwen called, placing a hand on the rough bark of the tree. The boy peered down at them and smiled.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to come horseback riding with us?" Elrohir asked, stepping beneath the little boy's branch and gazing up at the small round face. There was a moment of silence, where they all waited for an answer. Elladan gave a shout of surprise as Estel leaped into his arms and slid to the ground.

"By the gods!" El exclaimed, putting a hand to his heart as if he could slow it down by massaging it. "Don't do that,Estel!"

"He surprised you,El!" Ro laughed. The twins were mostly known for trying to frighten each other, and most attempts on each other were usually unsuccessful. Elladan crossed his arms and glared at his identical brother.

"He…did not," Elladan denied. "He only…" He trailed off as he tried to find something to say.

"Can't think of anything?" Ro giggled. "I think you are losing your touch. Maybe next time we get in trouble I'll handle coming up with a good excuse."

"Sure."

"Oh, hush you two and let's get to the stables," Arwen scolded her younger brothers, scooping Estel into her arms. She turned on her heel and stalked away while the twins followed, making faces at her back and mocking her in squeaky voices too quiet to be heard by even her keen elven ears.Estel, looking back over her shoulder, giggled and covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hold back the laughs his brothers were ensuing. Arwen of course heard Estel's chortles, and knowing the cause must be the twins, spun around and caught them in the act before they could hide it beneath emotionless masks. She glowered at them.

As soon as she turned back around the twins then imitated her glare, exaggerating it and lifting their eyebrows much too high and wrinkling their noses. This only made Estel giggle more, and Arwen soon placed the child upon the ground and pelted after the twins, shouting curses at them in Elvish. El and Ro laughed all the way to the stables, their angry sister on their heels, even though she was in a dress. Estel trailed after them, yelling for them to wait up. His short legs could not match the long strides of the elves. They streaked across the garden, two identical elves and one bristling elven maiden, followed by a small five year old boy in their wake. Such was the sight that met Lord Elrond as he gazed out of his window and down into the garden. He smiled at his childrens' antics and shook his head.

"Will they ever be civilized?" he asked himself, turning away from the window with a chuckle.

Estel was puffing by the time he caught up with the three elves, who were standing outside the stables. Elladan and Elrohir stood side by side, innocent looks upon their faces, but their act did not fool Arwen, whose normally fair face was flushed from the run and smooth hair disheveled. She was talking sternly with her brothers, who denied everything with hidden smiles and silent laughs.

Estel ignored the lecture and went to his pony, Veni, grabbing a handful of oats and holding it out under her velvety nose. She snuffled happily and began chewing on the treats settled in the bowl of his palm. Estel watched silently as Arwen continued to lecture her brothers, a trait she had inherited from her father. Soon Estel went to his older sister and plucked at her dress.

"Arwen," he said quietly. "May we go now?"

Elladan and Elrohir laughed and went to their own mounts before their sister could begin her talk again. Luckily for them, she only went to her own horse and called him from the stable. The three elves leapt gracefully onto the backs of their horses, gripping the manes and waiting patiently for Estel, who soon trotted out on the back of his small pony. He too rode out without a saddle, for Elvish was like a second language for him, and that was what the mounts responded to.

Arwen and the twins set their horses at a light trot so Veni could keep up. The mounts clearly enjoyed their time out of the stables, and picked up the pace. Soon all four were sprinting down the forest path. Veni stayed close beside the horses, even though her legs were small. She was stubborn as a mule and was determined to win the race. Estel leaned over her neck, loving the feel of the fast winds and the fevered speeds. He loved being with his adopted family like this, outside and being free. The elves racing him felt the same way, and, giggling, they bolted away.

--------

"Not as funny as you falling off the horse, Elladan," Arwen laughed. Her brother flushed at the memory, rubbing his lower back where a root had jabbed him from his fall.

"It wasn't my fault she reared when she saw that snake," he retorted, scowling at his still chortling sister. Estel smiled from his place in front of Elrohir. Veni followed behind his horse, her head bent in exhaustion. It had been a tiring day for all of them, and they all wished to return home. They had explored the surrounding forests all day long. It was now twilight, near dinner. Arwen knew that Prince Legolas would be here soon. Elrond would not be happy if they missed his arrival. She pressed her horse into a light trot, and the twins behind her did the same. They came to the stables and quickly put their mounts into the confined spaces, where they set to work munching down on hay and oats. The four of them crept into the house silently and came to the dining room. No one was there, so, emboldened, they made their way more carelessly down the hall. That was how Lord Elrond caught them.

"There you are," he said, coming from his bedroom. His children halted and turned to face him. "Prince Legolas should be arriving any minute. Go wash yourselves up."

"Yes, Ada," they all replied in monotonous unison, walking to their own rooms and shutting the doors behind them. Elrond smiled faintly to himself and turned on his heel, heading down the passageway to the entrance hall. He would wait there and greet the ones who were coming.

Estel stood on his toes in his own room to reach the water basin resting on the high table. He reached over and cleaned the mud and dirt from his arms carefully. He then put on a new tunic and leggings, tossing the dirtied ones in the basket. He stepped out onto the balcony and leaped lightly up on the thick railing. He swung his legs out into the open air and sat watching the trees below him. He tracked a bird as it flapped above the leaves.

Estel knew he was not allowed to be sitting upon the balcony railing. Elrond had told him many times before, but it was the boy's favorite place to sit. He enjoyed the open air.

Still watching his bird, Estel hardly heard the sound of hoof beats below the trees. He rose into a crouch and peered through the foliage. He almost did not see the woodland elves, for they were dressed in dark colors that matched the trees and plants around them, allowing them to blend perfectly with their surroundings, and rode on horses with coats the same color as bark. Estel spotted a tall, noble elf at the front of the line, his dirty blond hair set in braids tucked behind his ears. He wore a simple green tunic and brown leather armor. A rapier was latched at his side and two knives on the opposite hip. He sat straight and held an aura of dignity about him.

Behind him followed a much younger elf, looking to be in his early twenties. Like the first elf, his hair was set in warrior braids tucked behind his gracefully pointed ears, but his locks were a lighter blond, seeming to be made from the sunshine. Even from above, Estel could see the elf's light blue eyes that looked like a sliver of the sky. A quiver was strapped to his back, filled with expertly fletched arrows, and a longbow was slung over his shoulder. Two long knives were sheathed on his back, next to the quiver. A party of other elves followed the first two, their own assortment of weapons by their sides. Estel somehow knew that the party below him was their guests.

Leaping gracefully from the railing, Estel sprinted to the door and flung it open. He knocked on his elven siblings' doors quickly.

"Prince Legolas is here!" Devern explained breathlessly. "We must go now!" They all heard Lord Elrond's deep call echo from the entrance hall. They ran hurriedly to the hall, slowing to a dignified walk so as not to be caught running in the palace. They arrived just as Lord Elrond was escorting the group of woodland elves through the door.

"Oh," Elrond said, stopping short and interrupting his own sentence. "Children, this is Calen, the chief advisor of Mirkwood, and its Prince, Legolas Greenleaf. Your highness, these are my children, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen and Estel."

"A human?" Calen asked, quirking an eyebrow at the boy.

"We have adopted him," Elrond explained shortly. "His village and parents were destroyed barely a year ago."

"How sad…" Calen muttered, not seeming sorry at all. Legolas stood straight and silent behind the two older elves, gazing in turn at each of the children. Estel felt his breath hitch when the prince set his cool blue eyes upon him. Being who he was, Estel had realized before that he was an excellent judge of character. He found he could see what people were feeling by looking into their eyes and scanning through the layers of their years. Looking into Legolas' eyes, Estel saw things that the prince had meant to keep hidden from everyone but himself. Outside was a wall of emotionless and stoic reserve that was kept blank. Yet digging deeper, the five year old boy saw pain, endless pain and sorrow that marked his very early years and left a scar through the rest that could never be healed. He saw the signs of a suffering heart and soul that had been injured long before but had never been properly cared for.

All these signs disappeared when Legolas looked away again. Estel watched as the three elves stepped past them and made their way down the hall in the direction they had been intending to go. They entered Elrond's study and disappeared from sight. The four siblings stood in silence for a moment.

"Quiet one, that Legolas," Elrohir commented in a low voice.

"He's hurting," Estel whispered quietly, but the small sentence was obviously heard by the other three elves.

"What do you mean, Estel?" Arwen asked softly, looking tenderly down at the boy.

"His heart is hurting."

"How can you tell?" Elladan asked curiously, leaning over to meet his foster brother's eye. He never did.

"I…I can see it."

"How?"

"I don't know, I just can."

Estel stalked off without another word. He left the house and entered the trees. The three elves gazed after him, baffled by what they had just heard. Elladan started to step forward, but his twin flung out an arm to catch his chest, stopping him in mid-stride.

"Let him go, brother," Elrohir whispered. "He does not seem to want any company at the moment." Elladan stared at the path the boy had disappeared down and nodded reluctantly. They turned and walked away slowly, not seeming to want to leave.

----------------

Legolas has arrived! Hee...