I gots more reviews! Yay! Thank you thank you thank you! muah
A/N: Alrighty, nice long chapter for ya! I hope you like it!
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ghostlyfacade: Why, thank you very much! I'm glad you like it! Oh, and a chocolate doughnut it is! I myself like them. You'll get more where that came from if you keep reviewing!
Gemini969: As you requested, here's the next update! I hope I didn't take too long! lol
Hippielover459: Luv your penname! lol Anywho, that is the most enthusiastic review I've gotten so far! Thank you! I'm glad you like it. Here's the next chapter!
IwishChan: Yes, poor Legolas. And probably, yea, Estel will understand, him having lost parents too. Thank you for your review, and I hope you keep reading!
lindahoyland: Oh, God! I'm sorry, I had no idea! But I could change the title of my story if you'd like. I just don't know what to call it. And I'm not sure if the readers would be able to follow it if I did. But if it makes you feel better, I can, if you give me title suggestions. btw, thank you for the review, and I'm glad you like my story!
kkcnbay5: I'm glad you like my story! And I'm also glad that you decided that my story was good enough to review to when you usually don't. Thank you! I hope you keep reading!
Just passing by: Yes, I know all of those facts already, but thank you for the suggestions! I know that Aragorn lost his father when he was two, and that his mother brought him to Rivendell, thinking he would be safe there, and passed away not long after. And I also realize that Arwen is really younger. Thanx for telling me, though. But, as I said in the beginning, this was originally my own piece, and I decided to alter it to make it into a fanfic. I wanted to keep a few things, otherwise it would have changed the plot dramatically, so yea. And besides, it wouldn't be called "fanfiction" if it was all strictly by the book, would it? -grin- Thanx again, though, and I hope you keep reading!
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Yea, I see a few people goin' "poor Legolas!" Oh-ho, peeps, you don't even know the half of it. Unfortunately for our favorite elven prince, it will only get worse before it gets better. Yes, he might be a bit OOC in the future, but I like 'im! -huggles Legolas tightly- So, ah, read on, and you will discover the real depth of his grief...(not in this chapter, just in the story ahead)
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ch.5
Estel wiped his face off on the towel nearby, drying the water from his skin. He leaped down from the chair. He glanced at the window to see the weather outside. It was sunny outside, and warm. It was perfect for exploring and other things. He opened the door to his room and stepped out, only to bump into someone. He paced back a step and gazed up at whomever he had bumped into.
"Sorry," he murmured. Legolas nodded and began walking again. Estel closed his door behind him and ran to catch up. He matched his pace to that of the long strides of the elven prince.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk," Legolas answered briefly.
"May I come?" Estel asked innocently, slipping his hand intoLegolas' long slender fingers. The elf seemed mildly surprised, but nodded. They walked down the hall and through the large oak doors of the entrance hall, stepping finally outside. Legolas' mood seemed to visually brighten, whileEstel's eyes sparkled in merriment.
"Come see my pony," he said, and led the prince down the steps and to the stables. Legolas followed silently. When they arrived at the stables Estel withdrew his hand and rushed to Veni. He stroked her cheek fondly.
"This is Veni," he explained. "She likes oats the best." Legolas nodded and reached out to caress Veni's velvety nose. She snuffled and rubbed her nose against his fingers, enjoying his touch. Suddenly the elven prince looked up at a welcoming nicker two stalls down. A light brown mare stuck her head out from her stable, turning her large brown eyes to the elf that stood beside the boy. Legolas made his way to her and stroked her cheek, murmuring in Elvish.
"Is that your horse?" Estel asked, coming to stand by his side and gazing up at the beautiful animal. He stood on his toes and brushed the mare's nose with his fingers. Understanding the boy's struggle, the horse lowered her head to make it easier for the young being to reach her.
"Yes," Legolas answered. "Her name is Khílya."
"She's pretty," Estel said softly. Legolas smiled lightly, a smile that was dry of emotion and did not reach his eyes.
"So was the original bearer of the name," the elf whispered. He did not think he spoke loud enough for the boy beside him to hear, but Estel's ears were sharp and detected the small comment. He stored it away in his mind.
"Would you like to go riding with me later?" he asked.
"I would very much like that," the prince replied. Estel slipped his hand into the elf's once more. He smiled up at him and led him into the forest. Veni and Khílya gazed sorrowfully after them. Estel and his elven companion entered the shadow of the trees. Legolas peered up at the trees, his eyes tender.
"These are magnificent trees," he murmured. "They are almost as grand as the ones of my home." Estel, delighted that the elf was finally saying something that did not answer a question, countered with one of his own.
"You like trees?" he asked, gazing up at the fair face. Legolas nodded.
"Very much," he replied. "I normally spend my time amongst them."
"I like climbing them," Estel said. Legolas smiled faintly, this time a genuine smile that touched his eyes. The small boy could have whooped in joy at the tiny sign of happiness the prince was showing. It was the first time Estel had seen the elf smile sincerely.
"I enjoy climbing them as well," Estel said.
"Once I found a bird nest," Estel said, to keep the talking aloft. "There was a nana bird, and she was sitting on eggs. I left her alone."
"That was wise," Legolas replied. "She would have felt threatened if you came too close."
"But I wouldn't have hurt her."
"She wouldn't have known that. Her instincts tell her to protect her babies."
"Would she have attacked me?"
"Most likely."
The banter went on like this for a while. The sun climbed higher in the sky as the two of them walked along the forest path, their hands linked. Soon Estel led Legolas to his favorite place to explore: a small creek running through the trees. Estel removed his boots and waded into the water, his leggings rolled up. He lifted rocks and other things to peer beneath them and see what was hiding under their protective darkness. Legolas was content to stay on shore, watching the boy's antics as he puttered around the creek. Estel did not see, but Legolas even smiled a few times, amused by the younger being. Estel reminded the prince of what he had been like when he was young himself. There was an aura of innocence and happiness around the boy that warmed and soothed Legolas' hurting heart.
"Come help me look for things, Legolas!" Estel called from his spot across the creek. Legolas smiled slightly and shook his head.
"I'm fine over here," he replied. Estel shrugged and went along his own way, lifting a rock and looking beneath it. He poked a stick through the water. Suddenly he gasped.
"Look!" he called, lifting up a rock. He made his way back to the shore where Legolas was waiting and held out the rock he was clutching. No, not a rock, a turtle, Legolas realized as a small scaly head emerged from one side of the shell. Arms and legs popped from the sides and waved in the air slowly.
"It's hurt," Estel whispered hoarsely. Legolas quickly realized that a long gash ran down the side of the turtle's leg, steadily dripping blood. Wordlessly and gently he took the turtle from the boy's hands. He set it on the ground.
"Watch it and make sure it does not crawl away," Legolas told Estel. The boy nodded and fixed his gaze on the creature below him. Legolas scanned the surrounding foliage for the right herbs he would need. Being a warrior, he had vague knowledge of healing, and one of the more basic lessons was cleaning and binding wounds. He fell gracefully to his knees and pulled some plants from the dirt. He grabbed some leaves of another and went back to the creek, where Estel was placing the turtle back on the shore. It had almost gotten away.
Legolas took the boy's hands and placed them on the sides of the turtle's shell, gesturing that he should keep the animal still. Estel wondered why the elf did not speak until Legolas removed a root from his mouth and pressed the paste against the wound gently. The turtle jerked, withdrawing its head and legs slightly into the shell as the root stung, but it eventually relaxed. Legolas ripped a thin piece of cloth from the bottom of his tunic and wrapped it around the injured leg. He then took a piece from a leaf in his hand and chewed it carefully to a paste, then lifted the turtle and pried its mouth open with cultivated fingers, taking the paste from his mouth and placing it on the turtle's tongue. The turtle swallowed the herb reflexively. Legolas took the creature from Estel's hands and placed it upon the ground next to him.
"What will happen now?" Estel asked quietly, gazing at the still animal.
"The herb will put it to sleep," Legolas replied.
"Can I take it home with me?" Estel asked. Legolas nodded.
"At least until it heals," the prince answered.
"I can't keep it?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because, Estel," Legolas said, pausing for a moment, "it was born out in the wild. This is its home, where it belongs. If you keep it, it will never see this place again, and it will be sad. Its heart lies here." Legolas' words were full of an unknown emotion.
"If I keep it, it will be sad?" Estel asked. "How do you know?"
"All creatures are forever bound to their homes," Legolas whispered. "It is a place they can feel safe and always love."
"Do you miss your home?" Estel asked softly, his eyes never leaving the prince's face. It was a while before the elf responded.
"Whenever I am away from it," he replied at last. He said no more. Estel accepted the quiet answer and waded back out into the stream. He prodded around for a few more hours until the sky was beginning to darken. Legolas called him from his exploring and got to his feet. He lifted the turtle carefully in his hands.
"Legolas, look what I found!" Estel exclaimed, coming from the water. He held out his hand, where a small jewel glittered, covered by mud and the dirt from the stream. Legolas narrowed his eyes and peered intently at the small thing.
"May I see that?" he asked. Estel nodded and placed it in the center of Legolas slender hand. The elf wiped the dirt off on his tunic and held it up to the light.
"This is dwarven, I believe," Legolas said, handing it back to Estel. "They fancy jewels and precious metals. They decorate most of their halls with golden dust, making it sparkle. More of the higher ranks of dwarves have weapons with jewels embedded in them."
"What else do you know?" Estel asked, sticking the jewel in his pocket and relieving Legolas of the burden of the turtle. They found the path and made their way towards the elven lord's home.
"Many things," Legolas answered. "Part of my studies were of other races."
"Can you tell me?"
"Of course."
You could not have found more knowledge in one place. Legolas knew the grand cities' names for each race, their location, when they were built, what they were made out of and how long it took to build them. He knew an assortment of languages, from Dwarfish to Stezctkin, the language of the stars, even Dragoneshki, the dragons' language.
"Where did you learn all of this?" Estel asked as the house came into view.
"In my earlier years," Legolas replied. "It was part of my studies. Some of the things I learned was from books, but most I learned from traveling."
"You like traveling?"
"Yes, very much."
"Why?"
"Why?" Legolas repeated, turning his gaze back down to the small boy with a smile. "I like seeing new things, going new places. Mostly, I like learning new things."
"Have you been doing this long?" Estel asked.
"Yes. Almost my whole life."
"How old are you?"
For the first time, Estel heard the elven prince laugh. It was a musical sound that seemed to cheer the entire forest, quiet as it was. The sound warmed Estel's heart and only made his desire to hear the prince sing stronger.
"I am many years old, by human standards," Legolas finally said. "In elven years, I am still quite young. I am twenty-one in elven years. But in humans' view of time, I am exactly two thousand seven hundred and sixty three." Legolas laughed again when Estel's mouth dropped open in surprise. The boy had known elves were immortal, yet he had never known their exact age. If this elf was that old, how old was Elrond!
"Where are you going to keep the turtle?" Legolas asked, suddenly changing the subject.
"In my room," Estel said, looking down at the shell. The turtle was still sleeping from the herb Legolas had given it. Its legs were pulled in tightly into its shell and its nose barely poked out.
"Will Lord Elrond approve of that?" Legolas asked as they made their way up the steps slowly.
"Probably," Estel replied, shrugging. "If he doesn't, I can just cry and get him to say yes." Legolas laughed again. Being with this boy made his heart forget all of the horrible things of his past and see life in a new light. He was feeling better than he had when he had first arrived in Jenuthain. He had only laughed like this with very close friends, and getting friends when you were a prince was very difficult.
"Is that the tactic you usually use to get your way?" Legolas asked as they walked slowly through the entrance hall. "You use your innocence and adorable features?"
"If I have to," Estel said, looking up at the elf with wide silver eyes and sticking his lower lip out to prove his point, only causing the elven prince to laugh again. Calen suddenly entered the room, and the laughter died away, the smile leaving Legolas' face. His emotionless reserve was replaced. Estel found he did not like the change at all. Legolas was back to the stoic prince he had been when the boy had first seen him.
"Prince Legolas," Calen said breathlessly, glancing at the five year old boy. The advisor normally would have called the prince only by his name, not his title, but since there were other people in the room, he chose the latter.
"What is it, Calen?" Legolas asked.
"Lord Elrond has summoned us for another debate." Legolas stifled a groan. He nodded his head.
"I will be there shortly, Calen," he answered. The other elf accepted the answer and hurried off. Legolas sighed when the chief advisor was out of earshot.
"Do you have to go?" Estel asked, clutching the turtle close to his chest. He felt upset that the prince had to leave now, when he was just getting the elf to open up. Legolas looked down at the small boy.
"I'm afraid so, Estel," he replied.
"I don't want you to go," the small child whispered. Legolas smiled slightly.
"Neither do I," the prince said. "I will be back shortly, I hope."
"I'll be waiting for you."
Legolas' gaze softened and he smiled in answer before padding away. Estel watched the doorway he had disappeared down for a moment. He then turned and made his way back to his room. He placed the slumbering turtle on the floor in front of the fireplace and flopped down next to the creature. He cocked his head as the scaly green head emerged from the shell, the beady eyes blinking blearily. It opened its mouth and yawned, revealing a pink tongue. The limbs poked from the confines of the shell and tugged the animal forward slowly. Estel smiled.
"Hello," he murmured. "How do you feel?"
The turtle turned its gaze to the small boy in front of it. It only stared for a while, then began to explore its surroundings. Estel watched it with interest, lying down on his stomach and kicking his feet into the air.
"What's that?"
Estel turned around at the voice to see Elladan and Elrohir in the doorway.
"It's a turtle."
"Where did it come from?" Ro asked, slipping into the room and sitting down next to his foster brother. Elladan remained standing, staring down at the little shelled creature crawling at his feet.
"I found it with Legolas," Estel explained. "It was hurt, and he fixed it. He said I could keep it here until it healed."
"With Prince Legolas?" Elladan asked. "Is that where you were all day?"
"Yes," Estel replied. "We went for a walk together through the woods. I found the turtle at the creek."
"No wonder you weren't at breakfast this morning," Elrohir mused. "I bet you are hungry." As if on cue, an empty hollowness made itself known in Estel's stomach. He nodded eagerly.
"Let's go see if we can filch you something. Dinner's already passed."
Estel got to his feet, lifting the turtle with him, telling his elven brothers that it was probably hungry too. They accepted that and the three of them made their way to the kitchens. Estel tugged a stool to the counter. He placed the turtle on the countertop and climbed up onto the stool. Elrohir dug through the pantry and found some bread for the boy, while Elladan came into the room with a fruit and leaves for the turtle. The twins pulled up their own stools and each picked off of a slice of bread between them. The three kept up a light conversation while they ate. The turtle snapped up the leaves, causing Estel to smile happily.
"Are you going to call it anything?" Elrohir asked, gesturing to the turtle. Estel swung his legs, thinking as he chewed on a piece of fruit, the juice dribbling down his chin.
"I'll call it…hmm…Lokni."
The twins smiled at the creativity of the younger being. 'Lokni' meant 'green dragon in disguise' in Elvish.
"Not bad," Elladan said as they dropped off their stools and exited the kitchen. Estel carried the turtle beneath an arm and munched on an extra piece of bread. They all went back to his room and sat near the fire. Estel placed Lokni in the center of them, and the siblings conversed quietly as they watched the creature crawl around them and the stars began to appear.
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Estel lightly rapped his knuckles against Legolas' door. He held Lokni under one arm and adjusted the load slowly.
"Enter."
Estel turned the knob and slipped through the door. His eyes adjusted to the dimness of the room. One lone candle burned atop a table, casting its light and banishing some of the darkness. Estel scanned the room and once again found the bed empty.
"Estel?"
The boy turned and saw the prince seated on the balcony railing, his head turned in his direction. Estel stepped out onto the balcony and leaped up onto the railing next to Legolas with an amazing amount of grace for one so young, especially a human.
"I thought you would be asleep by now," Legolas whispered. Estel shook his head, moving the turtle to his lap.
"I said I would be waiting for you," he replied back quietly. The elf prince smiled and looked down at the turtle.
"How is it?" he asked.
"Much better. I named her Lokni." Legolas laughed quietly.
"'Dragon in disguise'?" he mused. "Clever." He could already feel his spirits beginning to lift. He had no idea what was in the boy, but something about him made the hurts of his soul be left in the mist and happiness come into view. It was strange, the effect Estel had on Legolas.
"Do you want to go riding with me tomorrow?" Estel asked, interrupting Legolas' thoughts. The elf hadn't realized he had drifted away. He snapped back to the present.
"Yes," he answered. "That would be nice."
A few hours later, as Lord Elrond made his way down the hall, his ears picked up the sound of merry giggles coming from one of the rooms. Light filtered through a door standing ajar, laughter floating through the space. Elrond crept quietly up and peered through, smiling at the sight that met his eyes. Legolas and Estel lay on their stomachs by the fireplace, a quill in each of their hands. Parchment was scattered around them by the dozens, many with undecipherable scribbles marking them. As Elrond watched, Estel made an exaggerated swooping motion with his arm, making a loud scritch with his quill. Legolas observed his markings carefully.
"What does that look like?" Estel asked, pointing to the page. Legolas tilted his head to the side, trying to see what the mark looked like from the boy's point of view. He thought for a moment.
"A centií," he said at last, remembering the large elephant-like animals he owned in Mirkwood. "Except the trunk is missing." Estel made another mark.
"Like that?" he asked. Legolas reached over and made a sign of his own.
"Like that," he repeated. "With a tail, too." Estel added the feature to his picture. He gazed up at the elf across from him with questioning eyes. Legolas smiled and nodded.
"Exactly."
Estel grinned and continued to doodle, kicking his legs in the air. A companionable silence stretched between the two of them for a while before Elrond knocked lightly on the door. Both their heads snapped up. Elrond stepped through the doorway and Legolas' mask was lifted as he stood to his feet. Estel followed the prince's lead and scrambled to stand.
"You should be in bed, Estel," the elven lord said softly.
"Yes Ada," the boy whispered, stooping and cleaning the papers from the floor. Legolas nodded in respect and knelt down to help pick up the pieces of parchment that lay scattered. He piled them up and handed them to the boy in front of him. He then lifted a dozing Lokni from the floor. Estel nodded his head.
"Hannon le," he whispered in Elvish. "Thank you." He only nodded back and straightened. Elrond ushered his foster son out into the hall before turning once more to Legolas.
"Goodnight, Legolas," he whispered.
"Goodnight, Lord Elrond," Legolas murmured monotonously. Elrond softly clicked the door shut behind him. Estel waited on the other side, the turtle he had saved and the parchment clutched to his chest. Elrond smiled down at the large silver eyes watching him and placed a gentle hand on Estel's shoulder, leading the boy back to his own room.
"Legolas told me all about the turtle," he murmured as he lifted the creature and papers from Estel's arms and placed them on a table.
"He did?" the young one asked, beginning to yawn.
"Yes. You can keep it safe until it heals, then you can let it go."
"Hannon le, Ada," Estel whispered, crawling under the sheets and tugging them up to his shoulders. Elrond smiled and kissed his brow softly.
"Garo bost vaer, ion-nîn," Elrond whispered soothingly. The boy sighed and closed his eyes. Elrond brushed the hair back from the young one's face tenderly before standing and walking to the doorway. He glanced once at the slumbering turtle before shutting the door softly behind him.
"Ada?" came a quiet voice to his left. The elven lord turned to see his daughter padding softly down the hall, her silk dress wavering. She fell into step with her father.
"You seem…"
"Thoughtful?" Elrond asked. Arwen nodded.
"Yes. Thoughtful. What are you thinking?" she asked. Elrond smiled.
"You do have your mother's heart," he murmured fondly, gazing at the elven maiden out of the corner of his eye. "She always used to ask me that."
"Well, what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking about Estel…" he paused for a moment before continuing, "…and Legolas." Arwen nodded in understanding.
"Estel seems to have an effect on Legolas, is that what you are saying?" Arwen asked. Elrond cocked his head from side to side, saying without words that that was only part of what he had really been thinking.
"Yes…but notice, Legolas only smiles or laughs in the little one's presence," he mused slowly. "Whenever someone else approaches, he hides it immediately. Estel is trying to prevent that, I see it, but…"
"It's not working?" Arwen suggested, completing the lord's unfinished sentence.
"Yes. Realize, when King Thranduil sent the word that he would be sending the chief advisor, he also asked me something else. He did not only send Legolas down here, he asked me to help him. He is worried about his son, but cannot get close enough to help him. He said, in his letter, 'when he comes home I want to see him smile in my presence, a thing he has not done for centuries.'"
"But Ada, you can only heal physical wounds, you are not a psychiatrist," Arwen said. Elrond chuckled humorlessly.
"Yes, I realized that, sell vuin, my daughter," Elrond said as they entered his room and stepped out onto the balcony. "Yet Estel seems to have that charm enough. He is the one healing the young prince's heart. I believe we should just let him work and see how it turns out in the end. If we can intervene then we should, in places where we think Estel needs help. But for now, let us let him be."
"Alright," Arwen murmured, somewhat regretfully. "I will leave the prince alone." Elrond caught the tone in her voice and his head whipped around to face her.
"What is this I hear?" he asked quietly. Arwen gazed at him in what seemed innocence, but a red flush was creeping into her cheeks.
"Has the young prince stolen your heart, sell vuin?" Elrond asked with a smile, his consciousness brushing against hers and recognizing the emotion.
"You cannot tell the twins!" she whispered fiercely. "They will only take the information and twist it! Please, Ada!"
"I will not, I promise," the lord laughed. "I am only happy that someone has finally come along that can meet your picky standards. You should tell him."
"Tell him?"
"Well, tell me first, what do you find about him that interests you?" Arwen shifted uneasily.
"I know he seems…cold, at first, but…I see…something more in him, I suppose," she answered at last, her voice hesitant as she tried to identify the reasons and cope with the embarrassing situation. "I cannot explain what it is I see. I guess I can see…a kind heart in him. A certain…gentleness that draws me to him." Elrond placed a hand on her slim shoulder, gazing at her tenderly.
"It is alright, Arwen," he whispered. "I do not shame you for being attracted to someone, especially one such as that of Prince Legolas. I can see what you do and I know that Legolas is hiding his soul from the world. In time he will bring it out to show."
"Hannon le, Ada," Arwen murmured. Elrond wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, placing a gossamer kiss on her brow.
"Be patient, sell vuin," he whispered into her dark hair.
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Whew! I hope that was long enough for you! I know it was for me! Anyway...reviews wanted! Will be looked for! Thanx! -Copperfang