AN: Welcome to Part Three! Now we finally get to the timeline from the prologue (which means, of course, Estel is back). Okay, this is the part of the story that's a sequel to Beginnings, so it helps to have some knowledge of that story. That being said, there are some spoilers for Beginnings in this chapter, and a few themes/subplots that kinda build off some of the events of that story.
A word about the connection: Fear No Darkness started off as a sequel to Beginnings. It was originally going to be about the confrontation in the prologue, with a flashback to what happened. Then the plot started to spiral out of control, and formed itself into this story. So this story is something of a prequel and a sequel. You can read the parts as three separates stories, if you want, I suppose. Anyway, there's between twelve and fifteen chapters (about) left...the outline says fifteen, but I don't know if something unnecessary will be cut or not.
Part Three: The Truth Unveiled
Fall, 3945 TA
Chapter Twenty-Six: Old Friends"Estel?"
The young man ignored his foster-brother, bending his head over his studies.
"Estel?" Elladan put both hands on the table, leaning over the young human.
He gritted his teeth, focusing on the history text he was supposed to be reading. "I have to study, Elladan," he whispered, darting a sharp glance up at his mother, who was watching the two with an amused expression on her face.
"Will you be done in time to greet Legolas?" Elladan asked.
Estel could not identify the tone in his brother's voice. It sounded as though Elladan was teasing him, but why? "I will not if you do not stop interrupting me," he replied, trying to twist away from Elladan.
It was no use. The elf simply moved around the table. "How much more do you have to read?"
The young man nearly groaned in annoyance. "I have to finish this section of the book," he explained, turning the pages to show Elladan how much farther he had to go.
Elladan made a face. "That much? You will never be finished in time."
Estel grimaced. "Thank you, Elladan," he snapped, setting both elbows on the table and resting his head in his hands. He read for another minute, stopping when he noticed his foster-brother was still hovering over him. "Did you want something?"
"Oh, I just wanted to tell you that we have received word that Legolas and his party have entered the valley."
"What?" Estel stood up, his movement accidentally sending the book to the floor. He dropped to his knees to pick it up. "When will they arrive at the house?"
"Should be any moment now," Elladan replied lightly. "Too bad you have so much reading to do."
Estel stood back up, pushing his book back onto the table. He looked over at his mother, a pitiful expression on his face. "Nana?"
Gilraen laughed. "I already spoke with Lord Elrond. If you will make your studies up after Legolas leaves, you may be released as soon as he arrives."
"Thank you, Nana!" Estel beamed, pushing back from the table with a grin. He barely remembered to keep from running as he set off for the front of the house.
It had only been about eight weeks since he had seen Legolas, but when he and his brothers had left Mirkwood the prince had still been under the care of the healers for a spider bite. He knew Legolas would have long recovered, but still wanted to see so for himself.
"Easy, Estel," Elladan laughed, catching up to his brother. "You have enough time to walk to the door."
Estel made a face at his brother, but slowed down. "But you were talking as though he were already riding up to the house."
"I know," Elladan replied lightly, then laughed at the look on his brother's face. "Peace, Estel, I knew how excited you were about Legolas' visit and was merely teasing you."
The young human sighed, his cheeks turning pink as he blushed. The ever-youthful side of his brothers almost always infuriated him—one would think that elves as old as Elladan and Elrohir would have outgrown the need to tease a younger brother. Then again, he supposed that was something older brothers never outgrew.
They reached the porch of the house, looking out onto the long road that ran through the realm. Lord Elrond, Estel's foster-father, was waiting with a few other elves when Estel and Elladan arrived. The elf-lord glanced back, sparing a small smile for his oldest and youngest sons.
"Do you see them, Ada?" Estel asked.
"Patience, Estel," Elladan laughed, a hand on his brother's shoulders. "Elrohir has gone ahead to watch for them, he will tell us when they near the house."
Estel nodded, shifting impatiently from foot to foot. He heard another being step onto the porch, and glanced over when his mother placed a hand on his other shoulder. He reached up and squeezed her hand lightly with a smile.
He saw Elladan glance over into the trees, and turned to follow his brother's gaze. A few moments later he heard footsteps approaching—someone running toward the house.
It was Elrohir. "They're just around the corner," he said calmly.
Estel fidgeted. Sometimes he thought it wasn't fair that Elrohir could sprint so far without growing out of breath. Yet another thing elves could do that humans could not.
His mother squeezed his shoulder, and he tried to stop fidgeting. He knew what his mother would say if he did not stand still, but it was so hard to do so when he knew his friend was just around the corner!
At last, a messenger wearing the Mirkwood colors appeared. Estel barely heard the messenger announce Legolas' arrival, too intent was he on watching the company that finally rounded the corner.
He caught sight of a familiar blond head among the wood-elves, and his face split into a broad grin. His mother's hand on his shoulder tightened, and he realized he'd been fidgeting again.
Legolas slowly, almost wearily, dismounted from his horse and approached the porch of the house. His gaze flickered up to where the twins and Estel stood, and the young human caught the flash of an impatient smile while Legolas waited for the messenger to finish announcing his arrival.
"Welcome to Rivendell, Legolas Thranduilion," Lord Elrond finally said, as soon as the messenger had stepped aside. Legolas bowed, quietly thanking the elf-lord. "I'm sure my sons would like to show you to your room," Elrond added, a touch dryly, with a gesture toward the twins and Estel.
Estel smiled and started to step forward, but was surprised to notice that his brothers did not move. He glanced over at Legolas, his smile widening when he saw the wary look on the prince's face. He could remember how Elladan and Elrohir had tackled Legolas when they arrived in Mirkwood...were they planning something else now?
"Legolas," Elladan said in a rather detached manner. "If you'll come with us, your room is just down the hall from Estel's."
"Forgive me," Lord Elrond suddenly interrupted. "Elladan, Elrohir; I need to speak with you for a moment. Estel can take Legolas to his room."
Estel grinned even broader as his brothers shot each other somewhat dejected looks before following their father toward his study. Legolas watched them go, then laughed softly. "I think your father knew they were planning something," he commented softly.
"Yes," Estel replied, a bit hesitant. He and Legolas had become good friends during his visit to Mirkwood, yet he was not quite sure what to say. "Legolas, this is my mother, Gilraen," he finally said, taking his mother's arm and pulling her forward.
Legolas bowed slightly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Gilraen."
"Prince Legolas," Gilraen nodded. "My son has told me much about you."
"Do you want to go up to your room now?" Estel asked.
Legolas nodded. "I should probably change," he commented, holding out the hem of his traveling tunic.
Estel hesitated, glancing up at his mother. She smiled at him, gently pushing him forward. "It's this way," he finally said, leading the way back into the house. To his relief, his mother did not follow him. "I'm sorry," he suddenly blurted. "I forgot to ask how your trip was."
To his surprise, Legolas simply laughed and rested an arm across his shoulders. "Do not worry, Estel. I am not so formal a guest that you need to be on your best behavior."
The young human relaxed slightly. He was glad to find the easygoing friendship he and Legolas had had in Mirkwood was still there. "How was your trip?" he asked, genuinely interested as he and Legolas walked down the hall.
"Long. Long and tiresome," Legolas replied with a sigh.
"Did you see any spiders?"
"Estel," Legolas shook his head, chuckling. "Contrary to what you may have heard, one does not see spiders every time one ventures into the forest."
Estel smiled, glancing over at the doors they passed. "But did you see any?" he asked again.
"No, the colonies are likely still recovering from the tournament," Legolas replied in a quiet tone. Estel nodded in understanding. He still had a dream about the spider attack now and again...it was not the most pleasant of memories.
"Do you know how long you'll be staying?" he asked.
"Seven days."
"So few?" Estel burst out, then quieted. He reminded himself not to speak so hastily. "Can't you stay longer?"
"I wish I could," Legolas replied with a smile. "But any longer and we'll be in danger of snow blocking the High Pass. As it is, my father was hard-pressed to let me leave so close to the end of the season."
"Then why did he let you come?" Estel asked. He grimaced—he had not meant to ask that question, it had slipped out.
He heard Legolas sigh, and glanced up to see a saddened expression on his friend's face. "It is Autumn," the elf said simply.
Estel frowned. What did that mean? He stopped suddenly, motioning Legolas toward one of the rooms. "This is your room," he explained. "Ada said you used it before when you visited."
Legolas nodded, setting his pack inside the doorway. "Come here, Estel."
The young human slowly walked foward, sitting on the edge of the bed next to his friend.
The elf was silent for a moment, as though gathering his thoughts. "I told you about my brother, didn't I?"
"How he had changed since the battle four years ago?" Estel asked. "Yes, I remember."
"The battle was in the Fall. The anniversary approaches. It is a bad time for my brother."
Estel grimaced. Legolas had told him that his brother, Belegdur, was often overly critical because he had not quite recovered from the Battle of Five Armies. If Belegdur was worse during the battle's anniversary, perhaps that was why Thranduil let Legolas travel to Mirkwood even though he could not stay for very long.
"Don't tell your brothers?" Legolas asked.
"I won't," Estel promised. He had no idea why Legolas would want to keep this a secret from Elladan and Elrohir, but was willing to keep it if Legolas asked. "Speaking of my brothers, I wonder where they are?"
Legolas gave a slight grin. "No doubt on their way as we speak."
As though to punctuate his words, a loud knock sounded at the door, followed by two dark-haired elves entering anyway. "Hello, Legolas!" Elrohir smiled, sitting on Legolas' other side and wrapping one arm around him in a half-hug.
"What did your father need to speak with you about?" Legolas asked with an innocent expression.
Elladan simply groaned. "He wanted to know if we were planning any excursions while you were here, and if he should restock his healing supplies accordingly."
Estel snorted in laughter, barely restraining it as his brothers glared at him. "Perhaps he should," he suggested instead, managing to keep his face expressionless.
"We aren't that bad," Elladan retorted with a theatrical groan, sinking down to sit on the floor against the wall."
"You aren't?" Legolas asked. "I seem to recall a certain elf breaking his ankle in the gardens the day I first arrived here," he said thoughtfully, tapping his chin with one finger.
"Ah, yes," Elrohir chimed in. "He had tripped in a rabbit hole, hadn't he?"
"He had been trying to run," Estel added. "And did not watch where he was going."
Elladan glared at his human brother. "How could you know? That was centuries before you were born."
Estel grinned. "Elrohir told me."
Legolas chuckled as Elladan simply groaned. The older elf glanced up, his sharp eyes fixed on the blond elf. "Perhaps I was a bit accident-prone that day," he said slowly, a rather devious glint in his eyes. "However, I remember a certain elfling slipping off of one of the chairs in the library and nearly breaking his own ankle."
"I thought that was in the kitchens," Elrohir interjected. "The floors had recently been scrubbed and he could not hold his balance."
"Nay, it was the stables," Elladan retorted, grinning. "When he tried to climb onto one of the great horses."
"The gardens...he did not see a stone in his path."
Estel looked at Legolas, holding in a laugh as his friend reddened deeply. "Did all of those things really happen to you?" he asked.
"All of those? Of course!" Elrohir replied before Legolas could speak. "And many more!"
"Aye, it would take several days to list the many things that happened to dear little Legolas during his years here in Rivendell," Elladan added.
"However, it would only take a few hours to tell of the first three years," Elrohir said, his eyes twinkling.
Legolas shook his head. "I forgot to mention, my father wanted me to proceed directly to Lothlorien upon my arrival here. I must leave now."
"Legolas," Elrohir laughed in protest, grabbing his friend's arm when Legolas stood as though he was about to leave. "Very well, we shall not share every story of your childhood."
"Indeed not," Elladan agreed. "We shall share some of Estel's as well."
Estel grimaced, catching a sympathetic look from Legolas. Many of the stories about him were likely more embarrassing than the ones about the prince, as most of them involved the clumsy stages he had gone through in recent years.
"Worry not, Estel," Legolas said calmly. "We can simply ask your father to share some stories about your brothers at dinner. I am sure he would be glad to do so in front of the guests."
The young human laughed as his brothers suddenly looked very worried. Legolas soon joined him, and within moments all four were laughing together.
"I'm so glad you could come to visit, Legolas," he said when he could finally speak again.
The prince smiled, wrapping an arm around Estel. "So am I."
Reviews? Flames? Tar and Feathers?
AN: Aww, how sweet...of course, we all know it can't stay this way for very long.
I have no idea what Aragorn would have called his mother when he was a child, but the elvish term (Nana, short for Naneth) seemed the most plausible.
Review Responses for the last few weeks are all done, but I haven't posted them yet. They should be up on my homepage tomorrow.