Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I get so excited when I read your reviews, it makes me eager to write more! It took a while to write this one, I must have re-written it about 5 times, all completely different situations. I'm still not 100% in sure about it, but I felt like if I didn't submit it now, it'd never get done. So here we go!
I have a second part/continuation to this mostly written, I just have to type it up. I guess I could of made 'meeting Legolas' a whole new story...oops!
Sorry for any errors, typos, or completely unreal moments...I tried to proofread the best I could!
Like always, Middle Earth, everyone, and everything in it belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien!
It was just past the midnight hour when Estel awoke to what sounded like glass breaking. Sitting up in bed, he turned silver eyes to the balcony window, only to see them frosted with ice. In the dim light from the hearth, he could just make out swirling white, though all else he saw daily was obscured by winter white and night's darkness. Elrond had added fireplaces to a few of the rooms during Estel's first months with them, to be used during cold weather to keep the child in good health. A new torrent of freezing rain hit the window, and Estel shivered at the sudden chill he felt. The howling of the wind was doing little to help diminish the boy's growing fears.
Shoving his covers back he grabbed his stuffed rabbit and climbed off the bed. The boy winced as his bare feet his the floor, and made haste to the doorway. Slipping into the dimly lit hallway Estel headed down the corridor, hoping he'd meet someone along the way. After coming inside from his snowy adventure, he had not been permitted to enter the Hall of Fire to greet the travelers. The boy had gotten the sniffles from being outside, and was put to bed early to make sure his health would remain intact.
While he made his way down the corridor, the wind gave a fierce howl as the freezing rain battered the window. Estel slowed his steps, hugging his rabbit to his chest and turning frightened eyes towards the hallway windows, only to be startled when the window he was mere feet from crack under the torrent. Before the boy could move, the hail pelted the crack with enough force and it was soon breaking, spilling glass and hail onto the hallway floor. Estel gave a small shout, backing into the wall behind him as he shivered from the relentless cold.
His eyes widened, filling with tears as he turned to flee, only to run smack into a pair of legs. Frightened eyes glanced up, and catching sight of blonde hair the boy flung himself at the elf, hugging the legs in front of him.
"Glorfy!" Estel's sobs echoed in the hallway, melding with the howling wind as it blew through the broken window.
Legolas was momentarily stunned when the child latched onto his legs. Swiftly assessing the situation, he picked the crying child up and turned to head back into his room, catching sight of a few elves already checking the broken window. Estel's cries shook the elf as he buried his face in the blonde's shoulder, little arms locked firmly around the his neck.
"Shhhh…" Legolas soothed, rubbing the boy's back as he walked over to the bed. Taking a seat on the end, the child's cried increased, causing the blonde to stand back up and try a different tactic. He began pacing the room, trying to sooth the boy the best he could, though he had little experience with ones so small.
Legolas walked in front of the fireplace, now understanding its purpose in the elvin home. The wind continued to howl, and Legolas made sure to avoid his balcony as much as possible. Tightening his grip around the elf's neck, Estel's cries quieted, though he was still unwilling to let he blonde go.
"Shhh tithen pen," Legolas whispered to the boy, carding fingers through curly brown locks.
Hearing the strange voice Estel tensed in the elf's arms. This elf that held him was not Glorfindel!
Legolas felt the change in the boy's posture and turned to stand in front of the fireplace. Once out of the shadows completely, Legolas encouraged the boy to look up from his neck.
"Hello tithen pen, my name is Legolas. Are you feeling better?" He said softly, bringing a hand up to brush the boy's hair form his face. Estel just stared, locking his wide silver eyes with the deep blue of the elf's. Picking up a blanket from a chair by the fire, Legolas draped it across the shivering child's shoulders, wrapping him snugly.
The ice pelted the windows across the room, and Estel started, throwing his arms back around Legolas' neck. Legolas hugged the boy closely, whispering soothing words in elvish as he ran his hand up and down the child's back.
"Can I have your name, tithen pen?"
Estel turned his face from the blonde's neck as his breathing steadied, small puffs of breath ghosting over Legolas' neck. After a while, Legolas thought the boy had drifted to sleep, though he chose that moment to speak.
"Estel," he whispered, his arms loosening their steel grip around the blonde elf's neck.
"Mae govannen, Estel of Imladris," Legolas said softly.
"Estel!"
Legolas heard muffled shouts in the hallway along with rapid conversation. Estel heard the voices too, for he lifted his head and looked towards the bedroom door. Walking towards the noise, Legolas opened the door, setting the wiggling child down.
As the door opened, two sets of identical silver eyes locked with blue as Estel launched himself at the twins.
"Dan, Ro!" Estel squealed happily, wrapping his arms around the older twin's legs.
"Tithen gwador, where have you been? You've caused us a great fright!" Elrohir said as he dropped to the floor and hugged the boy tightly. Estel returned the hug, trying to hug both Elrohir and Elladan's legs at the same time.
Legolas laughed at the trio, causing three pairs of gray eyes to focus on him. Giggling, Estel broke from the hug to grab Legolas' hand and tug him closer to the twins.
'This is my friend, he helped me to not be scared," Estel told the twins and he tugged the blonde's sleeve. Crouching down, Legolas seated himself next to Elrohir as the boy dropped himself into the dark-haired elf's lap. Feeling left out, Elladan did the same, plopping down on his twin's other side. The wind continued to howl, though the boy did not hear it as he retold his story, with help from Legolas.
"It is a good thing then, that Legolas decided to visit, is it not?" Elladan mused as the boy finished his tale.
"It is!" Estel agreed, scrambling from Elrohir's lap to the blonde's. "Are you a warrior too, Legolas?" Estel asked excitedly. Legolas smiled down at the boy as he nodded.
"He is best with the bow, Estel, being the Pri—ouch!" Elladan exclaimed, looking accusingly at his twin who had elbowed him in the ribs. Rubbing his side he shot a look to Legolas, who was shaking his head at what the dark-haired twin was about to say.
"Are you okay, Dan?" Estel asked, sitting forward as to move to his brother's lap, having missed the jab from Elrohir. Elladan waved him off, smiling at the boy. Estel nodded, reaching up to touch Legolas' soft hair.
Estel ran his hands through blonde's hair, making sure not to pull it as the elves spoke softly. Estel yawned, leaning back into Legolas' warm embrace. Noticing this, Elrohir stood, making his way into the bedroom and grabbed the boy's stuffed rabbit from the floor where it had fallen.
"You seemed to have forgotten someone, Estel." Elrohir teased, transferring the rabbit to the child's outstretched hand. Snuggling closer to Legolas Estel smiled, his eyes drooping.
"Time for bed, Estel," Elladan said and he swiftly rose to his feet. Taking the cue Legolas rose, shifting the boy onto his hip. Estel sleepily laid his head on the blonde's shoulder, his eyes closing as they walked down the corridor.
"Will you teach me how to use a bow, Legolas?" Estel whispered sleepily. The twins turned to look over their shoulders at the blonde, waiting for his answer.
"Aye, Estel, I will you teach you everything I know." The prince swore, his promise touching deeper than the young child knew.
Upon entering Estel's room, Legolas carried the half-asleep boy to his bed. Elrohir lit a lamp and added wood to the fire as Elladan turned the boy's covers down. Legolas set the child on the bed, but could not break free from the grip Estel had around his neck.
"Now Estel, it is past time for you to be asleep," Elrohir said, noticing the boy's hesitance to release the elf. Loosening the child's hold, the twins watched to see how Legolas would handle the situation.
"I do not wish to be alone," Estel confessed softly. Holding their breath, the twins waited.
"Well then, I will just have to stay in your room tonight." Legolas decided, turning down the covers on the other side of the bed as he slid in. Estel wiggled all around in bed, smiling at his brothers.
"You do not mind, do you?" Estel asked them seriously. The twins shook their heads, giving their brother a tender smile. Walking over, they each gave the boy a kiss on his head, reassuring him.
"Legolas is only here a short time, so we do not mind sharing," Elladan told his brother, tucking him in so he would stay warm.
Estel snuggled into the blonde elf's side, throwing his arm over his stomach and laying his head on the elf's chest. Legolas' eyes softened completely as he ran his hand through the child's hair in a comforting manner. As the twins made for the door, they turned back to see Estel's breathing even out as he drifted into sleep.
Before following his twin out the door, Elladan caught the Legolas' eye, mouthing a 'thank you' before slipping out the door.
Legolas chuckled as he continued to pet the boy's hair. When he was informed of a foster-brother in the twins' letter, he was not expecting the little one to worm his way into his heart so quickly.
Sleep peacefully hope. Whatever trials await you, I will be ready to stand by your side.