AN: doy! I'm such an eejit at times! In the first chapter I wrote that the Mirkwood elves were WALKING to Rivendell. They'd never get there walking! The journey's far too long! So sorry for that silly error, it has been amended in this chapter and will be in all the following chapters. Legolas, Thranduil and co are RIDING to Rivendell, not WALKING! Please don't let my inherent idiocy put you off the story. Also I would really love it if you would R&R. Reviews give me warm fuzzies
Legolas looked around as he rode, absorbed in his surroundings. As they began nearing the valley of Imaldris they had to pass through large area of open land. The sun seemed to be enormous. It blazed high in the sky, un-obscured by canopies of leaves as it was in Mirkwood. Legolas brought the hand not being clasped by his father up to shade his eyes. He marvelled at the aquiline blue of the sky. It seemed to rich and deep enough to swim. The crags and dips of the land caused his horse to stumble a little and brought his attention back to the journey. Something was happening near the front of the group. Something noisy. Thranduil knit his brow in confusion.
"I'll ride on ahead ion nin, and see what is happening. Won't be long" the Elven king spurred his horse forward, leaving Legolas on his own. As often happened when Legolas was left alone, he sank into his thoughts and maintained only a vague grip on reality. Not for the first time, he contemplated what it would be like to have a sibling. He imagined it would be thrilling, going on adventures with a constant playmate, teaching someone to shoot arrows and climb trees. Though he was an only child he was not often lonely because of his constant tutoring and visits with other dignitaries. He had some friends, like the young Haldir who he often sparred with in archery. But it wasn't like having a brother.
"Alright Estel! Ready or not, here I come!" Elladan declared casting his hands from his eyes and whirling around from the corner he'd been standing in. The little human was nowhere to be seen. He stalked forward, scanning the nooks and crannies of the courtyard.
"Where are you, little mousie? I'm coming to get you!" he called in a jovial voice. He paused to listen, expecting to hear a melody of giggling. But all he heard was a small breeze trickling through the trees. Odd. Estel usually couldn't resist laughing when Elladan spoke in that way. Or indeed whenever he played hide and seek… He always laughed because he thought he was so clever in hiding. But there was only dead silence. A little knot of worry formed in Elladan's throat. He quickly searched behind the potted plants and under the tables. Nothing. The knot grew. He scoured the courtyard, searching every inch of it. Estel was nowhere to found. The knot of worry burst into fully fledged panic. Estel was gone.
"Estel! ESTEL!" he yelled, wheeling around desperately.
Elrohir came running, a look of annoyance and confusion on his face. "Elladan! What is the meaning of all this noise? You are disturbing the whole of Rivendell!"
"ESTEL'S GONE!" Elladan screamed, going to pieces.
The blood drained from Elrohir's face, as if someone had pulled a plug in the back of his head. "What?!"
"We were playing hide and seek and now he's just gone! I was calling and calling him but he's nowhere!"
"Calm down Elladan. It may be that he is simply taking Ada's advice to be quiet in his hiding, or that you have overlooked him." Elrohir's words were placating but he didn't sound all that sure of himself. "Come, we will search together"
Both of them searched the courtyard once again but the boy had disappeared into thin air. They called and called his name but he did not appear. Both twins were now frantic.
"You look if he's in our or his room, I'll go and get Ada" Elrohir suggested
Elladan nodded and took off. Elrohir blitzed away in the other direction.
Giggling at his cleverness, Estel skipped along the plains of Imaldris. For a little while he simply frolicked, enjoying his elicit freedom. He tumbled down hills, splashed in streams and chased birds, squealing with delight. After the excitement waned a little, his attention turned to the forest. It seemed positively bursting with places to hide. He looked back at the courtyard. He was certain he'd never be found in the forest. His Ada's warnings of the dangers of wandering off fell right out of his head and he toddled merrily on.