Chapter Thirty-One

~ Legolas ~
Estel led me through the crowds of people running around. As I turned over the conversation in my mind, I felt my admiration for Estel growing.

She had actually taken the time to track me down instead of waiting for me to return or going off to help with some more useful tasks, like helping the distribution of weapons or ushering the women and children into the caves. She had faced my anger and held her own, using verbal trickery and what she knew about the past. And then she had even forgiven me after the outburst, despite all the rather . . . distasteful things I'd said to her that did not at all become an Elven Prince.

I remembered my first thoughts about her when I had seen her at the Council. I had dismissed her as merely a mortal who had captured Elrond's interest. Oh, she could hold her own against us, yes, but only on matters of worth.

I had never seen Aragorn that way. As one of the Rangers, I had been careful to reserve my judgment and wait until he was older. He had proven himself as time had gone by, and now we were best friends.

I was only just realizing how wrong I was. I should have judged Estel just like Aragorn – I should have waited until I saw her in action to judge her worth instead of dismissing her so quickly. Estel is so, so much more than that. Why was I so blind?

And Estel was coming to mean even more than that to me. . .

Then I saw her suddenly break free of the crowd and run forward. She dashed across the wall in the direction of a cloaked figure, who turned towards her. He embraced her tightly and briefly before turning to me. I tensed slightly, but then the figure spoke, and I recognized him.

"Legolas. So, Estel managed to find you," he said.

He was already dressed for the upcoming battle, I saw. All of his weapons were with him, and he even wore some light armor.

I nodded shortly; there was no need to go into my whole conversation with Estel. "And Aragorn?"

Eldarion nodded over his shoulder down a stairwell. "He's getting ready."

I nodded again and went down the stairs. Aragorn was just sliding his chain mail over his head. I swallowed, trying to gather up my nerve. When Aragorn seemed about ready to turn around, I stepped forward and offered him his sword. He took it with a nod.

"Estel says that Eldarion spoke to you," I began neutrally.

Aragorn nodded slowly. "And Estel spoke to you, didn't she?"

"She made me understand. . . We have trusted you this far, and you have not lead us astray." I paused for a moment before continuing. "Forgive me. I was wrong to despair."

Aragorn took my shoulder. "~There is nothing to forgive, Legolas,~" he said firmly. I clasped his shoulder in return, relieved. I could just feel the tension leaving us, and I offered a silent thanks to Estel and Eldarion for what they had done.

Aragorn seemed to share my opinion. "~In the beginning, I thought they were going to be an obstacle, something that would only them back,~" he said, continuing to put armor on. He shook his head with a laugh. "~Oh, how wrong I was!~"

"~How wrong we were,~" I corrected.

He grinned. But before we could continue the conversation, a sound made me turn. Gimli moved into sight, struggling to get the chain mail down. "If we had time, I'd get this adjusted," he was muttering. Moments later it fell down, leaving a wide berth of chain mail lying on the floor.

I raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Aragorn.

"It's a little tight across the chest," Gimli grumbled, catching the looks we exchanged.

Then a horn sounded suddenly, startling me.

I turned. "That is no orc horn," I realized quite suddenly.

~ Estel ~
As soon as we heard the horn, Eldarion and I had exchanged knowing glances before running down to meet the brigade of marching Elves. Both of us remembered this particular chapter in the history books, and sure enough, it had happened.

Legolas and Aragorn joined us shortly afterward. I felt their shock as they saw all of the Elves marching in, each armored and armed. Some carried the banner of Lothlórien, but most merely carried long bows and full stocked quivers. Haldir was at the forefront, clad in a red cloak and carrying the clasp of a warden.

Théoden was currently stammering out his own surprise. Haldir dealt with it calmly, with carefully chosen words and a warm smile that only grew when Aragorn, Legolas, and Eldarion all eagerly rushed down to exchange smiles and the clasping of shoulders.

I followed at a statelier pace, choosing to give Haldir a hug rather than exchange the warriors' greeting. "~It's great to see you, Haldir,~" I told him softly as he hugged me gently in return before letting go.

He gave me a warm smile. "~You too, little one,~" he replied teasingly, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement that seemed a bit too mischievous for an Elf his age. "~And you've grown . . . a little.~"

I glared at him as Legolas started laughing. I had forgotten about Legolas's keen hearing . . . again. I felt Legolas come over and rest a hand on my shoulder. "~Ah, but she's gotten better with her bow, I must admit,~" he said in my defense.

Haldir raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "~Indeed? Who's been teaching her?~"

"~Who else?~" Aragorn asked, joining the conversation. "~Legolas.~"

Haldir sighed dramatically. "~Oh, dear. Now I've got to go fix all the mistakes you've taught her in your technique, Legolas!~"

"~I'm not that bad!~" Legolas protested.

Now it my turn to laugh at him. I grinned at his petulant expression, which only soured further when Aragorn and Eldarion joined in the laughter.

~ Eldarion ~
After the laughter had died down, I turned back to my sister. "~Estel, shouldn't you be getting ready for the fight?~" I asked, frowning at her. She still was wearing everyday clothes, and I doubted she had eaten yet.

Estel rolled her eyes at me. "~Overprotective brother,~" she complained, turning around. I saw Aragorn and Legolas grin at me.

Estel must have seen it the glances too, because a minute later her voice drifted down to us: "~All of you!~"

I laughed. It was nice to see Estel relaxing and actually acting like a normal girl for once. Out of everyone in our family, she had lived and suffered the longest under the stewards' rule. Now, at last, she was getting a chance to act her age – and be, in her words, "hovered over" by three older brothers. Aragorn turned to Théoden and immediately began discussing proceedings and plans. I turned away to Haldir. "~How are your brothers?~" I asked.

Haldir didn't answer for a moment. His eyes weren't unfocused, so he wasn't having a premonition or something; on the contrary, his eyes were narrowed. But I couldn't tell what he was looking at.

A bit of unease filtered through me. It must be something major for Haldir to just not notice me talking to him, a part of me thought.

I tapped him on the shoulder. He started, and I rolled my eyes. "~And you've always been yelling at me for not paying attention?~"

Haldir smiled shortly but reluctantly, as if the smile was forced to ease the weight of whatever he was about to say. "~My apologies, Eldarion.~"

"~Sure. What's your excuse now?~" That was the same question Haldir had always asked me whenever he or someone else had snuck up on me. Granted, their being Elves didn't help matters, so I was asked this question a lot.

Now Haldir's smile faded. "~I probably have the same excuse as most of my comrades right now, as well as the Men I was observing.~"

"~And it is?~"

"~What else? Your sister, Estel.~"

I blinked. Estel? "What?" I spluttered, reverting to the common speech in astonishment. "What does my sister have to do with anything?"

Haldir raised an eyebrow. "~You don't understand? Eldarion, you were separated from your sister for eighteen years, and she enchanted you within a mere half a day. You yourself said that Estel makes you very proud to be her brother. Now imagine the image she presents to those of us who do not have such a relationship to claim with her.~"

I stared, and I swore that for a few minutes my mouth gaped open. "~Please tell me that you are joking,~" I said finally.

Haldir's eyes were unfathomable, but the message was clear: he was serious in this regard. "~I can assure that am not joking, and nor am I interested in your sister.~" Then he smiled slightly. "~And do you really think any of us would dare to court your sister without her acceptance and your permission? We are not barbarians.~"

I nodded slowly. Haldir was right there too; no Elf, whether from Mirkwood or Imladris or the Havens or anywhere else, would dare force their will on Estel. And if Estel was willing to bind herself to one of them, then I would not separate them.

But it was still odd to think of my little sister falling for one of the immortals . . . and some of whom had been my comrades for the last decade or so too. . .

"~But Men are not so inclined,~" Haldir continued. "~You had better watch over Estel carefully. There is no possible way to hide her shine, and they will notice.~"

I clasped his shoulder. "~Understood. I thank you.~"

Then I turned away, my mind buzzing with the implications. Thank goodness that she is always within the eyesight of one of us, I thought feverishly. Estel had never yet strayed from the side of Aragorn, Legolas, or me, and if she had, then she was with Éowyn or Théoden.

"~What troubles you, Eldarion?~" came the soft voice of Legolas.

I started. "~Nothing,~" I lied hastily.

Legolas raised an eyebrow at my words. "~I can see that,~" he said, his musical voice laced with a sarcasm that made his voice seem at once out of this world and normal.

I sighed and turned around to follow my sister up the stairs. Legolas matched my movement perfectly, his face impassive. "~Look,~" I told him, "~ask me later, all right? I've got a lot on my plate right now.~"

He flashed me a questioning look, but to my relief didn't ask any more questions.

"~Legolas, Eldarion, Elessar!~" Haldir said suddenly. "~One moment. I almost forgot something.~"

Legolas and I both turned as Aragorn looked up from his intense conversation with Théoden that was quickly deteriorating into an argument.

"~What is it?~" Legolas asked curiously, speaking for all of us.

He gestured shortly, and one of the Elves detached themselves from the ranks. Only . . . Only he wasn't as slender or strong or graceful as the others, and he was shorter, and he didn't have a bow. Then he threw back his hood.

I gasped.

Aragorn started.

Legolas's eyes went wide, and he muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse in Elvish.

Because the person standing in front of us was Boromir Denethorion.