Summary: Continuing on from Mistaking Ada, 6 months later the time has come for Estel to visit Legolas in Mirkwood. Reading Mistaking Ada first might be of some help.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or places. All I own is my copy of some lord of the rings merchandise.
A/N 1) To all readers of my stories.
My sincerest apologises in the length of time that it has taken for me to update this story. In this order the following has happened: uni started, my computer decided to stop letting me access FF.net, I lost the original draft of this chapter (always a potential problem for those who write with paper and ink first), and my internet connection died.
Thankfully all of these now appear to be sorted out or a method to get around them has been devised. Thank you for your patience. It is my hope that now as the holidays start at the end of this week I will get more of this story written so I can update more regularly.
Once again comment, criticisms, suggestions and guilt trips are all happily received.
A/N 2) Sorry about the sections with lots of titles in them. I'll try to keep from doing that in the future. I just imagine that the court of Thranduil is much more one to stand on rituals than Elrond's is, and I couldn't think how else to portray this.
~*~
Chapter 3
"Elladan and Elrohir Peredhil Elrondion of Imladris," a clear voice introduced the twins and Estel watched as his brothers moved forward to be presented to Thranduil and the rest of Mirkwood's court. The careful movements were perfectly timed and executed in unison. Estel felt a growing knot in his stomach as he tried to remember the hours of court etiquette his ada had spent the summer evenings tutoring him in. Elrond had previously excused his edan son from learning such intricacies but had foreseen that Estel would need such an education if he was to not completely embarrass himself when he visited his friend's home.
Estel looked around him, trying to find something in the grand eating hall that would remind him of his home. Something familiar that he could recognise and ground himself with – yet there seemed to be nothing, not even his robes. They had arrived with a little time to spare before the meal was to begin. Whilst Elladan and Elrohir had been happily greeted by some elves that Estel assumed were old friends they had asked to be excused to clean up from their journey – a request cheerfully granted. In the privacy of their own quarters the twins had bathed and changed, as well as insisting that Estel did likewise with Elladan carefully cleaning the scratch on Estel's cheek.
Realising he was picking at the braiding on his sleeve Estel let his hands drop to his sides and tried to calm himself down. "Estel Elrondion," a voice interrupted and he half-stumbled forward eager not to miss his cue.
The stumble embarrassed him and he tried desperately to remember the procedures that had occupied his mind only seconds before. He bowed to Thranduil and then Legolas – though without the fluid grace his brothers seemed to have. There was little he could do about the flush growing on his cheeks and it became much worse when he thought he heard the word edan. Still he forced himself to stay still and not run despite the mounting unease that he felt.
Looking at the high table where his brothers now sat with Thranduil and Legolas Estel just barely caught the look that passed between his brothers and the placement of Legolas' hand on his father's forearm seeking permission to speak. Thranduil nodded his assent and Legolas rose to address those assembled before him. Estel swallowed as he watched his friend- the change of clothes had made his friend seem even more prince-like than he ever had before and Estel found himself confused by the change in protocol.
As if sensing his friend's confusion Legolas smiled at Estel before he began to speak, his voice seeming even more musical than Estel had heard before. "Thranduil, my adar, and
mellyn nin. You have heard this boy before you introduced as Estel the son of Elrond who is the Lord of Imladris. There is another title however that he deserves to have mentioned when being presented to this court. Estel is gwador nin. I welcome you Estel to my adar's kingdom." Estel, though he was only dimly aware of the importance behind his friend's words, was still struck dumb by the profession being used a second time in one dad. Hannon le he mouthed to his friend as Legolas sat down and the murmurings rose again.
Then Thranduil rose and the crowd fell silent once more. "I trust there are no more titles you wish to claim at this time young one?" he asked Estel, the smile on his face making the question seem less harsh than it might otherwise have. Estel shook his head. "Very well then Estel Elrondion of Imladris, gwador to Legolas ion nin, mae govannen." So saying Thranduil inclined his head and sat down.
Estel now happy that he had recognised the cue bowed low and carefully, relieved that the end of the ceremony was now in sight. It was only as he straightened that he realised he had no idea of where he was to sit. He looked at his brothers but they seemed unable to understand the question in his eyes. Instead it was Legolas who came to his rescue. "Come here Estel. You shall sit at this table," he called to his friend. Seeing the chair his friend was referring to Estel quickly made his way to the spare seat he had not previously noticed.
Lunch passed easily with Legolas and the twins taking care to include Estel in the conversations. Estel ate carefully, not even conscious that his normal table manners would hardly be acceptable to those around him. Over lunch Legolas brought up the topic of Estel's weapons training over summer and it was agreed that the twins, Estel, Legolas and a few of the other warriors who the brothers had met earlier would meet at the archery fields after lunch such that they might train and learn from each others techniques.
~*~
A/N 3) Elvish used in this chapter
Peredhil – Half Elven (yes I realise they are actually something like ¾ Elven but let's not
argue maths shall we?)
Elrondion – Son of Elrond (kind of a title)
Ada – dad, less formal version of father
Edan – mortal
Adar – formal version of father
Mellyn nin – my friends (yes I used the plural version that Cassia and Sio used)
Gwador nin – brother (in the sense of sworn brothers not by blood)
Ion nin – my son
Mae govannen – well met
A/N 4) Sorry this chapter is relatively short. But like I said before I'm hoping to get more time to work on this soon hopefully with the chapters getting longer too…
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or places. All I own is my copy of some lord of the rings merchandise.
A/N 1) To all readers of my stories.
My sincerest apologises in the length of time that it has taken for me to update this story. In this order the following has happened: uni started, my computer decided to stop letting me access FF.net, I lost the original draft of this chapter (always a potential problem for those who write with paper and ink first), and my internet connection died.
Thankfully all of these now appear to be sorted out or a method to get around them has been devised. Thank you for your patience. It is my hope that now as the holidays start at the end of this week I will get more of this story written so I can update more regularly.
Once again comment, criticisms, suggestions and guilt trips are all happily received.
A/N 2) Sorry about the sections with lots of titles in them. I'll try to keep from doing that in the future. I just imagine that the court of Thranduil is much more one to stand on rituals than Elrond's is, and I couldn't think how else to portray this.
~*~
Chapter 3
"Elladan and Elrohir Peredhil Elrondion of Imladris," a clear voice introduced the twins and Estel watched as his brothers moved forward to be presented to Thranduil and the rest of Mirkwood's court. The careful movements were perfectly timed and executed in unison. Estel felt a growing knot in his stomach as he tried to remember the hours of court etiquette his ada had spent the summer evenings tutoring him in. Elrond had previously excused his edan son from learning such intricacies but had foreseen that Estel would need such an education if he was to not completely embarrass himself when he visited his friend's home.
Estel looked around him, trying to find something in the grand eating hall that would remind him of his home. Something familiar that he could recognise and ground himself with – yet there seemed to be nothing, not even his robes. They had arrived with a little time to spare before the meal was to begin. Whilst Elladan and Elrohir had been happily greeted by some elves that Estel assumed were old friends they had asked to be excused to clean up from their journey – a request cheerfully granted. In the privacy of their own quarters the twins had bathed and changed, as well as insisting that Estel did likewise with Elladan carefully cleaning the scratch on Estel's cheek.
Realising he was picking at the braiding on his sleeve Estel let his hands drop to his sides and tried to calm himself down. "Estel Elrondion," a voice interrupted and he half-stumbled forward eager not to miss his cue.
The stumble embarrassed him and he tried desperately to remember the procedures that had occupied his mind only seconds before. He bowed to Thranduil and then Legolas – though without the fluid grace his brothers seemed to have. There was little he could do about the flush growing on his cheeks and it became much worse when he thought he heard the word edan. Still he forced himself to stay still and not run despite the mounting unease that he felt.
Looking at the high table where his brothers now sat with Thranduil and Legolas Estel just barely caught the look that passed between his brothers and the placement of Legolas' hand on his father's forearm seeking permission to speak. Thranduil nodded his assent and Legolas rose to address those assembled before him. Estel swallowed as he watched his friend- the change of clothes had made his friend seem even more prince-like than he ever had before and Estel found himself confused by the change in protocol.
As if sensing his friend's confusion Legolas smiled at Estel before he began to speak, his voice seeming even more musical than Estel had heard before. "Thranduil, my adar, and
mellyn nin. You have heard this boy before you introduced as Estel the son of Elrond who is the Lord of Imladris. There is another title however that he deserves to have mentioned when being presented to this court. Estel is gwador nin. I welcome you Estel to my adar's kingdom." Estel, though he was only dimly aware of the importance behind his friend's words, was still struck dumb by the profession being used a second time in one dad. Hannon le he mouthed to his friend as Legolas sat down and the murmurings rose again.
Then Thranduil rose and the crowd fell silent once more. "I trust there are no more titles you wish to claim at this time young one?" he asked Estel, the smile on his face making the question seem less harsh than it might otherwise have. Estel shook his head. "Very well then Estel Elrondion of Imladris, gwador to Legolas ion nin, mae govannen." So saying Thranduil inclined his head and sat down.
Estel now happy that he had recognised the cue bowed low and carefully, relieved that the end of the ceremony was now in sight. It was only as he straightened that he realised he had no idea of where he was to sit. He looked at his brothers but they seemed unable to understand the question in his eyes. Instead it was Legolas who came to his rescue. "Come here Estel. You shall sit at this table," he called to his friend. Seeing the chair his friend was referring to Estel quickly made his way to the spare seat he had not previously noticed.
Lunch passed easily with Legolas and the twins taking care to include Estel in the conversations. Estel ate carefully, not even conscious that his normal table manners would hardly be acceptable to those around him. Over lunch Legolas brought up the topic of Estel's weapons training over summer and it was agreed that the twins, Estel, Legolas and a few of the other warriors who the brothers had met earlier would meet at the archery fields after lunch such that they might train and learn from each others techniques.
~*~
A/N 3) Elvish used in this chapter
Peredhil – Half Elven (yes I realise they are actually something like ¾ Elven but let's not
argue maths shall we?)
Elrondion – Son of Elrond (kind of a title)
Ada – dad, less formal version of father
Edan – mortal
Adar – formal version of father
Mellyn nin – my friends (yes I used the plural version that Cassia and Sio used)
Gwador nin – brother (in the sense of sworn brothers not by blood)
Ion nin – my son
Mae govannen – well met
A/N 4) Sorry this chapter is relatively short. But like I said before I'm hoping to get more time to work on this soon hopefully with the chapters getting longer too…