Legolas sat quietly in the corner of the flet he and Estel had built. He watched in silence as the boy played with his puppy, giggling periodically when the dog slipped on the leaves or jumped or barked. The Elf smiled, pleased that the boy was happy. That was all he wanted: for Estel to be cheerful and carefree. He had been through so much in the past few days, and Legolas knew that things had been hard for him. He was frustrated that he could no longer dress himself or tie his shoes, and though he had tried sword fighting the day before, it had not gone well. Yesterday had been filled with tears, but today was already promising to be better.

They had spent the night in the flet, along with Bronwe, who hadn't left Estel's side, and slept well. Even Legolas, who did not sleep often, found himself lost to slumber for some hours though he fell asleep long after Estel and woke long before.

"Are you hungry, Little One?" Legolas asked, sitting with his long legs bent, his arms rested on his knees. Estel wanted to sleep out 'like a warrior', which apparently entailed sleeping in daytime clothing, which Legolas was not thrilled about, but it did bring back fond memories of his adventures with Aragorn and the others, and Estel was enjoying himself. That was all that mattered.

Estel nodded, but did not look up from the puppy, playing tug-of-war with a twig.

"Would you like to return to the palace?" he asked, watching the little boy. Estel did not reply, but continued playing with the puppy.

"Estel look at me, please." Legolas said with a smile. Estel was a good little boy, but sometimes he had trouble listening, especially when he was involved in something he found amusing. He looked up.

"Yes we can go back." He said with a grin. Legolas returned the smile.

"Lovely." He said, pleased that the mild scolding didn't upset Estel. Legolas was terribly sensitive as a child, and would have cried if Thranduil had reprimanded him, even as lightly as Legolas had reprimanded Legolas.

"What are we going to have for breakfast?" the little boy asked, holding Legolas' long, lithe hand as they walked through the forest. he puppy followed them closely, pausing every now and again to sniff at this and that. Estel's footsteps were nearly as quiet as Legolas'.

A child between an Elf and a Human was nearly unheard of, and their children were something of an enigma. They appeared mostly human, but always had an ethereal beauty about them, stemming from their Elfish blood. They commonly had many Elfish qualities about them as well: a deep connection to nature, appreciation or skill in the arts, quiet footsteps. These children, however beautiful, often found themselves out of place, though. Regardless of whether they are raised with Elves or Men, they would always be different from their peers. Estel was still relatively normal in the ways of children, but the older he became, the more obvious the differences would become. He would mature far more slowly than his human peers, but much faster than any truly Elfish children. His beauty would be obvious among Men, which would draw attention. Legolas hoped Estel would face his hardships with grace, and take them as they came. The little boy had enough to worry over without the judgment of the people around him.

"Whatever you'd like, Estel." Legolas answered.

"I think I'd like toast and jam, if that's alright." He smiled. Legolas raised an eyebrow.

"That is all?" he asked, expecting the boy to ask for drop scones or creamy oatmeal with strawberries. That's what Legolas would have picked.

"Yes…Maybe some strawberries, but that's all, I think." He smiled. Legolas ran his hand through the little boy's dark, wavy hair.

"Very well," Legolas said, hoisting Estel onto his high shoulders. Estel played with Legolas' circlet, prompting a smile from the Elf.

—o0o—

Much later, after dinner, Estel seemed to droop, how he sometimes did. He laid down on the floor in the sitting room, next to the fire on the fur carpet, sweat beading on his pale forehead, for it was summertime, but the fire was always kindled for hot water on the floors above. Bronwe lay next to the child, Estel running his hand down the puppy's smooth back, sighing every now and again, his greenish eyes heavy.

"Estel?" Legolas asked quietly, entering the room. Estel did nothing. Legolas kindled the lamp to illuminate the room, for it was dim and dark. He then walked around the sofa and crouched down next to the child, scratching his back gently.

"Estel," he said again, looking down at the child with concern in his grey-blue eyes.

"Yes, Adar?" The child answered halfheartedly, letting his hand go limp on the sleeping puppy's back.

"What troubles you, Little One?" Legolas asked. Estel did not answer, and Legolas lifted up his little body, sitting down with him on the sofa and wiping the beads of perspiration off of the boy's forehead.

"It is far too hot to be so near the fire, iôn nín. Is there anything I can do to brighten your spirit?" Estel shook his head and leaned his head against Legolas' chest, fisting his hand around the end of his ruined arm. A tear slipped from his big grey-green eyes.

"Oh, Estel," Legolas said, holding him close. "Do not weep. I am here. Please tell me how to help you, Little One. I love you so."

"I don't know…I want everything to be how it was before…I miss my papa and nana." He admitted with a sob.

"I know, Estel…But you must always remember that they have not left you. They are all around you, now. They are with you always." Legolas smiled, thinking of his own mother who faded when he was small. He hadn't told Estel her story yet…

"You know I lost my nana when I was small as well." Estel nodded. "I fell very ill after her passing, you know. Instead of grieving with tears and lowliness, Elves grow very ill. I almost faded as well." He admitted. He hadn't told anyone about that before. He and his father were the only ones who knew of his near-deadly sickness. "I know your feelings, Estel." He added after a moment, rubbing his hand up and down the boy's back. "Those feelings will not last long. Soon, there will only be pleasant memories left, and you will only be happy when you think of your papa and nana." Legolas smiled. Estel sighed.

"I quite miss my left hand as well…" Estel admitted, still holding the end of his missing arm with his opposite hand. Legolas was unsure of what to say.

"I am sorry, Estel. You did not deserve what happened to you. You are a good boy." Legolas soothed, continuing to scratch the boy's back gently.

"I wanted to learn to sword fight like my papa…" he sniffled and hiccupped. "Grandpa Thranduil said he was the * hic! * The best sword fighter…now I can never be great like he was."

"Oh Estel," Legolas said, feeling tears well behind his eyes, "You do not have to be your father to be great. Aragorn was a wonderful man, but you are not Aragorn. You are Estel, and Estel is just as great." Legolas smiled. "There are so many things that make you wonderful."

"I am not wonderful. You are wonderful. Papa was wonderful…I am not." The boy looked down his arm.

"Estel you are the single bravest being I have ever had in my company." The elf said, completely truthfully.

"I am not as brave as Frodo Baggins…or you. Or my papa."

"You are. You are just as brave as the both of them. You are far braver than I." the boy smiled.

"Do you really think so?"

"I know so. And you are quite skilled with a bow! You made more perfect shots than I can count yesterday! Do you remember?"

"Yes! I shot the feather out of Gildor's hat!" the child chuckled.

"You nearly scared me to death!" Legolas exclaimed with a laugh, giving Estel a tight hug, which he returned, laughing harder now.

"Did you see me hanging from the tree with my knees?" the boy asked.

"I did! Your hair nearly reached your elbows! It is getting very long."

"I want it to be long just like yours; like all of the Elves."

"You have a ways to go yet, then!" Legolas said, playing with a strand of his own spun-gold hair.

"That is alright. I will wait." The little boy said with a smile, sitting in Legolas' lap, his back against the Elf's chest. Legolas ran his thin fingers over the top of Estel's slightly pointed ear as the child sighed, leaning back, letting his head lull against Legolas' chest.

"You smell nice." He said, his eyes closing. Legolas chuckled.

"Thank you…?" he said, almost questioning. Estel laughed quietly.

"I do not feel so sad anymore." The little boy admitted, closing his eyes as Legolas combed his hand through the boy's hair.

"I am glad." Legolas said with a smile.