Meeting hope

By: Eressie

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Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien, I do not own LOTR (of course)…sadly _

Summary: Legolas' first meeting with a certain young man for the first time.

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Chapter one

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July, 2946 TA

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Legolas rode as fast as he could, galloping along the path to Rivendell that he knew so well. He glanced behind him and laughed when he could not see his two companions from Mirkwood that his father insisted should come with him.

Legolas was a skilled warrior and he could take care of himself, and his father knows that. Still the king insisted; nay ordered, that Legolas must be accompanied by two 'babysitters'. The king, at first, wanted to send at least ten warriors to accompany his son, but Legolas, who wanted to go alone, had been persuasive and stubborn. By some discussion; Thranduil won but barely. Instead of ten elves to escort his son, he had to be satisfied with the number of two but he managed to at least be the one to choose which two warriors it should be.
He knew that if Legolas was the one to choose, he could take two of his closest friends, and instead of being observant of danger and careful of his son; the three of them would be careless and probably end up hurt in some way or another. The king had had enough of injuries; Legolas managed to hurt himself more often than not, so he chose two older warriors that he trusted completely. One of them was Maranwë, who was Legolas bodyguard when he was younger. He still was Legolas bodyguard now but the prince had surpassed him in skills and strength. He usually kept close to Legolas only in some travels and in meetings, but other than that Legolas was free from his shadow that he had had when he was younger.
The other elf was Narathil. She is just a few years older than the king himself and is one of Thranduil's closest friends. Few could compare her skill with a sword, and the king knew his son was safe with her at his side.

Legolas had played along well with his two companions almost the whole way, but when Rivendell was close by; just thirty minutes away or so in full speed, Legolas took off. He shook of his two guards by taking a hidden but faster road that the two of them knew nothing about.
The prince laughed again as he could hear the two of them from afar. They were much further behind but he could still hear their complaining voices and the sound of hoofs galloping that were not from his own stallion.

The main gate of Rivendell appeared before him and the guards who stood by it could clearly see who it was. The guards shared knowing looks and smiles with each other, but according to protocol they had to ask who wished to enter.

Although, this time they barely had the time to open their mouths to ask before Legolas shouted to them with a laugh. "Yes, it is I, Legolas Thranduilion! And you better open the gates before I crash into it! I will not lessen my speed!"

The guards did not wait; they opened the gates quickly and then they stepped aside and waited for the prince to pass. As he did so, the guards long, dark hair flew in the wind created from the speed of Legolas on his white horse.

Legolas laughed again as he passed. "Thank you, friends!" he shouted behind him and waved his hand. "My much slower companions will meet you soon! Although, not too soon I wager!"

He slowed down soon after he passed the gates and he could see Lord Elrond and his family waiting for him. He dismounted his horse and his feet barely had time to touch the ground before he was attacked by two identical elves.

"Dan! Roh!" he laughed as he hugged them both back. "Can't breathe!"

They immediately let go of him and started to search for injuries. "You're hurt!" Elladan exclaimed. "I would have known! You're always hurt."

Elrohir prodded and poked at him while searching for any signs of pain on Legolas face. "Out with it, where is the wound, nay probably not just one…"

"Broken bones, perhaps!" Elladan interrupted before Legolas had the chance to say anything, and started to inspect his right arm to begin with.

"Hey!" Legolas chuckled and tried to push the twins away from him. "I am not hurt!"

"Impossible," Elrohir said, "You always are. And you just said that you couldn't breathe!"

"Oh," Elladan exclaimed, "broken ribs! Probably internal bleeding! Collapsed lung!"

Legolas grabbed Elladan's hands as the older twin reached to open his tunic. "Listen!" Legolas laughed. "I am fine! I said that I couldn't breathe because you were hugging me too hard!"

Elladan and Elrohir fell silent and backed away one step. "You're… fine?" Elrohir asked slowly.

"Yes!" Legolas chuckled. "I fine! I'm not hurt!"

The twins paled and turned around fast. "Ada!" they shouted simultaneously and looked at Lord Elrond who stood waiting calmly by the stairs. "Legolas is dying!"

Legolas giggled and shook his head. "No, I'm not. I am perfectly fine!"

"Valar…" Elladan breathed, "It's serious! Hurry, Ada! It's probably poison!"

The lord of Imradis stepped closer slowly with a smile on his face. "Welcome back to Rivendell, my dear Legolas." he said and laid a hand on Legolas shoulder. "You have been greatly missed."

"It's good to be back, my lord." Legolas smiled back and bowed his head in a small nod. "Now; can you convince your sons that I am completely fine? Not injured in any way."

Lord Elrond chuckled. "I am glad to hear that you are fine, young one, and you really look it this time." he winked.

"I am!" Legolas said and rolled his eyes.

"Good." Lord Elrond said. "It is far too rarely that you arrive safe and sound."

"Surely you don't believe him, Ada?" Elladan said. "He is obviously not fine. Every time he says that he is fine; he is hiding an injury of some kind. You know he does!"

Legolas nudged the twin's shoulder with his own and tried to look as innocent and upset as he could, he even managed to conjure up some tears in his eyes. "Don't you trust me, Dan...?"

Elladan squinted his eyes and tried to look away from Legolas own but failed. "Ada… Legolas is cheating."

Lord Elrond laughed. "Enough of this! Elladan, Elrohir stop tormenting our young greenleaf." he said firmly but with a smile. "Come, Legolas, there is someone you must meet."

He steered Legolas towards the stairs and Legolas finally spotted three more people he had not had the time to see yet. There stood Glorfindel and Erestor, whom he knew well. But there was also one who stood beside them who he did not recognize. It was no elf. It was a man; or rather, a young boy.

Legolas had been told about Estel before, of course. He had gotten a letter, a few years back from the twins, of the news that Lord Elrond now fostered a little baby boy.
But he now saw that the little baby was not so little anymore; and definitely not a baby. He had had news from Mithrandir as well when he was in Mirkwood five years ago, after the battle of the five armies, that Elrond's new son was doing fine and that he had met the boy when he was in Rivendell with the dwarfs. The boy had been ten years old then.
'How long has it been since then really?' Legolas thought… it felt like weeks, but here stood a teenage boy before him now. Could a human really change so much in only five years?

The youth before him smiled politely at the prince and he also bowed a little, a bit uncertain if he should do that or not. The twins left Legolas side and stood beside their little brother, and lay one hand each on the boy's shoulders.

"Legolas, meet Estel, our little brother!" the twins said simultaneously with proud smiles. And then they looked at the boy and gestured towards the elven prince. "Estel, meet Legolas, our little brother! And hey, now your little brother as well I should think!"

Legolas rolled his eyes. "Shouldn't it be older brother?"

"Why?" Elrohir said with a laugh. "You two are practically the same age, kind of."

Legolas just shook his head and ignored the twin. Instead he focused on the boy. He reached out his arm towards Estel. "Hello, Estel." he said with a smile.

Estel smiled back and took the blond elf's hand and shook it. "Hello, Legolas."

"You can call me, 'Las if you like." Legolas said with sparkle in his eyes, "my friends usually does."

"Okay, I will!" Estel said with a big smile. "'Las."

"Awww," Elladan said and nudged Elrohir, "the little ones are bonding!"

Legolas glared at the twins. "Your brothers are idiots." he said to Estel.

The boy nodded and went to stand beside the prince to look at the twins as well. "Yes, they are."

The twins tried to look offended. "Well, good to know that you two have something in common already. Your opinion of us!"

The sudden sound of horses coming closer made all the people by the stairs turn to the entrance. They watched as Legolas long forgotten companions arrived and dismounted breathless.

"My lord Elrond," Narathil said and bowed along with Maranwë. Elrond nodded at them and glanced at Legolas with a smile.

The prince blushed a little and shrugged. "Um, yeah, I- eh…. my horse needed to stretch her legs?" he said. "Stretch them really long and really fast."

The twins shook their heads. "You're impossible, 'Las."

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You like it? Hate it? Review please!

/Eressie