Title: Friend and Foe

Chapter 1: Estel Returns Home

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March 1st, 2951

Rivendell

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"Estel! Elrohir, Elladan!" Elrond greeted them with a mixture of happiness and anxiety, wondering whether they had brought wounds to be tended, as they usually did, "It is good to see you again." He paused, "Are any of you hurt?"

"Yes, ada," Elladan said, eyes twinkling, "but we're better of than usual. Estel is the only one this time- he has a cut on his back. Just a scratch, but it would be better if you saw to it."

Elrond's expression of immense relief coupled with incredulity sent his sons into splits. They were telling the truth for once, and it amused them tremendously to see Elrond doubting them.

Elrond embraced his three sons, lingering in Estel's arms a second longer than the others', because he was struck by the change in Estel's face. It looked much older than it had done three years ago. Most of his childhood innocence was lost- in it's place was a kind of nobleness that showed that Estel had been doing great deeds. But it still retained the humble nature that Elrond had observed with approval when he saw the boy for the first time, eighteen years ago.

He stared into his son's eyes, searching for some hint of the old mischief, and he found it almost instantly.

"Ada?" Estel said, trying not to laugh.

"What, Estel?"

"You've forgotten something."

"I have?" Elrond said, brows furrowing in puzzlement.

"What day is it today, ada?"

"It's March 1st- Valar, your birthday!"

"Now he remembers! After all those hints. I ask you Ro, isn't ada the silliest creature in arda?"

"I would say no," Elrohir said, grinning, "Because he still as you to compete with."

"Ro!" Estel lunged for his brother knocking his father down as well. The four of them landed in an unceremonious heap on the floor, much to the amusement of Elrond's servants.

"Happy birthday Estel," Elrond said as he tried to get up, "Though I would have preferred it if you had not brought me back a cut on your 20th birthday. What am I thinking- letting you stand there like that when you're wounded?! We're going to the Healing House right now. No arguments."

"But ada-"

"I said no arguments."

….

After Elrond had inspected the cut on Estel's back from every angle, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Well," he said, "for once your brother seems to have spoken the truth. It really is no more than a cut…how did you get it, by the way?" He reached for a bandage and started binding the wound immediately.

"There was an orc skirmish, and Ro was about to be attacked, and I stepped in." Estel said this in a very level tone, with not the slightest hint of boasting.

Elrond stared at him again, struck once more by the fact that Estel was a Man now- no longer the innocent child who had taken leave of him three years ago. In a rush Elrond made up his mind. It was time for Estel to know the truth.

"Estel."

"Yes, ada."

"I am not your father."

"What?!"

Quickly Elrond explained to him how he was Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Isildur's heir. He told him about his true parentage and hailed Aragorn as the one to whom Gondor's throne truly belonged.

There was a silence after he finished.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Estel, or rather Aragorn, asked quietly.

"I had to protect you."

Aragorn accepted this with a nod. "And why are you telling me this now of all times?" he asked.

"Because, Aragorn, I can see in your face that you are now mature enough to receive it in the way it should be received." Elrond studied his adoptive son's face to see how he would react to this.

"Please don't call me Aragorn, my lord. I can't bear to hear it from you."

"And please call me ada, Estel. I'm still your father."

There was a heavy silence, and Aragorn fidgeted uncomfortably.

Elrond broke the silence. "I know you need time to think about this, Estel, but whatever name you claim for yourself will always be Estel. That was your upbringing, and it will never forsake you even if you wanted to."

There was another pause. "Thank you, ada," Aragorn turned to go.

"I need to speak to you later about other matters," Elrond called after his retreating back, "Come to my chamber sometime tomorrow."

Aragorn paused long enough to acknowledge this and then buried himself in the forests of Ilmadris.

…

The next day found Aragorn in Elrond's chamber.

"We will have a visitor in a few days," Elrond told him, "I thought it best that you know, because the cause is somewhat…delicate."

"Who is he? What's his name? Why is he coming?"

"His name is Legolas Greenleaf, he is the prince of Mirkwood. If you convert elf years to human years, he's around your age but he's seen much more of the world than you have and therefore seems older. His father, King Thranduil, is sending him under the pretext of delivering a message. But the actual reason is the fact that he never quite recovered when his mother died two years ago. His mental state is not good. I'll have to heal him."

"I'll help too. The last person I healed was Haldir, and that was ages ago. If I don't keep in touch, I'll lose all the skill you taught me so painstakingly."

"Well. It depends solely upon him. With Legolas, you just never know. But I have some other news for you."

"What?"

"My daughter, Arwen Evenstar, who has been spending the past few years with her mother's kin in Lothlorien, has returned here."

A slight blush painted Aragorn's cheeks, "I know. I already met her. She's…beautiful."

"When did you see her?"

"This evening."

"Estel, I know by the expression on your face what you are thinking. Please don't do it. It's impossible,"

"I love her."

"You can't say that when you've only just met her. And you've never been in love before."

"Call it infatuation if you must, but I do have feelings for her. I'm sorry, ada. I know I'm paining you."

"Let's not think about this for a few years, shall we? It can wait. It'll bring a shadow between us if we try to resolve it now. We have years and years ahead of us."

"Fine. But I'm very intrigued by this Prince Legolas. What is he like? Is he a nice person?"

He's a good person, very much like you. The same fire, the same spirit, the same will. Except that he is more cautious in making friends- but when he does, it's for life. He never abandons then. The thing is that it's difficult to make a friend out of him. He's a little asocial that way. I have known him for a long time, and still I cannot call myself close to him. But you two should get along like wild fire."

"The way you talk, we might be twins! I hope he lives up to your description. And I hope he's handsome. It'll be a poor compliment to me if he isn't."

"Estel!" Elrond said reproachfully.

"I'm joking!" Aragorn exclaimed laughingly.

…

TBC

To make things very clear, dear readers, Aragorn had been living with Elrond since he was two. When he was 20, he returned to Rivendell after doing "great deeds" according to the book. Elrond deemed him worthy of knowing his past and told him everything. The next day he met Arwen and, according to the book, fell in love with her immediately. Love at first sight. This is all according to the book. My partof it is the introduction of Legolas at this point. After this chapter, it'll be mainly about Aragorn, Legolas and some Haldir.

Another thing.

To all the people who are kind enough to read and review this story (if they are any), I have a sincere request for all of you: If you review once and like the story, please, please, PLEASE don't desert me next chapter. Since I can't promise quick updates, I'll include summaries of the previous chapters to refresh your memories and I'll also mail you when I update, if you want me to. Otherwise you could just add me to your Author Alerts list. But only if you deem me worthy. If you don't like the story it's different. Then say why, and disappear. But those who like it, review and continue reviewing for Pete's sake!!

Ta!