On the Paths of Snow
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. All the characters and places belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. I am making no money of this.
Now here is the story...
"Estel, hurry up! The Mirkwood party will be here any minute!" Elladan exclaimed.
Estel, Elrond's adopted son, was only fifteen years old. He had a messy dark brown hair that reached just above his shoulders in wavy curls. His eyes were a dark brown, almost gray. He was always a happy child.
He had come to the care of Elrond after his father Arathorn, and mother Gilraen were killed by a party of orcs when he was about two years old. Just before Arathorn died, he asked Elladan and Elrohir, twin sons of Elrond, to take him and take care of him. When they arrived to the Last Homely House with small Estel, Elrond immediately fell in love with him, and decided to adopt him. So now he was part of Elrond's family.
"Estel, look just how dirty you are! Come, let's get you cleaned up" Elrohir said and he started walking towards Estel's chambers, Elladan following close behind.
Estel clearly remember Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir's best friend. He was the prince of Mirkwood. He, along with his father, King Thranduil of Mirkwood, and a party of soldiers, were coming to Imladris on a visit to Lord Elrond and his family, and to discuss some matters before the High Pass was blocked with snow.
When they arrived at Estel's chambers, Elladan began getting clean clothes for Estel, while Elrohir grabbed the comb and passed to Estel. Elladan got Estel a pair of navy blue leggings, an undertunic of a lighter blue, and a tunic of a darker blue.
"Estel we will wait for you outside, so hurry up. Ada is already expecting us" Elladan said.
Five minutes later Estel arrived outside where Lord Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, and Glorfindel were.
"Estel, what took you so long? I told you since the morning breakfast not to get dirty"
"Sorry Ada, I was just having some fun in the Practice Fields" Estel replied truthfully.
"It is okay ion-in, just now try not to get dirty" Elrond told his son.
"Yes Ada I will".
"My King Thranduil, we are about an hour from Rivendell" The Captain said to his King.
"That is well, we are making good time, thank you" King Thranduil replied to his captain.
"Ada how long we will be staying?" Legolas asked his father.
"I do not know, ion-in, maybe a month, just enough time for negotiations to be finished, so we may return before the High Pass gets blocked. Why do you ask?"
"Because I was wondering, maybe I could go hunting with 'Dan and 'Ro. Maybe Estel can come this time too. I just want to make sure that there is enough time for a hunting trip".
"Well, I think there is, but each time you go hunting, at least one of you gets hurt".
"Oh Ada, you always worry along with Lord Elrond, don't worry, we know ho to take care of ourselves". Legolas said, but knew his father was right, in each of their hunting trips; they only ended up in one of their adventures and wounded. Other times they simply decided to pull pranks on one another.
"Look Ada! They are nearly here!" Estel was really excited about seeing his Mirkwood friend again.
"Yes, I can see Ion-in, now stay still, sooner or later they will arrive" Elrond replied to his excited son.
Now the Mirkwood party was crossing the bridge, and they will arrive any minute by now.
Legolas dismounted from his horse, and handed him to the stable hands, as did all the Elves from Mirkwood.
"Mae Govanen King Thranduil of Mirkwood" Lord Elrond said with formality.
"Mae Govanen Lord Elrond of Rivendell" King Thranduil responded.
"These are my sons Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel" Lord Elrond presented his sons.
"This is my son Legolas" King Thranduil said.
Nobody, apart from Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel, Erestor, and Gandalf knew of the true identity of Estel, so Elrond planned on telling only his old friend, the King of Mirkwood, and his son, Legolas. They had already met Estel, and Estel had become a friend of Legolas. Elrond thought they had the right to know. They thought Estel was just a human child whose parents had died. So, after all the formalities were done, he called them inside, and sent Estel to his sword practice with Elladan and Elrohir.
"Thranduil, Legolas, as you may have notice, Estel is my human son. However, he is not only a human child. He really is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I decided to adopt him after his parents' deaths. But we decided not to tell him of his heritage until he is mature enough to fully understand it, and to protect him from the shadow that is arising" Elrond then explained to Thranduil and Legolas how Elladan and Elrohir had saved Estel and brought him to Rivendell.
"Do not worry, Elrond, we won't tell anyone" Thranduil replied trying to ease his friend's heart.
"Thank you, now you know. Orcs have been spotted nearby Rivendell. There is much more orc activity since Arathorn's death, they are trying to find the heir of Isildur. I fear for his safety".
"We will also protect Estel, have no fear for that Lord Elrond" Legolas replied.
"Thank you Legolas, why don't you two go and rest"
Later that afternoon, Legolas went to find the twins. They were outside on the Practice Field with Estel. When they saw Legolas, they went and greeted him. Estel was pleased to finally see Legolas again, the famous prince of Mirkwood, who had pranked his brothers too many times.
While they were outside, the twins invited Legolas on a hunting trip.
"What do you say Legolas, we go out tomorrow before the sun rises, and return a week later" Elladan began.
"I like the idea, but do you think our fathers will let us?"
"I do no know, you know what they always say, that we go out looking for trouble, but that is not true, we accidentally land in trouble" Elrohir stated.
"Alright, why we don't go and ask permission" Legolas replied.
"What about me, I want to come too!" Estel said.
"No Estel, you are too young to go hunting" Elladan said.
"It's no true Elladan! I already know how to use my sword, you have been teaching me. And I am not that bad with the bow" Estel replied in a hurt tone.
"Well, if you want to come, why don't you ask Ada also?"
Thranduil and Elrond were in Elrond's study, talking like the old friends they were. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Come in" Elrond announced.
The Lord and King weren't surprised at all when their sons entered through the door.
"Hello Ada, we were wondering if we could go on a hunting trip" Elladan began.
"We will be more careful this time" Elrohir continued.
"You don't need to worry, we will try to avoid trouble" Legolas said trying to convince them.
"When do you plan to go" Elrond asked thoughtfully.
"We are planning on going out tomorrow before the sun rises" Elladan said casually.
Elrond turned to look at Thranduil, and he only nodded. Finally, Elrond sigh, wondering in what trouble his sons and the Mirkwood Prince would get themselves into. Suddenly the door opened with a loud bang, and Estel came in. After seeing the look of surprise on his father and Thranduil's face, he apologized.
"Sorry Ada, I didn't mean to open the door like that. Can go also?" Estel asked.
"Estel, I do not know, maybe it will be safer if you stay…" Estel didn't gave Elrond time to finish.
"Ada, you always say that, please let me go, I already know how to use the sword, and I am not too bad with the bow. 'Dan, 'Ro and Legolas said it was well with them. Please, Ada?" Estel begged.
Elrond having no choice said "Very well, all four of you may go. Go and get ready for tomorrow".
What Elrond didn't know, is that a storm was coming, maybe some snow and the four would get into a lot of trouble.
To Be Continued…
Author's notes: Don't worry, angst is up ahead! ;) This story will be non-slash.
Please read and review. Tell me what you think of it. Any opinions or suggestions are welcome.