Here's my entry!
Courageous Hearts
A Lord of the Rings story by Deana Lisi
Disclaimer: I don't own Legolas or any other LOTR character
"Run, Estel!"
The small human watched in horror as a wolf leaped at his friend, pinning the blond-haired elf to the ground.
"Run!" Legolas yelled again.
Estel, frightened at the sight, obeyed, but he only went a few feet before stopping and turning around again.
Legolas gasped with the effort of trying to force the wolf's fangs away from his throat. He had no weapons; they lay beside a river further into the woods.
The sight of blood on the elf's face terrified the eight-year-old boy and he ran again—towards the river. He picked up Legolas' weapons and rushed back, struggling with the bow that was bigger than he was. Dropping it, he lifted Legolas' knives instead, rushing towards the beast while trying not to cut himself.
Legolas tried to force the wolf off himself, turning to maneuver it in a way that would break its neck. He was not succeeding, for the beast had a paw on his chest and one on his stomach, preventing him from inhaling. Spots grew before his eyes and the wolf was gaining control…but it suddenly let out a howl and collapsed on top of the elf, driving what little air he had completely out of his lungs.
Estel watched, eyes wide, as Legolas remained motionless under the animal. With a loud cry, he turned, quickly running towards home.
********************
Elladan and Elrohir had just left the house, intent on finding their friend and brother. It was a beautiful day, and they weren't surprised that Legolas and Estel—who were inseparable—had already left to enjoy it.
"Elladan! Elrohir! Ada!
Anyone!"
The twins looked up in shock at the panicked shout, and began running. "Estel!" Elladan exclaimed. "Where are you?"
The child suddenly ran around a tree ahead of them, looking pale and scared. Tears streamed down his face. "Wolf!" he shouted. "I think Legolas is dead!"
The blood drained out of the twins' faces and they began to run, desperately praying inwardly that the human was wrong.
Reaching the glade where the attack had happened, their hearts skipped at the sight of their motionless friend with the heavy wolf atop him.
"Keep Estel away!" Elladan told his brother.
Elrohir took hold of the young human, turning around to shield his view.
"No!" Estel cried, trying to pull away and run to the fallen elf.
Elrohir stopped him, picking him up and holding him against his chest.
Elladan quickly knelt beside the Mirkwood Prince, his heart hammering painfully within his chest as he pushed the heavy animal off him. He then checked for a pulse on Legolas' neck with a shaking hand, sighing loudly with relief when he found it. "He lives!" he exclaimed, looking the bloody elf over. "I think he's all right, I do not see any serious injuries."
Estel leaped from Elrohir's arms at those words, and ran over with the elf right behind him.
"Legolas," said Elladan, tapping his friend's cheek. "Wake, mellon-nin."
The blond-haired elf did just that, coming awake with a startled jump, frantically searching for the wolf. "Estel?!" he exclaimed. He seemed to only now notice Elladan's face above his own, and he grabbed the twin's forearms. "Where is—"
"I'm right here, Legolas!"
Estel squirmed his way into Elladan's lap to get closer to his friend, and Legolas grabbed the young human and held him tightly. He tried to sit up, and the twins helped him.
"Are you all right?" Elladan asked.
Legolas didn't answer. "Which of you killed the wolf? Last I saw it was alive. How did you know where we were?"
The twins looked at each other. "Neither of us killed it," said Elrohir.
"But…" Legolas trailed off with a gasp as he looked at the boy within his arms.
"
I killed it!" said Estel. "With one of your knives. I know that you told me never to touch them because they are sharp, but I could not let it kill you!"
Legolas was shocked and he closed his eyes, resting his chin on the human's head. He tried to fight the image in his mind that showed the boy merely wounding the wolf and the animal turning on him.
The twins knew what he was thinking; having the same thoughts.
"Can you walk?" said Elladan.
Not after what I just heard, Legolas thought.
Elrohir took Estel and pulled him away from Legolas so their friend could stand. The Prince's blood left stains on Estel's clothes, but the boy didn't seem to notice, or care.
Elladan helped Legolas to his feet, holding his arm tightly as he gained his balance.
"I'm all right," Legolas said.
Elladan nodded, able to see that he told the truth. Legolas definitely needed stitches, but it could've been a lot worse.
Slowly, the four walked back to the house, each of the elves wondering what they were going to tell Elrond.
********************
When Elrond saw his sons enter the room with a limping Legolas, clothes torn and bloody, he stood from his desk and hurried over. "What happ—Estel!"
The boy blinked when the tall elf knelt before him and grabbed his arms, seeking out the source of the blood on the child's clothes.
"You are checking the wrong person, ada," he said.
Elrond looked up at the nodding twins, and he realized that the blood belonged to Legolas. Standing, he looked at the blond-haired elf, frowning at the gashes covering his body.
"It was a wolf!" Estel exclaimed, as they turned to head for the healing room.
Elrond inwardly sighed with relief that it had been only
one.
Within minutes, Legolas was sitting up on a bed as Elrond cleaned and stitched his wounds.
Estel jumped onto the mattress and sat beside him. "You can hold my hand," he said. "Then it will not hurt."
Legolas smiled, trying not to wince as Elrond worked, for Estel's benefit.
When Elrond was finished, he looked over the elf-Prince. "You have probably been injured more than Elladan and Elrohir combined! Have you any injuries that I
cannot see?"
"He was unconscious when we found him," said Elladan.
Elrond frowned and reached over to feel Legolas' skull.
"My head is fine," Legolas told him. "The wolf stood on me and I was unable to breathe."
Elrond removed his hands, not finding any lumps. "And yet you still managed to slay it while losing consciousness from lack of air? You never cease to amaze me, penneth."
"But ada," said Estel. "Legolas didn't kill the wolf!"
Elrond looked at him. "Ah, my mistake. Who was it, then?" He looked at his sons to see them making faces at Estel as if telling him to be quiet.
"
I did!" said the young human.
The twins visibly winced and Legolas closed his eyes, dreading the healer's reaction.
Elrond smiled at the child, thinking him jesting, but when none of the other elves said anything, his smile faded.
"Estel saved my life," said Legolas, not meeting the older elf's eyes. "Please forgive me; I never meant to endanger him!"
Elrond was practically speechless. "Es—
Estel killed the wolf?!" he said, stuttering uncharacteristically. "How?!"
"I used one of Legolas' knives," said the boy, hanging his own head. "I know that I was not supposed to touch them, but I could not let it kill my best friend!" He looked at the Mirkwood Prince, before returning his gaze to his father, his eyes pleading. "It was on top of Legolas and it was too strong for him and he told me to run so I did but I went to get his weapons and since the bow was too big for me to use I grabbed one of his knives even thought I'm not supposed to touch them and I ran over and stabbed it!"
Despite the boy's lack of proper sentences, Elrond understood every word that he said. Looking at Legolas and the twins, there was nothing that he could say; the dangerous situation could not have been avoided. Legolas had done right in telling Estel to run; he could not change the fact that the boy had put himself into danger by killing the wolf.
Reaching over, Elrond patted Legolas' arm. "Do not fault yourself," he said. "You did everything in your power to keep him safe. It is not your fault that he did not obey you."
Legolas nodded, relieved that the elf that he considered a second father was not angry at him.
"As for you, Estel," said Elrond. He shook his head, unable to put his thoughts into words. "You should have obeyed Legolas; in running, and in not touching his knives."
Estel raised his lowered head. "I know, but I had to or he would be dead!"
Elrond sighed. "I know, that is why I am at a loss as to what I should do." He sighed, covering his eyes with one hand.
Legolas and the twins said nothing, watching, understanding the elf-lord's dilemma.
"I obey Legolas," said Estel, sounding defensive now. "I never touch his weapons, or anyone else's! I know that they are sharp and dangerous, but Legolas' were near the lake and the wolf was
killing him!"
Legolas squeezed the boy's hand, which he still held.
Elrond sat on the bed—carefully, so as not to jostle Legolas—and took Estel's other hand. "I know that you are obedient, Estel, you are very well-behaved! I am not as angry that you disobeyed, for I understand why you did it. It simply scares us that you could have been hurt."
Estel nodded. "I know, that is why I was very careful! I did not hurt myself, and I saved Legolas!"
The golden-haired Prince smiled and pulled the boy into a hug, ignoring the complaints from his many stitches. "You were very brave," he said. "Thank you very much, my young friend; I know that you had to be scared, and yet you showed much courage. I am forever in your debt."
Estel smiled and hugged him back, a little harder than he should've. "You are very welcome!" he exclaimed. "I am so glad that you did not die!"
"So are we," said Elrond, pulling the human away from the wincing Legolas. "Be gentle with him, Estel."
The boy made a contrite face, but Legolas smiled and invitingly lifted his arm so that Estel could lay under it against his side.
Elrond watched them for a minute, apparently deep in thought. "I have dreaded this day," he said. "But it seems that the time has come."
Everyone looked at him.
Elrond sighed, smiling at the same time. "How would you like to begin learning weaponry, penneth?"
The boy's face lit up. "Can I? Can I, ada?"
The ancient elf nodded. "Aye, I will let these three teach you, but you must do everything that they say!"
Estel nodded, more and more enthusiastically as his father spoke.
Elladan chuckled and grabbed the boy's head, holding it still. "You cannot train if your head falls off your neck!"
Estel giggled and grabbed Legolas' hand again as he jumped off the bed. "Come, Legolas!" he exclaimed. "Elladan and Elrohir can teach me the sword, and you can teach me the bow!"
Legolas didn't expect to be yanked, and he fell to the side, unable to catch himself since Estel had a grip on his hand.
Elrond and Elladan both reached out to grab the younger elf, and Elrohir grabbed Estel, swooping him up into his arms.
Legolas tried to hide his grimace, but wasn't very successful. "Ow," he gasped.
The two elves helped him lie down, checking the stitches to ensure that none had torn.
"Legolas?" said Estel, worriedly, sliding out of Elrohir's arms.
"I am fine," Legolas answered, to Elrond as well as the boy.
The healer nodded, seeing that the stitches were all unbroken.
Estel watched as his brother and father replaced the bandages. "How many stitches is that?" he asked.
"Eighty-seven," all four elves replied. They threw each other amused looks before laughing.
"That's a
lot," said Estel.
"It is indeed," Elrond agreed. "Which is why Legolas cannot teach you anything today."
Estel looked horrified. "Do you mean that he has to stay
inside?"
Elrond looked at Legolas, knowing that he'd never succeed in keeping the elf in his room for long. "He may go outside
only if he is
very careful," he answered the human. "Can I trust you to watch him and make sure that he finds someplace comfortable to sit?"
"Yes, ada!" said Estel.
Legolas inwardly sighed, recognizing Elrond's trick. He had no choice but to take it easy, or risk upsetting Estel, who would take his entrusted task very seriously.
Estel took Legolas' hand and gently tugged on it.
Surprised to be getting away with this, Legolas carefully stood, with Elrond's help.
"Bring a blanket outside with you," Elrond told Elrohir. "A thick one."
The younger twin nodded and left to fetch one.
"How do you feel?" Elladan asked, worriedly noticing his friend's unsteadiness.
"Fine," Legolas told him. It wasn't a total lie; the unsteadiness was due to the stitches in his right lower leg that felt very tight. He didn't dare tell that to Elrond, who would likely forbid him from walking if he knew.
"Sit," he suddenly heard, as Elrond pushed him down to the bed. He obeyed, as the healer went over to his herbs on the table. Looking down at himself, he couldn't believe how many stitches were scattered all over his body. They were on both legs, both arms, and even his chest and stomach, which is where the pain was worst.
"Why don't you take Estel outside," Elrond told Elladan. "Legolas will be out in a few minutes," he said to the boy.
Estel nodded. "All right. I'll find you a good place to sit, Legolas!"
The Prince smiled.
Elladan took the human's hand as they turned. "We'll be under the trees near the fountain."
Legolas nodded, and he looked up as Elrond handed him a cup and sat beside him.
"I've known you since the day you were born," the healer said, once his sons had left the room. "I know that you blame yourself for events beyond your control."
Legolas said nothing, holding the now-empty cup in his lap.
"You know that there was nothing further you could have done to protect Estel," Elrond continued. "He truly did show courage and bravery for what he did, but so did you."
Legolas looked at him.
Elrond smiled and took his hand. "I have never known another elf as brave and courageous as you."
Legolas blinked, not expecting such an incredible compliment.
Elrond chuckled at his expression. "You face danger head-on and give yourself to save others." He reached over and carefully hugged the Prince. "Thank you for protecting Estel…but do not
ever forgot to protect
yourself also!"
Legolas smiled and hugged Elrond back as well as his painful stitches allowed him. "I will protect him for the rest of his days."
"I know," Elrond said. "And he will eventually do the same for you."
********************
Elladan and Elrohir were putting on quite a show for Estel, who watched from where he sat on their blanket. He'd seen them spar with their swords many times, but they were showing him specific moves that left him awed.
Seeing something from the corner of his eye, the young human saw Legolas and Elrond walking towards them. "Legolas!" he shouted.
The twins stopped, watching as their little brother ran to their friend. Legolas was dressed in clean clothes and looked uninjured if not for his limp and slight paleness.
Estel took his hand and led him to the blanket, where he pointed for Legolas to sit.
The wood-elf obeyed, carefully lowering himself onto the soft cloth.
Elrond smiled when Estel plopped himself next to his friend, congratulating himself on his clever ploy.
***************
A few hours later, Elrond decided to check on Legolas, curious to see if Estel had succeeded in keeping the injured Prince blanket-bound. What he found made him smile.
Legolas was fast asleep, with Estel tucked under his arm.
Elladan and Elrohir were sitting nearby, quietly reading as they watched over the sleeping pair. They shared a smile with their father as Elrond sat on the blanket himself, imagining the smile on Estel's face when he woke to find him there.
THE END
