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A Pleasant Beginning
by
Keelywolfe
"Why must I stay here?" It was closer to a
whine than Estel preferred to admit yet he could not seem to help it. His
adopted brothers were busily readying their horses as they prepared to depart
for another of their excursions and did not reply to him.
It was not proper that he was always forced to remain in Imladris, for how could
he become a warrior if he never experienced a battle? Elladan and Elrohir both
had been tutoring him for some years now but so far they did not allow him to
travel with them. It was most exasperating, to be treated as if he were still a
child. He might be younger than them but it was not something that could be
helped.
Still, he tried to persuade them that this should be the time they rode out
together, three brothers instead of two. Elrohir only gave him a stern look as
he mounted his horse and Estel ignored it, concentrating on the softer heart of
his other brother.
"Others are to travel with you!" he tried, giving Elladan a piteous look.
"Others who are fully grown," Elrohir broke in, not looking up as he fastened
his cloak over his shoulders. "Not children who we would have to protect during
battles." As soon as Elladan turned away, Estel stuck his tongue out at Elrohir,
who returned the gesture and also crossed his eyes. Normally, Estel would have
giggled to see him acting in such a fashion but this time he merely sniffed
indignantly.
"I can help," he insisted. "Elladan, I am no longer a child! Let me come with
you."
"The choice is not mine to make, Estel, as you well know. Our father has decided
that you must remain here, so here you will stay. " Elladan finally spoke,
chidingly, and the boy hung his head in shame.
Elrohir chuckled, leaning forward in his saddle to ruffle Estel's hair. He
ducked away with frown, tucking the long stands behind his ears. "You will be
joining us soon enough," Elrohir reminded him. "Do not be so eager to shed your
youth. "
"I am not a child!" he snarled, crossing his arms over his chest and scowling at
his adopted brothers. They did not laugh at him but he watched as the twin's
gazes met and he knew they shared their amusement in silence. Estel resisted the
urge to stamp his foot in his frustration. Such was the way of things for him;
the only creatures younger than him in Imladris were a few colts and even they
were allowed to do more than he.
"So you are no longer a child." The new voice came from behind them. Estel
turned to see one of the Elves from Mirkwood watching them. A few had come to
travel with his brothers; their desire to rid Middle Earth of Orcs matched that
of the twins, and often a group of them would ride together for a season. Estel
tried not to think of how likely it was that his brothers would be gone for some
time. More than his wish to go with them was his wish to be with them, and he
knew he would miss them both desperately while they were gone.
Worse yet, he saw that it was Legolas watching them, who was himself the son of
a King. He blushed miserably to think that this Elf in particular had seen his
tantrum. He had met the Elf in passing and thought him quite aloof, yet he had
seen his skill with both blades and marksmanship and knew him to be exceptional.
"And you are ready to set aside your childish ways?" Legolas continued, moving
to stand in front of the boy, and he did not spare Estel's pride as his brothers
had, not bothering to hide his amusement. "You must be a Man fully grown then
and prepared to act as such."
"Legolas..." Elladan began, a warning in his tone but his brother shushed him
with a smirk. Estel swallowed hard, certain that they were about to play some
jest on him. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, determined to prove
that whatever his embarrassment, he would accept it with dignity. "Yes, I am,"
he declared stoutly, and met Legolas' amused eyes with his own stormy gaze.
Legolas smiled then, looking at Estel with heavy-lidded eyes. The sight made
something twist in Estel's stomach uncomfortably but he did not look away,
holding the stare bravely. The Elf tilted his head slightly and his hair slid
over his shoulder, warm gold in the afternoon sun.
"Very well, then," Legolas murmured, and to Estel's surprise the Elf dropped to
his knees. The pressure of Legolas' mouth against his own was a further shock,
and Estel's eyes widened into large saucers of blue. He was held by little more
than the gentle weight of Legolas' hands on his shoulders and his own
astonishment.
The warm lips against his own did nothing more than rest against his mouth,
though. Estel had seen Elves kissing before and knew this was not the way of it.
Hesitantly, he parted his lips and touched his tongue against the seam of
Legolas' mouth. He felt the Elf startle, a soft inhalation, and then suddenly
the kiss deepened, Legolas' tongue matched his own, running lightly over the
line of his teeth.
Estel whimpered in surprise, awkwardly meeting the firm strokes within his mouth
with touches of his own. He did not realize he'd grasped Legolas' shoulders
until large, warm hands captured his and moved them, holding them away from the
Elf's body. Yet he did not pull back, sucking gently on Estel's bottom lip
before sliding his tongue back inside, stroking deeply at the velvet-soft
darkness of the boy's mouth.
Distantly, Estel heard someone clearing their throat, quite loudly in fact, and
abruptly Legolas pulled away, snatching his mouth from Estel's. His lips were
glistening and pink, and softly parted as he panted for breath, blue eyes
mirrored Estel's and he seemed quite shaken.
"If you're quite finished making a Man of him, perhaps we could be leaving?"
Elladan said dryly, and Elrohir murmured in agreement, though his eyes shone
with wry amusement.
"Indeed, I think we should." Legolas fairly leapt on his own horse, leaving
Estel to stare after him in bewilderment. He pulled the reins and his horse
turned nimbly, trotting towards the city gates. Just before he left Estel's
sight, Legolas glanced back at him and gave him a soft smile and a wink. Then he
dug his heels lightly into his horse and rode out the gate.
"One kiss does not a make you a Man, Estel," Elrohir murmured and Elladan made a
soft noise of agreement. He leaned forward in his own mount and started forward
before he called back, "Still it is a start!"
Elladan made an outraged sound, and he reached down to pat Estel's shoulder. "Do
not listen to them. You will be a Man soon enough, without their assistance." He
gave Estel an affectionate smile and when the boy reached for his hand, he
clasped it warmly. "I shall miss you. Keep up with your studies and we shall see
what time has made of you when I return."
"I shall miss you as well," Estel managed, lowering his eyes before Elladan
could see his tears. He suspected the Elf knew about them, regardless, and he
squeezed Estel's hand a last time before clicking his tongue to his horse and
riding after his brother.
He watched until they were out of sight and knew they had met the others outside
the gate. With a sigh he turned and made his way up to his rooms where his
tutors waited for him, no doubt impatiently. Yet as he walked, Estel touched a
finger to his lips, wonderingly. They felt no different, neither warm nor
swollen and suddenly he wished that they did, and that if any asked him he would
be able to blush tellingly and say nothing at all.
Perhaps he was not quite a Man, just yet, but that was certainly a pleasant
enough beginning.
-finis
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