So this is the final chapter, more of a bonus really but I wanted to finish it on a happy note of friendship :) Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 6 - Epilogue: These Days of Light

The sun shone upon them in the garden when Estel sat in the grass with Legolas. He had become fast friends with the wood-elf while the other was healing, asking questions and being asked about his training in return.

"Oh dear, I remember Erestor's lessons! I did always prefer Arwen teaching me." Legolas rolled in the grass, careful to avoid his still healing back and grinned at Estel's complains about his teacher.

"So you've met Ro and Da's sister?" he supposed she was his sister too, but since he'd never actually met her, it was weird to say so. Legolas just nodded.

"Oh yes, I used to come here often during my childhood, when our woods and the land were less dangerous to travel. Arwen and I are good friends. She is with her grandparents for quite a long time now…" he mused, stroking the grass beneath him and enjoying how soft it was. "She must miss her mother too, especially these days." He mumbled.

This was the final stroke, Estel had enough.

"Okay, I'm sorry but you need to tell me what's so special about the last days! My brothers are behaving strangely and I worry! Father is withdrawn and all of them barely talk…it's one of the reasons I ran away in the first place! It is driving me nuts and they won't speak of it." He crossed his arms, clear worry but also anger about this situation written on his so young face.

Legolas glanced at him for a moment, not certain if he should stay humorous or switch to the serious topic the young boy was poking at with a far too large stick. Finally, he decided on the latter.

"Oh sweet Estel. I would say that you should ask them this question but I fear it is still too fresh for them. It may have been slowly breaching on 500 years but the anniversary of such events always makes one feel it especially deeply." He straightened himself to an upward position and crossed his legs. It sounded like he spoke from experience. Estel leaned forward, curious to finally know, even though he sensed it would not be a bright story.

"You know of Celebrian, of course? Elrond's wife, Celeborn and Galadriel's daughter and mother to Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen?" Estel nodded. Of course he had heard of her and he knew how the brothers missed her dearly. Her room was off limits and he had once wandered into it unsupervised as a child, wondering about it not having collected dust in all these years and his young hands grabbing far too many things. He would never forget Elrond's face when he found him, both full of sorrow and gladness at the same time.

"Well, it happens to be the anniversary of her being found after the orc attack. She had been abducted and held in a cave, only for Elladan and Elrohir to finally find them after several months of search. Many had given up to find her alive at all but they had prevailed. The state they found her in however…" he paused, swallowing, wondering how much he should even tell this small child. He decided to skim over the most gruesome details. He had already seen too much, the last days, most of it thanks to him.

"It devastated them, that day. I was not here on the day itself but I came to aid them when I heard the news of what happened. Celebrian was never the same and she soon departed for the havens." He pressed his lips together and looked at the earth beneath them.

"My bloody appearance here probably brought back way too many memories and I still feel sorry about it." He admitted.

Estel was silent for a few moments, taking all this in. It made sense now, but he did not feel better, even though his curiosity was satisfied. He thought about what to say, when three elves interrupted them, the twins and Elrond, Elrohir holding a tablet with food that had probably been intended for Legolas, originally.

"Legolas! We told you to stay in bed!" Elladan exclaimed from some distance away, nearing them now.

"And you have corrupted our sweet little Estel to join in your jests?" Elrohir chided, but let himself fall to the ground next to the prince gracefully, placing the tablet in front of him. Estel rolled his eyes dramatically at his brother's babying and Legolas laughed, rolling himself to the side but not so far that the ground actually touched his wound. He was glad for the light-hearted distraction and pretended the previous topic had not been breached but they had stayed on the one before that. So a grape was taken from the tablet and he tossed it into his mouth gracefully.

"I was just telling Estel about our realm. You seem to have neglected his education in that aspect. As well as failing to tell him that I can easily best you two with a bow." A simultaneous gasp from the twins was drowned out by a laughter from the other end of the garden, where Glorfindel passed under the shadows of a corridor.

"That's true!" he commented before disappearing around a corner. Both twins turned red in anger and shame, making Estel and Legolas almost roll with laughter. Even Elrond had to restrain himself from giving out more than a snicker. He distantly remembered Thranduil's comment on his son's bow skills when the boy had not even held a weapon before and to be honest, he didn't know if he should be angry or impressed about the king's foresight in this aspect.

The twins tried to get the attention back from this topic and Elrohir coughed to get a word into their laughter.

"We have not neglected his education, but simply tried to shield him." He defended and Legolas quickly sobered. His face told a journey of thoughts -from being offended to seeing their intent- to the twins but nothing to Estel as he finally sighed.

"You're right. It is nothing for a child to have to think about often." He admits.

"What, why?" Estel asked. He knew that there was not just good in the world, of course. The encounter with the bandits had not been his first awakening. After all, his birth father had been brutally killed by orcs. Even if he did not remember, he sometimes had nightmares about it still. And he just found out about what happened to Celebrian in more detail! That was about as gruesome as it got…right?

Legolas smiled ruefully. One could clearly see how this topic pained him and the twins shared a glance with each other and their father. Thranduil was the only elven ruler without a ring to protect his realm. And he was right next to Dol Ghudur…

"Our great forest is plagued by a terrible illness and nowadays the ground for battles between us and evil creatures almost every single day. It's why I have not visited …as often." He glanced toward the twins and they returned his gaze, already having known this. They were well informed about Legolas' reasons and had often offered their help in this fight, too. Legolas or his father had never accepted. Not working as well with the trees and not knowing every centimeter of the forest would kill them, Legolas had often said.

At these news, Estel slowly glanced down at the grass, picking strands from it and tearing some form the ground while apparently thinking. It was a lot to take in, the story from a few minutes ago also still lingering.

"That means you're fighting a lot? Despite being a prince?" he asked, looking up to Legolas but his head still down. Said prince nodded.

"Yes. A lot." He admitted. He tried not to think of the last friend he lost in his arms, leaving for the halls while still in his grasp.

"Then why didn't you just kill the men when they attacked us? I know killing is wrong but it would have been self-defense! Why didn't you fight back?!" why did you just let yourself get taken like that? , his eyes said. The boy's voice was raised and he now fully looked at Legolas again. "You fought back when they came here, why not then?"

The elves surrounding him were stunned, even taken aback, by this outburst. Finally, Legolas answered into the tense silence. His tone was serious and his voice quiet, just enough for Estel to understand.

"When I was about your age…my mother was killed by orcs." He stated right out. Estel's eyes widened and he looked around for the reaction of the others. The twins had averted their gaze in sympathy and Elrond looked at Legolas, a faraway look in his eyes. He didn't know how to respond to this, having just heard two more very sobering stories. His thoughts were interrupted by Legolas continuing.

"I was there, among the trees, where she hid me. But it wasn't far enough, I still…saw it all. It scarred me for a long time, still does." He admitted and Estel still stared, frozen.

"I know technically, in human years, you are still younger than I was then. My…plan…was to get you out without having to see much of the fighting. I wanted you save. I was a bit stunned by the amount of rope they used on me but I would have just waited for your brothers to arrive." He stole a glance at the twins, who just nodded.

"Also, one never sheds the blood of Illuvatar's children lightly if it is not absolutely necessary." He further explained as if this was a lesson to be learned in an abstract and absurd class session they were having right now.

"Then your knives…?" Estel asked, obviously putting many pieces into place in his mind.

"The knives belonged to her, yes. My father gave them to me when I became of age and joined the guard."

Estel was quiet for a few moments. He tried to process what had been revealed to him (again). Legolas had treated him like a child, yes. But it was different with him. From his past experience he just wanted to protect Estel from the same fate. He could understand that.

So he simply nodded and a short silence fell over them all.

"Legolas?" Estel asked. The prince looked up from the grass below and smiled.

"Yes?"

"How long are you staying?"

Elrond and the Twins looked at Legolas as well. They did not know either, often Legolas' visits were short due to him being needed at home. But he had to heal now anyway and judging by the smile on his face, for once, he would take that time. Elrond was sure Estel's presence had more to do with that than the child was aware.

"How long do you want me to stay?" Legolas asked instead, patiently waiting for Estel's answer. Elrond frowned. He wondered inwardly if Thranduil would approve of this friendship. In him it sparked something in the back of his mind and he hoped it was nothing negative.

"At least two more weeks! I have something great to show you can will only happen then!" Estel grinned and gestured wildly to something far off to the right.

"Alright. It shall be arranged." Legolas agreed, nodding. Estel jumped up, stretched his hands in the air and made a gleeful noise. They all laughed along at his happiness.

"Now who wants to see how I best the twins in Archery?" Legolas said after they all quieted again. He grinned and started to get up, ignoring the short wince it induced. Elrohir's eyes widened while Elladan only glared. Elrond pursed his lips and raised as well, if only to halter Legolas in his movements.

"You are not healed yet, young man."

"And if that does not hinder me, how much worse would you two feel?" he asked and in the next second, the twins were up, Elladan pointing a finger at him while Elrohir's fists were balled.

"Oh just you wait you little…" and he grabbed for Legolas, but the wood-elf was gone from his grasp and down the hall already.

"Legolas! Take it easy for Valar's sake!" Elrond screamed, slowly walking after them.

For a few seconds, Estel remained seated. He looked at his father and brothers and smiled, realizing that this afternoon with Legolas had been the first time in a long time that they had spent together and not been in a somber mood.

For a few seconds, Estel sat there and wondered how Legolas did it. Then he shrugged, got up and ran after them all.

"Wait up!" he screamed, grin back in place.

The rope burns on his wrists were long forgotten.

Thank you so much for reading! Please tell me what you thought, Love ya! ~