15 years later....

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"Adar. They're back."
Elladan groaned.
"Are they injured?"
Elrond asked, his voice wasn't as concerned as one would expect it to be.

Elrohir squinting could make out the two figures half-walking and half-limping towards them.

"Nothing serious. They're both smiling and Estel just punched Legolas in the shoulder."

Elrond shook his head and headed towards the Healing Wing.

"They know where to go, just send them that way."
The twins nodded and waited for the man and elf to approach.

"I've had enough of your exscuses Legolas! I don't care how many times you deny it but this time it was your fault!"

"My fault? My dear friend you must be even more injured than I thought. You are now
delusional."

Estel swung out at Legolas, attempting to hit him in the head but the elf was too quick.

He easily dodged the blow, but unfortunately for him his usual grace was gone due to an injury in his left leg.

Legolas stumbled and collapsed right in front of Estel, who tripped over the fallen elf and joined him on the ground.

Elladan glanced at Elrohir and the twins shook their heads.
With their hands clasped behind their backs they walked over to where Estel and Legolas struggled to get back onto their feet.

"Estel get off my hair!"
"I'm not on your hair!'
"If you were not on my hair then I would have no difficulty in raising my head off the ground!"
"If you would consider cutting your hair- ow!"

Estel grimaced as Legolas smacked him on the forehead.
The twins sighed and both extended a hand towards each of them.

"Do you need some help?"
Elrohir asked sarcastically.
"It's good to see you too Elrohir."
Estel took his brother's hand and allowed himself to be pulled onto his feet.

Elladan helped Legolas up and both brothers quickly checked them for injuries, which they had pleanty of.

"What happened this time?"
Elrohir asked narrowing his eyes at them.
Estel glanced at Legolas, but suddenly the elf seemed more focused on a certain bird that was flying over the valley.

"Fine do not tell us."
Elladan said leading Legolas forward, Elrohir and Estel followed behind.

"Although I am certain that adar will not be content with silence."
Elladan warned.
"He will not leave either of you alone until he is given a full explanation."

Estel and Legolas said nothing.
Elrohir muttered something under his breath about "stuborn men" and "iresponsible elflings" but Estel and Legolas paid his words no heed.

Instead both were racking their brains for an explanation of their latest mishap.

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"Allow me to get this straight, but the two of you were traveling near the mountains when you decided to camp for the night. While you started a fire Legolas went to refill your waterskins but by the time he returned you were missing so he went to look for you. He'd barely taken two steps when he was suddenly attacked from behind and was only subdued after his attackers threatened to kill you Estel."

Both man and elf nodded in unision as the Elf Lord continued repeating what he had been told.

"They were bounty hunters who had been sent to find a man and an elf who traveled together because someone was willing to pay a lot of money for your capture. You managed to escape by convincing one of the younger men that elves had the power to control the minds of men and that was why you Estel, were following Legolas."

Elrohir tried to hold back a laugh, which came out as a snort, while Elladan rolled his eyes and kept them fixed on the ceiling.

"Because the man was afraid of Legolas he secretly let you go and then you two ran here, of course you could not get away unscathed."

Elrond sighed infrustration as he finished binding Estel's shoulder.
"

Honestly can you two not go anywhere by yourselves without getting injured, trapped, or captured in some way?"

"Exscuse me, but that does not happen everytime Estel and I go somewhere."
Legolas stated folding his arms in front of his chest.

"Oh really?"
Elrohir challenged.
"What about that time Estel almost drowned in that river? Or when you were both caught in that blizzard?"

"There was that wolf pack that attacked you, those trolls that attempted to eat you, and small pack of goblins that trapped you both in that cave."
Elladan added.

"That could have happened to anyone!"
Estel insisted.
"Remember that village whose people thought that Legolas was one of the Valar and tried to-"

"I'd rather not talk about that."
Legolas' face was turning bright red at the mention of the (in his opinion) crazed villagers.

"And now there is someone out there who seeks the two of you."
Elrond's voice was low, which clearly meant that he was not happy.

"Do either of you think it odd that so much has befallen the two of you? You are both constantly getting yourselves into danger and have almost died more than once."

"Perhaps fate enjoys watching us suffer."
Legolas shrugged his shoulders while Estel rubbed his forehead.

"Whatever the reason is I think that it would be best if the two of you spent less time traveling abroad and found somewhere to settle for awhile."

Elrond suggested.
"At least until whoever is seeking you decides to give up his
search."

"Adar I cannot stay here."
Estel said his tone now serious.
"I have a duty to my people, Halbarad is expecting me to rejoin him and-"

"I know that you cannot stay here Estel, but that does not mean Legolas can."

Estel's heart skipped a beat and his eyes widened in shock. Beside him Legolas was reacting the same way.

"What do you mean?"
Estel asked in confusion.
"There is someone out there hunting a man that travels with an elf. The two of you are targets for anyone who wants to get their hands on a rich reward."

"If you returned to your people and Legolas remained here it would cause these men to search elsewhere for your
whereabouts."

Elrond's gaze softened. He knew how close Estel and Legolas had become over the years. Seperating them would be cruel, but also necessary.

"It would only be temporary. Once the danger had passed Legolas can rejoin you and the rest of the Dunedain. Unless-"

"Unless what?"
Legolas suddenly snapped.
The others were shocked at his sudden change in emotion.
"What are you implying Elrond? What are you hiding from me?"

The elf lord closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"I was hoping that after all this time you would be willing to return home to your people, to your father."

Estel could feel Legolas stiffen beside him. He still didn't know why Legolas was so reluctant to return home, albeit he had a very vague idea.

"He was actually here just a few weeks ago."
Elrond continued as he pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Legolas.

"He left this for you, he'd like you to read it and reply if you can."
Legolas inspected the sealed letter in his hand. Part of him was curious to see what the letter said, but the other part of him would rather not find out.

"I will read it later."
Legolas was about to set the letter aside but Elrond stopped him.
"You will read it now. You have spent far too much time away from your father and even if you will not go back home you can at least read his letter."

Legolas said nothing as his blue eyes drilled into his. Without another word Legolas stood and left the room, clutching the letter tightly in his hand.

Elladan and Elrohir took this as a signal to leave and quickly exited the room. Estel refused to meet his father's gaze as he stared at him.

"Why do you want him to return home so bad?"
Estel finally asked, the anger in his voice evident.
"Because he has been away from his father for almost thirty years. Imagine if you were gone for that long and I did not know where you were or whether or not you were alive?"

Estel rose from his seat and stood in front of his father. He knew that Elrond worried about him everytime he stepped foot outside of Rivendell, and he wished that he wouldn't worry, but he knew that it was inevitable.

He was a father, and he was his son, of course he would be worried about him!

But that does not give him a reason to try and force Legolas to return home when he clearly doesn't want to.

"Trust me Estel; it would be better for Legolas if he returned home where he would be safe. You want what is best for him don't you?"

"Of course I do. Legolas is the closest friend I've ever had, he would give his life for me and I would do the same for him."

"Then surely you realize that it is dangerous for him to be wandering everywhere with you? I have told you before that he made enemies before he met you, and that some of them may still be hunting him, if he returned home he would be
safe."

But then I would lose my best friend.

Estel couldn't imagine not having Legolas by his side. The elf was always looking after him. Always there to offer his silent encouragement when Estel needed it, and to give him advice when he needed that as well.

"I cannot force him to make a decision."
Elrond said.
"But I can assure you that the longer remains out in the wild the more of a target he will become for others. Elves are not often seen in the lands you travel in, and there are many beings who would wish him harm."

Elrond strode towards the door, he looked over his shoulder just before leaving the room.

"You and Legolas may be skilled fighters, but you are both still very young. One day you two will meet your match and one of you may not be able to walk away from it alive."

"I can protect him."
Estel insisted stubbornly.
"I can keep him safe, I promise that no harm will come to him."

Elrond bowed his head in defeat.
"There are some battles that you cannot win Estel, remember that ion nin."

Estel watched him leave with anger and determination burning in his heart.

He wouldn't let anything happen to his friend, he swore it on his life that he would do whatever it took to protect him.

Even if that means letting him go home?

Estel shook the thought away. Legolas didn't need to go home. But if that was something his friend ended up desiring, then he would not stand in his way.

Yet the thought of not having Legolas at his side caused a hole to appear in Estel's heart. How could he just say goodbye to Legolas?

He needed his friend, the one he had come to love as a brother, whom he considered as a brother.

Why must things be so difficult? Why can we not live in peace and not have to worry about enemies lurking in every corner?

The question Estel asked himself as he made his exit was, Was peace even possible? Or were they doomed to spend the rest of their lives fighting against the darkness?