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Estel did not like archery. It was well-known among the Elves of Rivendell that the young man avoided archery lessons like the plague. And he made it clear that the only thing less appealing to him than being shot with arrows was actually shooting them.
So, imagine everyone’s shock when Estel suddenly started practicing archery like his very life depended on it. They watched in amazement as Estel transformed from a man who’d rather wrestle a dragon than pick up a bow into the most dedicated student in archery class.
Since the instructor of that particular archery class was Legolas, who had just arrived at Rivendell to visit Lord Elrond, everyone just assumed Estel was so impressed by Legolas' incredible archery talent that he decided to become a great archer himself. However, the truth were nothing like what the elves imagined.
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With a thud, the arrow struck just shy of the center mark on the practice target.
"Impressive!" Lord Elrond exclaimed with a beaming smile. It was the kind of smile that only a proud father could wear, having watched his child pour their heart and soul into a passion.
His heart swelled with pride as he remembered the many hours Estel had dedicated to becoming a master archer. From the crack of dawn, when the first light of the sky barely kissed the land, Elrond had seen his foster son emerge from his quarter with a bow in hand and only return to the house when the stars had long since taken their place in the night sky.
"Thank you, Father. But I cannot rest now, for my goal is not yet accomplished." Although the young man’s voice was full of excitement, he still managed to keep calm.
"And what goal are you trying to reach?" Lord Elrond inquired.
"To hit the bullseye three times in a row!"
"Well... If you can do it, I'll have a gift waiting for you."
"No need to, Father. I already have the most precious gift waiting for me." Estel replied with a twinkle shining in his eyes.
Lord Elrond was bursting with pride over Estel’s newfound archery passion. He was convinced that the archery skill was the greatest gift his foster son mentioned. In his beaming pride, however, he did not notice that a certain blushing blond elf was standing right behind them, trying to blend into the scenery like an overgrown shrub.
.
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On the day Estel finally hit the bullseye three times in a row, his howling of excitement echoed so loudly that every elf within a mile radius of the Imladris House could hear it. He then ran into the house and disappeared from sight, all while ignoring the baffled looks of passing elves who were wondering why the normally composed human was making such a ruckus.
Elves, being the observant folk they are, assumed the young man was simply taking a well-deserved break after weeks of relentless archery practice when he was nowhere to be found two days straight. It wasn't until a couple of days later that they realized the young prince of Mirkwood had disappeared as well.
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"No more... Estel... I can't..." The said missing prince's hoarse voice was muffled by the blanket as a pair of strong arms wrapped around him from behind, pulling him closer in a firm but comforting embrace.
The blankets rustled like a flurry of leaves in the wind, and Legolas’s protests dwindled into a contented sigh. Legolas' companion chuckled, his voice teasing and light-hearted. "You didn't say that when I hit the target last night..."
The blushing prince attempted to burrow himself even deeper, mumbling incoherently about man and their physical endurance.
As the blond elf, now fully surrendered to the embrace of sleep, settled more comfortably, Estel gently rolled him onto his side and adjusted him so that his head rested snugly against him. The warmth of the prince’s relaxed form pressed against his own was oddly comforting. Estel couldn’t help but smile at the sight of this stunning creature, who had captured his heart from the very first day he appeared.
He lightly stroked the prince’s hair and let his mind wander to the ideas forming in his mind upon learning of the prince's upcoming journey back to Mirkwood.
Estel’s mind was buzzing with a flurry of excuses and reasons. He considered saying he was there to pay a visit, or perhaps to celebrate some grand “human tradition” that he hadn’t quite invented yet. Another option was to claim he was simply there to escort the prince back, which, while technically true, felt a bit too obvious.
He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Legolas’s temple. The touch was soft and filled with affection, a silent promise of his feelings and intentions.
As sleep pulled him under, Estel decided that coming up with elaborate explanations could wait. For now, he was perfectly content to enjoy the peace and contentment of holding the one who meant so much to him.