Chapter 3

Legolas followed Aragorn inside, wondering why it was that the Aragorn and Boromir blamed him for all of their problems, or at least took their anger out on him. It was not fair really.

Elrond was frying a crepe, his back to them. 'What did you think of the neighborhood?' he asked without turning around.

'It's quiet,' said Aragorn.

Elrond nodded and plopped the cooked crepe onto a plate. He poured another spoonful of batter onto the sizzling butter in the frying pan and spread it out. 'I thought that since it was so quiet, the hobbits would be more comfortable.' He spread strawberry sauce onto the crepe on the plate and folded it carefully, placed it on a small plate beside another rolled crepe, and sprinkled them both with powdered sugar. 'Here you are,' he said, handing it to Aragorn.

'Thank-you, Master Elrond.' Aragorn took it and sat down cross-legged in a corner.

'I think that we all will be much more comfortable,' said Legolas.

Aragorn shrugged and gave Legolas a disdainful look.

Legolas looked away. What did I do to him? 'Should I go wake everyone else up?' he suggested, thinking it best to leave Aragorn alone for some time.

'I suppose you might' said Elrond.

Legolas hurried soundlessly up the steps and crept into the carpeted room. There the rest of the company lay asleep. No, Boromir was not sleeping; he was lying awake watching Frodo; his grey eyes fixed on the gentle rise and fall of the hobbit's chest. Legolas hesitated for a moment, trying to see if there was anything sinister in the man's expression. Boromir caught him staring and quickly closed his eyes, feigning sleep. Legolas frowned and decided it was better to pretend that he had not seen him; he did not want him angry as well.

'Boromir, it's time to wake up,' he said, shoving his shoulder casually with his foot.

Boromir swatted him away and sat up; Legolas avoided meeting his eyes and hurried over to Gimli.

'Wake up,' he said, pointedly not touching him.

Gimli grumbled something in Dwarvish and got clumsily to his feet.

Legolas knelt down beside Frodo and shook him gently. 'Wake up, Frodo. It's morning.'

Frodo smiled tiredly up at him. 'Good-morning, Legolas.'

Legolas turned to Sam next. 'Sam, wake up.'

Sam blinked awake. 'I'll be getting up now,' he said.

Legolas smiled and shook Merry's shoulder. 'Morning, Merry. Time to face the sunrise.'

Merry shook his head and got to his feet, stretching. 'Is it morning already?'

'Yes, and it has been for an hour,' Legolas teased as he turned to Pippin. 'Time to wake up, Pip.'

'But I just fell asleep,' Pippin protested.

'You can sleep longer if you want to, but right now Elrond is making breakfast and you just might miss it.'

Pippin nodded and reached hastily for his clothing.

Legolas sprang to his feet and went back downstairs, leaving the others to change.

Elrond smiled at him as he came down. 'Here you are,' he said pushing a plate at him across the counter.

Legolas picked it up and sat down on the wooden floor beside Aragorn who had by then finished his breakfast and was staring at the ceiling humming a traveling song.

'This is very good, Elrond,' said Legolas after trying a crepe.

'Of course it is, Elrond made it,' said Aragorn, stretching his long legs out in front of him. 'Elrond does not know how to make anything bad.'

'Not quite true,' said Elrond, flipping a crepe carefully, 'I am afraid that I am no good at knitting.'

Aragorn rolled his eyes. 'See what I mean?'

Legolas looked at him curiously, wondering if he was still mad, but for some reason Aragorn seemed just fine.

He turned to Legolas with a smile. 'We have to do some shopping today, for furniture and clothes, all those living necessities. Do you want to come?'

Legolas nodded. 'I'd love to.'

Aragorn shrugged. 'You don't know that. It would mean getting in the van and going to a city.'

Legolas hesitated. 'I think that I still want to come.'

'Suit yourself,' said Aragorn cheerfully.

Boromir came down the stairs. 'The hobbits say that they never want to sleep upstairs again,' he announced.

Aragorn smiled at him. 'Why's that?'

Boromir shrugged. 'I don't know, that's what they were talking about when I left them.'

'What are they doing?' asked Elrond.

'Dressing, Master Elrond,' Boromir answered.

'It certainly takes them a long time,' said Aragorn, dancing his fork along the rim of his plate.

Elrond handed Boromir a plate. 'And there you are,' he said melodiously.

Boromir took it and sat down on the other side of Aragorn. 'This is good.'

Gimli trudged down the stairs.

'I still think that we should go explore the mountains,' he said, pulling thoughtfully on his beard.

Elrond smiled sadly at him. 'Gimli son of Gloin, I think that perhaps you might do that sometime. But for now, please, eat.'

Gimli took his plate and sat down on the floor across from Aragorn.

Legolas glared at him.

Gimli glared back.

Aragorn groaned. 'I'm going out,' he declared, getting to his feet.

'I'll come with you,' said Legolas, springing up, glad of a chance to escape Gimli.

Aragorn shrugged.

'Wash your dishes first,' said Elrond.

'Yes, Father,' said Aragorn over-submissively.

Elrond crossed his arms. 'Estel…' he said threateningly.

Aragorn chuckled and washed his plate and fork, Legolas following after without a complaint.

When he had dried them, he walked out after Aragorn, whom he found walking around the yard looking critical. Legolas had already done a great deal of exploring, so he stood waiting for Aragorn to make a move. He watched the ranger as he carefully scrutinized the front yard.

'Sam will be happy,' said Aragorn, nodding towards the rose bushes.

'Yes, he will,' said Legolas. 'And so am I; I love roses.'

Aragorn nodded. He walked over to the retail sign and kicked it gently. 'Sold.' He frowned. 'Sold to counterfeit money.'

'To counterfeit people with counterfeit lives,' the elf retorted. 'Aragorn, forget it.'

'Fine. Today we have to go in our stolen car to a store to steal furniture legally, is that it?'

'Aragorn…'

Aragorn turned away. 'I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you. I suppose Elrond knows what he's doing.' He went back to walking.

Legolas sat down on the porch railing and watched Aragorn make another round of the yard.

Suddenly, Aragorn turned to him. 'We really do make a funny family, don't we? It was hard enough already, but now where is Elrond going to fit in?'

'Well, perhaps he could be my cousin,' Legolas said with a smile. 'I'd like a relative.'

'You two don't look related,' Aragorn countered.

'But I feel so lost and alone,' Legolas said dramatically; he hopped off the railing and crossed his arms. 'Besides, the hobbits don't really look like your children.'

'True.'

'You're just jealous because you want to be the only person related to him, aren't you?'

'Why would I be jealous?'

'Because you don't think that he loves you enough, perhaps?'

Aragorn frowned. 'He loves me very much, I believe.'

'Then I do not see why it troubles you.'

'This troubles me,' said Aragorn, scruffling the elf's golden hair.

'There is more to relations than the colour of one's hair,' Legolas retorted.

'Well, what if he doesn't want to be related to you?' Aragorn raised his eyebrows critically.

'Then I'll ask him and find out.' Legolas declared; he turned and hurried into the house.

'Legolas!' Aragorn groaned, hurrying after him.

'Elrond!' called Legolas.

Elrond turned from the stove. 'Yes, Legolas?'

Aragorn came in behind rolling his eyes.

'Who are you here?' asked Legolas.

'Whatever do you mean?'

'What is your alias?'

'My name is Edward Wood, and I am an eccentric author.'

'Well,' Legolas said, smiling brightly. 'Would you like to be related to me?'

Elrond studied him thoughtfully. 'That might be useful. Very well, do you want to be my nephew?'

Legolas nodded eagerly. 'Yes, of course!'

'Then, I am your uncle,' said Elrond pleasantly.

Legolas gave Aragorn a triumphant smile.

Aragorn groaned and rolled his eyes again. 'I'm going back outside.'

'I'll come with you,' said Boromir.

The two men disappeared followed by a silent Gimli.

'Don't go too far, Estel,' called Elrond. 'We have to go shopping just as soon as I finish these dishes.'

'I am going to go take a shower,' said Legolas. 'Is that all right, Uncle?'

'Yes, go on.'

Legolas gave him a quick squeeze and hurried up the steps, leaving Elrond in the kitchen with a pile of dirty dishes and four very helpful hobbits.