A/N For those who voted on the poll: I cannot write that Legolas story, as going down the roads to write it may not be the best for my mental state. Lydwina Marie, here ya go. :)

Erestor's history belongs to my sister with adaptations to fit my canon.

Fun note: I tried translating Erestor's name, as it seems there is no clear one. In quenya, it can roughly translate to "Iron Brother". In Sindarin, it can translate to "One brother"...or "One of the dead." O.o Correct me if there is a more accurate translation that I'm unaware of.

"Really, Glorfindel?"

"Yes, I know this is the worst of Noldorin craft you have seen and ever will see, but at least I tried?"

"It looks like you just fried some wool and shaped it into a leaf and called it gold."

Glorfindel frowned at him, "I swear to you it is gold."

He took the gold leaf and examined it, "Your folk may have come on a suicidal ambition, disturbed the peace that was before you ever came here, but you have some good traits. No, I am not complimenting you."

"A token, Erestor." Glorfindel interrupted him, taking away his lead in the conversation, "A token of brotherhood...as you have taught me much: the ways of battle, knowledge of the land and of its people..." He sighed, "You are going to reject this, are you not?"

He set his jaw before he relaxed, his features softening. He folded his hands over the leaf, "It is a small thing, but with much meaning. I will accept it this time."

Glorfindel looked very happy, letting out a happy laugh, "You let yourself have so little...but this means much to me."

He furrowed his brows, "You are leaving?"

"Where I am going, I know not when we will meet again. But if it is centuries from now, my friend, I hope this shall remain with you as a reminder of our friendship: the only Noldo you allowed into your company gladly."

Erestor looked at the gold leaf in his palm. He exhaled out his nose and stuck the leaf in his hair before looking to the distant sea from his perch.

All of that land...gone. Beleriand, his home, was gone. That had been three decades ago, so Erestor regarded it with a numb feeling. But the fact that Beleriand had fallen beneath the waves was the least of his problems at this moment in time.

Everyone he knew were to depart from Lindon soon.

For these past decades he and his group had continued their wanderings throughout the remains of Ossiriand. Slowly though, that began to lessen. More of his folk remained in one place or merged into the established realm of Lindon. He had been rebellious, not seeing why they needed to change when their former way of life sustained them well enough. Erestor was alone often, wandering beneath the shade of the trees like one of the tree shepherds.

Then he was made aware of transpiring events...

Eriel his younger sister and his brother-in-law Oropher, along with their son Thranduil, and many elves were to depart eastward over the mountains. Erestor's father and his group...they were leaving too, to Eru knows where.

But Erestor was forbidden to join either party.

"You have many skills and much wisdom that can help the Exiles and those mingling with them, my son, things that will help them in these coming years."

"If I am so useful, then allow me to aid you or my sister!" Erestor cried, "The Exiles know not how to keep their kingdoms alive!"

"Why then do you think I am telling you to help them, so that they may not make the same errors again?"

"I refuse to." Erestor had felt the bitter tears sting in his eyes: tears of anger and of confusion, "Why do you abandon me, father? Only the All-father knows when we might meet again-if at all!"

"No," the father said in such a gentle way, a sad way, and so bluntly, "You left us first, Erestor, by refusing to accept these forced changes to our lives and to history. This may be your calling, the calling you have been waiting for: what is planned for your life."

"I want a different calling..."

"You can choose: remain alone in Ossiriand, bitter at me, bitter at the Noldor, or at Eru. Or you can learn to forgive and accept your fate, and leave the past behind. We are in a new era, and we all must be willing to face the trials that are to come."

Erestor was left in further rebellion and he fled to his familiar isolation, praying to the Maker for things to change, to choose someone else for the task. There was no sign that it would change.

Erestor accepted this with immense reluctance, knowing that was all he could do, out of respect for his father, but more importantly: to Eru, if this indeed was where he was supposed to go. Holding to one's responsibility and duty, and what was right, can be full of pain and full of grief.

Painful initially, but it would turn out better if one endures to the very end.

Erestor had forgotten that part.

"Erestor?" Called the sweet voice of Eriel.

Erestor closed his eyes and sighed. He dropped down from the tree and landed before his sister. He folded his arms loosely around his torso, some of the bare skin of his arms being tickled by the tightly wound grass and moss tunic he wore.

Eriel was a stark contrast, wearing a long dress of Noldorin fashion. She sighed softly, "Why were you up there?"

"I was recalling...recalling the better times we had." Erestor admitted in a soft whisper.

Eriel looked sad, "You feed the fire of your disdain, brother. You are so bitter: I do not know if I know you anymore!"

"What difference shall it make?" Erestor continued to speak softly yet the bite was still there, "I did not wish to be left alone. I will be forsaken and alone. No one will witness it."

"All save for those above. Ai, Erestor, why do you hold such wrath against the others...against me? And the Exiles...You befriended one, and he was very dear to you. What would he think?"

Erestor grimaced and flinched at each gentle accusation. He shook his head, "Glorfindel is dead." He said flatly but with sadness, "It matters not what he thinks anymore."

Eriel frowned. She turned to leave but was stopped, Erestor had wrapped his arms around her in a fierce and desperate embrace.

"Please, forgive me, sister." Erestor said brokenly, "I do not wish for this to be the last thing you will remember of me. All of this...our world, my world, it is like broken glass. I do not...I know not what to do anymore."

Eriel gently rubbed the distraught's arm, "Know that we suffer too. You are not alone in your grief."

"Alas that it feels that way."

"You are not alone, Erestor...you do not have to be alone."

The day came when the two parties were to depart. Eriel and Erestor made their peace. Oropher was helpful in providing for Erestor when he was ready to move onward: mentioning where their home was within the city and giving him two sets of clothes.

Thranduil was fond of his uncle, but he had kept his distance when Erestor had such a disturbing change to his demeanor and attitude to everything. They also made their peace.

"Great things are ahead of us: all of us." Thranduil had said, "...It is merely the waiting that makes us waver and doubt."

"Time reveals all things, as the Song plays out." Erestor had answered.

Now, he was kneeling before his father, with a fair amount of onlookers to see the sight.

"Forgive me, lord, for my disrespect to you...and my dishonor to you, as my father." Erestor spoke quietly and meekly, as he had dulled the ill emotions to an empty feeling in his heart.

His sire pulled him to his feet and into an embrace. Erestor let two tears fall on his father's attire, wishing them to stay for all eternity.

"Endure to the end and through all things...Waver not, and stay on your course."

And then they departed: the patriarch, Eriel, Oropher, Thranduil; all of them. Erestor was left with nothing but the gold leaf and handed down property.

Erestor remained in the forest for a few days as he battled with his emotions. Grief, anger, confusion, and loneliness waged war with each other until Erestor was left feeling numb inside, this time it lasted longer, to the point of complete apathy.

Erestor finally brought himself to move onward one day, to fulfill his sire's wishes...whether he liked it or not. He looked to where the elvish city was, and began his journey.