1829
BS
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Warn: Ark! Trauma in this chapter. A bit of drama and angst. AU-ness, of course.
Note: Hah ha! Oh ho oho ho. Umm . . . hahaha. It's just one of those fics. Hahaha.
Also, the prologue sucks. I am aware of this. The rest of it is better, I promise.
All dialogue is in Sindarin, unless otherwise noted.
Ephemeral
prologueHe was angry and wanted to let everyone know just how much he resented being left behind. In only a few minutes, his brothers were going to leave him to go on a hunting trip. When he had asked to go along, they had laughed at him and told him that he was too young. They'd rubbed his hair on his head and told him to wait a few years. His father had merely looked at him in a long, unsettling stare and then promised him that he would kill his fair share of orcs in the coming years.
But the 'coming years' weren't there now, and he would have to attend his writing lessons while his brothers were out having fun -- riding horses, using weapons, and making their father proud of them. It wasn't fair, and his bottom lip was curled over in a pout. He kicked the dust under his feet with hard thrusts of his new boots. The cloud of dirt and dust that arose met his best sinister glare without hesitation and then dispersed as he continued walking.
"Oh, Estel. Do not be upset with us or Father." One of his brothers appeared at his side, walking silently and peering down at the eight-year-old with barely-concealed amusement.
"I'm not mad." Estel replied and crossed his arms in front of his chest and bit his lip.
His brother bit back a smile, then looked to his right. Estel followed his gaze to where the horses were being saddled. His other brother was attaching gear to the saddle bags and directing the grooms where to bring the horses. The twin on his left switched directions subtly and Estel found himself following. "There is Elladan," he said. "Come hither and ...bid us farewell. We will return in a fortnight from hence, and then the three of us shall begin improving your swordskills."
Estel made his eyes narrow as he had seen his father do when his brothers were in trouble. It didn't have the desired effect, however, because Elrohir started chuckling. "All right." Estel acquiesced. He started to speak again, but Elladan hailed them and they walked in silence until reaching the stable.
Elladan picked up Estel and held the squirming boy in one arm as he used his other to tickle his stomach. Estel squirmed and laughed while kicking wildly with his feet. The mare they were standing next to danced to the side uneasily. Elladan stopped his assault and let the boy slide to the ground. He hunched over, gasping for breath. "Ell -- Ella -- Elladan!"
The twins laughed at him and ruffled his hair. He stared indignantly and then aimed a kick at his brother's shin. Laughing, Elladan dodged out of the way. He reached for his brother to pick him up and tickle him again, but momentum carried the boy forward and he landed head-first against the young mare's legs.
Startled, she instinctively reared. Elrohir immediately reached to grab her mane and she bucked outward, bringing her front hooves down hard onto the ground. Estel, lying under the horse, panicked and froze, his heart beating madly in his chest. He could see the smooth chestnut barrel above him and the dark hooves moving like blurs of black above his head. He could hear the frantic calls of his brothers -- one of them shouting for him to move while the other was trying to calm the horse.
And then the hooves were descending, and Estel knew no more.
]
It was over in mere seconds, Elrohir had reported with a soft voice as Elrond worked over his youngest. Only a few well-placed strokes of hooves against flesh, and the boy was fighting for his life. His right arm and shoulder were crushed. His ribs were broken and one of them had possibly punctured his lungs -- it was hard to tell at this point. Most frightening, however, were the massive wounds on Estel's head. The horse had crushed part of his skull, and he couldn't tell how much damage he had suffered. He was unresponsive and blood oozed from under the sticky blanket of his dark hair. He probed softly with his fingers, feeling for the depth of the damage.
A healer appeared at his right with a bowl of steaming hot water and another at his left with a tray of surgical tools and herbs. Elladan took a short knife and cut away the boy's clothing, revealing the bloody, bruised flesh. Chanting a healing spell as he worked, Elrond set his shoulder and bound the broken bones. He listened to the boy's breathing and felt his hand over the tight skin of his chest. To his relief, the lungs appeared to be ...working well. He wrapped the torso tightly in bandages and cleaned the cuts.
With a deep breath, he picked a long, flat razor from the tray of tools and held it in his left hand. With his other, he tore a fresh athelas leaf in half. He gave one half to his son and soon the smell of the crushed plant in boiling water filled the room. He felt his head clear and saw Estel's breathing slow. He crushed the other half of the leaf in his hand and rubbed it until it formed a white paste. He smeared it on the boy's forehead. With the razor, he began cutting away the child's hair. He smoothed it over the skin and could finally see the true extent of the damage.
This was going to take some ...work.
]
The accident had happened in the early morning, and Elladan had sat outside the infirmary until late in the night before he heard word of his poor human brother. His twin sat at his side, grim-faced and eyes narrowed into slits. They'd only left once, to tell Erestor that their father wouldn't be in any meetings or meals until the situation was resolved. The chief of the counselors had appeared concerned, but carried on without their father. There had been a few messengers in and out, but they never got beyond the door. Hours seemed to crawl by, and they listened anxiously to the chimes of noon, dinner, and midnight.
He blamed himself for it. If he hadn't been playing with the boy -- trying to cheer him -- then it wouldn't have happened. He had known that his mare was skittish. He had known that Estel was too young to be around her. He hadn't listened to his good sense, and now the human child was suffering it. He felt a cool hand against his knee and turned to see his twin touching him while staring straight ahead.
"Did you see him?" Elrohir asked, his voice disconsolate. "When all the hair was cut away --"
He didn't need to answer. There wasn't truly a question.
His brother was about to speak again when the door to the inner chamber opened. They looked apprehensively as their father stepped out. His face was grave and pale. His eyes were very tired and very worried. There was blood on the corner of his sleeve, although his hands had been washed clean. He looked at them long.
"He is gone," Elladan said with sudden clarity. He heard Elrohir inhale sharply next to him.
Their father shook his head. "Not yet." A soft light was glowing on his face. "He is not awake, but there is little time to say your goodbyes."
Elladan felt the blood drain from his face and swell into a lump in his throat. His chest seemed to be constricting painfully. "There is naught that you can do?" He asked his father as he and his twin rose to their feet and advanced toward the door.
His father shook his head grimly and followed his sons into the room.
The sight of Estel lying on the bed made his heart tremble. The boy's head had been completely shaved and enveloped with white gauze. His skin was thin and nearly clear. Elladan could see the blood vessels running under it in a spider web of blue. His bottom lip was split, and he could see the thin layer of athelas paste smeared over it. His chest was bound, and his arms and shoulder were in a tight splint. His legs were under a thin blanket. His head was propped on pillows. His eyes were soundly closed.
The twins were instantly at his side, staring intently at the crushed form of their little brother. Dimly, Elladan heard his father chant an incantation of health.
[
But Estel didn't die. And days passed with the boy in a deep sleep. There was little thought that he would live. Elrond stood by his side, murmuring healing spells and stroking the boy's forehead. Well-wishers came and went, sending farewells to the boy and condolences to his adoptive family. Elladan sat by his side, holding his hand and thinking despondently of the poor boy's torment, when he felt a twitch against his fingers.
At the movement, he became alert and looked at the still figure of his poor baby brother. There was nothing. Then -- yes! His fingers twitched. "Father!" he shouted and turned to Elrond who was on the opposite side of the room, pouring miruvor into a glass.
He turned and then sped to the boy's side. "What is it, my son?" He looked down at Estel. "Has there been some change?"
Elladan looked at him with shining eyes. "Father, Estel's hand is moving!"
"Estel. Estel, my son, can you hear me?" Elrond asked and took the boy's hand in his own. There was no response for several long seconds, then the child squeezed weakly. Face alight with delight, Elrond squeezed in return.
"Father," the boy whispered. He slowly opened his swollen eyes and looked around the room. His father smiled, rhapsodic.
"We are here for you, Estel," Elladan said.
"I was . . . so scared, Father." His voice cracked as he spoke and he started coughing which made his chest sing in pain.
Elladan stood from the bedside. "I will get you some water."
The boy coughed again and then moaned with the pain in his ribs. "Could I have some water, please?" he asked.
Elrond slid his gaze from Estel's face to Elladan's and they shared a long look. "Estel, my son," Elrond said. "You worried us all." He stroked his hand along the boy's face. "How do you feel?"
No answer. Estel stared at him intently. Elladan was still halfway across the room and was still watching the scene.
"Estel, can you hear me?"
Estel lay quietly on the bed. His eyes were as wide as the swollen skin around them would allow, and his face was tilted upward. "Father?" he questioned.
Elrond's eyes slid to a close and he remained in that frozen position for several long minutes. Elladan poured the water, mixed with a spoonful of miruvor, and brought it to Elrond to give the boy. He left the room at a sprint.
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Next update: Monday, August 9, 2004