This plot bunny came out of a spate of reading many Estel tales young and old...and I got to thinking: Elrond didn't just take Aragorn in on a whim, he has been harboring Dunedain for centuries....What about some of the other heirs of Isildur he has harbored?

So here you have this....

Dedicated to isis_whit...with many many huggles and good thoughts for a speedy release from the hospital!

Dinna and Racell lay curled up under the quilt together. It was three hours past the dark of the night and the only light in the cottage was the banked fire. A sudden banging on their latched door woke up Racell right away. Shivering she got up and picked up the fire poker before approaching the door.

"Who-who is it?" she said, voice cracking.

"Racell, it is Uncle Nagron, please open up."

"Uncle Nagron!!" Racell squealed and quickly threw the bolt. The tall muscular man that stood there was a Ranger of the North. He quickly slipped into the room, hugged his brother's oldest child and looked at her, his eyes shining. "It is good to see you Racell, it has been a long time. Where are Analfin and Brema?"

Racell bit her lip and looked down at the floor. "Mum and Daddy died last spring uncle. Some kind of fever."

Tears gathered in her eyes and she wiped them away hurriedly. Nagron pulled her in close for a tight hug and Racell closed her eyes taking in the wonderful smell of wood smoke and pine trees of his dark leather jerkin.

"I am sorry little one. I am." His heart dropped at the news and he closed his eyes painfully. Taking a deep breath, he pulled her away again and said, "And Dinna?"

"She's still asleep."

The Ranger strode over to the bed and saw his littlest niece curled up in the blankets.

"Racell, I am sorry to do this to you, but we must leave right away. You must collect anything you want to take with you while I go saddle Whin. Do not wake Dinna until last. Bring any food and supplies you can, we are going a long way."

"Yes Uncle Nagron. But why are..."

"Shh sweetheart. I shall tell you once we are on the road."

"All-all right."

Racell was frightened by her uncle's urgency but knew she had to keep her questions inside until Nagron said she could ask.

Racell quickly found two potato sacks and stuffed in all their clothes and most of the food she could find. They would wear their cloaks.

As Nagron came back in, Racell looked around biting her lip. That looked like everything.

The Ranger came back in and looked at his nieces sadly. He really hated do this to the little girls, but danger was approaching. The fact his brother and sister-in-law had died made their departure all that more urgent. He had to get the girls away. This part of the Wild had suddenly become unsafe. Their only hope lay to the east.

"All ready Racell?"

"Yes Uncle Nagron. Shall I go get Dinna?"

"No, I shall fetch her. Give me her cloak and go and get on Whin."

"All right."

Nagron went to the little five-year-old still asleep and wrapping her in the quilt he carried her out of the cottage.

As he was about to hand her to Racell so he could mount his stallion, Racell looked at him a moment and said hurriedly, "But I have to make sure the fire is banked properly, Uncle! We don't want the cottage to burn down!"

Nagron knew that would be the least of their troubles. "All right, but be quick."

Racell nodded and ran back to the cottage, braids flying.

She efficiently re-banked the fire and was about to leave when she saw the small sharp gleam of her father's knife, hanging by the fireplace.

Glad she had not forgotten it, she grabbed it quickly and put it on her belt. Headed for the door, she saw one more thing.

A small wooden box on the table near her parent's empty bed.

The box was her mother's and held a silver butterfly brooch and a tiny string of pearls.

Tucking that into a pocket, Racell hurried out of the cottage, carefully latching the door behind her.

Nagron handed the sleeping child to her mounted up and then quickly took Dinna in his arms.

Racell swiftly got on Whin and with a whistle, Nagron took off, Whin following closely behind.

Only a half-hour's quick ride and they had reached the East Road.

Nagron looked behind them worriedly, slapped his reins on his stallions neck and the two horses took off in a canter.

Now if they could just stay ahead of their pursuit!

The Lord of Imladris found himself in an unusual state.

He was bored!

He could not determine why exactly.

He had attended his morning council meeting with his advisors, as he did every morning. He had then gone into the kitchens to see what was on the menu that day. Wandering down to the stables to inspect two fine colts born recently, he and Cerwal the Horse Master determined one had the lines of a brawny war horse.

The fields were just planted. The twins were deep in their studies of the Second Age with Erestor. Celebrian was out with several she-elves gathering the sweet wild berries in the woods for the spring mead making.

It had been raining for several days, and this was the first clear day in sometime.

And he, he was staring out his study window at a beautiful early afternoon, bored.

With a swirl of his deep blue velvet robes, Elrond went to his suite and decided a long ride would be just the thing.

Changing into his leather trews and tunic, the elf lord picked up his pouch, small sword and cloak. Before he left his chambers, he wrote a quick note to Celebrian telling her he was going to check on the condition of the Ford and do a little hunting on the way. He would be back in time for supper.

Striding down the corridor, Elrond briskly put on his gloves. He ran down the front stairs and before he went into the stable courtyard, he ducked into the armory and got his bow and a quiver of arrows.

Cerwal rushed to bring Rhean his stallion out when he appeared, but the elf lord shook his head saying, "I will do it myself Cerwal, thank you."

In a few minutes, the horse was saddled and ready to go, as was the elf lord.

Mounting the restive stallion Elrond galloped out of the courtyard and over the bridge of the Bruinen, eager to be away.

The breeze blew back his dark brown hair and felt refreshing on his face. Ahh, this is just what he had needed, a brisk ride in the rain-washed wind.

An hour later, the elf lord slowed his mount down and let him wade out into the edges of a rain-swollen curve of the Bruinen, the sun sparkling on the swift current. He could still see branches and bits of detritus bobbing in the slightly muddy water.

Elrond sat on his mount and gazed across the water to the western wall of the mountains. The landscape filled his heart and made him glad.

His Home and refuge were thriving and all was well.

As he and Rhean had made good time, the East Road and the Ford of Bruinen were reached quickly. It had been sometime since he had been there.

Rhean surged into a gallop as the elf lord gave him his head and the two went further westward.

As the moon rose, Nagron grinned out over Hamna's ears. Good, at least they would be able to see their way better.

Dinna had awakened and got excited when she saw she was in her uncle's arms but when he whispered to her that they had to be quiet because they didn't want to wake the sleeping birds, Dinna nodded and got more comfortable. She coughed a few times and whispered. "Sorry Uncle Nagron, my throat is sore."

"That's all right sweetheart. When we stop, I can make you some tea."

"With honey?" She whispered loudly back.

"With honey."

Dinna rubbed her nose and settled back.

Racell rode Whin tense as a drum. Why were they tearing through the countryside like this? Why was Uncle Nagron in such a rush to get away from the cottage?

Was someone chasing her uncle? Had he done something bad?

No, he was a Ranger! Rangers did not do bad things. Her father had been a Ranger before he had married her mother.

No closer to an answer, the twelve-year-old leaned over Whin and urged him on faster.

Elrond looked at the foaming Bruinen as it crossed the Ford. It was very strong here as the water from the recent rains flowed into it. The Ford itself would need clearing as soon as the water slowed.

He dismounted and gathered his energy and called forth the power of Vilya, quieting the agitated river. He needed to cross to inspect the condition of the other side of the Ford.

As the river quieted, he led Rhean over and continued on to assess the condition of the Road as well. His attention was also caught by deer tracks. Venison! Resaldil the head cook had been asking for some.

Luckily, the west side of the Road was in good shape.

Sighing, the elf lord turned to go home as the sun was beginning to set and if he wanted to return to Imladris by supper, he needed to go back. As he rode at a quick trot he looked to the clouds gathering in the purple twilight. More rain. He would have to make sure the fields would weather more flooding. And the Ford as well.

Suddenly he spied two young bucks and a doe and the elf lord took off in pursuit.