Disclaimer: I own nothing of Tolkien's, even if my brain so dearly wishes it were so.
AN: this is my Second Fic and my first non-OC post. Please review, I'm one of those strange, likes to torture the faithful yet non-reviewing readers by making them wait months at a time, self conscious types. Compliments, opinions…nasty cracks, just please review.
Summary: What happens when a little game of hide and seek ends with trouble? Estel has a head wound leaving him unconscious and dreaming his family doesn't know him, while in the real world his family fights to bring him back.
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Chapter 1: Slips, Trips, and Falls
Aragorn:
"Finally" he panted as he reached the top of the pathway.
Estel was playing hide and seek with his brothers and it was his turn to hide. His spot was brilliant, he thought, they'd never find him. He looked down into the small ravine and his pathway into it. It wasn't steep at all, more like a hill. Bushes and plants grew everywhere and numerous rocks were sticking out of the natural wall. It was a free day for the sons of Elrond, one of those rare days when their tutors were to busy for classes.
Earlier that day
"Boys?" Elrond asked, gaining the attention of the younger three, "Today's classes are canceled; I'm holding a rather important gathering. You may do what you wish, but be careful and don't get into any trouble" The boys glanced at each other with mischievous looks, but played innocent as Elrond gave them his patented warning stare.
"How about a game…"
"…of hide and seek?" Elrohir finished for his brother.
"You're on!" Estel cried excited.
"Not it!" The twins said simultaneously
"Not fair!" Estel complained. Their argument was cut short when Elrond cleared his throat. As fast as they could, the three finished breaking their fast and rushed towards the door. Estel stopped and turned around.
"See you at lunch Ada!" he called before rushing after his adoptive brothers. Elrond rolled his eyes and mumbled something about young ones and their everlasting energy.
"Perhaps someone could bottle it… make a fortune …," he rolled his eyes again, "but of course that would be 'wrong'."
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Later that morning: Elladan and Elrohir:
"Quick, in the trees!" Elladan whispered. His brother stopped mid-run and stared at him.
"You fool! That's the first place he'll look!"
"You have a better idea?" he asked raising an eyebrow. Elrohir smiled smugly back at him.
"As a matter of fact I do, we split up, that way he won't find us both at once. I'll take the rock over here, and you use the bush." Elladan sighed at Elrohir's plan, but headed towards the bush nonetheless.
"Alright, but…."
"SHHHH here he comes, quick, get in your spot!" The two snickered as they sat in their respective places.
"I know you two are around here somewhere!" the young human called, "I can smell thee!"
In all honest truth, he could smell them; the soap in Imladris was quite distinguishable from the wildlife surrounding them, although he could not distinguish where the smells were coming from. He heard a rustle in the bushes and laughed as he figured out the hiding place of one of his brothers, but as he neared said bush, a squirrel darted from it and Estel's smile faded…until he saw the light glow of an elven arm. Sneaking around to the side and acting as though he didn't know, Estel made a beeline for the bush.
"You know, you really ought to think about camouflage when you're playing against me" he said smugly to the bush. Groaning, Elladan stepped out from within the confines of the bush. He grumbled something about Elrohir and his stupid plans then smiled. He motioned Estel towards him.
"What?" he asked. Elladan held a finger to his lips.
"Want to know where Elrohir is?" he whispered.Estel considered the offer, he didn't think it was fair, but he really wanted to hide. During one of his past hikes he had found a very promising stream within a ravine guarded by some semi-steep edges covered in wild-life.
"Yeah!" he whispered enthusiastically. His brother pointed towards a large boulder like rock about 50 feet away. Estel smiled and tip-toed up to it.
"BOO" he yelled above the rock. Elrohir nearly jumped, but his calm façade remained.
"Oh come on, I could have heard you a mile away"
"Yeah, but you didn't" Estel mocked, "my turn to hide, stay put you two and count to a hundred!"
Aragorn (normal time):
So here he was, standing on the edge of the hill, about to make his descent. Still smiling ear to ear, he started climbing, using the roots as handles. About half-way down he slipped and rolled down the remainder of the wild wall.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea" he groaned.
Estel pulled off his cloak and limped to the nearby stream, cupping his hands he took a large drink and washed his face and hands. He figured he had about ten seconds before Elladan and Elrohir would come after him. He sat down on a fallen tree and started plucking the burrs off his cloak. Satisfied, he looked around for a place to hide. He noticed the tree he was sitting on was hollow and crawled inside, smiling to himself.
'They'll never find me here!' he thought. As a headache started to set in, he fell asleep.
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Elladan and Elrohir: (two hours later):
"Estel" They called. Elladan and Elrohir had searched for their brother for nearly two hours. They were getting worried, for his sake as well as their own. They're father would kill them if something had happened.
"Estel! We give up!" Elladan called out to the trees.
"You win, please come out!" Elrohir yelled, "'Dan look!"
The two had been searching the ground as well for tracks that might lead to their brother, sure enough; Elrohir had spotted a pair of small footprints leading to the ravine. When both brothers saw where it led, there was a synchronized groan.
"It figures" Elladan said lowering his head.
"Should we go get some help?" Elrohir asked, "It looks dangerous"
"Since when were you afraid of danger?" Elladan stared at him aghast, but with a hint of mischief.
"I'm not! It's just….oh come on already" he gave in. They followed the small footprints off the trail and through the undergrowth. Upon reaching the end of his tracks, the two groaned again.
"He just had to take the unstable route!" Elrohir said rubbing his temples.
"There should be a safer route down. We just have to walk further on." Elladan said putting his hand on his brother's shoulder for comfort.
"We should have made a border." Elrohir commented leading the way as he walked next to the edge. Sure enough, about half a mile later the sides lessened and made it easier for the twins to cross down.
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Aragorn:
"Ow, Ow, OW" he complained as he woke from his slumber. The headache had turned into a full blown mind numbing throb. Crawling from the tree he wondered what happened, how come his brothers hadn't found him yet? Looking to the sky he figured quite a bit of time had past. It looked to be nearing lunch hour.
"Elladan? Elrohir! Can you hear me?" he called out. There was a rustle in a nearby bush; he made his way to it, being careful not to step too hard on his left foot. He wondered why his brothers would be hiding again. Had they forgotten it was his turn to hide? He doubted it, his brothers could be completely dull some times, but they weren't that bad.
"El, 'Ro, you can come out, I give up, you found me." He said to the bush. A rabbit hopped out of the bush and startled him. He ran as fast as he could until he fell and started crying. Curling up against some growth, he held his sore leg and continued to cry softly.
"Are you alright?" a voice asked.
"'Dan? 'Ro?" he asked turning his head to meet the voice. The twins glanced at each other then back at the small boy before them.
"How do you know our names?" they asked.
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AN: Second Chapter is finished, but your not getting it until I get at least 5 reviews :) mwhahahahahaha. It may be a little boring now, but it gets better. I think. Or at least I hope.