Disclaimer for the entire story: I do not own Tolkien's things. I do not
claim to. So don't sue me.
Chapter 1: Only a Parent's Love
"I hate you Papa!" screamed Eladlín as his small legs carried him out of the throne room.
"You should not have been so harsh with him." chided Lhorrindel.
Elros massaged his temple slowly. "I know. He is so frustrating though. Why does he always refuse listen to me?"
"Because he is not like you. And you can not accept that." she replied.
"Why...that...is...absurd!"
"No, it is the truth. I have watched him with the other little boys. They make fun of him because he is different. He does not want to play their games; he has no interest in swordplay. You are too busy to see it," Elros made a motion to speak, but Lhorrindel silenced him, "but I do not blame you. The task before you is one not easily carried."
"Well, what would you have me do then? He hates me; you heard him say it." he asked finally.
"Talk to him. Your heart will do the rest."
Elros sighed and followed his son's footsteps from the palace. He knew Eladlín would be near the ocean, for that had been his secret place since he was a little boy. How life had been back then. He had had everything. A loving son and wife, a new land, a new life. Now it seemed to be falling apart. The drought had been particularly bad, and the crops were poor. His people blamed him for the their misfortunes. Now even Eladlín had turned against him, and Lhorrindel grew colder with each passing day. Perhaps he had made the wrong choice after all. A small sob made him swing around. Eladlín sat on a boulder, a small book held in his slender lap. His short brown hair whipped around in the wind, making his slim face seem even smaller. Elros stopped for a moment and watched. He looked so much like his Uncle. Elros felt a small pang in his heart. It had always been the one tug towards immortality in his heart. He missed Elrond so, but they had walked down their separate paths a long time ago. And life could not be unwound.
"Eladlín?" asked Elros softly. The small boy looked up into his father's eyes. He was nearly six, though his wisdom reached far beyond his years.
"Leave me alone, Papa. I want to read." said Eladlín, motioning to the book.
"Please Eladlín. I need to talk to you."
Eladlín sighed softly and laid his book down in his lap. "What did I do THIS time?"
"You have done nothing wrong, but I can not understand you. Why do you ignore me? I would not be as harsh if you would simply do what I say."
"I hate what you say. I would rather read."
"You dislike hunting?" Elros asked incredulously.
"Not with a sword. I want to use a bow, and go by horseback."
"Where did you get those ideas?"
"Here, in Mama's book. She gave it to me when the other boys..." his voice trailed off. Elros sensed what he was trying to say and quickly changed the subject.
"What book is it?"
"The book of Elvish Lore. It has all their stories, and the way they live, and their treehouses..."
"Wait a moment." interrupted Elros "And you, you like these elves?"
"I do indeed Papa. Where do they live? I have never seen one."
"There" said Elros, pointing out over the ocean, "on the other side of the sea there is a great land where men, elves, and dwarves live in harmony."
"Dwarves? What are they?"
"A small people. They live in mountains and collect jewels. They make loyal friends, and fierce enemies."
"Hmm" said Eladlín, thinking it all over in his mind, "Why do we live here then Papa?"
"I led our people to this land many years ago, and the other races did not follow."
"Why?"
"For many reasons, none of which you would understand."
"Oh. Can we go back Papa?"
"Go back?"
"Go back to the other land. I want to see the elves. I, I do not fit in here. No one likes me, except Mama. I like elves better than men."
Elros felt the deep sting of his son's words, even though they had not been directed at him. There had always been that shred of doubt, and it grew stronger daily. He rose quickly.
"I must speak with Mama, Eladlín. Will you come back in time for supper?"
Eladlín nodded, though he was too engrossed in his book to answer with words.
~~~~~~~~
Elros finished retelling the afternoon's events.
"And what do you think we should do?" she asked him.
"I think we should let him go."
End of chapter 1
Chapter 1: Only a Parent's Love
"I hate you Papa!" screamed Eladlín as his small legs carried him out of the throne room.
"You should not have been so harsh with him." chided Lhorrindel.
Elros massaged his temple slowly. "I know. He is so frustrating though. Why does he always refuse listen to me?"
"Because he is not like you. And you can not accept that." she replied.
"Why...that...is...absurd!"
"No, it is the truth. I have watched him with the other little boys. They make fun of him because he is different. He does not want to play their games; he has no interest in swordplay. You are too busy to see it," Elros made a motion to speak, but Lhorrindel silenced him, "but I do not blame you. The task before you is one not easily carried."
"Well, what would you have me do then? He hates me; you heard him say it." he asked finally.
"Talk to him. Your heart will do the rest."
Elros sighed and followed his son's footsteps from the palace. He knew Eladlín would be near the ocean, for that had been his secret place since he was a little boy. How life had been back then. He had had everything. A loving son and wife, a new land, a new life. Now it seemed to be falling apart. The drought had been particularly bad, and the crops were poor. His people blamed him for the their misfortunes. Now even Eladlín had turned against him, and Lhorrindel grew colder with each passing day. Perhaps he had made the wrong choice after all. A small sob made him swing around. Eladlín sat on a boulder, a small book held in his slender lap. His short brown hair whipped around in the wind, making his slim face seem even smaller. Elros stopped for a moment and watched. He looked so much like his Uncle. Elros felt a small pang in his heart. It had always been the one tug towards immortality in his heart. He missed Elrond so, but they had walked down their separate paths a long time ago. And life could not be unwound.
"Eladlín?" asked Elros softly. The small boy looked up into his father's eyes. He was nearly six, though his wisdom reached far beyond his years.
"Leave me alone, Papa. I want to read." said Eladlín, motioning to the book.
"Please Eladlín. I need to talk to you."
Eladlín sighed softly and laid his book down in his lap. "What did I do THIS time?"
"You have done nothing wrong, but I can not understand you. Why do you ignore me? I would not be as harsh if you would simply do what I say."
"I hate what you say. I would rather read."
"You dislike hunting?" Elros asked incredulously.
"Not with a sword. I want to use a bow, and go by horseback."
"Where did you get those ideas?"
"Here, in Mama's book. She gave it to me when the other boys..." his voice trailed off. Elros sensed what he was trying to say and quickly changed the subject.
"What book is it?"
"The book of Elvish Lore. It has all their stories, and the way they live, and their treehouses..."
"Wait a moment." interrupted Elros "And you, you like these elves?"
"I do indeed Papa. Where do they live? I have never seen one."
"There" said Elros, pointing out over the ocean, "on the other side of the sea there is a great land where men, elves, and dwarves live in harmony."
"Dwarves? What are they?"
"A small people. They live in mountains and collect jewels. They make loyal friends, and fierce enemies."
"Hmm" said Eladlín, thinking it all over in his mind, "Why do we live here then Papa?"
"I led our people to this land many years ago, and the other races did not follow."
"Why?"
"For many reasons, none of which you would understand."
"Oh. Can we go back Papa?"
"Go back?"
"Go back to the other land. I want to see the elves. I, I do not fit in here. No one likes me, except Mama. I like elves better than men."
Elros felt the deep sting of his son's words, even though they had not been directed at him. There had always been that shred of doubt, and it grew stronger daily. He rose quickly.
"I must speak with Mama, Eladlín. Will you come back in time for supper?"
Eladlín nodded, though he was too engrossed in his book to answer with words.
~~~~~~~~
Elros finished retelling the afternoon's events.
"And what do you think we should do?" she asked him.
"I think we should let him go."
End of chapter 1