Is It Really Home, Sweet Home for Estel?

By: nautika
Rated K+
Summary: Estel visits a new friend and comes home changed.

Disclaimer: Tolkien's characters, not mine. This is a not for profit story.

Author's Notes: I consider all my fics AU. I was very comfortable mixing Elvish with 'Common', having seen many other writers use them, but I've started phasing some of them (friend instead of mellon, father instead of ada or adar, etc) in my newer fics.

My young Estel stories use the names Dan and Ro for Elladan and Elrohir.

Estel's friend in this story was originally named Lucas, but since I hope to make him a recurring character now, I've changed it to Lainon. Please let me know if there is a stray Lucas in here!

Is It Really Home, Sweet Home for Estel? Part 1

"Ada?"

Even though the voice was soft, the elf lord was startled by it. Forcing down his embarrassment, he looked up to find his eldest son leaning against the door frame, a smug grin gracing his features. "Yes, Elladan?"

"How long have you been looking at that same page?"

The lord of Rivendell glanced at the number-filled page before him, then smiled at the younger elf. "Too long, obviously."

"He will be fine, you know. Ro and I have known Broryl for years. He assured us his wife would be glad for Estel to visit with their family."

"I know."

"We have agreed Estel will benefit from having a human friend his own age."

"I know this."

"And the elflings are still not accepting of him."

"I am certainly aware of that!" Of all the challenges he had faced after adopting Estel, the greatest was watching the child's heart ache after the elflings teased and tormented him about being human. Knowing that in part, they were repeating comments they had heard from their parents only frustrated the elf lord more. Worse, he suspected the boy withheld some of what occurred from his elven father and brothers in an attempt to eases their minds.

Again, Elladan's voice called him from his thoughts. "Ada, you need to relax. Estel will sense your tension."

"When he is home, I will no longer be tense, Elladan."

The younger elf laughed and crossed the room to place a kiss upon his head upon his father's head. "Elrohir is waiting for me at the stables. Come with us to get Estel?"

"I do not wish your friend and his wife to think I am judging them. That concern aside, I suspect Estel would think it odd. No, I will wait for you here."

"As you wish. We will not tarry."

"I know I am being foolish, ion nin, but I will feel better when he is home."

"Promise me you are not going to sit here and fret until our return. You will do something to distract yourself?"

The elf lord chuckled. "Perhaps I will rest. I am sure I will need it to sustain me through your brother's recitations of his adventures with his new friend."

With a parting smile at his father, Elladan dipped his head and left the room.

xxx

Elrond had taken time to bathe and change his clothes and was just coming from the kitchens when he heard the horses in the courtyard.

He smiled, glad to have his sons home again. Estel had never been gone from him this long before and the house had seemed very empty without him. Even though the elf lord was pleased Estel was making a new friend, he was not looking forward to the child being gone from Rivendell while visiting his friend's home. It did not seem likely the boy would be able to visit Estel. The boy would of course be welcome in the House of Elrond, but exposing two boys to the elflings undesirable behavior would be worse than
exposing only one. Elrond and his twin sons did not wish to Broryl's son Lainon to suffer treatment Estel received. The twins had taken the man into their confidence on this matter before Estel's visit, so there would be no misunderstanding. The twins hoped some day to take Estel and Lainon on a fishing trip to reciprocate, even though Broryl had assured them it was unnecessary.

When the front door opened, Elrond braced in anticipation of a human whirlwind, knowing his youngest would be beside himself with excitement. Indeed, he was surprised not to have heard him chattering as he
approached the door. The boy that greeted him was not at all the one he had expected. Estel came straight to his father, but there was no spring in his step and no real joy in his smile.

"Hello, Ada. I have missed you."

"And I have missed you, ion nin." As he knelt and pulled the boy into his arms, Elrond looked over the human's shoulder to the twins. His eyes asked what had gone wrong. Elladan shook his head and Elrohir held out both hands in a gesture of helplessness. The quiet concern in their father's eyes was mirrored in theirs.

xxx

The three elves sat in Elrond's study, gazing into the fire. The elf lord was completely unsettled by the events and emotions of recent days Estel had gone to bed early, saying he was tired from his trip. He had even declined the telling of a story at bedtime. He was too old for children's' stories, but his elven father had lived for millennia and knew many real life adventures that made excellent tales…with a few modifications. Through these the boy learned of his elven family and tid-bits of history, as well. The elf lord admitted to himself that he looked forward to this time as much as his son.

"He was like that all the way home, Ada. Quiet, almost withdrawn. He would answer when we asked something, but would say no more than absolutely necessary. His behavior seemed appropriate enough while we were yet at Broryl's, but when they were no longer in sight…" Elladan was at a loss to explain it.

"Perhaps one of us should have gone back and inquired of Broryl and his wife, but it was obvious that Estel was trying to hide his feelings from them." Unspoken by Elrohir was the fact that he and his twin had not anticipated their younger brother trying to hide anything from them.

"Well, as I said earlier, at least he has no fever or visible injuries." Elrond had ignored the young one's protests and helped him with his bedtime preparations. The father/healer would not run the risk of the human trying to hide an injury. The risk of infection would be too great. By assisting him in readying for bedtime, he was able to do an exam without the boy realizing it. At least that was one thing Estel's brothers and father did not have to worry about. But it left the reason for the change in the boy still a mystery.

After several minutes of silence, Elrohir cleared his throat. The others looked at him expectantly. The younger twin dropped his eyes.

"Elrohir?"

"It was but a foolish thought."

"Still, I would hear it."

Elrohir's voice was soft. "Perhaps he did not wish to come home. Perhaps he prefers living with Broryl and being with other humans."