Summary: Ahh, just a nice chapter between a father and son.
Disclaimer: Everything that's recognized doesn't belong to me but rather the genius of J.R.R. Tolkien. I own the plot and the dog, so please don't take those. Or sue. Suing makes me want to cry, and I make people sad when I cry…
Feedback: Please feed the feedback monster? It pleases her and she'll be much more willing to update if she knows people are reading the story…Thank you so much for all your feedback so far! I haven't forgotten about this story, I promise! I will be responding to you all personally after Christmas! All of your reviews truly do help with encouraging me to write, and I appreciate it.
A/N: Sorry for the long time it took to update! College started and attacked me before I realized it and I was doing homework pretty much 24/7. Though that is a poor excuse, so I apologize! Also, if anyone would like to volunteer to be a Beta reader I would be extremely pleased! Sucks, my grammar does. Unhappy, that makes me. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter! Happy Holiday's!
Elrond did not like paperwork, or so he decided, as he stared blankly at the towering pile of offending papers on his desk. In fact, he would even go as far to say that he despised it more than he despised Sauron but that would have been going a bit far. But as a twitch developed right above his eye he amended that it was nearly on the same level as a Balrog.
Sighing, he sipped his tea, leaning back in his chair and taking a few moments to relax before delving into the Eru-forsaken papers. Erestor really must delight in this. He thought. I would even go as far to believe that he invents these sheets and lists that I must go over simply for sadistic pleasure. The tick started up above his eye again and he gently set down his tea to rub his temples. He looked mournfully at the desk again; as if hoping it would all disappear, but when it didn't he shrugged and set into going over each document.
A few hours later he unbent from his position and stretched his fingers out to get circulation back into them. He relaxed in his chair, a small smile of relief on his face. Finally finished. He went to stand up from his chair when a small bundle burst into his office and ran straight into his lap, pushing Elrond back into the chair with an 'oomph.'
The little bundle, which he identified as Estel from the nest of curls on his head, was talking into Elrond's middle so he wasn't able to understand him. Pulling Estel back a bit from his death grip on Elrond's middle he inquired, "What did you say?"
Estel's happy face grinned up at him, eyes cheerful and face red from exertion. "I said, Hello Ada!"
"Hello to you to Estel. You missed your lessons today with Erestor."
"I know Ada and I'm sorry," Estel said with a small pout on his face. "But it was arithmetic."
Elrond nodded his head knowingly. "Ahh, arithmetic."
"Yes, ada, arithmetic."
"You know, arithmetic can be very useful."
Estel scrunched his nose in distaste, "It can not."
"Indeed it can be, Estel." Elrond said, "For instance, if you were leading an army of men and elves, and you needed to figure out how many divisions to send to each stronghold, you would not be able to figure out which divisions to send without arithmetic."
"Really, ada?" Estel asked, eyes wide in thought.
"Really, my son."
Estel laughed, "But that's silly Ada, I'm never going to lead an army!"
Elrond looked away for a moment, "Hopefully not, Estel." Elrond hugged Estel to him for a moment longer and then pulled away with a serious look on his face. "But Estel, you do have to go apologize to Erestor for missing his lesson and make it up tomorrow."
Instantly Estel had a pout on his face that nearly undid Elrond, but he held fast against it. "No, Estel, you have to."
Estel nodded grudgingly and slowly dragged his feet towards the door but Elrond stopped him and said that he would get a special treat tomorrow for completing all of his assignments and if he behaved well. The little boy let out a gasp of delight and dashed over to his foster-father again and hugged him, spilling over with promises about how well he would do tomorrow and how he would go to apologize to Erestor right now, before rushing out the door to go find his tutor.
Elrond smiled in the wake of Estel's departure, hoping that Estel would like his present, and behaved as promised. In a much better attitude than a few hours before, Elrond sat back down on his desk and leaned back in his chair as he contemplated the peace and joy that Estel's presence had brought into the household. He was interrupted from his thoughts as Glorfindel poked his head into the room and informed Elrond that dinner was being served soon. Elrond thanked him and stood, and reached over for the stack of papers that he had finished only a few minutes earlier. There was a cry that had Glorfindel run back into the room, to find Elrond sunk down in his chair shaking his head and muttering as a pile of tea-soaked papers wilted on his desk. Glorfindel, seeing that there was no danger present, just quirked an eyebrow at his Lord and friend and left to eat whatever scrumptious meal the kitchens had whipped up.
After a delicious feast and a few peaceful hours in the Hall of Fire, Elrond was tucking Estel into bed as Estel peppered him with questions. "Why is the sky blue? Where do bunnies come from? When will I be able to learn to sword fight? How do trees get so tall? What's my present for tomorrow? How big is middle-earth?"
Elrond patiently answered each question except for the second to last one. "You shall find out what your present is tomorrow Estel when you finish your lessons and are well behaved. Though you should be well behaved every day."
"I always am ada!" Estel explained, looking up at him with not-so-innocent eyes.
Elrond wasn't fooled. "I think your brothers have rubbed off on you a little too much."
Estel cheered and Elrond sighed.
"But really ada, what is it?" Estel pressed again, hoping for an answer.
"You shall find out tomorrow, and that is all I'm telling you. But you should know that tomorrow you should be extra-well behaved because Prince Legolas is coming to visit from Greenwood."
Estel's expressive silver eyes lit up in excitement. "A Prince? Really? What's he like? Will he like me? Is that my present?"
"So many questions Estel! But yes, he is really a Prince. You shall be able to find out what he is like tomorrow. I must certainly think he shall like you, but he likes little boys who get to bed and no he is not your present." Elrond answered.
"I will go to bed right away!" Estel announced and promptly slid into the covers and shut his eyes before peeking one open a bit to see if Prince Legolas had popped out of nowhere. When all he saw was his ada, he smiled and yawned. "Good night, ada."
Elrond placed a hand on his son's forehead for a moment before bestowing a light kiss in its place. "Goodnight ion-nin. Sleep well."
Before he had even left the room, Estel was already off dreaming about a mystery box that held his present and about a mysterious Prince who he had never met.