--Discovery--
Elladan had been fast asleep when he felt something shaking his shoulder. Turning over and cursing in elfish under his breath he began to fall back to sleep. However there it was again, whatever wanted his attention wouldn't give up and was now shaking him harder.
"What?" He groaned as he rolled over. Elves slept with their eyes open, and Estel had long since discovered this, however he was still getting used to the sight. Elladan blinked once and looked at Estel, standing in front of him in his sleep tunic, the small stuffed dog they had given him when he was two, was stuffed under his right elbow. His hair disarray, and a look of panic on his face.
"Estel? What are you doing up?" Elladan asked as he turned up his lamp to get a better look at the child in front of him.
"I can't sleep," whispered the child sadly. As though he was embarrassed.
"A nightmare?" the small brown head bobbed in confirmation. Elladan sighed and reached under his brother's arms and lifted him up into the bed. Elladan drew his covers back, and placed his brother down beside him. He then pulled the covers up around himself and the small child.
"Sleep lle aier," Elladan said softly as he watched his little brother. Within moments the child was fast asleep in the protective arms of his big brother. Elladan looked up just in time to see his father standing in the door way.
"Don't worry about him Ada, I'll care for him tonight," stated Elladan softly as he gazed at the tiny child. Elrond smiled and came over to kiss the child goodnight.
"Something is bothering him Elladan, I would like you to find out what," Elrond said gently.
"I will Ada," Elrond nodded and slowly left the room. Elladan placed his head down on the pillow and allowed sleep to over come him again, his mind wandering to what could be bothering his baby brother so deeply.
Estel was in a better mood the next day, and came to the table shortly after his brother Elladan, although he looked tired; Estel did look happier than the day before.
"Can I ride my pony today Ada?" Inquired the five-year-old.
"We'll see, you have to clean up the stable a little first for me would you. Then come and get me, and we'll go for a ride," the small child nodded with excitement and finished his food and headed outside.
"Hey look it's the human again!" cried one of the elflings. Estel said nothing, he paid them no mind.
"Your finally doing what you should have been, cleaning out stalls!" Yelled one child. Again, Estel did not respond, but tears clouded in his eyes.
"I'm not a servant!" Estel yelled loudly as he glared at the four young elves.
"Well you're not an elf, and we don't keep humans unless we have a purpose for them," stated an elf with black hair.
"They love me!" hissed Estel.
"How could anyone love a human!" yelled the brown haired boy, the leader of the pack.
"They just do!" Estel responded, he was paying attention to where he was going, and somehow had ended up closer to the small pond rather than the stables.
"Let's see if he can swim!" Yelled one elf and sprang forward, pushing Estel into the freezing water. As the water covered Estel's face he had to gasp in surprise at how chilled the water was.
"Estel!" came the voice just as Estel was weakly pulling himself out of the cold water. He looked up just in time to see an irate Elladan.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"What happened?" Elladan asked.
"Nothing, I tripped and fell into the water," explained Estel, hoping his brother wouldn't ask further questions.
"You were supposed to be by the stables, so what were you doing over here?" Elladan asked, looking over his brother, a look of anger and frustration evident in his features.
"I.I was thinking," Estel lied, not wanting to tell his brother exactly what had happened.
"Yeah well, no more thinking, come on, let's go get you dried off and warmed up," Elladan said as he escorted his younger brother back inside.
Elladan sighed as he pulled his brother's tunic off and handed him a towel.
"Dry off," Elladan said gently, deciding that anger was no way to find out what had happened.
"'Ladan, did you ever get picked on?" Estel asked as he just looked down at the towel, picking at a loose string at a corner. Elladan turned and looked at his bare-chested little brother. Sighing, he removed the towel from the small hands and began to dry the boy's hair.
"Yeah, I think every kid gets picked on at some point Estel," Elladan said as he wrapped the towel around the boy's neck softly and looked into the gray eyes.
"What did you do?" Elladan shrugged. He smiled softly at the hair being disarray once again. Sighing he handed his brother a brush.
"Brush it. I don't know what I did Estel, I guess sometimes I ignored them, other times I stuck up for myself," Elladan said as he pulled out a top and a pair of pants.
"How did you stick up for yourself?" Estel inquired as he tried to run the brush through his hair. Elladan sighed yet again, and turned his brother around and gently began to brush through the wild hair. Estel had the great desire to have hair like Elladan and Elrohir, so he refused to cut it, however, he didn't really brush it either.
"I don't know, I just did. Estel why? Does this have anything to do with you falling in the pond?" Elladan asked turning Estel back to him so they could look at one another.
"Yes," the child answered very softly.
"I see, here change your pants," Elladan said turning away. His younger brother had become quiet embarrassed when changing in front of his brothers, so instead of leaving they usually turned their back until he was finished.
"Okay," the small whisper came a few moments later. Elladan turned and saw the boy still dressed in only pants, but they were dry at least.
"Come here," Elladan said lifting the small boy into his arms and sitting on the bed. All anger had melted away, and now he just wanted to hold the child.
"Are you gonna tell Ada?" inquired Estel softly. Elladan sighed and pecked his brother on the temple.
"I don't think Ada needs to know about it this time. However, I want to know what has been getting you into a heathen instead of my favorite little brother," Elladan said smiling softly as the boy leaned into him.
"Couple of the elflings.they won't leave me alone Elladan! What did I ever do to them? I didn't do nofin'" he stated angrily. Elladan chuckled at his brother's error in words but smiled. Only five and the child was a spitfire, that was for sure.
"What are they saying to you?"
"Mean things, like I'm not an elf, or that.El they said I should be a servant. That the only reason Ada keeps me around is to do what he wants. They says I'm not good enough to be one of 'em. They said my ears aren't pointy," Elladan had to hide a smirk, and gasped looking at him.
"That's horrible," he joked. Estel smiled slightly and hit his big brother playfully.
"I'm serious 'Laddan," murmured the child. Elladan chuckled and squeezed the boy tight to him.
"How long has this been going on tithen pen?"
"Dunno, bout.a while," Estel whispered. His big eyes met Elladan's blue ones, as they welled with tears, "it isn't true is it!? Please 'Dan, tell me Ada doesn't keep me 'round to severe him?" whimpered the child. Elladan didn't respond, instead he hugged his brother tightly, as the small boy threw his arms around Elladan's neck and sobbed.
"Estel, listen to me, Ada adores you. Elrohir adores you, Glorfindel adores you. You bring light to all our lives. Believe me, father keeps you around because you bring him happiness every morning and pleasant dreams every night. El and me, we're grown up now, so we're not able to be Ada's little boy's anymore. So when you came along, you were just what he needed. What we all needed."
"What 'bout you?"
"Estel, I love you so much, there are no words for my feelings sometimes. You make me feel needed. More than I ever have before. Amin mela Estel," Elladan said holding his brother tighter.
"Amin mela lle vithel El," Estel replied holding tightly to his brother. After a moment of just holding each other, Elladan pulled his little brother away and looked at him.
"Now, you tell these elflings that you know your Ada, and brothers adore you. And if they pick on you again, they'll have me to answer to," Elladan said smiling. Estel nodded.
"Elladan?"
"Yeah?"
"Please don't tell Ada, I don't want him to know 'bout the elflings," Elladan smiled at the boy and nodded.
"No problem," Elladan said.
"Elladan?"
"Yes?" Elladan said again.
"I'm cold," Elladan chuckled and grabbed the shirt, helping his little brother into it.
"Elladan?"
"Yes tithen gwador?" Elladan asked again.
"Will you take me riding?" Elladan chuckled.
"Ay," replied the elf.
"El," came the voice one last time, causing Elladan to roll his eyes.
"Ay tithen gwador?"
"Amin Mela, hannon lle," the boy whispered. Elladan smiled and grabbed his brother into a tight hug again. Kissing the boy's head softly.
"Ta nae seasmin," he replied and lifted the boy up into his arms, perching the child upon his hip.
The two got out to the stables, both happy to get out. Elladan pulled out the pony and his horse.
"Can I just ride with you?" Elladan smiled, he knew his brother's tactics. If he rode with Elladan he would be allowed to go further, than if he was on his pony and Elladan following him.
"I don't see why not, riding seems nice right now," Elladan said smiling. He rubbed the pony's nose and then placed her back in her stall. With that, Elladan placed Estel up on the horse, and mounted up behind him.
Lle aier-short one
Tithen pen-little one
Amin Mela--I love you
Amin Mela lle vithel-I love you too
Gwador-brother
Tithen gwador-little brother
Hannon lle-thank you
Ta nae seasmin--it is my pleasure/your welcome
Elladan had been fast asleep when he felt something shaking his shoulder. Turning over and cursing in elfish under his breath he began to fall back to sleep. However there it was again, whatever wanted his attention wouldn't give up and was now shaking him harder.
"What?" He groaned as he rolled over. Elves slept with their eyes open, and Estel had long since discovered this, however he was still getting used to the sight. Elladan blinked once and looked at Estel, standing in front of him in his sleep tunic, the small stuffed dog they had given him when he was two, was stuffed under his right elbow. His hair disarray, and a look of panic on his face.
"Estel? What are you doing up?" Elladan asked as he turned up his lamp to get a better look at the child in front of him.
"I can't sleep," whispered the child sadly. As though he was embarrassed.
"A nightmare?" the small brown head bobbed in confirmation. Elladan sighed and reached under his brother's arms and lifted him up into the bed. Elladan drew his covers back, and placed his brother down beside him. He then pulled the covers up around himself and the small child.
"Sleep lle aier," Elladan said softly as he watched his little brother. Within moments the child was fast asleep in the protective arms of his big brother. Elladan looked up just in time to see his father standing in the door way.
"Don't worry about him Ada, I'll care for him tonight," stated Elladan softly as he gazed at the tiny child. Elrond smiled and came over to kiss the child goodnight.
"Something is bothering him Elladan, I would like you to find out what," Elrond said gently.
"I will Ada," Elrond nodded and slowly left the room. Elladan placed his head down on the pillow and allowed sleep to over come him again, his mind wandering to what could be bothering his baby brother so deeply.
Estel was in a better mood the next day, and came to the table shortly after his brother Elladan, although he looked tired; Estel did look happier than the day before.
"Can I ride my pony today Ada?" Inquired the five-year-old.
"We'll see, you have to clean up the stable a little first for me would you. Then come and get me, and we'll go for a ride," the small child nodded with excitement and finished his food and headed outside.
"Hey look it's the human again!" cried one of the elflings. Estel said nothing, he paid them no mind.
"Your finally doing what you should have been, cleaning out stalls!" Yelled one child. Again, Estel did not respond, but tears clouded in his eyes.
"I'm not a servant!" Estel yelled loudly as he glared at the four young elves.
"Well you're not an elf, and we don't keep humans unless we have a purpose for them," stated an elf with black hair.
"They love me!" hissed Estel.
"How could anyone love a human!" yelled the brown haired boy, the leader of the pack.
"They just do!" Estel responded, he was paying attention to where he was going, and somehow had ended up closer to the small pond rather than the stables.
"Let's see if he can swim!" Yelled one elf and sprang forward, pushing Estel into the freezing water. As the water covered Estel's face he had to gasp in surprise at how chilled the water was.
"Estel!" came the voice just as Estel was weakly pulling himself out of the cold water. He looked up just in time to see an irate Elladan.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"What happened?" Elladan asked.
"Nothing, I tripped and fell into the water," explained Estel, hoping his brother wouldn't ask further questions.
"You were supposed to be by the stables, so what were you doing over here?" Elladan asked, looking over his brother, a look of anger and frustration evident in his features.
"I.I was thinking," Estel lied, not wanting to tell his brother exactly what had happened.
"Yeah well, no more thinking, come on, let's go get you dried off and warmed up," Elladan said as he escorted his younger brother back inside.
Elladan sighed as he pulled his brother's tunic off and handed him a towel.
"Dry off," Elladan said gently, deciding that anger was no way to find out what had happened.
"'Ladan, did you ever get picked on?" Estel asked as he just looked down at the towel, picking at a loose string at a corner. Elladan turned and looked at his bare-chested little brother. Sighing, he removed the towel from the small hands and began to dry the boy's hair.
"Yeah, I think every kid gets picked on at some point Estel," Elladan said as he wrapped the towel around the boy's neck softly and looked into the gray eyes.
"What did you do?" Elladan shrugged. He smiled softly at the hair being disarray once again. Sighing he handed his brother a brush.
"Brush it. I don't know what I did Estel, I guess sometimes I ignored them, other times I stuck up for myself," Elladan said as he pulled out a top and a pair of pants.
"How did you stick up for yourself?" Estel inquired as he tried to run the brush through his hair. Elladan sighed yet again, and turned his brother around and gently began to brush through the wild hair. Estel had the great desire to have hair like Elladan and Elrohir, so he refused to cut it, however, he didn't really brush it either.
"I don't know, I just did. Estel why? Does this have anything to do with you falling in the pond?" Elladan asked turning Estel back to him so they could look at one another.
"Yes," the child answered very softly.
"I see, here change your pants," Elladan said turning away. His younger brother had become quiet embarrassed when changing in front of his brothers, so instead of leaving they usually turned their back until he was finished.
"Okay," the small whisper came a few moments later. Elladan turned and saw the boy still dressed in only pants, but they were dry at least.
"Come here," Elladan said lifting the small boy into his arms and sitting on the bed. All anger had melted away, and now he just wanted to hold the child.
"Are you gonna tell Ada?" inquired Estel softly. Elladan sighed and pecked his brother on the temple.
"I don't think Ada needs to know about it this time. However, I want to know what has been getting you into a heathen instead of my favorite little brother," Elladan said smiling softly as the boy leaned into him.
"Couple of the elflings.they won't leave me alone Elladan! What did I ever do to them? I didn't do nofin'" he stated angrily. Elladan chuckled at his brother's error in words but smiled. Only five and the child was a spitfire, that was for sure.
"What are they saying to you?"
"Mean things, like I'm not an elf, or that.El they said I should be a servant. That the only reason Ada keeps me around is to do what he wants. They says I'm not good enough to be one of 'em. They said my ears aren't pointy," Elladan had to hide a smirk, and gasped looking at him.
"That's horrible," he joked. Estel smiled slightly and hit his big brother playfully.
"I'm serious 'Laddan," murmured the child. Elladan chuckled and squeezed the boy tight to him.
"How long has this been going on tithen pen?"
"Dunno, bout.a while," Estel whispered. His big eyes met Elladan's blue ones, as they welled with tears, "it isn't true is it!? Please 'Dan, tell me Ada doesn't keep me 'round to severe him?" whimpered the child. Elladan didn't respond, instead he hugged his brother tightly, as the small boy threw his arms around Elladan's neck and sobbed.
"Estel, listen to me, Ada adores you. Elrohir adores you, Glorfindel adores you. You bring light to all our lives. Believe me, father keeps you around because you bring him happiness every morning and pleasant dreams every night. El and me, we're grown up now, so we're not able to be Ada's little boy's anymore. So when you came along, you were just what he needed. What we all needed."
"What 'bout you?"
"Estel, I love you so much, there are no words for my feelings sometimes. You make me feel needed. More than I ever have before. Amin mela Estel," Elladan said holding his brother tighter.
"Amin mela lle vithel El," Estel replied holding tightly to his brother. After a moment of just holding each other, Elladan pulled his little brother away and looked at him.
"Now, you tell these elflings that you know your Ada, and brothers adore you. And if they pick on you again, they'll have me to answer to," Elladan said smiling. Estel nodded.
"Elladan?"
"Yeah?"
"Please don't tell Ada, I don't want him to know 'bout the elflings," Elladan smiled at the boy and nodded.
"No problem," Elladan said.
"Elladan?"
"Yes?" Elladan said again.
"I'm cold," Elladan chuckled and grabbed the shirt, helping his little brother into it.
"Elladan?"
"Yes tithen gwador?" Elladan asked again.
"Will you take me riding?" Elladan chuckled.
"Ay," replied the elf.
"El," came the voice one last time, causing Elladan to roll his eyes.
"Ay tithen gwador?"
"Amin Mela, hannon lle," the boy whispered. Elladan smiled and grabbed his brother into a tight hug again. Kissing the boy's head softly.
"Ta nae seasmin," he replied and lifted the boy up into his arms, perching the child upon his hip.
The two got out to the stables, both happy to get out. Elladan pulled out the pony and his horse.
"Can I just ride with you?" Elladan smiled, he knew his brother's tactics. If he rode with Elladan he would be allowed to go further, than if he was on his pony and Elladan following him.
"I don't see why not, riding seems nice right now," Elladan said smiling. He rubbed the pony's nose and then placed her back in her stall. With that, Elladan placed Estel up on the horse, and mounted up behind him.
Lle aier-short one
Tithen pen-little one
Amin Mela--I love you
Amin Mela lle vithel-I love you too
Gwador-brother
Tithen gwador-little brother
Hannon lle-thank you
Ta nae seasmin--it is my pleasure/your welcome
