Hello my friends I hope you are still enjoying my story and that its making you happy to read it. As promised in my last chapter, things are about to heat up for Elrond, but don't worry Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen won't be to hard on him hehe.
I would like to say I do not own lord of the rings or any of its characters I am simply borrowing them for this story.
Chapter 8
After the shocking news about what Erestor had told them about Estel's true parentage died off, did the reality of the situation hit them, that they now had a new family member to love and protect. But before they said or did anything, Estel at that moment started to cry.
"Oh my little one, shhh shhh, Ada's got you," Elrond said rocking his son in his arms.
Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen could do nothing but stare at the tender moment that was going on before them, but after awhile Galadriel decided that she had done enough staring, so she went over Elrond to properly meet her new grandson.
"Elrond, may I hold and say hello to my new grandson?", Galadriel asked, as she opened her arms to receive him.
"Yes, of course you can," Elrond replied with a smile, as he handed over Estel to her.
As Estel cried, he became aware that he wasn't in his Ada's arms anymore. He was about to cry louder, until he heard a soothing voice talking to him and then calming him down once more.
"There now, no more tears little one, everything's ok now," Galadriel soothed to Estel as she sat down by her husband.
"If it weren't for his rounded ears, he would've looked exactly like the twins were at this age," Celeborn said as he ran a finger over the baby's soft cheek.
"Oh Adar he is beautiful," commented Arwen as she moved over to sit on the other side of her Grandmother.
"And to think Adar wanted to tell them about Estel when they came for yule this year," Elrohir said to Elladan offhandedly.
But as soon as those words left Elrohir's mouth, he regretted them instantly, as everybody in the room looked at him with either pity or anger, with the exception of three sets of eyes who glared at Elrond directly.
"You idiot, now look what you've done," Elladan whispered harshly to his twin.
"I didn't mean too," Elrohir told Elladan worryingly as he looked up at his angry looking grandparents and sister.
To save the twins from their grandparents and sister's angry glares as well, Elrond told them to take Estel down to the kitchens to see if he wants a bottle of milk. They did so happily, and with a grateful smile cast at their Adar, Elladan took Estel carefully from his Grandmother's arms, and in all the while in doing so, he didn't dare look up at her. While Elrohir went over to the door and opened it for them all to go out through.
As soon as his sons had left the living room, Elrond could feel his heartbeat pick up that much faster, he was only thankful that Estel wasn't about to witness this showdown with his In-laws and daughter.
"Elrond, is what Elrohir said true about you telling us about Estel at yule?", A fierce looking Celeborn asked him.
"Yes, but if you let me explain...," Elrond started to say but couldn't finish, as he was interrupted by his furious Mother-in-law.
"Explain!, Explain what Elrond?!, Come on I'm listening!", Galadriel shouted at the top of her lungs.
At that, Elrond, Glorfindel and Erestor winced at the tone of voice Galadriel was using, but before Elrond could try to explain again, Arwen decided it was her turn to speak.
"Adar, were you really going to tell us about Estel then, and not sooner?", Arwen asked with cold disappointment in her eyes.
"Yes Arwen, I was going to tell you that you had a little brother at yule, but it would have been a nice surprise don't you think?", Elrond asked with a hopeful smile towards his daughter.
"You are a fool Elrond!", Celeborn shouted, as he stood up to face down his Son-in-law.
"I agree with my husband, do you not understand how hurt we would have been if we learnt about Estel then?!", Galadriel continued to scream at him, as she went to stand beside Celeborn.
"Oh Adar, of all the stupid things I've seen and heard in my life, this has got to be the most stupid thing you've ever done!", Arwen exclaimed angrily.
"Now wait just a minute, all of you!", Elrond said as he too stood up to face his In-laws and daughter.
Glorfindel and Erestor could see the fury of inner rage inside Elrond just waiting to come out, and it didn't bold well for those who faced it. As Elrond didn't become Captain and Herald of Gil-galad's for nothing.
"We hadn't even had Estel a day before we got your message to say you were coming to Rivendell now, instead of the original plan for you to come at yule. Also, the reason why I was going to tell you about Estel then is because of the threat of Sauron hanging over my baby son's head, and I wasn't going to risk sending a message to tell you about my son, just in case it would jeopardize his safety of being found out. It was only by the sheer luck of fate that you get to see Estel now, because I'd certainly wasn't going to risk mine, my twin sons or my best friends lives, just so you could've met him sooner!", Elrond shouted out at them.
At this point, Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen were starting to feel guilty for what they said too Elrond, but before they could issue him with an apology, he started to talk again.
"And I wasn't about to lose my sons again, not after I'd just got Elladan and Elrohir home once more, especially after so long, for I finally have them laughing and smiling again, since the days Celebrian left us. Also, did you know they sent out a message to Legolas and his family, to say they won't be attending the archery contest in Mirkwood this year, just so they can be with their little brother?", Elrond asked with a stern gaze towards his In-laws and daughter.
Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen, all looked down now, because they were really feeling guilty now, for how they treated Elrond. They only all looked back up when they heard footsteps walking away from them.
"Elrond where are you going?", Galadriel asked her Son-in-law softly.
"I'm going to find my sons, and see if their alright Galadriel!", The Lord of Rivendell told her sharply, as he walked out the room, slamming the door behind him.
The living room was tense for a while after that angry speech from Elrond, until Glorfindel broke it by saying he was going to follow Elrond to make sure he was ok. It was only after Glorfindel left, did Arwen break the silence once more.
"Grandfather, Grandmother I think we were a bit too harsh on Adar," Arwen said, as a sob escaped her lips.
Celeborn and Galadriel said nothing, as they knew the truth that were too hard on their Son-in-law, so they went over and sat on either side their granddaughter to try and comfort her. The gloomy mood was broken once again when Erestor started to address them.
"My Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel and Lady Arwen if I may say, perhaps you were a bit too harsh on Lord Elrond, but that's only because you care. I'd be more worried if I didn't hear you all speak so passionately about Estel, just like Glorfindel and the twins did, when my Lord asked them what they should do with Estel", Erestor told the guilty looking elves.
"Why would Elrond ask them what they should do with Estel?", Celeborn asked the Chief advisor.
"I believe he asked them because he was feeling happy but also guilty at how quickly he was bonding with Estel. So that's why he decided to see if Glorfindel and the twins felt the same way as he did, about the little one staying here. I didn't need to voice my opinion as I knew what they were going to say, and besides, I was too busy feeding my little nephew his bottle at the time to care what was going on," Erestor said with a smile on his face as he remembered.
When the Chief advisor had finished speaking to them, did his and Elrond's wise words ring true to the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien and Arwen, because instead of celebrating the fact that they now had a new little family member to get to know. Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen had all jumped down Elrond's throat about him not telling them about Estel sooner. But now that they are thinking it through, they now understood why he did what he did. And to hear Elrond speak of how Elladan and Elrohir sent out a message to Legolas to say they won't be attending the archery contest in Mirkwood this year, proves how much Estel had changed their lives for the better.
"Galadriel my love, I think we should be thanking fate that we came here early, after all my love, didn't you say we would have a happy visit coming to Rivendell now?", Celeborn asked his wife.
"Yes my love, I do thank fate, for it has given us another grandson to love and protect," Galadriel exclaimed with a smile on her face.
"It hasn't started out as a happy visit though," Arwen commented with tears still in her eyes.
"No my Granddaughter it hasn't, but I think we should change that by finding Elrond and go and apologize for the way we acted towards him," Galadriel told her, as she stood up.
"I agree my love, let's go," Celeborn said as he too stood up, and then with a hand out to Arwen helped her up as well.
But before any of them moved to go and find Elrond however, a knock was heard at the door, so Erestor went over to the door to go and answer it.
"Excuse me my Lord Erestor, but Lord Elrond has told me to tell you and our guests, to go and freshen up, as lunch will be served in the dining hall momentarily," the elf maid Castiel said to them all.
"Thank you for telling us my Lady, and if you would be so kind to tell him we will be along shortly, I'd be very grateful," Erestor said politely to her.
"Of course my Lord Erestor," said Castiel with a bow to him before she left.
"Well it would seem you won't have to go far to find my Lord Elrond, but I suggest for now at least, we should do as he says and go and freshen up for lunch," Erestor told the three elves.
Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen wanted to go and apologize to Elrond now, but they could see the logic in Erestor's words, so they all left the living room to freshen up for their lunch.
After Erestor, Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen had finished freshening up in their rooms. They all went down to the dining hall to have lunch, when they all got there, they could see that Elrond, Glorfindel and the twins were already sat down at the table waiting for them.
"Ah, there you are Erestor, I was wondering where you were, so what took you so long?", Glorfindel asked the brown eyed Chief advisor, as he looked up from feeding Estel his bottle of milk.
"Nothing that concerns you Glorfindel I assure you," Erestor said as he took his seat at the table.
"Are you going to join us?", Elrohir asked his grandparents and sister hesitantly.
"Yes come on, don't worry, Estel won't bite," Elladan said with amusement in his voice.
After that comment from Elladan, did the still feeling guilty elves sit down to take their place at the table too. Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen were all going to start apologizing at once, but Elrond beat them to it.
"Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen can you forgive me for how I treated you?, I didn't mean to get angry and shout at you all, but when it comes to my sons, especially Estel, I can't help but get overprotective of them, especially when it comes to their safety, as I don't want to lose anymore loved ones, than I already have done," Elrond said compassionately.
"Of course I'll forgive you Elrond and I'm sorry that I'd shouted at you too," Celeborn said to his Son-in-law.
"I'm sorry too Elrond, I now understand why you didn't want us to know about my new grandson right away," Galadriel told him with an apologetic smile on her face.
"Yes Adar I forgive you and I'm sorry too, I'd didn't mean to get so angry at you," Arwen said to her Adar.
It was then that Estel decided to break the dreary mood by doing a big burp for Glorfindel, that's when the twins, and soon everybody in the room burst out laughing.
"Leave it up to our little brother to cheer us all up again," Elladan said to Elrohir, while wiping away the tears of laughter from his face.
"I have to agree with you Dan, he truly is one of a kind," exclaimed Elrohir in the same state as his twin.
When the laughter died down and mood became much more happier, did the serving staff come out from the kitchens with their lunch to eat. As they finished placing it down for them to consume, they wished them to enjoy their meal before leaving to take care of their other duties in the kitchens. All except Glorfindel started to eat their food, as he was currently holding the now dozing Estel in his arms.
'Maybe I should have brought the baby bassinet down here, that way I would've had something to put Estel in,' Glorfindel thought as he stared at his food.
It would seem someone heard the Captain of the guard's thinking, as Beriadan came into the dining room carrying Estel's baby bassinet and its stand over to him.
"Pardon my Lords and Ladies for interrupting your meal, but one of my kitchen staff told me that Lord Glorfindel couldn't eat his food, as he was holding Estel in his arms, so I asked another one of staff if they would go and bring the baby bassinet and its stand down for Estel, I hope you dont mind my Lord Elrond?", Beriadan asked his Lord respectfully.
"Not at all my friend, as we can't have my Captain of the guards go hungry on an empty stomach now can we?", Elrond asked with an amusing smile towards Glorfindel.
The twins were in no better shape, as they desperately tried to hold in their laughter, but with a sharp kick to their legs from Glorfindel and Erestor sitting on either side of them, it shut the twins up at once.
"Now you have somewhere to sleep for a while little one, as your Uncle Glorfindel has his lunch," Elrond continued with that smile still in place, as Estel was put into the bassinet beside him.
The head of Rivendell's kitchens asked respectfully to the Lords and Ladies in the dining room if that is all, and that if he may take his leave, Elrond told him he could, so he bid them all goodbye, before leaving to carry on with his duties, whilst the other elves present, and now Glorfindel, continued on eating their meal.
When the meal came to a close, Elrond thought that Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen should have a turn at bonding with Estel, so he asked the three elves in question, if they would they like to take Estel out for a while, to enjoy this nice sunny day.
"Really Elrond, you don't mind?", Galadriel asked her Son-in-law.
"No I don't mind at all Galadriel, besides, it will give you all a chance to bond with Estel, and if you want too, you can put him to bed tonight," replied Elrond.
"We would very much like that Elrond," Celeborn told him while trying to curb his enthusiasm, but failing to do so.
At Elrond's comment about putting Estel to bed, Glorfindel tried to mask his disappointment at having his turn taken away from him with a half-hearted smile.
"Oh Glorfindel don't look like that, you know you'll get your turn again," Elrond told him sympathetically.
"What's wrong Glorfindel?", Galadriel asked the blue eyed Balrog slayer.
But before Glorfindel could answer her however, Erestor beat him to it by telling her that it was supposed to be his turn tonight at putting Estel to bed. At which point, Glorfindel gave the dark haired Chief advisor another glare.
"I'm sorry Glorfindel I didn't know," Galadriel said sincerely.
"Don't worry about it Galadriel, as Glorfindel has to catch up with his warriors training reports anyway," the Lord of Rivendell said to her with a grin.
"I was hoping you would've forgotten about that Elrond," Glorfindel moaned with displeasure.
"Didn't I tell you Glorfindel that if you kept playing with Estel, you would fall behind in your paperwork?", Erestor asked him with a self-satisfied smirk.
"Shut up Erestor," he said towards the smug elf.
"Can we take him outside now Adar?", Arwen questioned him excitingly and impatiently, as she wanted to spend time with her new baby brother.
Elrond told her she could, but he said to make sure to bring him in before it gets to cold, he told her and his In-laws.
"Adar can me and Ro go too please?", Elladan asked his Adar hopefully.
"I'm sorry my Sons but no, as you get to see Estel every day, while Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen are only here for a short time. And because you won't be attending the archery contest in Mirkwood this year, why don't you go and have one with the Lothlorien warriors instead?", Elrond suggested to the twins.
But Elladan and Elrohir started to complain that they wanted to spend time with their baby brother. They stopped however, when they heard their Adar's next words.
"Unless you want to help out Glorfindel with his warriors training reports?", Elrond questioned them both.
"You know what Ro, I think we should have that archery contest with our Lothlorien kin, don't you agree?", Elladan asked his twin, as he got up from the table.
"I couldn't agree with you more Dan, besides, you know that we owe Haldir a rematch, especially after he beat you last time," Elrohir said also getting up from the table to join his twin.
"Haldir only won by luck Ro," said Elladan, as he was getting cross at Elrohir for reminding him of his defeat to the Lothlorien Marchwarden.
"Whatever you say Dan," Elrohir muttered as he and his twin brother left the dining hall.
"I swear those two are going to turn my hair grey someday," Elrond said shaking his head.
"My Lord, means that you brought up the topic of paperwork earlier, you still have those reports I gave you to go through," Erestor said while he got up from his seat to exit the dining hall.
"Where are you going Erestor?", Glorfindel asked the Chief advisor.
"To my office Glorfindel, because unlike you, I actually do some work around here," Erestor said as he walked away.
"What's that's supposed to mean?", Asked the Captain of the guards as he went over to join the Chief advisor.
But no one heard Erestor's response as he muttered it quietly for only Glorfindel to hear. And after that muttered comment from Erestor, they could hear the Captain of the guard's and Chief advisor's bickering back and forth, as they went down Rivendell's halls.
"I'd don't know whose worse, my twin sons or them," wondered Elrond out loud.
"Adar face it, all of them are as bad as each other," said Arwen fondly.
Elrond was about to disagree, but reasoned that his daughter was probably right, so to change the subject, he asked his In-laws and daughter, if they all shouldn't be heading outside with Estel while it was still nice.
"And shouldn't you be heading to your own office to do your own reports?", Celeborn questioned to his Son-in-law, as he went over to pick up his grandson from his bassinet.
"Yes I should, thanks for reminding me," Elrond said with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
"You're welcome Elrond," Celeborn replied whilst ignoring the sarcastic remark Elrond made towards him.
Arwen asked if they should bring the bassinet or not, but Galadriel told her no, as they could all take turns holding Estel in their arms. So with Celeborn carrying Estel in his arms, the grandparents and the grandchildren left the dining hall to go outside, and enjoy the sun shining down upon Rivendell. Whilst Elrond headed over to his own office to do the reports that awaited him on his desk.
There you have it my friends, another chapter for you to read and enjoy. And I hope you don't think I was to hard on Elrond, but I tried to think on how he would react to him being shouted at. Besides, I think he gave as good as he got. But don't worry my friends, they all make up in this chapter as you hopefully would have read. So, let me know what you think of it ok, and please review as I love to hear your thoughts on my story thank you.
