Thank you for the continued support! I will post more in a few days!

All mistakes are mine!

Oh yeah, this chapter skips back to a younger Estel! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Middle Earth, everyone, and everything in it belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien!


Language

It had been almost a year since Aragorn, son of Arathorn had come to live in Imladris. They child was not yet two years old, but he had already taken to his new life with relative ease. Now known as Estel, the boy continued to grow each day, learning more about his new family and the ways of the elves. Lord Elrond had decided to teach the boy Elvish predominantly, though Westron would be taught as well, for he would need both in his new life. More often than not, Estel spoke neither, opting to babble in his own made-up language, much to the confusion of the elves around him.

Elrond's twin sons had voiced concern over his childish gibberish, though their father assured them the child would grow out of it once he expanded his vocabulary and became comfortable with his new languages. Unsure, the twins had taken it upon themselves to teach the boy new words, in both Elvish and Westron. Estel enjoyed this, though he loved spending time with the twins more than learning new words.

Currently, the child was sitting on the floor of his adopted father's study, playing quietly with the stuffed rabbit Erestor had given him earlier that week. Elrond smiled as he looked up from his book. Estel was playing contently on the floor, murmuring to himself in a mix of Elvish and gibberish, laughing ever so often.

Looking towards his ada, Estel gave the elf lord a toothy grin before crawling towards the windows. That was another odd thing about the boy; since he had arrived in Imladris, he almost completely refused to walk anywhere, opting to crawl or be carried. Elladan had assured his father the boy could walk, since he had the night they found him, though they could not figure out why he decided he had to crawl everywhere.

Reaching the chair facing the large balcony window, Estel reached up to use said chair to lift himself into a standing position. Elrond watched, waiting for the boy to take a few steps, but the child simply stood looking out the window. Standing, Lord Elrond made his way towards the child, placing a hand on the mop of brown curls.

"What do you see, tithen pen?" The elf lord questioned the boy, who looked up at the elf and smiled.

"Dan? Ro?" The little boy wondered, turning to look back outside. Elrond chuckled. Though Estel did not often speak in a language his family could understand, the boy had no problem voicing the names of his twin brothers.

"They will be home soon, ion nin," Elrond reassured. Nodding, Estel plopped back down and crawled towards the center of the room, back to his rabbit. As he resumed his game, Elrond shook his head, taking his seat at the desk and continued reading.


A few hours later, Estel was standing by one of the bookshelves, helping his ada place the books back on the lower shelves. As Estel concentrated on pushing a particularly heavy book back into place, Elrond turned to the small noise in the doorway. Seeing his oldest son enter the room with a finger to his lips, the older elf shook his head and turned his attention back to the small human. Handing him another book, Estel focused on maintaining his balance as he put the book on the shelf.

Slipping silently behind the child, Elladan waited until the book was in its proper place before grabbing Estel's sides and running his hands up and down them, tickling him.

Estel squealed, spinning around in the elf's grasp, his eyes lighting up as he looked to his brother. "Dan!" He shouted, latching his arms around the elf's neck, laughing as he was lifted and tossed into the air. Elladan laughed freely as he tossed the boy into the air, catching him with practiced ease and hugging him close.

Estel giggled, looking around for the younger twin. Noticing Estel's wandering eyes, Elladan set the boy comfortably on his hip and got his attention.

"Ro will be here soon, tithen gwador," Elladan reassured, setting the boy on the floor. Estel grabbed Elladan's hand, tugging him to sit on the floor. Elladan complied, sitting the child in his lap as Estel began chatting away excitedly. Elladan smiled, glancing at his ada as he recognized a few Elvish words in the babble.

A knock sounded at the door, and all three occupants of the room looked up as Elrohir poked his head in.

"Hello Estel!" Elrohir said brightly as he entered, laughing as Estel tumbled out of Elladan's lap and crawled over to him. Tugging on Elrohir's legs, Estel lifted himself to stand, holding his balance as he lifted his arms up to the younger twin.

"Hold you, Ro!" He said excitedly. All three elves raised their eyebrows at the boy, not having heard this particular statement.

"Hold you, Ro! Puh-lease!" Estel repeated, his hands making small grabbing motions as he bounced. Elrohir responded with amusement, bending down to pick the boy up. Satisfied, Estel hugged the younger twin tightly, sitting back to gaze at the two other elves in the room. Giggling, the boy began to bounce in Elrohir's grasp, causing Elladan join in his laughter.

"You will never cease to amaze me, Estel," Elladan chuckled, standing up and making his way towards his twin and Estel. Handing the boy his stuffed rabbit, Estel hugged it close.

"Shall we go find Glorfindel to show him your new phrase, tithen gwador?" Elrohir questioned, receiving a string of delighted gibberish in response. Elrond laughed as the twins groaned at the boy's relapse.

"Give him time, my sons. He will be as talkative as a drunken dwarf soon enough." Elrond laughed at the pinched faces the twins made at the mention of dwarves. Noticing their faces, Estel let loose another childish laugh, trying to mimic his brothers.

"Alright, alright, away with you three. Go find Glorfindel so I may work in peace." Elrond dismissed the trio, shaking his head as they made their way out the door and in search of the blonde warrior.