A/N For some of us, this chapter will be a bit of an ancient history lesson, while for others there may be some new stuff sprinkled in the mix. And in case I didn't mention it before, this story has obvious spoilers for Hope of Imladris…um, yea, but I think you all could figure out the plot of that story blindfolded. Yes, well, that aside, I do hope you enjoy the chapter, more to come, very soon!
Slayer3: I'm glad you like Mari! Thank you so much!
Jafee Leeds: Don't worry about it, I understand completely as I am in much the same position myself. Thank you! I had always hoped that it was different from the normal stuff you always see, granted the normal stuff is great.
Liz: THANK YOU! Don't know where it would have been without you, and since you didn't catch the hem instead of him the first time ether, I'm not worried. Lol
Illeanah: No, I won't be killing anyone at this stage in the game; unfortunately it's early yet…Lol. At any rate however, this story is really just beginning, I have it almost half way written I think, and only a little over a quarter of the way posted. This is by far the longest story I have ever attempted, so you all will have to let me know how it goes. Thanks as always, and hope you enjoy this on too.
IwishChan: Thank you! Yes, they defiantly love Estel, who couldn't he's such a sweet little boy. Well thanks again and hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Patil woke early that morning. The pre-dawn gray that hung like a sullen curtain around him only accentuated his somber frame of mind. He looked out at the majesty of the falls and around at the beautiful city, but his eyes did not see any of it. They were trapped on the image of a sleeping little boy. He knew that the child was no more than two hallways away, but he was now a world apart. He would be leaving. Alone. He did not appreciate the breathtaking summits like he usually did each morning; no all he wanted to do was leave. Depart form here and not look back. He packed his few belongings that he had brought with him in the small canvas bag and left the room.
Treading the dimly lit hallways he could tell that the day had hardly began and the inhabitants of the household had not yet awoken.
He entered the dining hall only to find that four people were already seated there.
Elladan Elrohir Elrond and Halbarad looked up at the sound of him entering.
"I thought I was the only one up yet." Patil said as he drew himself a chair.
Halbarad laughed. "Not quite. We were up about an hour ago."
Patil ate his breakfast contentedly. He would certainly miss the food in this grand place. After the breakfast was done, Halbarad stood and looked to Patil. "Did you want to go yet?" Patil nodded. He really did not want to have to say goodbye to Mari again. "It's probably best to leave early, so that we can be home before dark." Patil reasoned.
Elrond nodded knowingly. Now that the decision was made, he knew the man was trying his best to stick to it, staying only made it worse.
Halbarad and Patil headed out into the yard, where four horses, two with saddles, two tacked in elvish gear stood calmly.
Patil mounted his horse; he noticed the gleaming coat and smiled at his generally placid gelding's spunk. Well, someone enjoyed his stay here, that's for sure. He thought to himself as he steadied his mount with his hands.
Halbarad mounted and noticed that their respective owners also mounted the Gray studs that belonged to Elladan and Elrohir.
"Your horse will always remember the way back to Imladris, simply ask him." Elrond said softly to the subdued Patil. He patted the lanky chestnut on the shoulder and smiled.
The four walked over the stone bridge that crossed the majestic waterfall. Elrond watched as the party became obscured and hidden in the flying white spray that came off the falls.
He turned to walk back into the house. He knew what it was like to not see his sons for years at a time; he did not envy the poor man at the moment. At least he doesn't need to wonder where his son is. Elrond thought a bit bitterly, his thoughts leaning towards a time much less stable than the current arrangement.
He sighed, and was happy to remember that now he had his three sons at home where they belonged.
Estel woke happily. It had been over a week since he had returned home, but the feeling of waking in his own bed had not yet become mundane. He looked out the window with a smile. Swinging his legs over the bed he stumbled sleep-drunkenly to the washroom, after donning his attire for the day, he left the room. He stretched as he walked down the familiar hallways that he could do in total darkness. Ha, which I have done more than once. He thought wryly to himself. When he passed the doorway to Patil's room on the way to the staircase, he was surprised to see it open. His curiosity got the better of him and he stole a peak inside. His stomach fell when he saw that all the man's things were gone. Mari must have left then. Estel thought sadly. Wait, he was much to sick to travel, he cannot even move his legs yet. Estel panicked. As he ran sown the staircase, he passed a scowling Erestor. "Walk Estel, Walk!" He said with exasperation. Estel paid him no heed and kept up his frenzied pace.
"Ada! Estel called breathlessly when he reached the porch overlooking the falls.
He saw his father looking over the edge of the balcony, at the stone bridge that was nearly obscured by the swirling mist.
"Ada! Did Mari go home?" Estel asked trying to catch his breath.
Elrond shook his head. "No ion nin, he is still sleeping I think." Estel looked puzzled. "But Mr. Patil's things are gone!" Elrond silenced his son. "Patil had to return to his home, and look after his family there. Mari will remain in Imladris until he is well." Estel's confused face cleared instantly, and a grin split on his face. "He's going to live here for a while? How long?" He babbled.
Elrond laughed. "Most likely over a year or so."
"Oh…won't he miss his family?" Estel said, the novelty of the idea wearing off.
"Yes, very much, but he had to stay here to get well." Elrond said gently.
Estel thought about that for a moment. "Yes, that makes sense, but I am still very glad that I have the Ada that can do everything." Elrond smiled and placed a hand on Estel's shoulder and guided him inside the house with him.
The sunlight streamed into the cheery room as Mari woke slowly. The feeling of panic he had encountered the first few nights at waking in an unfamiliar had all but worn off, but this morning he was filled with uncertainty. He remembered that his father had gone that morning, and he wouldn't see him for a very long time. He knew he should be glad, he was going to get better, but he couldn't help but feel sad.
He was staring aimlessly out the window into the garden below when a familiar knock sounded at the door. Lord Elrond entered, carrying the now familiar morning medicine.
"Here you are Mari." He said cheerfully. Mari swallowed down the vile concoction and stifled the grimace that he usually had. I could never get Estel to take medicine like that, and he's older. Elrond thought with a laugh. But then again, this child has been taking medicine most likely every day. He's probably quite used to it by now. He rationalized sadly.
Elrond walked over to Mari, who offered his hand immediately, this was routine by now. Elrond checked his capillary refill time and jotted down the comparative results. He was happy to see that even though it had only been a week, improvement was already showing. It was still frustrating seeing how slowly mortal children heal. He knew first hand how annoying it was to heal slower than everyone else. When he was young, being half human himself he used to get quite frustrated because he was the only one, besides his twin who would get sick. However, he still healed a great deal faster than a full-blooded human. Even Estel healed faster than those of the lesser men; being Dunedain of the most pure blood, well, almost pure, less the touch of elven.
He hoped he hadn't been too optimistic in his year guess. He looked at Mari's toes.
"Close your eyes, and tell me when you feel anything." Elrond asked. Mari closed his eyes and concentrated solely on his sense of touch. He wanted so much to be able to feel anything in his feet, but that hadn't happened yet. He still only felt anything until his ankle.
As he was thinking, he felt a slight sensation somewhere in his mind; he gasped and looked up at the elf lord. He saw that the Elrond was pushing down lightly on the top of his foot. His face broke into a grin. He had known his hand was there! He had felt it.
Elrond was happy to see the look of joy on the child's face. He had thought that he would begin to feel something in his feet soon; the initial swelling from the surgery had begun to go down, leaving the spinal cord an opportunity to reconnect and form the pathway back to the child's feet.
"Could you feel that?" He asked, guessing the answer. Mari nodded enthusiastically.
"Iknewyourhandwasthere!" He said excitedly in one breath. "I can feel something!"
Elrond smiled. "It's a start tiennith penn, it's a start."
"What does tiennith penn mean?" Mari asked; he had heard him called that by many people since he had been here.
Elrond smiled. "It means little one."
"Oh. How do you say friend?" He asked. Elrond looked at him inquisitively, "Mellon nin, means my friend."
Mari looked thoughtful for a moment. "That's what I thought. It's what Estel kept saying. Namárië mellon nin." He said looking to Elrond as though to ask him what it meant.
"He is saying farewell my friend."
Mari smiled and looked out the window again. Maybe he wouldn't be quite so alone here after all.
"This is where we leave you." Elladan said softly to the two human travelers. Patil and Halbarad looked to the twins. They had been riding side by side for nearly three hours, and they were now out of Imladris territory.
"Hannon le, mellyn nin." Came the reply from Halbarad. "Yes, thank you so much, I will always remember you and your kindness towards my family." Patil added.
With a smile the twins melted into the woods of Imladris behind them. It never ceased to amaze Patil how much these beings could disappear in front of his very eyes.
Patil and Halbarad walked along in companionable silence. Each one was lost in separate thoughts. Patil hardly noticed the way that the sun had changed position and was now to the west. Where had half the day gone? He would have never believed that they had been riding so far if it were not for the sheen of sweat on his horse's coat, and the slightly tired gait he carried.
Halbarad looked warily at the town they were approaching. His horse snorted and pulled to a stop. Patil looked over at his wavering friend. He followed his gaze to the town ahead, he had been so consumed in thought that he hadn't' even noticed that he was nearly home.
"What is it?" Patil asked. Halbarad glanced over to Patil. "I don't think that I should go any farther here." He said calmly.
"Why, you should stay for dinner at least, you have been traveling all day!" Halbarad laughed. "This was hardly 'traveling' I am quite alright sleeping out here. Besides, I would hate to tarnish your reputation with the townsfolk." Patil shook his head. What was he talking about? He was the most noble and decent man he had ever met. Then it dawned on him. The townspeople still thought the rangers, or Dunedain, as he now knew them to be, were ruffians of sorts and never to be trusted.
Patil nodded, and then as Halbarad had turned to leave, the question that had been on his mind from the beginning sprung from his lips.
"Halbarad, who are you?" Halbarad stopped dead in his tracks. He had heard this question before, and it threw him. He was usually asked this in a taunting or demeaning manner, but this was an honest question.
"I am the chieftain of the Dunedain." He gave the simplest answer.
"Yes, I know that, but you are so," He paused, trying to find the right word. "Noble. You are more like those elves than like us." He said finally.
Halbarad paused, easing his horse off the road.
Patil shook his head, and followed the man off the path into the woods.
"You must understand, that for my part, I do not mean to be so closed with everything, I am not used to talking to people much. I have a hard time trusting people."
Patil thought back to the very first time he had met the man. It seemed a world away. "A hunted man trusts no one." Patil said under his breath. Halbarad was shocked. He hadn't thought that the man would have been able to hear him say that.
"Why are you hunted?" Patil asked.
"Mr. Patil, have you heard of Elros?" Halbarad asked. Patil stared at him blankly.
"He was a Peredhil," Noticing Patil's blank stare, he clarified. "A half-elf, half-human." He said simply. "Anyways. He was a twin. His identical brother's name is Elrond." Halbarad paused. He smiled at Patil's gasp. "Elrond and Elros grew up Peredhil, but when they reached adulthood, they had a difficult choice to make. They had to choose, whether they wished to be elven, or human. Now for Elrond, he wanted to be the greatest healer of all, he wanted to learn the ways of nature. He was a lover of peace. Not that he wasn't a great warrior too, because he was, he just relished the ways of a healer more. So then, Elros, wanted to become a leader, he saw that the race of men was fractioned, leaderless and scattered about the world. He saw in himself the power to unite the race of men and turn it into a glorious kingdom. He chose to be human, and Elrond chose to be elven. Elros lived to be five hundred years old before he succumbed to old age. Elrond will never wither." Patil sighed. "That must have been the most difficult decision to make." Halbarad nodded, "it has been thousands of years since then, but I am sure the decision is still fresh in his memory." Patil was numb. Thousands of years ago, that was impossible to even imagine.
"Yes, so Elros was the founder of the Dunedain, he was the first high king of the Numinorian race. We are a hardy people who live a bit longer than most."
"You are royalty!" Patil was stunned. "Descended from royalty, not a direct link." He said waiving his hand.
"So how old are you?" Patil asked. "I am young yet, only fifty six years old." He said nonchalantly. Patil was stunned. "You look about twenty."
"Yes, I get that a lot." He said wryly.
"Thank you Halbarad, I am truly sorry that people perceive you and your elven companions the way that they do. You have helped my family, more than you can ever imagine, and you didn't even want anything in return. Thank you Mellon nin." He said fervently. Halbarad looked at him with a bemused expression on his face. He had never been apologized to before for the human race…it was a day of firsts.
"Glassen" He said smiling. "It was my pleasure." Patil smiled.
"Namárië, till we meet again." Halbarad said wanly as he shifted his weight in his saddle. His horse veered to the left fork of the path, and Patil stayed to the right. Patil turned to see the man ride into the darkness of the forest, but he had disappeared into thin air.
A/N: To those who reviewed the last chapter, thank you so much. I would really like to here from more of you though, according to the hit counter, only about 2 of those who have read chapter 8 reviewed it. I don't mind terribly, the reviews that I got were wonderful! However, I can only improve what I know I am doing wrong, and if you like what I do, tell me because then I will continue doing what I have been. Thanks, sorry to those who review, this is a bit like beating a dead horse (can you all believe I actually used that expression?) but nevertheless, hope you all liked it, and to any floaters who read this, hope you liked it too, and in the immortal words of the market baggers, "Thank you come again!"
