A New Love

By: Eleniel

Rating: PG 13

Warnings: None

Summary: AU. What would have happened if Celebrían had been rescued in time? Arwen never resided in Lórien. Estel resides with two foster-parents instead of one. The twins never lost their innocence. The future of Middle-Earth is altered forever, and we can only watch its inhabitants attempt to adapt.

Spoilers: None.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine. If you don't recognize it, it probably is mine. If it is mine, it is copyrighted. I don't steal; I expect you not to. I'm not getting paid for playing in anybody else's toy box. Reader's donations are accepted, though...*wink*

Feedback
: Rowen_Chan at hotmail dot com (or the review button tends to work well…well, usually).

Italics= thoughts, prayers, anything spoken silently. Could also be flashbacks. You will usually be able to tell fairly clearly which is which. If there is confusion, please email me, and I will let you know.

I am going to start making large leaps in time – six months have passed since the last chapter; at least six more will pass before the next (in the fic, not in RL…in RL about three years have passed…). I think four chapters of baby-Aragorn is plenty, don't you?

Please remember that young Estel is based on what my little Goddaughter acted, spoke, and thought like at that age. Her speech was impeded but advanced, as is Estel's – he's Númenorean after all, so he should have skills over plain old man.

Wow! I actually updated! YAY!

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Estel screamed with pure delight, struggling in Celebrían's arms.

A tan puppy stood in front of him, firmly attached via a leash to Elladan's hand. The animal had a black streak along its back and nose and stood about half as tall as the toddler himself.

It was Estel's third birthday and, wanting to do something special for the boy, his new family had arranged to get him his puppy back.

"MY DOGGY! MY DOGGY!" Estel shouted. Celebrían laughed lightly, releasing the child.

He ran towards the puppy, which skittered nervously out of his way, but Estel turned surprisingly quickly for one fo young and chased it down.

As the dog jerked abruptly to the end of its tether, Celebrían and Elladan spoke at once, admonishing the boy.

"Estel, do not chase the puppy!" Even as they chastised the child, they smiled. It warmed their hearts to see him so happy.

Estel stopped short, looking at the Elves. The puppy pulled on its leash in front of him, trying to get away from the exuberant toddler. It had been six months since the dog had seen the child and it obviously did not remember him.

As the dog stopped squirming to lick at itself, Estel took the opportunity to lunge at it once more, grabbing it by the tail and yanking it back harshly across the snow-covered stone of the courtyard. The dog yelped but did not bite, showing a remarkably good sense of humor for a puppy of nine months who had not been exposed to many small children.

Estel wrapped his arms fully around the dog as soon as it was within reach, trying hard to lift it. He only managed to get its front feet off the ground, but he dragged it forward anyway.
"Wook nana, my doggy! I gotta feed her and den we can pway an', an', an'…" He ignored the Elf Lady's scolding, keeping a tight hold on the puppy as he walked towards her. The dog's back feet scrambled madly as it squirmed uncomfortably. Suddenly, Estel coughed, hard, the sound ringing through the air. He made a face and spit out a wad of green mucus; the Elves exchanged worried looks over his head.

"EEEEEWWWW!" Estel wrinkled his nose in disgust as he wiped mucus from the puppys' coat with mittened hands.

In fact, Elladan noticed, his breathing seemed a little wheezy and his face was flushed. Something was wrong. He pried the boys' hands from the puppy, letting the creature drop onto all fours once more and handing the tether to a servant.

"Come, Estel, we must go tell ada about your puppy," he said cheerily, the concern in his eyes completely missed by the protesting little boy.

"I gots to feed Loki!" the child's voice was urgent. "She's hungwy!" Elladan carried him inside assuring him that the servants would care for the dog until they saw ada.


"He has pneumonia. Why, for goodness' sake, did you let him take his coat off outside, with snow still on the ground?" Elrond berated his eldest as he examined Estel, putting his sharp Elven ear to the boys' chest and listening for a moment.

"I honestly did not see him, ada. Then, he felt hot, so I thought to let him cool down a bit before I had him put it back on…" Elladan had never had much experience in caring for three-year-olds and he frowned, shifting uncomfortably under his father's glare.

"And that is how he caught pneumonia."

"I suppose, ada –" before Elladan could say more, Estel interrupted, his small voice somewhat whiny.

"I no feel good, ada…" he stated quietly, his face flushed and yet somehow pale. He sneezed violently, once, twice, three times, mucus dripping from his nose. "Adaaaaa," he whined, "I wan' Ahwen an' nana."

"I know, Estel. Nana and Arwen will come see you after your nap," Elrond replied, picking the little boy up off the white linen sheets and wrapping him in a blanket. Estel seemed to accept this, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he laid his head on Elrond's shoulder.

The Elf patted Estel's back, singing softly as he walked circles around the small sickroom. Estel closed his eyes.

After a short nap, Estel awoke to a hand upon his forehead.

"Estel, little one, wake up. Ada has some medicine for you," a soothing, melodic voice drew the boy back to consciousness. He opened his eyes to find Celebrían sitting on the edge of his bed. He noticed he was back in his bedroom, in his newly-made big-boy bed.

"Nana!" he exclaimed, and was immediately seized by a fit of coughing. "Nana, I no feel good," he said miserably. Celebrían touched his face gently, smiling.

"I know Estel; ada will help you get better," Celebrían spoke softly and soothingly, gathering the boy into her arms as Elrond entered the brightly-colored room, stepping over toys and stuffed animals.

"Here, Estel, this will make you feel better," Elrond offered a small cup of tea to the boy, who promptly refused it, knocking the cup from Elrond's hand. Elrond sighed.

"Estel, if you do not take your medicine, you will not be allowed to play with your doggy," Celebrían admonished as Elrond poured another cup of tea. The toddler shook his head.

"No care!" he spit venom as the tea was offered once more.

"Estel, stop this. Take your medicine."

"No!"

"Estel!!"

"No!"

Elrond shook his head as he held the second cup. Estel had his hands clamped quite firmly over his mouth, shaking his head wildly.

Celebrían intervened, "Child, please take your medicine, for nana. If you drink it swiftly I will get you a drink to wash it down with and you may have a treat." Estel did not take the bribe, keeping his hands clamped over the lower half of his face. Both Elves sighed heavily, glancing at one another briefly. This was getting very old, very fast.

Finally, after several more attempts, Elladan, who had been standing quietly in the background, took the boy from his mother. He took the cup of tea from his father, pinching Estel's nose with one hand and putting the tea to his lips with the other. Estel struggled for a moment, but opened his mouth to take a breath. Elladan hated to do this to the little one, but he had to take his medicine and there seemed to be no other way.

Estel swallowed the medicine, mouthful by mouthful. He was crying by the time the cup was empty, and Elladan felt wretched. He laid his cheek on top of Estel's head, making soothing noises and walking in circles around the small exam room.

Estel sniffled, his tears eventually drying. Elladan smiled down at him.

"It does not always have to be that way, Estel. If you take it willingly, we will not have to force you to. I did not enjoy that little brother, and I know you did not either. The medicine tasted bad, but I think it will not taste as bad if you swallow it without a fight and get a drink of water or juice afterwards." Estel nodded, turning a shy smile on his brother before burying his face in the Elf's tunic.

"I pway wif' my doggy now?" he asked, his voice muffled by the cloth. Elladan laughed.

"No, Estel, you are sick. I will bring your doggy in so she may lay with you, but you must do just that - lay and rest. All right?" he said, putting the child down before he left to get Loki.

When he returned, the boy was asleep once more. The dog jumped on the bed to lay beside him, and Elladan wished he could have had an artist draw the two as Estel's hand curled firmly in the animal's fur and the dog laid with his nose to the little one's forehead.

Estel took his medicine willingly, if grudgingly, for the next week or so as he continued to improve. It was not long before he and Loki were running through the halls of Imladris, chasing one another.


The dog's name means 'dragon' in Elvish.