Disclaimer: Tolkien owns LOTR.

Author's Note: Sorry for the update delay. Work has kept me busy as well as helping my mom out at home over the summer. Your reviews make me smile!! 

Chapter 9

"Hold still, ion nin!"

Estel stilled his fidgeting momentarily as his father once more began cutting away the cast that had adorned his arm for the past two months. As soon as it was off the first thing Estel did was scratch feverishly away at his pasty colored arm. He paused his scratching and made a distinct 'Ewww' face at how thin and pale his arm had become from lack of sunlight.

"Now Estel, you must still be careful. Just because it is off, does not mean you are completely healed. Your arm is still weak from lack of use, so you and I will go through exercises so that it may regain its old strength."

"Thanks Ada!"

Estel hugged his father and then scampered off to find his brothers.

Elrond could only grin and shake his head, wondering what mischief his elder sons recruited his youngest into. Hopefully the Elf Lord was not their next prank target.

He turned and went back to straightening the surgery room thankful of supplies flowing in abundance. Hopefully his neatly stacked and highly abundant supply cache would not be depleted for another good month or two.

Estel meanwhile was searching the house for his two brothers but could not find them in all the usual places they would be. He beseeched the aid of Erestor to help look until the advisor was called away to help in the library. Nearly every person he came into contact with could not remember seeing them. He bumped into a servant on his way to the kitchens and they suggested he look in the blacksmith shop.

Nope…they weren't there either. Estel stood and watched with fascination as the elf smith hammered out an artfully crafted spear head before leaving him to work in peace. He checked the family stables and the stable master told him to try the village marketplace that was nestled a way below the Main House.

He thanked him and resumed his search.

Estel felt a little nervous venturing to the common place of his father's haven. Elrond had warned his son to be careful, for there were some elves that disliked humans. The thought frightened him but they were few from what his brothers had told him. Most of the elves that resided in Rivendell came to know and love the little human child and treated him as one of their own.

As he was waving a greeting to one of the shopkeepers he forgot to watch where he was going and bumped into someone. Estel fell down, noticing as he did so that his father had been right about his arm being a little weak.

He apologized before looking to see who it was and the blood in his veins turned to ice when a voice followed by a face hovered in front of him.

"Look who we have here, little Estel venturing to the common side. Won't daddy be missing you, human filth?"

Findor….and Lindon

"Now that you are on OUR side of town, why don't we give you a little tour," Findor crowed, as a dark light consumed his eyes before quickly winking back out, before Estel had the time to notice.

Findor growled menacingly while roughly hauling the young boy up by his arm. Fortunately, neither of the two had noticed that Estel's cast was missing and Estel had the right mind to keep quite about it.

Lindon and Findor both guided Estel through the busy marketplace street. Many that knew the three smiled and called out greetings, none of them alarmed that anything amiss was taking place. After all, what was so alarming about three youngsters running off to play?

Whispered threats stilled Estel from crying out to anyone or looking like something was wrong. He plastered a fake smile on his face wishing fervently that someone would see through it. No one did.

Estel was trying very hard not to panic. The sounds of the marketplace were growing fainter as they left that part of town. They passed other dwelling places that seemed mostly abandoned since everyone was out working or on patrol.

Numerous times the boy attempted to wriggle free of his captor's iron like grip on his shoulder but failed every time, receiving a rough shove from behind in warning.

Once they were out of view from any prying eyes the three walked in relative silence with the exception of an occasional insult from one of the two bullies. As they kept walking further away from the densely crowded areas of the haven towards the training fields, Estel remembered his combat lessons.

As Findor laughed after calling him something nasty in Quenya (a language he had yet to learn), Estel elbow jabbed the elder boy in the gut knocking the breath out of him, dodged Lindon, and ran as fast as he could back to the village.

He heard shouts of dismay and furious cries float from behind him as he sped away. After a few minutes of running he groaned in despair. Estel could feel his body aching and his lungs burning for air. Why did he have to be human?? Now that he was tiring out, it would only be a matter of time before they caught up to him.

He made it to the outskirts of the village and dodged erratically around and between dwellings hoping they had not spotted him yet. He was nearly to the busy marketplace arena when a body tackled him from behind without warning, sending him sprawling roughly to the ground. The object on top of him pinned him mercilessly.

He felt a fist collide with the back of his head and his forehead connected solidly with the earthy road with a 'thump' and pain exploded in his skull. Dazed and still out of breath, he was roughly hauled to his feet and Findor grabbed the front of his tunic and slammed him against the nearest stone wall.

Estel cried out as once again, his abused head struck another hard object.

Findor growled and kept the human pinned against the wall. He knew that his cover had almost been blown and decided to end any future complications.

"Don't tell anyone about this…or I will make sure your precious brothers will be out on patrol permanently."

After seeing a confused expression flit across the younger boy's face the bully rolled his eyes and elaborated.

"It would be a shame if they ran into a battle and found that they had faulty weapons. Bow strings are strung wrong all the time. And some people's swords get dull too," Findor grinned evilly trying to paint a brief picture in the boy's mind.

"My brothers always check their weapons before going on a patrol. Even if you DID do something to their weapons, they would just borrow someone else's or take one from an orc! That just proves my brothers are far smarter than the likes of you!!"

Findor snarled angrily and banged Estel roughly against the wall a couple of times. Then a most sinister threat wove wickedly around his brain and the light in his eyes flickered as he considered the possibilities.

"You know, it would be so sad to wake up one morning to find that one of your twin brothers had been poisoned during the night..."

Fear flashed in Estel's eyes but he remembered Glorfindel's instruction and reined it in. His lesson floated back to his memory, like a voice upon the wind. Estel, NEVER show your enemy that you fear them! That is what they want! When you show them your fear, they will devour it and use it against you.

"And you know what they say about Elf twins…if one dies, so will the other. From a broken heart!" Findor's delivered threat struck home as Estel's eyes widened and he stopped squirming in his grasp.

"You wouldn't," Estel whispered.

"Why wouldn't I? That is, if you tell someone about our little 'tour' today."

Although, frightened, winded, pained, and outnumbered two to one, his fighting spirit flared to life and he kicked his tormentor in the shin and managed to stumble away from him. He screamed for help until Lindon managed to subdue him. He kicked and did all he could do to fight back until a well placed punch aimed for his gut made him double over in pain.

Just as Findor raised his hand to strike the young human boy across his face, a strong hand held his wrist firmly in place above his head.

Lindon had long since released Estel since seeing the newcomers and Findor in an outrage wrenched his arm free and whirled around prepared to fight off the newcomer. He was struck speechless when an unfamiliar elf clothed in royalty towered over him.

"Is there a problem here? If so, I will gladly take you before Lord Elrond," the newcomer frowned in displeasure.

Right behind the frowning Elf, stood a small band of Elven warriors, clothed in green. One of them stepped forward and addressed the one that still held the elfling in a death glare.

"Is everything well, Prince Legolas?"

"P-prince??" Findor's face paled considerably and he gulped.

Both bullies stiffly bowed, remembering some of their lectures and proper protocol if ever to face royalty, both of them terrified out of their minds for a moment since no one received warning that any royalty was scheduled to arrive, until later that year.

Legolas smirked, grabbing the bully's arm and leaned in close to him and whispered something that only the one being addressed could hear.

Findor blanched and his eyes widened and he shook his head in the negative. Legolas released him and Findor turned heel, grabbing Lindon, and the two fled the scene.

Estel squinted against the light that was blinding him for a moment and felt a gentle pair of hands setting him back on his feet. The boy did his best to dust himself off and then remembered hearing that a Prince was somewhere in front of him and began to bow when that same gentle hand pushed him upright and a soft, warm voice graced his ears.

"You have no need to bow to me, Estel Elrondion."

"You, you know me?"

A mischevious grin appeared on the fair haired Prince and he suddenly reminded Estel of his brothers.

"Your brothers were the ones to inform me personally."

Estel winced as Legolas examined his head.

"We must inform your father of what has transpired here."

"NO!"

Estel shouted a little too forcefully.

"Estel, I saw that bully beating you up myself! Your father must know."

"They weren't beating me up…we were practicing," Estel rushed to the defense of his abuser.

Legolas gazed long and hard at the boy before questioning him again.

"Practicing?"

"Yeah, they are my training classmates and we were taking turns practicing real life situations, so you can't get them in trouble."

"Why ever NOT?!"

"It was my turn to be the victim. I still need practice…Glorfindel said so himself," Estel lied elaborately through his teeth, putting on the most sincere innocent face while rubbing his sore head.

Suspicion was still written all over the Elf Prince's face until he nodded and finally consented.

"We must see Lord Elrond. I am here to deliver an important message from my father."

Estel grinned and began trotting back up the hill towards the marketplace and the Last Homely House beyond.

Legolas frowned after the boy had turned away. The wood elf knew the child had been lying. He could feel it. Why did the child defend his tormentor? Why was he so quick to lie about it? The whole matter just didn't sit right with him.

His light smile bloomed back into being when the boy turned to beckon that they follow. The prince and his escort gladly obliged.

Two days had past since Legolas' arrival. Estel had found out that his brothers were called out on an emergency patrol from the local Rangers. He narrowly avoided running into his father after he had directed the prince to his study. His bruises did not go unnoticed by Glorfindel however and the boy had been thoroughly questioned. Estel, remembering the threat that hung over his brother's head's, lied a second time through his teeth and nearly had the Balrog Slayer convinced.

"We were just practicing to get ahead for your next lesson. Honest, Glorfindel! I thought it would be good extra practice, anyway."

Glorfindel pondered the reason a moment and then he gently held Estel's weak arm up, his face growing dark.

"You foolishly agreed to go straight to practice with a weak arm?"

"No…I mean yes! I did and I'm sorry. I won't do it again!"

"I hope for your sake that you will not. You are one of my best students Estel. You have a quick and clever mind. Do not be like your brothers, always rushing into things without thinking!"

Glorfindel released Estel and dismissed him, debating whether he should tell Elrond or not. Then a wicked gleam entered his eyes when he realized that the boy would have to do physical therapy with his father sooner or later. And when that happened, Elrond was sure to notice the bumps, cuts, and bruises that covered his son from head to toe. No one…No one could lie to the infamous Elf Healer.

Glorfindel decided he would be there to see what happened. If by some slim, miraculous chance, the boy managed to fool the wise and ancient lie detector with some cleverly constructed story, the Balrog Slayer would catch him in the act.

Estel was finally summoned to his father's healing wing for exercises. Legolas and his escort had all been taken care of the previous day and they rested in the haven to refresh themselves after such a long journey.

Estel took his time getting there, formulating all sorts of lies that could convince his father but coming up short every time. A cold sweat began to cover his entire body at the realization that he had never been able to lie to his father before. Lying to other people was one thing…lying to his father was next to impossible. If Elrohir and Elladan had never been convincing enough in the past…what on all of ARDA made him think that HE could get away with it??

Oh crap! OH CRAP! What am I gonna do?? Say that I fell off a bridge? I accidentally tripped and fell over a waterfall? I accidentally tripped over my own feet and took a tumble down some stairs…yeah that's good.

Estel was nearly there and his throat constricted, choking him and his palms were sweaty from nervousness. If he didn't somehow manage to trick his father with a quick lie then Findor might kill Elladan or Elrohir. Their lives were on the line and if he failed here and word got out that his father knew he had been beat up then there was no knowing what might follow.

Oh crap…I'm practically there! What-do-i-do-what-do-i-do-what-do-I-do???

In his panic Estel stopped cold in his tracks and then turned to flee in the direction he had just traversed when he ran into someone.

"Estel! I'm so glad to see you on time."

Dread, fear, and total adrenaline squeezed his heart and lungs until he felt nauseous.

OH CRAP!! IT"S ADA!!

Estel managed a very weak sounding, nervous laugh and immediately shut up before he could completely blow his cover. The "What-Do-I-DO?" mantra picked up on hyper-drive inside of his skull, successfully drowning out whatever his father was saying to him.

His anxiety and fear shrieked through whatever bond he had with his father because Elrond frowned, looking concerned and stopped his complete entry into the healing rooms.

"Estel? Are you alright?"

He tried to reply but the only sound his constricted, panic induced vocal cords managed to produce was a terrified squeak.

"Son, I assure you that these exercises will not hurt in the least."

Estel forced himself to be calm and managed to force a weak smile and nodded his head.

His father sat him down on a large examining table and Estel immediately took notice of "The Look". He gulped in apprehension as his father swept back bangs from his face and really panicked when his father's expressions changed too rapidly to keep track of.

The slowly fading bruise that covered his son's forehead did not escape his attention. What other injuries still escaped his notice?

"What happened to your head?"

"I-I-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-I," Estel was fear locked into repeating that only letter as his locked up brain tried to remember anything to get him out of it. Unfortunately, in his panic stricken state, the boy failed to notice that he was hyperventilating and promptly passed out on the table.

Elrond frowned and sighed heavily looking up at the ceiling as if the answer would be found there.

He got a cold washcloth and rung water out over Estel's face and the boy spluttered and shot back up, swaying dizzily.

Elrond more than curious to know what was going on held his son upright and looked into his unfocused eyes.

"Estel, what is wrong? You have no need to fear."

Estel shook his head trying to clear his oxygen deprived brain and for a moment forget where he was and why he was there.

"What?"

"Do you know who I am," Elrond questioned.

"I hope so."

"Stop being humorous and answer my question!"

Estel flinched and slumped back turning to look away from his father's frustrated expression.

"I'm sorry, Ion nin. I just need to know what is troubling you."

When silence greeted his ears, Elrond tried a different approach.

"Why don't you first start by telling me how you acquired the bruise on your head?"

Estel frowned in confusion and reached up to touch his head and as he did, a sleeve fell revealing a rainbow dotted arm.

"AH-HA!" Elrond crowed in triumph.

"And where in all of Arda did you obtain THESE?!"

Estel inhaled a sharp intake of breath and his eyes widened as the memory of what happened to him, along with the threat on his brother's lives came flooding back.

He glanced down at the bruised arm ensnared in one of his father's hands and breathed out a profane dwarvish curse that did not escape Elrond's hearing.

"ESTEL ELRONDION!!" Elrond thundered in outrage.

Estel screamed and tried to escape his infuriated father but he was yanked back and held tightly in his strong arms.

"Where did you learn such horrendous language? Hmm? SPEAK!!"

Estel quit his squirming and slouched in defeat, now hanging like a rag doll in Elrond's arms.

"Elladan said that was a word you tell a dwarf when saying "Good-bye".

"HE WHAT?!!"

Elrond regained his composure and sat Estel back down and looked him in the eye, his voice softer.

"You must never say that again or any other. Do you understand?"

"Yes ada," Estel had tears brimming in his eyes, feeling truly ashamed at having done something wrong and embraced Elrond whispering a heartfelt "I'm sorry" before his father could continue to reprimand him.

"All is forgiven…however the same might not be true for Elladan when he returns," Elrond growled.

"Now back to the subject. What happened to your arm and your forehead? And what else are you hiding from me?"

Estel moved his lips about to say something but all rational thought fled as he found himself right back where he started.

"I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!!"

Estel jumped off the table and fled out of the healing wing, only to feel his feet lose contact with the floor as a rough but gentle hand picked him up by the back of his tunic.

"What have we here? An escaped patient? Lord Elrond will be very pleased indeed to have you returned to his tender, loving care," Glorfindel snickered.

"LET ME DOWN!!"

"Oh, I don't think so."

Estel pouted as he was once again deposited in a heap on the examination table in front of his truly baffled father.

"Look at what the Balrog Slayer dragged in," Elrond grinned evilly down upon his son who now had a real reason to be frightened. He would not allow him to escape the second time.

"Look what I found scampering down the hallway…can I keep him?" Glorfindel smirked.

"HEY! Two to one isn't fair Ada…you said so yourself!"

"The rules have been altered…there is no escape my son."

"Now I think it best to tell your father what happened," the Golden one piped in.

Elrond raised an eyebrow wondering what tall tale had been spun for the Balrog Slayer.

Estel panicked, trying hard to remember what exactly he had said the first time to Glorfindel. He figured he'd elaborate with a new one that tied in with the old one.

"I was running in the house even though ada told me not to and I tripped over my own feet and fell down some stairs and fell over a waterfall and then when I got back I tripped and fell into Findor and Lindon and we both decided to play so we got a little rough because we wanted to practice for Glorfindel's next lesson and it was my turn to be the victim so that is what happened and how I got bruises on my head and my arm," Estel rushed headlong hoping they would buy it.

The two elders stood with identical expressions of shock and then after a quick glance at one another Elrond shook his head sadly.

OH CRAP!! WHAT DID I TELL THEM??!!

Estel tried to recount what his panicked mind had forced his mouth to gush and paled considerably at the blatant lie he had just spilled.

Yrch…I am SO DEAD!! Not just me…but Elladan and Elrohir too. Findor is going to get in trouble when Ada makes me tell him the truth…Estel shuddered at the thought of being forced to drink a truth potion and resumed his fragmented thinking…there is no way out of this one!

Elrond took that cue to utter his total disgust.

"My son, if you are going to lie to me the least you could do is take considerable time to try to spin a clever one!"

"Ada, I…"

"NO! I will hear no more of this. I want the truth and ONLY the TRUTH right now," Elrond's no-nonsense-I'm-dead-serious-about-this-up-chuck-the-real-story-or-you-will-be-sorry tone of voice and expression made Estel's stomach turn sour.

Before Estel could utter another word the last person on Arda he had ever imagined came to his rescue.

"Lord Elrond! I could not help but overhear and I can safely vouch for young Estel. I saw with my own two eyes that Estel was in fact with two others."

"Legolas! Are you certain?"

"Yes, Lord Elrond. My party and I stumbled upon the three rough-housing and Estel's story…at least a part of it…rings true," Legolas testified.

Estel breathed a sigh of relief and leaned warily into his father's chest.

He was saved!

Estel knew he owed Legolas big for this.

TO BE CONTINUED!!

Thanks to all you reviewers, I appreciate every one of you!! YOU MAKE ME SMILE!! 