Hello my friends, I like to say thank you to those who reveiwed my story, as you guys are the best for telling me how much you like my story.
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 10
When Elrond took off from the training field with the crying Estel in his arms, he couldn't stop thinking about what his Father and Mother-in-law just announced to the Lothlorien warriors, as Elrond certainly didn't expect them to claim Estel in front of their warriors as their grandson so soon. What made it even more surprising for Elrond was that the Lothlorien warriors accepted him so quickly, he had a bit of doubt at first at the Lothlorien warriors willingness to accept his son so soon. But as he looked over to his In-laws after their speech was made, he could see it in their eyes that their warriors were being genuine to accepting Estel as their Lord and Lady's grandson.
As Elrond was nearing the last homely house, he could hear elves coming up from behind him, Elrond glanced back to see who was catching up to him, and when he did, it turned out it was his family and friends all with concerned looks on their faces. Elrond was about to stop and ask what was wrong with them all, but as the crying with his baby boy got louder. He thought better of it, and hurryingly carried on till he at last got inside the last homely house.
Estel meanwhile wasn't a very happy baby, he was quite happy sleeping in his new Grandfather's arms a moment ago, until the Lothlorien elves woke him up that is. Estel ignored it the first time, because it didn't last that long and he was quickly rocked back to sleep thanks to his Grandfather. But he couldn't the second time, as he didn't expect it to happen again, so he woke up with such a start that he wet himself and started to cry, but he at least felt secure when he was back in his Ada's arms again. Not that he didn't when his Grandfather, Grandmother and sister held him.
When Glorfindel, Erestor, the twins, Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen finally caught up with Elrond. He was in the nursery putting Estel on his changing table, so that he could begin unwrapping Estel from his blanket.
"Adar, me and Ro will go and prepare Estel's baby bath ok," Elladan told him as he went inside Estel's bathing chamber.
"And Adar, we will bring the baby bath out here so it will be easier for you," Elrohir said as he followed his twin.
Elrond acknowledged what his twins had said, and it was only when he looked up from tending to Estel, did he notice the other elves in the nursery room with him. So he asked Glorfindel if he would go down to the kitchens and get a warm bottle of milk for Estel to have. He also asked Erestor if he would get a new cloth nappy and some fresh clean clothes from the chest of drawers for the little one to wear. Glorfindel and Erestor both agreed to what their Lord requested of them, so they set out to do the tasks that Elrond had given them to do.
"Adar if you like, I can see how dinner is coming along?", Arwen asked her Adar softly.
"Thank you Arwen, that is most kind of you to do that for us all," commented Elrond to his daughter, as he stripped off his son's wet clothes from his tiny body.
But before Arwen went to go check on dinner however, she told her Adar that it was no problem at all, as it gave her something to do. When she left to do just that, Elladan came out of Estel's bathing chamber with his little brother's baby bath, then Elrohir came out next holding a couple of towels and a wash cloth.
"Here you are Adar, one freshly made bath for Estel," exclaimed Elladan with a smile as he put the baby bath down on the floor by Elrond.
"I even put in some lavender bath oil in it for him Adar to help calm him down," Elrohir told him as he put the towels and wash cloth on his baby brother's chest of drawers, next to the clothes and cloth nappy Erestor had picked out for Estel.
Elrond thanked them, and was going to ask if they would like to help him with Estel, but, Erestor asked Elladan and Elrohir if they would come with him, as he needed their help with something in his office. It was a lie of course, but Erestor saw the longing and helplessness looks Celeborn and Galadriel were sending out to Estel, as they really wanted to help out with the little one in some small way. Elrond was no fool, as he just clocked what his Chief advisor was up too, for he too just saw his In-laws standing by, so he asked his sons if they would please go, and help out Erestor with his problem. Any other time, the twins would've saw through that lie, but because they were concerned for their baby brother they didn't, so with heavy hearts they left the nursery with Erestor.
After the twins left the nursery, Elrond, whilst taking off his son's wet nappy, asked Celeborn and Galadriel if they would like to bath Estel. But before they could answer him with a yes however, Glorfindel had come back into the nursery with the warm bottle of milk for Estel. The Captain of the guards felt like he just intruded on an important moment, so he said sorry for interrupting, and went over to place Estel's bottle of milk on a small table, that was next to a beautifully carved wooden rocking chair.
"Glorfindel no need to apologize, in fact you came right on time as I need your assistance with something important," Elrond informed Glorfindel as he beckoned his In-laws over to him.
"Celeborn, Galadriel, I take it as a yes that you would like to bath your grandson?", Elrond questioned with a smile to them.
"Yes Elrond you are correct," Celeborn said, as he took the softly crying Estel into his arms once more.
"Ok then, I'll be in my office with Glorfindel if you need us for anything," Elrond told them as he went to follow Glorfindel out the nursery door.
"Wait Elrond!," Galadriel called out to her Son-in-law.
"What is it Galadriel?", Elrond asked her as he stood in the doorway.
"Thank you, thank you Elrond for letting us be a part of Estel's life," Galadriel said to Elrond as she gathered him into a hug.
Elrond did nothing but hug her back, and nod to her, and to Celeborn over her shoulder to let them know his thanks as well, for accepting Estel as their grandson. They eventually both broke away from the hug, and went on to do their separate tasks.
"My love, would you like to hold Estel, while I wash him?", Celeborn asked his wife from kneeling on the floor next to Estel's baby bath.
"Yes I would love to Celeborn," she said with love in her eyes towards her husband and grandson.
So as Galadriel took the towels and wash cloth from chest of drawers, and brought them over to where her husband and grandson was. She, just like Celeborn, kneeled on the floor next to the baby bath and then took Estel from her husband's arms and into her own, while Celeborn picked up the wash cloth and started to bath Estel. For his part, Estel had stopped his crying, as he was being held and washed by his grandparents. Also the lavender bath oil was doing wonders for him to become more relaxed, as his grandparents took care of him.
Meanwhile, with Elrond and Glorfindel, they were just about to enter the hall that would lead them down to Elrond's office, when they caught sight of the twins and Erestor coming out of the library with a couple of books in each of their hands.
"Typical Erestor, if he's not being Mother hen to Estel, then he's head over heels in love with the library books," Glorfindel deadpanned.
Elrond just shook his head at Glorfindel's comment, as he knew that the blue eyed Balrog slayer wasn't much of a fan of the written word as himself and Erestor was. So he ignored what he said and called out to his twin sons and Chief advisor to come over to him. Erestor and the twins stopped walking back to Erestor's office when they heard Elrond call out to them, so they all momentarily put the books they were carrying onto a side table in the hallway, and turned around to see what Elrond wanted with them all.
"My Lord, is there something I can help you with?", Erestor asked him when he got to his side.
"Yes there is Erestor, so if you and the twins would follow me please, there is something important I need to discuss with all of you," Elrond said as he made his way to his office.
"Should we not wait for our grandparents and sister Adar?", Questioned Elladan as he walked beside his twin.
"I will tell them later Elladan, as this can't wait any longer," he told him briskly, as he continued on his way to his office with his sons and best friends in tow.
The small group of elves were silent after that, as they made their way down to Elrond's office. And Glorfindel, Erestor and the twins were thinking what could be so wrong that has got Elrond worked up like this. As they could tell by the look on his face, that it was something serious, but they only hoped it had nothing to do with Estel. When all five elves reached and went inside Elrond's office, did Glorfindel, Erestor and the twins demand what this important matter was all about, but before Elrond started explaining. He told them all to take a seat and get comfortable, as what he was about to tell them did concern Estel, and so they did, if only with a little bit of reluctance.
"Earlier today when I was taking Estel inside the nursery to get changed, I got a message from King Thranduil saying that he and his family would like to come to Rivendell in a few months time and...," Elrond started telling the worried elves gently, before he was interrupt by Elrohir's question.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you Adar, but what has this got to do with Estel?", Elrohir asked concerned.
"It has a lot to do with Estel, Elrohir because Thranduil's request to come to Rivendell concerns me because of his relations with humans, plus now that we have Estel here to think about, I'm just worried how Thranduil will take to having the little one living here with us, and I'm not just not sure how to reply to him," Elrond said with a sigh.
"But Elrond, surely your friendship with Thranduil and his family will not stop him from being prejudicial towards Estel?", Glorfindel questioned Elrond.
"It should Glorfindel, but Thranduil thinks what happened with Isildur at the last alliance, more or less cost him his Adar's Oropher's life, and I know he says he doesn't blame me for it, for if he did he wouldn't have allowed us or our family and friends to meet and get along," he continued softly.
"My Lord, what happened at the last alliance was tragic, but I don't think Thranduil will take whatever happened to Oropher out on Estel. Also, your friendship with him has lasted this long, so what does it matter that we have Estel in our lives?", The Chief advisor asked Elrond.
"Erestor's right Adar, Thranduil and his family will accept Estel just like our Lothlorien kin have done today. Also, our Mirkwood kin are already great friends with us, and have accepted us for being half-elven, so I say let them come, because who knows Adar, Estel might bring hope back into their lives, as he has done to ours," Elladan said with a smile.
Elrond just sat there and thought on what Glorfindel, Erestor and the twins had to say, he had to admit that although Thranduil didn't like humans very much, he did let them into his lands to trade and what not from time to time. Also from what Legolas has told the twins, Thranduil did get along with a few of them, if only to keep the peace. For King Thranduil was not a bad elf at heart, he is just carefully guarded on who he trusts, especially when it comes to humans. Elrond could understand that, as it took him a long time to gain Thranduil's trust and eventually his friendship. Their friendship became even stronger after what had happened to Thranduil's wife Vancarmiel, as she more or less suffered a similar fate as his wife Celebrian. And just like Celebrian, she sailed west to Valinor to be healed. The whole of Mirkwood was devastated when their Queen left for Valinor, no more so than her older brothers, her husband and their six children, who took it the hardest amongst them all. As Vancarmiel truly did live up to her name beautifully created, for not only was she beautiful on the outside, with her sparkling blue eyes and long platinum blonde hair, she was also very beautiful on the inside too.
It was thanks to her that led her husband to let humans in Mirkwood, as she reasoned to him that if the elves and humans both cut their hands, they would bleed the same color, so in that respect, they were not much different than the other. However, without Vancarmiel by his side, Thranduil became a lot more overprotective of his six children. It also took him a long time to let them out of Mirkwood, and when it comes to things like archery contests etcetera, Thranduil preferred them in Mirkwood than anywhere else. He means no offence to the other elven realms, it's just that Thranduil felt more at peace when he can see his children safe in Mirkwood with him. That didn't mean though that he and his family didn't attend Rivendell's and Lothlorien's events because they did. Just not him as much as his children, because after all, he did have Mirkwood to rule and his people to look after. Elrond was brought out of his musings about Mirkwood's King when there was a soft knock on the door.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you Adar, but I'd just thought I let you know that dinner is ready now," Arwen said from the doorway to Elrond's office.
"Thank you Arwen, we will be coming out now," Elrond told her, as he got up from his chair.
"But Adar, what about...," Elladan started to say but was quickly cut off by Elrond.
"We will discuss about this matter with your grandparents and sister another time Elladan, as for now though, let's go and have our dinner alright," he told his oldest son, as he went out to join his daughter in the hallway.
So with that said and done for now, Elrond, his children and his best friends all made the way down to the dining hall. Along the way they met up with Celeborn, Galadriel and a cooing Estel, who upon seeing his Ada and the rest of his family again, started waving his arms animatedly towards them from the safety of his grandmother's arms. The whole group of elves could do nothing but smile and laugh at Estel's antics, as they all made their way down to the dining hall. When they eventually got there, they were pleased to find their dinner already out for them, so they all took a seat except for Galadriel, as she put Estel in his bassinet that was left there from lunchtime. While Celeborn went briefly into the kitchens to drop off the empty baby bottle and Estel's used wet clothes.
"So have you been a good boy for your grandparents Estel?", Elrond asked his baby boy as he looked into the bassinet by the side of him. Though Estel, as if in response to his Ada's question, just smiled and waved his arms up and down at him.
"He has been wonderful Elrond, and he drank all his milk too," commented Celeborn, as he re-entered the dining hall and took a seat next to his wife.
"That's good to know, thank you for telling us Celeborn," Elrond replied back to his Father-in-law. Elrond said "us" because he knew that he wasn't the only one who wanted to know how well Estel had been for his grandparents. As proven when the other elves let out a happy sigh of relief.
The gathered group of family and friends then happily proceeded to talk about the today's events while eating their dinner, but it was mostly about Estel that they talked about, and every once in a while, one of them would look over to see if the little one was alright. Estel after a while seemed to sense what his family was doing, so every time his family members peered over to look at him, he rewarded them with a coo or a smile in their direction.
As dinner came to a close, Elrond decided now was the time to bring up Thranduil's request about coming to Rivendell to his In-laws and daughter, but first he needed some privacy to do so.
"Right, if can have all of your attention please, I would like you all to follow me to the family living room," Elrond said calmly, as he got up from the table and picked up the cooing Estel into his arms.
"Are we not going to the hall of fire tonight Adar?", Questioned Arwen.
"Not tonight Arwen, as I have something important to tell you and your grandparents," Elrond continued, as he then left the dining room.
"Well we won't find anything out by sitting here, so let's go," said Celeborn, as he got up to follow his Son-in-law.
After that announcement from Elrond, the rest of the elves all got up to catch up with him, and it didn't take them very long to do so, as Elrond was currently telling Lindir that if he would tell all elves that will be in the hall of fire, that neither he nor his family would be attending tonight. Lindir agreed to do it, so he went on his way to do his Lord's request. So with all of them together again, they made their way once more to the family living room. When they all got there, they all went inside and took a seat, and then waited until Elrond was seated with Estel to tell them what was so important.
"Alright Elrond, what's this all about?", Galadriel asked her Son-in-law.
Elrond went on to explain to his In-laws and daughter about the message about Thranduil's request to come to Rivendell, and what was said earlier between his twin sons and best friends. Also his concerns about whether Thranduil and his family will accept Estel or not. So after Elrond had finished explaining it all to them, did his family voice their opinions.
"I agree with what the others have said Adar, Thranduil and his family will love Estel just as much as we all do," Arwen said to her Adar with an encouraging smile.
"Evenstar is right Elrond, Thranduil will not let what happened in the last alliance discourage him, or his children from getting to know Estel," Celeborn told his Son-in-law confidently.
"Alright then, I'll send out a message to Mirkwood to say Thranduil and his family are more than welcome to come to Rivendell, but I just hope that you are all right about them accepting Estel as my son," Elrond said to them all.
I'm going to leave it there for now my friends, but don't worry, the next chapter will be up soon I promise. I hoped you liked how I portrayed Thranduil and his family, and I also hope you liked that I mentioned in a wife for him. And as for Thranduil's wife, I've chosen the name Vancarmiel, for two reasons. And they are, one, I can't find the name of Thranduil's wife, so I've given her that one, and two, I really like the name. So, until the next time my friends please review my story.