A/N: The next few chapters will be up in quick succession, hope you all like it. Gasp, I'm actually posting two chapters on time, in a row! That has got to be a first or something. Thanks to Liz, she's awesome! This chapter deals a lot with the passage of time, so where other chapters took place over the time frame of a day or so, this one takes place over the course of three weeks. This same concept will hold true for the next few chapters, as I cannot spend that much time talking about Mari's recovery. Thanks for understanding.
Disclaimer: I am NOT a doctor. I have NO idea if any of this stuff would work.
That being said I will tell you that the concepts behind the procedures and the medicines are real, and based off real procedures, however due to the fact that I needed them to work thousands of years ago, I have taken some liberties, and when I didn't know something I embellished a little bit. So, in other words, do NOT try this at home folks…lol, always wanted to say that. (If there are any doctors or such out there who spot an obvious infraction, please let me know! Thanks!)
Liz: Thanks for that. I know you already know what's going to happen…for like ever! But hope you enjoy it anyways.
Illeanah: Thank you! I'm glad you liked the families; I have a lot of fun writing them. I am slightly mean in that regard, I like to make them happy and then torture them later. It's like sandcastle syndrome; I like building the sandcastle, and then kicking it over. However, I generally build it up again; I don't like to leave them miserable! Lol. Thanks again for repeated reviews! They are awesome!
Jaffee Leeds: Thank you! I love to personalize Elrond, he is still a dad right? The boys are fun to write, and your right, there are very few women in this story, just her, and a later character, which we don't really see too much of anyways. Just out of curiosity (and risk of looking like an idiot…) what is a Mary-Sue, I have heard the term many times, and from the vehement response of many individuals, I am glad that my stories do not incorporate Mary-Sueness qualities…Thanks again for your repeat reviews; they mean the world to me!
Celegorm: Thank you for your opinions, I will not defend my story, as everyone in entitled to make of it what they will; only that I noticed that you yourself did not write anything, I wanted to read your works to be able to learn from a good example, and to my surprise there was none! I can only assume that you do not put your writing under this pen name due to retaliation of angered authors. I can understand your decision. I would love to see some of your stories; from the sounds of it they would be quite good. However, I have tried hard to proof read this chapter and hopefully I have rectified the situation. However if I have not I am sure you will let me know. Thank you and I hope that you enjoy the story, poor writing skills and all.
Slayer3: Thanks! Your reviews always make me smile! Here you have it MORE! Lol.
IwishChan: Thanks! (As I stuff caramels into my mouth, so yes, I understand sugar obsession, my opinion caramel apples are the best thing about fall!) I love making families so sweet and cozy, before I add heaps of angst that is! I figured that Estel and Elrond would have a rather pronounced bond, as they are father and son. I try to incorporate the family dynamics as much as possible. Thanks again for your repeated reviews! They are very sweet and wonderful to receive.
Nasuada Moon: Cookies, I love cookies. I have a bit in this chapter about raspberry pastries, does that count as a cookie…almost? Lol. Thank you very much for your review it made me very happy!
The Sheltering Willow: Thanks! I like that! I am glad to see my story has taken you in I do hope that the next few installments live up to the last ones for you, and maybe they will have even improved on themselves! Hope you continue to like it!
Estel awoke slowly to the sounds of the house waking around him. He could hear people mulling around downstairs and up. He looked out his window to see the sun had risen already higher than it normally had when he generally woke up. Throwing the bedclothes aside he scrambled out of bed, if he didn't move quickly he would be late for his lessons with Erestor, and that would not bode well for him, of that he was assured.
He changed as fast as he could into robes for the day and nearly ran out of the room.
"Estel, I was just about to wake you ion nin." Estel heard his Ada's voice from down the hall and skidded to a halt. Tuning around, he smiled. "Morning Ada, I think Erestor is going to murder me, I am quite late." Estel said with a lopsided grin.
"Do not worry; Erestor will not be angry in the slightest." Elrond said unconcernedly. Estel looked at his Ada with confusion. "But I will be quite late for lessons!"
Elrond smiled. "Erestor doesn't expect to see you in lessons today Estel, it's Sunday after all." He said suppressing a chuckle.
Estel thought for a moment, then realized to his chagrin that his ada was right.
"Oh right, well then I guess I'll be getting myself some breakfast now." Estel said looking at the floor. He shook his head as he began to walk down the hallway, he couldn't believe that he had forgotten entirely what day of the week it was!
"Ada, Mari hasn't been out of his room for a long time; couldn't he eat breakfast with us?" Estel said with bright eyes as they passed the corridor to the healing ward.
"Or has he already eaten?" Estel asked.
Elrond looked to his little boy he really was an intuitive person. "I do not believe that Mari has eaten yet, I think that Elladan has only just given him his morning medicine. I think you are right, I think he would love to come to breakfast with us." He said with a smile. They both changed course and headed to his room.
Mari was looking aimlessly out the large picture window in his room. He looked out into the meadow below and saw before his very eyes the form of three boys running amuck, racing horses into the docile basin where the crashing falls met the earth. He could almost hear their laughter, and there lighthearted taunts. He could see the rangy chestnut and small bay, they were his brother's horses, and a small pony was with them, he was riding, all by himself. He closed his eyes and felt the warmth of the sun on his shoulders and could almost feel the spray of the river kicked onto his legs by the pony's quick powerful stride.
Mari opened his eyes and looked around the room. To his dismay, he was no longer bounding in the deep river, or laughing jovially. He was alone, sitting up in bed propped up by pillows. He couldn't ride a pony, he couldn't run and swim in the river, his reality was as such, he was trapped in his own body; he only had his mind; that was his only respite.
He jumped a bit when he heard a soft knock on his door. He was surprised, he hadn't been expecting anyone. Elrond and his son Estel stood framed in the doorway, Estel smiled at him and waved energetically.
"Would you like to come to breakfast with Estel and me?" Elrond asked kindly.
Mari smiled, "Can I really?" He said happily, he was glad to be able to get out of his bed.
"Of course tiennith penn." Elrond said as he easily scooped up the tiny child in his arms.
Elrond, Estel and Mari left the small sunlit room. Mari was thrilled, it was the first time that he had outside of these walls since his arrival in this beautiful place almost two weeks ago. As he was carried down the hallway, he couldn't help but look around in sheer amazement at the enormity of his surroundings. Everything was on a grand and marvelous scale. The woodwork was dark, and intricately carved, he could see out the walled terraces and balconies, with vibrant green mosses dripping off the elegant rooflines that they walked under. Mari marveled at the fact that Estel merely walked along, oblivious to the magnificent beauty all around him that was completely unfathomable to Mari, had he not been staring it in the face.
The two pairs of footsteps were surprisingly silent as they walked down the sweeping double staircase. Mari's hand reached out to brush the polished, age-smoothened banister. The gleaming wood seemed to glow with an undying health, surpassing any craftsmanship he had seen in his short years. Mari liked it a lot; there was always something to be seen, some new yet undiscovered segment that was tantalizing to the senses.
Estel could tell that the boy was happy, he could see his eyes shining merrily, he understood why, having been trapped in the house for so long; he too knew what it was like to be a prisoner in of the healing ward.
Mari had never seen a table so large before. Estel sat in a next to the head of the table; Elrond placed him carefully in the seat next to Estel. Mari couldn't remember the last time he had eaten at a table, he was never allowed out of his room. It was too dangerous for him; he could, and often did have seizures at any moment. He looked over the empty table and looked around the large room. There was a large bowl in the middle of the gleaming wood. The morning sun hit the glass and sent it ablaze. Mari was transfixed.
Estel saw Mari looking at the bowl of fruit on the table, and spoke up. "Mari, did you want some fruit or something?" Elrond smiled at his son. "Estel, I think Mari just likes the bowl." Estel was confused, what was so great about the fruit bowl, the best part was what was inside the bowl…
Mari was watching the two talk; he didn't catch any of it, except the names. He wanted to know what they were saying, he was entranced by the different language, he hadn't really even known that not everyone spoke common.
Mari snapped out of his daze when he heard the door that he hadn't even noticed was there, opened slowly. A tall elf with kind eyes came into the room, with a smile and a nod. "Good morning Lord Elrond, Master Estel, and…"he broke off, looking to Elrond for the supply of the name of the little boy. "Good morning to you Gryson His name is Mari. He is here for healing." He said smoothly.
The elf nodded to the child. "Pleasure to meet you Mari." He said kindly in the common tongue.
Mari smiled, he liked this elf.
The elf placed the tray that he had brought out of the kitchen on the table; it was laden with delicious smells that were more than tantalizing to the child, who had never seen such things before.
Mari looked to Estel and saw the boy filling his plate with the delectable foods in front of them.
Mari plucked himself a melon slice and a pastry.
"Try the raspberry jam, it's the best." Estel said exuberantly to the boy sitting next to him. He knew that Mari would have no idea what the words meant, but he figured that by holding the small glass jar, it would be a good indication.
Mari took the jar from Estel's hands, and looked dubiously at the goopy contents. He took the spreading knife and smeared some of the jelly on his pastry, as he saw Estel do. When he bit into the soft flakey material, it was absolutely wonderful. He looked at the expectant face of Estel. He smiled and nodded his head, and then spread more of the sweet goop on the warm pastry.
After they had eaten, Estel was looking out into the sunlight gardens, he noticed the pallor pasty color of Mari's features; and then a thought occurred to him.
"Ada, can Mari come out into the gardens this afternoon, just for a little bit, he looks like he could use some sunshine."
Elrond heard his son's pleading question and smiled slightly to himself. He knew that the child really shouldn't be doing anything physically taxing, but then again, he also knew that child wouldn't be tempted, as he physically could not.
"Alright Estel, but just for an hour, his stamina has not returned, and he is very fragile." Elrond cautioned his little boy.
"I know Ada, I will watch him as though he were glass." Estel said with such seriousness that Elrond laughed. "I am sure you will tiennith penn."
Elrond looked at the child who had no idea what was going on, but was patiently watching the conversation, obviously trying to catch what they were saying.
"Mari, how would you like to sit in the gardens for a bit, to get some air and sun?" Elrond asked, guessing the reaction.
Mari's whole face lit up with happiness. Was he serious, was he actually going to get to go outside, with the trees and the flowers and all those other such wondrous things? He hardly dare believe it!
"Yea! I mean, I would love it!" he corrected himself, knowing full well that was how these people spoke, well, when they spoke in his language.
Elrond smiled as he looked at Estel, who was watching Mari's reaction with as much joy on his face as Mari. His son was a really kind soul; he loved making people happy, just to make them happy.
Elrond knew that he could not spend the day out in the gardens, as much as he wanted to, he had a stack of chores to attend to, all impatiently waiting on his desk.
He was relieved when he saw Elladan walk through the door.
"Elladan, would you mind watching these two younglings in the garden for a bit?" He asked, pleading with his eyes.
"Sure, but I have to be out with Glorfindel at noontime." He said quickly.
"Oh, you will be, Mari can only stay outside for a maximum of one hour." He said gratefully. "Thank you ion nin." He said as he departed.
"Dan, let's go!" Estel said, looking over to Mari.
"I understood that!" Mari said happily.
Elladan carefully scooped up the small child in his arms, and with Estel leading the way the three left the house for the sunlit walled garden.
Mari couldn't remember a time when he had felt so alive. He was no longer sulking, watching the days pass from behind a pane of glass.
Elladan carried Mari into the walled garden and placed him on the large wooden bench that offered a wide sweeping view of the blooms and flowers. The soft gurgling and splashes were heard from the nearby lily pool where the water, played with by the breeze, lapped the rocks that lined it. Mari could hardly believe it; he saw a frog, a real live frog hop into the pond from the cover of the tall grasses besides it. The magic of this place was almost tangible. He wished that his family could be here with him. It was such a wonderful place.
"I wish to come here everyday." Mari mused; he had spoken so softly that he didn't think anyone else would have heard him.
Estel and Elladan however both did. Estel met Elladan's gaze with a confused glance.
"I think that could be arranged tiennith penn." Elladan said quietly.
Mari whipped his head around, he couldn't believe that anyone had heard him and what was more, they were actually going to let him go outside!
"Estel how is your arm?" Elladan asked, when he noticed his brother was rubbing it.
"It's itchy! I don't like this cast, I wish it would disappear!" he grumbled good-naturedly
"Give it another few weeks; you only have what, three weeks left?"
Estel nodded, but to him, three weeks might as well have been a century!
Elladan looked at him with a look that clearly said that he knew exactly what the child was thinking.
"Is Estel complaining about his arm?" Mari asked amusedly.
Elladan nodded, impressed that the human child had been able to pick up on what they were saying.
"The more I hear that language the less strange it seems, it almost seems to make some sense at times." He said with a confused face, as though he wasn't really quite sure how to describe the sensation that he was experiencing. However, Elladan knew exactly what he was trying to describe. Elladan and Estel bounded around the garden, Estel trying to keep one step ahead of his older brother. Mari watched joyfully at the antics of the two brothers. It was a bit chilly truth be told, even though the sun was shining bright, he had not felt the bite of the wind in over a year's time, and forgotten how it could chase even the strongest sun away. He watched as Estel looked for his brother who had concealed himself very well, when his eyelids began to fall. They felt as though they were made of lead, and they were sinking, unbidden by him.
"Dan, Mari has fallen asleep!" Estel said in a voice that he knew would not wake the child, but any elf nearby could easily here. His brother appeared as though out of nowhere. "That does appear to have happened, it is just as well, he really shouldn't have been out this long."
Estel looked worriedly at his brother as he softly swung the child into his arms. "Is he alright?" Estel said, looking at the sleeping child.
Elladan nodded reassuringly to his brother. "He's fine, he just needs a little rest is all; he hasn't sat up that long in I am willing to bet a very long time."
Estel nodded, that made sense, he still worried about Mari though; he looked so pale. "Estel, would you be a big help and ask Tessa to lay a fire in the hearth, of Mari's room, and yours if they haven't already." Estel smiled and ran off up the path, that he could do, and if he was lucky, maybe there would be some raspberry pastry in the kitchens.
He took the back steps to the side door two at a time, his tiny feet barely registering a sound from their soft leather moccasins. He pulled open the wooden door that faced the gardens and entered into the family's private study, it was one of his favorite rooms. As he padded down the hallway he looked reflexively into the door to his Ada's office, it was open, but his ada was not inside. Estel shrugged his shoulders and kept going. He was so intent on getting to the kitchens for some pastry, no to see if Gryson would light a fire, he reminded himself, he didn't even notice the person he blew past.
"Easy master Estel, walk!" came a laughing voice from behind him. Estel turned to see the form of a good natured elf smiling at him. "Gryson! I have been looking everywhere for you!" Estel said in a rush. Gryson smiled at the child, who was panting rather heavily.
"And so it is that you have found me, what can I do for you?"
"Dan asked me to see if you were too busy to lay a fire in Mari's hearth, and if there wasn't one in mine, if when you got a chance to light one, he thinks it's going to be chilly tonight." Estel said raising his shoulders with each large breath he took.
"Of course master Estel, I believe Tessa laid your fire an hour ago, and the little child's was laid not but ten minutes before you came."
Estel smiled, "Thank you Gryson. Oh just out of curiosity, you wouldn't have happened to make any raspberry pastry this afternoon, would you have?" he said in what he hoped was an offhanded voice. The cook smiled slyly, "no master Estel, you know, I had no idea what I was going to make in the way of sweets this evening, but now that you mention it, raspberry pastry sounds delightful." He said with a grin.
Estel's eyes lit up in a way that only his could and he smiled at Gryson. "That sounds like a perfect idea." He said happily.
Mari could feel soft sheets beneath him. He opened his eyes to see the sun had now changed sides in the sky.
He closed his eyes; it had been such a good dream. Sometimes his dreams scared him, they felt so real. Even now, he could recall exactly how the large yellow rose blossom had smelt as he had held it under his nose. He could clearly feel the texture of the velvety petals, the way his thumb made a translucent mark in the flesh of the flower as he accidentally crushed one petal. Turning his head to glance at his bedside table, he saw in a tall fluted vase a single yellow rose, a one petal was displaced, a tiny indentation let the light through the bruised flesh. Mari reached his hand over to the fragrant blossom, and placed his thumb over the petal, it fit perfectly. Mari smiled; it hadn't been a dream after all. He really had been out into the air. He looked down at the river and laughed to himself; that was next he was sure of it.
Estel woke the next morning to the soft persuasion of someone tapping his shoulder and calling his name softly.
"Estel, wake up tiennith gwador. You have lessons to attend to this morning."
"Ro…it's far too early in the morning to even be thinking about lessons! None of the other elflings have to learn such mundane things!" Estel said around a wide yawn.
"None of the other elflings are the sons of the lord." Elrohir said with a chuckle, he could clearly remember himself saying the very same thing to his adar many centuries ago when he had to learn many languages, and cultures and the history of each.
Estel seemed to accept this answer; at least it got him out of bed. He really didn't want anything to do with moving!
"Can't I have lessons tomorrow?" Estel's muffled voice implored from beneath his heavy quilt.
Elrohir smiled. "Yes, you can, and will Estel; you have lessons almost every day."
Estel threw his covers back, with a slightly reproachful look at his older brother. Elrohir laughed at the sight of his tiennith gwador's face, and soon even Estel's face split into a grin.
"Will Mari join my common lesson again?" Estel asked when he pulled open the door to walk with his brother to breakfast.
"Yes, I think that is the plan." Elrohir said as the pair walked down the steps to the dining room.
Estel was sitting in the corner of the library, at the large table, in a plush leather chair. He looked aimlessly out the window, seeing nothing in particular. He could hear the words coming from Erestor as he spoke, but all he could think about was the fact that he only had a week left until he could get the infernal cast off his arm.
Mari had been coming down to the library every day for the past two weeks, he had been taking part in his common lessons, more like Sindarin lessons for him, since he already spoke common. He had progressed rapidly; he could carry on a rudimentary conversation as long as the words weren't too complex. He really seemed to absorb language like a sponge. Estel supposed that a large part of that was due to the fact that he was totally immersed in the language all day long, unless being directly addressed, and even when he was directly addressed, he heard it in Sindarin first, common second. He and Estel had been talking a little bit more, and the more Estel got to know Mari the more he liked the little boy. He was so different than him, and in some ways he was exactly the same. He had not had much experience with other children, elf or human, it was fascinating for him.
Estel was staring out the window of the library, wishing that the sun would move across the sky faster. He wanted nothing more than to be out of this prison that was class. He knew that Erestor was speaking to him, but he had no idea what he was saying in the slightest, as he was not speaking in the correct language. Common was something that he had already conceded defeat to. It was one thing to speak to Mari; his sentences were of such a structure that he understood them. However Erestor had taken to such complexities that he could not grasp, well, maybe he could have if he had been listing to start with, but his mind was already on the fact that he would get his cast off his arm today. That was the only important thing he needed to know.
Estel snapped to attention when some intelligible words were uttered by his previously incoherently babbling teacher.
"Estel! Are you even listening to me?" Erestor barked in Sindarin.
"I'm sorry Erestor; my mind is elsewhere I am afraid." Estel said apologetically. "I don't understand why I have to learn the common tongue, anyone I talk to will know what I am saying perfectly well if I speak in Sindarin anyways." He continued with a puzzled face.
Erestor sighed, "Estel, you are a human, and most humans speak common tongue. You will need to be able to converse with your kind."
Estel shook his head. "But I'm merely a simple orphan, what need will I have to leave the walls of my home and linger in the ways of a society I barely know? What will the world of men miss by not knowing me?"
Erestor shifted uncomfortably in his chair before answering the triumphant looking boy in front of him. "You are the son of the high lord Elrond, and men of great esteem sometimes come here, therefore it is of great importance that you learn the ways of there cultures. What kind of a message would that send if the lord's sons didn't even know how to converse with his guests? People might be under the impression that he thought their customs to be trivial and not worth knowing. That is why we must learn common." Erestor grinned to himself, he was immensely pleased with the outcome of that conversation He thought he handled a rather delicate and potentially dangerous situation very well.
"So, that brings us to the topic at hand. How would you address someone you have never met before?" Erestor asked, slipping back into his authoritative teaching voice. Estel sighed, and answered dully, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Mari had learned by now not to laugh at Estel's rather interesting attempts at pronunciation, and had likewise gotten very good at deciphering what it was the boy was trying to say.
"It is nice to meet you as well." Mari said back to him.
"Estel, do you have any idea what it was that you just said, or what Mari said back to you?" Erestor asked rolling his eyes.
"A little bit, I know it was about the same as well met, right?" Estel said hopefully.
Erestor nodded, it wasn't what he had hoped for, but it was a start.
The noonday bell rung from the main courtyard. Estel leapt from his seat, and Mari looked hopefully at Erestor, they were free!
Erestor closed the book, gratefully, on days when Estel was paying attention they could get a lot of good work done, but when his mind was wandering it was akin to dragging an unruly stallion around by the forelock simply trying to get a minimal response from the boy, but that was all children of his age.
A/N: Thank you all who read this chapter, hope you all liked it. I was very pleased with the response that I got for the last one; it would make my day if we could top that for this one. To my repeat reviewers, as always, this doesn't apply to you; I know you already are the best. To any new reviewers, your comments are so appreciated and to any lurkers, I hope you enjoyed the story and read the successive chapters. Thanks to you all!