A/N: Hello y'all, I know, I know, I am more than slightly late…darn, knew I couldn't keep up with the trend of being on time or even gasp Early! That would have been far too uncanny! Oh well. Let me first say that I was absolutely thrilled with the fact all of you cared enough to give me 10 reviews this past time. It made me so very happy! I really hope you all appreciate this chapter as much and send your thoughts along. And to any of you Harry Potter movie fans out there, (I'm more bookish myself, but I take what I can get…) 7 DAYS! Ha, just had to through that out there.

Liz: Of course you found my typo, AFTER the fact! Lol, ya know I luv ya! Yeah, Mari is defiantly feeling a whole lot better and it's not a moment too soon! Ya, we really do need to pay attention in class. I fell asleep in math yesterday and thought of you! Hope you like this chapter…again…Ha!

Ithil-Valon: Thank you! I was so glad to hear from you! Your reviews mean so much to me especially since you are such a great writer! I'm glad you like little Mari, as he will not really be going away any time soon. I'm so glad that I have not totally botched the whole childhood thing, I find myself thinking all the time, what would I have done…and inevitably I can't remember, so I guess! Thanks, and hope you like this chapter as well.

IwishChan: Ha! Yes, Estel is not so happy with the whole idea of lessons; Mari likes it…for now! (I think the little scholar will bore of the novelty soon!) Although Erestor is indeed more fun than most of my teachers have been! Lol. Thanks so much for the repeat reviews, hope you continue to like the story.

Illeanah: Yes, it is indeed the lull before the storm, you see, there is a slight problem with this fic, it has to span a very broad space of time. There are things that I need to accomplish before I can logically get to the better part in order for it to make sense. For one thing, Mari needs to become fluent in elvish, he also needs to learn to, well, can't say that till later lol. There are also some other characters I need to introduce. I couldn't just jump into the story without laying the back-story, although I kind of wish I could. Lol. I really want to get to the FUN part! Muwhahaha. Hope you like this chapter, as it is different than any other thus far.

Slayer3: Ha, your reviews always make me happy! Heeheehee Here you go, MORE!

Lyn: Thank you on your observation. I am as I have stated, not a doctor by any stretch of the imagination. All that I have to go by is my dog, who is epileptic, and he has grand mal seizures and we have to give oral injections of valium. I think that unconscious is probably not the best term, as he was conscious, but in a pre-seizure state, like I have witnessed in my schipperke. When he is in that state, if you massage his throat as you slowly and very carefully allow the liquid in his mouth, watching very carefully that he does not aspirate any of it, the massaging of this throat will induce the swallowing reflex, I don't know if that is just dogs, just dogs having seizures, or even just him. This is as good a time as any to re-affirm, I am NOT a doctor, PLEASE do not try any of this, none of it is real! Thanks for your review and I hope you like the rest of the story!

Viggomaniac: Hehe, that is indeed on of the many reasons that it is called deadly misconceptions! Thank you for your review, yes, it's a very true fact that proofing is not one of my strong points. I have had a few betas, and I hope that as you read this you see an improvement in the quality of the writing. Thanks so much, and hope you like this chapter as well.

Nasuada Moon: Hehe. Well, I look forward to the results of this competition! Lol. Ha, I would have said that more authors come from England, but that's of course me noticing the non-Americans, and you noticing the non-English I suppose. Btw, I LOVE your city. Possibly my favorite, other than good old New York, but then again, I'm biased. (In case you were wondering, which you're not, I am going to be living in England for a year…)

Hope you like this chapter, and can't wait to here from you.

Jaffee Leeds: lol, I am not sure where I get my ideas, I guess I see them in my mind first, and then it's easier to describe things because I don't have to think of descriptions for words, I just have to tell what I see in my own head…(I know, now that I sound certifiably insane…) I think that's why I like writing about Imladris so much, it's so beautiful to imagine.

Grumpy: Thanks! Yes, Mari and Estel will indeed have a good friendship for a little while, that bond will become vital later! Thanks, yes, Erestor was very proud of that too…lol.


Deadly misconceptions 12

Mari was getting stronger and stronger with every day that passed. He was able to say out in the garden for more than an hour before he tired, he had only had three seizures the past week, which was a big improvement from the four or five he had a day prior. He could even attend the lessons with sir Erestor. He was a wonderful teacher. Mari had never had lessons before, and they were fun although Estel would beg to differ. He loved to learn the ways of reading and writing. He had found something else he could do while he was alone in bed, other than daydreaming. He was getting quite good at it, it was something that he could do just as well as anyone else; you didn't have to be strong and fit to read or write. Estel had been really nice and had brought him all of his old books from when he had just started learning to read, Mari loved them, the words were simple, and the pictures were beautiful. He couldn't wait until he would eat lunch, and then he would have a Sindarin lesson, and sit in on Estel's common.

Estel was so happy. He had had his cast off his arm for an entire week now. The bone had healed quite nicely, and the muscles were working back into form. He was so happy to have use of his arm that he didn't even mind the fact that he was using it to write an incredibly boring report on the military history of Gondor. In his opinion, they fought too many wars, if they could have just learned to get along then maybe he wouldn't have had as much to write. He was almost done, it wasn't due until the next week, however he wanted to get it over with he hated the feeling of things hanging over his head like that.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps coming into the room. It was his older brother.

"I just finished Ro! Come and see!" Estel said happily, hopping out of the chair and grabbing the barely dry essay from the table. Elrohir looked over the essay and nodded appreciatively. "This is a wonderful paper Estel. I think Erestor will be pleased." Estel smiled and wrinkled his nose.

"Gondor has too many wars, I hope they don't have that many kings to read about, that's what I have to do next I think." Elrohir smiled at Estel and shook his head. He found it slightly humorous to think on the fact that the high prince of man was speaking of his ancestors with such detachment. Of course, he had no idea they were his ancestors, if that wasn't irony then Elrohir didn't know what was.

"Are you ready for your swordplay?" he asked the boy.

Estel's face lit up, he loved this part of the day more than anything. Riding Stella and practicing with his sword were the two things he missed most when he couldn't use his arm for those six boring weeks. He did not need to be asked more than once; he was already out of the library and running up the steps to his room to grab his practice sword from on top of his dresser. Elrohir was standing in the foyer waiting patiently for his little brother, he didn't have long to wait.

"Come on, let's go!" Estel said as he reached his brother, slightly breathless. Elrohir smiled and chuckled to himself. "Alright Estel, off we go." He said as though he had been holding them up.

Out in the walled garden was Estel's favorite place to practice his swordplay. He was really just learning to handle the weapon and gain familiarity with it, Elrohir was just teaching him the more elementary basics than anything else.

Elrohir raised his sword to touch the tip of Estel's. Both swords were capped simple sparring swords. Estel's had been made just for him and was his birthday present last year.

As they sparred, Elrohir smiled at the intensity and concentration that filled the boy's face. He had very good focus of that Elrohir was sure of. Estel was blocking everything that his brother set at him. Elrohir was impressed, even though he had been out of practice for over a month, the boy seemed to have lost none of his skills. In fact, his intuition only seemed to have grown; he seemed to be able to read his motions before Elrohir had even the chance to commit to them. Still, the boy was obviously green.


Glorfindel was walking down the east hall when he pulled back the curtain and smiled. Below him was the sight of the walled garden and the clear view of young masters Elrohir and Estel, Elrohir teaching the child some skills with the blade.


Elrohir had been sparring with the child for close to ten minuets and he could tell that the boy desperately needed a break. However, he also knew what happened last time he had let the boy win. He was offended by things like that rather quickly. He saw an opening by the boy's shoulder; he would have to teach Estel how to defend his shoulders properly. He aimed lightly at the vulnerable target, and was amazed to find himself falling to the ground.

Estel didn't see the sword coming toward his shoulder. He felt its presence enter in just below his field of vision. He ducked, and then, for reasons unknown to him, he spun on his heal and aimed for the backs of his brother's slightly locked knees. He was shocked and a little scared to see his brother fall to the ground.

"Ro! Are you alright? I am so sorry!" Estel said as he dropped his sword and scrambled to his brother's side.

"Take up your sword Estel." Came his brother's voice. Estel quickly did as he was bidden. "Bow." Elrohir said slightly incredulously.

"I concede" Estel heard his brother say. It was the first time that he had ever not been the one to say those words.

Estel was worried, his brother wasn't saying anything. Had he done something wrong? Had he broken some rule of combat? Was Elrohir angry with him?

Elrohir walked along the path to the back door to the house in silence. He was utterly lost in thought. Estel had done that move perfectly, he didn't know if even he could have executed a move like that with such precision, then again Estel did have the advantage of not even being four feet tall, Elrohir allowed. But still! He thought to himself that was an incredible achievement.

"Where did you learn that Estel?" Elrohir asked with more surprise than he had intended.

"I'm sorry Ro, I didn't mean to do that, I don't even know what I did; I just did it! I'm sorry if it was wrong, I won't do it again I swear!" Estel said in a rush, wringing his hands in his robes.

"Estel, I am not angry, and I would very much like you to do that again. It was just that it was a very high level move that I didn't think you knew." Elrohir said incredulously, still hardly believing what had happened not moments before.


Glorfindel stood with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. He had no idea that the child had progressed so far in his studies. He hadn't even known Elrohir was teaching the child tactics at all. The child was good, that was certain. Very good.

Glorfindel was wandering through the library, not looking for anything in particular. He had been lost in thought all day.

He looked up to realize that he was not alone in the quiet room.

"Good afternoon master Elrohir." Glorfindel said with a smile. "I noticed your lessons with Estel are going quiet well. Tell me, if I may ask, where did you learn that move that you showed young master Estel?" Glorfindel asked curiously, it was the thought that had been bouncing around his mind all day. He had been the twins instructors in swordplay, and when he saw them doing moves that he had never in fact shown them he was always curious to learn where the had picked up on such habits.

"Oh," Elrohir looked flustered momentarily, before he said quite frankly, "I didn't. He thought of that one on his own." Elrohir said simply with a shrug of his shoulders.

Glorfindel took in his breath for a moment before he realized that that was what he had expected all along.

Glorfindel was no longer standing in the sunlit window of the library at his home in Imladris. He was looking far off into the hillocks and blue-gray mountains set into the horizon as visible from Minas Tirith. Looking out into the golden fields that stretched between Osgiliath and Minas Tirith it was possible to see that the second born were coming into there own. The glory of the kingdoms of Gondor and Anor united was something to be marveled at. Yet even as he was standing here and now looking at the pinnacle of human strength and determination of will, he could see to the south, the malice that was ever present like a festering wound on the landscape. Mordor loomed ominously ahead, Orodruin belching sickening clouds of noxious fumes, a dark and sinister poison that infested more than the atmosphere.

Hearing footsteps behind him saw the king of mankind striding with a soft elegance and grace that left no doubt of his regality. However in his eyes all that was reflected was warmth and kindness. He was easily the most powerful man alive, and yet one of his most powerful qualities remained his ability to never lose sight that while he was powerful, he was worth no more or less that any other man. Even in the face of such difficult and trying times such as these, Elendil never lost hope. Glorfindel found something comforting in those incredibly deep gray eyes. They were elven gray that one did not generally see in the human populace, however Elendil had more than a little elven blood coursing through his veins.

Glorfindel was about to bow slightly, when a hand stopped him. "Please my friend, that bow should be for you. Without you I would have been lost."

Glorfindel shook his head, about to disagree with his statement. "The same could be said to the contrary. You are the best swordsman I have yet seen." Glorfindel said slightly in awe of the human's almost elven reflexes.

"Ah, it is the sword that does all the work. She is merely an extension of my arm." He said lightly as he brushed a hand absentmindedly over the finely polished hilt. Narsil, it was his best sword, he carried her everywhere he went.

Glorfindel's eyes strayed to his own sword; his precious Galindilin,

"Glorfindel, I would be honored to spar with you, to cross blades with such a noble person such as yourself would be something I could cherish." Elendil said suddenly, looking at Glorfindel from his deep gray eyes.

Glorfindel smiled, he nodded to the king. It had been a long time, if ever, since he had sparred with a human.

Glorfindel and Elendil nodded to one another and stepped back. Glorfindel was surprised at Elendil's reaction time. Every move that he made, Elendil blocked with apparent ease. It was as though the man was reading into what he was doing next, and his arm was in motion before Glorfindel even had the chance to execute his maneuvers. Still though, the thousands of years of practice and his natural born grace and agility were enough to make up for the man's uncanny connection to the fight. Glorfindel was slowly getting tired, he had no idea how long this fight had been waging, but it was very long for a duel indeed. Glorfindel realized that the man had a very good defensive posture, all but one area guarded impenetrably. It was his shoulder that he saw an entry to, and took a swift shot there. Before Glorfindel could even make contact, Elendil had dipped below the projected path. Glorfindel felt a momentary pressure on the back of his knees before they buckled and he sunk to the ground in shocked disbelief.

Elendil looked at the blonde elf on the ground, surprise and wonder etched in every feature of his fair face. Elendil sheathed Narsil and extended a hand to help the elf up.

Glorfindel stood and turned to look at his leggings behind his knees, not even a tare in the fabric could be seen as an indication of his weakness.

"I used the broadside. That usually works best for that maneuver." Elendil said offhandedly. "Unless you want to take their legs off of course…" he added as a sidebar.

Glorfindel still couldn't believe what had happened, it had occurred so fast that he had barely any time to register. "Elendil that was an incredible move! Where did you learn that?" Glorfindel said with barely concealed amazement.

"I do not really study moves like that, I just use what works at the time." He said casually.

Glorfindel nodded in agreement, he always thought along similar lines, but yet it was a hard concept to accomplish in an actual battle situation.

As the pair headed up the stone steps to the citadel, Elendil's whole stance changed. He was no longer the relaxed carefree person that he had been moments earlier with Glorfindel. He was King Elendil once more. They continued their conversation about the next day's march onto Mordor, to face the last threat of middle earth, to attempt to staunch the spread of the shadow.

"But lord! Surely you will not march!" Fruindin, Elendil's trusted, even if ever-present shadow sputtered in fearful-indignation.

"Surely I must, I would not send my men anywhere I will not myself tread." Elendil replied calmly.

"But milord, you are our leader!" Fruindin interrupted.

"Exactly dear Fruindin and how does one lead from behind?"

"B-But who will lead us if you do not return?" He said shakily, turning pale at the very thought of suggesting such things to his liege.

"My son or the next most suitable and noble man alive shall rule." Elendil said simply.

It was then that Glorfindel found his faith and his hope in the human race.

Glorfindel blinked and looked around, momentarily lost. He was once more in the quiet calm of the library. Elrohir was looking oddly at him, as though wanting a description of where the elven warrior had been. He was not going to get one. Glorfindel was still thinking about that day so long ago in Gondor. He had no idea that he would lose that very faith that he had found very shortly after, on a battlefield not far from there. The very blood of the noble man was tested; his son Isuldur failed them all.

"Glorfindel?" Elladan asked tentatively. The look he had seen in the blonde warrior's eyes had pierced right through him.

"Sorry Elrohir, I was off in a memory." Glorfindel said briskly. "Well, it is evident than that the littlest prince in Imladris has a very keen intuition now isn't it." Glorfindel said with a laugh. He often jabbed at the twins, calling them princlings, because he said they often acted as such. Elrohir smiled, although it was not what he had wanted to here in response to his question, it was evident to him that he was not going to get anything out of the elf that he wasn't willing to give freely.


Elrond looked up from the slightly aging parchment he had been reading. "Come in." Elrond said tiredly. He had been waiting for the most convenient excuse to forgo his arduous paperwork. "Glorfindel, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Elrond asked, confused by the look in his friend-of-old's face. He drew a chair, his questioning smile slipping into concern. "Care to talk about it?" He said delicately. Having known someone for over a millennia meant that you had a rather keen sense of when not to push the envelope.

"Milord, I have a question about your son." Glorfindel said slowly, his eyes never leaving Elrond's face.

Elrond's demeanor changed at once. He was no longer the kind and sympathetic lord he had once been, he was now the concerned parent that a thousand years had trained him to be.

"Which one?" He asked tersely.

"Estel, and no, nothing is wrong…" Glorfindel specified before his friend could work himself any tighter. "I was merely wondering when you had planned on starting his official training." The blonde warrior said succinctly.

Elrond was caught off guard by the apparent randomness of the question.

"Well, I had supposed I would start him at nine, like the age most of the other dunedain children start at." Elrond said scratching his head.

"I think that maybe you should consider starting him now." Glorfindel said frankly.

"He's just barely eight, a mere babe!" Elrond said, as thought the idea was preposterous, "I doubt he would even have the attention span to learn anything of real merit yet. Elladan and Elrohir both practice with him, to get him used to the idea of wielding a blade." Elrond continued.

Glorfindel raised his eyes at the last comment. "Generally I would wholeheartedly agree with you on the matter, however ask Elrohir now, if he's not still nursing the backs of his knees, and his pride." Glorfindel said vaguely.

Elrond was now at this point thoroughly confused. What did Elrohir have to do with the topic at hand?

As though Glorfindel knew what his lord and friend of old was about to say, he finished his statement. "Estel beat him in a sparring match this morning, with a move Elrohir had never even seen."

Elrond raised his eyebrows. "And I am assuming you have seen the said maneuver?" He asked.

Glorfindel nodded, never taking his eyes off Elrond's "Yes, just once, Elendil was particularly good at it, he bested me with it." He said baldly.

Elrond sat down without feeling the chair beneath him. That could complicate matters.

"I will speak with him, but assume he starts tomorrow, after noontime meal"


A/N: So, you love it, hate it? Let me know! I'm assuming the whole flashback was self explanatory? If not, I will most assuredly answer any questions on the matter. As always, little purple button is your friend!