Summary: Children follow their own rules, the ones created through the innocence of youth. Will it help or harm Estel and Legolas?
Disclaimer: I do not own them for they would be covered in drool.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon.
Chapter 14
Estel dreamed, not of good things but of Elladan and Elrohir. In his dream they were playing alongside the water when the wolves attacked. Elladan screamed for them to run, but the wolf lunged for his throat, and soon Elladan lay dead at the waters edge. Estel fought back in the dream, the sheets becoming crumpled beneath him, the sweat glistening on his brow.
"Ada," he whispered, hoping his father would come and rescue them before the wolf caught him or Elrohir, but his thoughts were in vain as in the dream Elrohir helped Estel into the tree, and then he too was mauled by the wolves, his body being torn by their yellow teeth.
Estel sat straight up in the bed, his whole body shaking, the tears streaming down his face, and only one thought in his mind; he had to find his Ada.
Estel tried to twist out of the covers, but his arm got caught up in them. He let out a small cry of pain as the bandages got hung up in the sheets and were being pulled. He finally pulled himself free and jumped from the bed. The feel of the floor beneath his feet sent shivers through him, but Estel did not care. With his good arm he swung open the door to his room, and raced down the hall, going towards the room his Ada always slept in. His Ada would help, he would know what to do.
Thranduil woke with a start as his door creaked open, and a very small elfing sat atop him sobbing.
"Ada, get up, you have to help them, they are bleeding," Estel sobbed, the elvish coming out between the hiccups.
Thranduil was awake in seconds, sleep fleeing him at the sound of the pitiful sobs. When his eyes adjusted he saw Estel, his eyes glazed over half asleep, pulling on his clothes. It was a sight indeed, one that brought Thranduil close to tears, as his heart went out to the child.
"Estel, awake. You are merely dreaming," he whispered, trying to bring the boy from his dreams, but the pleas still came.
"Ada, please help them, they are going to die! The wolves Ada, the wolves are coming again!" Estel shrieked and his sobs became muffled as he tried to suck in a breath of air between them.
The sight was more than Thranduil could take, and he shook Estel trying to bring him from his dreams. He was successful at last, an Estel stared at him, his eyes glistening as the tears rolled down his face.
"Why?" was all Estel said, before he buried his face against Thranduil's chest and sobbed openly now.
"I know not why little one, but I will keep you safe from harm."
Thranduil's heart knew that he would never let anyone harm the small elfling in his arms, the child had seen too much, witnessed horrors no elf should see. Estel's sobs softened, his tears drying against the nightshirt that was now soaked, but Thranduil cared not. He wiped the remaining tears away with gentle hands, and pulled Estel to him, wrapping his arms protectively around the child.
You shall stay here with me tonight, and I will chase away the dreams that would haunt your sleep."
Estel snuggled against Thranduil and sniffled until his eyes closed in exhaustion. Not long after he turned over and his injured arm was slung over Thranduil's chest. The king saw it and wanted to fix the loose bandages, but he did not have the heart to waken the child. He rewrapped the bandage as best he could and pulled the covers up over Estel. His own eyes were trying to glaze over in sleep, when Estel's muttered words caught his ear.
"Hannon le Ada," Estel said, before snuggling closer to Thranduil.
King Thranduil of Mirkwood, the one thought of as the dreaded King of elves who would rather lock you away in his dungeon than be bothered, was now wide awake. The simple words of the child had broken down his last defenses. Long had it been since he heard those words, not since Legolas had been an elfling himself. He knew if Estel's Ada was alive he would go to any lengths to find him, and if not he would take the elfling as his own.
He sat for an hour watching to make sure the dreams did not return, before finally drifting off himself. He did not hear the door open again, nor did he feel Legolas slide over Estel and climb in. He did not waken until he felt Estel move, and when he looked he saw Estel curled up against Legolas one hand slung over his chest, the other curled up in his hair. The sight was one of love and Thranduil let his eyes glaze back over in sleep, knowing Estel would be all right, but knowing tomorrow might bring Estel's memories back, and with them the horrors.
Elrond Peredhil stood on the balcony overlooking the garden. It was not is own, but that of his son Estel. The room behind him was untouched, the stuffed animals still on the made bed, and the various drawings covering the wall. Even the book of fairy tales laying beside the bed still held the place of the last chapter they had read together.
Elrond could not bring himself to move any of Estel's belongings, nor could he bear to look at them thinking of his little boy gone. He tried now to think of the happier times Estel had brought him, for these were the memories he wished to take over the sea with him, not the ones of sorrow.
As Elladan opened the door, he could see his Ada standing on the balcony, the small tunic clasped in his hand. He sighed and bit back the tears that wanted to come. His own heart was breaking, but he could not give up hope that Estel was alive, he simply couldn't.
"Ada, will you not change your mind and stay?" he asked hoping for a new answer, but the answer was clearly written on his father's face.
Elrond turned to face him, the once ageless face showing the grim lines of defeat. "I cannot stay, not now, the pain is too fresh. Can you not see that your brother brought happiness back to us after your mother? I see even in your eyes the fear, pain, and doubt."
Elladan knew his Ada's words were true, but he could not give up no matter how futile it seemed. He had to find Estel, even if it was only his body, Elladan knew he could not rest until that day. Swallowing the lump in his throat Elladan reached out to his father.
"We will ride with you, if you wish to the harbor. I would not have you go without seeing you safely there."
"Nay Elladan. You and your brother should remain here. I would not have you hear the call of the gulls. I wish to remember you here, in Imladris. Your grandfather has agreed to see me to the harbor safely."
Elladan shook his head, not really believing his Ada would leave until just then. The earlier struggle to hold back his grief for his father vanished and Elladan fell into his father's arms and sobbed.
Once he could cry no more, he walked with Elrond down the stairs and to the foyer where Elrohir and Erestor stood waiting.
"Glorfindel is at the stables making sure the horses are ready my lord," Erestor said his voice cracking with emotion.
Elrond nodded his approval and all walked out into the courtyard. None there wanted to see the Lord of Imladris leave, and many around them stood in mourning. It was a somber day even though the spring air filled them. Elrond turned once more to Elladan, and in his hand placed a small ring.
"Keep this safe, it is a treasure I am entrusting to you. Guard it well."
Elladan accepted the ring, closing his hand around it and placing it in his pocket. Elrond then turned to Erestor.
"I would have you advise my sons as you have me for these many years. You have been much more than that though. You have been a friend, a confidant, and a loyal member of my home."
Erestor threw all formality out as he grasped Elrond in a fierce hug. Elrond was surprised but he returned to hug swiftly. The tears were flowing now from his eyes, and at last he turned to Elrohir.
Elrohir's eyes met his father's and immediately they welled with tears. He tried to wipe them away, but they fell nonetheless, pooling on his chin before they fell to the ground by his feet. He did not want his Ada to go, he wanted him to stay here in Imladris where he belonged. His Ada however was leaving and if Elladan had not agreed to stay Elrohir knew he would have run after his Ada and joined him in Valinor, for his own heart was breaking day by day.
"So much like your mother. She too tried to be strong, never letting me see her pain, until it was too late. Promise me you will come to me before you let yourself slip away from us, promise me you will come over the sea and let your heart be mended before then."
Elrond knew that as long as Elladan stayed that Elrohir would too, no matter how he was feeling, he would push those feelings to the side for the sake of his brother. Releasing Elrohir the elf lord took one final look at his home. His heart whispered a final goodbye, and then Elrond Peredhil mounted his horse and left the House of Elrond behind. He was going to a new home, one where Celebrian would be waiting for him, and where his heart he hoped would be healed.
A/N: See you next week