Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. This will not be directly about Estel but about Glorfindel. Let's begin.
Glorfindel rubbed at his forehead with his hand and he sighed when Erestor launched into another story. He fought the urge to drop his head in his hands and tried to keep his face blank while listening. He allowed his thoughts to drift as he closed his eyes against the light that shone into the room.
The next moment when he opened his eyes he felt a cool hand was laid against his forehead. He fought the urge to knock the hand away and looked up. Elrond peered down at him as he spoke softly to Erestor. "How are you feeling, Glorfindel?" The elven lord asked eventually.
"I am fine." Glorfindel found himself saying. He tried to rise but as the room started to spin and his headache crushed down upon him, he found Elrond and Erestor easily pressing him back down. "You are not well. Is it the same thing again?" Glorfindel only nodded as he once more closed his eyes.
"Very well, then remain here. Erestor, cancel all of Glorfindel's lessons with Estel. Glorfindel will remain here in my study." Elrond gently helped Glorfindel to lie down and the elven warrior smiled gratefully at his lord.
"I will blind the windows so the light will not bother you." Elrond began to draw at the curtains and Glorfindel kicked off his boots. "Thank you, Elrond." Glorfindel eventually whispered as he closed his eyes. He felt the brief touch of Elrond's hand upon his head and for a moment the headache disappeared and Glorfindel sighed in relaxation as he felt asleep.
He tensed in his sleep as he heard the door open and Estel's soft voice asked. "Ada?" Estel peered around in search of his father. Glorfindel opened his eyes as Estel's eyes settled upon him. The boy took a soft step forward as he closed the door behind him. Glorfindel raised himself up slightly but gave a quick groan as his headache came rushing back.
"Glorfy?" Estel's distressed voice called as he rushed to the golden warrior. Glorfindel took a couple of deep breaths to try and steady himself. He let out another groan as he shot up when his stomach chirmed unsettling. With quick steps he rushed around Estel and into the washing room.
He sank down upon his knees as he retched over the basin standing in the corner. He felt Estel's gentle hands upon his back as the boy drew back the golden hair. After a moment Glorfindel softly asked. "Estel, please get me a cup of water."
The young one obeyed immediately as Glorfindel sank back against the wall and held his head in both his hands. He accepted the glass of water as Estel shuffled his feet and stared at the ground before asking. "Do you want me to get Ada?"
"No, thank you, Estel. I am going to go back to the couch in a moment." Glorfindel forced a smile at the boy as he rose uneasy. He soon felt Estel's hand upon his leg as the boy helped him and Glorfindel felt love for the boy cloud his mind.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he lay down again. He opened his eyes again when he felt Estel draw a found blanket over his shoulders. "Thank you, Estel." He closed his eyes again but the next moment opened them again when the boy kept standing close by. "Is there anything you need, Estel?" He asked a little bit hasty for he wanted to go back to sleep.
"Can I lie down on the couch as well? I can help you if you are ill again and if you are in pain you can just tell me and I will help you then." The honest look of worry in the boy's eyes made Glorfindel smile.
He threw back the blanket and the boy crawled on the couch. He tucked his arm around Estel as the boy cuddled up against his chest. "Glorfy?" Estel asked softly as Glorfindel gave a soft hum. "Why are you ill?" He could hear a layer of panic in the boy's voice.
"It is an old wound that sometimes plagues me. I was leading a party from Rivendell when we were attacked. I was hit on the head with the blunt side of the sword. I woke up two days later in the healing wing with a headache the size of Gondor's army. From time to time I suffer from headaches like these. I am sensitive to light and sound."
"I will be silent then. Are you feeling better, through?" Estel said softly after a moment. "Yes, I am feeling better now. I was cold actually but now that you are laying this close to me, I don't think I will be cold again." Glorfindel closed his eyes again as he felt Estel relax against him.
"I will keep watch. Good night." The boy declared suddenly as Glorfindel bit back laughter before sinking into the comfort embrace of darkness without dreams. Estel lay still, thinking about the story Glorfindel had told him. He had become really concerned when Erestor had said Glorfindel could not make it to the lessons. When he walked into his father's office and found Glorfindel lying on the couch, he had first though his friend was really sick.
He cuddled closer to the golden warrior's chest, wondering if he could turn. He cast a look at the serene pale face lying close to his and he decided against it. Closing his own eyes Estel gave into a brief nap as well.
"Estel? Come." His father's voice whispered in his ear, gentle hands trying to pull him away from Glorfindel. Estel opened his eyes to focus upon his father's face. "What is wrong, Ada?" Estel shifted slightly as Elrond sought to get him into his own arms. "Come, I do not want for you to disturb Glorfindel."
Estel gently untangled himself from Glorfindel and he slipped right from the easy grip the warrior had held him in. Elrond gently picked him up and walked quickly out of the room. "Elrond?" Glorfindel's voice came.
"Yes, Mellon Nin?" Elrond turned as Estel crawled up against his shoulder. "You can leave Estel here, he does not disturb me. He has been sleeping patiently by my side. If you have to work do not let me keep you from it." Glorfindel looked back and Elrond could easily see the weariness in the other elf's face.
"My work can wait. You need your rest and it is best we do not move you. Just rest. I will come and check upon you later. Is there you something you required?" Elrond looked once to Estel and the boy sat still. "Some tea please. I am starting to feel better actually." Glorfindel gave him a gentle smile.
"I will bring you your tea very soon. Allow me to give Estel something to do first." Elrond had opened the door as Glorfindel said. "Tell him to remain here while you go get the tea. I feel better when he is around." The unusual request made Elrond smile as he walked back into the room.
"Very well." Elrond settled Estel down again and the young boy hurried to Glorfindel's side. The elf on the couch had turned on his back while Elrond closed the door behind him. "Glorfy?" Estel asked softly as the warrior turned to him. "Yes, Estel?" Glorfindel asked, placing a hand upon the boy's head.
"You will not die, now will you?" The unexpected question caught Glorfindel off guard and he shot up. For a moment he cursed his headache as he regarded Estel and asked. "Why do you think this, Estel?"
Estel shuffled his feet self conscious as he answered. "Because elves never get sick and you were sick. Ada says elves only get sick if they are poisoned and if you are, then you might die." Glorfindel reached out to gather Estel to him and placed the boy in front of him on the couch as he said. "I am not going to die, Estel."
"How can you know that?" Estel cried out. "Because my heart continued to beat and because I have already died once. I can assure you, you will know when you die. Besides, I cannot leave you and Elrond. Or the twins." Glorfindel gently held Estel in a hug as the distressed child cried out. "So you will not leave me like my real parents?"
The ancient warrior's heart nearly broke when he heard those words. "No, I will never leave you, Estel." The boy cuddle closer and he placed his head upon Glorfindel's chest. Glorfindel stroke the child's hair gently as he settled himself a little bit better. "Do you hear my heart beating?" Glorfindel asked after a while as Estel calmed down.
"Yes." The boy whispered softly. The door opened and Elrond walked in. The elven lord looked faintly alarmed as he saw Estel sitting near Glorfindel. He placed the tea upon the desk and took Estel from Glorfindel. "Is everything alright?" He softly asked, placing the tea in Glorfindel's hand.
Glorfindel only gave a tired nod as he sipped his tea. After a moment he answered. "Estel was afraid I was going to die." Estel tugged at Elrond's robe at that moment and the elven lord gently lifted the boy onto his hip. "Why did you think Glorfindel was going to die?" Elrond asked gently of his son.
"Because when humans are sick they can die. And elves do not get sick unless they are poisoned and Glorfindel was sick." Estel hiccupped. "Some get sick, Estel. But Glorfindel is not going to die." Elrond gently explained. Estel only nodded as he rested his head wearily against Elrond's shoulder.
"You should get some more sleep, Glorfindel. I will take Estel with me." Elrond eventually said as he walked towards the door. Only a satisfying thump was heard as Glorfindel lay down.
The next day a happy Estel was rewarded as Glorfindel once more appeared for lessons and Estel simply flung himself into his teacher's arms, cuddling closer to his beloved friend.
Hope you liked it. I need ideas as usual. Please review.