Hello my friends, I like to thank you all once again for reading and reviewing my story, so this chapter is dedicated to all of my loyal fans who love 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 21
Time once again seemed to move swiftly on in Rivendell, for now it was the night before yule's day, and Elrond and his family and friends were relaxing in the family living room with some refreshments that were brought up from Beriadan, and a few of his kitchen staff earlier on, while also talking about the events that had gone by this year. It came as no surprise that Estel, who was safely tucked up asleep in his crib, with Castiel keeping watch over him for the time being, was their main vocal point in their conversation.
"I can't believe how quickly this year has gone, it just seems like yesterday that Estel was brought here," Glorfindel said as he relaxed back into his chair.
"I know what you mean my friend, it has been a good year to remember, especially with Estel now being in our lives," Erestor agreed with him as he took a sip of his wine.
"Not to mention it's going to be a good start to a new year as well," Mithrandir exclaimed as he followed the Chief advisor's example and had a drink of his own wine.
"Mithrandir, do you know something we don't?", Galadriel asked with a warm smile, whilst she waited patiently for him to finish his wine.
"Call it a hunch Lady Galadriel," he replied with a knowing smile towards her.
"Well whatever your hunch is Mithrandir, I agree with Glorfindel and Erestor, for it has been a good year this year, and it's all thanks to Estel," the Lord of Rivendell pointed out contentedly.
Nobody said anything for a while after that, they didn't need too, for they all agreed with what Elrond, Glorfindel and Erestor had said. It was true that ever since Estel came here to live with them, Rivendell had changed for the better, even with the slight matter with the traitor in Rivendell watching Estel for reasons only known to his or herself, couldn't dampen the happiness that they feel with Estel in their lives.
"I wonder if Legolas has forgiven us yet for what we did to him," Elladan pondered out loud after the moment had passed.
"We dear brother?, I believe it was your idea," Elrohir replied back.
"Yes, but you still helped me with it," the older twin pointed out to him with a smirk.
"What are you two young ones on about?", Mithrandir asked them both intrigued.
"Well you see Mithrandir, on one of the times me and Ro were home, Legolas was here for a visit, but he looked a bit worse for the wear when we first laid eyes on him," Elladan began.
"That's putting it mildly Elladan," Glorfindel quipped, as he ignored Erestor's roll of his eyes towards him.
"Anyway, as I was saying, the reason why he looked like that was because, when he was reaching Rivendell's borders, an orc pack had been pursuing him for a while, and somewhere along the pursuit he had lost his personal belongings. Not his weapons, but the like of his clothes and what not," the older twin of Elrond explained.
"But luckily for him, Glorfindel and a few of Rivendell's warriors were on patrol close to where Legolas was heading towards, so it took no time at all to take down the orc pack and safely escort Legolas to Rivendell," Elrohir carried on for his twin.
"If I may interrupt young ones, but what has this got to do with Legolas forgiving you for what you did to him?", The Istari asked the twins confused.
"Well, because Legolas only had the clothes he came down in and his weapons, we helped him out by giving him new clothes and some new personal belongings for the duration of his stay with us, and for when he goes home again," Elladan continued, whilst trying to suppress mouth from twitching upwards.
"Me, I mean, Dan suggested we give him something nice to get over that orc pack, so we got him a new hair brush, as that was one of the personal items that he'd lost," Elrohir said in the same state as Elladan.
"What my sons are not telling you Mithrandir, is that when Legolas came to use his new hair brush, they had somehow concealed green powdered dye in the bristles of the brush, so when Legolas had washed his hair and used his new brush, he had unintentionally and unknowingly dyed his hair bright green," the Lord of Rivendell explained with a straight face, but his eyes said a different story.
"How did he not know he dyed his hair green?, And how did he find out?", Mithrandir asked Elrond, because judging by the looks of the twins, they'd look fit to burst.
"To answer your questions Mithrandir, the reason why he didn't know at first was because the green powdered dye in the bristles of the brush was a slow acting dye, so when Legolas had freshened up and used his new hairbrush on his wet hair the damage was done. And he only found out about his hair when he'd joined us in the hall of fire that evening, Legolas had just entered when everything and everyone went quiet. When he asked what was wrong, Authiel pointed it out to him that having the color of his homeland in his hair was a great idea, it only took him a second for him to grab a handful of his own hair, and as soon as he did that, he looked at Elladan and Elrohir, who, when Legolas looked at them burst out laughing, and it wasn't long before everybody in the hall of fire that night, was in the same state as the twins," Elrond concluded with that straight face still in place.
It didn't last though, because as soon as Elrond had finished speaking, Elladan and Elrohir couldn't hold their laughter in anymore and judging by their Adar neither could he. So it didn't take long before everybody in the room to burst into laughter, as they could only imagine the look on Legolas's face when he saw what the twins had done to his hair. After a while the laughter did die down, but everybody had smiles on their faces from what had been told this night.
"Ah, that was a good night to remember," Glorfindel said with laughter still in his eyes.
"Only you would say that, I only found it funny when Prince Legolas threatened them with revenge, whilst trying to get a hold of them at the same time," Erestor exclaimed with another roll of his eyes towards Glorfindel.
"Brings back good memories does it Erestor?", The Captain of the guards asked with smirk on his face, as he and the twins shared a quick amused look at each other.
"Watch it Glorfindel, you don't want me as your enemy," Erestor warned him half-heartedly.
But before Glorfindel could issue him with a reply, Arwen suggested that they should call it a night and head to bed. Elrond, thankful for his daughter's quick thinking agreed it was a good idea, so everybody got up from where they were sat and left the family living room for their own bedrooms, but not before they all wished each other a goodnight.
Elrond and Elladan were the last to leave the family living room, but just before Elrond made his way to check on Estel and relieve Castiel from her duty from watching him tonight, Elladan asked him if he could join him in doing so, which was quickly granted from Elrond. As they made their way towards the nursery, the Lord of Rivendell could tell his oldest son wanted to say something to him, and he didn't have to wait long for Elladan to begin speaking.
"Adar, I know I should have said this to you sooner, but, I'm sorry about what I said, and how I treated you, can you forgive me for being such a petulant child?" Elladan asked his Adar as they neared Estel's room.
"Elladan, know this, while your words and actions at the time were uncalled for I…," Elrond began to say, before he was interrupted from his son.
"I know, and I'm sorry Adar," Elladan quickly apologized.
"As I was saying my Son, I understand how you feel, as I know I would have acted the same way as you did, if something like what we are dealing with was kept away from me too. But, please understand, I only did it because I thought it was right at the time, and not because I couldn't trust you, Elrohir or Arwen," the Lord of Rivendell explained.
"So am I forgiven Adar?", Elladan asked again with hopeful eyes, as they now stood outside the nursery door.
"Elladan, you remind me so much of my brother Elros, it's kind of hard not to forgive you, but yes my Son you are forgiven," Elrond told him with a smile as he brought him into his arms for a hug, which was reciprocated with relief from Elladan.
After a while they broke apart from the hug happier and better than before it, then, Elrond quietly opened the nursery door and went inside with Elladan following on behind him to find Castiel, who was sat in the wooden rocking chair reading a book, looked up at them as they entered her charge's bedroom.
"My Lords Elrond and Elladan, is there something I can do for you?", She asked softy, so as not to awake the sleeping babe, as she marked the page in her book, before closing it, and putting it on the small table next to her.
"No, but thank you for asking Castiel, I am here to release you from your duty for watching my son tonight," Elrond replied with a smile.
"Are you sure my Lord?, As I don't mind keeping an eye on him, for he is such a good baby, and if I do say so myself, great company," Castiel beamed happily towards them both.
However, Elrond, with amusement shining in his eyes, told Castiel that he was sure, and thanked her for her service tonight. So, with assurance and appreciation from Elrond, she picked up her book, and bid the two elf Lords a goodnight, before leaving them with Estel in peace.
As soon as Castiel left the nursery, Elrond and Elladan both came to Estel's crib, and they could see that he was sleeping peacefully, but sometime during the night he had kicked off his blanket to around his feet. So while Elrond set to work on covering Estel with his blanket again, Elladan picked up his little brother's fawn coloured soft plush rabbit, that had been by his feet too, and gently tucked it into Estel's little arms, which Estel was grateful for as he cuddled it closer to him in his sleep. For he had been given it from his Grandfather earlier that evening, because, when Elladan, Elrohir and then Arwen celebrated their first yule, the twins had been given plush twin teddy bears and Arwen had a soft plush pony. So to keep with tradition, Celeborn gave his grandson the present from him now, and when Estel held his soft plush rabbit for the first time, he cried out in delight, and everyone who watched Estel play with his new toy, were either laughing at the child's antics, or had smiles on their faces, the biggest one being on Celeborn's, as he watched Estel with love in his brown eyes.
"I think you just made your little brother happy Elladan," Elrond whispered to him with a smile.
"I should hope so Adar, as that's what big brother's are for," he told his Adar with a smile of his own towards him.
"Elladan you just wait till he gets older, for if he is going to be anything like you three, Estel is going to be getting into all sorts of mischief," the Lord of Rivendell said amusingly.
"Well, even if he does Adar, we will stand right beside him," Elladan replied as he gently ran his finger over the stitching of his little brother's name on his pajama top.
"I have no doubt that you will," Elrond pointed out with amusement clearly still in his eyes, knowing that Elladan and Elrohir will be helping Estel get in and out of mischief when the time comes.
So, after a few more moments of watching Estel sleep, Elrond and Elladan silently made their way out of the nursery, with Elrond closing the door behind them both, they then hugged each other again, before wishing one another a goodnight, and good dreams for the night. However, what they both didn't know was that the traitor with their hardened eyes filled with anger, was watching their retreating forms before emerging from the shadows.
"I'll make you pay, I'll make you all pay, for the pain you've caused me," the traitor whispered with malice, before heading towards the nursery to where the sleeping baby slept.
Morning soon broke upon Rivendell, so with the sun's first rays gracing the hidden valley with its presence, it had revealed it had snowed during the night and everywhere you looked, everything was covered in a thick blanket of snow. So as the elves of Rivendell woke up to the sight of freshly fallen snow, some of them set to work on clearing some paths to and from places such as the stables, while a few Rivendell and Lothlorien elves were having a snowball fight or were building snow elves. Meanwhile, two elves by the names of Elladan and Elrohir, had gotten up extra early and had washed and dressed, before both heading out to fetch their little brother from the nursery for a surprise for their Adar.
"Dan, I have to say that this is a very good idea you are doing for Adar," Elrohir told him as they neared the nursery.
"Thanks Ro, I just thought it would be nice, that the first thing Adar saw this morning would be Estel," he replied as he opened the door for him and his twin.
But as soon as the door was opened, Elladan and Elrohir could see that Estel wasn't there in his crib, so they checked Estel's bathing chamber just to be sure, but he wasn't in there neither, so they both figured that someone else must have gotten up before them.
"Well it was a nice idea Dan, but I guess someone beat you to it," Elrohir said sympathetically as they made their way out the nursery.
"Yeah I guess so but I…," Elladan started to reply, but stopped abruptly when he and Elrohir nearly collided with their Adar.
"Adar, good morning," the twins announced to him as they quickly recovered from the near collision.
"And a good morning to you too my Sons," Elrond exclaimed amusingly.
"Good morning Adar, Dan and Ro," Arwen said cheerfully as she came up to greet them.
"Good morning Arwen," her Adar and brothers said at the same time.
It only took them a second before the four elves burst out laughing at the silly, but good situation that they were having standing outside the nursery door, but after a while the laughter died down and Elladan asked Arwen what she was doing here.
"Well if you must know Dan, I've been sent up here by our grandparents and Mithrandir to bring our baby brother down for his breakfast in the dining room, but judging by how you, Ro and Adar don't have him, I can only guess that either Erestor or Glorfindel does," she explained to them.
And it would seem that not even a minute went by before Elrond, the twins and Arwen saw the Balrog slayer heading towards them, so as soon as Glorfindel reached them, they all greeted him with a good morning and he wished them all one too.
"Glorfindel, may I ask what you are doing here?", Elrohir asked the Captain of the guards after the pleasantries were done.
"I'm here young one because I was hoping to spend some time with Estel before I went on patrol this morning, but I guess I was too late," he replied half-heartedly.
"Don't worry my friend you'll get your quality time with Estel soon enough, but for now though, I'm guessing by the process of elimination that Erestor must have Estel, so let's go down and join Celeborn and Galadriel and wait for him to bring him shall we?", Suggested Elrond as he, and then the rest of them, followed him to the dining room.
"Why am I not surprised that the Mother hen of Rivendell has Estel," Glorfindel muttered to himself in the hallway leading towards the dining room.
"Oh don't be like that Glorfindel," Elladan said as they walked together.
"Dan's right, just because Erestor was quicker than you in having quality time with Estel, there's no need for you to be jealous," Elrohir pointed out, whilst ignoring the glare being sent his way.
Glorfindel was about to say to the twins that he wasn't jealous, but was stopped from doing so when Elrond pointed out to him that they were at the dining room already, so Glorfindel kept what he was about to say to himself, and followed Elrond and the others in entering the dining room. As soon as the small group entered, Celeborn, Galadriel and Mithrandir gave them a warm greeting as they all took their seats at the dining table.
"Arwen, I believe we sent you to get Estel, so where is he?", Galadriel asked her confused on her baby grandson's whereabouts.
"Oh, he is with Erestor Grandmother, he will be with us shortly," she replied.
"But not quick enough," the Captain of the guards muttered once again to himself.
"Glorfindel, please, we've been over this already just…," Elrond was about to say more to the Balrog slayer, but the door to the dining room was opening.
"My Lords and Ladies, I'm sorry that I'm late, but I had to finish some important documentation, that couldn't wait until tomorrow," the Chief advisor explained as he entered the dining room.
"That's quite alright Erestor, but where is Estel?", The Lord of Rivendell asked him, as he noticed Estel wasn't with him.
"Estel?, I thought he was with you my Lord," Erestor told him as he took his seat at the dining table.
"Well if you haven't got him Erestor, just who has?", Celeborn questioned out loud, trying not to get upset at not seeing his grandson.
But before anyone could do or say anything, Authiel slammed open the dining room doors, and ran in like a pack of wargs were chasing after her. She only came to a stop when she was in front Elrond.
"My Lord Elrond!, I came as quickly as I could, but I'm afraid I was too late, The traitor!, The traitor who has been watching Estel has taken him!", She said with panic and sorrow in her eyes.
The whole dining room went quiet after what Authiel had just said, but it only took a moment for Elrond to recover and ask her how'd she know this to be true. However, all Authiel did was hand the Lord of Rivendell a folded up piece of paper with a hole in it, and to everyone's distress, especially Celeborn's, Estel's fawn coloured soft plush rabbit.
"Where did you come to find these?", He asked her with a forced calm, as he opened the piece of paper to read, whilst clutching his son's plush rabbit to him.
"I, I, I found them when me and some of the warriors were coming back into Rivendell from doing the night patrol, we were just about to come up to where the gates are, when I noticed the piece of paper on a tree nearby. It, it, it was held in place by an orc arrow," Glorfindel's Second-in-command admitted sadly.
"An orc arrow!", Elladan and Elrohir exclaimed at the same time.
"Yes my Lords, and the little one's plush rabbit was tied to a branch next to it, so I quickly untied it, and then proceeded to pull out the orc arrow from the tree, and as soon as I picked up the piece of paper, and read it to myself, I ran as quickly as I could to give it to you my Lord Elrond," Authiel finished whilst trying not to let the tears of sadness fall from her eyes.
"What does the note say Elrond," Galadriel said in the same state as Elrond, as she, and everybody else in the room wanted to know what it said.
"It says Galadriel, Dear Elrond half-elven, as you may have noticed I have taken something that's precious to you away from you last night, and you may be wondering why I took him away from you, but wonder no longer Elrond, as the reason being is that it's because I hate humans, I hate them because they took something precious away from me too. So because of that, I'll make you pay, I'll make you, and everybody else who loves Estel pay, for the pain you've caused me, as it's all your fault. But, believe it or not, I did have some amount of respect for you, because you chose to live the life of an elf, unlike your traitor of a brother who chose to live the life of a disgusting human and live amongst them. It makes me sick to think that he had noble blood running through his veins, and he gave it all away to be counted as one of the second born. But we are getting off topic here aren't we Elrond?, So let's get back to Estel shall we?, Ah Estel, your precious disgusting human baby who you had claimed as one of your own, sleeping peacefully in his crib, or at least he was until I took him away from you. Elrond, you really shouldn't have dismissed Castiel last night from watching Estel, for I had been watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself, as you and your family and friends are truly pathetic to let their guard down, for it was so easy for me to go into the nursery, and snatch him right from under you, as I knew it was only a matter of timing, to really hit you where it hurts, and to deal out justice on the behalf of the ones I love. So, in conclusion, I sincerely hope you enjoyed what little bit of life you had with him, but don't worry about him too much Elrond, as he'll be in much better company with the orc pack I left him nearby. So do have fun finding his remains, or what's left off them Elrond," the Lord of Rivendell said with gritted teeth as he finished reading the letter to everyone.
"I can't believe this is happening, Estel is just an innocent baby, he has done nothing wrong!", Elladan shouted out as he quickly stood from his chair.
"Dan, I know your upset, we all are, but we need to stay calm and…," Elrohir began to say but was cut off by his twin.
"Stay calm?, Stay calm?!, Ro, our baby brother is out there in the freezing snow, and you want me to stay calm!", The oldest son of Elrond bellowed at the top of his voice.
"Enough!, Enough!, Now is not the time for arguing. Glorfindel, go with Authiel back to that tree and see if the traitor left anymore clues, and Galadriel, I would like you and Arwen to go up to the nursery and see if there's any clues in there too. Erestor, I would like you to do a check to make sure everybody who lives in Rivendell is accounted for, the rest of you, I want you to get your armor and weapons and then meet me in the stables. For if what the letter says is true about an orc pack nearby here, I'd rather be prepared for it, as I want to get to my son before they do. So if everybody's clear on what needs to be done, let's move out!", Ordered Elrond, as he and everyone else quickly left the dining room, nearly knocking each other and other elves over in the process.
Unbeknownst to the elves who loved Estel however, the traitor had been listening in on them from the shadows, from when Authiel had slammed open the dining room doors to bring the letter the traitor had written to Elrond, all the up until Elrond and the others all left. But even after they'd left, the traitor never left the shadows.
'Awe, poor, poor Estel, let the pain and chaos begin,' the traitor thought with a menacing grin.
Hello my friends, I'm really sorry that I've not updated in awhile, but I had a really bad case of writers block, so I hope that this new chapter will more than make up for my absence. Also, I know that some of you were hoping for this to be a happy chapter, but please stay with it, as it ties in nicely for what I have planned for the next chapter, and I promise the next one won't be to long to wait for. So, thank you once again to everybody who likes my story, and if you would please leave a review for me to read, it will be great thank you.