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Chapter 20

Elali and Arwen entered into the garden. The elfling let go of Arwen's hand and went over to the small stream and sat at the edge and looked into the water. The elf-maiden sat down on a bench not far from where the elfling was, watching him stare aimlessly into the water.

"Elali, you are not upset about what happened are you," Arwen asked him gently.

Elali looked towards Arwen and tilted his head. She could see that he didn't know what to make of her or the other new elves. They had made their party as small as possible, as they were unsure how the elfling would respond to a large number of new elves. They also knew that the Mirkwood elves would come in a larger number then necessary, as their king did nothing in halves or consideration for others. Arwen's grandmother knew from Elrond that the child was slowly learning to trust them, but was still fearful of strangers and that he would be rejected at a moment's notice and sent away.

"Ada, Lord Elrond, has only spoken highly of you," Arwen said. "And I can tell you and my brothers get along wonderfully."

"Why don't you live here, with Ada, Elladan, and Elrohir," Elali asked, wanting to know. "Did they send you away?"

"No, Elali, they didn't. It was my decision to leave and go to Lothlórien," Arwen told him. "They were sad when I left and tried to change my mind about leaving. But I couldn't stay here."

"Why?"

"It is a long story, Elali," Arwen said, but she saw that he needed to understand. "My mother is the daughter of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. She was on her way to visit them, when her party was attacked by a group of Orcs. The elves fought, but they were outnumbered. They took my mother captive and all but one of the elves in the party were killed. The elf made it back to Rivendell to tell found the twins, and told them what had happened and Elrohir and Elladan immediately took off, making sure that the elf got to the healing wing first. After four days, they found the Orcs and our mother. They were able to kill the Orcs and rescue nana. The Orcs had here for six days and during that time, they did horrible things to her and poisoned her. Ada was able to heal her body, but not her mind. She sailed for the gray havens and home was no longer home without her. I saw her everywhere, heard her voice, her memories in every hall, every room, the gardens, the woods, but she wasn't here. She was gone, never to return home. I couldn't stand it, and as much as I love my brothers and fathers, I had to get away. So I went to Lothlorien and have lived there since."

Arwen didn't notice the tears were falling from her eyes or that Elali had left his spot by the river to stand next to her, but she felt his arms wrap around her.

"I miss her," Arwen said.

"I know," Elali said looking into her eyes. Arwen saw that he understood everything that he had told her, and knew that he knew what she was feeling, that he did know. She smiled, finally someone understood, even if it was only a child. "I lost my nana, too. And my ada and sister."

Arwen took the elfling into her arms. "Ada and my brothers have been patient with me and always write that they want me to come home. Ada looks at you the same way he does us. He will never send you away, Elali, never. To elves, there is nothing more important as family and every elf is kin to one another. Births are so rare for our people. I am nearly 2000 years old and your birth is the first new elf since mine. You are more precious to us, then you realize, a treasure to be cared for and guarded. If we had known that you were alive, you would never have suffered, but every elf would have given their all to keep you safe and made sure you thought the world was safe and happy. You are loved, Elali, and there is no elf that would turn you away. Every Elvin kingdom will want you to live with them, will offer you a home, and will love you, protect you, teach you, and make sure you have all that you need and more. You have nothing to fear, Elali."

Elali saw in Arwen's eyes that she was telling him the truth. He felt save with Ada and his brothers, and now his new sister. "I like it here with Ada and my brothers. I don't want to leave."

"Ada will always welcome you here and make sure you have a home here."

"Will you stay here too, Arwen? I like you," Elali told her.

"I like you too, Elali. I think that it is time I move back home. Someone has to help you keep the twins in line."

***Scene change***

Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel watched the scene in the garden from their room, both of them smiling as they saw the young elfling offering comfort to their granddaughter. They were both worried about her and feared that she would fade. But her heart was slowly healing and they knew that the elfling would help her with that. To see the smile and her laughing when they had fallen victim to Elali's prank, made them happy and if it had been the twins they would have not have let it go as easily as they are doing. But Elali needed time to heal from his treatment at the hand of the humans.

"She is healing, as is the young one," Celeborn told his wife. "I believe her time with us is coming to a close and she will be coming back here to stay."

Galadriel smiled at her husband. "I believe you are right. It would seem that Elali has found a home here as well. I hope it will last."

"You have seen something," Celeborn said. "What was it?"

"I have seen that he has ties to Mirkwood and the royal family there. He is a woodelf, Celeborn. Do you not see it? The trees and nature respond to his touch and they protect him, comfort him, and in time, he will hear their voices and talk with them."

"Thranduil will not let the elfling go if that is the case. He will claim the elfling and take him to Mirkwood, even if it would be better to leave Elali in Rivendell."

Galadriel nodded. "Yes. Thranduil is not what the elfling needs at this time. Nor are we right for him, as well. Elrond and his family are perfect and will provide the love and care he needs for healing. Thranduil will see his need for love and comfort as a weakness and will not listen or see Elali for who he is, but rather what he is and what he represents. The king wants the last elfling for selfish reasons. No others will be born here in Middle-Earth."

"What do we do, Galadriel?"

"There is nothing we can do, except warn Elrond about Thranduil and his claim to the child. We must also prepare the elfling for the possibility."

"Have you seen what has become of the elfling's family or his tormentors," Celeborn asked her.

"Thranduil has the answer to that mystery. And I feel that Elali does as well. I can feel the hand of the Valar on him. He is destined to be great, but only if he chooses." Galadriel replied. "Come, let us go to Elrond and speak with him. There is much I wish to talk to him about."

***Break***

Elrohir and Elladan finished cleaning up the courtyard in record time, as some other elves took pity on them and decided to help them clean up. They hurried into the gardens where they found their sister and brother playing a game of ball.

"I would be careful, little sister," Elladan said.

"The last time we played catch with that monster, we ended up in the stream," Elrohir finished.

Arwen grew concerned when her brothers called the child a monster, but it vanished when she saw that Elali was smiling. It showed how much he trusted the twins, even if he didn't realize it yet.

Elali gave Arwen his best innocent look and her heart melted. "I would never do that to you, Arwen. You are pretty and you promised to help me prank the twins!"

"Of course you wouldn't," Arwen said. "And I will help you prank the twins any time you want!"

Elrohir and Elladan looked at each other and started to laugh. "You think we are afraid of our baby sister!"

"There is no way she can prank us," Elladan added.

"And why not," Arwen said with passion, thinking that her brothers didn't believe she could come up with a good prank.

"Because you will be too busy helping us prank Ada and Elali," Elrohir said, laughing again.

"And why would I help you two? Ada and Elali, seem the team to be on. Considering that they were able to prank the Lord and Lady of the Goldenwood, something that you two haven't been able to do in your over 2200 years of life! Join you against them! I do not think so," Arwen said, laughing at them. "You two are not the master pranksters you thought you were."

The twins looked at each other and then their sister. "It's a clean sweep, he has the whole family on his side," Elladan said sadly.

"I feel so betrayed," Elrohir added. "Elali, please be kind to your poor brothers. It really is not fair that you have Ada and Arwen. Why don't you join us? The three of us would make a great team against them and all the other elves."

Elladan and Elrohir knelt in front of Elali. "We beg you, master of pranks," Elladan said in a voice like he was talking to royalty. "Take pity on us and join us in our noble quest to bring smiles to all of Middle Earth!"

"We need you, milord," Erohir added. "What say you, of mighty of all pranksters?"

During all of this Arwen and Elali were laughing. Elali looked at both twins and smiled at them. Thinking that they had won the twins smiled back.

"I say….NO," Elali said, laughing as he pushed the twins over and running off into the trees.

"Should we go after him," Arwen asked her brothers in concern.

"No, he likes going into the woods. He finds comfort in the trees. He will be back when he is ready," Elrohir told his sister.

"He may still be upset about his prank going wrong. I will admit though, it was very funny. When grandmother and grandfather came out of the fountain covered in foam," Elladan said. "I have never seen either with so much as a hair out of place! I wish we could pull something like that."

"Maybe you can convince Elali to help you with it," Arwen told her brother, who smiled at her.

***Break***

Elali sat on the root of the tree. He could feel the tree's heartbeat against his hand and the calming waves that the tree sent to him. He didn't understand why he could feel the trees this way, but he was happy he could. The trees were alive and responded to him. They at least couldn't leave me and he could feel that they wouldn't hurt him.

Elali took off the sack that held everything that he owned. He slowly reached into it and pulled out his invisibility cloak. He had been going through much of what Arwen had told him. He wanted to know that the elves really wanted him. He had the means to do that but he hadn't done anything till today, that might cause them to want to get rid of them.

He gave the tree one last pat, before putting the cloak around himself. It was a lot bigger then he remembered, but then again, he was a lot smaller then the last time he used. He slowly made his way back to the house and inside. He soon found Lord Elrond and Lord Glorfindel talking in one of the lounges. He was able to go inside in a way that he would have been unseen by the pair even if he didn't have his cloak and hide behind some plants. Neither grown elf had seen him.

Elali was getting bored though because they were talking about crops and hunting trips. He wanted to hear what they thought of him.

"Is there anything else that we need to discuss," Lord Elrond asked, as he closed the leger book. "Before we go see to our guests?"

"What are your plans concerning Elali," Glorfindel questioned his Lord. "Do Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel want him punished?"

"No, they believe that it was a well thought out prank and know it was meant for Elrohir and Elladan. Though I am sure they will not be happy if they find out that I helped Elali with the prank. The poor elfling must be scared to death about the thought that we are displeased with him. But I know I will forever treasure the image of them emerging for the fountain," Elrond said. "I am sure I will have to reassure him for the next few days that we are not unhappy with him and that he doesn't have to be afraid."

"I wish there was some way we could reassure him. If I ever get a hold of those responsible for hurting him, I will show them how I killed the Balrog," Glorfinder said hotly.

Elrond gave a heavy sigh. "I will reassure him as much as I can. He is afraid that one day I will grow tired of him and order him to leave. I do not know how to show him he is wrong. I could no more send him away, as I could my own children. I love him, Glorfinder. I love him just as much as the children I sired. I want to keep him safe, teach him, guild him, and see that he is always safe."

Glorfinder placed his hand on Elrond's shoulder. "Every elf wants that. It will take time for him to heal and to trust us. It will happen, Elrond. Come I am it is time for the evening meal and I am sure your guest are waiting for."

The two older elves left and inside his hiding place, Elali felt tears fill his eyes. Arwen was right and he felt his fears leave him. Ada really did want him and so did the other Elves in Rivendell. He didn't know about the visitors, but he didn't care about them. All that mattered is that Ada wanted him and would protect him.

Elali took his cloak off and placed it back in his sack. He slowly left his hiding place and headed towards the dining room.