HI, everyone! I don't own LOTR. Yes, here is another Estel/sick fic. Yes, I'm a sucker for medical drama hurt/comfort stories. Hope you like this one too. I intend to try to keep it short.

This one is along the same timeline from my other story Ada Will Make It Better, except this takes place four years later and Estel is 11, becoming a young man now.

Reviews are appreciated!

"We're going now." Elrohir announced inside Estel's bedroom. The sun was barely rising over the valley. The two older sons of Elrond were going out again to hunt Orcs. Although Estel was 11-years-old now and becoming a young man, he was still not fully ready to join them, much to his disappointment.

"Mph." Estel grunted, under the covers. If he couldn't join them, then he wasn't going to wish them any luck!

"No 'I hope you don't get wrecked'? No 'I'll be grownup by the time you get back'?" Elrohir pretended to pout.

That never works, Estel moped. It's always the same. I always get left behind.

"I think he's ignoring us, brother." Elladan said.

"How rude." Elrohir sighed. Of course they always dreaded Estel's moodiness when they had to leave, but they preferred to somehow cheer him up and depart on good terms. "You leave me no choice." He shifted to the bed and Elladan on the other side. Together, they roughly drew back the covers and dove at Estel, tickling him. Estel yelped and squirmed under their expert hands. Elladan was going for the bottom of his feet while Elrohir attacked his sides and ribs, which he knew were extremely ticklish.

"Ohohoho! Get off! Cut it out-haha!" Estel laughed, even though he didn't want to.

"Well, are you awake now, little brother?" Elrohir growled down at him.

"Yes, yes! Thanks to y-ohoho, stop already!" Estel begged, arching his back.

"We could've been halfway out of the valley by now, if you hadn't taken up our time sleeping while we could've said our goodbyes." Elladan said 'sternly', lightly brushing his clawed hand up Estel's belly, making him gasp and giggle, grabbing his big brother's hand.

"You go without me, which is not fair. So, I'm just returning the favor." Estel huffed.

"Sourpuss." Elrohir teased. "Well, we couldn't go this time without getting a laugh out of you."

"That was most uncalled for." Estel narrowed his eyes, hugging himself now that they'd released him.

"Well, we best be going. We will be back in four days." Elladan said.

"I know, I know." Estel grumbled.

"Don't get into any real mischief til we return." Elrohir ruffled Estel's hair.

"Stop!" Estel growled in annoyance, shoving his hand away.

"Well, we care about you too." Elrohir muttered sarcastically. "Bye!"

"Goodbye!" Estel hollered, hiding his head under his pillow as his older brothers left the room, laughing. Estel muttered incoherently and went back to sleep.

"Ada, why can't I come with you this time?" Estel whined. Elrond sighed. Estel wasn't really a little child anymore. He was growing into a bright young man. But he was still a child.

"Because, you must keep training with Glorfindel so that you can defend yourself properly." Elrond replied. Estel could handle small predators with his small sword. But he was nowhere close to being able to defend himself properly against Orcs or other such filth.

Elrond had to leave Imladris for a couple days to visit a human village West of the valley. The people there had recently been plagued with scarlet fever and he was going to do what he could as the town doctor was the only healer there and he was spent. He'd sent word to Rivendell, begging for Elrond's help. He knew the elf lord was a great healer, and the human physician was at his wit's end trying to snuff out the disease and help the surviving patients recover.

"I'd rather help you." Estel said sadly. Elrond smiled fondly and rubbed the back of his son's head.

"I appreciate that, Estel. But you have already been a tremendous help to me." Elrond told him. "Helping me pack whatever medical supplies I will need, herbs, instruments...not to mention the potion ingredients you brought to me that I nearly forgot about! You're a fine boy, Estel. You will make a great healer someday. Just think right now of all the lives you are helping save, just by making sure I am well equipped."

Estel smiled proudly at his father's praise. He was always eager to demonstrate what he'd learned, anxious to gain approval that he'd done his best. And Elrond did not throw praise around lightly. He knew quality when he saw it. "I'm always happy to help." Estel said.

"That's my boy." Elrond beamed with pride.

Estel was sad to see Elrond go. He was going to be staying at the Homely House, and help Glorfindel and Erestor look after it in Elrond's absence. "I hate being left behind." Estel murmured glumly with his arms crossed.

"I know, Estel. But your father wants you safe." Glorfindel said, standing beside him.

"I know." Estel rolled his eyes.

"Hey, now. With the rate you are going with your training, it will not be that much longer before you are qualified to accompany your brothers or your father!" Glorfindel nudged Estel in the head. "Come. Let's go to the training fields."

Estel was dripping with sweat and his muscles were sore from such vigorous exercise. But he managed to land a daring block up against Glorfindel's sword, surprising even the balrog slayer. "Excellent, Estel!" He praised. "Even I didn't see that coming!" Estel, though thoroughly pleased with the words of encouragement, did not show it. One of the most important lessons the captain had taught him, was to not let himself get distracted, whether by provocation or praise. He'd learned that lesson the hard way too many times already. Keeping his eyes focused forward on his opponent, Estel raised his sword directly under Glorfindel's hilt, knocking it from his hand and without warning, he turned on his heel and elbowed the captain hard in the gut so that he stumbled backward.

"I'm afraid you are becoming too much for me to handle, penneth!" Glorfindel smiled. "You have outdone me." Estel twirled his sword and set it in his sheath. "Just where did you learn that move?"

"Oh, just a friend." Estel shrugged innocently.

Legolas, I might have known, Glorfindel thought to himself fondly. Wood-elves. Them and their foxy tricks. "Masterful lesson today, penneth." He slapped Estel on the back. "But I am famished. Let's call it a day and head back for some lunch, shall we?"

"I thought you would never ask!" Estel declared. He started to follow the captain but was halted abruptly when he felt a jabbing pain in his lower side. He held his side, slightly breathing hard, trying to make it go away. Glorfindel turned back when he heard the slight cry of surprise.

"Are you alright, Estel?" He asked with concern.

"Y-yeah. Sure." Estel nodded quickly. Thankfully, at that moment the pain went away and he breathed with relief. But Glorfindel had noticed how rigid he was. He stepped over to him.

"You're not falling ill on me, are you, penneth?" He asked, feeling the boy's forehead.

"No. It's nothing." Estel smiled.

"Mmm." Glorfindel grunted. "Could be your muscles don't agree with me on proper endurance building. You're most likely sore from our session."

"Right. Let's go." Estel agreed and started to walk forward but his shoulder was clasped hard.

"Estel, if it happens again, or you start to feel ill, come to me right away! Do you understand?" Glorfindel stressed seriously, with his balrog killer look.

"Yes. I wouldn't want to burst into flames from that killer of a glare you are sending my way!" Estel teased. Glorfindel nodded and followed the boy.

Elrond's son would not come to any harm on his watch!