Disclaimer: I own nothing. Tolkien owns all.
Summary: Young and curious, Estel discovers his identity a little early, and a newcomer teaches his a few things about Gondor.
****************************
"Estel, not now," Elladan said, shooing the teen away.
"But you said you'd help me--" the human began to protest, but was cut off.
"Things have changed, I have something to do. Now, go on and find something to do. I'll help you with the numbers and formulas later."
"All right, Elladan," the dejected boy submitted, and left his brother's room.
Not knowing what else to do, he went down to the river and trailed his toes in the water, struggling to grasp the formulas on the pages in front of him. The letters and numbers seemed to dance around, taunting him. Angry, the insecure boy heaved the book as hard as he could, happy to hear the heavy thud as the book hit a tree across the river. At least he could throw better than either of the twins could.
"Estel." Immediately the boy realized what he had done, and blushed. Hearing his name brought him back from his blind rage. "Go get the book," Elrond told him. Estel did as he was told, and handed the book to Elrond. The condition of the book wasn't very good, but it would still do for Estel's studies. "Do you care to explain yourself?"
"No," an angry, angsty, rebelious Estel said, gazing at the grass. How could he explain to the elf? It wasn't that he didn't respect the scholars who had written down all the things in the book, but he didn't see why *he* had to learn it.
"I know it is difficult, Estel, but you must learn these things. They will have great baring on your future," a somewhat hurt Elrond consoled in a detached manner.
"Yes, sir," Estel said, digging up the grass with his toes, his momentary flare of anger dissipated. He trudged back up to Imaldris, feeling despondent. It was all because of that dumb book!
As he passed by Elladan's room he paused, hearing his name. "Do you think he'll ever do it?" Elrohir was asking.
"When he learns who he is, it will change his attitude, I am sure," responded Elrohir. Estel took in a slow breath. Who he was? Who was he? "What was that?"
Estel started, and hurried off down the corridor. He slipped into his own room, shut the door, and sank onto the bed. The curiousity that chewed daily at his brain had, as if an anesthetic had worn off, gone from a dull ache to a roaring pain. Now he had more questions than ever about his past, and he was more determined than ever to answer them. And he knew just when to do it.
**********
Estel plastered himself against the wall. Despite the fact that Elrond and the twins were eating dinner, he was still afraid to be caught. He was just 12 yards from Elrond's study, and desperate to reach it. He glanced to his left, to his right, took a deep breath, and ran on tiptoes to the study door. Pushing the door open, he slithered inside.
"All right, where is it?" he said quietly through his teeth. Stealthily he slid open Elrond's drawers and sorted through them, careful to leave things as he found them. The teenager felt time slipping away, despite the fact that he had nearly half an hour left he thought he had only minutes. Finally he came across just what he needed.
A pang of guilt shot through the youth's chest. He didn't feel right opening a letter that belonged to the man who had been his father. "No! You've always wondered, you've got what you want now. This is no time to back down!" he gave himself a quick pep-talk, and finally removed the old paper from its envelope.
**********
Estel had been staring at the words for far too long. Now he heard voices coming towards him. His head jerked up sharply, and he began to panic. Replacing the letter back into the envelope, he shoved back where it belonged and stood innocently as Elrond and Elladan entered.
"Estel?" asked Elrond.
"I--I--I--" Frantically, he scanned his brain. He found nothing, but words tumbled out anyway. "I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. It was immature of me and I'll try not to do that sort of thing in the future." He meant it, too.
"Well," Elrond seemed pleased with this. "It's quite all right, Estel so long as you know what you've done wrong. Now, go on off to bed."
Estel was all too pleased to obey. He flew down the hall, rushed into his room, and got into bed, burying his head in the pillow. He couldn't believe what he'd read. He was Isildur's heir!
So, how was that chapter? I promise, it'll get better, but only if you review! Flames are always welcome.
Summary: Young and curious, Estel discovers his identity a little early, and a newcomer teaches his a few things about Gondor.
****************************
"Estel, not now," Elladan said, shooing the teen away.
"But you said you'd help me--" the human began to protest, but was cut off.
"Things have changed, I have something to do. Now, go on and find something to do. I'll help you with the numbers and formulas later."
"All right, Elladan," the dejected boy submitted, and left his brother's room.
Not knowing what else to do, he went down to the river and trailed his toes in the water, struggling to grasp the formulas on the pages in front of him. The letters and numbers seemed to dance around, taunting him. Angry, the insecure boy heaved the book as hard as he could, happy to hear the heavy thud as the book hit a tree across the river. At least he could throw better than either of the twins could.
"Estel." Immediately the boy realized what he had done, and blushed. Hearing his name brought him back from his blind rage. "Go get the book," Elrond told him. Estel did as he was told, and handed the book to Elrond. The condition of the book wasn't very good, but it would still do for Estel's studies. "Do you care to explain yourself?"
"No," an angry, angsty, rebelious Estel said, gazing at the grass. How could he explain to the elf? It wasn't that he didn't respect the scholars who had written down all the things in the book, but he didn't see why *he* had to learn it.
"I know it is difficult, Estel, but you must learn these things. They will have great baring on your future," a somewhat hurt Elrond consoled in a detached manner.
"Yes, sir," Estel said, digging up the grass with his toes, his momentary flare of anger dissipated. He trudged back up to Imaldris, feeling despondent. It was all because of that dumb book!
As he passed by Elladan's room he paused, hearing his name. "Do you think he'll ever do it?" Elrohir was asking.
"When he learns who he is, it will change his attitude, I am sure," responded Elrohir. Estel took in a slow breath. Who he was? Who was he? "What was that?"
Estel started, and hurried off down the corridor. He slipped into his own room, shut the door, and sank onto the bed. The curiousity that chewed daily at his brain had, as if an anesthetic had worn off, gone from a dull ache to a roaring pain. Now he had more questions than ever about his past, and he was more determined than ever to answer them. And he knew just when to do it.
**********
Estel plastered himself against the wall. Despite the fact that Elrond and the twins were eating dinner, he was still afraid to be caught. He was just 12 yards from Elrond's study, and desperate to reach it. He glanced to his left, to his right, took a deep breath, and ran on tiptoes to the study door. Pushing the door open, he slithered inside.
"All right, where is it?" he said quietly through his teeth. Stealthily he slid open Elrond's drawers and sorted through them, careful to leave things as he found them. The teenager felt time slipping away, despite the fact that he had nearly half an hour left he thought he had only minutes. Finally he came across just what he needed.
A pang of guilt shot through the youth's chest. He didn't feel right opening a letter that belonged to the man who had been his father. "No! You've always wondered, you've got what you want now. This is no time to back down!" he gave himself a quick pep-talk, and finally removed the old paper from its envelope.
**********
Estel had been staring at the words for far too long. Now he heard voices coming towards him. His head jerked up sharply, and he began to panic. Replacing the letter back into the envelope, he shoved back where it belonged and stood innocently as Elrond and Elladan entered.
"Estel?" asked Elrond.
"I--I--I--" Frantically, he scanned his brain. He found nothing, but words tumbled out anyway. "I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. It was immature of me and I'll try not to do that sort of thing in the future." He meant it, too.
"Well," Elrond seemed pleased with this. "It's quite all right, Estel so long as you know what you've done wrong. Now, go on off to bed."
Estel was all too pleased to obey. He flew down the hall, rushed into his room, and got into bed, burying his head in the pillow. He couldn't believe what he'd read. He was Isildur's heir!
So, how was that chapter? I promise, it'll get better, but only if you review! Flames are always welcome.