Disclaimer: I own nothing. Well, I do have a copy of the book and just
about every magazine that even TALKS about the new TTT movie, but other
than that. . .
Kawaii BlueBear: Elrond doesn't like your cheerleader impressions, sorry! And Faramir appreciates your hug.
Emmithar: Yay, long review! **does happy dance, aka the time warp** I highly doubt I'm smarter than you. If you notice the right stuff, you could figure out what was up with Feanor, there's every spoiler in there! I'll point them all out next chapter. I can't answer about the illegal stuff, seeing as that would give it away an' all. Please don't mention dead stuff!! I'm still crying over the rat my kitty brought into my room last night. . .oh yay!! You figured it out! Three cheers for Emmithar! I'm not even going to bother about the two "getting hitched", as you put it. Maybe falling in love, but I mean we're talking about people not U-hauls and pickup trucks! Maybe she did need a gag, but there's a reason Arwen's so anti-mortal. I might write that story, actually. . .Faramir didn't betray her. He likes his life, and the words just. . .happened. Like his subconscious. But it wasn't a real betrayal. That would be like saying "well, they burned you, tortured you and all, but you still admitted the code so it's treason". Don't give him to the orcs! **hugs Faramir** "Don't worry, Faramir, I won't let the evil author hurt you." **glares at Emmithar** And at last SOMEONE hugged Estel, he really did need a hug. Yes, indeed Fanor means "spirit of fire"--Arwen told Estel that in the second chapter. Feanor doesn't need saving. Well, not literally of fatally or anything. Namarie!
Smeagol: Hey hey hey! Do not kill my characters when they still have parts to play! Once Boromir's part is over with, after Emmithar throws him to the orcs, you can disect what is left of him in the name of science. Okay? Faramir didn't have the strength to kick his brother "there" as he had no oxygen. You oughta stop teasing Miki about that. I mean, he'll probably run you over with his yacht (remember?). Forgiven. And you may not like this chapter, Arwen says something nice!
Elmo the Mallard: K. . .glad you liked it
Jo March: They said that on one of the TV spots for The Mummy Returns. Did you quote it intentionally?
Fool of a Took: Yes, Arwen is supposed to like Estel. But that doesn't require love at first sight. . .okay, supermarket romance-novel cliché. Big deal. Well, they don't seem whiny to me. Oh, great, my characters are unhappy and you call it "very good". People are so strange (I'm just kidding, by the way). You know, Feanor isn't in serious trouble. I mean, she's running away, but she's in no mortal peril. And thank you for the command that I write more ASAP, while it was a bit annoying it's nice to know when people enjoy the story.
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly."
--The Beatles, Blackbird
*****
Feanor/Chandra wrapped her arms around the branch, then let her legs swing out. She scrambled up onto the branch, securely footed, then carefully but hastily balanced her way to the trunk. She got down on her knees, then lowered herself to the next branch. It was dark out, and her progress was slow. When her feet hit soil, she visibly relaxed.
"Chandra!" Someone called her name, not loudly but as loudly as they dared. She paused, not sure if she should hide, run, or stay. "Please wait!" It was Faramir. She waited for him. When he caught up to her, he was panting. She knew something was wrong. "I didn't mean it! I never meant it, Chandra, you must believe--"
"What's happened, Faramir? What's going on?" She was worried, she knew him and she knew that if he was acting this way there was surely something amiss--something dangerous, something very bad. She had to know what it was.
"I told Boromir," Faramir admitted. I never meant it, I swear to you, Chandra, but he made me! He'd've killed me, you don't know him--"
Anger flared up inside Chandra, a sense of betrayal, but only moments later it was squelched. It wasn't Faramir's fault. She put a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Faramir. I do know." Indeed, she had seen the young boy many times abused at the hands of his brother. The bigger of the two would have his way. Faramir breathed a sigh of relief.
"He'll have my skin for this moment, but I am glad I told you."
"You must come with me, Faramir!" What was wrong with her? No cares, she reminded herself, no cares meant no heartbreak. But the words were out, and it would be wrong to take them back. "Come now, and let us not look back."
Faramir struggled to decide. He cared very much for Chandra, she had always been kind and done what she could for him. Life with his brother was awful, he had the scars to prove that. "All right. Let's go."
*****
"Father!" Boromir exclaimed, throwing open the door to Denethor's quarters. "I must speak with you!"
"What could be so urgent, my son?" Denethor questioned calmly. Boromir often became excited over small matters. This might easily be a new sword trick.
"Do you recall Chandra?" Boromir watched his father's absent expression as the man thought for a moment. It was clear he did not remember. "She ran away a few months ago, she--"
"Oh, yes, her! What of her?"
"She is here. In Rivendell, in the house of Elrond."
"What!" The man was incensed, and rose immediately to speak with the Elven lord. Boromir only grinned.
*****
Estel cursed himself. How could he have forgotten her shock, her tears? Was he that self-absorbed? He didn't have time for those thoughts, and shoved them from his mind as he rushed down corridors. Ahead of him, Feanor's door opened with the wind. He drew in a sharp breath, afraid of why that wind was there. Lying his palm flat on the door, his fears were realized.
"Oh, no," he moaned softly. She had been upset and she had run. He had seen her pain, and he had forgotten it with his own. Now he would pay the price for it. "I have to find her," he said to himself.
Not for nothing was Estel one of the Rangers of the north. Mere minutes took him to the ground outside Feanor's window. Glancing about him, he saw that her only escape route could've been the tree. Small footsteps around the base of the plant proved his suspicions correct. Not far off, there was a convergence. Feanor wasn't alone when she headed off again.
*****
"So, what about Estel?"
"Estel. . ." Feanor/Chandra thought about him. "What about him?"
"You don't miss him?" Faramir asked. He hadn't spoken since they headed out, and it would have been fine with Feanor/Chandra if he didn't start now. She didn't mind, though, knowing he would be silent when he was ready to be alone with his thoughts.
"Estel was the first person who was nice to me in my entire life--after you, of course. He knew about what I am--what I **was**" she corrected before going on, "and he didn't treat me differently. Even though he's King of Gondor."
"Then what's this running about?"
"It's about you telling Boromir who I am." Faramir fell silent. Feanor/Chandra realized how bluntly she had spoken. "I'm sorry. That's the truth of it, though, and while I know it isn't your fault I cannot return. Oh, but I do miss him."
"Miss who, Chandra?"
"Estel. He. . .he cared about me. It didn't matter to him what I was or where I came from. Estel always protected me, with no reason to. He taught me how to read and write, and do sums. I never knew those things before, in fact I hardly even knew they existed. It's like he opened the world."
*****
"What do you mean by this?" Denethor demanded. Elrond suppressed a sigh. The human was red-faced, probably in anger but possibly in drink.
"Mean by what?"
"Concealing that girl!" Denethor roared. He really must be drunk, Elrond decided.
"If you speak of Estel--"
"I speak of her! You had a name for the wretch--Feanor, something like that. What do you mean by keeping her here?"
"Feanor was brought to me for medical reasons, she is here in recovery. I never concealed her, no one ever asked after her."
"Do you have any idea who that child is?"
"Of course," Elrond replied, "and seeing as you seem to know so much it would be best if she were kept away from you."
Denethor shook with wordless anger. When he could finally speak again, he answered, "Where's my son then? Faramir went to see her and hasn't come back since. What has she--or you--done with my boy?"
"Probably simply spoken to him. Estel is with Feanor now, he had something he wanted to say to her."
"What did he wish to say?"
"What business of mine is that?"
"That girl is mine and anything having to do with her is my business!"
"Gondor has no laws against such practices? Last I was there, they did. Perhaps you were unaware?" Denethor had no response to this. "What's so important about this girl to you? Surely you are not afraid that she would tell of you unlawful actions--"
"She isn't lawful either, leaving like that!"
"What is it you want with that girl?"
Denethor curled his fists. He clenched his teeth. And then he answered truthfully.
*****
". . .opened the world." Estel paused. He had no idea Feanor felt that way. In his mind, he was providing some basis for education, and he never taught her sums--she taught him! If she knew that, whatever was wrong with her or had happened, he didn't care, what would she say? Would she return to Rivendell?
"You make him out to be a saint."
"To me, he was. I will miss him for the rest of my life, I suppose. Now that he knows who I am and I know who he is, he will not accept me."
"Feanor!" Estel stepped up to the two. Faramir looked questioningly to Feanor, who shook her head. "Please wait. Don't miss me for the rest of your life. I do not care who you are."
"What are you doing out here, Estel?" Feanor asked.
"Stopping you from doing something you'll regret." Estel shrugged.
"Why are you always protecting me?" she asked. "I can protect myself sometimes."
"I feel another loyalty. Not to you, but to someone else. Someone wants you to be protected." Estel hadn't thought about those words. He didn't even know who that somebody was. "Just come back, and we can work everything out. It'll all be okay."
Feanor looked to Faramir, who nodded. "All right Estel. Let's go back." She didn't know why, but she trusted him and wanted to do something for him. He wanted so badly for her to go back, so she would go back. She would turn around and face what was ahead. As if he knew what she was thinking, Estel Estel squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
"I'll be there to face it with you."
*****
The knock on the twins' door brought all three siblings back to reality. They looked for one to the other, neither wanting to leave the comfort of knowing they were all there for each other. (a/n: if that made any sense) "I'll go," Arwen said. They all knew it was probably their ada, so there was no real point not answering. Arwen got up and opened the door, then quietly left the room.
"Elladan? Elrohir?" The two looked up. "I really wanted to apologize for what's happened recently and--and how I've acted." Now that Faramir had gone off to find his brother and Feanor had fallen into a state of repose-- Estel would never admit it, but she looked sweet when she slept--there were a few things that needed clearing up. "For one, yelling at you, Elladan, when you were asking what was wrong. Elrohir, for ignoring you when you told me it was all okay."
"You heard?" Elrohir asked, worried. It was his fault then--Estel hadn't known, and when Elrohir said all those dumb things Estel decided to find out what he meant--
"I knew already, Elrohir. I heard what you said, and if I hadn't been so hardened and stupid it would have meant something to me--something more than I can really explain." The twins glanced at each other.
"Estel, c'mere a minute," Elladan said. Estel obeyed, crossing the room slowly to stand before his brother. "What beag could stay mad at you?" Elladan asked, hugging Estel, close to suffocating him.
"I--I can't breathe. . ." Estel's body went limp.
"Quit the act, we've seen it a million times," Elrohir said. Estel didn't respond. "Estel? Es-tel?" The two glanced at each other. Sure, Estel could keep his eyes closed, "But can he keep his mouth closed?" Unfortunately for the highly ticklish human, he could not.
*****
Arwen listened to the boys' laughter as she stared wistfully out the window. Why did she have to be sent away to Lothlorien when Estel came? Why had she not been allowed the fun the twins had? She had been that carefree, once, before Estel came. She still could be, if Galadriel hadn't been so. . .
"It may be difficult to see, but she never meant to hurt you."
Arwen turned around, and shook her head. "I know, Ada. I missed you and the boys in Lothlorien. I never understood why I had to go."
"Though she rarely reveals what she has seen, everything Galadriel does is for the best."
"I know. Where have you been all this night? Has Denethor's ranting been that interesting?"
Elrond ignored Arwen's sarcasm. "Business things. No, Denethor's rant was not at all interesting." He would've said more, but was cut off by a shriek from the other room.
"I really am going to pass out this time!" Estel screamed through laughter and giggles.
"You had better go make sure they don't kill him," Arwen said.
"Unfortunately, that is so. Arwen, what's bothering you?"
"The death of a brother," she answered. Elrond didn't ask further, he knew she'd say what she needed to say. He didn't miss Arwen's reference, however, to Estel as a brother.
Kawaii BlueBear: Elrond doesn't like your cheerleader impressions, sorry! And Faramir appreciates your hug.
Emmithar: Yay, long review! **does happy dance, aka the time warp** I highly doubt I'm smarter than you. If you notice the right stuff, you could figure out what was up with Feanor, there's every spoiler in there! I'll point them all out next chapter. I can't answer about the illegal stuff, seeing as that would give it away an' all. Please don't mention dead stuff!! I'm still crying over the rat my kitty brought into my room last night. . .oh yay!! You figured it out! Three cheers for Emmithar! I'm not even going to bother about the two "getting hitched", as you put it. Maybe falling in love, but I mean we're talking about people not U-hauls and pickup trucks! Maybe she did need a gag, but there's a reason Arwen's so anti-mortal. I might write that story, actually. . .Faramir didn't betray her. He likes his life, and the words just. . .happened. Like his subconscious. But it wasn't a real betrayal. That would be like saying "well, they burned you, tortured you and all, but you still admitted the code so it's treason". Don't give him to the orcs! **hugs Faramir** "Don't worry, Faramir, I won't let the evil author hurt you." **glares at Emmithar** And at last SOMEONE hugged Estel, he really did need a hug. Yes, indeed Fanor means "spirit of fire"--Arwen told Estel that in the second chapter. Feanor doesn't need saving. Well, not literally of fatally or anything. Namarie!
Smeagol: Hey hey hey! Do not kill my characters when they still have parts to play! Once Boromir's part is over with, after Emmithar throws him to the orcs, you can disect what is left of him in the name of science. Okay? Faramir didn't have the strength to kick his brother "there" as he had no oxygen. You oughta stop teasing Miki about that. I mean, he'll probably run you over with his yacht (remember?). Forgiven. And you may not like this chapter, Arwen says something nice!
Elmo the Mallard: K. . .glad you liked it
Jo March: They said that on one of the TV spots for The Mummy Returns. Did you quote it intentionally?
Fool of a Took: Yes, Arwen is supposed to like Estel. But that doesn't require love at first sight. . .okay, supermarket romance-novel cliché. Big deal. Well, they don't seem whiny to me. Oh, great, my characters are unhappy and you call it "very good". People are so strange (I'm just kidding, by the way). You know, Feanor isn't in serious trouble. I mean, she's running away, but she's in no mortal peril. And thank you for the command that I write more ASAP, while it was a bit annoying it's nice to know when people enjoy the story.
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly."
--The Beatles, Blackbird
*****
Feanor/Chandra wrapped her arms around the branch, then let her legs swing out. She scrambled up onto the branch, securely footed, then carefully but hastily balanced her way to the trunk. She got down on her knees, then lowered herself to the next branch. It was dark out, and her progress was slow. When her feet hit soil, she visibly relaxed.
"Chandra!" Someone called her name, not loudly but as loudly as they dared. She paused, not sure if she should hide, run, or stay. "Please wait!" It was Faramir. She waited for him. When he caught up to her, he was panting. She knew something was wrong. "I didn't mean it! I never meant it, Chandra, you must believe--"
"What's happened, Faramir? What's going on?" She was worried, she knew him and she knew that if he was acting this way there was surely something amiss--something dangerous, something very bad. She had to know what it was.
"I told Boromir," Faramir admitted. I never meant it, I swear to you, Chandra, but he made me! He'd've killed me, you don't know him--"
Anger flared up inside Chandra, a sense of betrayal, but only moments later it was squelched. It wasn't Faramir's fault. She put a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Faramir. I do know." Indeed, she had seen the young boy many times abused at the hands of his brother. The bigger of the two would have his way. Faramir breathed a sigh of relief.
"He'll have my skin for this moment, but I am glad I told you."
"You must come with me, Faramir!" What was wrong with her? No cares, she reminded herself, no cares meant no heartbreak. But the words were out, and it would be wrong to take them back. "Come now, and let us not look back."
Faramir struggled to decide. He cared very much for Chandra, she had always been kind and done what she could for him. Life with his brother was awful, he had the scars to prove that. "All right. Let's go."
*****
"Father!" Boromir exclaimed, throwing open the door to Denethor's quarters. "I must speak with you!"
"What could be so urgent, my son?" Denethor questioned calmly. Boromir often became excited over small matters. This might easily be a new sword trick.
"Do you recall Chandra?" Boromir watched his father's absent expression as the man thought for a moment. It was clear he did not remember. "She ran away a few months ago, she--"
"Oh, yes, her! What of her?"
"She is here. In Rivendell, in the house of Elrond."
"What!" The man was incensed, and rose immediately to speak with the Elven lord. Boromir only grinned.
*****
Estel cursed himself. How could he have forgotten her shock, her tears? Was he that self-absorbed? He didn't have time for those thoughts, and shoved them from his mind as he rushed down corridors. Ahead of him, Feanor's door opened with the wind. He drew in a sharp breath, afraid of why that wind was there. Lying his palm flat on the door, his fears were realized.
"Oh, no," he moaned softly. She had been upset and she had run. He had seen her pain, and he had forgotten it with his own. Now he would pay the price for it. "I have to find her," he said to himself.
Not for nothing was Estel one of the Rangers of the north. Mere minutes took him to the ground outside Feanor's window. Glancing about him, he saw that her only escape route could've been the tree. Small footsteps around the base of the plant proved his suspicions correct. Not far off, there was a convergence. Feanor wasn't alone when she headed off again.
*****
"So, what about Estel?"
"Estel. . ." Feanor/Chandra thought about him. "What about him?"
"You don't miss him?" Faramir asked. He hadn't spoken since they headed out, and it would have been fine with Feanor/Chandra if he didn't start now. She didn't mind, though, knowing he would be silent when he was ready to be alone with his thoughts.
"Estel was the first person who was nice to me in my entire life--after you, of course. He knew about what I am--what I **was**" she corrected before going on, "and he didn't treat me differently. Even though he's King of Gondor."
"Then what's this running about?"
"It's about you telling Boromir who I am." Faramir fell silent. Feanor/Chandra realized how bluntly she had spoken. "I'm sorry. That's the truth of it, though, and while I know it isn't your fault I cannot return. Oh, but I do miss him."
"Miss who, Chandra?"
"Estel. He. . .he cared about me. It didn't matter to him what I was or where I came from. Estel always protected me, with no reason to. He taught me how to read and write, and do sums. I never knew those things before, in fact I hardly even knew they existed. It's like he opened the world."
*****
"What do you mean by this?" Denethor demanded. Elrond suppressed a sigh. The human was red-faced, probably in anger but possibly in drink.
"Mean by what?"
"Concealing that girl!" Denethor roared. He really must be drunk, Elrond decided.
"If you speak of Estel--"
"I speak of her! You had a name for the wretch--Feanor, something like that. What do you mean by keeping her here?"
"Feanor was brought to me for medical reasons, she is here in recovery. I never concealed her, no one ever asked after her."
"Do you have any idea who that child is?"
"Of course," Elrond replied, "and seeing as you seem to know so much it would be best if she were kept away from you."
Denethor shook with wordless anger. When he could finally speak again, he answered, "Where's my son then? Faramir went to see her and hasn't come back since. What has she--or you--done with my boy?"
"Probably simply spoken to him. Estel is with Feanor now, he had something he wanted to say to her."
"What did he wish to say?"
"What business of mine is that?"
"That girl is mine and anything having to do with her is my business!"
"Gondor has no laws against such practices? Last I was there, they did. Perhaps you were unaware?" Denethor had no response to this. "What's so important about this girl to you? Surely you are not afraid that she would tell of you unlawful actions--"
"She isn't lawful either, leaving like that!"
"What is it you want with that girl?"
Denethor curled his fists. He clenched his teeth. And then he answered truthfully.
*****
". . .opened the world." Estel paused. He had no idea Feanor felt that way. In his mind, he was providing some basis for education, and he never taught her sums--she taught him! If she knew that, whatever was wrong with her or had happened, he didn't care, what would she say? Would she return to Rivendell?
"You make him out to be a saint."
"To me, he was. I will miss him for the rest of my life, I suppose. Now that he knows who I am and I know who he is, he will not accept me."
"Feanor!" Estel stepped up to the two. Faramir looked questioningly to Feanor, who shook her head. "Please wait. Don't miss me for the rest of your life. I do not care who you are."
"What are you doing out here, Estel?" Feanor asked.
"Stopping you from doing something you'll regret." Estel shrugged.
"Why are you always protecting me?" she asked. "I can protect myself sometimes."
"I feel another loyalty. Not to you, but to someone else. Someone wants you to be protected." Estel hadn't thought about those words. He didn't even know who that somebody was. "Just come back, and we can work everything out. It'll all be okay."
Feanor looked to Faramir, who nodded. "All right Estel. Let's go back." She didn't know why, but she trusted him and wanted to do something for him. He wanted so badly for her to go back, so she would go back. She would turn around and face what was ahead. As if he knew what she was thinking, Estel Estel squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
"I'll be there to face it with you."
*****
The knock on the twins' door brought all three siblings back to reality. They looked for one to the other, neither wanting to leave the comfort of knowing they were all there for each other. (a/n: if that made any sense) "I'll go," Arwen said. They all knew it was probably their ada, so there was no real point not answering. Arwen got up and opened the door, then quietly left the room.
"Elladan? Elrohir?" The two looked up. "I really wanted to apologize for what's happened recently and--and how I've acted." Now that Faramir had gone off to find his brother and Feanor had fallen into a state of repose-- Estel would never admit it, but she looked sweet when she slept--there were a few things that needed clearing up. "For one, yelling at you, Elladan, when you were asking what was wrong. Elrohir, for ignoring you when you told me it was all okay."
"You heard?" Elrohir asked, worried. It was his fault then--Estel hadn't known, and when Elrohir said all those dumb things Estel decided to find out what he meant--
"I knew already, Elrohir. I heard what you said, and if I hadn't been so hardened and stupid it would have meant something to me--something more than I can really explain." The twins glanced at each other.
"Estel, c'mere a minute," Elladan said. Estel obeyed, crossing the room slowly to stand before his brother. "What beag could stay mad at you?" Elladan asked, hugging Estel, close to suffocating him.
"I--I can't breathe. . ." Estel's body went limp.
"Quit the act, we've seen it a million times," Elrohir said. Estel didn't respond. "Estel? Es-tel?" The two glanced at each other. Sure, Estel could keep his eyes closed, "But can he keep his mouth closed?" Unfortunately for the highly ticklish human, he could not.
*****
Arwen listened to the boys' laughter as she stared wistfully out the window. Why did she have to be sent away to Lothlorien when Estel came? Why had she not been allowed the fun the twins had? She had been that carefree, once, before Estel came. She still could be, if Galadriel hadn't been so. . .
"It may be difficult to see, but she never meant to hurt you."
Arwen turned around, and shook her head. "I know, Ada. I missed you and the boys in Lothlorien. I never understood why I had to go."
"Though she rarely reveals what she has seen, everything Galadriel does is for the best."
"I know. Where have you been all this night? Has Denethor's ranting been that interesting?"
Elrond ignored Arwen's sarcasm. "Business things. No, Denethor's rant was not at all interesting." He would've said more, but was cut off by a shriek from the other room.
"I really am going to pass out this time!" Estel screamed through laughter and giggles.
"You had better go make sure they don't kill him," Arwen said.
"Unfortunately, that is so. Arwen, what's bothering you?"
"The death of a brother," she answered. Elrond didn't ask further, he knew she'd say what she needed to say. He didn't miss Arwen's reference, however, to Estel as a brother.