Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, ect. belong to me. They are the
property of the Tolkiens. I am not making any money and am writing just for
the pure fun.
Is it safe? Does anyone else have hidden swords or wolves that I should know about? Ok, if no one is after my life at this moment than I shall continue.
Author's Note: Thank you all very much for your wonderful reviews. They really mean a lot to me and I am glad that you are enjoying the story. Sorry for the slight cliffhanger on the last chapter, but I wanted to see if I could write one. *innocent smile* The more that I write, the more I realize that the title of my story no longer really fits, but I have yet to come up with another one. Also, I now realize that Lothlorien is a pretty far distance and so let us all just assume that while it is unlikely that the twins could make it there and back in the given time, it is possible. About the dictionary.I think I'll look into a new one. All right, I guess you are all wondering about poor little Estel so without further ado here it is.
Chapter 5
***
Elrond's shoulders slumped forward as he rested his head in the palms of his hands. 'How did this happen? Why did this happen? I knew he would die one day, but his future was so important.' He felt a hand on his shoulder but did not lift his head.
"Elrond, what is wrong?" Legolas asked from behind him.
"Tis Estel. Can you not see? He-He is." Elrond could not finish. There was simply too much grief filling his heart.
"Nay, Lord, I do not understand." Legolas did not even attempt to hide his confusion. Elrond sighed. He was annoyed that the prince could not see the obvious and even more so at the fact that he would have to explain it to him. He lifted his head from his hands and looked with a tear stained face at the form of his youngest. He blinked, shook his head, and blinked again. The small chest was rising and falling. It was not even or deep, but it was moving.
"He is alive! Estel is alive!" Elrond cried as the weight of grief fell from his shoulders. He stood up smiling and turned toward a bewildered Legolas who was beginning to suspect insanity.
"Elrond, maybe you should." Legolas started but Elrond would not let him finish. He looked the prince squarely in the eyes and let his smile broaden.
"Legolas, he had stopped breathing. I thought him to be dead. He was gone, but somehow he managed to come back, or maybe he never left at all. I will never be sure, but." Elrond stopped in mid sentence when he realized that he was babbling and quickly regained his composure. Legolas' eyes flashed in understanding and he opened his mouth to comment on the elder elf's loss of control, but wisely choose to remain silent.
"Now again there is hope, but I pray that Elladan and Elrohir will return soon. I do not know how much longer Estel will last." Elrond remarked as he moved over to the table and gathered a bowl and cloth. Legolas returned to the couch and watched as the father gently began to tend to his son. As Elrond quietly began to sing, Legolas drifted off to a much-needed sleep.
***
(Three days later)
It had been almost a full ten days since the twins had left. They had not returned and Elrond feared that Estel would soon leave them permanently. It was late night and Elrond was pacing in front of the fireplace just like Elladan had done ten days before. Legolas was in a chair next to Estel's bed with a worried look on his face. They had each done everything possible to prolong Estel's life and to ease his pain, but without the antidote they could do no more.
Suddenly, the door burst open and two very dirty, very tired elves appeared. Their eyes drifted from the bed to Legolas to Elrond.
"Ada, are we too late?" Elrohir asked anxiously. He had a small leather bag grasped tightly in his hand and there was true fear in his eyes.
"Nay, my sons, you are just in time. We may yet be able to save Estel. You both have done well and I am glad that you have returned. Here let me have the herb." Elrond said as he quickly moved toward his sons. Elrohir held out the bag, which Elrond took and swiftly walked over to the small table where his supplies were.
"Legolas, please get some hot water as quickly as you can." Elrond ordered as he began to grind up a handful of the plant. The twins drifted over to their brother's bed and looked down at the small, pale human. 'How could he still live?' they wondered together. His lips were a pale blue, there were more black splotches then ashen skin, and his chest barely rose and shakily fell. Elrohir reached out and touched Estel's forehead only to pull back in surprise at the heat. Just then Legolas reappeared with a clay jug of steaming water.
"Thank you, Legolas." Elrond said as he took the jug and filled a cup with the contents. He paused only a moment to measure out a quantity of the crushed leaves before creating the tea. As soon as the liquid had cooled down enough to be swallowed without burning, Elrond rushed over to Estel's bed.
"Elladan, could you help me with your brother? I need you to prop him up so that he can drink the tea." Elladan nodded and moved to support Estel.
"Estel, you must try and drink this. Your brothers have traveled a long way to get it for you. You will feel much better and the taste it not too bad." Elrond pleaded to his youngest. Estel did not have the strength to pull away or even respond, but he opened his eyes for the first time in days. Elrond smiled as he poured some of the warm medicine in Estel's mouth and was rewarded with a swallow.
"Good boy, keep it up. You must finish as much as you can." Elrond said in encouragement. The process was slow, but Estel finally finished the cup and closed his eyes. All thought he was sleeping until they heard a single soft word float up from amongst the blankets.
"Hanta*."
"You are welcome, titta mine." Elrohir replied, unsure if Estel could hear him.
"Elladan, Elrohir, go and get some rest. Legolas and I will watch Estel and continue to give him the medicine. I believe that you have saved his life and quite possibly those of many, many others." Elrond said kindly to his sons, ushering them out of the room and gently quieting their protests. Every few hours, Legolas and Elrond woke Estel and made him take more of the tea. Early that morning his fever finally broke and by the next evening the spots were beginning to fade.
***
(that evening)
Estel opened his eyes and noticed with surprise that his vision was beginning to clear. The mound of blankets obscured his view of the room so he pushed himself up until he could see over them. This time the room swayed but did not spin. 'I wonder how long I have been here.' he wondered. Glancing over at the couch he saw his older brothers asleep and smiled. As a reminder his body rewarded his movement with a hacking cough, but one not nearly to the degree as before. When he was finished he laughed softly, for both of his brothers had suddenly become very awake. They turned toward him with eyes of concern, but flashed two identical grins of joy and relief.
"How long have you been awake?" Elladan asked stretching.
"Only a few minutes." Estel answered as he began to sit up farther. In mere seconds Elrohir was next to his bed gently but firmly pushing him back down.
"Oh, not so fast, titta onooro." Elrohir said with a smile. "I have a feeling you will be spending quite some time there so you had best get used to it." Estel scowled.
"You gave us quite a scare. At one point Ada said that you had completely stopped breathing. I doubt that he will let you out of bed for a few weeks." Elladan said trying to hide a smile. He knew how much Estel hated staying in bed and was ready for an argument.
"More like the rest of my life." Estel said grumpily.
"You should be grateful, Estel. We saved you life by traveling to Lothlorien to get medicine for you." Elrohir said.
"You mean that you two actually went on a trip and came back without nearly killing each other?" Estel questioned in mock surprise, "I must be dead because in the real world that would be impossible." "Tis not true! I can remember many times when Elrohir and I have returned without almost killing one another. The time when.no there was the arrow.what about.oh the boulder. I can not come up with an example at the moment, but I am sure there have been occasions, right Elrohir?" Elladan unconvincingly finished. Estel snickered.
"Aye Elladan, like when we.actually I am not able to recall any, but there is a first time for everything." Elrohir responded sheepishly. Estel could no contain his laugher. Soon all three were laughing until Estel began to cough. At that moment, Elrond walked into the room with a disapproving look on his face.
"I do believe that you two have worn out Estel with your antics. Why do you not go and make yourselves useful somewhere? And Estel, I think that it is about time for you to get some rest." Elrond said with only a hint of warning in his voice. The twins immediately rose to leave for they did not want to anger Lord Elrond.
"But, Ada, I'm not tired." Estel protested as he tried to suppress a yawn. Elrond lifted a single eyebrow.
"Well, maybe just a little." Estel added. Elrond allowed a small chuckle before following the other two elves out the door. Estel lay back down and was asleep within moments.
***
'Two weeks! How does Ada expect me to stay in bed for two weeks? I will surely go crazy with boredom.' Estel thought as he sat in bed. His brothers and Legolas would probably be up in a few minutes to see if he was awake. He had slept through the night and most of the day and was already starting to feel much better. 'They can not honestly insist on me to stay in bed for that long.' As he started to flip through a book to pass time an idea began to form in his mind. It was a brilliant plan and if it worked than maybe he wouldn't have to.
***
*Thanks (At least that is as close as I could find, but it may be wrong)
Is it safe? Does anyone else have hidden swords or wolves that I should know about? Ok, if no one is after my life at this moment than I shall continue.
Author's Note: Thank you all very much for your wonderful reviews. They really mean a lot to me and I am glad that you are enjoying the story. Sorry for the slight cliffhanger on the last chapter, but I wanted to see if I could write one. *innocent smile* The more that I write, the more I realize that the title of my story no longer really fits, but I have yet to come up with another one. Also, I now realize that Lothlorien is a pretty far distance and so let us all just assume that while it is unlikely that the twins could make it there and back in the given time, it is possible. About the dictionary.I think I'll look into a new one. All right, I guess you are all wondering about poor little Estel so without further ado here it is.
Chapter 5
***
Elrond's shoulders slumped forward as he rested his head in the palms of his hands. 'How did this happen? Why did this happen? I knew he would die one day, but his future was so important.' He felt a hand on his shoulder but did not lift his head.
"Elrond, what is wrong?" Legolas asked from behind him.
"Tis Estel. Can you not see? He-He is." Elrond could not finish. There was simply too much grief filling his heart.
"Nay, Lord, I do not understand." Legolas did not even attempt to hide his confusion. Elrond sighed. He was annoyed that the prince could not see the obvious and even more so at the fact that he would have to explain it to him. He lifted his head from his hands and looked with a tear stained face at the form of his youngest. He blinked, shook his head, and blinked again. The small chest was rising and falling. It was not even or deep, but it was moving.
"He is alive! Estel is alive!" Elrond cried as the weight of grief fell from his shoulders. He stood up smiling and turned toward a bewildered Legolas who was beginning to suspect insanity.
"Elrond, maybe you should." Legolas started but Elrond would not let him finish. He looked the prince squarely in the eyes and let his smile broaden.
"Legolas, he had stopped breathing. I thought him to be dead. He was gone, but somehow he managed to come back, or maybe he never left at all. I will never be sure, but." Elrond stopped in mid sentence when he realized that he was babbling and quickly regained his composure. Legolas' eyes flashed in understanding and he opened his mouth to comment on the elder elf's loss of control, but wisely choose to remain silent.
"Now again there is hope, but I pray that Elladan and Elrohir will return soon. I do not know how much longer Estel will last." Elrond remarked as he moved over to the table and gathered a bowl and cloth. Legolas returned to the couch and watched as the father gently began to tend to his son. As Elrond quietly began to sing, Legolas drifted off to a much-needed sleep.
***
(Three days later)
It had been almost a full ten days since the twins had left. They had not returned and Elrond feared that Estel would soon leave them permanently. It was late night and Elrond was pacing in front of the fireplace just like Elladan had done ten days before. Legolas was in a chair next to Estel's bed with a worried look on his face. They had each done everything possible to prolong Estel's life and to ease his pain, but without the antidote they could do no more.
Suddenly, the door burst open and two very dirty, very tired elves appeared. Their eyes drifted from the bed to Legolas to Elrond.
"Ada, are we too late?" Elrohir asked anxiously. He had a small leather bag grasped tightly in his hand and there was true fear in his eyes.
"Nay, my sons, you are just in time. We may yet be able to save Estel. You both have done well and I am glad that you have returned. Here let me have the herb." Elrond said as he quickly moved toward his sons. Elrohir held out the bag, which Elrond took and swiftly walked over to the small table where his supplies were.
"Legolas, please get some hot water as quickly as you can." Elrond ordered as he began to grind up a handful of the plant. The twins drifted over to their brother's bed and looked down at the small, pale human. 'How could he still live?' they wondered together. His lips were a pale blue, there were more black splotches then ashen skin, and his chest barely rose and shakily fell. Elrohir reached out and touched Estel's forehead only to pull back in surprise at the heat. Just then Legolas reappeared with a clay jug of steaming water.
"Thank you, Legolas." Elrond said as he took the jug and filled a cup with the contents. He paused only a moment to measure out a quantity of the crushed leaves before creating the tea. As soon as the liquid had cooled down enough to be swallowed without burning, Elrond rushed over to Estel's bed.
"Elladan, could you help me with your brother? I need you to prop him up so that he can drink the tea." Elladan nodded and moved to support Estel.
"Estel, you must try and drink this. Your brothers have traveled a long way to get it for you. You will feel much better and the taste it not too bad." Elrond pleaded to his youngest. Estel did not have the strength to pull away or even respond, but he opened his eyes for the first time in days. Elrond smiled as he poured some of the warm medicine in Estel's mouth and was rewarded with a swallow.
"Good boy, keep it up. You must finish as much as you can." Elrond said in encouragement. The process was slow, but Estel finally finished the cup and closed his eyes. All thought he was sleeping until they heard a single soft word float up from amongst the blankets.
"Hanta*."
"You are welcome, titta mine." Elrohir replied, unsure if Estel could hear him.
"Elladan, Elrohir, go and get some rest. Legolas and I will watch Estel and continue to give him the medicine. I believe that you have saved his life and quite possibly those of many, many others." Elrond said kindly to his sons, ushering them out of the room and gently quieting their protests. Every few hours, Legolas and Elrond woke Estel and made him take more of the tea. Early that morning his fever finally broke and by the next evening the spots were beginning to fade.
***
(that evening)
Estel opened his eyes and noticed with surprise that his vision was beginning to clear. The mound of blankets obscured his view of the room so he pushed himself up until he could see over them. This time the room swayed but did not spin. 'I wonder how long I have been here.' he wondered. Glancing over at the couch he saw his older brothers asleep and smiled. As a reminder his body rewarded his movement with a hacking cough, but one not nearly to the degree as before. When he was finished he laughed softly, for both of his brothers had suddenly become very awake. They turned toward him with eyes of concern, but flashed two identical grins of joy and relief.
"How long have you been awake?" Elladan asked stretching.
"Only a few minutes." Estel answered as he began to sit up farther. In mere seconds Elrohir was next to his bed gently but firmly pushing him back down.
"Oh, not so fast, titta onooro." Elrohir said with a smile. "I have a feeling you will be spending quite some time there so you had best get used to it." Estel scowled.
"You gave us quite a scare. At one point Ada said that you had completely stopped breathing. I doubt that he will let you out of bed for a few weeks." Elladan said trying to hide a smile. He knew how much Estel hated staying in bed and was ready for an argument.
"More like the rest of my life." Estel said grumpily.
"You should be grateful, Estel. We saved you life by traveling to Lothlorien to get medicine for you." Elrohir said.
"You mean that you two actually went on a trip and came back without nearly killing each other?" Estel questioned in mock surprise, "I must be dead because in the real world that would be impossible." "Tis not true! I can remember many times when Elrohir and I have returned without almost killing one another. The time when.no there was the arrow.what about.oh the boulder. I can not come up with an example at the moment, but I am sure there have been occasions, right Elrohir?" Elladan unconvincingly finished. Estel snickered.
"Aye Elladan, like when we.actually I am not able to recall any, but there is a first time for everything." Elrohir responded sheepishly. Estel could no contain his laugher. Soon all three were laughing until Estel began to cough. At that moment, Elrond walked into the room with a disapproving look on his face.
"I do believe that you two have worn out Estel with your antics. Why do you not go and make yourselves useful somewhere? And Estel, I think that it is about time for you to get some rest." Elrond said with only a hint of warning in his voice. The twins immediately rose to leave for they did not want to anger Lord Elrond.
"But, Ada, I'm not tired." Estel protested as he tried to suppress a yawn. Elrond lifted a single eyebrow.
"Well, maybe just a little." Estel added. Elrond allowed a small chuckle before following the other two elves out the door. Estel lay back down and was asleep within moments.
***
'Two weeks! How does Ada expect me to stay in bed for two weeks? I will surely go crazy with boredom.' Estel thought as he sat in bed. His brothers and Legolas would probably be up in a few minutes to see if he was awake. He had slept through the night and most of the day and was already starting to feel much better. 'They can not honestly insist on me to stay in bed for that long.' As he started to flip through a book to pass time an idea began to form in his mind. It was a brilliant plan and if it worked than maybe he wouldn't have to.
***
*Thanks (At least that is as close as I could find, but it may be wrong)