The New Meets the Old
By Jo March
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any of the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien owns it all. But the plot belongs to me.
Summary: One sleepless night Elrond takes a walk around Rivendell. What he finds is not what he expected. A younger version of.... To say more would ruin the story.
A/N: Hey, thanks for all the reviews. I have decided that I like flamers just as much as I do people who tell me it is good. The people who severely criticize my work actually help me to become a better writer and improve the story. Thank you to all who flame and to those who just like to read my stuff.
~*~
As Elrond sat on his couch and watched the boy he began to ponder over who this little elf could be, he seemed strangely familiar. It was like when you smell something you have smelled before and seem to relive a pleasant memory, yet not being able to place it. The boy looked so much like Elladan and Elrohir he was beginning to wonder if it was not one of their younger selves come back to torture all of Elvendom. Elrond almost laughed out loud, just thinking of all the pranks the twins had played on people. They had seemed serious at the time, but now to look back on them.... They were simply hilarious.
No, thought Elrond, this boy was far too serious to be one of his sons, for they were always full of gaiety and mirth. The lad reminded him more of... no it just wasn't possible. The idea was as ridiculous as having the twins coming back as younger versions as themselves. But he did speak of.... Forget it, Elrond, it is just not possible, as much as you wish it would, it won't. But do I really want that to happen? What in the Valar's name would I do with a younger version of myself? He fought the inner turmoil, what had brought this strange mood over the usually calm and composed Elvish Lord?
The lad stirred, shifting slightly. His breathing caught but soon resumed to normal. Eyes, such strange things, you use them all the time, but never really think of what they are worth, or what someone else's eyes might be seeing. Elrond stared at the boy's eyes, studying them intently, memorizing them. They held such innocence and wonder, yet in them was deep wisdom and grief. Elrond's eyes had been like that for as long as he could remember, glazed with sadness, and a deep caring for whomever he loved.
He glanced out the window, morning was fast approaching, the boy would wake soon. Elrond silently slipped out of the room and found a pair of Estel's old clothes. They were surprisingly well kept, most of his fosters son's clothing was had millions of holes in them. He must have not like this pair to well; they were a little formal, but... Elrond sighed, he knew that the boy would not feel comfortable in these formal looking clothes. Was he really so grown up that he wanted to dress the boy as he would himself? Never having the chance to be a child himself Elrond thought back to a pleasant day he and Elros had shared many years ago, when they still had a family.
~*~
'Elros, come on, we have to go or Ada will not be happy. Dinner is waiting,' said Elrond hoping to catch his little brothers attention by mentioning food, but it was hopeless. Elros was picking dandelions to give to their mother, not know they were but weeds. 'Elros, you can get more some other time. We are going to be late!' With that Elrond grabbed his arm and started to pull him up the hill near their home.
'I wanna 'eep the pity 'lowers for Naneth! De for her, 'Rond. Pease yet 'Ros get pity 'lowers? Pease?' Elros begged his older brother to let him go back for the flowers, not caring that they would be late for their dinner, Naneth wouldn't mind if he brought pretty flowers home for her.
'No, Elros, we cannot go back for those stupid weeds you picked.'
'Not 'eeds 'Rond! 'Lowers, pity 'lowers, for Naneth!' Elros smiled up at his older brother, now thinking he knew why they would not go back. 'Rond thought the flowers were weeds. He would never give Naneth dirty weeds.
'Elros,' said Elrond bending down to his level. 'they are weeds, not flowers.' Every word he said he gave Elros a shake, until he was shaking him so hard Elros was crying. 'Naneth doesn't want the ugly, stupid, pathetic weeds you so idiotically picked for her. She would think you were stupid. Why can't you just GROW UP!'
By now Elros was sobbing hysterically, not caring what Elrond said. 'No!' He screamed, with that he ran off to retrieve his precious flowers for his mother. Elrond walked back to the house, but his conscious nagged at him to turn around and find his little brother; stubbornness won out in the end though.
~*~
Elros tried to track his way back to where Elrond had made his drop his bouquet for their mother. He stumbled over a root hidden in the tall grass of the field. It sent him sprawling on his face, he started to cry, but remembering his mission, set off again. By the time he finally reached his destination it had become very dark, and the woodland creatures were beginning to come out and eat. Elros started back the way he came, but the darkness impaired his vision, and the young elfling was soon lost. The world seemed to him such a big place, no one would ever find him. The lad flung himself upon the ground and sobbed.
~*~
Elrond calmly walked into their house and prepared himself for dinner, completely forgetting about Elros in the meanwhile. As he sat down happiness radiated from his face, his father was home they could be a real family now. Eärendil and Elwing sat down and the family began to eat, but something was missing.
'Elrond, where is your brother?' questioned Elwing, in a very impatient voice. 'I told you to make sure that he was not late for dinner again.'
Elwing did not notice the paleness that crepted over her son's face as she said this. A horrible tasted came to Elrond's mouth. 'I'll go find him, Naneth.' He rushed from his place, hurrying towards the door. Elwing's hand flew to her mouth, as meaning came to her. Her youngest was out there all alone. Eärendil was up in a flash and close on Elrond's heels as he flew over the hill.
~*~
Elrond had never known such speed as he had now. Fear encompassed him as regret and remorse filled him. If anything happened to Elros he would never forgive himself. He raced to where they had been playing in the valley. Unbeknownst to his father followed close behind him, carefully observing places where his son could possibly be. Elrond stopped and the wind brought to his keen hearing the pitiful cries of Elros. As he neared the place where his brother lay lamenting the fact he would probably never see his family again, Elrond slid to his knees next to his baby brother and scooped him up into his arms.
Elros slid his small arms around his brother's neck and whispered, 'Rond, I growed up now. I not never give Naneth ugly, stupid flowers again. I be smart from now on. You help.' The little elf looked up and Elrond, thinking his brother would now love him again. But instead he found Elrond's eyes clouded with tears. As one escaped down Elrond's face Elros reached out and wiped it away. 'Why 'Rond, cry? You still no love 'Ros? I sorry, I never do....' But Elrond didn't let him finish.
'No, no, Elros, I have always loved you. It was my fault I should have let you give Naneth those flowers. Don't you ever think that I don't love, it's not true.'
'But 'lowers uggy, you say so.' Stated the little elf with defiance in his small voice. 'I no want her to have uggy 'lowers.'
'They weren't ugly, Elros, I just didn't look close enough. Here,' said Elrond picking up the dandelions Elros had dropped. 'We'll go give them to her now.'
'No, you say, "'Ros, why can't you just grow up?" I growed up now. Not give uggy 'lowers. 'Rond growed up now too. It not fun to be all growed up.' Elros looked down and his hands with sadness at this admission.
'Elros, I'm sorry, I didn't really mean those things. I don't want you to grow up just yet. I won't ever grow up and be like that. Neither will you, I won't let you.' Elrond threw Elros on the ground and tickled him unmercifully till they were both laughing so hard the tears began to roll. Elrond stood up and took Elros's hand in his own and walked back to the house.
Once Elros was cleaned up and in bed, Eärendil came into say goodnight to Elrond. 'I saw what you did with him tonight. It was a very hard thing to do, was it not?'
Elrond looked down, his face flushed with same. 'Yes, Ada, I'm sorry. I didn't know that would happen. I love him, truly I do.'
'I know, son, I know.' With his father sitting by his side Elrond fell asleep completely at peace for the last time in a long while.
~*~
As Elrond came out of his reverie he realized that he was still holding Estel's old pair of clothes. He set off to find a more comfortable outfit for the boy. When the boy was awake he would make sure that he was fitted and had proper clothes made for him. These thoughts stopped Elrond, fitting was not fun as a child, adults hardly liked it, he would make it an enjoyable experience for the boy. He continued on his way to find more clothes when Arwen stopped him in the corridor.
"Good morning, Ada. Did you have a nice nights sleep?"
Elrond blinked a couple of times, he had completely forgotten about sleeping he had been so caught up with the boy. "Well, as a matter of fact I feel quiet rested, thank you, my dear." He was about to start off again then remembered that Arwen had been quiet a little tomboy when she was younger. "Arwen, do you have any, um..." The prominent elf lord was at loss for words when asking his daughter if she had any clothes that would be suitable for a child. What would she think? May as well tell her the truth now. "Do you have any, uh, clothes that would, ah, fit a child?"
"Yes, Ada, but why? Most of them would be more suitable for a boy than a girl though." Arwen gave her father a sideways look.
"Why don't you go get some and I will show you why?"
"Alright, I will be back quickly." As Arwen went off on her father's strange mission, Elrond stood in the hallway pacing back and fourth.
~*~
A/N: So, what do you think so far, is it getting any better? Please tell me what you think of this, I'm not so sure about the whole flashback thing. I've never really do this kind of thing before, so give me some much wanted advice. It always seems like chapter two is so much better. READ AND REVIEW! Flames are welcome, please!
