When Fanuiriel returned to Estel's room, he was still asleep.

Sighing, she sat at his side and picked up his hand.

He stirred at her touch. "Ada? I am so thirsty."

Fanuiriel said softly, "It is I Fanuiriel Estel. I shall get you some water."

She turned and poured a glass from a nearby carafe and helped the young man drink it down.

As his head settled against the pillow, Estel smiled slowly. "Fanuiriel. I am so glad to see you. The battle was-was awful."

"I am sure it was Estel. What happened to your face?" She touched it softly.

"An arrow. An orc arrow. I guess it was poisoned or something."

An arrow wound? That could be nasty.

Just then the door opened and Lord Elrond entered.

Fanuiriel smiled at the elven lord slightly nervously and clasped Estel's hand harder.

"Ada." Estel said tiredly. "I am sorry."

Elrond come up to the two, eyebrow cocked at the she-elf at his son's side.

Fanuiriel reluctantly stood and moved away as Elrond examined Estel for after affects of the poison.

Finished, the elf lord gently brushed back his sons tangled hair.

"You are on the mend Estel. The antidote is working. I think what may help just now is a bath. I shall send someone in to---"

"Oh that's not necessary, Ada" Estel said interrupting, "Fanuireil can do it."

Elrond looked at the she-elf clasping her hands before her.

"I do not think, my son, that would be appropriate as---"

Estel interrupted again. "It is all right Ada, we are married."

Elrond went completely still.

"Estel, I have just checked you for fever. Perhaps the orcs have added an ingredient I am not aware of that has affected your mind."

Fanuiriel answered bravely, "He-he is correct my lord. We are husband and wife."

"I do not find this amusing, either of you."

Estel frowned slightly. "No Ada, this is no jest. Fanuiriel and I were, ah, married five days ago."

Elrond's eyes went sharp and dark.

"Estel, if you will excuse us, I would like to talk to your...wife. Your bath can wait."

"Of course Ada." Yawning he added, "I am rather tired anyway." The young man blinked at the two elves and soon slept.

Elrond turned his formidable attention to the nervous Fanuiriel.

"You will come with me and explain this marriage."

Fanuiriel nodded and flinched as the elf lord grabbed her by the elbow and towed her quickly out of the bedroom.

Grim-faced, Elrond did not release his hold on her until he had gone into his study and closed the door firmly.

He quickly sat down behind his desk, his eyes pinning Fanuiriel to her place before him.

Folding his hands before his face, he let the silence draw out until Fanuiriel shifted anxiously.

"You had best explain to me exactly what is going on." He said coldly.

"We are married my lord, as Estel said." Fanuiriel went for a bold front. They were husband and wife after all.

"You and my son have joined body to body?"

"Yes my lord."

"And you know of course Estel is mortal."

"Yes, of course. But he is your son."

Elrond stood, his eyes blazing. "His being my son has nothing to do with it. What were you thinking Fanuiriel? I am aware of your attachment to my family, but this is beyond even my considerable imagination."

"Well my lord, I---"

"And here I thought your affection was fixed on Elladan."

"It would have been, my lord, if Elladan...had..." She stopped herself and went silent.

Elrond went around his desk to confront the she elf. "You would have married Elladan, save he did not return your attentions. So you ensnared my young...edain son knowing not only is he mortal but....so very young!"

Elrond's eyes stabbed her like knives and Fanuiriel flinched. "How could you do this? You are what, 2237 years old and is Estel is.....15. He is not even an adult in his own people's eyes!"

"His body responds as an adult." Fanuiriel replied boldly.

"His experience of the world is as a child, Fanuiriel! And you took advantage of that inexperience and used it for your own ends."

The elf lord's anger was palpable and Fanuiriel blanched and stepped back.

"But, we are married nevertheless."

"I can and will annul this marriage."

"You cannot!" She leaned towards him, frightened.

"I am Lord of Imladris and my word is law."

"Only the Valar can annul a marriage."

"The Valar do not need to be troubled with this foolishness Fanuiriel."

"You cannot!" She said again in desperation. He could not just stand there and annul their marriage! After all her careful plans!

"What do you think Manwe would say if he heard how you enticed a mortal...boy into marriage?"

"He wanted to, he-he loves me."

Elrond grabbed her by the shoulders, his dark eyes filling her vision until she could see nothing else. She began to slump in his grasp.

"Can you tell me honestly you love him?" His voice filled her head. "Speak carefully here Fanuiriel. I shall know the truth."

The she-elf, about to reply closed her mouth and tears filled her eyes.

"I-I am not sure."

"Yet you married Estel not even knowing your own heart."

"I am...I do not know my lord."

Her head dropped and the elf lord let her go. She staggered and put a hand on the edge of the desk to steady herself.

Silence reigned as Elrond stared down at the distraught she-elf.

Looking up suddenly she said, "But I could be carrying your first grandchild."

Elrond took her to the couch and said tersely, "Lay down."

Realizing this was a mistake, she lay down slowly.

Elrond placed a hand on her abdomen. She could feel warmth going deep into her flesh.

Lifting his hand, he walked back to his desk saying flatly.

"You are not with child."

"How-how do I know you are not just telling me this?"

The elf lord smiled thinly. "There are other healers here as you know Fanuiriel. We can ask them for their opinions....publicly so there will be no doubt in your's or anyone else's mind."

Fanuiriel got slowly off the couch and looked down at the floor. She shook her head, tears of frustration and fear dripping down her cheeks.

"You will tell Estel you are no longer married. That you made a mistake and your heart is not in this."

"But he is already injured."

"You will do so in a few days time. In the meantime I will arrange for you to leave Rivendell and go join Arwen in Lothlorien. You will stay with my daughter as a handmaiden until she returns home. And that will not be for some years."

Fanuiriel nodded dumbly.

All her plans to tie herself to the House of Elrond. All for naught!

She looked at the elf lord, his face implacable. "You will leave Estel alone until I tell you you may visit."

"Yes my lord," she whispered.

"You may go. And I do not wish to hear of this matter from any other elves. Do you understand?'

"Yes, my lord." Fanuiriel turned and silently left the study.

Elrond lowered his head into his hands. How could he have missed all this? Had Estel been so reluctant to talk to him that he had allowed himself to become deceitful?

Sighing Elrond looked out into his study.

No, in this instance, Estel only heeded his young body's yearnings and good sense and judgment had flown.

What a tangle.

Rising with another sigh, the elf lord returned to his injured son's room. Not leaving anything to chance, he would bathe Estel himself.

Fanuiriel took a deep breath and then looked into the confused eyes of Estel.

The required days had passed and Estel, his strength returning was sitting up in bed.

"But Ada..." He looked at his father, whose face was shuttered and blank. He turned to Fanuiriel bewildered.

"But, we, we were joined together body to body. I thought that meant we were married in the eyes of the elves."

"Yes, my son. But in this case, Fanuiriel was mistaken in her heart and you Estel are too young to marry, woman or she-elf."

Sighing, Estel looked at his now ex-wife. She was still the most beautiful she-elf he had ever seen.

"Now what?" The young human looked between the two elves.

"Fanuiriel will go to Lothlorien and be a handmaiden to Arwen."

The elf lord came up to Estel and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "And you, young man, will finish growing up."

Estel dropped his head and then nodded slowly.

Fanuiriel approached Estel as the elf lord moved away. She bent and kissed him softly on the cheek.

He looked up at that and smiled.

"Your father is right and you know in your heart he is. Be well."

Estel kissed her back quickly, remembering suddenly hotter and deeper kisses. Bushing at his thoughts, he said thickly, "Good-bye Fanuiriel." He looked up again. "May the Valar protect you."

"You as well." She turned with that and left to prepare for her journey. Estel was not to witness her actual departure, per his father's orders.

Elrond stared a moment at his son's bowed head.

"What are you thinking Estel?"

He looked up, his eyes moist. "I am sorry about all of this," he said thickly, "I really did love her father." His eyes dropped back to his lap. "I-I really liked being a ...stallion. It fell so, so wonderful..."

Elrond sat on the bed and put his arm around him. "The act of begetting is a wonderful thing, Estel, at the right time, in the right circumstances and with the right woman. But please come to me if your urges are more than you can manage, all right?"

"All right."

"You have a bigger destiny than being a married man at such a young age. You have not even finished your weaponry lessons. And Glorfindel has told me you showed exceptional courage in facing the orcs."

"He said that? "Exceptional courage?" I shall have to work even harder then!"

"Yes you will." Elrond hugged him and rose smiling.

"But first, you need to get your strength back. I shall send the midday meal."

"All right Ada."

Elrond put a hand to his son's head and then left.

Estel sighed, slipped down under the quilt and then yawned.

Maybe a nap before lunch.

But as he drifted off, he caught a lingering whiff of Fanuiriel's perfume.

And a tear coursed down his face.

............"Well, I am glad to see you Fanuiriel, for whatever reason. It is always nice to see a face from home!"

Arwen smiled at the she-elf as they sat in her flet, enjoying the breeze.

"Now who was this again that you met?"

"A human male named Estel...He is very handsome too, for such a young man. You should see him sometime."

"A human, eh? I have never met a human." Arwen leaned back thoughtfully staring up through the softly swaying leaves. "Hm. I would like to meet him sometime, perhaps when I return to Imladris..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~the end~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~