Don't own it
A:N/ I overpowered Evil Skittle so I'm uploading this at the same time as the last chapter.
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Agonizing minutes passed before Elladan returned, rope in hand. Quickly tying one end around his waist, Elrohir leapt into the river and swam toward Faramir. The boy battled vainly against unconsciousness, his lips blue from the frigid water. As gently as he could, Elrohir pulled Faramir away from the rock. Elladan and Estel hauled back on the rope, towing their brothers to the shore. Once on dry ground, Elrohir gently laid Faramir on the grass. The young Man shivered violently which in turn caused him to cry out at the pain moving caused his ribs. While Elrohir caught his breath, Estel quickly checked over Faramir. He could not sense internal injuries, so Elladan effortlessly picked the boy up as they made their way down the side of the waterfall. It was a treacherous path, one not used often, but with the tree-bridge gone, the only other way to get back to the House was a bridge at the bottom of the falls.
After stopping several times for Estel and Elrohir to check Faramir, the brothers finally reached the bridge. They made their way quickly across and were soon home. As they rushed through the door, they surprised Lord Elrond. "Why are you back so soon?" Seeing the shivering Faramir in Elladan's arms, as well as Elrohir and Estel's drenched state, Elrond quickly brought them to Faramir's room. "What has happened?" Elladan laid Faramir on the bed as Elrohir told their father about the broken tree and how Faramir was hurt. Estel collapsed in a chair, his head pounding. Elrond briskly ordered Elladan out, since Elrohir was the apprentice healer, as was Estel. Turning to Faramir, the elf lord frowned. First he wrapped the broken ribs, wincing at the young Man's cries of pain. Elrohir covered the shivering boy with blankets. Getting up from the chair, Estel lit the fire in the hearth. Elrond warmed milk over the fire while keeping an eye on Faramir.
Coughs began racking Faramir's body causing jolts of fiery pain to lace through his chest. Helpless to do anything for him, Elrond checked over Estel who had a mild concussion. Estel stayed with Faramir as Elrond and Elrohir left to get the herbs needed to prevent pneumonia. He closed his eyes, remembering the events of the day. Why hadn't he just listened to his brothers? Had he turned back, the tree would not have broken and he wouldn't have fallen into the river. The Ranger knew that Tir had jumped in to save him and had succeeded. But what if it was at the cost of the boy's own life? Estel swore that he would never forgive himself if Tir died.
As Estel sat by Faramir's bed, the Ranger was surprised when the boy opened his eyes slightly. Excited, Estel leaned over, but he was alarmed to see that Faramir's gray eyes were glazed over. The boy began murmuring in delirium. "Please... stop. Father... please don't. Hurts..." Faramir jerked as if struck. Worried, Estel ran out to find his father.
"Tir opened his eyes, but he is delirious. He thinks he is being hurt, I do not know why."
Elrond rushed into the room in time to hear Faramir cry out, "Please don't hurt me! Father please!" Kneeling next to the bed, the elf lord began speaking soft, Sindarin words in the boy's ear. Estel could not hear what was said, but it seemed to calm Faramir. Eyes closed again, he drifted off into a quiet slumber. Elrohir stirred the herbs into the warm milk and Elrond gently lifted Faramir up and poured the brew down the young Man's throat. After most of the concoction was swallowed, the elf laid Faramir back down and stood.
Before Estel could speak, Elrond raised a hand to silence him. "My son, it is not my place anymore to answer your questions. It is up to Tir to tell you." Sometimes the Ranger marveled at his foster father's ability to sense his inquiries before he spoke. A glance at Elrohir told him that no answers would be found that way. Sighing, Estel resigned himself to waiting for Tir to wake up.
~*~
All through the night Elrond, Elrohir, Elladan, and Estel watched over Faramir. When the sun reached its peak the next day, shining through the window over his face, Faramir awoke, weakened, but out of danger. At that time, it was Estel's watch, so he was the only one in the room. "Good-morning Tir. How are you feeling?" Faramir tried to sit up, but his ribs disagreed. Wincing, he laid back on the pillows.
"Estel! You are all right! I was worried about you."
Estel laughed. "Worried about me? You have given all of us a scare after what happened in the river." Faramir flinched, remembering the rock rolling over him.
"There should be a rule that forbids heavy rocks from moving down a river. Someone could get hurt." Estel chuckled, but then his face grew solemn.
"There is something I must ask. Father, Elladan, and Elrohir refuse to answer me. While you were delirious you cried out as if someone was hurting you, and you called him Father. You were not talking about Lord Elrond, for I know that you call him Ada."
Faramir stared at his hands, not able to look Estel in the eye. "It is not worth talking about. It happened years ago and will not happen again." Estel was not content with that answer.
"Obviously you still remember what happened vividly, or you would not dream about it."
Faramir shrugged. "My mother died eight years ago. Father, that is my blood father, never got over it or the fact that I reminded him of her. Although he loves my brother, he has always hated and despised me and then, five years ago, he nearly killed me. My uncle stopped him and took me home with him. A year later I was brought here and have lived here ever since. It does not matter anymore." Incensed, Estel jumped to his feet.
"It does not matter? How can you say that after what he did to you?" Faramir glanced up and stared eye to eye with Estel.
"If I let it matter than Father wins. I will not let him, no matter how much it hurts." Yet even with these brave words, a pained looked crossed the boy's face. Before Estel could say anything, Elladan and Elrohir walked in.
"Tir, you are awake! It is about time, young one." As the twins crowded around Faramir, Estel quietly slipped away to talk to Elrond. He found the elf in the library reading a book on healing herbs.
"Who is Tir's father, where can I find him, and what is the most painful poison you have available?" Elrond looked up from his book.
"I have a feeling that Tir is awake and has told you about how he came to live here. I'm sorry, but I can only say that, although I believe as you do, it is not our place to bring justice to Tir's father."
"How can you say that after what he did to Tir? Don't you care about him?" Elrond stood up and slammed his book on the table.
"Don't you dare tell me that I do not care for him, he is my son, whether or not by blood! You know nothing about what happened, nothing! I say what I do only because it is up to Tir to forgive or condemn his father. Do not ever say I do not care! Is that understood?" Elrond's fiery eyes told Estel that he had gone too far.
Estel hung his head as his rage dimmed. "I am sorry, Father. I have let my anger run away with me again and I should not have said that about you. It just infuriates me that a father would try to kill his own son, the child he is suppose to protect!" Elrond placed a hand on his foster son's shoulder.
"It angers me also, but I believe that, someday, Tir will have to face his father to fully heal." Estel nodded and headed toward the door. Stopping at the doorway, he turned to his foster father.
"That may be so, but so help me, if I ever find out who Tir's father is, I will not hesitate to kill that monster."
Elrond sighed and shook his head as Estel left. He whispered to the empty room, "That, my son, is why I cannot tell you."
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