Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Second edition.
*
Estel scrunched up his face in concentration as he eyed his target. Their mocking laughter still rang in his eyes, stinging more than his scraped knees did. Starting with a standing run, Estel tried desperately to scramble up the tall tree in front of him, wishing he had the agility and litheness of the other elflings. After pelting up the first few branches in a very helter-skelterish manner, Estel slowed, exerting as much force and strength as he possessed to haul himself up to the uppermost branches of the tree, where all of his so called friends were. A young brunette called Emuilen jeered openly at him, conversing with his friends in a mock stage whisper.
'See that useless human? He can't even climb a tree properly! It's a wonder that Elrond even bothers with him.'
The others laughed at Estel with Emuilen. Spurred on by the effect, the elfling went on.
'I bet you his family thinks he's useless too! Useless! Useless!'
By then, Estel had unshed tears brimming in his grey eyes, trying valiantly to defend himself against their verbal sparring.
'Am not!'
'Are too!'
Estel knew his argument was weak, and he could not help but feel a flicker of doubt spring up inside his heart. Did Elladan and Elrohir really think him useless? Maybe he was slightly slower in foot and lesser in hand than others, but he never really found it as much a fault as he did now. Maybe Elrond did not love him. The others only laughed at him as silent tears fell from his eyes, jeering and criticizing every difference and fault they could find in him. Loosing his concentration, and not being gifted with the natural balance and grace of the Elves, Estel lost his footing, eliciting a surprised cry of despair as he fell backwards off the tree. This caused the elves to stop laughing, as they stared, wide eyed, at the falling figure. So obsessed were they in watching Estel fall that they neglected to eye the figures underneath the tree. With a soft thud and a crash, together with cries of alarm and shock, Estel fell onto Glorfindel and Erestor. The black haired advisor and his blond haired companion felt the ominous presence of Estel only when he crashed straight onto them.
*
Elrond stared. The three that lay sprawled before him were all in sorry states. All he had wanted to do was take a quiet stroll and think, and instead he stumbled onto his crying foster son and two of his advisors half crushed to death underneath him. Estel's tear stained face was wrought with nervous worry as he glanced from Erestor, who had resigned himself to staring up at the sky, Glorfindel, who was sprawled on his side, drumming his fingers on the ground and waiting for an explanation with a raised brow, Elrond, who wore a raised eyebrow and the elflings who were cowering above him. Stammering in fear, Estel tried to explain.
'S-sorry, Ada...'
Elrond looked shocked and felt more than a little confused at the reaction. His foster son looked ready to recoil from him. He had expected differently. Ignoring his friends on the floor, the lord of Imladris picked the young boy up. Estel tried to struggle. Elrond, now thoroughly confused, muttered words of reassurance, asking him the matter.
'What's wrong, Estel?'
With teary eyes, Estel began to explain.
'E-emuilen said that I was useless and that you... you didn't want me anymore.'
Elrond's face went in an immediate transference from shocked to angered. Estel immediately misinterpreted the change and started to struggle again. Elrond's eyes darted to the elflings in the tree for a moment before directing his attention back to Estel.
'Shh... Now, don't you believe a word that they say, do you hear me, Estel? Ada loves you dearly, and always will.'
Estel brought his watery eyes up to Elrond.
'Really?'
Smiling, Elrond laughed as he jiggled Estel up and down for a moment.
'Really. Now go find Elladan and Elrohir and get them to help you clean up.'
Elrond settled the boy on the ground and he happily scampered on towards his brother's bedchambers. Emuilen and gang chose that moment to try and sneak off, but Elrond had long seen it coming. Turning around with a dreadful look in his eyes and pulling his two friends up, Elrond spoke in a commanding voice, causing the elflings to freeze and whimper in trepidation. Glorfindel and Erestor were dusting themselves off, looking rather angry at the prejudice against Estel of which they had just heard.
'Don't you dare try and run, Emuilen! I wish to speak to you. All of you.'
One had to pity the elflings. With Elrond, in his magenta robes and danger in his eyes, Glorfindel, tall, proud and albeit slightly dusty, drawn up next to him, and Erestor, with his sharp features, black hair and pointedly nasty looks all towering above them, the experience was definitely not one they were going to forget any time soon. And the lecture had not even begun yet.
*
Estel, slightly reassured though he was, grew frightened as he approached his brother's chambers. His Ada might verily well still love him, but would his brothers? The cuts on his arms and legs stung as he tried to block out the heartless words and the mental rejection. Useless, useless! Knocking on the door softly, Estel waited for either Elladan or Elrohir to open up. Standing there, though, he could not help but feel as if Emuilen was right. Estel took a look at the large, still unopened door hesitantly before he turned and ran off, tears welling up in his eyes. They were probably right. He was, after all, only edain. His brothers would never appreciate him. He was so young, so useless, with so much lacking in agility and confidence as compared to the others. Useless, just plain useless. Edain. Only Edain.
*
Elladan flung the door open, staring out into nothing. Elrohir came up behind him.
'What was that, ElLadan?'
Furrowing his brow in slight confusion, Elladan took a final look out of the door before shrugging and closing it.
'Nothing, ElRohir, though I swear I heard somebody knock on the door.'
'Don't dwell on it, then, quick, come on and help me get this present ready for Estel's birthday next week.'
'Fine. Wait, did you just paint it red?'
'Yes.'
'But it was supposed to be blue!'
'Red, brother, unless you are colour blind, it was supposed to be red.'
'Blue!'
'Red!'
'Ai, shut your mouth and just get
on with it.'