A/N) So this is the final chapter of Recovery. There is a preview of my next story at the bottom; so I hope you enjoy this final installment of 'Recovery' and join me for the sequel 'The Forge of Friendship'.



A big thank-you goes to all my reviewers and anyone who has read this but not reviewed! Thank you for the continued support!



Onto the final chapter!



Recovery

Chapter 3

At Last the Pain is Fading



Since Gilraen's promise to Estel that she would stay with him forever, the boy had improved rapidly, though the elves had seen him tearful at times. It was now five months since his ordeal and Elrond had at last managed to get his sons to give Estel training in the art of sword-fighting.

It was early April that his first lesson took place. Estel was now eleven years old.

The first day of his training was cool, and puffy clouds could be seen in the sky; the sun was shining onto the earth, warming the surface.

Estel was taken by the twins into a clearing of the forest - far away from where Dilir was murdered, so not to bring painful memories up for him.

While Elladan explained a few rules to the boy, Elrohir unsheathed a sword, that had been made especially by the elven smiths in Rivendell for Estel. It was not heavy as a normal sword.

Once the initial explanations had been done, the twins demonstrated to Estel how to hold a sword properly; and how to move without dropping it.

Estel followed each of the twin's advice, both of them trying to outdo the other. This caused Estel to become confused and he eventually stopped and said: "I'm not learning anything if you try and outdo each other."

Elrohir nodded. "He's right. Perhaps we should do this properly."

Elladan agreed no matter how much he enjoyed trying to outwit his brother. However Estel's recovery was important. At least he was talking to them again.

Next the twin's showed Estel how to parry from people attacking him, and how to defend when he was trapped.

Elladan lunged at the boy, intending to hit him on his shoulder (not forcefully) but so to disarm him, while Elrohir could move in for the kill. However Estel surprised them both by dropping to his knees and rolling to the side, as Elladan lunged forward. The ensuring mess that followed showed both the twins cut on the shoulders and cheek.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Elrohir asked, rubbing his hand over the bleeding cheek.

"It came naturally. I just did what my heart told me to do." Estel replied.

"That's impossible!" Elrohir said, "Skills like that don't come naturally! Unless you are directly descended....." an elbow in his side prevented the elf from saying any further.

Elladan grabbed his brother aside and whispered harshly in elvish: "Don't say anymore! You very well know who Estel is! Have you forgotten who are little brother really is? He is directly descended from Numenor! Don't forget he's not meant to know until he is old enough to understand!"

"I wasn't going to tell him!"

"He might guess if you drop enough clues! Honestly talking about his ancestry in front of him! You're an idiot sometimes, you know that don't you Elrohir!"

"Are you two going to continue on arguing all day or are you going to teach me?" Estel asked, from where he remained standing.

"Alright." the twins replied, their argument forgotten.

The twins gave Estel more and more things to do, but still the boy showed that he had a great instinct of when to move and parry, and defend himself. By the end of his first session, Estel had shown himself to be an adequate swordsman at the tender age of eleven! Something the twins had never seen of a human before.

Both of the twins were nursing sore cuts and bruises that Estel had inflicted upon them, and he was not even hurt.



*****



A few weeks passed and the twins continued to train Estel in the art of sword-fighting, until they could no longer teach him, as he kept besting them at whatever they did. Elrond was pleased with Estel's progress but still worried because the boy showed no love towards men, only hatred. Indeed he dreaded the day when he would have to tell the boy his true ancestry.

Gilraen remained in Rivendell but as the weeks went by she found that Estel no longer needed her. However she would not return to home; she would stay with her son, no matter how much she wanted to be with her family.

It was some weeks later that Elrond found Estel sitting at his window gazing outwards a small smile sitting across his features. It was the first one they had seen in many days; one that showed peace and happiness.

Estel looked up at his foster father as the elven lord sat down beside him.

"It's been six months." the boy stated.

Elrond paused before speaking. Six months! Six months since Estel's ordeal. In fact it was six months today that Estel had been taken by Deollyn and his men.

"And what do you feel when you recall that experience?" Elrond asked.

"Darkness. Pain." Estel replied, "I feel angry and hatred still. Something tells me that I should not feel that, but I can't help not liking men. My opinion will never change. I'm glad I'm not anyone worth while in this world to men; for if I was I would feel disgusted at what fate has chosen to throw at me. I cannot bring myself to forgive them. Men are evil."

Elrond had been afraid of this. Estel could not forgive no matter how many times Elrond had tried to explain to him that he was important though not in clear words. Now Estel was saying he was glad that he was no one important. What would happen when Elrond told him of his true lineage? Would Estel be able to forgive him for what he had done? Hidden from him and made him believe?

No, he would not think of this now. It was not yet Estel's time, not yet. He would wait, wait and see what transpired in the years to come. Now he could only comfort the boy.

Before he could speak, Estel continued: "I'm at peace. The memory is still there, but its dying. I am healing but it will be long time till I am at peace with myself. You won't leave me?"

"No. I will stay. As will your mother and your brothers. We will not let anything harm you again." Elrond said, hoping that he would not harm the boy later on in his life.

At least now Estel was healed from his ordeal; it was still there, but he had brought himself back and made a new life.

Who knew what the future would bring for Estel? Who knew what would happen when he found out who he was? Who knew how he would take it?

The elven lord dreaded that day.

For now he was content. Content that Estel was healed.

Happy that Rivendell could live in peace.

Something still troubled him: the murderer had not been found by anyone. They had not found any trace. Whatever had happened to the elf, then he was gone, probably biding his time.

He would not let him get near Estel again. Never again.

Never........



And so here is the End.





Well as you can guess they still have not found the 'Shadow Elf' so he is still running about. The bad news for the next story is that the 'Shadow Elf' is not going to be in it and his part in the tale will be finished in the next story after 'The Forge of Friendship'. You can probably guess by now that this is forming into my own little series of stories, and yet I don't have a name for the series. So does anyone have any idea what I can call the series?



But without further ado I give you a small summary of what the third story is about:



-The Forge of Friendship-



Summary: Sequel To Just An Innocent Child and Recovery. Estel has just been told of his true heritage and is appalled of what is expected of him. With Gandalf, Aragorn journeys to Mirkwood where he meets Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, only to discover that the Prince holds a deep loathing for men himself. However men are attacking the elves intending to claim the elven lord's treasure. When Legolas is taken by them, Aragorn must either infiltrate the men's camp and save the Prince, or turn away from the elf that dislikes him. Even if he decides to infiltrate the men's camp, will Legolas trust him enough to allow the human to help him?



This story I am hoping to get the first chapter up sometime in the first week of January. It will be at the most nine chapters long, depending if I stick with my ordinary plan (which I know I won't!).



In case you are wondering why I am sidetracking from the 'Shadow-elf', it is because I need to set up the friendship of Aragorn and Legolas before going onto the next story. It's so that Legolas can understand why Aragorn is like he is, and how he gets to trust him. So in a way it is essential. The story after that I am taking Aragorn back to Rivendell where he is forced to confront his fears.



But as I say 'The Forge of Friendship' is important, so please stick with me because everything will be revealed in the fourth story.



I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!



Namárië!