Huge thanks to Galahan, without whom I would have never been able to come up with estimated travel time and route. Thanks so much! You're the best!

* "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet."

-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act II scene II.

"...I will not forsake The colors that you bring The nights you filled with fireworks They left you with nothing

I am still enchanted By the light you brought to me I listen through your ears Through your eyes I can see...

I was unconscious, half asleep The water is warm 'til you discover how deep

I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall It's a long way down to nothing at all"

And if the night runs over And if the day won't last And if our way should falter Along the stony pass

And if the night runs over And if the day won't last And if your way should falter Along this stony pass

It's just a moment This time will pass"

-U2, "Stuck In A Moment".

*

"Gandalf?" Estel asked nervously, trying to glance at the Wizard behind him. But no matter how he twisted his neck, all he got was pain and a bushy beard in his face.

"Yes, child?" Gandalf asked patiently, though he dreaded this conversation. Estel shifted uncomfortably on their horse.

"You said that when we were traveling alone, I could ask you... Questions," Estel said apprehensively, his throat suddenly felt dry.

"Yes, I did and I am a Wizard true to his word," Gandalf huffed indignantly. "But perhaps you could postpone such questions to when we've reached the Celduin, in a few days time. Right now we must set good pace."

"Where are we going?" Estel asked curiously, trying to bottle his disappointment. He needed to talk now...

"To Lorien," Gandalf said hesitantly. "Where Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn dwell."

"Are they not Elladan and Elrohir's grandparents?" Estel asked confused. "I heard it is beautiful there, but do you not having pressing business to attend to?"

"My pressing business is IN Lorien," Gandalf explained. He frowned for a moment. "Have you never been there?"

"No," Estel said somewhat sadly. "But Elladan and Elrohir go often to visit, and they tell me stories of its beauty." He shrugged his shoulders slightly and his tone got bitter. "II have no business in Lorien, the Elves there are not MY kin and the Lady and Lord of Lorien are not MY grandparents."

Gandalf shook his head angrily, adding another topic to the already long list to confront Elrond with. "Well, you will see it soon, when we get there."

"Won't they be mad?" Estel asked, a bit frightened. "I am coming uninvited."

"If everyone were to come only when invited, no one would go anywhere," Gandalf smiled. "Beside, I doubt anyone can stay mad at you for long."

"Father can," Estel said immediately. "And so can mother- but I can still pretend to be 'cute' with her and she'll eventually forgive me."

"And Elrond cannot?"

"He sighs and looks at me funny and says I make him grow old." Estel looked at Gandalf suspiciously. "Have I made YOU grow old? You look like you are, was it my doing?"

"No," Gandalf laughed. "My appearance is not your doing and if anything it is the contrary: You have kept me young."

"But you are not young to begin with, how could I KEEP you young?" Estel asked puzzled.

Gandalf sighed. "It is an expression, as is 'grow old', they are both referring to the state of mind. I meant you make me FEEL young."

"Oh," Estel said embarrassed. "Why then did you not simply say so?" Gandalf was stumped and so he did the only thing he could do and whacked the child across the head. Estel chuckled, knowing he caused Gandalf to be rendered speechless.

*

"We have reached the Celduin," Gandalf announced, several days later. He glanced up at the dark sky. "We should stop now, refill our water supply, eat and rest. AND-" he added, seeing the question forming on Estel's lips. "-I will answer what questions I can."

Estel jumped down from the horse and, though he was tired, rushed to fill the skins with water. When he returned, he helped Gandalf remove their light load from Celduin (as Estel decided the horse's name should be, since in his eyes he was as fast as a running river) and unpack their foods.

"Alright, Estel," Gandalf said, as he settled in. "I have delayed this far enough. You may ask me your questions and I shall try to answer them."

"Why 'try'?" Estel asked, wondering angrily if he waited this long for nothing.

"Because, child, some of these question I may have no answers to give." Gandalf said, biting into one of the honey cakes. "Some I may have an answer, but it is the wrong time, and some should be addressed to other people entirely."

"Addressed to whom?" Estel asked. "And why not give me an answer if you have one?"

"Some questions should best be addressed to lord Elrond and your mother." Gandalf said wearily. "And some should wait till you are older."

"Why wait till I am older?" Estel said agitated. "I'm not a silly child- I am ten years old!" It was all he could do to not stomp his feet. He knew if he did that he would only prove Gandalf's point.

"There are ramifications to everything," Gandalf said mysteriously. "And once certain doors are opened, a single path awaits and you cannot stay in the doorway."

"What?" Estel asked, feeling slightly dizzy. He hated it when Gandalf spoke like that.

"Never mind," Gandalf huffed. "You have questions to ask, after that we rest and continue traveling."

Estel opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated. It were as though there were so many questions to ask, he could not form them into speech. He knew he had a better chance at answers with Gandalf and so he would have to ask all he wanted to know, right now.

"Who was my other father?" He asked the most burning question of all.

"Do you ask for his name, his occupation or his personality?" Gandalf asked pointedly.

"All of them." Estel said stubbornly.

"He was a Ranger of the North," Gandalf said slowly, picking his words carefully. "A noble man, according to what I heard. But I have never met the man and so cannot offer more about him. You should ask your mother what he was like, after all, she was married to him."

"You didn't tell me his name."

"How very perceptive of you," Gandalf grinned grimly. "His name was Arathorn son of Arador."

"Is Arador still alive?"

"No, he died a year before you were born."

"Oh," Estel said quietly. He never had grandparents, according to stories they were really fun and they spoil you rotten. He sometimes wished he had one or two. Not that he did not love his parents, but it was different somehow. "Why was I raised in Imladris?" Estel asked. "Why not in some man village? Or where my parents were from?"

"That you will have to ask your mother and father," Gandalf said as he took out his pipe and lit some weed.

"IS Elrond still my father?" Estel asked worriedly, a sudden cold wind causing him to shudder.

"Why should he not be?" Gandalf asked surprised.

"Well," Estel said, glancing away. "I know the truth now, he does not have to pretend he is my REAL father any longer."

"Do you think that is what he was doing? PRETENDING to be your father?"

"I don't know," Estel said miserably. "Maybe?"

"Come here," Gandalf beckoned, and Estel scooted over and lay his head against Gandalf. Gandalf wrapped his coat around the shivering child. "Listen carefully to what I have to say, Estel." Estel listened intently, waiting for whatever important thing the Wizard has to say. "Do you love Elrond?"

"Of course I love him," Estel said indignantly. "He is-"

"-Your father," Gandalf finished for him, blowing a ring of smoke. "Perhaps not by blood, but he is your father by love."

"I know I love him and WISH for him to continue being my father," Estel said slowly. "But what if he does not want me anymore? What if by running away I've angered him so much, he wishes to be rid of me?" He finished quietly, his eyes stinging. He drew closer to the warm wizard.

"If Lord Elrond could put up with your brothers' antics for over two millennia, he can handle one annoying little child," Gandalf winked at him. He suddenly became very serious. "Elrond loves you, never doubt that. He could have simply allowed you to live in Imladris, but he loved you so much, he decided to foster father you. You ARE his son, no matter what you do, no matter how angry you make him, you will ALWAYS be his son."

Estel was quiet, absorbing it all, trying to convince himself that Gandalf was right. "I don't remember him."

"I beg your pardon?" Gandalf asked confused.

"Arathorn- I don't remember him at all," his voice sounded slightly anguished. "Am I wronging his memory? How would he feel about me having another father and not remembering him at all?"

"You were only two, when Arathorn died-"

"Was killed," Estel corrected. "He was shot by orcs in the-" He suddenly felt the need to vomit at the image stirred up from a distant dream. He swallowed the bile.

"I can not presume to speak for Arathorn," Gandalf said thoughtfully. "But I believe he would want you and your mother to be happy. I think he would be glad, that if he could not raise you, at least you would have another father to love you."

"I don't think she's happy," Estel countered. Gandalf furrowed his brow and Estel explained. "My mother, I don't think she's happy."

"Why do you say that?"

"She cries a lot," Estel shrugged, glancing up at the sky. "Late at night, when she think no one can hear. She almost never travels outside the halls and she just seems sad."

"I suppose that is to be expected," Gandalf reasoned. "She loved Arathorn very much."

"I know," Estel sighed. "But I don't want her to be sad. I try to be 'cute' for her, she seems to like it. But I do not know what to do to make her happy."

"You need not act like a child younger than your years in order to please your mother," Gandalf admonished gently. "And you cannot force happiness upon someone. Spend more time with her, perhaps- I know you make her happy."

"Not lately," Estel admitted embarrassed. "I think I make her sadder."

"Child," Gandalf sighed. "You seem to be under the impression that you evoke sadness and anger wherever you go, when it is quite the opposite." Gandalf chuckled lightly. "I have never seen Thorin more jovial nor so full of Mirth, than I have in the short time you two spent together. You have a gift- you lighten heavy spirits and help dig up lost hope."

Estel blushed at the compliment, though he did not think it was true. He frowned momentarily, the word 'hope' stirring another important question.

"Gandalf," he asked wonderingly. "'Estel' is an Elven word, and you said I was two when brought to Imladris. Did I... Did my parents name me another name?"

"Every man gathers many names during his life."

"You have not answered my question," Estel narrowed his eyes. Gandalf kept doing that, was he hiding something? Or was he so old he forgot the question?

"You are becoming too observant for your own good," Gandalf said. He thought for a long moment, before answering. "Yes, your parents named you a different name when you were born."

Estel waited impatiently. After several moments when it was clear Gandalf had no intentions of answering him, Estel asked: "Are you going to tell me?"

"No."

"What?" Estel asked bemused.

"I told you some of your questions will not be answered until you are older."

"But WHY?" Estel whined. "And don't start talking about opened doors!"

"Some information can be very... Delicate. You only have the tools to handle it when you come of age."

"But it is only a name- not an attack plan!" Estel argued vehemently.

"If it is 'only a name', why do you care so much?"

"Because," Estel said stubbornly. "Because it is MY name. The name my OTHER father gave me. I have a right to know what it is!"

"You are right," Gandalf nodded. "And in due time you will know what it is, but for now you will simply have to wait. And try acting more mature, the faster Elrond thinks you are grown enough to know it, the faster you will have it."

"No!" Estel said, rising to his feet. "I refuse!" He racked his brains. "If you will not tell me now, I will... I will- I will hold my breath until I turn blue and die!" He threatened.

"By all means," Gandalf said amiably. "I could use some entertainment."

Estel drew a large gulp of breath and held it, taking his daring stand against Gandalf. Gandalf raised a brow, before settling himself for sleep. "Goodnight." Estel held the breath in, refusing to lose, but eventually his lungs screamed for air and he had to comply. He sagged next to Gandalf sulking.

"I know your name is important to you," Gandalf said quietly. "But for now you have the chance to be no one other than Estel- you should treasure this time." Estel did not answer and settled himself silently for sleep.

"Do you recall my other name?" Gandalf asked, trying to draw the child from the morose cocoon he slipped into. "The one everyone in Imladris other than you call me by?"

"Mithrandir," Estel said, and a tiny smile tugged at his lips.

"Do you remember WHY you started calling me 'Gandalf'?"

~

"GILRAEN!"

Gilraen winced, as she hurried to the great hall. If Elrond bellowed her name that way, it could only mean one thing.

Aragorn.

She was truly terrified her adoring little boy would do something to jeopardize their status here in Rivendell. Elrond was a hospitable host, that goes without saying, but how long could he stand the very energetic little three year old? They were not here for even a year, and it seemed Aragorn (she could never get used to thinking of him as 'Estel') had a knack for causing trouble. She reached the great hall that was in final preparations for some esteem Wizard's stay. As she reached the entrance, she quickly straightened her dress and made sure she was presentable, before bravely stepping inside-

And gasping in horror.

"Oh Tithen Min [little one]," she sighed. "What have you done now?" Estel looked up at her and grinned widely.

"I made hall pretty for guest," he said proudly. "Isn't it pretty?" Gilraen winced as he dared to glance at the fuming Elrond. The walls of the great hall were decorated with bright colors and drawings. She was about to argue Estel's case to Elrond, when a resonating voice sounded from behind them.

"What have we here?"

Both Elrond and Gilraen turned to see Mithrandir or Gandalf the Grey, standing in the hall, gazing appreciatively at the walls.

"I see we have an artist in this house," Gandalf smiled pleasantly.

"I did it!" Estel said jumping up and down. "I did it for wizard!"

"Indeed?" Gandalf said, walking over to the bundle of joy. "You must have spent a long time working on it."

"Aha," Estel said nodding, before pointing a finger at the wall. "I spent ALL night making the surprise."

"Mithrandir," Elrond started, trying to think of a way to explain.

"I think it is a treasured present." Gandalf smiled, as he bent low next to Estel. "If I could, I would take it with me, but I think Elrond would miss his wall too much."

"You wizard?" Estel asked, his sparkling grey eyes growing huge. "You can make fireworks and magic?"

"Yes, I am and yes, I can," Gandalf chuckled. "What is your name?"

"Estel," he said, shaking Gandalf's hand. "Mae Govannen [well met], mister wizard."

"You may call me Mithrandir," Gandalf smiled pleasantly, shaking the child's hand.

"Mithidir?" Estel puzzled.

"No, Mithrandir."

"Mithandir?"

"No... MITHRANDIR."

"Mithundor?" Estel asked, even more confused.

"No- never mind," Gandalf sighed. "I am known by another name, perhaps it would prove easier to pronounce: Gandalf the Grey."

"Gadaf?"

"GANDALF!"

"Gadnalf?"

"G-A-N-D-A-L-F!!!"

~

"I remember," Estel chuckled lightly. "You were so funny, you looked like you were about to shout at me, you were so red in the face!"

"As long as you are amused," Gandalf said as though offended, but in truth he was grateful the child was still capable of chuckling. "We should get some sleep, we still have quite a way ahead of us. Goodnight Estel."

Estel smirked. "Goodnight GADAF."

*

"Where are you going?" Gilraen asked Elrond, as she saw him getting ready for travel in his study.

"I am going to an important Council," Elrond said briskly. "Gandalf the Grey sent word, he and Estel are already journeying to the meeting place." He grabbed his sword and shuffled around for his bow and arrows.

"You require weapons for this meeting?" Gilraen asked concerned.

"I promise you no harm shall come to your son and he will not be involved in anything dangerous," Elrond said, as he packed some herbs.

"My worry does not lie only with my son." Gilraen said quietly, slightly hurt. Elrond turned a questioning look toward her. "You are his father- of course I worry for your well being as well! He has already lost one father, though he does not remember him, he need not lose another that he loves so much!" Tears sprang into her red eyes, but she quickly brushed them away.

"I apologize," Elrond said gently. "I did not mean to imply that you do not care for my well being." He walked over to her and grabbed her shoulder. "I will be fine, and Estel will be home soon enough, you have my word." Gilraen nodded and Elrond drew away, returning to collecting several herbs.

"What are those for?" Gilraen asked curiously. "They look like medicine herbs."

"They are," Elrond said darkly. "It is best to carry them with, for any trouble that may arise."

"You believe he is hurt?" Gilraen asked a slight panic to her voice.

"I hope not," Elrond said heavily. "But I have a bad feeling and I prefer to have them with me." Elrond turned to leave his study, when Gilraen called after him:

"Keep safe, and make sure our Estel is safe." Elrond nodded and left, walking quickly through the halls.

"You're going to the White Council, aren't you?" Elrohir asked him, as he and his brother caught up with Elrond.

"You are going prepared for battle." Elladan remarked, seeing the weapons.

"A decision has to be made, that should have been made long ago," Elrond said darkly, as the three exited the house and headed to the stables.

"The enemy grows stronger," Elladan commented. "He resides in Dol Guldur and has gathered the rings."

"He must be pushed back," Elrohir said sternly.

"Yes, that is what must be decided," Elrond said bitterly, as he chose the fastest horse to ride.

"Then we will come with you," Elladan said, glancing at his twin. "We will help fight the enemy."

"Elladan-" Elrond started.

"He is right," Elrohir said. "We are not children, Adar, and we can hold our own."

"Beside," Elladan grinned. "We are the sons of one the wisest elves."

"Very well," Elrond said, giving up. "You may not participate in the Council, but you can help attack Dol Guldur."

Both brothers drew their hidden weapons and prepared their horses for departure. "The decision has not been made yet," Elrohir said. "What makes you so sure they will chose an attack?"

"Because," Elrond said, as he rode his horse out. "I plan to leave them no choice."

*

"Ouch!" Estel cried, as he got tangled in a thorny bush. They were treading by foot on the Old Forest Road for four days, due to the low roof of trees and the tricky path. He managed to pull himself loose, but not before severely tearing his garment and receiving several nasty scratches. Oh well, it was not as if his clothes were doing so well until now.

"Try to keep up!" Gandalf urged him, as he pulled him forward.

"How much further?" Estel tried not to whine. He rubbed his arms absent mindedly.

"In a day or two we should reach the Anduin, and from there it is an easy journey to Lorien."

"That's what you said yesterday and the day before!" Estel complained, feeling agitated and thirsty. He took a huge gulp of water from the skin, but still felt dry and hot.

"No, I did not. I said we would PROBABLY reach the Anduin in APPROXIMITELY two to three days, but you never keep pace!" Gandalf said annoyed. "I am already late and we must hurry up!"

Estel wiped the sweat off his forehead and swallowed whatever remark he was about to make.

The next day the woke up before dawn, eating a quick breakfast before starting off again. Estel found it difficult to wake up from the warm embrace of sleep, and most of the time was walking in a hazed state. All he wanted was a nice warm bed to sleep in for hours on hours...

By the end of the second day they finally left the Old Forest road and reached Anduin, the Great River, where they could travel on their horse Celduin. Estel was thirsty and hungry and itchy, but most of all he felt tired. He was so tired he could barely keep his eyes opened and eventually let them close, falling fast asleep.

Gandalf did not notice until it was too late. Before he had a chance to react, Estel wnt limp and slid sideways, falling off the horse. "Estel!" He cried surprised and worried, as he jumped off to see what was wrong. Estel did not wake up from the fall and Gandalf tried calling his name several more times, to no avail. He slightly slapped the boy, but he only stirred in his sleep. Gandalf pressed the back of his hand to Estel's forehead.

"You are running a fever," Gandalf said, worried. "We must hurry you to Lorien!" He gently held the sleeping child and got back on the horse, riding with urgent haste toward Lorien.

*END PART 11*

Author's Note: This took me a long time to post also because I had to use 3- 4 books for maps and for any scrap of information regarding the White Council, and also because I had a field trip. As Galahan suggested, the White Council in this story took place in Lorien, since it is a pretty nuetral zone. But in my mind it wandered and so at other times it was elsewhere. This has been real difficult to write, but I managed to! Boy writing LOTR is hard and takes a lot of research, so Yay for me! I just realized I spent over a year on this story! I'll miss Estel. :(

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed-

Hallagurthiel- I am so glad you're enjoying my cute little story! I hope you enjoy the rest of it, as it is drawing to an end.

leggylover03- Hey! You thought it was sweet? Whew, I thought it became a bit too dark and gloomy for my poor Estel! When I started this it was sweet and fun, look what happened!

grumpy- I think I look forward to your reviews the most! What an ego boost! My Estel is a cute little boy, I write Gandalf well, you love their interaction? Can I hire you as my personal pick me upper? LOL.

HobbitsRFun- Wow, I guess the interaction really worked, I'm so glad! I'm never sure how they come off! Estel can't wait to be reunited with his family as well, and don't worry there will be some family moments before the end!

Ivy