~Nightmares~

a/n: / \ are thoughts

Elrond couldn't help but notice how exhausted his youngest seemed to be, even after many hours of naps, he looked horrible. Elrond wondered if he wasn't coming down with something. He would allow himself to check later, until then maybe his son would talk about it.

Lunch was a quiet affair, Estel ate very little, probably less than he had for breakfast. He didn't look up from his food and most of the time he was off in a dream state.

"Ada, what are you doing now?" Estel asked as Elrond took the dishes and handed them to their kitchen servant. The child looked absolutely horrible, as though he was longing to simply be held.

"Well, I have papers that need to be finished, go over a few things for a meeting next week. Why?"

"Can I come to the study with you?"

"Of course young one, in fact why don't I move my stuff to the great room, that way you are far more comfortable as am I." Estel nodded as his father slowly got up. Once again his son reached for him. Again Elrond lifted his son into his arms, not liking how much the child seemed to weigh now.

Within moments Estel was curled up in his father's favorite chair by the fire, sleeping soundly, and Elrond was alternating between worrying about the human and actually getting a few things done.

However a loud scream jolted Elrond from his work suddenly. He looked up to see his son trying to fight off the horrible invisible demons. Elrond jumped up and lifted his little son into his arms.

"Estel, child, it's Ada, shh, it's all right," cooed Elrond as he gently caressed the boy's face. Estel buried his head in his father's shoulder and began to sob.

"Shh, what is wrong small one? What has in you such a horrible state," inquired the elven lord as he tried to calm his youngest child.

"Please don't leave me daddy," Elrond was surprised by the name, Estel only used Daddy when he was really hurting. Elrond gripped the child's chin, his heart breaking as the silver blue eyes were filled with tears and blood shot from pervious tears. His face pale in contrast to the dark hair that fell on his face.

"Leave you? Oh tithen nin Estel, what ever makes you think I would or could leave you?" Elrond watched the child's chin quiver is sadness.

"Oh little one, I could never leave you, what is worrying you so? Come, it is okay to speak with me tithen pen."

"No, no, I'm fine...it...it was just a nightmare, a horrible nightmare," whimpered the child as he delved closely to his father again. Elrond, unsure of what else he could do for the small child, he wrapped his arms tighter around the boy and kissed his forehead.

"Estel, seldo, are you sure?"

"Ay, I'm...positive."

"Perhaps you should go to sleep..."

"No! Please, Ada, can't I just sit here in you arms...for a few more moments," Elrond sighed and nodded.

"Of course child, you are always welcome to a hug," Elrond said squeezing the child tightly to his chest.

~*~

Elrond slowly opened his eyes, looking around he suddenly realized it was the middle of the night, and in his lap lay his small child. The boy seemed to be resting peacefully. So with a sigh, Elrond carried the child into his room and tucked him in. Elrond pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead, also checking for fever. Find no fever, and a somewhat content look on his face, Elrond headed for his own bedroom.

Elrond guessed he had only been asleep for an hour, if that, when he heard another scream. "NO!!!!!!" Came the cry and yell. Racing out of his room, Elrond once again found his son thrashing around on the bed.

"Estel, child, Estel!" Elrond raised his voice, catching the child from his sleep. The boy looked up, his eyes glazed over with a small fever and terror in his eyes.

"Please daddy, don't leave me, don't leave me! I'll be good daddy," he sobbed for the third time that day in Elrond's arms.

"Shh, child, I will not leave you. Please tell me what troubles you, so I can make it better."

"I...I can't...Daddy, what would happen to me...if you ever died?" Estel asked. Elrond looked at the child curiously.

"Elves rarely die Estel, they move onto the grey havens, but they don't normally die."

"I know Ada, but please, tell me," whimpered the boy. Elrond sighed and rocked the cradled boy in his arms gently.

"Well, Elladan and Elrohir would care for you, until you were of age to do as you please, to fulfill your destiny. Someone would always care for you young one. You wouldn't be left alone in this great world."

"Won't the twins go to the Grey Heavens one day too?"

"Of course, one day, but probably not until your time on earth is over, and that won't come for hundreds of years yet. Do you feel any better?" Estel nodded shortly.

"Think you can try to get some sleep?" The child looked up at his Ada.

"Can...can I sleep with you?"

"I suppose so, come young one," Elrond said. Carrying Estel into his bedroom, he pulled the covers back and wrapped them tightly around his young son, then got in as well and wrapped a protective arm around the boy.

"Sleep tithen pen, sleep."

~*~

Breakfast was identical to the lunch the day before, Estel asked to be excused after pushing his food around on his dish for twenty-five minutes. Elrond doubted very much the child had put a single bit in his mouth.

Not knowing where else to go, Estel headed to his tree, the place he had overheard the words the day before. Climbing up into the tree he tried to relax and simply think about what had been said. He couldn't help but feel horrible.

"Estel is driving everyone insane, my Ada told me the human threw a fit when his brothers said he couldn't go hunting! Imagine that, a seven year old human hunting! Who does he think he is? An elf!" laughed one child, Estel froze, allowing no sound to come from above as he continued to listen to the conversation between the two elflings.

"My Ada said that Lord Elrond is starting to regret his decision, Ada says the human will probably kill Elrond before he ever makes it to the Grey Havens. His brothers probably didn't want him to go so they could get away from him!" Laughed the other elf child. Estel was too stunned to cry, or yell or even scream. He just continued to listen to their conversation.

"He should have learned by now that he doesn't belong here. He's a human, just a stupid little human," the two elves laughed as they walked by.

"Estel!?" Came the voice. Estel was so frightened by the voice of his father that he plummeted from where he sat on the high branch. Elrond, nimble as always, managed to catch his son just before the child hit the ground.

"Estel, what were you doing up there!?" Elrond asked with worry written all over his features. Estel gazed into his father's eyes. /Gosh, he looks so tired, so worn/. Thought Estel.

"Estel did you hear me?"

"Sorry Ada," Estel whispered looking down.

"I said I have to go visit an elf on the other side of Rivendell I will be back by night fall, I promise."

"Promise?" Elrond looked at the boy seriously.

"Yes Estel, I promise," Elrond said as they headed towards the barn.

"I love you Ada," he whispered. Confused and worried Elrond looked at his son.

"I love you too Estel," with a sigh Elrond mounted the horse and trotted off to the other side of Rivendell.

/"Estel is driving everyone insane, my Ada told me the human threw a fit when his brothers said he couldn't go hunting! Imagine that, a seven year old human hunting! Who does he think he is? An elf!" "My Ada said that Lord Elrond is starting to regret his decision, Ada says the human will probably kill Elrond before he ever makes it to the Grey Havens. His brothers probably didn't want him to go so they could get away from him!"/ The voices rang out loud and clear, as Estel slapped his hands over his ears as tears formed in his eyes. There was only one thing Estel could think of to stop this from happening, if he was causing the death of his Ada, then he would just have to go away. Maybe not forever, but long enough that his father would be okay again.

Estel ran up to his room in a hurry, grabbed a satchel and began stuffing clothes, a picture and a couple other items in his bag. He then hurried into the kitchens, no one was around, so he easily grabbed a couple things to eat for the next few days. Once he got off Rivendell territory he would go from there.

Hurrying into the barn he spotted his pony, he had only rode her a few times, but he knew what he was doing. He saddled her quickly and within fifteen to twenty minutes he was riding out of the gates to Rivendell. The snow of the winter season would slow them down, but Estel had no time to think about this as he pulled his elven cloak tightly around his now chilled body.

A/N: Sorry I've been fighting off a nasty virus, so I'm a little late with this. Thank you for the reviews