Well, I took my dear, sweet time writing this chapter, so I hope everybody likes this chapter. I know that I promised angst and heartache, and believe me, it will come, but I'm still kind of in setup mode. I promise on Elros' grave that there will be terrible angst in the next chapter!! I've decided that this story is going to be on the same plot line as my other story "Problems Along The Way" (shameless plug!), only this story is waaaaay before that one. Remember- Don't be afraid to R/R! I know it's hard, but you can do it!!
Do my adoring fans ^-^:
grumpy: thanx a lot:) you write like you know what you're talking about.
Ireth Lossehelen: Hennaid evyr!
Shadow Pirate: you can count on it!
leggylover03: More Estel and Elrond? You're goign to be well pleased with chapter 3 -,o
Lómiothiel: Hennaid evyr mellonin! Sadly, Legolas isn't in this chapter, but he gets a good portion of chapter 3, so keep reading!
MoroTheWolfGod: Have I seen you somewheer before, mellon?
f: Oooh, F!
Ivory Novelist: Hennaid evyr, mellonin! I hope I'm not too late!! There's plenty of happy fluff here to keep you going, just hold on!
Alexis: Thanx, I hope it is!
ElizabethBlack4: Origionality is the best compliment you could give me:)
On with the show!
********
Young and Free
Chapter 2
Family Ties
********
Young Estel, now fully clothed, was bouncing happily in front of Elladan on his horse. Lord Elrond, his sons, and a few others were preparing to depart for the River Bruinen so that Estel could have his first swimming lessons.
The plan was to go out in mid-morning, teach Estel to keep himself afloat, and be back at the house of Elrond in time for Prince Legolas' arrival. As Glorfindel seated himself on the back of his horse, he noticed Erestor, already seated, and huffing impatiently for their departure.
"Peace, Erestor, the river will not cease to flow before we get there," Glorfindel said with a contented air.
"Nay, but at our current rate of travel, the party from Mirkwood will arrive before we even set off," Erestor answered, displeased.
"We have yet to depart."
"My point exactly."
At this Glorfindel laughed out loud. "Let us depart Lord Elrond, for our good Lord Erestor believes time quickens it's pace to spite us!"
Elrond laughed too. "Very well, my friend, let us depart."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The water shone clear and bright in the early summer sun. It lightly lapped at the stony banks that held it in. The leaves on the trees swayed to and fro in the warm breeze. The world was a picture of serenity. And then there was Estel.
The pale son of Elrond, who was little more than a baby, was giggling and squealing with delight as he watched the river go by.
Elladan, who had previously been laying down a blanket for the company to sit on, leaned down to his baby brother and whispered in his ear, "Don't blink, Estel, it may stop."
Estel's eyes went wide with wonder as he starred into the rippling water.
"Don't teach him false truths, El," Elrohir scolded lightly. He was standing at the rivers edge, taking deep breaths of the clean, fresh air.
Lord Elrond, now seated on earth toned silks and linens with Glorfindel and Erestor, smiled fondly on the exchange.
Elrohir strode up to where Estel was bouncing happily on the grass. He pulled his forest-green tunic off of his lean, muscular frame and knelt down to Estel.
"Ready to go into the water Estel?" He asked with a smile. Estel nodded furiously in response. "Arms up!" Estel did as he was told and Elrohir gently pulled off his little tunic and trousers.
Elladan, who had already stripped down to only his leggings, snatched up his little brother before Elrohir could.
"Come on then, the water's not cold!" He stepped into the river, Estel clutched tightly in his arms and gazing in wonder at the water below him. Elladan waded in up to his waist and the water touched Estel's pink little toes. Estel began to kick and struggle furiously to climb higher onto his brother so the water couldn't touch him. Elladan held onto him tightly.
"Don't force him Elladan," Elrond said from the bank, "let him go at his own pace."
Glorfindel laughed as Elladan struggled to keep a good hold on his little brother. "You're stronger than he is, Elladan, just hold on to him!"
"Easy for you to say," Elladan quipped back, "you're not the one in the water with him."
Glorfindel laughed harder. Erestor watched with anxiety from where he was sitting. //Be careful!// he yelled mentally, //you'll drop him if you're not careful!//
Elrond noticed Erestor's uneasiness. "Calm yourself, Erestor, Elladan's got him."
//And that's what worries me.// Erestor thought sarcastically.
"You're doing it all wrong, El," Elrohir said from the bank, "give him to me."
Elladan handed the wet, squirming form of Estel to Elrohir, who in turn, set him down on the bank. Estel sat completely still and stared at the water. Elrohir squatted down so he was eye level with his baby brother.
"Now Estel," Elrohir began slowly, "do you want to go in the water?"
Estel stared intently at Elladan, who was waist deep in water with his arms crossed over his chest. He has his head tilted to one side and a look on his face that just screamed, 'you think you know everything?' in Elrohir's direction.
"Come now, it's just like a bath at home," he rocked back and forth on his heels, his back to Elladan, "you like baths don't you?" Elrohir cupped his hand and dipped it in the water. He brought it over to Estel and dripped water on his pale little legs. It was as if Elrohir had been dropping molten lava on his baby knees. Estel thrashed wildly and pushed away at Elrohir's hands. Elrohir lost his balance and fell backside first into the water, much to the delight of Elladan.
"A fine method, brother, very amusing!" Elladan called out from the water. To the horror of Elrohir, Elrond and Glorfindel (who had by now stripped down to his leggings) were laughing as well.
"Good job, Estel," Glorfindel said as he stood up, "you got Elrohir to go in the water!" Estel looked confused.
"But was the task not to have it the other way around, Elrohir?" Elrond said from the bank.
Elrohir did his best at looking irritated.
"Now the trick is," Glorfindel started as he bent down to pick up Estel, "not to let the infant get the upper hand."
Elladan looked insulted. Glorfindel waded into the water, careful not to let the kicking Estel touch the surface. He held Estel tightly and in one quick movement dunked both he and the baby under the cold water. He came up and shook out his dripping locks. Estel came up sputtering and coughing, yet surprisingly calm. There were twin faces starring open mouthed at the calm infant.
"Age and experience, young one, age and experience," Glorfindel said with proud dignity.
"How do you think it was that your mother and I taught you two and Arwen to swim?" Elrond said with a sad smile on his face. Elrond's pair of sons quickly became interested in the surface of the water. The mention of Celebrian had dredged up old, painful memories.
Erestor, sensing the awkward moment, took the opportunity to break the silence.
"We do have a schedule to keep. Prince Legolas could arrive at any time."
"Indeed," said Lord Elrond at last, "I trust you have him under control, Glorfindel?"
"Of course, my lord."
The six spent the morning and the better part of the afternoon at the river until Lord Elrond was satisfied with the way that Estel kept himself afloat. Estel was bundled up in Elrond's arms on his horse ready to depart, alongside Erestor and Glorfindel. Elladan and Elrohir were just pulling on their matching green tunics, and having not yet dried their hair, were not yet ready to mount.
"Come now, we haven't got all day," Erestor said impatiently.
Elladan sent a cocky smile his way in a 'hmm, let me just go slower then' kind of way. Glorfindel chuckled, but his mirth was cut short when he was hit with what felt like the force of a tree falling. His world was enveloped in darkness as he fell from his horse.
********
Well, what do you think? I have big plans for the future of this story, so any and all reviews or comments are welcome!
Do my adoring fans ^-^:
grumpy: thanx a lot:) you write like you know what you're talking about.
Ireth Lossehelen: Hennaid evyr!
Shadow Pirate: you can count on it!
leggylover03: More Estel and Elrond? You're goign to be well pleased with chapter 3 -,o
Lómiothiel: Hennaid evyr mellonin! Sadly, Legolas isn't in this chapter, but he gets a good portion of chapter 3, so keep reading!
MoroTheWolfGod: Have I seen you somewheer before, mellon?
f: Oooh, F!
Ivory Novelist: Hennaid evyr, mellonin! I hope I'm not too late!! There's plenty of happy fluff here to keep you going, just hold on!
Alexis: Thanx, I hope it is!
ElizabethBlack4: Origionality is the best compliment you could give me:)
On with the show!
********
Young and Free
Chapter 2
Family Ties
********
Young Estel, now fully clothed, was bouncing happily in front of Elladan on his horse. Lord Elrond, his sons, and a few others were preparing to depart for the River Bruinen so that Estel could have his first swimming lessons.
The plan was to go out in mid-morning, teach Estel to keep himself afloat, and be back at the house of Elrond in time for Prince Legolas' arrival. As Glorfindel seated himself on the back of his horse, he noticed Erestor, already seated, and huffing impatiently for their departure.
"Peace, Erestor, the river will not cease to flow before we get there," Glorfindel said with a contented air.
"Nay, but at our current rate of travel, the party from Mirkwood will arrive before we even set off," Erestor answered, displeased.
"We have yet to depart."
"My point exactly."
At this Glorfindel laughed out loud. "Let us depart Lord Elrond, for our good Lord Erestor believes time quickens it's pace to spite us!"
Elrond laughed too. "Very well, my friend, let us depart."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The water shone clear and bright in the early summer sun. It lightly lapped at the stony banks that held it in. The leaves on the trees swayed to and fro in the warm breeze. The world was a picture of serenity. And then there was Estel.
The pale son of Elrond, who was little more than a baby, was giggling and squealing with delight as he watched the river go by.
Elladan, who had previously been laying down a blanket for the company to sit on, leaned down to his baby brother and whispered in his ear, "Don't blink, Estel, it may stop."
Estel's eyes went wide with wonder as he starred into the rippling water.
"Don't teach him false truths, El," Elrohir scolded lightly. He was standing at the rivers edge, taking deep breaths of the clean, fresh air.
Lord Elrond, now seated on earth toned silks and linens with Glorfindel and Erestor, smiled fondly on the exchange.
Elrohir strode up to where Estel was bouncing happily on the grass. He pulled his forest-green tunic off of his lean, muscular frame and knelt down to Estel.
"Ready to go into the water Estel?" He asked with a smile. Estel nodded furiously in response. "Arms up!" Estel did as he was told and Elrohir gently pulled off his little tunic and trousers.
Elladan, who had already stripped down to only his leggings, snatched up his little brother before Elrohir could.
"Come on then, the water's not cold!" He stepped into the river, Estel clutched tightly in his arms and gazing in wonder at the water below him. Elladan waded in up to his waist and the water touched Estel's pink little toes. Estel began to kick and struggle furiously to climb higher onto his brother so the water couldn't touch him. Elladan held onto him tightly.
"Don't force him Elladan," Elrond said from the bank, "let him go at his own pace."
Glorfindel laughed as Elladan struggled to keep a good hold on his little brother. "You're stronger than he is, Elladan, just hold on to him!"
"Easy for you to say," Elladan quipped back, "you're not the one in the water with him."
Glorfindel laughed harder. Erestor watched with anxiety from where he was sitting. //Be careful!// he yelled mentally, //you'll drop him if you're not careful!//
Elrond noticed Erestor's uneasiness. "Calm yourself, Erestor, Elladan's got him."
//And that's what worries me.// Erestor thought sarcastically.
"You're doing it all wrong, El," Elrohir said from the bank, "give him to me."
Elladan handed the wet, squirming form of Estel to Elrohir, who in turn, set him down on the bank. Estel sat completely still and stared at the water. Elrohir squatted down so he was eye level with his baby brother.
"Now Estel," Elrohir began slowly, "do you want to go in the water?"
Estel stared intently at Elladan, who was waist deep in water with his arms crossed over his chest. He has his head tilted to one side and a look on his face that just screamed, 'you think you know everything?' in Elrohir's direction.
"Come now, it's just like a bath at home," he rocked back and forth on his heels, his back to Elladan, "you like baths don't you?" Elrohir cupped his hand and dipped it in the water. He brought it over to Estel and dripped water on his pale little legs. It was as if Elrohir had been dropping molten lava on his baby knees. Estel thrashed wildly and pushed away at Elrohir's hands. Elrohir lost his balance and fell backside first into the water, much to the delight of Elladan.
"A fine method, brother, very amusing!" Elladan called out from the water. To the horror of Elrohir, Elrond and Glorfindel (who had by now stripped down to his leggings) were laughing as well.
"Good job, Estel," Glorfindel said as he stood up, "you got Elrohir to go in the water!" Estel looked confused.
"But was the task not to have it the other way around, Elrohir?" Elrond said from the bank.
Elrohir did his best at looking irritated.
"Now the trick is," Glorfindel started as he bent down to pick up Estel, "not to let the infant get the upper hand."
Elladan looked insulted. Glorfindel waded into the water, careful not to let the kicking Estel touch the surface. He held Estel tightly and in one quick movement dunked both he and the baby under the cold water. He came up and shook out his dripping locks. Estel came up sputtering and coughing, yet surprisingly calm. There were twin faces starring open mouthed at the calm infant.
"Age and experience, young one, age and experience," Glorfindel said with proud dignity.
"How do you think it was that your mother and I taught you two and Arwen to swim?" Elrond said with a sad smile on his face. Elrond's pair of sons quickly became interested in the surface of the water. The mention of Celebrian had dredged up old, painful memories.
Erestor, sensing the awkward moment, took the opportunity to break the silence.
"We do have a schedule to keep. Prince Legolas could arrive at any time."
"Indeed," said Lord Elrond at last, "I trust you have him under control, Glorfindel?"
"Of course, my lord."
The six spent the morning and the better part of the afternoon at the river until Lord Elrond was satisfied with the way that Estel kept himself afloat. Estel was bundled up in Elrond's arms on his horse ready to depart, alongside Erestor and Glorfindel. Elladan and Elrohir were just pulling on their matching green tunics, and having not yet dried their hair, were not yet ready to mount.
"Come now, we haven't got all day," Erestor said impatiently.
Elladan sent a cocky smile his way in a 'hmm, let me just go slower then' kind of way. Glorfindel chuckled, but his mirth was cut short when he was hit with what felt like the force of a tree falling. His world was enveloped in darkness as he fell from his horse.
********
Well, what do you think? I have big plans for the future of this story, so any and all reviews or comments are welcome!