Summary years after A Second Chance. the twins reach the camp...but it is dead.
The quiet plains near the borders of Imladris Forest were disturbed by the sound of a large group of Orcs, wandering through the lands.
"Elrohir," Elladan murmured, seeing the large group, alerting his twin to their presence, they saw where they were heading.
"Arathorn." Elrohir breathed, knowing the Dúnedain camp was close by.
"We must hurry." The elder twin muttered already headed for the camp which was oblivious to the danger.
The small child gurgled softly, bouncing up and down pullin the elder man's dark hair, just a little too hard, causing the elder to wince slightly, feeling another clump of hair leave his head.
He frowned at the child, who just gurgled innocently and dazzled him with a brilliant cheeky smile.
"Stop that little one; you'll make me bald in no time if you keep puling at my hair so."
Little Aragorn cocked his head as if in thought and started tugging at the beard.
"Come on Aragorn, don't be so rough with your father...you know he's getting old..." Gilraen laughed at her husbands glare, Aragorn laughed in delight bouncing up and down again.
"Hello Lady Gilraen," a voice smiled from behind, "you look as lovely as ever."
"Thank you Halbarad," she blushed.
"Ever the charmer my friend." Arathorn smiled at the younger man.
"Arathorn, scouts say there are Orcs heading this way, in a camp one over heard an Orc mention that they knew Isildur's heir was in this camp."
"What?" Gilraen shrieked.
"We have to leave my friend, Imladris is not far..." he started.
"Gil...Take Aragorn, wait for me there, Lord Elrond will see to it that you are well looked after." He started.
"What? And leave you? No way." She said fiercely.
"My lady, Arathorn is right, please, for your son. For his safety." Both men looked to her with pleading eyes.
"You will come to me there?" she asked.
"I promise, now go." Her husband kissed her and their son before she ran off.
"Go With her Halbarad."
"My lord?"
"I know I will not make it out of this battle alive, I want to make sure my family is cared for. I also want you to take over for me, until my son is ready to."
"Of course my friend." With that the man left, following after the woman and child that had ran before him, glancing back to see the Orcs meet with the few warriors in the camp.
His friends.
"Please don't hurt my child." Gilraen pleaded as two beings moved before her.
"Gilraen?" a soft voice murmured.
She looked to see two identical figures standing before her, it was then she broke down into tears flinging herself into one of their arms.
Elladan rocked her patiently, waiting for the hysterical woman to calm down, soothing her, whilst Elrohir took the small child she had been carrying.
The elder twin then guided her to Elrohir as he sensed someone else joining them.
"Move no closer until I know who you are, lest my sword separates a limb or two." His voice was deadly, no trace of idle threat in its icy fire.
"Peace, I will not harm you." the stranger tried to reassure.
"State your intentions stranger, my brother never leaves a threat idle." Elrohir spoke up.
"I wish only to know the well being of Arathorn's family."
"Halbarad?" Gilraen sobbed, "It's alright Elladan...I know him..."
"My lady, I am relieved to see you well."
"Arathorn..."
"I am sorry. He forced me to leave...to make sure you were well."
"Halbarad," one of the twins spoke to him, "take her and the child to Imladris, our father will make sure you are safe. If you try anything to harm either of them...I swear you will wish the Orcs had taken you too." Elladan's cold gaze pierced the man, he did not trust him. "Come Elrohir, we shall go and see if they are well," he paused, "send word that we may need help against the Orcs."
"I fear there is little you can do alone against them."
"We will take our chances." Elladan said tartly; glad to be out of his company.
"You could have been a little nicer to him brother," Elrohir murmured.
"I do not trust him. He is a Human." Elladan said shortly.
"I don't understand it Dan...why do you have such a problem with some Humans? You never used to..."
"Was it not a Human's blade that killed you those years ago?" he shot back.
"Elladan, when will you let that go? Not all Humans are like that, as you well know. Arathorn trusts him; that is good enough for me. Even if you don't." Elrohir started walking ahead.
"I'm sorry...I just don't want to loose you again..."
"I know, but come, we should see how the camp fares." He said with a small smile running off in the direction of the settlement.
"No," Elrohir whispered, seeing the utter devastation that surrounded them.
"We're too late." Elladan muttered bitterly, "the time we spent in the woods...we could have been here...saving them..." he kicked a helmet halfway across the camp in frustration. "Ro," he whispered seeing a vaguely familiar face.
"No...it can't be...he's ..." Elrohir choked.
"Dan...Ro..." the ragged voice of Arathorn whispered.
"Shh Mellon nîn, we're here...you'll be fine..."
"Gil...Ara..."
"They are with Halbarad." Elladan told him and noticed there was an arrow sticking from his eye. With all the bodies around and the lingering stench of death he could tell his younger twin was trying his hardest not to be sick...so was he.
"Thank you..." he murmured before falling limp in the elder's arms, Elrohir placed a hand on his brother's trembling shoulders.
"How many more must we loose?" he whispered, "how many more lives will the Valar allow to be destroyed? But it's not them. It has nothing to do with their precious Undying Lands so why should they care. It's not fair."
"Elladan..." Elrohir started, hearing the bitterness in his twin's voice.
"Save it Elrohir, I want no empty words of solace, you know I'm beyond that now. It is to Gilraen and Aragorn where our sentiments should lay."
"The Valar knew this would happen." He spoke quietly.
"Then why did they do nothing? Why not intervene?"
"They cannot, you know that. But they told me that I would not remember until it had passed, so I could not stop it either." He muttered sadly. "But come, we cannot leave them out here like this."
"You are right of course." Elladan tried an encouraging smile but it turned out more of a grimace, and they set to work in burying the men women and children that had been mercilessly slaughtered as best they could.
It was near nightfall when the two had finished.
"Come Elrohir," Elladan said softly wiping his brow free of sweat and dirt, "we should go home."
Elrohir could only nod, realisation hit him. So many good men dead. He allowed his twin to lead him back toward home.
"Elladan." He stopped catching the elder's attention.
"No," he growled, seeing a familiar body on the floor, "I will not let another die this night." He was relieved to find the young man was breathing.
"Gil...Orcs took her and..." Halbarad started, his breath laboured.
"Shh, save your strength."
"Who goes there?" a sharp voice demanded.
"Glorfindel," Elrohir breathed, "please take this man back to Ada, he's been injured, and the Dúnedain camp was destroyed...we're going after Gilraen and Aragorn."
"Very well," the blond nodded and picked the man up.
The twins were not left to think any more on the matter and were already following tracks to where the Orcs had gone.
Loud crying erupted through the camp as the small child was roughly treated.
"Shurrup ya lil brat." One growled, making him cry harder.
"Please, leave him alone," Gilraen begged, fearing for her son's life, and the fate of the world.
"Wen it shuts up."
"Give him here, I can calm him down." She said softly, trying to hide her fear.
"Fine, but if you try out funny we'll stick you and your little brat faster than you can blink." The Orc leader growled untying her hands and roughly placing the child in her arms.
"Shh little one, you'll be alright, hush," she gently bounced him up and down until the crying subsided and kissed him lightly.
"Dada..." he gurgled softly tugging at his mother's hair.
"Shh my son, Dada's not here," nor will you ever see him again, she thought sadly, knowing in her heart her husband was dead.
Nearby the twins crouched low behind bushes, watching the whole thing.
"Why am I not surprised to see you two out here ready for battle?" a familiar voice asked from behind.
"Ada," they muttered in unison, trying to be quiet.
"What are you doing here?" Elrohir asked.
"Keeping you two out of trouble obviously." He shook his head, "I met with Glorfindel who was carrying that man and he told me you had gone after him...then the scouts were saying Orcs were in the area. Thought you may be outnumbered." The twins rolled their eyes and smiled.
"My lord," a guard joined them, "we have counted forty Orcs in all."
"Distract them as well as you can, kill them if you must but our main aim is to get the mother and child away from them." Elrond told him.
"Kill them anyway; they do not deserve to live...if you saw the state of the camp..." Elladan trailed off, his hand gripping his sword tight.
"Calm Elladan, they will not survive this night." Elrond assured his eldest and prepared to attack after the other warriors had gone in.
The battle was hard, both sides were equally matched.
"Gilraen," Elladan yelled seeing her fall from a narrow, another Orc slashed her back viciously. There was no sign of the child.
"Ada," he ran to his father's side as the Orcs began to retreat. "Are you alright?"
"It's just a scratch Elladan, I'll be fine." The younger Elf was not completely convinced.
"Ada, so you really expect me to believe the whole 'it's just a scratch' excuse? I came up with that."
"Moma..." a tiny voice called through the empty camp.
The Elves looked to see a small child shaking the fallen woman.
"Wake up..." he started sniffing, Elrohir was first to his side.
"Shh little one," he picked him up and rocked the sobbing child quietly. "You'll be alright, we'll look after you."
"Not waking up...why not waking up?" he sobbed.
"She can't wake little one," Elrond came beside his son, "she sleeps very deeply."
"Dada?"
"I'm sorry child...they are both in Mandos' care." Of course he was not entirely sure that was true, he couldn't bear to hurt the child more.
"Ada, we should leave, the Orcs could come back at anytime." Elladan murmured.
"You are right," he sighed and called to one of the guards, "bring the body, but keep it from the child."
"Ada?" Elrohir questioned.
"She should not be allowed this as her resting place." He explained as Elrohir handed him the child.
"Ada." The child picked up the word quickly.
"Yes, he is our Ada." Aragorn cocked his head and shook it.
"Mine." He muttered.
"No, ours." Elrohir smiled.
"Na, mine."
"Mine."
"Mine."
"Mine."
Elrond rolled his eyes. This was going to be a long walk home.
"Fine, have him then, you'll soon want to give him back."
Elladan grinned, receiving a glare from their father.
"One of you take him for a while?" Elrond asked, Elrohir took him again.
It was then the child noticed the pointed ears and pulled.
Hard.
"Ouch," Elrohir yelped glaring at the child, who just looked innocently and giggled insanely.
Elladan chuckled lightly seeing his brother occupying the child...or the child occupying him rather.
"What will we do with the child father?" Elladan asked, falling into step with the elder Elf, "he has no family now...and being Isildur's last heir..."
"I know what you mean my son, but it is not up to us to say what his fate holds." Elrond said softly as they entered the gardens of Imladris, "you two go and sort a room for him, close to one of our if possible."
"Of course Ada," Elrohir said and started to follow Elladan into the House, then the Human stormed passed them followed by a very irritated.
"What seems to be the problem?" Elrond asked.
"Are all Humans as stubborn as you or is it just the blood of Nùmenor?" the blond Elf growled to the Human, ignoring his lord's question.
"I am well, there is nothing wrong with me," Halbarad growled, "I have to go after my lady, I promised Arathorn." He fired back.
"Peace please," Elrond snapped as little Aragorn started crying.
"Thank the Valar you are well little one," he whispered taking the child from one of the twin's arms, ignoring the glares from the other twin.
"Habad," he giggled in delight, causing the young man to smile.
"Where's Gil?" he asked, knowing the answer.
"I am sorry...we could not save her...the Orcs got to her before we did...she had no chance." Elrond told him, "come on Halbarad, you should rest..."
"What about..."
"We'll look after him for now." Elladan reassured taking the child off him again. "Night Ada," the twins said in unison.
"Niy Ada," Aragorn gurgled.
"Does he know what 'Ada' means?" Glorfindel asked, somewhat amused.
"He heard it from the twins." Elrond shrugged, "So, what shall we do with him?"
"I know not my lord. I do not think there will be any families willing to take a child in. but if the enemy thinks Isildur's line is finally destroyed, perhaps it would be better if no one knows different." Halbarad suggested.
"Yes, his identity must remain secret, but come, it has been a trying day for all, Glorfindel will show you to your room." With that Elrond went after his sons to see where they had put the small boy.
"Elladan? Elrohir?" Elrond called quietly seeing a room next door to his was slightly open.
"We're in here Ada," one of them called back softly as he entered.
"You wanted him as close to one of us as possible, what better room than next door to you." Elrohir grinned softly.
It had not taken the small boy long to fall asleep with both of the twins singing softly. Elrond could not help but smile seeing the child looking peaceful in his sleep.
"You two can go if you want to sleep," he suggested, the twins exchanged hesitant glances. "I'm sure he'll be fine...I'm only next door if he wakes and you two are just down the hall." He assured them.
"What is going to happen to him?" Elladan asked softly brushing some strands of hair from his face.
"We don't know, we will decide in the morning."
"Can he stay here?" Elrohir asked quietly, "it's not like we've had others from his Line stay here before."
"But that still means someone must care for him..." he trailed of realising what the younger was asking, "I'll think about it."
"Thank you Ada." The younger twin smiled softly before leaving.
"Good night Ada," Elladan smiled and followed his twin out.
"Good night my sons," he whispered watching them out of the room.
"Niy Ada," a tiny voice whispered back from beside him.
"Good night little one," he bent down and kissed the small boy's head, "now get some sleep." He shook his head noting his eyes were already closed. He smiled softly and went into his own room and fell into a light reverie.
A small cry pierced through his consciousness followed by sobbing.
Elrond forced himself to wake, wondering what would disturb the quiet night, and then he remembered the little boy in the next room. Wasting no time he burst into the room and found him struggling against the sheets.
"Shh sidh, sidh pen naeth, shh you're alright here, you're safe." He soothed the child as he woke.
"Ada?" a frightened voice whispered, huge silver eyes locked with darker blue.
"Shh Estel," Estel? Where had that come from? He shook it out of his mind and rocked the boy gently, close to him.
The frightened child clung to the Elf as tears started rolling down his cheeks.
"What's wrong child?" He asked when he had calmed down.
"The monsters...they...moma...dada..." he sniffed.
"Shh," Elrond pulled the boy close again and resumed rocking him, no child no matter how old should have had to go through what he had. Yet he barely understood any of it.
"Ada?" two bleary faced Elves stepped through the doorway, "Is he alright?"
"Yes, it was just a nightmare." Elrond explained.
"Lan, Rir," Aragorn noticed the twins and held out his arms for them.
"Hello little one," Elladan picked him up.
"I have decided, if it well with Halbarad, we will keep him here with us." Elrond told them, and smiled seeing their faces light up.
"Would you like that Aragorn?" Elrohir asked, "Would you like to live with us?"
"Uh huh," he nodded tiredly, past troubles forgotten and yawned.
"Of course, we cannot allow anyone to know who he is," Elrond told them.
"You mentioned Estel earlier...Hope..." Elladan started, "Is that what you intend to call him?"
"Why not?" Elrohir murmured, "He is the last Hope of Man is he not?"
Elladan rolled his eyes at his brother.
"That is what the Valar said. It is why they wanted me back...to help protect him." He smiled softly at his older brother and father and then looked at the child in his twin's arms.
"Then we must keep him here," Elladan agreed eagerly, looking to his father.
Elrond rolled his eyes, yes, come he is tired, he needs sleep, as do you two." He took the child from them.
"Night Ada," they muttered in unison.
"Good night my sons." He returned their smile, "you ready to go back to sleep little one?"
"I'm scawed...can I sweep wiy you?" his huge silver eyes pleaded.
"Of course," he carried the small child into his larger room and settled him on the bed and pulled covers tightly around him before getting into bed himself, "Estel, Just one more thing before you fall asleep."
"Hmm?" he yawned.
"Elves sleep with their eyes open, so don't worry if you wake up and find me with my eyes open I'm just sleeping."
"Ok," he sighed, not really listening as sleep took him.
"Good night my son," Elrond whispered kissing the child's head watching him sleep for a while before falling asleep himself.
Sometime during the night Elrond felt the child grow restless and snuggled closer to the lord who unconsciously placed a protective arm around him as they both slept.
the next morning Elrond was woken by two frantic voices calling him.
"What?" he murmured.
"Estel...he's gone..." one of his sons said worriedly.
"It is well, he wanted to stay with me last night." He pulled back the covers a little more to reveal the small sleeping Human.
"Mornin Ada," he whispered opening his eyes and smiling tiredly.
"Morning little one," he smiled softly.
"Ello Lan and Rir," he smiled to the twins, with no hope of telling them apart.
"Hello Estel." They smiled in unison causing the child to giggle.
"You two are d same." He giggled, holding his arms up wanting them to pick him up; Elrohir complied eagerly and brought him close to his twin. Again the child pulled at their ears.
Again it was hard.
"Your ears are funny." he noted.
"And painful," Elladan growled ruffling the little boy's hair.
Things are going to get lively around here, Elrond thought wryly, knowing how childish the twins could be alone...but with a young Human...not worth thinking about.
"Me hungy." He bounced up and down in the younger twin's arms.
Well then, we better find some food then." Elladan suggested following his bothers out of the door.
Yes Elrond thought, things were going to get very lively indeed.