Summary a sixteen year old Estel is ill and wants to get out of his home, and meets an unsuspecting new friend.
The rain had been lightly falling all day, creating a soothing sound against the back gush of distant waterfalls. It was there the sound of arguing could be heard.
"Estel, you are not well enough to come out hunting. Not this day." Elladan said firmly.
"Elladan, I feel fine, I see no reason I cannot join you...Elrohir tell him..." the sixteen years old Human argued.
"I'm staying out of this." the younger twin shrugged.
"You are not coming with us. That is final." Elladan's tone left no room for arguing, but Estel argued none the less.
"I don't see why not," he repeated.
"You have been seriously ill with a very bad fever, it is raining outside. You know how easily you become ill. Father would only say the same thing. Besides there are reports of Orcs near the borders. Do you want me to continue with reasons?" he gave his Human brother an impatient look.
"You forgot the 'I hate you spending more time than you have to with us' and the 'you are Human you will slow us down' excuses. Face it. You hate having me around." He turned and stormed off back inside, ignoring his brothers' calls.
"Was that really necessary?" Elrohir stood beside his twin.
"He has not been well Elrohir, you know that, I just don't want him to become so sick that he cannot be healed." Elladan sighed, "come on, we should get going whilst it is not raining so badly."
"It's not fair, just because im Human, they don't let me do anything." Estel murmured under his breath slamming his door shut.
"Estel?" a quiet knock sounded, "Are you alright my son?" Elrond entered the room.
"I'm fine Ada," he snapped.
"They would not let you go hunting with them." he said, hearing the argument, "They are only looking out for your health Estel, they do not want to see you ill, it scares them I think, they have rode out with men many times and seen them die from illness." He sighed, "they were right, even if they did let you out, do you really think I would?" he asked with an amused smile. The young Human just muttered something, crossed his arms across his chest and turned from the Elf.
Elrond smiled to himself, Humans always were difficult at this age, and Estel was no different.
"If you don't confine yourself to your room, it would be nice to spend some time with you." he said on his way out.
"Whatever," Estel shrugged lying on his bed, facing the ceiling.
After a few minutes he rolled off the bed and headed out of his window. He was going out whether they liked it or not.
Estel stormed through the trees not really caring for the hunting as he had wanted earlier, he just needed to get away from home for a while, and a good walk in the rain seemed fine.
Fine that is until he started coughing badly. He was starting to feel hot again. Dizziness swept over him followed by feeling lethargic.
Elladan had been right, he was still not well. He hated that but he kept moving, what point he was trying to make he did not know, looking around he found he did not recognise where he was as the trees spun all around him, the rain pounded in his ears and he was encased with shivers.
His father and brothers were going to kill him when they found him.
Suddenly a small group of Orcs crashed through the trees; Estel tried picking up his sword but found it too heavy in his tired arms and dropped it as an arrow shot through his shoulder. Already feeling like a cave troll's play thing he dropped to the floor and fell unconscious.
The Elf had seen the figure fall at just one arrow. How weak. His lips curled in a cruel smile at the thought of killing the Orcs.
Drawing his bow he shot three of the Orcs in easy succession and brought down another two as he moved toward them.
Legolas was not overly impressed to find he was saving a Human, a dead looking one at that. Not that he minded the beings, unlike his father; he just preferred to spend as little time around them as possible.
Killing the last of the Orcs he knelt by the Human to see he was alive, just unconscious. He decided to take him to Imladris, knowing Lord Elrond would be able to help the Human, perhaps even know who he was.
"Ada," Elrohir said bursting into the study, "Estel has gone, he's neither in his room nor anywhere else he normally goes."
"I'm going to kill him," Elladan yelled down the corridor, "I told him he was not to go out so what does he go and do..."
"My lord," a guard entered, carefully keeping distance of the elder twin, "Prince Legolas is here, he says he was attacked by Orcs...Estel is with him and not looking his best..."
"Get him to the healing wing," Elladan started, "we'll meet you there." He sped down the corridor followed closely by his younger twin and father.
"Mae govannen Legolas, thank you for finding him." Elrond said quickly as the young Elf placed him on the bed in the room.
"His fever is right up again...his lungs feel very congested and the arrow..." Elladan trailed off.
"It is poisoned..." Elrohir paled in fear, recognising the smell.
"We must move quickly, Elrohir, get some mint and athelas, boil them together...that always seems to help him breathe when he is ill, Elladan, get that arrow out carefully and try to stem any bleeding, and I'll go and find the antidote." Elrond instructed quickly. After eventually identifying the poison he had managed to mix up an antidote, but not having to use it until now...
"Ada hurry...he's slipping," Elladan called fearfully, remembering all to well the result of the last time he had encountered the poison. He looked to Elrohir, tears glazed his eyes. "He will be well brother..." he tried to reassure Elrohir, who nodded absently as the mixed scent of athelas and mint soothed the room.
"Move Elladan," Elrond said swiftly moving to the bed and mixed some salve onto the wound, hoping it would work.
Estel started moaning as the salve was applied generously, and he started thrashing around.
"Help me get him out of his wet clothing," Elrond ordered, not letting his fear for his son show.
"My lord?" Legolas spoke, "is there anything I can do to help?" he could tell the family was very concerned about the Human.
"No Legolas, we'll manage, Elrohir why don't you show him to the guest rooms?" Elrond suggested.
All they could do now was wait.
"Who is he?" Legolas asked as the younger twin walked him through the corridors.
"He is our brother." Was the sad reply.
"But he is Human."
"That matters not, we love him no less, father took him in as a small child after his father was killed by Orcs." He explained.
"Oh...Estel?" he repeated the name.
"Yes, he brings more hope than you can begin to imagine. He just doesn't know it yet." Elrohir gave the prince a tired smile, "here is your room, there will be serving staff close by if you need anything." He nodded and left back to his father.
"Ada?" Elladan whispered tiredly, it had taken all their energy to calm the man down.
"I'm fine," Elrond muttered.
"Will he be?"
"I don't know my son...we have only ever encountered the poison once before...I don't know if the antidote will work..." he trailed off looking to the small fire burning in the corner of the room.
"What if the antidote does work...his illness...is it serious...will he live through that...?"
"I wish I knew Elladan, I really do." he held back his own grief, to loose the Human at such a young age...
"I should have kept a closer eye on him. I should have locked him away. I knew he would have done something stupid like this...why did I not stop him?" Elladan started.
"What you could have done is in the past Elladan. I know it sounds harsh but there is nothing more we can do for him. There is no use dwelling on the past."
"But is it not the past that determines the future?" Elladan snapped, "I'm sorry father...I just don't want the same thing that killed Elrohir to kill Estel...or anything else...he is Human...his life is short anyway...for it to be shortened so badly..." he trailed off and felt a tear trail his cheek.
"I know my son," Elrond moved next to his eldest and placed a comforting arm around him, "don't worry, I would never loose Hope without a fight."
"Is he..." Elrohir entered the room.
"I'm sure he'll be fine, the fever has started breaking already." Elrond said dabbing more athelas and mint water over the young man's face.
"The poison?"
"I think that too is wearing off...I cannot know for sure...we will have to keep a close eye on him for days." Elrond reassured them.
"Ada, you look tired, why don't you go and rest," Elladan suggested, "we can watch over Estel and Elrohir can come for you if you are needed."
"I'll be fine Elladan, there are plenty of chairs in here." Elrond said, not wanting to say he still feared for the Human's life and would prefer to be by him should anything happen.
Hours later he looked to see both of his sons had fallen asleep, one, Elladan he thought allowed his brother the comfortable spot on the chair whilst he was curled on the floor by the chair.
He then looked to the big bed and saw Estel was still. Too still. Immediately alarmed he wasted no time checking for a pulse. Which to his relief was steady, as was his breathing. The young man had a little colour back in his face and started looking better. Hopefully the worst was over.
"Ada?" he looked to see questioning silvereyes watching him.
"I'm fine Elladan," he murmured not taking his eyes of his youngest son, "Estel is fine too, he is looking much better than he was."
"Good," his eldest muttered.
"What?" Elrohir's bleary gaze looked over the others in the room.
"Go back to sleep my sons, all is well." He assured them and smiled watching them readjust positions as they fell back to sleep.
"My lord?" another voice called, Elrond looked to see Legolas walk through the door.
"Should you not be sleeping young prince?" he asked amused.
"I can't sleep...something keeps me wondering about Estel...will he be alright? Why were the twins so worried for his life?"
"Hopefully he will be well, and as for the twins..." he trailed off watching his sons, with a bang Elrohir fell off the chair and onto Elladan who, instead of waking up pulled his brother closer and placed a protective arm around him. Elrohir, glad of the extra warmth curled by the elder. Elrond smiled watching the twins, fondly remembering when his twin, Elros would be so protective, even in sleep...Elros, how he missed his twin, yet all he had to do was to look at Elladan to see him, and Estel, who was of his brother's line. Both sons were so much like him in so many ways...
"My lord?" the questioning voice pulled him from the past.
"I'm sorry Legolas, memories just catching up, where was I...oh yes, the twins always worry for him, he is human as you know, and he can become very ill very quickly. Estel was just recovering from a very serious illness when he decided to run off alone and when you found him the illness was much worse...that in itself worries the twins...what worries them more, especially Elladan is the poison on the arrow." He looked to see Legolas was absorbing the information carefully, "many years ago, five hundred at least Elrohir was shot by a Human and killed by a poison, one that we had never encountered and so had no cure..."
"But if he was killed, why is he here now?" Legolas asked, clearly confused.
"A year after, he was sent back to us by the Valar, for what reason, we never knew, until we took Estel in."
"What has a young mortal got to do with bringing Elrohir back to life?" Elrond gave the prince a patient smile before continuing.
"What I am going to tell you now Legolas is a well guarded secret, one of which very few know of, it must never get out, lest great ill befalls Middle Earth. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"You know of Isildur and his heirs do you not?"
"Yes," he nodded slowly, "the last of them was killed years ago by Orcs..."
"That is what everyone thinks, Estel is the last of that line. His real name is Aragorn, but for his safety we keep that a secret and called him Estel..."
"Elrohir mentioned that he held great hope..." the prince trailed off.
"Yes, he does, but that information will not be told until I feel he is ready to know."
"I understand."
"So getting back to your question of Elrohir coming back..."
"He was sent to protect him." Legolas finished.
"Yes, and the reason that they worry over him so much is because the poison that infected Estel was the same one that killed Elrohir, but after his death I worked on a cure for it but I have not had a chance to test if it works until now."
"Oh right," Legolas murmured, utterly confused.
"It is complicated but you will understand in time." He smiled and would have said more had Estel not started coughing, waking the twins instantly.
"Shh ion nîn, don't fight it, just cough it all up, you'll feel better after." Elrond soothed as the young man pulled himself on his side.
"Hurts," he whispered.
"Shh I know, but you'll be alright," Elrond soothed holding his son close and found he was shivering, "Elrohir, get some more blankets for him. What else hurts?"
"Breathing...aches..."
"Elladan, go and get some more mint, do you find that helps?" he nodded weakly.
"Sorry Ada...didn't mean to go off and get attacked."
"You're home now, that is all that matters." Elrond assured.
"You..." he looked at Legolas, "You saved me..."
"It was nothing Estel...I couldn't watch as the Orcs killed..." the Elf started.
"Estel, this is Legolas..." Elrond introduced, realising his son had never met the Elf before.
"Thank you Legolas..." he broke off coughing again and moaned as he sat back.
"Easy Estel, try and drink this," Estel sniffed the contents of the mug carefully, eying his father suspiciously.
"What's in it?"
"Something to help you."
"Ada..."
"Drink it or I can get your brothers to force it down you..." a small smile slipped across the elder Elf's face as Estel slowly drank with a scrunched up expression at the taste.
"Can't you put something in these things to make it taste a little better?" He muttered.
"It does its job," Elrond shrugged, Estel glared.
Elladan walked back into the room carrying more herbs and placed them into the boiling pot. The relaxing aroma immediately was released, soothing the air.
"I think you should all get back to bed, it is still too early to be awake." he told the other three Elves.
"We're fine sleeping where we were," Elladan protested.
"Legolas can have the chair if he wants." Elrohir added.
"What if Legolas wants to go back to his own room as you two should do."
"I'll be fine, I've slept in much worse place." The Mirkwood Elf said suddenly.
"I'm never going to win," Elrond muttered under his breath as he gave up and looked to Estel, who had fallen back to sleep again, "I'll go and get something from the kitchens, anyone like anything?"
"We'll go," the twins said in unison, "come on Legolas," they dragged the reluctant Elf out with them.
He smiled thinking what the twins were likely to bring back between them, and then thought he didn't really want to know. They had been gone a while.
His smile soon faded seeing his youngest convulsing on the bed.
The Human felt much too cold, yet his skin was on fire, he was shaking and breathing extremely erratically and he would not stop heaving until he was violently sick everywhere.
"Estel, Estel, wake up, open your eyes Estel," he called, fear gripping his heart as he laid the man on his side, "come on my son, wake up, open your eyes for me..."
"Ada?" the twins entered the room and saw their father working frantically with different herbs at their young brother's side.
"What happened?"
"Will he be alright?" the questions from the twins came at the same time.
"Help me move him toward the fire," he said, the twins removed all coverings as their father carried the Human to the floor by the large burning fire.
"One of you place blankets down there for him to lie on," he ordered roughly, Elrohir was quick to place them down as Estel was lowered to the floor.
"Will he...?" Elrohir asked fearfully.
"I don't know or care, we just need to calm him down. Either help your brother do something useful or get out of here." he snapped without thinking. "Legolas," he called the Elf, who had frozen in shock temporarily, not used to seeing anything like that, "fetch some cold water and cloths." The Elf nodded and went of to find someone who could help him find what he wanted.
Estel was still coughing and heaving.
"That's it Estel, let it all out," he tried rubbing the younger's back and chest to release whatever it was irritating him.
Legolas soon returned with a large basin of cold water and placed it by Elrond, who immediately started dabbing the Human's face in an attempt to cool his skin down.
Hours later the four Elves were extremely drained, Estel had been sick so many times, they thought he would never stop. Estel was still shaking, but his temperature had dropped, but the amount of times he had vomited scared them all, particularly Elrond, especially when he noticed he was sicking up blood too.
"Elrond you still..." Glorfindel entered the room; the smell of sick hit him hard. "What happened? Doesn't matter, go and find another room, I'll get some of the serving staff to clean up in here...are you alright?"
"I'll be fine...Estel though..." Elrond trailed off.
"I'll watch him for a while, you need to change clothes and get cleaned up. We'll find another room for him, one that is cleaner."
"Are you sure?" Elrond hesitated.
"Yes, I am, I can keep an eye on him until you get back." The blond Elf lord assured his friend.
"Thank you Glorfindel." Elrond forced a weary smile.
"And you three," he spoke to the younger Elves, "you all look like you have been dragged through Mordor and back several times. He'll still be here when you get back, now go." He shooed them all out of the door before finding a new room.
Not long later the four Elves entered the room at the same time to find Glorfindel sitting on the edge of the bed, watching Estel intently.
"Thank you Glorfindel," Elrond smiled gratefully.
"I'll send some food down for you," he smiled.
"Again, thanks. How has he been?"
"He has calmed down a lot; just call me if you need anything else." Glorfindel said before leaving the room.
"Ada?" Elladan spoke up after their father pulled away from the Human.
"He looks better than he was...but the last time we said that he became worse, we will just have to wait." Elrond told them.
Even more hours passed as the day wore on, there was no sign that Estel was getting better, but at least he was not getting worse. The original reason for Legolas' visit had completely been forgotten, for he too was very concerned for the human that he saved.
"Ada?" Elladan asked seeing the elder Elf waver slightly, "are you well"?
"Yes Elrohir, I'm fine." He brushed off his son's concern.
"Ada, I'm Elladan..." he corrected, "Are you sure you are well? You look tired."
"I'm fine, don't worry."
"When was the last time you rested? Surely it has not been since Estel came home." he said worriedly.
"I have had no time to rest, Estel has been so ill...I'll rest when he gets better."
"No, you'll rest now, you can be of no use to anyone falling asleep. Elrohir and I can handle anything that comes along."
"Elladan, I..."
"My lord," Glorfindel entered the room, "I brought some dinner for you all."
"Thank you just put it down over there." Elrond muttered with a yawn.
"Ro," Elladan whispered, "go out and get some of those sleeping herbs and put them in Ada's drink," Elladan instructed.
Elrohir nodded before leaving the room.
"Where's he gone?" Elrond asked.
"Don't know, to get something I think." Elladan shrugged pretending not to care.
Elrohir rejoined them not long later, and subtly dropped the herbs in the cup. "Ada, here's a drink," he handed the cup to the elder Elf.
"I used the colourless, tasteless ones." He whispered to the elder twin who nodded in approval.
"Ada? Are you well?" Elladan asked in concern.
"I told you I feel fine...just a little drowsy..." he trailed off as he walked across the room.
"Come, sit down before you fall." Elladan guided him to the chair by the fire.
"I'll be fine," he smiled tiredly before falling to sleep nearly straight away.
"Sleep well Ada," Elladan kissed his brow and placed a blanket around him before moving to his human brother's side.
hours later, the sun was setting in the sky, Elrond had still not waken, he must need the sleep, Elladan thought, and asked his twin, "how much did you actually put in?"
"Enough, its doing its job isn't it?"
"True." Elladan shook his head.
Estel started murmuring ad shifting again.
"Shh Estel, it's alright brother, we're here."
"Dan?" The young man whispered grey eyes locked.
"Welcome back," Elrohir smiled, "how do you feel?"
"Better," he smiled weakly, "hurts to breathe..."
"Anything else hurt?" Elladan asked with concern.
"No...just ache in general...where's Ada?"
"On the chair," Legolas said speaking for the first time in ages.
"Sleeping?" Estel raised an eyebrow, "You drugged him, didn't you?"
"Yes, he needs the rest," Elladan defended himself.
"You'll need to hide when he wakes." Legolas laughed, Estel rolled his eyes and forced a smile.
"Here, drink this," Elladan gave him a mug.
"Why?" Estel whined.
"It will help to make you feel better," he said, "or shall I force it down?" he asked with a threatening grin.
Glaring, Estel slowly drank it. And then looked up at the taste.
"You put..." Estel started, tasting the honey.
"Well, I'm fed up of hearing you complain," he shrugged and ruffled his hair.
A low groan from the corner of the room warned the others that Elrond was waking up.
"Sleep well Ada?" Elrohir snickered and was received with an annoyed glare.
"Hey, don't look at me like that," Elladan chided lightly, "you needed that sleep, and you weren't going to rest on your own. You feel better. Admit it."
"Yes I do, but next time...don't." he was still glaring when he noticed his youngest was awake. "How do you feel Estel?" he asked.
"Better Ada and he put honey in the mixture stuff." Elrond rolled his eyes as his eldest beamed. Elrond sat by him on the bed.
"Well as long as you are starting to feel well again. You gave us quite a scare earlier you know. We almost lost you. At least twice. The next time you even think to go off alone when we expressly told you not to, don't. Legolas may not be here to save you again. Neither might the twins be." His voice was low, which was even worse than shouting.
"I'm sorry Ada; I know I shouldn't have gone off..."
"Then why did you?"
"I don't know...I just felt..."
"Forget it; if there is something on your mind you can always talk about it, it is much better than just running off and almost getting killed."
"I know but..."
"I know I seem to just be grousing at you, but I do it because I care, I don't want to loose you." his tone softened, "You are the most important thing to me my son and I love you...I just worry, perhaps too much..."
"I know Ada...I love you too." He whispered as the Elf pulled him into a gentle embrace.
"Awwwwwwww," the twins teased in unison and were hit by pillows soon after.
"Before I loose anymore pillows to you wait until Estel is better or go into your own room." Elrond said catching them before they were thrown back. "Now I'm sure you would all like some proper rest, knowing Estel will be well," he levelled them all with a suggestive glance, and the twins hesitantly left the room. "Is there something else Legolas?"
"Not really, are you sure he'll be alright now? I mean will it be like last night again?"
"Oh Valar no. even among Humans what happened last night was extremely rare, and I hope it will never happen again. Don't worry, he'll be fine."
"And I'll be around more to make sure of it." the prince promised smiling to the Human.
"Oh no, the twins are bad enough..." he groaned in mock protest.
"You would compare me to those hellions?" Legolas smirked.
"Who are you..."
"...calling a hellion?"
The twins appeared around the door again.
"Hellions, plural, more than one." Estel interjected.
"There are three of them in this room and another that needs to be resting." Elrond's spoke up, rolling his eyes at the conversation, no matter how true it was.
"But Ada..." they whined in unison.
"No, Estel has been seriously ill, he must rest. He will still be here tomorrow. Now go." He shooed the younger Elves out of the door, turning to face his son again, he gave him an exasperated look.
"Tired Ada?" Estel smiled.
"The last time those three were put together for a long period of time...I had a headache that would have affected the whole Human population and it took me nearly an age to get over it. I can still feel it echoing." He smiled ruefully.
"What happened?"
"The twins were seventy five...leading on a little twenty year old Legolas, for a whole summer...they caused so much disaster between them. Celebrían could never turn her back on any of them. Poor Glorfindel was a jumpy nervous wreck for years after. In the end when Legolas went home I sent them to Galadriel...it was good to have the peace." He chuckled lightly, "after that he only came for a few weeks at a time, it was better...poor Thranduil; he agreed to take the twins for a time...he soon gave them back...you would think, with time they would mature...but no...their pranks became worse, more annoying, less predictable, and with Legolas...you think the things you three pull off together..." he trailed off seeing Glorfindel rush in, looking edgy.
"Elrond, will you tell those...those creations of Morgoth to stop putting me on edge."
"What have they done?" he sighed.
"Nothing...that is just it. They follow me around, it's making me nervous...the twins are bad enough..." he saw Estel grinning at him. "Don't you start...I know that look child...you have become awful under the hellions' influence..."
"Glorfindel," the twins called in unison, "we know where you are." It was annoying sing-songy voice.
Estel burst out laughing, ignoring the dull aching that was making itself aware, even Elrond could not help but smile at his friend.
Suddenly the three crept behind the blond lord and made him jump to the ceiling.
"That is it. Everyone out now." He levelled them all with a glare that would have sent every evil ever created running. "And you three, stop harassing poor Glorfindel. You know his nerves have never been the same..." he saw the look in his sons' eyes, "don't go after Erestor either. It is getting late; people are starting to go to bed, as you should be doing. Not creating havoc."
"Sorry Ada," the twins murmured in unison, clearly a different meaning in their eyes, they moved close beside Estel, "when he lets you out we have got the best thing going on," Elladan whispered, causing the man to smile widely.
"Which won't be for a while if you keep irritating him." Elrond cut in and literally threw the twins out of the room.
"Good night my lord," Legolas bowed lightly, "Lord Glorfindel," he gave the other blond a chillingly mischievous grin.
Glorfindel glared at the hysterical Human, "you laugh now young one...just wait until they turn on you." he stormed out of the room, then Elrond too burst out laughing with his son.
"Alright Estel, that's enough excitement for you for one day." He smiled, "I think it is time that you went to sleep."
"I'm not tired." He yawned."Of course not." Elrond ruffled his hair, "I'll be nearby if yo need anything, alright?"
"Yeah," Estel murmured falling asleep.
"Sleep well my son." Elrond smiled kissing his brow and brushed the hair from his face and sat for a wile before leaving to his own bed.
It wasn't for many weeks later that Elrond would allow Estel to be up and in that time the twins and Legolas had pulled so many pranks no one in Imladris could turn a corner without having to look both ways first.
Estel laughed as the trio finished telling him of their latest thing involving Erestor and soap with dye in. the young human loved seeing this side of his brothers, the more carefree side rather than being more reserved as they often were.
"ELLADAN, ELROHIR, LEGOLAS," both Glorfindel and Erestor burst into the room, with evil glares matching their father's.
The four friends just stopped dead still and all was silent before they burst out laughing,
"Well my lords, this is certainly...a new look..." Elladan managed between laughs.
"Yes, why did you dye your hair pink?" Elrohir giggled.
"Well parts of it at least?" Legolas grinned.
Estel just carried on laughing until tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Glorfindel, Erestor what..." Elrond started and intended to finish it with 'is the shouting about' but finished with; "in the name of the Valar are you doing with pink streaked hair?" he was struggling to keep his face straight. The twins and Legolas had hidden behind him.
The two Elves just glared.
"I think I suits you," Elrond commented casually and saw both were about to spear him to the floor but he sidestepped and they crashed into the twins.
As soon as their faces met, both Elves bolted for the stables, Legolas completely forgotten.
"So what happened?" Elrond asked Legolas.
"IT was Elladan's idea, he suggested to make the soap look more colourful...but the dye must have run and got into Erestor's hair...then Glorfindel must have used the other that we did." He snickered.
"You young prince, will be lucky to leave this place alive." Elrond shook his head.
"Ah my lord, I fear that you are right so I must leave soon, I fear I have overstayed my welcome."
"Not at all, but your father will probably want you home anyway."
"So soon?" Estel whimpered, he had enjoyed the elf's company.
"Yes Estel, but don't worry, you will be able to visit some time I'm sure."
"Of course," Legolas agreed, "I'd be offended if you didn't come."
"Give it a month or two and I'm sure he'll be causing chaos in your halls. For once." Elrond smiled.
"As long as the twins don't come, father is still wary of his antechamber."
"Why what...?" Estel started.
"Things like that are better left unmentioned mellon nîn," Legolas told him. Estel just laughed.
"Very well, hopefully see you in a couple of months. I'll send a runner to let you know when I am coming, and if the twins will be joining me or not." Estel smiled.
"See you soon." Legolas nodded pulling the surprised man into a friendly embrace before leaving the room.
"I think you have made a good friend there my son," Elrond smiled, "and I have an annoying feeling we'll be seeing more of him in time to come."
"Oh no," Glorfindel and Erestor moaned hearing the last words as they entered the room but spotted the twins and ran off again yelling at them.
Elrond sighed. He was getting a headache.