Author's Note: Heyheyhey everyone! Here we go with chapter two! Thanks a lot to everyone who read my last chapter, and I really hope that you like this chapter as well!
Disclaimer: Nope, I really don't own LOTR!!
Quickie: I forgot to mention that this fic is taking place at about the ending of summer. Plus, Estel and the twins have a habit of calling each other nicknames, such as 'Dan and 'Ro for the twins.
Childhood Curiosity
Ch.2: Dinner with Elves
Padding silently down one of the light, airy halls of Imladres, Estel tried to make himself as discreet as possible. Frowning slightly in concentration, he let his feet fall lightly upon the Ivory stone. Masking his steps had been just one of the stealth techniques he had been learning lately, and though he wasn't very good at it yet, he thought he might practice it before tonight. Letting a smile replace his concentrated frown, the thought of his tree climbing lessons floated across his mind once more. He still could hardly believe it!
Looking up as light footsteps approached him rapidly, he wiped the smile from his face in an instant and replaced it with an innocent expression. It was just a healer elf, her robes of immaculate white velvet swishing about her like falling snow. She smiled as she passed Estel, whispering a hurried greeting to him. He smiled back, but mentally chided himself as she passed out of sight. I've got to be more careful, He thought angrily. I don't want to get Elledan and Elrohir in trouble! Shaking his head, he began to make his way again to the dining room so as not to be late to dinner.
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Though he had taken a quick bath, and washed his face and hands, Estel still felt slightly self conscious as he entered the dining hall full of merry elves with a bow. It was an very large, open room indeed. With one side opening up to a magnificant balcony that hung just above the finest of Imaldres' gardens, the scent of the blooming daffodils and roses waving gently below in the warm evening breeze wafting pleasantly up into the hall. Intricate carvings and paintings shone upon every wall, inlaid with the finest of precious jewels that glimmered gently in the rays of the setting sun. The candles above were already lit in the finely inlaid wooden chandeliers, giving the entire room a soft, warm glow. Hurrying to his seat up near the head of the table, Estel's eyes traveled these familiar surroundings of the summer dining hall quickly before coming to rest upon Elledan and Elrohir who were already sitting at the table. They both grinned at him knowingly, and gave him the tiniest of winks before continuing their meals.
Finding his empty seat right next to Ada at the head of the table, Estel pulled himself into the large chair with a tug. Not even daring to look up at his Ada, who was currently in deep conversation with Lord Erestor about the troubles in Mirkwood, Estel turned his attention to the sumptuous meal that was laid before him on the long, oaken table. Though the meals before him looked very light and pretty, Estel wrinkled his nose in distaste as he selected ingrediants in each dish that he did not like. "Yuck," he whispered to himself quietly. "Estel?"
Turning at the sound of his name, Estel found the eyes of his Foster father, Lord Elrond upon him. Lord Elrond was a very fair elf indeed, with dark hair, and dark eyes that gleamed with the knowledge of a healer, and the intensity of a warrior. His ageless face held no wrinkles that would show his thousands of years of life upon the earth, but only smooth tan skin. With rich robes falling about him and a silver circlet upon his brow, he looked regal indeed. Yet his voice held nothing but compassion for his youngest son.
"You came in late, is everything alright?" He said gently, fixing Estel's childish eyes with his own. Nodding silently, Estel only briefly glanced up at his Ada's stern face, not trusting himself fully to meet the Elven lords' eyes. Besides, his stomach had been rumbling uncomfortably for quite some time now. Estel gazed about him, still wrinkling his nose at most of the food before him, when all of the sudden, something large and steaming was placed on the delicate glass plate before him. Looking up in surprise, Estel watched as his Ada smiled fondly at the new loaf of steaming bread upon Estel's plate. "You have not been eating as much as I would like lately Estel," Elrond said in a fatherly manner, "So I asked our cooks to prepare this for you." The light aroma of sweetened bread floated tantalizingly up to Estel, who beamed at his foster father and said a hurried thanks before tearing into his meal.
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As the warm evening breeze played about the dining room, the elves' merry conversations had now dropped to a dull murmur. The stars outside were just beginning to show, like tiny defiant pricks of light against the slowly darkening sky. Estel, who had finished what he wanted of his meal long ago, sat restlessly in his chair, his mind not heeding any of the boring conversation about him as he continued to think eagerly of the night to come. Resting his head in his hands, he shifted again in the chair, his already sore muscles becoming increasingly stiff. He was so distracted that it took several calls from Elrond before Estel realized that he was being spoken to. Whipping his head up in surprise, Estel's eyes swept the table of fair faced elves to find that most of them were staring at him with worried looks upon their eternally young faces. Feeling an embarrassed flush creep into his cheeks, he looked up warily at Elrond before answering, "Yes Ada?"
Raising his eyebrows slightly, Elrond spoke lightly to his foster son. "Glorfindel tells me that you had an argument during your training this afternoon."
Estel felt a prickle of anger at these words, and quickly looked around to send Glorfindel an angry look. The battle hardened elf looked slightly upset at the look the child shot him, feeling his own affection for Estel well up within his chest. "It was!..." Began Estel angrily, fully intending to relay the unfairness of the situation to his Ada, before stopping himself mid sentence. His mind began to race as thoughts of the twins' warning of discretion whirled about in his head. Looking up quickly, he found his Ada's face growing even more creased, and the elves about the table looking expectantly at him. Letting the words tumble out of his mouth before thinking further, he heard himself say, "Nothing Ada, Nothing."
Putting on his best smile, he waited anxiously with butterflies in his stomach. "Are you sure you're alright Estel?" Elrond questioned gently, " Glorfindel tells me that you were quite upset about not being able to climb trees yet."
Estel smiled furthur, feeling quite adventurous as he got away with his act. "Yes Ada, I'm fine!" He said brightly. Watching his foster father carefully, Estel watched Elrond raise his eyebrows and close his eyes, shake his head slightly, and say "I am glad, my son." Estel nodded eagerly, but fell still at Elrond's next statement.
"Yet the hour grows late, and I think that it is time for you to be off to bed." Arguing back immediately, Estel cried, "But Ada! I want to hear the choir in the Hall of Fire! I'm not tired, I'll be good I swear!"
Elrond shook his head yet again, watching his foster son ramble on as children often do. "Nay Estel, I do not wish you to stay up so late, because come morn, you will be very cross and sleepy."
Feeling embarrassed again as all the elves smiled lovingly at him, Estel began to protest once more before Elrond held up a hand to silence him. Slumping his small shoulders in defeat, Estel murmured a quiet, "yes Ada." Standing stiffly to walk back to his room, Estel cast one last look at his father, Estel looked out into the entryway of the dining room, and finding it rather dark, he froze. The Elves had begun talking amongst themselves once more, their lyrical voices filling the night air, and no one took notice of little Estel who was frozen in the doorway of the Dining hall. Looking hopelessly into the dark halls, Estel could not bog down the prickle of fear that was working it's way into his heart. I should not be afraid of the dark, he told himself in a would be stern voice. Yet still he could not muster himself to move into the darkness.
The feel of a large hand upon Estel's shoulder made him jump as he looked away from the dark eternity before him and up into the smiling face of his Ada. He had not felt Elrond come up behind him, but was slightly relieved as his Ada took his small hand in his much larger, warmer hands. "Come Estel, I shall tuck you in if you wish." He said with a gentle smile. As they strode into the darkness, Estel could only make out vague shapes of murals upon the walls. "I wasn't scared Ada." Estel whispered quietly, shifting slightly closer to Elrond's swishing velvet robes.
Hearing his foster son's quiet statement, Elrond couldn't stop the smile that flooded across his face. He did feel slightly guilty for not letting Estel stay up, so he spoke softly back to the young child in the darkness. " I know, and I am sorry that you may not stay up late yet Estel. Perhaps when you are a little older." Turning a corner, Elrond's sharp elven eyes saw easily through the darkness, yet he made a mental note all the same to have torches placed in the halls for Estels' sake. Hearing the child make a small noise in reply, Elrond glanced briefly down at the boy. "How much older, Ada?" Estel asked tentatively.
Finding his smile broadening, Elrond turned again down the hall with Estel's room, and said, "Maybe next year my son. But how about tomorrow I take you to the Halls of Healing with me, and let you help me?" Perhaps this would cheer up the child, he thought hopefully.
As Estel stepped into his room, he nodded excitedly, saying "Yes Ada, I would love to!"
It was only a few moments later that Estel had changed into his soft sleep tunic and pants, and was under the covers of his bed. He was careful to lay out his day clothes on his night-stand, he would need them later. Elrond tucked him in gently, saying that he loved the small boy, and then excusing himself from the room. Estel watched him go, feeling wide awake. His Ada had just made him a promise to go into the Halls of Healing tomorrow! I never get to go in there, he thought excitedly. His Ada was so kind to him, he felt guilty for lying to him. Yet as thoughts of the twins teaching him secretly later drifted into his mind, he corrected himself. Well, I almost do.........
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Hours seemed to have passed since Elrond had left the room, and twilight was in full swing outside in the night sky. The lands of Imladres were now bathed in the glow of the silvery moonlight, and the trees were singing softly in their own way as a gentle breeze swept through them. Little Estel sat up against the backboard of his bed, trying and failing to stay awake until the twins came. His body was growing heavier by the minute, and his eyes felt as though thousands of pounds were set upon them. Struggling to stay conscious, Estel told himself sternly, "I'm not sleepy." He could vaguely hear the trees outside his window, rustling and dancing within the wind, but it was growing ever more distant. For what felt like the thousandth time, Estel thought wearily, Where are 'Dan and 'Ro? Still fighting the battle to stay awake, he could feel himself losing. As the world began to go blank, Estel's head drooped onto his chest, and his eyes finally closed.
What felt like and eternity later, Estel's sleep ridden mind jolted him painfully awake as a hand closed tightly over his mouth. His eyes flew open, stars dancing in his line of vision as he struggled against his captor. Looking about frantically, he locked eyes with another set of dark, kindly brown orbs and a youthful face. It was Elrohir. Finally calming down, Estel felt his heart thumping wildly as he realized that Elledan was holding him still. Elrohir leaned in close to his face, and whispered quieter than the wind, " Be still! Come and get dressed quickly little brother, it is time for your lessons."
Author's Note: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand that's it for this chapter! I hope you liked it, Please leave me a review! Anything is acceptable and very much appreciated, except flames. Please don't waste time sending them to me, they only make me cry! * gets teary-eyed* Anyway, next chapter, midnight lessons, and the halls of healing! Thanks, and have a grand day! Bye!