Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places, ideas or anything else from Lord of the Rings. I do however lay claim on Elrond's twin daughters as Tolkien never wrote about any twin elven girls anywhere in his books. Everything else though, as much as I wish it, is not mine and belongs to the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien (a wonderful, wonderful man). Except for a 2-year-old toddler by the name of Estel (forever called tithen min by his siblings) who needs looking after.
AN: Okay, please forgive me, but I was un-expectantly and unavoidably without internet all week. I just got it back this morning, so here's the next chapter. The next will be up Monday. The next few bits are going to be more Aragorn centered…I've been waiting a year to write the 'Bilbo meets 10-year-old Estel' part.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
Dawn the next morning was a relief to a great many in Imladris. The sun rising over the treetops to a clear blue sky touched the opened eyes of the wounded Ranger Elrond had feared would not last the night. It played across the face of Gilraen who still slept, and turned the eyes of her child into sparkling diamonds. The warmth brought Dúnë from her rest, and comforted her sister's tortured mind. The sun's rising that day brought hope and peace to those in greatest need of it and the overwhelming thought swept through all those whose rays it touched: everything would be well in time.
"She still sleeps?" Dúnë asked, quietly stealing across the room to Rómë's side beside Gilraen's bed. They had switched places in the early morning, but the woman had been oblivious to it all.
The elf nodded tiredly. "I don't know what I should do, if anything. She needs the rest, no doubt she hasn't had any in the last few days, but I am worried for her. 'Tis not good to grieve so, and the child needs her. He cannot afford to loose both his parents at once."
"I think it is time we found Ada and see about the rangers. Look, the boy is awake, perhaps it would be best if Ada sees him for the first time now. The Dúnedain have long memories, but I do not think they still remember whose brother their first forefather was. I would not want to frighten Gilraen by his reaction."
"Yes, I think that best. Come, tithen min," she coaxed and lifted the boy from his mother's arms. For a moment she thought the woman might wake, but she simply changed position and continued to slumber. The twins stole silently out of the room.
"How would you like some breakfast, tithen min? And you can meet our father. He will dearly love to see you." It was still early yet and so they headed to the Healing Halls instead of the kitchens.
Elrond was sitting by the bed of the wounded ranger, quietly talking to the man so as not to disturb the others lying in beds nearby. Elladan was asleep in a chair in the corner, but of Elrohir there was no sign. The girls approached the bedside slowly so as not to startle either of them. But their father had heard their entrance and glanced up to bid them good morn. He froze when he saw the child.
"Good morning Ada. And a good morn to you as well, Ranger. I am glad to see you well today. Ada, this is young Aragorn, Gilraen's son," she introduced him needlessly. "Tithen min, this is our father," and she handed him into the elf-lord's waiting arms.
Elrond stared at the child in awe, taking in his age, eyes and adorable face all at once. Rómë tried to stifle a laugh at the speechless look on his face; it was such a rare occurrence. When he did finally tear his eyes away from the babe his daughters saw they were filled with tears.
"Oh Ada," Rómë cried. "We were not certain how to tell you, after we saw him last night. Are you well?" She was nearing tears again as well as she took the child back from his unwilling arms.
"I am well. I was simply caught of guard. Does Lady Gilraen still sleep? Very well, perhaps you might take Aragorn down to the kitchens and find some breakfast. I will speak with you later."
The twins nodded and retreated from the room, allowing Elrond to return his attention to the young warrior. If the young man had noticed the extra shine in the elf-lord's eyes, he gave no sign of it.
"Well now Aragorn, what is it you like to eat? As memory serves you cannot be much past two years; barely weaned. How about some soft biscuits and milk?" The toddler giggled and pulled on a lock of her hair.
Dúnë laughed as her sister winced in pain; trying to detangle the child's fingers from the golden stands. She wasn't having much luck. "You know seler, for the love we share you could be kind and assist me." Dúnë covered her mouth and continued to snicker. "Or you could just laugh at me further." She sighed in resignation.
"Here you are, child," she said absently and placed a warm bun in front of him. Aragorn snatched it into his hand and began stuffing his face. Dúnë looked thoroughly disgusted, but her sister was paying little attention to the boy.
One of the kitchen staff handed her a glass and she passed that on as well, barely sparing him a look as he proceeded to spill half of it down his front.
"Should you not," Dúnë started, "do something about him? He's making a thorough mess." Her sister gave the Dúnedain a fleeting look and shrugged. "He's two, seler; that it what two-year-old mortals do. Come to think of it, twenty-year-old mortals do that as well," she grimaced. "You need not fear; I will clean him up." And without further attention to the child she focused on her own meal; ignoring the long suffering groan from her twin.
Sometimes it was just too easy.
The sudden entrance of their brothers interrupted Rómë's thoughts. "And good morning to you, seler nin, Dúnë," Elladan nodded at them both. Andúnë glared at him, but after so many years hearing the same greeting she lacked the interest to protest it. Elladan never listened to her anyway.
"How is our little Dúnedain this morning? Sleep well Aragorn?" If Elladan thought there was anything strange with the boy covered in biscuit crumbs and milk, he kept it to himself. But then, after seeing three sisters raised, even elven ones, the mysteries of how children became so dirty were probably well known to him.
"He's filthy, he's loud, and he can barely speak: how can you stand it?" Elrohir laughed as his middle sister bemoaned her current fate. "How can you say such things?" he asked. "Just look at him: isn't he adorable?" Dúnë made a face at him and promptly removed herself from the room. The sound of elven laughter followed her out.
"She makes it so easy, it's almost boring," Elrohir echoed Rómë's earlier thoughts.
The three looked at each other. "Almost," they chorused.
"I would dearly appreciate it if you refrained from the open mockery of your sister in the public areas of this house. She is dejected enough as it is with the Prince gone, need you add to it?" Their father appeared beside the table; his stern glance stifling the laughter.
"Yes," his youngest agreed.
Elrond took a deep breath and looked at Aragorn. "My, my, aren't we a talented young boy; not even half an hour and already you are covered in food. You remind me of my own children," he smiled innocently at said children. "Why don't we go and take a bath? And find you some clean clothing before your mother sets eyes on you. Elladan, Elrohir, I believe you have duties to attend to. And iell nin, I just passed Glorfindel on his way to the archery range. You are late for your lesson."
Rómë blanched and shot from the room so fast, she would have knocked her chair over had her father not caught it. Elrond gave his sons a pointed look and, picking Aragorn up he walked sedately from the room.
His sons waited only a moment before they began snickering. One of the cooks rolled her eyes and set their breakfast before them. "I was in Lindon when your father, Lord Elrond was young. And I would have you know that he never acted in such an appalling way. If I did not have the respect I do for the Lady Celebrían, I would say you get it from her side. It must be a problem with half-elven children only, and hér Elrond was simply blessed he never suffered from such. If you were mine…" she trailed off threateningly.
"But we are not Elcalassë; so be thankful."
"I am," she stated and left them to their meal.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"Ada! He won't stop crying…and I do not want Gilraen to wake…and what is wrong with him?!"
Elrond was rudely roused from his rest by his youngest daughter's shouts and the incessant crying of a young child.
"Hush, iell nin," he soothed her; taking the disgruntled boy from her arms. The child snuggled closer to the soft velvet of the Lord's robes, but continued to cry.
"Well?" his daughter demanded. "Something must be wrong. He cannot be hungry or wet, I have checked. And he just woke up. I thought he wanted attention, but I have been walking the halls with him and he just continues to cry. What should I do?"
She collapsed onto the bed and buried her face in the blankets.
"There, there. You are not used to handling a crying infant. Annaelen was unusually quiet when he was young. Some babes simply cry more than others. I am sorry this little one has chosen to, but after the past week I am not much surprised."
The babe's cries had softened somewhat by then, as he cuddled near. Rómë's concerned look faded as she watched her father comfort the little boy. She wished she could have captured the image forever.
Elrond smiled at her. "Go to bed, iell nin. I will watch him for the night."
"Are you certain, Ada? I do not mind, really." She didn't sound terribly convinced.
"I do not mind. It has been many years since last I stayed awake to comfort a child, but I think I remember how. Go to your rest."
"Hannon le, Adar." She turned and crept silently from the room; back to the warmth and comfort of her bed.
"Ai, tithen min, everything will be well. You will stay with me tonight and let your mother rest, yes?"
Grey eyes met his own and the boy finally ceased his cries. He smiled up at his great-uncle and then closed his eyes in sleep. Elrond laughed, struck suddenly by the memory of a morning so long ago when he had held his youngest daughter in his arms and named her.
Careful not to jostle the sleeping mortal, the Lord rose from the bed and found a chair on the balcony. Wrapping the child closely in his blanket, he settled down to wait for the sunrise.