Chapter 4: Play Games

Elladan and Elrohir managed to get the clothes on Estel. The little boy didn't help them much but they got him dressed. The bathing room was a mess. There was water on the walls and little wet hand prints all over the place.

"Heehee," Estel giggled. He was looking at the two sopping wet wet elves with annoyed expressions on their faces.

"I am going to change. You take care of him Elrohir." Elladan muttered.

"Oh no dear brother, you cannot do that. He is your little brother as well." Elrohir replied.

Elladan looked at his twin. "I took care of him for the morning, you baby sit for the afternoon. He is a sweet little boy," his eyes softened when he looked at Estel who was playing with the cloth they had used to scrub him.

Elrohir opened the door. "Come on Estel."

Estel kept playing with the cloth and ignored Elrohir.

"Estel?" Elrohir asked.

Elladan hid a grin. "I do not think he knows his name as of yet Elrohir."

Elrohir chuckled. "Of course," he grabbed the little boy's hand. "Come on Estel."

Estel looked up at Elrohir and walked out of the room.

Elladan laughed at the startled look on Estel's face. "I think he is confused."

Elrohir looked down at Estel and smiled. "Did I confuse you?"

Estel smiled and stuck out his tongue.

The twins looked bewildered but eventually laughed.

Elladan smiled at his two brothers. "I will see you later. Elrohir we have to speak with the border patrol later today."

Elrohir shook his head. "I am going to spend time with Estel. You talk to them."

Elladan nodded. "Alright, I will meet up with you both later."

Elrohir smiled. "I will see you later." Elrohir picked Estel up and held him like he was sitting in a chair. "Say goodbye to Elladan Estel."

Estel looked up at Elrohir and then at Elladan. He lifted his hand and waved. "Bye, bye."

Elladan laughed and went to his room.

Elrohir looked at the little boy. "I need to change my clothes."

Estel nodded, not really caring about what Elrohir said. "I see Mummy and Daddy soon?"

Elrohir shook his head. "No Estel, you will not see them again."

Estel had tears in his eyes and started to sob. "Mummy!"

"Shh Estel, I have you," Elrohir whispered.

Estel pushed against Elrohir. "No you, want Mummy."

Elrohir sighed; it was so hard to take care of a child. "Do you want to play?"

Estel looked thoughtful for a minute but then nodded. "Okay."

Elrohir let out his breath and brought Estel to his bedroom. He put Estel on the floor and took some dry clothes out of his closet. He quickly dressed, keeping an eye on Estel the whole time. 

"Play?" Estel asked Elrohir.

Elrohir nodded. "Alright, let us play. Which game are you fond of?"

"Hide and Peek," Estel said grinning.

Elrohir sighed; he hated Hide and Go Seek. Ever since he had been a child he had hated the game. He was always found first and then stayed 'It' for the rest of the game. He decided he ought to play with Estel though; he would stay 'It' the whole time if it would keep the boy happy. "Alright Estel; we will play Hide and Go Seek."

Estel smiled brightly up at Elrohir. He took Elrohir's hand and tried to drag the elf out of the bedroom. "Let's go!"

Elrohir laughed at the child and allowed himself to be dragged outside of his bedroom by a two-year-old.  Elrohir decided they should probably go outside and play but Estel seemed to have other ideas. He broke away from Elrohir and ran down the hall. He pushed open a door and Elrohir had to run after him before he opened it the whole way. "Estel, no!" Elrohir scolded.

Estel looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "Sorry…" he began to cry.

"Estel, Estel I am sorry. Please do not cry," Elrohir pleaded; bending down to be eye level with the child.

The door opened the rest of the way and Lord Elrond stepped outside of the room. "What is going on Elrohir?"

Estel, seeing the elf lord ran over and buried his head into Elrond's legs. "Hold you."

Elrond picked the child up and held him. "What happened ion-nin?" He asked Elrohir.

Elrohir looked up from where he was kneeling on the floor and smiled slightly.

The door opened again and Glorfindel stepped out and grinned when he saw Elrohir. "I have heard about people paying respect to their lord Elrohir, but this is going a little too far done you think?"

Elrohir blushed crimson and Elrond glared at his advisor.

"Sorry Adar," Elrohir mumbled. He quickly stood up and gave a small smile. "Estel and I were going to play games but he started to run down the hall. He was pushing the door open to your study and I scolded him."

"Is that why he was crying?" Elrond asked.

Elrohir nodded. "I think I scared him."

"My advice is not to worry Elrohir." Glorfindel said with a small smile. "You did nothing wrong."

Elrond looked exasperated at his friend. "Would you let me teach my children?"

Glorfindel chuckled. "You asked for my help many years ago, that is what I am doing; helping."

Elrond muttered something that sounded very much like, 'Go help somewhere else.'

Elrohir started to laugh. "I am sorry, that is not funny." He said when his father glared at him.

Elrond sighed. "Glorfindel is right though Elrohir. Do not feel bad about scolding him; he should not be doing things like that."

"But he is a child Ada!" Elrohir protested. "I should not yell at him."

"I did not tell you to yell at him," Elrond said, putting Estel on the floor. "But even children need discipline Elrohir."

"Should he not be having fun?" Elrohir asked.

"Of course he should have fun, but he should not be misbehaving. Do not yell or strike him, just tell him what he is doing wrong and reprimand him. Do you understand Elrohir?" Elrond asked his son.

Elrohir nodded. "Yes, maybe we should read a book."

Elrond chuckled. "No, play a game with him. He is a toddler; he needs to run off his energy."

"Ada, how long will it take Estel to learn Elvish?" Elrohir asked.

Elrond shook his head. "I do not know Elrohir. In the meantime I would suggest speaking to him in Elvish. If he is to learn our language he must be taught it."

"What about his name?" Elrohir asked.

"He will learn it in time. Do not address him by his old name, use only Estel." Elrond told his son.

Elrohir nodded. "Come on Estel," he said in Elvish.

Estel looked up and followed Elrohir when he saw that he was walking away.

Elrond looked at Glorfindel who smiled. "You have another son mellon-nin."

Elrond smiled. "I am cursed."

Glorfindel chuckled and put an arm around his friend's shoulders. "You are lucky."

Elrond smiled. "You like the child?"

Glorfindel nodded. "How could I not? He is a sweet boy."

Elrond sighed, relieved. "He is a sweet child."

High pitched giggles of a little boy followed by a muffled yelp floated up the stairs. After a few seconds Elrohir called up the stairs. "We are just playing games Ada!"

Elrond and Glorfindel chuckled and went back to their meeting with Erestor.

Reviewer Responses:

Chibi noin: Aw you're lucky to have such a cute little brother! Heehee I am glad you liked Elrohir's first sword lesson. I had to put a bit of humor in the fic. I don't want it to be all fluff. LOL I agree with you about Elrond. I think I wrote something in here about how he is "cursed" Heehee. Raising all those kids. Wow, I really do pity the Lord of Imladris. I am happy that I don't have to raise Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, and Estel! That would be too much! Oh I love bubbles too! I thought it would be mean of me to give them too much trouble while dressing the wet and slippery child. That would be so mean of me.

Chloe Amethyst: Oh I am so happy you think this is a good story! I love hearing that about my fics. Yeah, most people do tend to write about them fighting Orcs. I like to write more along these lines, I think it is more fun. Oh thank you so much for the compliment! I have a big family; even though I am the oldest out of two children I have a lot of cousins. I have cousins from the age of one all the way to twenty-four; and everywhere in between! Your son sounds adorable. I've met a bunch of shy children but never a six year-old. He sounds like a sweetie. Does he have a lot of energy? Oh I know, children give the best orders and they always seem to sound as if they have authority. I know, I normally wonder where the servants are because most people don't talk about them. They are lords; they are going to have many servants running around doing things for them. Yes, exposing a child who is scared and upset to a bunch of strangers would not help. It would scare them so badly. He is a smart man, he knows what to do. Oh I am so happy you are enjoying this, I hope you liked this chapter as much as the others.

Beling: Heehee they have a little brother now. They are going to have to grow up a little! Oh I am happy you like it, I hope you continue to read!

Catmint: Ok, I'll send more of my LotR fics to you! You are so helpful! I hope you like this chapter as much as the others! Oh I know, the twins are just so funny!

Zammy: Heehee I am so happy you liked the twins getting soaked from Estel's bath. I thought it was funny too. ^^ I am happy you like. Here is another update!

Lil-whitelighter111488: Yeah, it would suck if they didn't get along! I am happy you liked the chapter. Continue to read!

ArtemisiaQuill: Baby cousins are sooo sweet! I love mine to death! Heehee *blushes* thanks for the compliments!

Jacquelinestel: LOL glad you like the bath! Oh I love to write little kids, they are fun to write. Oh the twins were freaking out. It was sooo funny! Yup you can be persistent, but since I finished this chapter I can be persistent. UPDATE!!!

Alariel: I know, you would expect for him to be sort of a mean person, but since he was raised by such a nice family you can see how he turned out so well. Heehee I am glad you are looking forward to this chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Dark Dragon Fire Demon: I am sorry I didn't respond to you last time! I posted just as I got your review. I am soooo happy you like! It is good to know I have MC reviewers! YAY!!!! Hope you liked this chapter Zirk!

Someone Reading: Heehee glad you thought it was precious. Yeah, I liked to write the weapons scene. Heehee I am soooo happy you like the sense of humor I gave to Glorfindel. I really don't know much about the character so I am just trying to do my best. Glad you like the way I do him! LOL I know, little kids manage to get a bunch of stuff in their hair and other places. I always have wondered how they manage to get ice cream on the back of their neck. Aw thanks! I am happy you think this makes a sort of RL fic. I hope you like this chapter. You're welcome, I am happy you like this!

Allie5: Heehee I love little Estel too! He is so cute! Yes, definitely more Estel/Elrond moments. I love fluffy moments!!!

Leggylover03: Heehee glad you liked it!

Amthramiel: I am so happy you like it! I hope you enjoy this chapter too! Please read!

Lady Jania: Oh I love little Estel stories too! They are fun to write and read! I am happy you like this and how I have the twins reacting. I think they're funny ^^ Heehee.

Shadowfaxgal27: Poor twins! Oh I thought it was priceless to have them 'drown' him. Aw thanks for the compliment! Heehee reading at school; I do that all the time! You're welcome; I hope you enjoyed the chapter to Friendship is a Light of Hope. I am soooo happy you love that story! It makes me feel so good! I will update soon, promise!

Haldir's Heart and Soul: Heehee I loved the bath scene too! Thanks for reading!