Disclaimer: don't own them, just wish that I did. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien…
A/N: wow – I was stunned when I saw al the reviews! huggles readers Thank you so much! Well, here is the next chapter, even a day sooner than I had originally planned. If you think the characters act (a little) off, please forgive me for taking the liberty with them, like I said earlier I'm not Tolkien, but otherwise enjoy! :)
'Replies' to reviewers
shadowfaxgal7: hello again! Well, whether Estel will be all right or not is something you will find out in this chapter. As for the twins… evil smile ;) I plan to update about every three to four days, don't worry – it won't be longer than that…
Kathleen LaCorneille: LOL – interesting questions, but alas! The only one I will answer is that this story is 4 chapters total and that I will post about every three to four days. Sorry, but perhaps you'll find some of your answers in this chapter? :)
tmelange: hello again! Thanks for reviewing and enjoy the next chapter! :D
sielge: hi there! Your wait is finally over! Thanks for the review and enjoy this new chapter!
Nietta: I didn't know it would be this soon as well, I might fiddle a little bit with the last chapter, but it's finished! LOL – I love the brothers too. The twins have actually grown on me, just like Glorfindel. Well, it's always something else talking to parents – I think mine are in their midlife crisis or something because they're behaving childish… have for several years now… :s I think I might pursue that other bunny, but not yet.
viewfinder: thanks for the review and enjoy this chapter! :)
Elven Kitten: yes, poor Estel indeed. I always have it in for him LOL! Soon enough for you? Enjoy! :)
Blue Autumn Sky: hi there! I would like to answer that question, but… you'll just have to read further to find out. ;)
BabeyRachey: yes, poor little guy, but whether he'll be all right is something you'll find out here. ;) Two more chapters will follow this one in case you were wondering…
Ivy: I love cliff hangers… when I'm on this side of the story LOL! You'll find out what will happen to Estel…
grumpy: pats grumpy on the back It's all right, I guess Estel would have really appreciated someone distracting the orc, but alas!
hamsterjuice: ROTFL! When I picture your cat then I come up with a weird sort of Puss in Boots! Updated soon enough? Enjoy!
HarryEstel: Uhm… it might have something to do with people calling me evil? I won't be as mean to you this chapter, promise ;)
Losing Grip: hello there! Glad you like it! Enjoy this next chappie!
Rangergirl: you're welcome. Thank you for reading… :D
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Chapter 2
Wake he did. He ached everywhere and he could feel dried crusted blood on his body – even being unconscious had not stopped the beasts from playing with their toy. Opening his eyes Estel stared right into the eyes of the orc that he remembered hurting him.
Quickly he averted his eyes. He did not want to anger his tormentor in any way and looked instead at his surroundings. He saw that it would soon be day again and the creatures were preparing to leave, making enough noise to wake the dead. Where are Elladan and Elrohir? he thought, grimacing as even thinking hurt. Were they undergoing the same fate he did? He hoped not. He would have to escape soon, but how?
The orc shook him, getting his attention. "I dunn'ave time right now for da fun I plan ta 'ave wit you, so ya hafta wait a little. You come wit us when we go hide in da caves. There I haf my real fun. And d'others too! We gonna make it a happy party, whaddya think?"It had spoken again in the Common Speech so that the frightened boy would understand that once in that cave, something even more terrible would happen. The beast was fingering his leggings as if wanting to rip them off then and there, but the hate of the sun and the chance of encountering woodland elves made him grab Estel roughly in the neck, lifting him to his feet.
"Dun try ta escape, 'cause when I find ya again, you gonna regret it deeply," it hissed in Estel's ear, squeezing his broken wrist roughly as warning, bringing new tears to Estel's eyes.Estel looked at the creature with wide fearful eyes, wishing for his brothers to be there already and take him home. His heart was beating madly and his legs felt weak. He was sure that the orc could smell his fear. He nodded, gasping slightly.
The orc put his big hand on Estel's hair, petting him as if he were a dog. "Good boy. Stay good and ya die quickly – mind you, we'll make it painful, butchya won't live ta see the new moon come in da sky." It laughed a wicked laugh, showing its brown teeth and obviously enjoying itself immensely. Then it grabbed some rope that hung on its belt and tied Estel's wrists behind his back. The orc didn't care about the broken wrist and made the bonds cruelly tight, causing Estel's circulation to be cut off almost immediately and numbing his hands.
Then it pushed Estel in the direction the other goblins were moving. "Move it, pushdug," it growled as they started walking.
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Estel looked at his surroundings – thinking of a way to escape. He had to escape before they reached the caves, or else he would never see the sun or the stars again. Not to mention his family! There was only the one orc behind him while the other creatures were far ahead, not wanting to anger their leader by giving in to the temptation of stealing furtive glances at their toy and lose their heads because of it. So Estel figured that if he wanted to try something – now was the time.
Though orcs and goblins are strong, they are not really all that fast – not when they had stayed up all night and the sun was on her way up. The only speed they could gain was if they rode on wargs – the only creatures that suffered to carry them willingly in hopes of getting some of the scraps once the creatures had finished with their prey. They unfortunately do have great stamina, but if Estel could just stay ahead until the sun came up, he'd be free! Well, at least until sundown, but by then I will have moved far away from this place! I hope…
He needed a diversion. He thought hard, but nothing good came to his mind. His brothers always said that orcs and goblins, though capable of great skill in fighting, were dumb creatures not meant to think for them selves. Was that really true? He hoped so.
All right… here goes nothing, he thought, bracing himself to run like mad. "Who are those men over there?" he asked, looking to his right, pretending to see something.
The orc looked at Estel "Whaddya say?" it growled menacingly, harshly pushing the boy causing him to fall on the ground.
Estel wasn't put off by the indicated threat and instead looked back at the orc, rising to his feet with some difficulty and biting his lip the entire time to keep from crying out. He nodded his head in the direction the 'men' were. "Who are those men over there? They seem to be getting closer…" he panted.
The orc stared in the same direction Estel was looking, moving slightly in that direction since it had trouble making out any figures. It squinted its eyes, trying to see what the boy was talking about and whether the men would be a threat to them – or added meat and fun!
That was incredibly dumb of the orc, but it gave Estel the opportunity he needed. Like a hare he sped of in the other direction – down wind following his brothers' earlier example, jumping over foliage and not once looking back – not daring to. He heard the orc behind him yelling at him and cursing him in the foul language, but he kept on running. If he was captured now, the orc would hurt him real badly and kill him slowly. He shuddered at the thought of it.
Estel looked towards the east. The sun was starting to come out from her resting place. If only he could stay ahead of the orc until her rays shone down on them!
He could feel new blood trickling down his sides and shuddered. Though he had been unconscious for most of the time, he could again feel claws on his body as they held him pinned to the ground. Scratching his tender flesh and licking at the blood that came from the wounds. Kicking him in the ribs with their iron shod feet and preparing for much worse, and always speaking in that foul language which he didn't understand.
He ran around a tall tree, breathing heavily, not sure if he could hold out any longer. Then all of a sudden, a pair of hands grabbed him from above and pulled him up in the tree. His first instinct was to scream, but a big hand clamped down on his mouth while the other kept him close by. Out of the fire, into the frying pan? he thought, scared of whom this new person could be.
The person didn't speak to him. They just held him close, not allowing him to move. Down on the ground Estel could hear the orc, still shouting curses at him. His heart started pounding loudly in his chest again and he closed his eyes, not daring to look. Please, don't look up! he silently pleaded.
They sat there for what seemed ages before the orc turned around and started running back. It hoped that it would be safely ensconced in the caves before the damned golden disc came up. It didn't think to look up in the trees, for; surely the boy couldn't climb a tree with his arms behind his back, could he? It would get that boy, and he would be sorry when he was once again in its clutches!
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Estel and the other person sat for a while in the tree. Still not moving, making sure that the orc was really gone. It was not until the sun was well up in the sky that the stranger whispered gruffly in his ears, using Common: "If I remove my hand, will you scream?"
Estel shook his head, scared of the new person. Yes, he had helped him, but what if the stranger had something else planned with him?
"Okay then. Be careful not to struggle when I release you, we're a high way up. It wouldn't do for you to be saved from orcs only to fall to your death."
Estel nodded that he understood. Gradually, the hands released him, though the arm around his waist remained there lightly, making sure that the boy would not fall.
Slowly, Estel turned his head to look at his saviour. What he saw made him frown in bewilderment. It was a man that held him. He had long black hair and a thick beard. Dark, surprised eyes studied him and overall – the man had a gruff bearing. Estel didn't see it entirely, but he was sure that if the man were to stand up, he would be huge! Perhaps as big as one of the giants of the old days, like in the stories his father told him!
"Thank you for saving me. I wasn't sure how much further I could have gone." Estel coughed. His ribs hurt badly at the action and he feared the iron shod foot had cracked some of his ribs, perhaps even breaking some.
The man looked at the boy curiously, disconcerted by the sound of the cough. "What is a young boy such as yourself doing all alone here? Where are your parents?"
Estel looked down. "Ada is at home. And I lost my brothers… I had a bad feeling and then we were pursued by orcs when we came from our grandparents and I lost them… They told me to keep running and not look back, so I did. But when I finally looked back to see if they were behind me, they were gone!" He spoke more and more rapidly, nearly on the verge of panic.
The man frowned when Estel used the word 'ada'. It was the elvish word for father. How come this child knew it?
The man tightened his grip around Estel. "Shhh, it's all right now. Don't be scared," he said, trying to sound less gruff than he usually did. Then in one big move, he jumped down from the tree with Estel in his arms. When he landed he set the small boy carefully on the ground, only then really seeing the child for the first time. His upper torso was bare and covered in blood. What wasn't covered by blood was black and purple and the man thought he could see the imprint of a boot on one side. Poor child… He needs help soon or I fear he will turn for the worse. Then he pulled a knife from his scabbard. Estel saw this. His eyes grew frightened and he stepped back, preparing to run again. Perhaps he isn't a friend after all!
Upon seeing that he frightened the boy, the man halted. "Now we'll have none of that, laddie," he said, "All I mean to do with this knife is to cut the bonds from your wrists."
Estel looked in the man's eyes. He seemed to be sincere so he nodded – giving him silent permission.
"By the way, you may call me Beorn. What's your name, little chap?" he said as he turned Estel around, cutting the rope away carefully.
Estel winced as circulation slowly returned and his broken wrist was jostled. "I am called Estel."
"Estel… Harrump! Sounds elvish to me!" grumbled Beorn. "What connection does a small human such as yourself have with elves? Who is your father?"
Estel turned around, holding his damaged wrist to his chest, shivering in the cold morning air. The adrenaline was wearing off and soon he feared his legs would no longer be able to carry him anymore. Beorn took off his huge cloak and wrapped it around the shivering figure.
Estel smiled, grateful for the warm cloak. "Thanks," he whispered shyly. "Ada's name is Elrond; he is the lord of Rivendell."
Here, Beorn raised one eyebrow – this child, Elrond's son? He had heard of the elven lord before and knew of his three children. Did I miss the pointy ears? he thought and looked at the boy's ears. No, he is human all right. So what would be the story behind that? Beorn decided not to question the boy further on it; no sense in upsetting him any further.
"I know Elrond, little chap. I have few friends, but he is one that I count among them, though I've seen him little over these long years. You'll be safe with me. Your brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, right? I have not seen them while I was wandering the woods, but perhaps the elves of Mirkwood might have caught up with them. I'll travel with you to the palace and then they will help you further. But you need attention first! Come, I will take you to my house and there you will receive some care and plenty of food! Any friend of Lord Elrond I consider a friend of mine!"
Estel's shivers grew stronger; he tried to be brave and strong and show Beorn that he was a man on his own – even though he but a boy. Yet, try as he might, he was nearing the end of his endurance and could do nothing about it. He nodded. "You have my thanks, Beorn," he replied in a much more mature way than one would expect for someone his age.
"You're welcome. Now, we're not all that far from my home… let's go and we'll patch you up. That wrist looks as if it is broken and I have a suspicion that your ribs are at the very least badly bruised, perhaps even cracked. And your cuts need attention before they get any worse." He held out his arms. "Come, I'll carry you. You'll only aggravate those injuries if you go any further. And you need to rest before you collapse from exhaustion."
That offer actually sounded quite good. Estel was just taking a step towards Beorn, when his eyes rolled up in his head: he had passed out.
The huge man quickly caught him before he hit the ground. Then he carefully – with a gentleness rarely seen from the giant – took the small child in his arms and turned in the direction of his home. Hang on little chap; I won't have anything bad happen to you again. Beorn sighed. And for the love of the Valar, let Elladan and Elrohir be safe! They were not so bad as far as elves come…
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When Estel next woke, he found himself lying on a soft bed and staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Looking around, he nearly panicked as he didn't recognize any of it! A fire was blazing in the middle of the room, giving the place a nice glow and warming up his small body.
Yawning widely, Estel tried to figure out where he was, or what had happened. He wasn't too afraid of his new surroundings for if the one who had brought him here had any ill intent, he would not be lying so comfortable near the fire. Well, comfortable…
Trying to sit up, the young boy cried out and quickly nursed his injured wrist to his chest. It had felt like sharp blades were hacking at it and now a dull throb had started. It was wrapped up in gauze drenched in a hard sweet smelling substance to protect it and he didn't remember what was wrong with it for several moments. Then all of a sudden it all came back to him: the trip with his brothers, the orcs… the strange man! Swiftly looking up again, Estel couldn't spot any sign of his saviour.
"Mister?" he called out, but no one answered. It was quiet where he was… so quiet that the youngster's eyes turned huge when he spotted a huge bee! It was even bigger than his thumb! He cringed as the creature flew several times round his head. Please don't sting me! Whether the bee sensed his distress or not – it soon flew away, leaving the room in silence.
Confused, Estel decided to get out of bed and look for the dark haired man himself. He didn't get far however for as soon as he had partially risen, his hurt ribs protested the movement. He had forgotten all about his injuries, but now that he was somewhat assured of his safety he started to notice the many complaints of his body. The man was a friend… he had helped him, hadn't he?
Closing his eyes for a moment and focussing on breathing though the pain, the boy didn't hear the sound of slow footsteps approaching. Nor could he sense the other's presence until a heavy hand gently pressed him back down on the bed.
"Now I'll be having none of that, little chap. Those beasts hurt you and no mistake!" A gruff voice sounded from behind.
Startled, Estel's eyes flew open. "Who are you?" He had completely forgotten what had happened after he they had climbed down the tree.
Instead of answering, the man whistled and all of a sudden a large grey dog appeared – walking on its hind legs, carrying a tray on its forepaws and handing it to the man. On it were slices of bread covered with cream and honey. Seeing this food made Estel's stomach rumble and the boy turned his gaze to his lap, a blush of embarrassment on his cheeks.
Laughing at his young charge's antics, though knowing the poor boy couldn't help himself, the giant man decided to clear things up. "I can imagine you forgetting my name. You were in a bad condition when I found you. I am called Beorn, little lad and this here is my home," he said waving his arms around. "It's a good thing one of my bees came to check on you for I was out in the fields talking to my ponies… I figured you would be hungry after your long sleep – it's been two days since you stumbled into my life after all!"
"Two days!?" Estel was shocked. "What about my brothers? They must be so worried! I just hope they're all right. Have you seen them?"
Beorn shook his head and laid one giant hand against the boy's mouth. "I'll have none of that, little chap. Eat first, questions will come later, but to answer your first questions: no, I haven't seen the twins yet, but I can assure you they're all right. Elladan and Elrohir won't lose to some bunch of dim-witted orcs. Yes, they'll be worried sick about you, but there's nothing we can do about it right now."
Seeing the desperate, questioning look Beorn removed his hand from the child's mouth and made a gruff harrumphing sound. "One more question and then not another word until you've finished that plate!"
Taken aback by the grouchy demeanour of his saviour, Estel hesitated to speak. He didn't want to anger the man that had rescued him from the orcs, yet he desperately wanted to know so he whispered in a frightened voice, "How will they find me?"
Beorn wasn't a bad man however – he may act grouchy and grumpy most of the time, but he was a good man in heart and so he winced inwardly upon seeing fear returning to the questioning grey eyes. Softening his tone, he gently put one arm behind the boy's shoulders and carefully lifted him in a sitting position against the headboard so he could eat. "I promise you that you'll see your brothers again. I'll help you, Estel. In the meantime you'll have to fill your starving belly. You don't want to worry your brothers when you fall over as soon as you see them again, now do you?"
Estel shook his head and reached for one of the slices, chewing on it as if to prove he would be good.
"Good. As soon as you've rested up some I'll take you to those elves up north. I don't usually travel that far away from here, but I can't just leave a child such as yourself all on your own…"
Estel nearly choked on his bite and tears sprung to his eyes. If he hadn't been such a child his brothers wouldn't have send him away. Instead he would have been able to help them! Then they wouldn't have been separated!
Seeing the guilt filled look, Beorn whistled absently. Estel's eyes lifted to meet his gaze at the sound and the gruff man tenderly wiped away a falling tear. He was uncomfortable comforting a child – it had been a long time ago since his own son had grown up, but seeing his small visitor so distressed made Beorn seethe in anger at the hideous orcs. It had been orcs that had driven him from his original home in the mountains and ever since then he hated them with all his mind. Hated that they destroyed families and killed animals for fun!
Another grey dog appeared, interrupting his thoughts. It was carrying a huge glass in its forepaws and was taking painstaking care not to let it drop. It walked to Estel and looked at him with a questioning expression.
"Well?" Beorn asked, "What are you waiting for? You can't let him stand on his feet like that the entire night, lad!"
Estel smiled at seeing the large animal standing in front of him and took the glass. "Thank you," he quietly said. The dog returned to walking on all fours and joined its friend next to the bed. Unsure if the animals would harm him, he checked with Beorn. Seeing the man smile and nod his head, the boy set the glass between his legs and slowly started petting the dogs on their heads making their tails wag happily. Petting them made him forget all about his own pains and fears – at least for the moment.
Beorn laughed at the sight; normally his dogs didn't deal so well with strangers! He quickly made some animal like noises as if speaking to them and the animals regretfully left – hating to miss the new attention.
Looking questioningly at his saviour, Estel's question was clear in his eyes. Beorn just huffed and pointed to the glass, "Drink up, it's just some milk with honey to help you sleep. As for the dogs, they're just in a huff that I sent them away. I can't let you spoil them or they would grow intolerable!" But a twinkle was in the man's eyes as he said it – his no-nonsense attitude was crumbling in the youngster's company and this made the boy slightly more comfortable with his imposing figure.
Estel quickly drank his milk and finished the last of the bread before asking any more questions. "Did you really talk to them? How did you do that? Can you teach me? And how did you teach them to walk like that and serve people? How come the bee I saw was so-"
Once again Estel found his mouth covered by a huge hand. "I already feel sorry for those Mirkwood elves," Beorn mumbled under his breath. Out loud he said, "You ask many questions, little bunny: yes, I just can, no, they're special and it's a special kind of breed."
Estel's eyes turned huge and confused as he tried to remember all the things he had asked.
Beorn took Estel's shoulders and carefully laid him flat in the bed again. The drink would soon work and it would be best if the child didn't have to be moved anymore then. "Now try again, just one question at a time…"
Yawning widely, Estel blinked his eyes. The animals were interesting indeed, yet he could only think of one question now that he had calmed down some, "How will El'dan and El'hir know I'm with the elves up north?"
Soothingly brushing a strand of hair out of the boy's eyes, Beorn quietly replied, "I'll find them, Estel. I'll make sure they know and take you home…"
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TBC
Review please? :D