Disclaimer: don't own them, just wish that I did. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien…
A/N: As always you all made me terribly happy when I read the reviews – thank you so much! Alas, this is the last chapter of this story and I hope you like what has become of it. There will be other stories by me and I'm already working on something, but I'll start posting it when it's finished. As I always say: don't hold your breath! That would be bad for your health and we wouldn't want that, now would we?
You know I'm not a doctor, nor am I Tolkien, so if you think the characters act (a little) off, please forgive me for taking the liberty with them. Enjoy! :)
'Replies' to reviewers:
HarryEstel: you'll finally find out about the twins this chapter, which is sadly also the last… Hmm… perhaps some day in the future I will do sort of a sequel to this one where Estel visits Beorn again with his Ada. Cool! I've got a new plot bunny! :D Enjoy!
Nietta: I must admit I've only seen the first movie of Harry Potter, though I intend to read them sometime – what with my sister's kid I have both an excuse and motivation to read them. I'll just go with the original version and make her bilingual from birth! Don't you just love that little dragon and Hagrid petting it! So cute! ,') Too bad he had to get rid of it… :( It's ok you didn't know Beorn – remember, Estel didn't either and he wasn't too sure of him too. It's nice to see what people think of a character when they're unfamiliar… I really hope you'll post that little story of yours, because that was sooo cute!
Elven Kitten: I love it that you find it sweet! I don't know why it is that the animals like Estel so much – perhaps because they realize a small child means being petted and coddled? Or they just sense something different about it, I dunno… ;) Hope you enjoy this last chapter as well!
Kathleen LaCorneille: do you have pets? If so, isn't it just uncanny that you know what it wants once you are getting to know it? I'm jealous of Estel as well what with eating honey cakes and meeting Beorn's animals, but I wouldn't want to be in his position. Ah well, he's made a friend now so perhaps on a next occasion… Glad you liked Legolas' little scene. ;) You'll find out about the twins this chapter. I really hope you will update your own LOTR story – I'm curious to find out what will happen next…
hamsterjuice: you just had to say honeycakes huh? marbienl sneaks downstairs to the kitchen and pastes some honey on dry biscuits Ah well, I've had a craving for them ever since I've read about them, but alas! Uhm… the BFG – is this the Big Friendly Giant? I haven't read the book, but I do remember an animated film about that. I guess you're right – both the giants took care of a human child for a while and showed them their world… LOL – now that reminds me of a scene in Roverandum when the dog is on the moon… ,')
lindahoyland: cool – so this is quite unique huh? Still glad you still enjoy it… Take care!
shadowfaxgal7: don't worry, just read on and you will find the twins. Whether they're all right… well – you'll find out when Estel does. Ok, hope the weather has been nice at camp and you had lots of fun. Thank you so much for all the nice/encouraging words – they really give someone motivation to continue doing what they do…
grumpy: the big man's just not used to company save for his animals, but as you can see he's already softening up for Bilbo's visit. LOL Glad you liked the black ram. :D
Mornflower: well, Estel and you will finally find out whether the twins are all right in this chapter… Take care for now!
CSI3: glad you liked it – well, here it is then… The next, but last chapter… Enjoy! :)
Viewfinder: thank you! Well, I don't think I've ever read a story with him in it either. There was of course Nili and her mentioning him, but I had this bunny in the closet for much longer… as well as that other bunny. Any idea how big they become after nearly a year? The other is still looking at me threateningly points at huge pink bunny LOL – sorry about that – caffeine and sleep deprivation :) Enjoy!
)()()()()()(
Chapter 4
Beorn kept true to his word and stayed up the entire night – looking to the west and thinking of the past. One day he would go back there! One day soon…
Many eyes appeared during the night, animals in search of dinner, but one look at Beorn made them think twice about attacking. They could sense there was something different about him; this was someone they should leave alone if they wanted to live to see another night… However, not too long before the sun would rise again Beorn could hear gruff and gnarling voices in the distance and the sounds of armour clinking. Orcs! he thought – his neck hair rising at the thought of the creatures. No doubt on their way back to their hiding hole! Feeling the body in his arms shivering slightly when a hard wind assaulted them, concern shot through him like a fire bolt! Estel and he were sitting up wind of the creatures and though they were high up, Beorn had no doubt they would have smelt the human's flesh by now!
Since the creatures were heading their way, the older man decided something had to be done about it. They would not get the chance to hurt this child again! He spoke softly in Estel's ear, holding his hand over the boy's mouth just in case, "Wake up, little one! Estel!"
Startled, the youngster woke up and two small hands reached for the larger one covering half of his face.
"Hush, laddie – it's just me – Beorn. All right?" Seeing his charge nod he continued, "I need to leave you for just a moment, little chap, but I'll return soon. I need you to stay up here and remain quiet…"
Again Estel nodded and Beorn removed his hand, untangling himself from the boy and helping him to sit against the tree – waiting until he was awake enough so he wouldn't fall from the branch. Then he climbed down with a speed uncanny for someone so big, baring his teeth for just a moment. Those creatures would regret coming their way really soon!
)()()()()()(
Estel sat quietly in the tree, shivering regularly now that he wasn't lying against a big warm chest and watching his surroundings with huge eyes – trying to penetrate the darkness. He was startled when he noticed several eyes looking at him, but when he blinked they were gone. The boy could hear the flapping of what seemed to be huge bats and he shuddered, pulling his knees to his chest and hugging them. Beorn, where are you!?
He sat there for quite some time and he could see through the treetops above him that the sky had grown a little brighter. That's what had worried him yesterday when he travelled with Beorn – it was quite dark in Mirkwood. Would it also be this dark where Legolas lived? If so, how did the elves manage so well? They loved and needed feeling the sun on their faces; at least the elves of his home did… Then Legolas' home will be sunnier than this place… the human concluded, proud of his logic.
And then there is king Thranduil… Estel thought, trying to keep his mind on other topics than the eyes occasionally watching him or the flutter of wings, Elladan and Elrohir told me he wears flowers in his hair in the summer… He tried to hold in his giggles at the sight his mind conjured up. His Ada never wore flowers in his hair! Hmm… actually my Adadoes wear flowers in his hair, but that's only because I sometimes make him a crown! He justified this with thinking that Legolas' father also wore flowers in his hair in public… Or does Legolas make him those crowns and he wears them for that reason? That just showed how much king Thranduil loved his son then!
Estel was kept quite busy thinking of this subject and finally he decided he would ask Legolas next time he saw him. Which I hope will be soon… Beorn said we will reach the palace today!
The little boy startled when he heard a loud screech in the distance and he eagerly hoped that Beorn was all right. He liked the giant, but if something had happened to him who would take care of him then, or of Beorn's animals and who would make sure he was reunited with his brothers again? Listening for the longest time after that, Estel couldn't hear any sounds anymore – not even the noises the animals around him had made before the shriek. Was it over? What was it anyway? Would Beorn return soon?
So caught up was he in his thinking, that Estel flinched away when a huge spider dropped in front of him, clicking its claw-like beaks at him and trying to bite him in the neck so it could drag home a fresh and juicy meal. "Tassssty tsssjjjild! Wantsssss it! Juicy flesssssh! Tasssty!!" It hissed at him.
Estel gasped and scuttled sideways, forgetting he was up in a tree. Just before a huge beak would have bitten him, he felt air beneath him and was startled when he felt himself falling. The boy tried to grab onto any branches on his way down, but he didn't manage to get a hold on any. The only thing he got were scratches on his arms and his cheeks… Closing his eyes, Estel prepared himself for the landing – a very hard landing.
Many thoughts went through his head: that he would never know now whether his brothers were really all right, that he would never get to see his Ada again or his family in Lothlorien or Legolas… that he would never get to see Beorn again and ask him why he had left in the first place and many other thoughts. And he braced himself…
)()()()()()(
He was quite surprised when, instead of landing hard on the forest floor, he felt something soft beneath him that dented a little when he hit it before bouncing back. It was warm and grunted slightly upon feeling the boy's weight, but neither it nor Estel could prevent the youngster from falling the remaining distance to the ground.
Estel softly cried out as he landed on his side – his ribs were still hurting him and he feared he had hurt them even more now! His wrist was luckily still protected by the hardened wrapping as it was caught under him. Tears sprang to his eyes, but even through the pain hope sprung to his mind: he had survived the fall! Hearing a soft growl behind him, the boy stiffened and held his breath. What is that? he wondered, make it go away!
Hearing heavy breathing coming closer, the child realized that whatever it was would not go away so he quickly scrambled up – not giving his complaining body any heed and finally looked at the thing. It was a huge black bear – bigger than any he'd seen before! Estel rolled his eyes for thinking this. It's the only one I've seen before! Uhm… that I've seen, he corrected himself, babbling inside his mind.
Not knowing what the bear was planning to do with him, Estel slowly started to back away towards the tree he had only moments prior occupied. Would it attack him? Would it go away?
All of a sudden the boy shrieked as something heavy landed on him. It was the spider from before and it was pricking him with its sharp legs, trying to reach a place it could bite in hopes of a juicy meal. "Niccce flessssh!" it hissed, coming closer. This time, Estel was backed in a corner… "Beorn!" he shouted while trying to hit or kick the spider, not caring about his earlier promise about being silent, "Help me!"
Suddenly the bear ran at him with a magnificent speed and the weight disappeared. The young human was afraid the bear would bite him or at least trample him, but neither scenario happened. Looking up he could see the bear slashing at the spider with its huge paws. His eyes turned huge as he saw the size of the bear's nails! They were gigantic! Frightened, Estel rose from the ground keeping his back to the tree – hoping to quietly disappear now that the two animals were fighting each other. Soon the spider would be dead and then the bear would turn on him.
Where is Beorn? Estel wondered, afraid to call out again. Since he couldn't climb a tree – not in his condition and because it wasn't a smart thing to do since bears could also climb trees – the little boy searched for a good place to hide and eventually settled for some bushes. He had some difficulty in hiding himself away there for the branches had grown close together, but this also meant that no bear could pass it unless it was willing to gain some prickly thorns in its sensitive snout. So the child made himself small and begged the Valar not to be spotted by any evil creatures.
The Valar seemed not to listen to him however as the sound of heavy breathing could be heard. Peeking out of the bushes, Estel saw the legs of the huge bear in front of him. Then the animal went down on its belly and looked at him, baring its huge teeth in anger for just a moment as the animal felt a thorn pricking its nose.
Estel swallowed and started to breathe faster – he had survived the fall and the spider only to be eaten by an overgrown ball of hair! The two looked at each other for a while and, seeing that the bear was not making any moves to attack him – yet – the boy decided to speak.
"Have you seen a huge man?" he asked the bear in a shaky voice no louder than a whisper, "His name is Beorn and I'm sure if you were to stand up, he would be just as tall as you!"
The corners of the bear's mouth curled up slightly as if it was smiling at him and the dark eyes twinkled. Then it stood up on its hind legs and transformed smoothly into a very familiar figure.
"Beorn!" Estel cried out, untangling himself from the bush and hugging his saviour. Then he looked at the man with huge, eager eyes, "Wow! Can you teach me that?"
Beorn smiled sadly and shook his head, resting one huge hand on Estel's head. "This is not something anyone can learn, little tyke!" he said, gently feeling the child's ribs and grimacing as he could feel a bump in one place. Cracked, he thought, grimacing. "I'm sorry I left you like that, I had to take care of some orcs that were coming here…"
Estel nodded, looking at the ground and shuffling his foot in the dirt, "The spider scared me," he whispered; ashamed of himself for letting himself be taken by surprise. His brothers would never be scared like that!
Beorn lifted Estel up onto his shoulders again so the hurting boy didn't have to walk and went back to the tree – going back for his sack. He could see the shame passing through the dull grey eyes and decided to talk about other things for now. The boy had been scared enough this trip: that was one thing that was certain!
"I'm what some people call a skin-changer," he said, waiting for the boy's reply at this revelation.
Excited at this new discovery, Estel forgot all about the (in his eyes) recent 'failure'. "My Ada's told me about you! He said a man lived near Mirkwood that was perhaps actually a bear, or a bear that was perhaps actually a man!" It had always puzzled the youngster that his Ada didn't know which… "He told me you came from the mountains and that you are very kind to animals, though you keep much to yourself. Yes… I should've seen this sooner!"
Beorn smiled at this – he was growing very fond of the boy.
"He also said that you had the best honey – which you do – and that you had the loveliest honey cakes one could ever taste! He was right, you know… Even Legolas spoke about your honey cakes! How did he know about them, since you told me you don't leave your home?"
The skin-changer rolled his eyes. If there was one thing the boy was very good in, it was asking questions. "Sometimes king Thranduil sends one of his elves to my home to discuss the happenings inside the forest. They always politely ask for a batch of honey cakes when they come here and I oblige…"
Beorn searched around in his sack and once again handed the wooden water bottle to Estel before handing him some nuts as well as two slices of the honey cakes. The boy eagerly took the food, talking to the other man the entire time. The skin-changer smiled slightly and continued on his way. They would reach the elven home this day and then Estel could be reunited with his family again. A short pang shot through the older man as he realized that he would most likely never see the human again after this. Then it would be just him and his animals again…
)()()()()()(
The rest of their journey proved to be a quiet one as the two encountered no more foul creatures – the animals not daring to approach the bigger one. It was nearly evening when the travellers reached the elven home. Beorn had watched as a group of elves followed them for some time, but he paid no attention to them. They knew who he was and wouldn't bother him…
Estel had fallen asleep somewhere in the afternoon and now rested again in the man's arms. It was like this that he was stopped by the gates before the palace.
"Go and tell your king and prince that Beorn and Estel have arrived! Hurry!" the giant ordered.
One of the wood elves quickly jumped from the tree and went to do the other's bidding. It was only a short moment later when two other elves returned and the skin-changer gave an awkward bow in respect. "Greetings, king Thranduil, prince Legolas…"
Thranduil walked up to the two and looked at the sleeping form in his arms, "Well met, Beorn. So this is the human Elrond has taken in, isn't it?"
"Yes, he is – I recognize him," Legolas said, "How did he get here?"
Thranduil cleared his throat and motioned for Beorn and Legolas to follow him, "Surely you would be more comfortable within?"
Beorn followed, "Estel needs to be looked at by one of your healers," he said gruffly.
Legolas raised an eyebrow, running his eyes over the still form. He could see the scratches on his face and a bandage wrapped around his wrist, but what wounds did the clothes hide?
"Apparently the little tyke and his brothers ran into some orcs on their way – the Half-elven twins, you know them. They got separated and he stumbled in my way. I've been looking after him ever since…"
"Elladan and Elrohir were with them? Have you seen them?" Legolas asked worriedly.
Beorn shook his head, "No, I have seen no hide or hair of them, but I promised the lad I would go and look for them. Perhaps you could help me as well?" he asked of Thranduil.
Thranduil nodded, "I will send some elves to find them. In the meanwhile Estel can stay with us. Legolas? Lead our guests to a room and I will order the guards to prepare," turning to Beorn he questioned, "Were you planning on going as well?"
Beorn looked pained for just a moment before he nodded, "I will look for his brothers and send them over here when I find them…"
Legolas looked at him, suspicious, "You do not plan on returning…" he murmured.
Beorn sighed, "My business is near the south, but I will do what I can for the boy… He sort of grows on you…"
Legolas smiled – he had discovered that himself not so long ago.
)()()()()()(
Thranduil went one way while the younger elf led their guests to a room. Once there, Beorn laid Estel on the bed, waking him in the process.
Looking around, Estel found himself no longer in the forest, but in another unfamiliar place. He blearily looked at his new friend, a question on his lips before noticing the blonde elf. "Legolas!" he shouted, happy to see someone he recognized.
Legolas walked up to him and stroked through the dark curls, "Hello Estel… Don't worry… we'll find those brothers of yours and reunite you three…"
Estel smiled at this. Everything would be all right now! His smile faded however as he saw the sad look on the skin-changer's face, "What's wrong, Beorn?"
The man sighed and seated himself next to the boy. "I'll go and look for your brothers now, but as soon as they're found I'm needed back home…"
Tears appeared in the boy's eyes as he realized what this would mean, "So I won't see you again? You'll leave me?"
Beorn wiped away a silver drop that was slowly running down the child's cheek, "I only meant to take you to the palace, lad and now that you're here my task is done. There may be a slight chance we will meet again, but only time will tell…"
Not caring about the pain the movement caused him, Estel launched himself at Beorn and hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go and lose his new friend. Beorn gently patted him on the back before carefully disentangling himself, "Now there-there, laddie. Don't be sad now! Maybe you can convince your Ada to let you come for a visit with me one day, huh? Come on, dry those shiny eyes now…"
Estel bit his lip and breathed heavily for a while, his body was letting him know what it thought of his total disregard of it and, as the stars were closing in before him, he whispered, "I'll miss you…"
Feeling the small body growing slack in his arms, Beorn had a hard time keeping his own tears at bay. What would the elves not think of him! He was supposed to be a gruff person, so why did it hurt so much to be parted from a human child he had only known for a few days? Laying the child down on the bed, Beorn gave a quick kiss to Estel's forehead before making his way out of the room. He had to discuss some things with the king and after that he would search for the boy's brothers…
)()()()()()(
Thranduil quickly had gathered a party of elves and sent them in search of the twins. Those two were bound to be looking for their younger brother in the southern parts of Mirkwood, yet he also sent some elves in the other directions. He also spoke briefly with Beorn before the huge man left his grounds. He was still very grateful of the man for saving Legolas all those years ago and here the skin-changer was again: saving the foster-son of Elrond!
Thranduil smiled as he realized that beneath the gruff exterior was a heart of gold and it was slowly being freed of its stone prison. He wondered what it would take before it would be free entirely…
Then he made his way up to Estel's room. A healer was looking the boy over and, besides from a cracked rib, a broken wrist and many bruises and cuts, the boy was all right. The king spoke quietly with his son and after some debate it was decided that Legolas would stay with him. It was certain that the young human would want to see a familiar face and the prince was ready to comfort the boy should he miss his brothers and Beorn. Thranduil himself would send a letter to Elrond explaining the delay of his sons' return.
Looking beside the bed, Legolas noticed an unfamiliar sack. Stealing a glimpse of what was inside, the young elf was delighted. Honey cakes!
)()()()()()(
It was well into the morning when Estel next woke and he smiled upon seeing Legolas munching on some honey cakes. Indeed the elf was fond of them!
Sensing eyes on him, Legolas turned his gaze to the bed and seeing the boy awake, quickly tried to hide the fact that he was eating many of the cakes to the last crumble. "Hey there, little one… Beorn and some of my people are searching for your brothers as we speak. I'm sure the twins are all right, though they are bound to be worried about you. We'll find them… My father also sent a letter to your father telling him of the reason for your delay and that you are safe…"
Seeing the child's smile fade slightly, Legolas offered, "Honey cake?"
A grin appeared on the youthful face and, after some help with sitting up, the two were happily eating the delicious food. After a while, Estel decided to ask the elf something that had been bugging him for quite some time now, "Legolas? Why does your father wear a crown of flowers on his head when it's summer? Do you make one for him every year and does he wear it because he loves you so much?"
Legolas just stared at him, wondering how the boy came up with such questions…
)()()()()()(
Time passed swiftly after that as Legolas tried to keep Estel's mind on other things – showing him around the palace and the grounds and telling many stories to the youngster. Thus it was that on the fourth day of his arrival in the palace Estel was startled at the sound of loud voices coming his way.
"Calm down, Elladan! You heard the king – Estel is all right!"
"I am calm, Elrohir and don't tell me you aren't hurrying to him either. It's been days since we've seen our little brother and I've been worried sick!"
"So was I, remember?"
Legolas smiled at Estel as he walked to the door, opening it only a moment before the twins would have opened it themselves. The archer stood in the doorway with an arched eyebrow and his arms crossed over his chest. "Do you know that there is someone very anxious to see you?"
The twins refrained from pushing the prince away, instead looking very cross with the other elf for detaining them any further.
"Legolas," Elrohir said, "you are our friend, as you know-"
"But if you do not remove yourself from this doorway we will not be responsible for our actions," Elladan finished.
"Elladan! Elrohir!" An excited voice shouted from behind Legolas.
Fondly shaking his head, Legolas stepped aside and within moments Estel found himself buried in two pairs of arms hugging him tightly.
"We were so afraid something had happened to you," Elladan whispered.
"We couldn't find you after the fight! We searched for days and couldn't find you," Elrohir nearly cried.
"You're… you're all right?" Estel asked, "You're not hurt?"
The twins reluctantly let go of their little brother and shook their heads. They had received several scratches and cuts, but luckily no poison had been on the orcs' weapons and they had healed swiftly. "We're all right, though…" he swallowed, hating to bring Estel the bad news, "Our horses didn't make it…"
Estel was sad for only a moment – it was a sad thing that their loyal companions had been killed, but he was far too happy that his brothers were all right!
"And what about yourself?" Elrohir asked, "What have you managed to get yourself into – what happened?"
Estel shook his head, wanting to know something else first, "How did you know where to find me? What happened to you?"
Elrohir looked puzzled before telling Estel what had happened to them, "Well, as you know we got separated. We've been looking for you ever since, yet it was two days ago when we were once again attacked by a great band of orcs. This time there seemed to be too many even for us to handle, yet just when it grew to be too much for us a pack of wild bears attacked the orcs!"
Elladan interrupted, "Can you imagine that, Estel? Out of nowhere these animals appeared! It seemed that there was a really big black bear in charge and they killed all the orcs!"
"We thought they would turn to us next, but they didn't. The black one just looked at us for a moment and even seemed to nod at us before they all left."
"If it weren't for them, we'd be dead now. It was only moments later that a party of Mirkwood elves appeared and told us to come with them to the palace, telling us that you were here…"
"A big black bear huh?" Legolas wondered aloud, only realizing a moment later he had spoken aloud. Seeing the gazes directed his way he held up his hands, "It's just that I remembered something very similar from the time I was a young elfling… Orcs had surrounded me and all of a sudden a black bear appeared and killed the creatures. It saved me. I thought at the time that it would come for me next, but then my father arrived and took me home. I've never seen a black bear again – they're nearly all brown. It makes me wonder…"
Estel giggled at this, drawing the attention of the three elves. The boy kept laughing, for he was the only one in this room who knew who the bear was. Thus he started telling them of his adventures this week and the new friends he had made…
The end
Please review? I'd really, really appreciate it! :)