Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hi there and thank you soooo much for your reviews! I am so glad that you are enjoying this fic! Many thanks to my beta enb2004 who has excellent Harry Potter stories, so go read those. As promised, here is Chapter Seven. Enjoy!
"Lucky Glorfindel. All he to do was deliver his letter to the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien while I got stuck delivering this to Mithrandir. A wizard that is harder to find than a needle in a haystack at times," Erestor thought viciously.
Urging his horse to got faster, Erestor headed for Bree, knowing that Gandalf had a love for the halflings that lived in the near by Shire.
"When I find Mithrandir, I am going to do something highly unpleasant for making me search for him," Erestor said out loud, gritting his teeth.
"Hmmm, maybe I'll set the twins and Estel on him," Erestor pondered out loud with a devious grin.
"Oh, I would not do that if I were you mellon nin," a familiar voice said.
Erestor whirled his horse around, and lo and behold, there was Gandalf sitting on his horse, right behind Erestor.
"Mithrandir! At last, I have searching this entire valley for you and was just heading for Bree," Erestor said, relieved that he had finally found Mithrandir, yet highly annoyed that it was Mithrandir who had found him, when he had been looking for him!
"Well, I am here mellon nin. Now, why is it that you were searching for an old wizard like me? Might it have to do with something silver and little?" Gandalf asked, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth.
Erestor just rolled his eyes. People said that elves spoke in riddles? HA! They had obviously never met Mithrandir.
"I know not Mithrandir. Lord Elrond sent me to find you, a near to impossible task I might add, and to give you this letter.
"Lets see it then my lad," Gandalf said. Erestor nodded and dug the letter out of a sack that was on his horse, and handed it to the wizard.
Gandalf opened the letter and began to read.
Mithrandir
Gandalf the Grey
Greetings from Imladris mellon nin. I have wish to know if you would be joining my family once more for the Winter Solstice as always. If you are, I would be highly appreciative if you could come earlier than planned and help with the certain activities we have to do. I know all of my sons are anxious to see you. I hope to see you soon mellon nin.
Lord Elrond of Imladris
Gandalf raised a bushy eyebrow in surprise. It was not like his old friend to send such a coded message. Something was happening in Imladris and he had a hunch that this had something to do with Estel. Seeing Erestor's impatience Gandalf put the letter away.
"Well, shall we depart for Imladris mellon nin? I do believe that there are a certain pair of twins and child that I must talk to," Gandalf said with a devious smile.
Erestor could only groan. That meant only one thing. Gandalf would get the twins and Estel to prank him, and not the other way around.
"Yes, lets depart. The sooner we get to Imladris the better," Erestor said, trying to figure out a way to get to the twins and Estel before Mithrandir. "After you mellon nin," Gandalf said grinning.
Erestor groaned and could not help but think that this Winter Solstice would be one the longest and most painful ever.
It was eight days later and Elrond was becoming increasingly anxious. Estel had had the dream once more, but this time, they eye had focused it's attention on Estel and had asked Estel's name.
Thank the Valar Estel somehow knew that the eye was evil and refused to tell his name. Estel had started to scream, which had alerted Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir that Estel was having a nightmare and allowed them to wake Estel up.
After some comforting and silly stories about the twins and Prince Legolas, Estel had once again forgotten all about the nightmare and continued to be blissfully unaware of the tension that surrounded the elven haven.
Elrond and the twins were trying not to worry Estel, but Estel was not dumb and he knew that something was wrong, even if, for the most part, he was unaware of what was going on around him.
As it was the eighth day since Elrond had sent Glorfindel and Erestor out with the letters, he was expecting one or both of the parties very shortly.
It was late afternoon when one of the guards reported that the party from Lothlorien was coming into the realm of Imladris.
Elrond sighed a breathe of relief at this, for he had worried that Glorfindel might not have made it to Lothlorien, despite the fact that it was highly improbable.
Knowing that the party would soon appear, Lord Elrond, the twins, and Estel were waiting in the courtyard for the party from Lothlorien to come.
"Ada? Will they be here soon?" Estel asked brimming with excitement and typical childish impatience.
Elrond smiled down at his youngest. "Yes ion nin, in fact I do believe that you will be able to see them as they are approaching the courtyard even as we speak," he said, holding back a chuckle at Estel's actions.
"Yah! I can't wait to meet them!" Estel said happily.
"Estel, you do remember how I told you to act right?" Elrond asked sternly. "Oh yes Ada. I remember!" Estel said bouncing with excitement.
"Tell me," Elrond said, fighting down a smile at Estel's exuberance.
Elladan and Elrohir rolled their eyes is expectation of the same speech they had been told numerous times. Thus, they were very surprise when Estel started to speak.
"When the group comes up, run up to Lady Galadriel, give her a big huh, and say welcome Grandmother!" Estel said.
Respectively, Elladan's and Elrohir's jaws fell open and they stared at their father in open shock.
"What? I have been waiting many a millennium to get your grandparents back," Elrond said seeing the shocked looks on Elrohir's and Elladan's faces.
"What are you getting them back for Ada?" Elrohir asked curiously. It was rare to see this side of their father. It made Elrohir wonder if he and Elladan had inherited their sense of humor from their father, instead of their mother, as their father often insisted.
"That is a tale for another time Elrohir," Elrond said, blushing a bit, and indicating his head towards Estel.
Elrohir and Elladan shared a look of surprise but they understood. Ada could not tell them with Estel there for he was far to young for such a tale.
"Estel, here they come," Elladan warned. "That's your cue ion nin," Elrond said, his eyes full of anticipation with what they were about to see.
Estel nodded eagerly and ran toward his unsuspecting grandparents.
"This is going to be highly amusing," Elladan muttering, anticipating the shock Estel would generate.
"Very good, very good indeed" Elrond said with a smirk.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Ion nin: My son
Tithen pen: Little one
Tithen gwador; Little brother
Mellon nin: My friend