Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! I am so glad that you are liking this fic. Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews. Now, regarding Arwen, I realize that she is supposed to be in Lothlorien and not meet Estel until much later, but this is an AU fic. Arwen will marry Estel, I am just not sure yet how that will happen, but it will, so don't worry. For right now, Arwen sees Estel as a little brother but that will change in the future. Now, here is the Chapter Nine. Enjoy!
Once all four elves were sitting on various chairs or couches in Elrond's study, Elrond turned his attention to his only daughter.
"Iel nin, I hope that you do not mind having a little brother," Elrond said to Arwen.
"Oh Ada, of course I do mind! He is so cute, I may just have to marry him one day," Arwen said.
They all laughed at that but could not help but agree that Estel was just too adorable.
"Elrond, you said that you would explain everything, but first, we have a few questions," Galadriel said.
Elrond nodded. He had been expecting that.
"First, what was that whole business with the letter? I know you would not send such a letter just to get us here early in order to meet Estel," Galadriel said.
Elrond sighed. "You are quite correct Galadriel, though I wish you were not. Why I did call you here for Estel, it was not only for you to meet him. No, though I wish it were. Estel is need of protection," Elrond said quietly.
"Protection from what Ada?" Arwen asked, already concerned for Estel, though she had not met him but a few minutes ago.
Elrond sighed. He knew that Galadriel already was piecing the puzzle together and knew that Estel was human, but his daughter and father-in-law did not.
"Before I begin, there is something you must know about Estel. Estel is edain, though one would not know it by looking at him," Elrond said, waiting for the exclamations that were sure to come. He wasn't disappointed.
"Edain? Elrond, you can not be serious. Estel is the perfect little elfling. You must be jesting," Celeborn said, surprise visible in his eyes.
"I assure you that it is no josh. I adopted Estel when his biological parents where killed when he was but barely two years old.
"Elrond, if I may ask, who were Estel's biological parents?" Galadriel asked, her eye's narrowing in suspicion of what the answer may prove to be.
Seeing that Galadriel already knew, and that his daughter and father-in-law had leaned forward in interest, Elrond decided just to tell them, for he knew Galadriel would if he did not.
"Yes Galadriel, you may, though I suspect that you have already figure that out. Estel's birth parents were Gilrean and Arathorn. Estel is truly Aragorn, son of Arathron, and heir to the throne of Gondor. However, he does not know that, and won't until I decide that he is ready for that knowledge," Elrond stated firmly.
"Of course Elrond. But I must ask, we were told that Aragorn had been slain along with his parents. Why were we not informed of the truth," Galadriel said, here eyes radiating her annoyance with her son-in-law for keeping the truth from her, Celeborn, and Arwen.
Elrond saw Galadriel's annoyance, but decided to ignore it for now. "We told Mirkwood and Lothlorien that Aragorn had died, because I feared for his safety. It was a necessary lie that was created to protect Estel from those who seek to destroy him," Elrond said.
"Say we had told you that Aragorn had survived, would it not seem a bit suspicious to our enemies, that I had suddenly taken in a little human boy and adopted him?" Elrond continued, looking straight at Galadriel.
"Of course, I had not thought of that. It would indeed have looked suspicious," Galadriel said.
"So, you have called us here early for Estel's protection you have said Elrond. But protection from what?" Celeborn asked.
"Yes, I have. The Great Eye is looking for Estel. Somehow, I am not sure how, the Eye knows that the Heir of Isildur still lives. It has confronted Estel in a dream, but thank the Valar, Estel said nothing, somehow knowing that he should not divulge any information," Elrond said.
"This is most disturbing Elrond. I can see why you called for us early. You were right to. This needs to be addressed, and quickly, before it can progress any further than it already has," Celeborn said frowning.
"I have called for Mithrandir as well. I sent Erestor out looking for him with a very similar letter as to the one you received from Glorfindel. I do not like to say this, but I believe that we may need to the power of three rings," Elrond said looked down at Vilya.
Galadriel nodded, fingering her own ring of power. "I fear you may be right Elrond. It was wise of you to send for Mithrandir. I see now why you named him Estel," Galadriel said knowingly.
"He is the hope for all of Arda and the free peoples of this Middle Earth," Celeborn said.
"For now, let us not dwell on what might be, we shall await for Mithrandir for his council. For now, it is a holiday season, and I see several reasons to celebrate," Arwen said wisely, despite her young years, by elven standards.
" I couldn't agree more," Celeborn said, smiling proudly at the wisdom his granddaughter showed. "She was more and more like her mother everyday," he reflected with a hint of sadness at the thought of his daughter.
"Elrond, I must say I did get quite the shock by how much he looks like you and Elros," Galadriel commented. "Elros would indeed be proud of his descendant," she thought to herself.
Elrond nodded, having seen the same thing himself.
" You love him with every ounce of your being, as much as your biological children. I can see it reflected it not only your eyes, both Elladan and Elrohir's as well. I am proud to call Estel my grandson," Galadriel said with Celeborn nodding his head in agreement.
Arwen was getting impatient. "Enough talk already," she thought.
" I do not know about the rest of you, but I do not plan to sit here all day and talk about Estel. I would much rather get to know my little brother and partake of that feast you spoke of Ada," Arwen said.
"Of course, I had nearly forgotten about it in the hassle that was today. Come, we shall join you," Elrond said.
"Oh, I do not believe so Elrond. Arwen, you go on ahead dear, your Ada and I have... business to discuss," Galadriel said, her blue eyes riveted on Elrond.
"Yes, a certain business about not telling us that we had a fourth grandchild after the danger had passed!" Celeborn said, glaring daggers at Elrond, who was trying to creep out the door unnoticed.
"Grandmother, Grandfather, do make sure that he is not to badly damaged. I too would like of piece of him for not telling me that I had a baby brother!" Arwen said fiercely, while staring at her Ada.
"Do remember Adar, I am the little sister of Elladan and Elrohir. I am sure we will come up with something quite creative. That is, after I torture them for not telling me about Estel either. Grandmother, Grandfather, I shall see you at dinner," Arwen said and then left the room before the carnage would begin.
Elrond took one look at his in-laws and broke out in a cold sweat. He was not sure which was worse. His daughter's wrath, with the help of Elladan and Elrohir, or his in-laws. He was about to find out though, that was certain.
Translations:
Arda: Middle Earth
Estel: Hope
Iel nin: My daughter
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Adar: Father