Chapter Six – AN ARGUMENT
"How stupid you can be at times," snapped Elrond when he saw the child.
"Estel would've died, Father," protested Elladan, shying slightly at the tone of his father's voice.
"See, Glorfindel," said Elrond, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration. "The child has already influenced him. He called me what humans call their fathers!"
"His name is Estel, Ada," Elrohir said sternly, but then subsided at the look Elrond sent his way.
"And I suppose this was the reason all five of you were arguing about 'Fion' and 'Coa'?" asked Glorfindel, amused by the identical looks an all faces.
"Yes, Glorfy," answered Elladan, then turned to Elrond. "I will keep him, I will – "
"You will clothe him, bathe him and feed him? If I think he is who I think he is, Rivendell is in danger!" glowered Elrond.
"We'll send the guards," suggested Glorfindel, earning himself a reproving glare from Elrond.
"And?"
"And what?" asked Glorfindel blankly.
"And find out who he is?" snarled Elrond. "I KNOW who he is. He is the son of Arathorn and heir to the throne of Gondor!"
"At such a young age? Impressive," said Elrohir.
"His mother stumbled into my council several days ago begging for assistance from the Elves as her husband was constantly being plagued by Orcs. And it seems as though the Orcs have already slaughtered him. And, they will come for Aragorn," Elrond ranted, taking no notice whatsoever of Elrohir.
"Aragorn?" Elrohir asked.
"Silence, Elrohir! You must return the child to the cottage!"
"My Lord, with all do respect, I have something to say," interrupted Nadrwynna quietly.
Everyone looked at her.
"The cottage was within the walls of Imladris, might I remind you. Whether you would will it or not, Orcs are roaming your lands freely, killing your forests. If you return Aragorn, the son of Arathorn, you will be sending your people straight into the arms of an enemy."
Elrond snorted. "What you say is right, Wynna, but the Orcs will not return to the cottage."
"Orcs are not as idiotic as they look, my Lord," said Legolas, entering the conversation for the first time. "They were watching when we removed the child from the forest and when we returned. I could sense their presence in the shadows of the forest. They are coming for the child. You have to protect him."
"The power of the Elves is fading, Legolas, we cannot simply keep any obstacle that strays into our establishment. I'm sure the council mem -…"
"Estel is not an obstacle," began Elladan hotly. "And your council consists of old lunatics who live in the past, dwelling on their days of triumph which happened to be almost three thousand years ago!" continued the angry Elf, his voice rising with every word.
"Do not insult the Elders, Elladan," roared Elrond, drowning out his son's voice.
"Ada, please, can we keep him?" asked Elladan, a slight hint of plea in his eyes.
Elrond remained firm. "His presence will be the death of Imladris, for he is one who will be hunted all his life!"
"Even a beggar would not turn a starving infant from his hut," said Elladan quietly, after a moment's silence. He scooped up the baby and walked out of the Library, his head held high.
"I shall accompany him to the cottage, Ada," said Elrohir wearily. "Maybe he will understand then."
"It is not Elladan who should understand, but you, Lord Elrond," said Nadrwynna softly from the doorway. "If you wish for Estel to be removed from Rivendell, so be it. I will take him with me when I return to Mirkwood, which is in a week."
"Nadrwynna," started off Elrond, ready to lecture the Elf, but the girl stood her ground.
"No, my Lord, do not argue with me. My parents were alive, yet under YOUR instructions, Lord Thranduil kept it from me. I never got to even say good bye to them when they passed into Shadow. I do not want Estel to live the same way." Nadrwynna looked piercingly into Lord Elrond's silver eyes, they turned and exited. After observing Elrond for a minute or so, Legolas and Elrohir followed suit.
"She's right, Elrond," said Glorfindel. "Maybe you should consider it."
Elrond stared at the painting in his lush library- one of Isildur clutching his father's sword, while Sauron stared at him menacingly through the clouds of smoke..
"I cannot," he said bowing his head. "He is Isildur's heir. He will be tempted by power."
"Which is where you are wrong, Ada," said Arwen earnestly. She had been the only one among the five wanderers not to speak. "He is not Isildur, but his heir, though the same blood courses through his veins."
Elrond met his daughter's eyes. "I cannot, Undomiel, I am sorry." He left the Evenstar in the room, while Glorfindel looked on.
"Give him time," the advisor said.
"Knowing Ada, it would take him more than a hundred years to accept Estel," sighed Arwen, before she turned to go and hunt down Elladan.