Disclaimer: See chapter one.
A/N- Yay! I told everyone either yesterday or today and take a look!!! It's early Monday morning (or at least where I am) and I kept my promise! jumps up and down Aren't you happy for me?? sees everyone staring blankly Er… okay, then, enough of that. ;) Anyway, thank you for all the wonderful reviews! Reviewer replies at the bottom! :D
Chapter Three- In My Heart
Glorfindel released a booming laugh as he saw the young lords of Imladris rolling around in the mud like children. It had been a week since the human child had made Rivendell his home and already he had worked his way deeply into every Elf's heart. It was never meant to be this way. Elrond was supposed to father the child, but he was never supposed to actually grow attached, like family, to him. But already, like some miracle, Estel was calling Elrond "Ada".
"Mercy, Estel!" Elladan called through his own laughter as the two-year-old and Elrohir tackled and tickled the older twin. Estel plopped himself on the grass beside the twin, giggling, until he caught the looks his new brothers gave each other. He began to move slowly away before they threw themselves at him and tickled him mercilessly.
"Glorfy!" Estel called upon seeing the Balrog-Slayer. "Help!!!!"
"What are two young Lords like you doing attacking a mere child?" he chided. Estel ran over to him and he picked him up. Soon the boy was sticking his tongue out at his brothers. "You can't get me while I'm with Glorfy!" Roaring with laughter, Glorfindel tried to figure out how all this came about. Aye, now he can see it. It must've all started when the child woke Gilraen (and half of Imladris) screaming from nightmares. He never told anyone about the nightmares except that "the bad things were there". Every night Gilraen would try to comfort her son but it was always one of the Peredhil to accomplish such a deed. He would let no one but his big brothers, Ada, or mother near him when in the midst of one of these nightmares and an unfortunate cook had almost lost her hearing when learning this fact the hard way.
"Come! The cook has ordered all children inside for lunch," Glorfindel called. Elladan and Elrohir looked aghast.
"We are not children!" they said in unison, walking haughtily towards their brother and good friend. Their exaggeration sent the young one into a fit of giggles again.
"You are far younger than me, young ones," Glorfindel said, before he swiftly strode into the house, cutting off all impending arguments… for the moment.
Whilst entering the kitchen, the Elven ears were met by distressed sobs. Wondering what person was so upset in the Last Homely House, they walked down the hallway towards the source. They need not walk long. A wooden door softly opened and Gilraen, dressed in a red evening gown and her arm bandaged from her arrow wound, appeared. She smiled wanly at the concerned group then said by way of explanation, "I have just been to see your father."
She finally caught her son's attention and he turned wide silver eyes on her. "What did Ada say?"
Taking the child in her arms, Gilraen felt as if she were crumbling from the inside. She had never wanted to deliver the news of Arathorn's death to Aragorn, but now she must break his heart yet again. Kissing the top of the wooly hair that grew wildly, Gilraen carried her son and motioned the Elves into her room. She sat on the bed and stared into Aragorn's eyes for a brief moment before embracing him again.
Elrohir looked at his twin uncertainly. This did not seem to be a happy family reunion. This seemed to be a morbid one, and all the Elves' senses were screaming at them so that they could practically taste the sorrow.
"Ara—Estel," Gilraen fumbled slightly on her son's new name. "Do you remember how Daddy died?" She bit her tongue. Curse all Orcs to the Void and back! She never wanted to bring this up again! Swallowing roughly, Estel nodded and she continued. "Do you remember when Mommy had that arrow in her arm?" Again, his only answer was a nod, but everyone in the room knew the fear that was gnawing at the child's heart. Even he knew something was terribly wrong. "Mommy went to see Ada about the wound and he said… he said…" she couldn't finish, but it seemed a dreaded enough answer for now. Elrohir gasped softly while Elladan lost his balance slightly and had to lean against the wall. Not again… Not again…
"There was poison in the arrow, honey, and it is bad. Mommy is not going to live much longer." Estel's initial response to this new revelation was predictable. He threw his arms around his mother and sobbed loudly, squeezing her as if to never let her go. The twins' eyes prickled with tears and Glorfindel felt as if he had been hit with the blow of a club and had all the air knocked out of him. Then, however, Estel did something no one, not even his mother, expected.
He jumped off the bed, opened the large wooden door, and sped off down the hall towards his Ada's room. That was where he found Lord Elrond, staring unseeingly at the Bruinen. He looked up when he heard the small being enter.
"Ada!" Estel cried, then flung himself on the Elf Lord's leg. Elrond picked him up and held him in his arms, singing a soft lullaby Celebrían used to in order to soothe the human. It did not work.
"Fix her, Ada!" Aragorn cried. "You always fix El and the other Elves. Fix Mommy!" Elrond's heartstrings pulled taut. Yes, he healed the wounded as best he could but against Morgul poison he seemed powerless. His own sons had lost their mother to the Sea after Orcs and now his adopted son (when did he become a son?) was going to lose his mother the same way, only to Mandos. It was a tragedy Elrond could not fix, but could just bear.
"Aye, ion-nín," he whispered comfortingly. "I'm sorry. I cannot heal Morgul poisoning as well as you think I can."
A tear-stained face looked up into the Elf's innocently and Elrond though he might be sick for being the bearer of such bad news. "Then what can we do, Ada? What can we do?"
Laying his head atop the flow of curly brown locks, Elrond soughed. "We can do nothing but be there for her, my child. Just be there," he whispered.
ooooooooooooooooo
Aragorn breathed in the smell deeply. He was standing in the middle of a field of flowers, which his brothers had taken him to, so that he could make a bouquet for his mommy. Ada had said that she only had a few more days and he wanted to make her extra happy. Along with his brothers, he had managed to get the to get the kitchen staff to prepare Gilraen's favorite dinner and dessert and was going to present flowers to her tonight. It will all be perfect.
Elladan watched the young Edain with a weary eye. He felt horrible and mostly guilty. It was his fault that Arathorn lay cold and dead on the ground while Gilraen was slowly being eaten by the Morgul poison. Even if it meant his life, he would not let anything happen to the child. Especially now that the child had so firmly worked his way into the entire Peredhil family's hearts and was like a younger brother. No one touched Elladan's younger siblings… Elrohir and Arwen knew that all too well and hated his over-protective streak.
"Elladan!" Estel screamed in horror from where he stood by a grand green bush. "Elrohir!" Immediately the twins were in action, running across the meadow in the time it took to blink and already fingering their bows and sword hilts.
"What is it?" Elrohir asked distressed. He too worried about the young human and felt in part (though not as much as Elladan) that he should've been there for the close friends.
"I just saw a big dog!" Estel said excitedly, though he wasn't sure that he even liked what he saw. "It was big and then it jumped on the bunny and it killed it! It had blood on its face and it walked away with the bunny in his mouth! He looked at me! Please, Elladan, I don't want to be the doggie's next snack!" the child whimpered as Elladan picked him up.
"El," Elrohir said, picking up the basket Aragorn had dropped and replacing the flowers in it. "I think we should return home now. We have to get ready for dinner."
Aragorn nodded his head shakily. "Yes, but don't tell Mommy!" As the three marched back across the field, a low growl, only perceptible to Elven hearing, could be heard. Tightening his grip on his youngest brother, Elladan's eyes shifted uneasily about to every bush around them. What had Estel seen? It was either a wolf or a warg, and while neither of those options were very pleasant, Elladan hoped it was a wolf. Where there was one warg there usually were more and perhaps even Orcs. The possibilities irked the eldest.
"El," Elladan whispered to his twin. "Get Estel out of here and back to the horses. I'll be right with you. I just want to check some of these bushes out."
Elrohir nodded and relieved Elladan of his precious burden. "Come on, Estel. Let us go untie the horses." Estel nodded and Elladan made his way to the closest bush. Moving the offending branches to the sides, he looked at the interior. Nothing but a small fox, lying down in its home and hissing at the intruder. Slight relief washed over the Elf as he moved from bush to bush and found nothing. But he knew that he was bound to find something, and the next bush proved his point. A jet-black wolf with piercing black eyes drew back his lips in a snarl, revealing slightly yellowed but extremely sharp teeth. Elladan jumped back a little and, content that it was a wolf and not a warg, tried to move slowly back to his brothers. Wolves, unlike wargs, were not wholly evil and should not be shot every time you see them. Only in self-defense should a wolf be shot.
Never turning his back on the snarling animal, Elladan took a few more steps before it pounced at him. Landing on his chest, the wolf knocked Elladan to the ground and put its face mere inches from his. Cries could be heard from across the meadow of Estel shouting and Elrohir trying to calm him, but the wolf paid no attention. Tonight he was going to get Elf meat. Saliva dripped from the hungry snout and Elladan's nose crinkled, despite the dangers. The wolf had abnormally atrocious breath and odd scars on its muzzle. Elladan had to get out from under this thing now.
Bracing himself, Elladan turned the tables on his opponent. The wolf was sprawled out in a black heap on the ground, clawing desperately until he got off his back. Pawing the grassy earth below him, the wolf got ready to charge. Elladan set up his bow and lined it up just right… and the animal lay dead on the land, one arrow piercing its forehead. Elladan knelt over the corpse and said a small Elvish blessing before turning back to his brothers. His heart clenched. Estel had seen the whole thing. The arrow and all.
ooooooooooooooooo
Miriel straightened the tablecloth, ironing out all the wrinkles. Tonight was a special night for the young human she had taken to so easily. His mommy was dying and tonight was her happy dinner. Miriel would make sure that all was just perfect. A small little bundle came running into the kitchen.
"Oh and what do you have there, Estel?" Miriel asked as the child showed her a handful of beautiful flowers.
"I picked flowers to give to Mommy! Can you help me put them in a vase and a bootkay?" Estel slurred a bit on the word bouquet and Miriel laughed. "Of course, honey," she said, taking his hand and leading him to the kitchen.
The twins walked in shortly after in silence. Estel had seen everything that went on in the meadow and, while he still seemed okay around his brothers, he sent small, unsure looks towards the elder twin while riding home. Elladan had killed that wolf almost like Daddy was killed and it made him uneasy. But still, Elladan was his brother and he loved him.
Elrohir made his way to his room while Elladan had to speak with his father. He felt horrible.
"Ada!" he said loudly as he burst into the room. Elrond appeared out of a side office, herbs in hand.
"I thought I heard you returning. Please tell me no one was hurt this time." The Elven Lord's eyes strayed to the slight cuts on his son's face from his earlier scuffle. "I mean was anyone seriously injured?"
"Nay, Ada, I was the only one. A wolf stalked Estel and I had a struggle with it. I killed it, with an arrow to the head. Estel saw."
Elrond's eyes widened with compassion as he placed a consoling hand on the shoulder of his oldest. "What did he do?"
"Nothing. He seemed uneasy on the ride home but that was it. I wish dearly that I did not bring back any painful memories of Arathorn, truly I do, but I know not. I would never want to cause my youngest brother any more pain." Elladan shook his head sadly as he looked imploring at his father for guidance.
"I will speak with him if you wish."
"Thank you, Ada."
ooooooooooooooooo
Laughter filled the room and candlelight twinkled. The dinner was a huge success and brought a smile to every face. Gilraen, weak as she was, was having the best time of her life and sitting beside her son.
Elrond had spoken to the human child earlier, right before dinner started, and it had turned out better than expected. Estel never had any large doubts about his brother, but he had been upset with the manner in which Elladan had slain the animal. However, now Estel was over it and, as many carefree children, he left the past to the past. Now they would have to see how long it takes Elladan to get over it.
Now that all the entrees were served, it was time for music and stories. The old storyteller of Rivendell made a special story that would fit in with any genre. The night began with Gilraen being the one to choose what kind of story she would like to hear.
Everyone sat in silence as Gilraen, flushed, thought about what story she would enjoy hearing. It really didn't matter to her, as long as her son was happy. "I would like to hear…" she began slowly before smiling, "a story about the twins and their antics." Elladan and Elrohir both visibly paled. The old storyteller was older than they and had a lot of embarrassing things up his sleeves.
"Well, if that is what the lady wishes, then so be it!" Laughter rang and then the stories began. First they started when they were younger. Elladan went fishing, Elrohir "climbed" the tree, Elladan helped Ada with his special papers ("I didn't spill all that much ink on them!" Elladan said in mock outrage) and Elrohir cooking Ammë her special breakfast. The kitchen and cleaning staff all glared at the young Lord at this point.
Then the stories got around to their latest antics until every grudge ever held against the twins was reopened and they would have years of teasing ahead of them. Elrohir stood up. "In our defense, the wargs were quite small and we were young. You know how children like puppies."
The night went on and on until the sun peeked up over the far mountains and into Imladris, slightly shining with pure radiance. Elrond stood at the front of the room, looking around at all the Elves: sleeping, dozing, talking quietly, laughing hysterically, or, in the twins' cases, blushing and trying in vain to defend themselves. "I think," his booming voice sounded. "That we all need a bit of rest. Come now, off to bed with you all and I will see you at lunch."
The room cleared and those that were sleeping were rudely shaken awake by friends. The Elven Lord watched all of his pupils leave until only Gilraen and the child were left. They had not been awakened and Lord Elrond was glad about that fact. Something about Gilraen's sleeping mode seemed off tonight. He wished to give her a check-up and see if it was nearing her time a few days too early. For Aragorn's sake—no—for his youngest son's sake, he wished it not.
"Gilraen?" Elrond softly shook the young woman's shoulder. "Gilraen?" Bleary eyes opened. "I wish for you to come to my office. Something seems wrong to me. Can you breathe correctly?" The Elf helped the dowager to her feet and she answered, shaking her head, as they walked down the hall. "Something seemed amiss to me also, tonight only."
"I feared as much. Gilraen, I am afraid that perhaps I gave you too much time. That perhaps…" his voice trailed off. How do you tell someone that they are going to die sooner than they thought, especially when they thought they were going to die next week? How can you tell anybody, immortal and mortal alike, something like that?
"Lord Elrond," a hand took hold of the silk sleeve and stopped him in his tracks. Gilraen's sad face was turned towards him. "Am I dying… I mean, earlier than you expected?" Wordlessly, Elrond nodded. He found that his throat was particularly dry and felt that he would break if he had to speak. "I do not fault you. Thank you for telling me. I will tell Ar—Estel. I just wish… that none of this ever happened. That he still had both his parents in Minas Tirith."
"Gilraen, I may not have been there for Arathorn, nor may I be able to save you. I regret both more than I think you realize," Elrond explained. "Nevertheless, the moment Estel came into our home he became a part of our family. This I swear to you: When you are gone, Estel will never be without a home or family. He is part of the Peredhil family now. Now and forever."
ooooooooooooooooo
A/N- So there's chapter three. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone… I feel so sorry for what I am doing to Gilraen though! The poor woman's dying and I speed the process up! Hope you're happy, wyldcat…. LOL
Nefhiriel- Glad you liked Mud Man! Yes, Elladan is destined to say something like that! LOL Who needs Reviewers Anonymous?? Peredhil and Gilraen eye me fearfully Oh don't worry, I can hurt you guys a little more, purely for entertainment reasons of course. :D Hope you liked this chapter! Thanks for reviewing, mellon-nín!
xeledhwenx- Wait-- you mean the 'Big Boy Rules' don't exist? But… that means that the 'Big Girl Rules' exist, right? They don't???? glares at Mom Aha….. Anyway, I figured that this story could use a bit of comic relief! Besides, I just love writing the kids; they're soooooo cute! Thanks for reviewing! I hope you liked this chapter just as much!!!!!
wyldcat- No problem, if you have any more elvish words, I would be happy to answer your questions as best I can! Either that or I can ask a few other friends… whistles innocently as looks at Nefhiriel, Google, and Ask Jeeves And Gilraen is going to have something not-so-pleasant happen to her, but you'll have to wait until the next (or one after that) chapter until you find out!! LOL Thanks for reviewing and I'll have to check your PotC stories out!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed and/or read my story! It means so much to me! I hope to get the next chapter up in a few days, but this week might be a little hectic because I have to take COOPs on Friday and I still haven't picked up the study book. But I'll probably have time to edit it tonight so all I would have to do is add Reviewer Responses and post it. Can't be too hard, right? looks uncertain Well, hopefully. Anyway, next chapter is called Spiraling Towards Darkness. Remember to press that little button right there in the left corner and make me a happy girl! Namarie!