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"" Elvish

' ' common Tongue

Estel wandered around aimlessly, it seemed like he had been searching days upon days trying to find a way out of this hell that he had been put in to get back to his family. Yet on a positive note, he had finally noticed that glow that his friends, brother, wife and parents had noticed. He had been trying to figure out where the light was coming from, when his heart had jumped out of his chest when he looked in the river upon seeing his reflection. But that wasn't what was bothering him now, but the growing shadow upon his heart. Ada and Amme please find me soon! The darkness and the lack of stars pulled heavily on his senses and made him wonder what was lurking in the pitch black…

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"Ada help me!" Ten-year-old Estel was screaming at the top of his lungs, there were no stars in the sky and danger prickled at his spine. "Ada!"

His head spun and his chest tightened as the darkness threatened to overwhelm him. Nausea flared in his stomach, and he collapsed to the ground below him. Where was the glow of light that he had become so used to throughout his life? The pinpricks of light that Varda had graced Middle Earth with, his Ada had told him many stories as to how those stars became apart of Middle Earth. An even though he was a human child, only the adopted son of Elrond, he felt a strong connection to those lights in the sky.

They were on a mission to Indilles, a feminine civilization, set to the south of Rivendell. They had yet to reach their destination, but where staying in the welcoming home of a young woman and her family. His Adar had told him that many of the edain of Middle Earth did not value woman as they did in the elven kingdoms, Estel could not understand why. For these people had seemed to be very kind and efficient with their labors. Their home, the land itself was beautiful, but not as beautiful as Imladris. Sloping green hills, with dottings of small cabins upon them. Yet in its wild and crude homes, Estel could see the love and care that the home's maker had placed into making it.

But these people were not like his family; they did not hold the light of the firstborn race. To Estel most of the race of man that he had seen did not understand him, believing him to be insane or touched for his understanding of the race of the eldar. They found his accented words disturbing. Those here did not, but some upon the road had not been kind. Grandmother had told him though not to pay any attention to those upon the road for they knew naught of what they spoke of; thus they could not judge. His Ada had told him that this would show him how to begin to be prepared for all that the mortal world would throw at him.

But now all those thoughts had passed from his mind as he stared at the consuming darkness. His grandmother told him once that he must hold to faith and hope even when it seemed that the light of the stars had faded from the sky. But it was so hard to do so, yet he tried picturing the stars in his mind. Allowing Grandfather's star to burn bright in his mind. It calmed him only but a little.

Then his Ada came and held him close to his heart rocking and singing softly to him.

… mornie alantie

You will hear my voice

And know I will always be there

Amine mela lle ion-nin

Child of edhel and edain…

His heart lightened, he smiled, then slowly his small eyelids closed; knowing that everything would be all right because his father was here….

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Elrond held tightly on to his son's still as death hand. What had happened? Estel had been bouncing around and joking two days ago. Was this how time felt to mortals, to his youngest son; so long drawn out, every moment filled with anticipation and yet at the same time passing to quickly for comfort? Cold, salty liquid flowed down his cheeks, Elrond lowered his head down to the soft red comforter on the warm poster bed.

He didn't even lift his head when he felt his wife's presence in the room they had prepared for Estel's coming. The half elf hadn't heard his wife's uncommonly heavy footfalls. She was just as affected as Elrond by Estel's sudden illness. She had only known the child for a few days, yet they had bounded just as close as Elladan, Elrohir and her were. Why would the Valar allow him entry, only to take him away again?

Elrond felt disconnected from the very world that he had chosen to be his own. He felt like part of his vision was blurred, but seemly it was if it had always been that way. He could not remember yesterday, not like he had before Estel had fainted. For the first time in his life, his memories ran together or did not appear to him unless they were prompted.

Celebrian stared at her husband lying next to their son. She had to keep him sane she had to. Not just for their sons and daughter, and her but for himself.

"Elrond?" His wife called out from behind him, but he did not reply. He felt as if he was underwater, everything amplified, but distorted. The half human could not move, weighted down by the pressure of his weeping heart. He wanted to answer her he did.

"Elrond?" She was shaking him. He managed to turn his head to the side to look at her, though it seemed as if the movement had taken more energy then he had left in him.

"Arwen is finally asleep." Celebrian told her husband when she was sure he was listening to her. She knew that Elrond was worried about Arwen as well, but Estel's fall had struck Elrond sharply and he was stuck in his own world of pain and grief. Unable to help his daughter or himself because he could not help his son. "It will be wise for you to take to sleep as well my husband."

"I do not want to leave ion-nin that way Celebrian." His voice was slow and heavy as if his heart was going to break.

"You will not leave him Elrond." Celebrian said quietly. She knelt next to him, looking at their youngest son.

"If I take rest I will close my eyes, and I will leave not only Estel, but Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen as well." The voice didn't sound like Elrond's but that of a weary human man. "I do not want to leave my children Celebrian. For over three thousand years they have been my life, as well as you have been. But she is coming…"

"What makes you think that my husband? What devilry is causing you to speak this way?" Celebrian tried to take her husband into her arms, but he evaded her somehow.

"I am think I am fading Celly, I do not want for any of our children's sakes." Elrond looked deep into his wife's celestial eyes and made her see that he meant every word that he spoke. "Celly I need you to stay strong for our children, all four of them."

"Elrond you are not going to die. You are not, it is impossible for an elf to die in the Valinor…"

"No it is not, you know this Celebrian! Your own Amme watched her kindred slaughter the Teleri." His voice was hard and firm. Angry. Elrond had never yelled at his wife in all the long years of their lives together. Tears of shock ran down his wife's face. Elrond stood up as did Celebrian, in order to get away from him.

Elrond's face lost its anger only to be replaced with guilt. "Celly I am sorry. I am so sorry. I…I did not mean to be angry at you." He moved to touch her and she recoiled. Then she moved towards his arms, her silvery blue dress swooshing as she moved towards him..

"You will not die, El, you can not, not here. You are an elf." Tears were in her eyes as she spoke these words.

"No, a'maal I am one of the Peredhil, a half elf and a half man." Elrond looked deep into his wife's eyes, forcing her to see the truth. Then dropped his hands away from her and sighed, looking at the floor.

Elros rushed in at hearing his brother's angry voice, something he hadn't heard personally since twenty-seven years after Vardamir's birth. That had been the last time that Elrond's temper had shown itself around him.

He rushed to his brother's side, "Elrond?" Elrond didn't respond to him at all, his eyes still locked with those of Celebrian.

"Elrond, please look at me!" Elros tried to force his brother's chin up so Elrond's eyes would follow.

Elrond finally looked at him. "Elrond you can't do this to yourself, nor for your daughter, wife or sons! You have to fight muindor-nin, fight against it. Dying will not help Estel or yourself." Elros was on his knees in front of his brother.

"Please brother this is not apart of your fate." He was begging his brother to chose life.

Elrond dropped to his knees next to his brother, taking his hands into his own. "I no longer believe in that fate Elros. Not so long as ion-nin is being held from me in this world because of his supposed fate to die. As long as my daughter lives in torment because her beloved has been taken from her…Not so long as Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas blame themselves because Estel is not standing next to them… Until he is back to my family and me, I turn my back on everything I thought was true. For simple words ripped Estel-nin away from my family and me."

"Elrond." Elros breathed. He looked at Celebrian who stood looking so confused and scared next to where him. The younger elf did not know what it was that they spoke of, Elros could not help but think that it was better that way. In his heart he had heard what Elrond was truly saying, that he'd forsake the path of elves until his son was reunited with him. Even then though his brother's and his brother's son's paths were unclear. "Know that I will stand with you, muindor nin."

"I know you will." Elrond looked down at his son, twisting his youngest hair around his fingers, Elladan and Elrohir had spoken much of braiding their little brother's hair. The half elf smiled softly, allowing himself to slip into memory…

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…"Ada, why do you do hair 'n braids?" His darling little two-year-old boy asked him has he twisted some of the braids around his small chubby fingers.

Elrond couldn't come up with anything to say for a moment, the question of his hair through him off balance. "To show my status, who I am to other people." Though that answer seemed hollow to Elrond.

"Why? What status" Estel pried looking into Elrond's depths. Elrond could not help but wonder whether or not he was sure that his son's first word was Ada and not why. For some reason he just didn't trust his memory on this important subject.

"Status is where I stand compared to everyone else. Tradition, braiding my hair is one reason, or maybe just a way to keep my hair out of my face, there are many reasons for braiding one's hair, ninion."

"You braid mine?" Estel looked so serious and hopeful, Elrond felt the corners of his mouth turn up. He hugged his little boy.

"Of course tithen pen, of course." Elrond put his little boy on his tall four poster bed in the middle of his room that was decorated in silver and blue. Estel watched curiously as the half elf went and gathered all the supplies necessary to braid his hair.

Elrond grabbed a brush, a leather string, then moved over to where his foster son sat waiting for him. Slowly he began to brush his youngest hair, carefully removing any snares and tangles until it was smooth and lay flat; an odd occurrence for the young rambunctious child up to this point in his life. Then taking his time, allowing Estel to feel the pattern he was creating in his hair, began to plait the child's hair into prince braids. Anyone who saw Estel's hair would now know that he was the youngest son of Elrond.

He tied the child's hair back with the soft deer leather throng, "All done hen-nin (my child)."

Estel reached up and felt the braids with his hands, exploring the plaits. A smile crossed the child's face as he thought now he was truly one of Elrond's sons.

Elrond seemed to understand, as he whispered to the child. "You will always be ion-nin, Estel, always and forever." The promise was hallow for one day Estel would die and there would be nothing to stop it from happening. But maybe… Elrond quickly banished the thought, or buried it by thinking he meant that Estel would always be his son even after he died.

"Hannon le Ada." Estel cried with a grin taking his father into a hug, jumping off the bed into his father's waiting arms. "Amine mela le!"

"Amine mela le Estel. Always." He held his son close to his heart, praying to the Valar to protect his baby boy from any harm…

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"Lord Elrond!" Legolas said racing into the room, almost running into Lady Celebrian in his haste, snapping Elrond out of his memories. Elrond stared at the elf that was Estel's best friend in the world. He looked almost as bad as he did. Legolas' eyes were red from tears and he was paler then normal. In all honesty, he looked as if he was close to death.

"I have something I must speak with you immediately about." Legolas said earnestly. He rubbed his hands together, a trait he had picked up from Estel, as if to warm them in his nervousness.

"What is it Legolas?" Elrond asked the elfling gently, trying to hide his panic. What had happened now? Had Elladan and Elrohir collapsed as well. No they were coming in the room right behind Legolas. Was it Arwen, everyone had observed her deterioration. He worried now about all of his children.

Legolas hesitated for a moment, he looked very scared Elrond and Elros observed. But then he spoke rapidly in order to get the words out, "When we were still in Arda we performed a blood bonding ceremony from a book that Lady Galadriel had left on Estel. We thought it would help our case when we brought him into the Valinor."

Elrond fell down onto the seat upon hearing the words the young elf had uttered. He knew now why his son was in a coma. "Did you not think Legolas? Did you not understand the consequences of bonding ion-nin to you?"

"We bonded Estel not only to Legolas but us as well." Elladan said as he stepped forward with Elrohir at his side.

Elrond was still for a moment, then he began to yell. "Do you not know what you have done? You can not bond a man to you without having consequences. Estel is in a coma because of your foolishness." If it was possible, there would be nothing left of his older sons and Legolas but a pile of ash, if Elrond had had his way.

"Ada we did not mean any harm. How did the blood bonding do this, Elrohir read the entire book and it mentioned nothing of the sort." Elladan replied for the young elves again.

"Because you interrupted his dying process, he has not only your and his own elvish blood pulling at him but death itself." Elrond whispered softly, looking down at his baby boy. He remembered contemplating the same idea before, just as the twins and Legolas had and did... But his had come at a much steeper price… That day the ring of Sauron had tempted him…

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The glittering gold ring sat on the podium in front of him. It looked so innocent sitting there, yet it was malicious in its intent.

"Elrond… Elrond Peredhil. He could be yours forever… your whole family together once more… All you need to do is take me."

The ring showed him pictures of his family all together, once more that his youngest was young again. He laughed as he joked with his brothers and his best friend. Arwen was talking with her mother, giving Estel small secretive glances every now and then conveying her love for him. His daughter was safe from harm in the Undying Lands, along with all of them. All of his children together, his brother was there with all of his children. They all seemed so happy, Elrond felt his eyes tear at the sight.

"All you have to do is take me, and I will grant all this to you. Your son will never be taken by the gift of men and your daughter will never suffer the knowledge and gift of death. You would know no more suffering for as long as you live."

The offer was so tempting, but then again everything the ring said was enticing. For a brief moment Elrond considered taking the offer for the sake of his daughter and his sons. But then he caught glance of his youngest son, his Estel talking quietly with his elder brothers while they discussed the ring, sending glances to his shield brother occasionally. But oddly enough Estel turned his glance to his father as well, as he looked upon the half-elven lord, Elrond felt Estel knew what the ring was trying to do. He shook his head ever so slightly, his eyes sad but determined accepting what Elrond could not. In his mind Elrond heard the words almost as if they had been spoken aloud.

No, for the price of your life, our families, or anyone's life would I accept such a thing. I would give up Arwen before I allowed the ring to take a hold of you, nin-Ada. I will not allow you to become like the Ulaire, Adar. Not while I still draw breath and until the end of this world and the next.

Elrond drew in a deep breath as the ring chanted inside his head. The ring promised so much that it could never give, its spell was broken over Elrond as he realized what he had almost done. Such promises were petty and useless once he saw one of the gifts he had, although only for a short while. He still saw the hope star, burning now in a child of his own, and the evening star had not waned in the sky but waxed…

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"That ring tried to steal not only Estel away from me, but Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen as well. It offered a similar promise, one that I believed was impossible to be kept. But you have done it Legolas… Nobly, with true pure intentions in your heart of hearts." Elrond paused staring at his sons and then at Legolas, "Yet the matter still remains that Estel lies in a coma like state because of events that occurred in Middle Earth."

Legolas felt bile rise in his throat as he listened to Lord Elrond's words, as sudden gasps came from the twins behind him. Was it possible what we did was truly wrong? Did we damn Estel instead of helping him? He looked at the half elf standing in front of him, and his heart became heavy.

"What can I do Lord Elrond to rectify my fault?" Legolas asked the person in front of him. He needed to do something to save his friend from this unnatural sleep. Elrond was the only person in the room, as everyone else faded into the background of his mind. The twins seemed to be frozen in place.

Elrond nodded slightly, Legolas began to seat himself but Elrond held up his hand. "Help me find Estel-nin." Then he said no more as he busied himself preparing to try and find his son's soul. He had to do this; it was the only way.

The half-elf exited the room and it felt as if the world was dragging on and on. Legolas Finally, after two hours, Elrond returned with a thick cherry red manuscript with ancient writing upon it. Legolas looked upon the book with curious eyes. What could this book possible offer them? For what he had done had never been done to a mortal before.

What if I was wrong and I have placed the young man I consider to be my brother in a dangerous position.

As Legolas looked over the book, he became apprehensive, looking up at Elrond every now and then. But Legolas was able to read Elrond's eyes, he believed that this was the only way.

Elros eyes widened, he knew what his twin was going to do, for he recognized that book from a time so long ago. He looked over at Elrond's young puzzled wife, whispering insistently. "Run get the Maia they called Gandalf in Arda. Muindor-nin is going to do something foolish."

Celebrian looked at him confused as to why and what it was exactly that he was asking. Then she saw it in his dilated eyes and she turned and ran as fast as she could to find Gandalf and possibly her parents as well.

All she could think was Elrond was going to get Legolas and himself killed…

TBC…

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