Chapter 4

Elrond ate his dinner slowly. It was the fourth day his youngest had been healing. He was not truly worried over this. I could be another couple of weeks before he woke. Though he desperately hoped it wouldn't take that long.

Teralin had been trying to say something throughout dinner but he kept stopping. He needed to send a message to the Steward, but he couldn't bring himself to ask.

Elrond noted the way he kept starting to say something then stopping himself, "Do you wish to say something Teralin?"

The man blinked as everyone turned to look at him and he shifted, "Uh... actually... I was... I need to send a message to the Steward."

Galadriel smiled from her place at the head of the table with her husband, "I shall have your message sent to him today young one."

He winced slightly, "Thank you Lady."

Elrond had to hide his amusement.

The twins did not do as well.

Elrond glanced up at his sons, "Laughing at the human's expense are we?"

Elladan grinned, "Of course not ada."

The elf shook his head.

They finished quickly and went back to the room that Aragorn stayed in.

Elrond frowned slightly as he checked his son over, not truly registering what had brought about his attention. It hit him half a second later.

"He's moved," he said, he moved over and checked his pulse and breathing and smiled, "he's slowly coming out of his healing sleep. I'd say he'd be in a normal sleep within one to three days."

Legolas smiled, "That is great, but, that means you're going to have to finish this story faster or he'll stop you."

Elrond smiled, "Of course."

.....Flashback.....

Estel had been silent for almost a year now. Not much had happened during his time in Imladris. He was quiet and bordering on unhappiness. Whenever the twins were away he would border on depression. It seems that the two of them managed to keep him happy. Elrond would do what he could for the child but he was usually busy. Whenever he did spend time with Estel he would be absolutely thrilled, but it never seemed to last long and those times seemed to be few.

Elrond sighed; the twins would be going away again soon. They would be heading to Lothlorien to visit their sister. Estel hadn't left the twins alone since he found out. They would be gone for a month and the child was already starting to sink into a slight depression. The thought of being alone again now seemed to pull him into the darkness. The child would have been in Imladris for a year in three months.

His mother was getting better, she always had something to focus on, be it her son or one of the chores she insisted on doing.

The elven lord smiled then, -But Glorfindel will be returning from Mirkwood any time now. And with his help I'll be able to spend more time with my son,- he froze, -did I just call him my son?-

Elrond stood shocked, when did it come about that he thought of the human as his third son? Thinking back he realized that he had almost since the child set foot inside the house.

-I wonder if the twins think of him as their brother...- he decided to find out before they left, and he also knew he'd have to speak to Gilraen, -I wonder if she's noticed.-

Gilraen had walked into the room and paused at the shocked yet thoughtful look on the elf lord's face, "Lord Elrond?"

The elf blinked, "Yes Gilraen?"

"You look shocked, may I ask what it is that has made you such?" she asked with a smile, as if already knowing.

"Aye... 't is that I've just noticed that your son has become like a..." he paused.

She smiled, "Oh I know, it has been obvious to me for months. I'm surprised it's taken you so long to realize your own feelings when you are able to see others at a glance. He's been your son for a while now."

He made as if to reply but it seemed his whole demeanor had fallen at the coming of the shock.

Gilraen smiled and made as if to continue on her way before pausing, "If you were wondering, your sons feel the same way. I don't believe they've noticed it yet either."

Elrond nodded slowly, "I must go speak with them..."

"I believe they're in their rooms, packing for their next venture," she smiled and went on her way.

Elrond nodded, "Thank you Gilraen."

He made his way to their rooms and knocked gently on Elladan's door.

"Yes adar?" Elladan asked as he opened the door.

"I need to speak to you and you brother."

The elf blinked and nodded, following his father to his twin's room.

He knocked on the younger twin's door and waited.

Elrohir opened the door and blinked.

"I need to speak to you Elrohir."

"Okay..." the elf opened his door wider to allow the other two to enter.

"I was just speaking with Gilraen, and she seems to have noticed something that we haven't."

Elladan blinked, "What would that be ada?"

"Estel," Elrond said slowly.

Elrohir smiled, "What about him ada?"

"About the way with which we've accepted him."

The twins both frowned.

"Ada... we've accepted him perfectly, I do not understand what you speak of."

"I mean she has noticed that we've accepted him as more than a guest in our house," he clarified.

Elladan cocked his head to the side, "I suppose we have," he smiled, "but why seek us out to tell us this?"

"Well, it seems as if we have taken him in as part of our family unknowingly."

The twins' eyes widened in shock as they realized that this was true.

Elrohir was the first to speak, "I've never noticed before... but it makes sense... I just can't believe I never noticed before."

Elladan nodded in agreement.

"Gilraen obviously had no problems with this either. She herself called him my son..." Elrond shook his head.

Elrohir suddenly looked excited, "I have a little brother!"

Elladan burst out laughing but looked just as excited.

Elrond smiled in amusement, "Aye, I suppose you do."

Elrohir leaped off the bed, nearly knocking Elladan off the bed, "We have to tell him!"

Elrond smiled and stood, following the twins out of the room, hiding his own excitement.

The twins darted down the hall a ways and knocked on Estel's door eagerly.

Estel started at the knocking, his kitten jumped and fled under his bed. The young human watched her flee then stood and reached up for the doorknob, only just barely able to pull the door open and blinked at the two rather excited looking elves as they both entered his room, their father following them with a shake of his head.

Estel blinked and closed his door and gave them an odd look. Before they could say anything though, he was on his hands and knees looking under his bed.

Elladan looked confused for a moment then blinked, "Oh, did we scare Dae?"

The child nodded and gently patted the floor beside him.

The kitten slowly made her way out and Estel picked her up and placed her on his pillow before turning back to the elves and cocking his head to the side.

"Estel," Elrohir started, kneeling in front of the child, "how would you like to have a father and brothers?"

The child's eyes widened in excitement for a moment before he frowned and looked up at the elf.

Elrohir was shocked to see the child begin to cry.

Estel shook his head desperately and clung to Elrohir.

"Estel?" Elladan looked shocked to see the child crying, "are you okay?"

The child clung tighter to Elrohir and whimpered through his tears, watching them all wide-eyed.

Elrond knelt next to the child, "Estel, what's wrong little one?"

The child answered by letting go of Elrohir and clinging to Elrond instead.

The elven lord's eyes widened as it hit him suddenly, "Oh! Estel no! That's not what we meant little one," he hugged the child tightly.

Estel looked up slowly, wiping the tears from his eyes with one hand but the other continued to cling to the elf lord as he leaned into the hug and cried silently.

"We do not intend to give you to another family," he smiled at the child.

Estel frowned and his eyes suddenly widened, his excitement reappearing. He clung to the elven lord again, this time with a huge grin. He quickly turned and did the same with the slightly confused twins.

Elrond laughed at the excited child, he was simply glad that he was happy, happier, in fact, than the elf had seen him yet.

.....End Flashback.....

Elrond froze during his retelling when he felt his son shift on the bed, he glanced over at him and quickly checked him.

Legolas smiled, "He is recovering quickly?"

Elrond smiled, "Aye, that he is."

A/N

Elven Kitten: Hello everyone! :) Sorry about the long wait... XP... I'll try to go faster... I've been having a little trouble in school so I didn't have time to post... I hope the wait was worth it... XP

DISCOMBOBULATED CHEEZE- OO... Inches away Spongebob... is... EBIL!!!!!!!! is scared lol :P Glad u luv it! And I'm glad u like da kitty! :)

sielge- Glad! :)

marbienl- Lol :) I'm glad u likey! :) Hope u enjoyed this chapter too!

starlit jewel- well... they were in Lorien with their father... Oo... now you've got me confused... XD lol

Grumpy- I ish glad u liked it! This story has become more 'fluff' than I intended at first... lol

E.K.: Know what? I'm annoyed that wont let the up arrow sign thingy show up... I had to change my happy face... :( lol :) Hope u all enjoyed! Oh! And I'm thinking about posting a short story I wrote for English class on fictionpress. Hope you'll check it out if I decide to! :) but I gots to get goin' unfortunetly... XP... no fun... lol :) Namarie!

Elenmeoi