Chapter 5
"I'll bet he'll be up by tomorrow afternoon," Elrond said brightly.
Teralin shook his head, "He's always been a remarkable healer..." he laughed slightly, "in both ways."
Elladan grinned, "That he has."
Elrond smiled, "We should all get some rest."
Legolas nodded, "I'll stay with him tonight should he awaken before we're up."
Elrond nodded, "Get some rest though Legolas."
The wood-elf nodded, "Of course."
When they had all left Legolas slumped down into the chair and eyed his friend, "If you don't get up by tomorrow afternoon I'm going to make you," he shook his head, "we've got to stop meeting this way... it's not good for your health."
Legolas froze as the human shifted, turning towards the elf's voice.
The archers eyes widened and he shifted a bit closer, "Estel? Can you hear me?"
The human responded with the smallest twitch of his lips.
Legolas smiled and leaned back in the chair, "Goodnight Estel."
....................
Elrond entered the room quietly along with the twins and Teralin. He silently laid a tray in front of Legolas.
The Prince glanced up and smiled at him, "Thank you."
Elrond nodded and smiled, "Any difference?"
"He responds to noise," the elf said, "I'm sure I saw him smile slightly last night."
Elrond smiled, "He is just sleeping then, yes, he'll be up by noon."
Legolas laughed softly, "Perhaps you should finish you're story before he awakens then."
Elrond nodded with a wry smile, "If I don't I'll never have the chance to finish it."
.....Flashback.....
Estel sat with Dae on his bed, he hadn't been feeling well and he was unable to get back to sleep. It was only the middle of the night and the child didn't want to wake up his parents or brothers. He smiled at that thought despite his headache. It felt so nice to him to be able to say he had a father again, and the fact that he had brothers now was completely new to him and he loved it.
He groaned slightly when another spike of pain hit him and he put his head in his hands and whimpered slightly before picking up his kitten and walking slowly down the hall.
After what seemed to him like an eternity he found his new fathers room and tried in vain to reach the doorknob, but whenever he reached up it would make him hurt more. He finally gave up and sat against the door and held Dae gently, sniffing slightly. He ended up falling against his fathers legs as the door opened.
Elrond looked down at his son and frowned, "Estel?"
The child stood slowly and sniffed again.
"What's the matter little one?" he frowned and knelt in front of him.
Estel sniffed again and placed his kitten on the floor and held his stomach, then reached up and touched his head.
Elrond suddenly understood him, "Do you not feel well?"
The child sniffed again and shook his head slowly as reached down and lifted Dae once more.
Elrond lifted the child into his arms, careful of the kitten and brought the child into his room and sat him on the bed, "Will you be okay here alone for a little while?"
The child nodded and Elrond left.
A while later the elf came back in and handed the child a cup, "Drink it all, it will help make you feel better."
Estel glanced into the shadows of the room warily and gave his father a scared look and rubbed his eyes slightly.
Elrond frowned, "What's the matter?" he paused, "have you been having nightmares little one?"
Estel nodded fearfully.
"For how long my son?"
Estel smiled slightly at that then frowned again and spread his arms wide.
"A long time?"
The child nodded and bit his lip, then pointed at the elf and then pointed to his eye and sniffed again, trying to wipe away his tears.
"Ai... since you father died?"
The child sniffed and nodded.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" the elf asked, looking almost guilty and nearly horrified that the child had to live with these for so long. He had a good idea of what he was seeing as well.
Estel shrugged.
"Little one, you shouldn't have had to deal with that on your own," he said softly, "now, drink that, and we can take you back to bed."
The child looked out into the dark hallway and bit his lip before giving is father an almost pleading look and clinging to one of his pillows.
The elf smiled softly, "Aye, you can stay here tonight if you're afraid."
Estel smiled slightly and drank as he was told. He made a face when he finished that made the elf laugh slightly.
"It doesn't taste good, but it will help."
The child nodded and yawned, falling asleep quickly, Dae curled up next to him loyally.
The kitten had come from The Shire so it felt a little safer with the small human and she absolutely adored him.
Elrond smiled and fell asleep slowly.
....................
The elf lord was woken up by frantic shaking and his eyes refocused, he frowned slightly and blinked a few times to clear his eyes and slowly sat up, "Estel?"
The child stared at him, his eyes huge and frightened and he shook terribly.
"What's the matter Estel?" he asked worriedly.
The child pointed at the elf's eyes.
The elf frowned and then blinked, the child had been here this long and he still hadn't figured out elves slept with their eyes open?
"Oh Estel," he smiled, "I'm sorry I scared you little one, but elves sleep with their eyes open unlike humans like yourself."
The child was calming quickly though he still looked frightened and he clung to his father.
Elrond smiled and got out of the bed, bringing the child with him.
Dae, who had woken up when Estel had, now got to her feet and followed the two, fully expecting to be fed.
They both changed and went downstairs for breakfast.
"Do you feel better this morning little one?"
Estel smiled and nodded.
"That's good," the elf smiled.
A little while after they ate their breakfast they saw a horse enter the gates.
Estel followed his father outside, staring at the tall, golden-haired elf that dismounted from the horse and greeted Elrond.
He stood next to his father and stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Ah yes," Elrond couldn't keep the mischievous tone out of his voice, "Glorfindel, this is Estel, my son."
Glorfindel stuttered in his surprise but quickly regained himself, "Your son my friend?"
"Aye, he came to live with us a while ago."
Estel stared up at the elf then blinked and smiled.
"Hello then," the elf laughed.
Estel waved slightly and raised his arms to his father.
Elrond laughed and picked him up.
Glorfindel smiled, "Not very talkative, a shock since he's human," he joked.
Elrond burst out laughing, "He speaks less than you think, I still have not heard his voice."
Glorfindel stuttered for the second time in two minutes.
....................
The rest of the year passed uneventfully. Estel and Glorfindel had become good friends and had managed to convince Elrond to come on a daytrip with them and the twins. Erestor had helpfully agreed to finish up what Elrond had started and so they did.
The day passed and they all had a good time and were able to relax.
That night Estel woke up from a nightmare, which he had not had since he had stayed with Elrond that one night. Without a second thought the child was down the hall, his kitten in his arms and knocking softly on his father's door.
Elrond blinked awake and quickly made his way to the door and opened it. He smiled softly at his son.
"Did you have a nightmare?" he guessed.
Estel nodded and hugged his father.
Elrond lifted the child and brought him into his room and they both lay down.
Estel was almost asleep when he cuddled up against the elven lord and smiled, his words were so quiet the elf barely caught them, "I love you ada..."
.....End Flashback.....
A/N
Elven Kitten: Hola everyone! I have to go again as soon as I'm done reviews... it's nearly midnight... and I still haven't had dinner! Lol! Hope u all enjoyed this chapter... sorry for the wait. Namarie!
marbienl- Lol, glad you liked that! I liked writing that last scene too, it was fun! Yay! No more school problems! I'm all caught up! ...For the time being... lol! It wont last... meh, w/e lol
starlit jewel- Cha, Dae means Shadow lol
grumpy- Glad you likey! Hope you enjoyed this one as well!
DISCOMBOBULATEDCHEEZE- DEY ALL EBIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL! Grins Hope u enjoyed! :P
Elenmeoi