Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Stares incredulously at reviews. I am shocked, completly shocked by how many reviews I have with only four, now five, chapters up. Thank you all soooo much! You people are making me blush! Sorry about the wait, but school started and yesterday, ugghh. I left home at 6:30 am, got home 9:30 pm. What a nightmare that was! Anyway, many many thanks to my incredible beta enb2004! As promised, here is Chapter Five! Enjoy!

Despite having had a late night, Elrond woke up with the dawn.

Af first, he was disoriented for had not woken up in his own room. A few second later though, memories of the previous night came back to him and remembered that he was in Estel's room.

Looking over, he found that Estel was still fast asleep and curled into Elrond. It was no wonder really. He had had an usually late night with Legolas coming in, and he hadn't been sleeping well to begin with due to the nightmares of the attack.

Elrond smiled as he watched Estel sleep. He looked so peaceful that Elrond was loathe to wake him. After Legolas had left, Estel had fallen right asleep and for the first time in many nights, had remained undisturbed by nightmares.

Elrond could not help but wonder about that. He was curious as to whether if was from the Prince's unexpected visit or his own presence last night that had kept Estel asleep.
Whichever it was, it did not matter in the slightest to Elrond though. He was just relieved that Estel had gotten some much deserved rest.

He was looking forward to today. Yes, he knew was going to take out Estel's stitches, which was bound to be unpleasant, but he looked forward to seeing Estel interact with Legolas. Judging by the previous night, Elrond could not help but feel that Estel had gained a friend, and a very good one at that. It seemed to him that Estel was already very fond of Legolas and Legolas fond of him. If all went well, Elrond could foresee the two of them doing marvelous things together.

That was the future though and he would not dwell on it at the moment. For now, he was more than content to raise his little boy and watch him grow up and make friends.

Looking once more at Estel, he saw that he was still sleeping peacefully and had absolutely no intention of getting up anytime soon.

Elrond sighed. He truly did not want to wake Estel up but the stitches really did have to come out. Looking at Estel, he decided the best thing to do was to let Estel sleep for a few more minutes while he got dressed.

Carefully, so as not to wake Estel, Elrond slipped out of bed and quickly tucked the blankets around Estel snugly.

Estel made a noise of protest when Elrond moved but quieted back down into a deep sleep once the blankets had been tucked in around him.

Once Elrond was sure that Estel was still sleeping peacefully, he hastened to his own room and hurriedly dressed. Although there was almost no chance of Estel waking up while he was gone, he did not want to risk it. Estel would more than likely become frightened if he woke up alone after having fallen asleep with several people in his room.

Having finished dressing, he headed back to Estel's room at a hurried pace. Upon entering, he was relieved to see that Estel hadn't woken up and was still fast asleep.

Carefully, so as not to jar Estel from a sound sleep, Elrond sat down on the bed and gently shook Estel's uninjured arm.

"Come ion nin, it is time to get up now," he said softly.

Estel did not wake but he did whimper and curl up even more under the blankets, unconsciously seeking their warmth and protection from the voice his subconscious heard.

Watching Estel's antics, Elrond felt a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The twins and Arwen had acted the same way when they were elflings and were reluctant to get up.

"You must wake tithen pen. It is time to take those stitches out and I know that you want to go outside with your brothers and Prince Legolas," he said while caressing Estel's dark brown locks.

Slowly, Estel opened his eyes and gazed blearily at Elrond. "Ada?" he questioned, not fully awake yet.

Smiling, Elrond scooped the little boy into his arm. "Yes ion nin. Come, let us have breakfast and then we'll take out those nasty stitches, all right?" he asked.

Estel didn't answer. Having buried himself in Elrond's robes, he had instantly fallen back asleep, safe and content in his Ada's arms.

Elrond soon realized that Estel had fallen asleep and gripped Estel somewhat tighter in order to keep him from falling. "You really are tired aren't you my tithen pen? More so than you let on," he said as he carefully got up from the bed while still holding Estel.

"Not even five years old and already you're just like your brothers. Always insisting that you're fine when you quite obviously aren't. What am I going to do with you Estel?" Elrond muttered to himself, being both amused and utterly horrified at the same time.

"Ada? Is Estel up yet?" Elladan's voice rang from outside Estel's room.

Quietly, Elrond walked to the door and opened it while motioning for Elladan to be quiet.

Elladan was about to ask why when he saw his little brother fast asleep in his Ada's arms.

"Ada, I thought that you were going to wake him?" Elladan asked, somewhat puzzled that Estel was not yet up.

"He is very tired Elladan, more so than he let on to us. You know that his nightmares have prevented him from getting a full nights sleep. Last night was the first time in many days that he has slept without any. Perhaps it is better this way anyway," Elrond mused.

"Why is that Ada?" Elrohir asked, having joined his brothers and father seconds ago.

"I need to drug him to remove the stitches, it would be far to painful for him if he were awake. It may be easier to coax the tea down his throat when he is asleep," Elrond said.

Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other and then back at their father. "If you say so Ada. Whatever you must do, we shall help," Elladan said with Elrohir nodding in agreement.

For a moment, Elrond stopped walking and turned around to face his twins. "I know that you wish to help me my sons, but not this time. It is very hard for a family member to watch this type of procedure. Why do you think I do not allow either one of you to watch me patch up whichever one of us is badly injured?" Elrond stated more than asked.

Elladan and Elrohir frowned and looked at their Ada. "Ada, we are never apart when the other is injured," Elrohir said.

"Aye, well, that would be because both of you are usually injured and unconscious when you return from one of your expeditions. You are usually not capable of seeing anything when you return home, or if you are, you are usually in such a bad state that you don't remember if once I am through patching you up," Elrond said while frowning at the memories of the twins coming home broken and bloodied far to many a time for his liking.

Elrohir and Elladan blinked at that. Come to think of it, what their Adar said was true. They usually were never in a good enough state to remember what was happening around them when they returned home.

"But Ada," Elrohir protested halfheartedly. He knew that he and Elladan had lost the battle but he had to protest anyway. This was his little brother they were talking about!

"Nay Elrohir. Why don't you two go find Legolas? I'm sure that he is full to the brim with questions that he wants answers too. Oh, if he is sleeping, do not wake him, he had had a long journey. And yes, you may tell him but be very careful when you do. Even the walls have ears these days it seems," Elrond said while hugging Estel to him more closely.

Elladan and Elrohir nodded seriously. They knew the matter of whom Estel truly was was a matter of utmost secrecy. Already, Estel had been attacked and Gorothdil had not even known the truth about Estel, although whomever he was working for did was another matter all together. It seemed unlikely though as there were no further attacks against their youngest sibling.

"Good. I'm going to find Glorfindel and Erestor and have them help me. Stay clear of the healing wing until I call for you. Hopefully by this afternoon, Estel will be back to his usual self," Elrond said already moving towards the healing wing.

"All right Ada, we'll see you and Estel later," Elladan said softly.

Elrond nodded and continued walking towards the healing wing, leaving the twins in the hallway watching him go.

Once Elladan was sure that their Ada was out of ear shot, he turned to Elrohir with a wicked grin only to find that Elrohir had the same grin as he.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking gwador?" Elrohir asked with a cackle.

"Oh yes, lets go wake the Prince up hmm? I dare say that he has slept long enough," Elladan said while snickering.

As one, they headed towards Legolas's room, where the unsuspecting Prince lay sleeping soundly, totally unaware of the plot to wake him.

Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Adar: Father
Ion nin: My son
Tithen pen: Little one
Gwador: Brother