Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Hey there people! Thank you all for the b-day wishes! I had a blast! However, due to the birthday celebrations, I have not had much time to post between them, school, choir, and work, so I'm terribly sorry about that. Anyway, thank you all so much for the reviews! Many many thanks to my incredible beta enb2004 who has two great HP stories! As promised, here is Chapter Eight. Enjoy! Hey by the way, see the second A/N at the bottom underneath the translations once you're through reading.

Not even fifteen minutes later, the twins and Legolas were back and were hovering over Estel anxiously.

"Ada, should he still be asleep?" Elrohir asked anxiously.

"Fear not Elrohir, all is fine. Remember, Estel is yet very young and the drug is far more powerful for him than it would be you or I due to his age," Elrond said reassuringly.

Both the twins and Legolas sighed in relief and watched Estel for a bit. Estel looked so peaceful and innocent in his sleep, so very different from the highly active child that he was when he was awake.

Elrond let the three young elves observe Estel for a bit before speaking. "Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas, let us go into my study and have our little talk," he said softly.

The twins nodded reluctantly. They knew of what their father wished to speak of and knew that it was important for Legolas to know. However, they did not want to leave their baby brother while he was still under the influence of a very powerful drug.

"If it is all the same to you Elrond, I would prefer to stay here with Estel and I'm sure that Elladan and Elrohir wish to as well," Legolas said softly despite knowing that his voice couldn't possibly waken Estel when he was under a sedative.

"Nay Legolas, I'm afraid that you can't right now. We really need to talk and Elladan and Elrohir will come," Elrond said giving his sons a hard glance. He had seen the reluctant look in their eyes and knew that they were one second away from agreeing with Legolas.

Legolas sighed but turned to Elrond. "Very well, if you believe it is that important I will accompany you," he said looking Elrond right in the eye.

"Good, come then. Hopefully this shall not take long. Erestor, Glorfindel, if you would watch over Estel while we have our discussion?" Elrond stated more than asked.

"Of course mellon nin. If there is any change we shall send for you immediately," Glorfindel said with Erestor nodding his agreement.

"We shall return shortly. Come, the sooner we talk, the sooner we can come back," Elrond said already halfway out the door.

Sighing, Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas reluctantly followed him. It was better to just get this over with and out of the way once and for all.

Within minutes, everyone was seated although they were all anxious. Legolas noticed their anxiety and began to feel somewhat nervous himself. What was making them so anxious? Whatever they had to relay couldn't be all that bad, could it?

"Legolas I, no, we need you to make us a very serious promise. You must promise to speak to no one about what we are about to reveal with the exception of your family, the twins, Arwen, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien, Glorfindel, and Erestor," Elrond said, staring directly into Legolas's blue eyes.

There was a seriousness in Elrond's eyes that Legolas had seen before but usually only in very dire occasions. Turning away from Elrond, he noticed that both Elladan and Elrohir had the same look in their eyes as well.

Legolas turned back to Elrond and looked at him directly. "I promise Lord Elrond that I shall not reveal anything you say to me," he said very seriously. The list of names he had been given alone told him the seriousness of whatever was about to be revealed. If only the leaders and extremely close friends of the leaders of the elvish realms knew, than that is how it would stay.

"Very well. I am sure by now that you have noticed the resemblance between Estel and myself. In fact, I believe you mentioned it last night," Elrond said.

"Yes, I did. The resemblance is so strong! From a distance, and perhaps even from up close, I would swear that he was of your own blood," Legolas said. He could easily see the resemblance. The entire family shared the silver eyes and ebony locks. Even the fair Evenstar who had much of her departed mother's grace had taken on her father's looks.

"And that brings me to the point of this conversation Legolas. You see, Estel is of my bloodline, hence the resemblance," Elrond said. For the moment he did not go farther. This much information alone could prove to be too much for Legolas to handle at the moment.

Legolas looked around at the twins and Elrond in pure confusion. "I do not understand Elrond! You said yourself last night that you adopted him and that he is mortal How can he be of your bloodline if he is mortal!" he exclaimed. His frustration was growing more and more by the second.

"Aye that I did, but you see Legolas, Estel is not an ordinary human, he is of the Dunedain," Elrohir said softly.

Legolas looked at Elrohir and Elladan in confusion. "Mellon nin, that still does not explain the bloodlines. Yes, the Dunedain are a unique race and most deserving of respect, but they are not related to you. Save of course only the Heir of Isildur who has pass..." Legolas started to say but he cut himself off as the pieces started to click into piece in his mind.

"No, it can not be. He was killed!" Legolas exclaimed, looking back and forth between the twins and Elrond, his blue eyes wide with sudden realization of whom Estel truly was.

"No Legolas, Estel, or I should say Aragorn was not killed that day although he was reported dead. I did that for Estel's own safety. You now realize of course why I named him Estel and why this secret must be kept at all costs?" Elrond said more than stated while looking directly into Legolas's eyes.

"Of course, I shall not utter this to another soul," Legolas said sounding very shaken. This was not what he had expected. He did not mind that Estel was the Heir of Isildur, on the contrary, he was relieved to know that the Heir was still alive and that the race of men still had some semblance of hope left, even if they were not aware of it.

"So you see Legolas, Estel is indeed of my bloodline through my twin brother Elros. By blood, he is my nephew although many generations removed. In my mind, heart, and soul however, he is my son," Elrond said softly.

"The resemblance is amazing. I would not expect after so many generations removed that there would be that strong a resemblance," Legolas said in a near whisper.

"Aye, it threw us at first as well. I believe that the Elvish blood within him is stronger than any of his ancestors save for Elros alone. I believe he will be the one to take the throne of Gondor," Elrond said.

"Legolas, you must not mention any of this to Estel. He is completely ignorant of his heritage and we would like to keep it that way for a good many years," Elladan said.

"I promise I shall not say a word of this to Estel," Legolas said seriously. This was indeed a well kept secret and it had to remain a well kept secret.

"I am sorry that you were not told of this earlier Legolas, I'm afraid the twins and I had something of a miscommunication. If you could tell your father when you return home I would be very grateful," Elrond said apologetically.

"Tis no problem, I shall be happy to do so once I return home. For now though, I am going to enjoy my stay in Imladris and get to know my new little friend," Legolas said giving the twins an evil grin.

Elrond sighed and looked heavenward. Would there ever be peace within his household? With three sons and one daughter, it did not seem likely. He would not have it any other way though.

"Estel must first be awake before you can have your revenge Legolas," Elrond chided gently.

"Oh, I am aware of that. I was thinking more along the lines of pranking Glorfindel at the moment seeing as how he set me up last night," Legolas said with a devious grin on his face.

The twins sighed in relief. They were not the focus of Legolas's attention, at least not yet, for that they were thankful. They would take any reprieve they could get so they did not complain.

Elrond raised an eyebrow but said nothing of it. "Come then, let us see how Estel is doing. I do not wish for him to wake without us there," he said while walking towards the door.

"Let's go then," Elladan said while grabbing Legolas and pulling him out the door with Elrohir following right behind them. Some things would never change.

Translations:
Estel: Hope
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Mellon nin: My friend

A/N 2: Hey there it's me again. I just wanted to give you folks an update on what's happening. You'll be pleased to know that I have started to work on The Edge of a Knife and that the first chapter of it is already done, if not betaed yet. This way, I'll be able to being posting it as soon as this fic is complete. Yes leggylover03, The Edge of a Knife he, and you know who he is, will eventually be caught. Happy? I certainly hope so. Well there we are. See you in a few days people!