Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: I know, I know, I'm a bit late with the updating. Between work, school, choir, and theatre you're lucky that I'm able to update at all! Sorry about my ranting but this week, my word. I am so exhausted. Anyway, many many thanks to all my lovely and beautiful reviewers! Love you all! A huge tremendous thank you to my beta enb2004! Love you girl!
As promised, here is Chapter Eighteen. Enjoy!
Elladan and Elrohir were sitting gloomily in Estel's room after having finally been released from the healing wing by their father.
Glorfindel and Erestor had come back once more with no sign of their little brother or Legolas. Although they were still hopeful that they were alive, that possibility was becoming more and more unlikely as the days continued to pass.
"We should be out there Elrohir!" Elladan exclaimed suddenly, his silver eyes focusing on his twin.
"I know Dan, believe me, I know. What can we do about it though? Ada has forbidden us from leaving the house let alone Imladris," Elrohir said gloomily. He too wanted to do nothing more than be out there searching for his little brother and best friend. But no, he was stuck in the house per his father's orders.
"We can do what we always do," Elladan said firmly.
"Oh no, no. No way Elladan! Ada will flay us alive if we sneak out. He has only just let us out of the healing wing and he was reluctant to even do that," Elrohir balked.
"Precisely. When have we ever listened to Ada anyway?" Elladan said, his eyes showing fierce determination.
Elrohir sighed. He knew that look. It meant that his brother was not going to back down no matter what anyone said. He would do what he had to do, even if he had to do it himself. To be truthful, he wanted to sneak out just as much as Elladan.
"Fine, but I'm coming with you."
"I expected no less," Elladan said with a wry grin. Their Ada was truly going to flay them alive when he got a hold of them. He would worry about that later though. So long as he found Estel and Legolas alive and well, that was all that mattered.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get packed," Elrohir said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before even an hour had passed, Elladan and
Elrohir had managed to discreetly pack all their supplies and have
their horses packed and ready to go.
"Elrohir, did you bring the medical supplies?" Elladan asked.
Elrohir
rolled his eyes. "Of course I did. Do you think me moronic? We are
talking about Legolas here! Valar only knows what trouble he and Estel
have found."
"Point taken. Come on, Ada's in the library. Now's the perfect chance to sneak out," Elladan said.
"Elladan, you do realize that once he realizes where we have gone, he is going to come after us," Elrohir stated.
"Yes, but he'll still have to catch up to us, which he never will," Elladan said.
Elrohir
raised his eyebrows at that. "What makes you so sure of that Elladan?
Ada may be a healer but are you forgetting that he was in the Last
Alliance as is quite the capable warrior?"
"Of course I have not forgotten that. The fact is, however, he is
out of practice and we shall have at least a four hour head start on
him," Elladan said confidently.
Elrohir looked at him
disbelievingly but let it rest. "Very well, we shall see soon enough
anyhow. Let's leave already. I have no desire for Ada to catch us
before we have even started out."
Elladan nodded and the twins quickly yet silently headed off into the night without anyone the wiser.
Himband, Angdor, and Balthil had worked long and hard into the night stabilizing and caring for Estel and Legolas. With Legolas, their efforts were soon seen and Legolas was in a deep healing sleep.
Estel on the other hand was not doing well at all. While his injuries were minor and mainly consisted of scrapes and bruises, it was the illness that was baffling all three healers.
All of
the different herbs they had tried had little to no effect. Himband was
fearful that Estel might not make it through the rest of the night.
"Angdor,
Balthil, if you would stay with Estel and Legolas for a few minutes, I
would highly appreciate it. I need to speak to the royal family right
away," Himband said tiredly.
"Of course," Balthil said softly with Angdor nodding in silent agreement besides him.
"Hannon le," Himband said before exiting the healing wing and going to face the royal family.
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The entirety of the royal family, save Legolas, was right outside
the healing wing anxiously awaiting some news on either Legolas or the
mysterious elfling that Iaurdil had picked up.
"Iaurdil, you said that the poor child was in an orc encampment?" Thranduil asked.
"Aye.
Thankfully, it looked as though he had only been their prisoner for a
short time. They never got the chance to hurt him," Iaurdil said.
"Thank the Valar," Fuina said while leaning against her eldest sister.
Iaurdil
nodded and yawned tiredly. "What I'm curious about is just who Estel
is. From what I've been able to determine, Legolas seemed to have met
him in Imladris. His coloring is most certainly that of the Noldor."
"That
is most odd. We would have heard from Elrond or the twins if another
elfling had been born in Imladris. Have the twins or Elrond said
anything to you about an elfling Ada?" Aruviel asked.
"Nay. You
are quite correct in saying that this is most peculiar. Once we find
out their condition, I'll write to Elrond and ask if any elflings by
the name of Estel have disappeared. If he is not from Imladris, well,
I'm not sure what we'll do," Thranduil said.
"Come on Ada. You heard what Iaurdil said. Estel has to be from Imladris. It's the only thing that fits," Thilloth said.
"Thilloth's right Ada. There is simply no other plausible explanation," Delelen said.
"Perhaps,
but the only way we'll know for sure is when Legolas and Estel are
awake and are able to tell us what happened," Thranduil said heavily.
"I
may be able to fill you in partially your majesty," Himband said
suddenly, having overheard the conversation as he exited the healing
wing.
"Himband! How are Legolas and Estel," Iaurdil asked before anyone else could utter a word.
Himband
gave the royal family a half smile that did nothing to ease the worry
in their hearts. "I have good and bad news I'm afraid. The good news is
that Legolas is responding very well and is in a deep healing sleep.
Within a months time his leg should be fine but he will have to stay
off of it for a month."
"Well that is certainly good news
although Legolas will beg to differ. You will be hard put to keep him
off that leg mellon nin," Thranduil said.
Himband made a face but nodded. "Indeed. I fear that you are quite correct."
"You said there was bad news too Himband. What is it?" Delelen asked.
Himband
looked at them with sad eyes and inwardly debated how much to tell
them. Oh he knew that Thranduil would accept Estel even though he was
edain. That was not the problem. The problem was he knew that Thranduil
would become instantly attached to the child like he believed Iaurdil
already had
"It has to do with Estel doesn't it," Iaurdil said softly confirming Himbands suspicions.
"Aye,
I'm afraid it does. It is my recommendation that you send for Lord
Elrond of Imladris right away Thranduil. He needs to be here," Himband
said sadly.
"Why, what is so wrong that you can not heal him, and why must it be Elrond?" Iaurdil asked for all of them.
"It
must be Elrond for several reasons. One, he is the best healer in all
of the elvish realms. He knows far more about illness and injuries than
I. Second, apparently, he is Estel's father," Himband said.
With that revelation, the entire room became completely silent.
"What?"
Thranduil finally managed to get out. Elrond had had a third son?!
When, where, with whom?! Why hadn't his old friend told him? These
thoughts and more were suddenly running through his head along with the
rest of his children.
"Apparently, Lord Elrond adopted him. I do not know the whole story as Legolas quickly passed out again," Himband said.
"That
still does not answer why you are not able to heal him. From the brief
glance I got of him, he did not appear to have any grievous injuries,"
Thranduil said with a frown.
"Yes, well, that is what I thought
at first too. However, before Legolas passed out he told me something
about Estel that we did not see at first glance. Estel is edain and
apparently has fallen seriously ill," Himband said.
Once again,
silence reigned in the room. Thranduil stared at his long time friend
for a time. It was not that he did not like humans. The few he had
actually met had been all right. Different certainly, but descent
enough. Of course, not many men wandered through Mirkwood due to the
rumors that Thranduil had an intense dislike of men. That was all it
was however, a mere rumor.
"That, is certainly most interesting," Thilloth said breaking the silence that had fallen upon all of them.
"I never would have suspected it looking at him," Himband agreed.
"Thank you Himband for helping both Legolas and Estel. Will you stay with Estel until Elrond gets here?" Thranduil asked.
Himband
looked at Thranduil incredulously. "Of course I shall mellon nin, and
yes, I will notify you when Legolas regains consciousness."
"We shall be right here," Thranduil said.
Himband
sighed but nodded that he understood. He would much rather have the
King and his family in their respective beds asleep but he knew that
would never happen. He had long ago given up on trying to get the
royal family to listen to him and this night would be no different.
"Very
well. I shall come and get you at the first sign of any change in
either of them. You go and write that letter mellon nin. Lord Elrond
will wish to know," he said softly.
Thranduil nodded and Himband walked back into the healing wing. This was going to be a long night, he could tell already.
"You may as well make yourselves comfortable. I know none of you will go and get some rest."
Delelen gave a wry smile. "You know us to well Ada."
"Indeed, but then, we had to have learned it from someone," Iaurdil said.
"Oh be quiet," Thranduil said with a small laugh that sounded forced to his ears.
Reluctantly, he sat down and started to write to Elrond about Estel and his condition.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Within Imladris, Elrond had just finished a grueling meeting with Erestor and Glorfindel. It had gone on for hours with all of them discussing just where Legolas and Estel could have disappeared to. After a long five hours, it was finally decided that, come the dawn, hunting parties would be sent out in all different directions with hopes that they would stumble across some clue.
Sighing, Elrond headed towards Elladan and Elrohir's respective rooms. He knew that they would be together tonight with Estel and Legolas still missing.
He frowned when he knocked and received no answer. "Elladan? Elrohir? Are you in there?" There was no response however. Upon entering the room there was no sign of them.
Frowning again, he looked around the room and saw to his dismay that several items were missing, including the twins favorite weapons.
He sat down on the bed wearily. He knew where they had gone and to say that he was not happy about it was a severe understatement.
"As soon as I find them and hug them, I'll kill them," Elrond muttered aloud. Standing up, he went to go find Glorfindel and Erestor. Their plans had changed. They were going to leave tonight, no matter what.
All three of his sons and Legolas were out there somewhere and he was going to find them. He had too, he just had too.
Translations:
Ion nin: My son
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Adar: Father
Mellon nin: My friend
Hannon le: Thank you