This Is Where I Belong

Elrond was standing in a high balcony, his sad, grey eyes gazing out, over the fog veiled forests that surrounded his city. It had been six years, a far longer time than he would've hoped that Estel would have stayed away, but after thinking about what he had done, and seeing his daughter slip into depression, he couldn't allow his foster son to live away from his daughter. He had sent Glorfindel out to find him imeadiatly, and everyday, he'd stand out on this same balcony, hoping to catch even a glimpse of Estel charging home on a great stallion, laughing in the sun. But Glorfindel had not yet returned, and he hadn't heard the racous laughing and wild pounding of hooves since Estel had left. In fact, his departure had caused to make the forests dour and dreary, the trees dropped their leaves early after he left, and the winter was the worst they had recieved in a long time. All the horses in the stable had refused to do anything for weeks, and even the birds that flew through the valley gave up their joyful song for one of mourning. Elrond missed his adopted son, more than anything in the world, and he missed seeing his daughter and sons smile. It had been so very long since they had.

He sighed, leaning his weight on his hands, both splayed out on the railing of the balcony. A noise lifted to his ears through the mist, it sounded like laughter...but it couldn't be! He strained harder to listen, but the sound faded away as if it never were, leaving the valley in utter silence. He shook his head. He missed hearing laughter so much that he was beginning to hear things that weren't there. How he longed for Estel to return so his city would return to the bright place it had once been. He feared though, deep in his heart, that he would never see the poor boy ever again.

"Lord Elrond?" A voice asked.

He didn't recognize the voice, but he sensed it was an inquiring elf youth, so he sent him away.

"Leave me, young one. I'm in no mood to be bothered." He replied.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you...Ada."

Elrond turned on his heel at the use of the elvish word for 'Dad'. Only four people in this world called him that, and this voice did not belong to Arwen, Elladan or Elrohir! He almost choked on his words which caught in his throat at the sight of a quite different looking Estel standing there in the doorway. He was taller, heavier built, wiser looking and, sad to say...older. I smiled sadly at Elrond, here was a homecoming I had only ever dreamed of for the past six years. He looked me over, mouth slightly adjar, quivering with disbelief and wonderment.

"Estel! My son!" He cried.

We strode towards one another, meeting halfway across the room, once there, he did something I would've never thought he'd do. He threw his arms about me, and hugged me. I was too stunned at first to move, until the initial shock wore off, and I wrapped my arms about him as well. He was the father I had never had, and such a gesture of loving care was one that hadn't been bestowed apon me in my youth when my real father was alive. This kind of attention had been sorely missed. Growing up without a father is hard enough, but trying to earn the love and respect of a foster parent can be even harder at times when it seemed I was doing everything wrong. But, all things considered, living in such a dangerous world, I had turned out none the worse for wear. Things would be looking up from then on, this I knew.

Arwen appeared behind me, waiting until her father had stepped away from me, and was searching out every new detail of me with his eyes. She placed her arm about my waist as I wrapped her shoulders protectively with one of mine. He didn't scowl at this show of affection, instead, he smiled. Broad and genuine for the first time in many, many years.

"My son, it is the most wonderful of gifts you have bestowed apon my house! Returning after six years is a most welcome surprise!" He beamed.

"Thank you Ada." I replied.

"Ada?" Arwen inquired.

"Yes, my precious daughter?"

"I want you to know that Estel and I still love each other, and if you send him away again I shall leave also! Can't you see what happened to this place once he left?" She cried.

I looked at Elrond, almost willing him to promise her this one little thing. He stared back, blazing eyes meeting my own in an intense, fierce gaze.

"With your return, the happiness of my daughter has bloomed anew once again. I cannot take that away from her, ever. You shall remain a citizen of this fair city, no matter what happens." He replied, turning to look out the balcony again.

Arwen and I walked away, hand in hand, laughter ringing down the hallway ahead of us, laughter sounding in distant rooms once again. As we left, I turned to look back at Elrond's dark form against the pale, brightening sky, and spoke only five words, before striding away.

"This is where I belong…"

Elrond gazed at the bare branches of a tree before him, and noticed something he had not seen in what seemed like a life age of the Earth. A perfect pink blossom had opened on the branch, completely untouched by the frost that had taken the others. He reached out a gentle had and stroked it, sighing under his breath, the soft, satin petals shinning with life among all the cold and darkness that enveloped it. So perfect, and there were many more to come, he was sure, now that Estel was home once again. As a gentle breeze ruffled his robes, he faintly remembered being young, when he and his now long gone wife had sunk off, being caught by her father as well, and punished. He smiled and chuckled to himself as he looked down, through the trees to see his daughter and Estel sitting on a bench, wrapped in each others' love and laughter, so engrossed they didn't notice him watching.

"Better to let them go on being together," Elrond sighed, watching his daughter laugh happily, "After all, you only live once…"