Chapter 10 Brother
"Please, let me enter," Elrohir all but cried. "It's my brother in there, please let me go to him. period" Elrohir looked pleadingly at the guard. He didn't know what he'd do if the guard continued to deny him that which he needed most of all.
Fortunately he was not forced to find out, for after a moment of indecision the guard sighed, then spoke in a low voice. "I will let you in then," he said hesitantly," but, I warn you, King Thranduil will not look upon you with kind eyes when you enter." And he won't look at me kindly either, he added to himself. He looked Elrohir up and down "But somehow I think it will still be for the better that you are allowed to enter," he said slowly, for though he did not know it, he was an elf gifted with foresight, foggy as it was.
Elrohir nodded slowly. He hoped this was the right thing to do, even though he suddenly began to doubt. Perhaps he was not listening to his senses; perhaps this urgency to see Estel was born from a selfish desire to be with his younger brother as quickly as possible. No, he told himself Estel needs me in there, I must go now and think it through later. He chuckled slightly to himself, despite the seriousness of the situation.
This was how Elladan would act, he was always the impulsive one, Elrohir liked to think things through before he acted. But that was not what this situation called for, so he steeled himself and nodded for the other guard to open the door and let him in. He just hoped that this was the right thing to do.
Thranduil looked up, annoyance showing on his face. He had been just about to pronounce his sentence upon the human, but had never got to even begin; the sound of the door scraping against the floor had interrupted him.
The guard cringed at his liege's stern glare that demanded an explanation without even uttering a single word. Sadron, as was indeed his name, hastily bowed to his lord and turned to usher Elrohir in, keeping his eyes downcast, not daring to meet the commanding gaze that closely scrutinized him.
"Sire, Lord Elrohir of Imladris, insisted that he be given leave to enter. He says he has news about the human," Sadron explained quickly, then closed the door behind Elrohir, leaving the royals alone.
Elrohir is here, but why? Aragorn certainly hadn't counted on either of his former elven brothers to be present at this court. He wants to get rid of you legally, this is the perfect opportunity, the ever nagging voice in his head told him. He didn't want to believe it, but how could it not be true. It must be, he thought sadly, and bowed his head even lower than before.
Elrohir saw Estel's reaction to his presence and it pained him greatly. If he guessed correctly he knew exactly what was going through Estel's head, and it was not something Elrohir would ever wish for Estel to have to carry.
Forgetting the court and focussing solely on his human brother Elrohir hurried to Estel's side an wrapped his arms around him, he did not understand the course of Estel's obvious sadness at seeing him but whatever the reason was he wanted to comfort his brother.
As soon as Estel felt Elrohir's arms around him he flinched involuntarily.
Elrohir instantly let go of him; almost frightened he had hurt him, that he had perhaps jarred some hidden injury or in any other way coursed his brother pain. "What is it Estel, what is wrong?" he blurted out concernedly.
Estel looked up at him his eyes glazed with moisture and looking like he could begin crying any moment. "Please just be brief," Estel murmured dejectedly. If this had to be he just wished it to go fast, he wanted his torment to end. He wanted oblivion.
Thranduil cleared his throat and spoke to Elrohir, "Elrohir Elrondion, you seem to know this human, perhaps you could be so kind as to inform us as to his true identity, which house does he belong to." His voice was somewhere between compassionate and stern.
Elrohir looked quickly down at Estel who had once again let his head fall to his chest, staring at the floor miserably. Elrohir rose and bowed formally to the king. "Forgive me my lord," he apologized formally for his rudeness in ignoring the king so far. "This is Estel, son of Lord Elrond of Imladris. He is a son to my father, despite the fact that he is human."
Estel looked up for a moment in bewilderment, had he heard right? No, his ears must have been playing a trick on him. Yet he could not dispel the fluttering feeling in his stomach. Hope began to return to his eyes. Yes perhaps there was hope.
Thranduil though for a moment, then spoke again once again addressing Elrohir, "Are you aware of the charges passed against him?"
"No, my Lord, I am not," Elrohir replied just as formally as Thranduil had. He knew the only way to help Estel would be to keep calm, even if he longed to simply embrace his human brother and assure him that they would never abandon him.
"He has been accused of attempted murder of Prince Legolas Thranduilion of Mirkwood, he has so far pleaded his innocence, but refused to tell us any details about himself. All points at him, but it is yet unclear if he is guilty or innocent. Guilt has been assumed due to his unwillingness to tell us anything about himself." Thranduil quickly ran through the case.
"If it pleases you my Lord, I would request that the question of Estel Elrondion's innocence or guilt be postponed, for I would like to speak to him, and I'm sure so would my brother Elladan. I will take full responsibility for him my Lord, and should he be found to conduct himself in a way unworthy of a son of Elrond you may exact punishment upon me as well as him." Elrohir looked intensely at Thranduil, hoping that his requests would be granted.
TBC...
R/R
