Title: For Estel
Author: Ice Cube
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Not unless you've know almost nothing about Lord of the Rings.
Disclaimer and warnings, see Chapter 1…
HarryEstel: Hope this update was quick enough for you, and as for him being 6…well, he's got a tough life ahead of him, so I suppose he's gotta learn sometime…
KeshieShimmer: They're coming, but are they going to be helpful? …here's the next part
grumpy: Yeah, good thing Estel had weapons…as for the tree, I don't think it's going to be a problem…
Yahoo! Reviewers…
Celebwen: The cliffies don't get any better…just ask anyone who knows how I write…
Vi: I don't think it's Elrohir you all have to worry about…
Aranel: Thanks, I don't often think of Estel as serious, but when he is, it must be interesting, and I'm glad you liked the switch of protection
Carol: Thanks, I'm glad you like it
Mari-Looks innocent- Me? Aragorn-torture? … more like Elrondion-torture…they'll all get some I think…
Rhonda-Gives you- Messed up? My stories? NEVER! Hahahahaha…just wait, the end is still up for grabs…
cathk8: I don't think you have to worry about Elrohir too much…but a son of Elrond…well…
That said, on with the tale…
Chapter 3
Elrohir had just dispatched the last of a group of Orcs when he saw Elladan rushing back into the fray, stumbling slightly as he did so. Hoping that Elladan had gotten to Estel at some point, he fought through the beasts to his twin's side. He had just reached Elladan when the two were forced to retreat up a hill, being pushed further away from their camp and brother. Fighting side by side once more, Elrohir saw how badly Elladan had fared in comparison with himself. While Elrohir had many scratches and bruises of his own to contend with, each one of Elladan's was deeper, longer, and bleeding more severely than his own. Some of the marks that Elrohir knew were from Orc blades were tinged black around the edges, and it was only a matter of time before he would fall. Knowing this, Elrohir fought more fiercely, protecting his brother as Elladan had many times protected him.
Caught up in the battle, Elrohir was slowly becoming more engrossed in his fights, and thus did not notice that he had been separated from Elladan once more until he heard a distinct thud as Elladan was driven to the ground. Turning quickly, he saw a warg take off from the pack to attack. Running over to Elladan's now still body, the warg misjudged the distance and tripped. Had it been any other time, Elrohir may have laughed, but could only gasp as he watched the two tumble down the hill; tears fell as he lost sight of his elder brother. With an anger that was unmatched, Elrohir soon killed those who would challenge him. As the last one fell, so did Elrohir, breathing heavily as he fought to maintain consciousness. It soon proved to be too daunting a task, and without knowing the fate of either brother, Elrohir passed out.
Estel had seen his brothers take off up the hill with tears of his own in his eyes. He could tell that Elladan had not expected to survive the battle, could tell with even the smallest shred of maturity that his 6 years had afforded him. Of course this was only clear to him through the fact that Elladan had told him to wait for an Elf to get him down, and not him or his brother, but all the same, he knew that neither Elrondion was coming back to him. He remembered back to Elladan's words that night; he had never thought that "even if it means my life is forfeit" would mean that his brother was going to be taken from him.
Estel's own adrenaline levels were beginning to plummet now and each of his injuries were showing themselves as he waited for someone to claim him. He heard something coming from the hill to his left, and he curled up into a smaller ball on the tree branch that was his current home. Eyes widened in fear as a tangle of fur and Elvish clothing slammed into the roots at his feet. He waited for something to move, and when it did, it wasn't what he expected.
"No!" Estel's yell echoed into the trees around him, perking up any listening ears in the forest. The sound of his own voice startled him, and before he knew it, his human grace, or lack thereof claimed his balance on the tree and he found himself falling through the air. Landing with a sickening crunch that made him sick to his stomach, Estel pulled his left arm close to his stomach and crawled quickly into the shrubs. He knew there was no chance for climbing back into the tree, and once he was in the safety of the bushes, let his tears fall anew. From where he looked, his brother appeared to be dead, and Estel had broken his last promise to him. As the only thing the child's mind could think to do, there Estel stayed, and soon fell asleep in the safety of the wood.
Estel slowly woke to movement in front of him, and peered out from his hiding spot, afraid of what he would see. Suddenly afraid that his eyes were deceiving him, Estel cringed more, and watched as his brothers were both laid in front of him. Sniffling, Estel watched and pulled back even more when someone turned to his hiding spot.
"Come on out of there, little one. We won't hurt you. Come on. Are you all right?" The Elf turned to the rest of the group. "Do you think he can understand me at all?" When another Elf shrugged before turning back to the twins, the one with Estel shook his head and tried in the Common tongue. "Come here little one."
Estel cringed at the blond haired being in front of him and pulled back even more until he cried out as he clutched his arm too tightly. "Ai, Ada, teli anni. Im baur lle." The Elf took the opportunity to grab onto the small cloak that was torn to shreds and pulled Estel out.
"So you can speak Elvish. I na lle, neth edain?" Estel cringed in the Elf's grip. "It's all right, we won't hurt you. We only want to help you and these Elves. What happened?" Once more, Estel cringed and struggled to get down. Estel bit and kicked, punched and spit, until he had spent all of his energy. Still he was held, and took the opportunity to look for his brothers. Looking over the Elf's shoulders, he took in the pale forms of their bodies, their closed eyes, the battered appearance, and the furious work of the healers. When he began to see that no one was hurting him, nor his brothers, and only then, did Estel finally relax and let tears grace his cheeks momentarily.
"They need Lord Elrond; we can not help them by ourselves." The healers looked towards the small human.
Righting the boy, Estel's savior turned to the healers, smiling slightly as one of his escort pulled a cloak around the boy. "I think he's the smallest Elrondion, my liege. At least, I suspect that he is if he was traveling with the Lords Elladan and Elrohir."
"My name is Legolas, little one." Legolas looked at the pale, shaking, human child in front of him. "Are you Estel, son of the Lord Elrond of Imladris?" The boy nodded. "Do you know how to get home?" Again, after a pause, only a nod. "Good. Take one of the horses and ride hard for him, don't look back." That garnered a quiet response.
"I can't."
"Why not?" Even with his Elven hearing, Legolas had to strain to hear the boy.
"I've never ridden a horse."
"You have to."
"I'm afraid."
Legolas was getting angry now; worry seeping through his normally calm demeanor. "If you don't get on that horse and ride, your brothers are going to die. Now go!"
Estel's eyes widened and he looked at his brothers. The Elf in front of him scared him more than he thought possible, and all he wanted to do was curl into a ball and cry. He squared his shoulders, however, and looked every bit the Numenorean his bloodline foretold for him. If his brothers needed him to ride, then he would get home on Elladan's horse as quickly as possible. He would get home or die trying, keeping Elladan safe as much as the Elf had promised to keep the boy safe.
Estel turned to the horse, paling when he saw that there was no saddle, no stirrups for him to hoist himself up by. Legolas looked up at the pause, and saw the problem. Realizing his previous tone, he stepped up to the boy, lifted him easily into his arms and placed him on the horse's back.
"Hold onto his mane tightly, and stay low to his back. You'll be all right, I believe in you." He saw the boy's smile, and turned quickly away.
"Lle na berio ti, ilna lle, taren Legolas?" The heartache and fear in young Estel's words caused Legolas to turn again. The tear-stained eyes that looked down at him with a trust that the Prince had done nothing yet to deserve caused him to falter. Never before had a human trusted the Elf, and never before had the Elf taken second glance at an Edan. Struck by the moment, Legolas pulled Estel off the horse and tightly into an embrace.
"Of course I will, little one. They will be as protected with me as they would be under the watchful eye of your father or Glorfindel. Now go fetch one of those two to help me, won't you?" Estel was sat once again astride the horse, and Legolas whispered into its ear before sending them off. "May the Valar watch over you and grant you all speed."
Estel had been riding for a full day when he reached the Misty Mountains again. Gone was any sense of awe that he had held for them previously. Now they were simply one more thing that was in the way of him getting to his father, and he wasn't completely sure which way to go. His stomach was growling, but it also felt sick. He had long ago blocked out the searing pain in his arm, and was nodding off on the horse's back. Had it been any other beast, Estel would have long ago fallen off, but this horse was Elven bred, and subtly shifted each time his rider did. It knew where to go, and when Estel paused, pulling up on the mane to look, the horse only stopped momentarily before heading towards the Pass.
Estel was too tired and hurt to argue with the horse, and his young mind was reeling from what had happened and how he felt. The only sensible thing he could see to do was lean further forward and sleep on the horse's neck while it brought him to his father. He did not have Belur with him, and could only take comfort in the smooth mane that was his pillow.
Had he been any older, Estel may have realized the folly of traveling through the mountains alone and at night, but all he wanted was for his father to hold him close and make his stomach better, so he did not stop. He had nearly made it over the Pass when he felt cold. Not cold from the elevation and the minimal cover from the winds, but a cold inside of him that was strong enough to wake him from his deep sleep.
Estel sat up with a start and reached for his sword, almost falling from the horse's back as he shifted so quickly. Something was wrong. He silently urged the horse to go faster as he looked around. It wasn't long before he saw the yellow eyes that were above him on a rocky outcropping. Eyes wide, Estel kicked the horse and screeched. The warg sensed that his prey had seen him and jumped down, chasing after his dinner.
Whether it was from the length of time that the horse had been ridden straight through, or the hunger that drove the warg, Estel's mount was not fast enough to outrun the predator. Estel turned just in time to see the warg jump and crouched lower, hoping the creature would miss him. It didn't. Estel cried out in pain as the claws ripped through his back and he was knocked to the ground. Lights swam through his vision as he landed head first, and he was stunned long enough for the warg to effectively hold him down with one paw; his head close to the boy's, salivating at the thought of his meal. Stopping for an instant, the warg looked around, not seeing the horse which had been his primary target, and growled fiercely. He turned back to the boy and lowered his head once more, opening his mouth and preparing to kill his prey.
At the last moment, Estel moved his head away, wrenching his upper body to the side. It was enough to prevent the warg from snapping his jaw shut on the boy's neck, but Estel still screamed when teeth bit deeply into his shoulder. Rapidly losing the battle with consciousness, Estel did not hear Elladan's horse come to his aid, only felt the warg lifted from his back, teeth ripping flesh as it was thrown to the side. Estel scrambled quickly to his feet, fighting off the blackness that was clouding his vision. More than anything, he was afraid of being caught again, and swayed as he saw the warg coming at him again. He stood at the ready, but his mount had other plans, and the warg quickly met his end under the solid hooves that stomped over and over again. Estel slumped back to the ground with a quick smile to the horse and passed out.
In the clearing, Legolas looked down as his healers continued to work over his best friends. It had been far too long since he had seen the twins, and had been overly excited for their visit to see him and introduce him to their baby brother. He wasn't sure how he felt about the twins calling this human their brother, but they were his best friends, so he trusted their judgment completely, and would not form opinions about the boy until he met him. He couldn't help feeling guilty now, however, as he had not come to meet them at the border. 'Pressing duties', his father had called it, but Legolas was having a hard time seeing how listening to two Elves bicker over a sack of grain had needed his personal opinion when his friends were coming. After a quick judgment that returned the sack to the farmer until the merchant could pay for it, Legolas had bolted from his father's Hall.
It never occurred to the Prince that had he not come at all, all three of Elrond's sons would most likely be dead, and that he was responsible for saving them; it only seemed to him that he had not gotten there soon enough to prevent the attack that happened on his lands. So he had watched with bated breath as the healers spread their time between the twins, allowing a bittersweet smile to cross his features when Elrohir's eyes opened and then quickly unfocused as he settled into a healing sleep. The younger twin had not noticed Elladan, or he probably would not have been so quick to allow consciousness to flee again.
Estel woke to the sun on his face, but he was shivering badly. He stood up slowly, and found that he could not move his left arm at all. Looking down at his shoulder and then to his forearm, the small boy quickly dropped to his knees and emptied whatever was left in his stomach. He had not been prepared to see that. His head hurt fiercely, and the rocks in front of him kept moving around. He felt something wet on his other hand and jumped. Elladan's horse was standing next to him, his sword in its mouth, nudging him towards Imladris again.
Tears sprung to Estel's eyes and he stood, looking at the horse and taking the sword from its mouth. "I know you want me to bring you home, but I can't. I'm too little to do anything right, and I don't know the way home, and I can't get back up onto you. I failed and now the Prince is going to be mad at me and my brothers are going to go away and Daddy…I mean Ada is going to be mad at me too." He bit his lip before turning on the horse.
"Why do you have to be so big and scary? I want to help my brothers, but you're too big to get on, and I don't know how to ride, and you're no help." He sniffled before apologizing. "Look, I need to ride you home, you need to take me back to Ada, and I don't know how you're going to do that, but you have to. Maybe you should just go by yourself. You're all big and scary. You'd be all right without me, you don't need me. Just go ahead and go. Leave me and just go. I don't need you anymore." The boy was yelling again. He looked up and glared at the horse, and screamed until his chest hurt. Then Estel stopped and waited for the horse to run away after all the yelling he'd done.
To the boy's surprise, the horse simply shook its head and began to kneel down on its front legs. When it realized that its back was still out of the boy's reach with his new handicap, it knelt all the way down and nuzzled the boy.
Estel was determined now that he saw how accommodating the horse was, and bent over the horse's back, scooting up as far as he could before swinging one leg over. He almost laughed as he mounted the horse. "I'm sorry." The horse rose slowly and carefully, letting the boy adjust to being so high and get a good grip on its mane before galloping off again.
So it was that without further incident, Estel made it through the Misty Mountains, and quickly through the forests to the borders of Imladris. The trip that had taken the Elrondions three days to travel now barely took the boy two, and he soon found himself in familiar territory.
When the guards around Imladris saw a horse galloping quickly through their forests, they sent word down their lines back to the Last Homely House of the possible threat, but were unsure as to how to proceed, for they all recognized the horse. Soon, Lord Elrond heard the unexpected decree that there was a horse and mad rider barreling towards his home.
Elrond ran to the gates to meet the rushing horse, and gasped as he recognized the rider, and the state of Estel. As soon as he could rein the horse in, the Lord reached up and pulled the boy down to the ground. Holding him steady by the shoulders, Elrond barely noticed when Glorfindel jumped onto Elladan's horse and whispered to the beast. Knowing his duty, the horse turned about and took off to bring his charge back to his rider.
Safe with his father in front of him, Estel barely heard Elrond calling his name as he realized that he had just ridden a horse, and very quickly at that, for a long distance. He took in a deep breath and smiled weakly at his father before the past few days caught up with him. Elrond gasped and caught his son as the boy's legs buckled and he slumped toward the ground. Holding the Edan close, Elrond felt, before he saw, the blood that was seeping from the boy's back. Estel was hurt, and badly.
Ai, Ada, teli anni. Im baur lle. – Ah daddy, come to me. I need you.
I na lle, neth edain – Who are you, young human
Lle na berio ti, ilna lle, taren Legolas – You will protect them, won't you, Prince Legolas
