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: Yeah, they do seem to have very bad luck, but what would a story be if they were lucky all the time? There'll be plenty of Legolas and Estel interacting in the future…if they survive this chapter…

Cexya: Thanks for the reviews of both chapters. I didn't know how Estel's reaction last chapter would come out, but I wanted to make sure that his age and his loyalty to his family both came out…

Viresse: I don't see a link to your page on your review, so feel free to email it to me and I'll be glad to take a look…Out-of-control is the best type of plot to write, cuz then no one knows what you're going to do next…

Nienna Eleniel: Thanks for the review, and as for Legolas, that will get explained in this chapter…

Nolitari: This is what happens to his brothers…

Courtney: Thanks, and I hope you continue to enjoy…hope this was quick enough for you…

Hanci: Yes, Legolas let him go alone…

Yahoo! Reviewers…

Carol: I'm glad that it was painful to read, I think…cuz that means that I wrote it well…as for Legolas, yes it was bad of him to send Estel off all alone, but you aren't the only one to realize it…read on…

Denise: Well here's some more of it for you to read, hope you continue to enjoy it…

Aranel: When you deal with only small children for 8 weeks a summer, you tend to notice things about them to make it easier to write about them, and I'm glad you liked Estel's horse, you'll see him again before the story is through…

Mistycracraft: I made someone rant and it wasn't a flame! I think I've impressed myself…I didn't really even think about it at the time that people would get mad at Legolas for sending him off alone, but that's cuz I knew where I was going with that at the time…thanks! And they didn't take the twins to Elrond because they weren't stable enough to be moved. A trip over the MistyMountains would be difficult if they were only slightly injured, and you'll see that at least one of them isn't all that stable…they would have died in the RedhornPass if they'd been moved…

Cel: I'm one of someone's favorite writers! Yay! Thanks, and I'm glad you continue to enjoy this…

Vi: Thanks, and I'm glad you liked the horse…Poor Elrond indeed…it only gets worse for him from here…and Legolas only knew who Estel was by association. As one from his entourage pointed out, he was traveling with the Sons of Elrond, and Legolas would have known that a small human with the twins would be their brother that he was going to be meeting…but he probably wouldn't have recognized the boy if he'd been in a group of children…

Rhonda: Of course it's evil…I wrote it…and you know it gets worse from here on out…can't wait for your next review…and here's some major Elrond angst for you…

Sio: stops and stares a listmom reviewed my story, wow! Thanks, and I'm glad you like it. When I reread over this before posting it, I noticed that it was a bit fast paced, and while I could have slowed it down, I wouldn't want it to drag on…I'm glad you liked how I wrote Estel and his fears, and his interaction with Elladan's horse…but you'll have to wait and see who's going to pull through and who isn't…

Gwenneth: I'm glad you liked the cliffie, but I only have time to post once a week, so please don't fall off the cliff too soon…I wrote Legolas coming in later basically because I had written the fight scenes before I knew Legolas was going to even be in the story, but it turned out well, and I'm glad it ended up being written that way…You, like everyone else, picked up that Legolas probably shouldn't have sent Estel alone, but like Estel, he too was afraid of what he saw, and wasn't thinking clearly at the time…

ADDITIONAL WARNING:

I am NOT increasing the rating of this story, but the detail in which I describe some things in this chapter will PROBABLY NOT be for some of you reading this. It is no worse than something you might see on tv shows like ER, and therefore I will not make this rated R, but for those of you who are a bit SQUEAMISH, the details may get a bit graphic…but I'm not sure, this is something I deal with all the time.

That said, on with the tale…

Chapter 4

It didn't take long for Elrond to race with his youngest up to the Healing Halls and rid the boy of his tattered cloak and tunic. He laid Estel on the bed and turned to gather his herbs and other supplies. He should have known that Erestor would have been right behind him, ready to aid his lord. Smiling grim thanks, Elrond turned back to his son and surveyed the damage. He didn't even know where to begin.

Estel's back and shoulder were badly gashed, and looked to be the newest wounds. They were still bleeding, and so Elrond set to work bathing and binding these. Tears burned his eyes at the sight of his youngest child's mangled body. The lord could only guess at what had happened, and thus prayed the bites and scratches were from wolves and not wargs. He could only hope that the wounds were dirty and not poisoned.

When Estel's back, torso, and shoulder were swathed in white bandaging, Elrond began examining the rest of his son. Starting at his legs, the healer started to piece together a story of what happened. Removing twigs and leaves with Estel's boots and cleaning the light scratches on the boy's ankles, Elrond surmised that his son had been hidden, or was hiding, and could only wonder at the state of his other sons.

It was then that Elrond recognized the tell-tale bruises around Estel's left arm after willing any thoughts of his twin sons out of his mind. Feeling the heat emanating from the injury, the lord turned to Erestor who, without further prompting, braced the boy's upper arm and body. Elrond firmly grasped his patient's arm, lifted it slightly off the bed, took a deep shuddering breath, and spared a glance at the human on the bed. Until he was done, Elrond could not allow himself to see the human on the bed in front of him as his son. Nodding to Erestor, Elrond focused on feeling the bones as they were currently lying. Before he could feel sympathy for the pain he was about to cause, Elrond pulled his hands apart to separate the bones and twisted them back into alignment.

Estel screamed out at the first pull and thrashed against Erestor, trying to pull away from his tormentors. His eyes opened long enough to see his father twisting his arm. Whimpering, Estel soon went limp, falling back into blissful unconsciousness. Tears ran in tracks of mud down his face, and his breathing was heavy. Quickly, a splint was secured to the arm, and tied down hastily. Elrond would come back later to check the fracture and set the arm in linen and plaster.

Elrond and Erestor let out the breaths they had been holding as they glanced down at their charge. Elrond continued examining his son, looking now for the cause of the boy's continued unconsciousness. He began to feel the back of his son's head and cursed when he found a rather large lump just above and behind Estel's right ear. Upon closer examination, Elrond noticed the smallest line running from Estel's ear down to his jaw. It matched the dried tear tracks on the boy's face, and Elrond cursed again.

"Erestor, I need…" he paused and steeled himself. "I need boiling water, Athelas, and a clean knife."

The aide paled. "Surely you don't mean to…"

"I need to release pressure in his skull, and I need to make sure his skull is not cracked too severely. If I don't operate, it will kill him."

"But sire, he has a fever. Won't operating when he is like this possibly kill him too?" Erestor placed his hand protectively on Estel's head.

"It just might, but I don't have a choice."


Glorfindel took little notice of the same trees and wildlife that had amazed Estel as he rode quickly towards Mirkwood. He stopped only when his mount need to rest, and could only hope that he was covering so much ground needlessly. There was always the hope that Estel had simply gotten lost and Elladan's horse had found him, but Glorfindel was never much of an optimist, and knew his hopes were almost certainly unfounded.

As he passed through the Misty Mountains, Glorfindel felt the beast he was riding tense and looked for unseen dangers. He was confused when he sensed none, but as he raced around an outcropping, he began to smell the decay of rotting flesh. He paused at the remains of a single warg, already being decimated by vultures. When he saw that the warg was young and looked to have been crushed, he pieced together the horse's skittishness with Estel's appearance.

Anger and a tinge of fear fueled Glorfindel and he urged the horse faster. He was unsure of how much further he had to travel, and wanted to cover the distance even faster now. If Estel had been alone in the Misty Mountains, Illuvitar only knew what state the older Elrondions were in.


If there had ever been a time that Legolas had not regretted his father's overprotectiveness, he couldn't recall it now. But for once, the Prince did not know what he would have done had his father not sent out a contingent of guards and healers to run after the wayward Legolas. Unfortunately, there was little that any of them could do until Elladan was stable enough to travel to either Mirkwood or Imladris, but it was still better than if Legolas had come upon them alone.

As it was, Legolas and his guards had set up a small camp around the healers as they had continued to work. They had then hunted some of the small game in the area. When that was done, Legolas had sent the guards to secure a perimeter. This, however, left him alone with his thoughts.

It didn't take long for Mirkwood's youngest prince to take to the trees for solace. Guilt set in quickly as he reflected on sending the child alone through the Mountains. Legolas had rarely ever dealt with children, let alone human ones, and he had forgotten how young the boy was. No wonder there had been fear in Estel's eyes. Calling out to one of his guards, he bid the soldier to take Elrohir's horse and make for Imladris, hopefully finding Estel safe and escorting him home.


Glorfindel heard the hoofbeats approaching and pulled his sword just in case. Rarely did any but Elves ride horses in the Mountains, but times were darkening, so he couldn't be certain. As Glorfindel recognized the blur of brown and green that was the uniform of Mirkwood, he called out a greeting.

"Mae govannen, sir, but we need to move quickly. The Lords Elladan and Elrohir need your help back this way." The guard paused. "You haven't seen Lord Elrond's Edain son, have you?"

Glorfindel heard the slight in the words, but had not time to waste on it. "Young Estel is safely where he belongs, with his father. Now, take me to his brothers."

So it was that the famous Balrog slayer came upon Legolas' camp and the twins. He blanched at the sight, and arrived none too soon it seemed.

"What do you mean there's no more Athelas?"

"Just that your Highness. We've used it all on the two of them and we still need more."

Glorfindel came up beside Legolas. "Would this help, neth pen?" He held out a pack full of Kingsfoil.

"Please, if it isn't important don't bother me…Glor?" Legolas turned his attention to the new voice as the healer snatched away the herbs. "Oh thank Illuvitar you're here."

Glorfindel laughed at the Prince before turning to see his lord's sons. "They need to get back to their father. Can they be moved?"

"Yes, milord. Lord Elladan is stable enough to journey to Imladris now." The healer paused. "I think."


As Erestor left to do his lord's bidding, Elrond gathered his son into his arms and let the tears grace his cheeks for a moment before noticing just how warm Estel was.

"Oh, ion nin. You are so little to have suffered so much. He paused and looked to the adjoining bathing room. "I only hope the strength in your bloodline can see you through this." Elrond stood with his son and entered the room. Without hesitation, he began to fill a tub with cold water. "Please, my son, have the strength to survive this."

When the tub was filled from the spring that had been tapped for just this purpose, Elrond closed his eyes briefly before lowering the boy into the water.

Immediately, Estel began thrashing, and it tore at Elrond's heart to be forcefully holding his son in the water. Estel cried out for someone to help him before deliriously latching onto his father's arm and biting down until the taste of blood froze him in his actions. As he paused, however, his body betrayed him and he went limp; his lungs barely working, his heart beating just enough to keep him alive.

When Estel had bitten Elrond, the father could not help but close his eyes against the continuing tears and hope that Estel would not remember this. He looked up in time to see the boy go limp and his own heart leapt into his throat. Pulling Estel back into his arms and quickly wrapping the child in all the blankets he could find, Elrond laid the boy down on the table to wait.

As Erestor returned to the Halls, he heard the screaming child and it was all he could to not drop his supplies and run to Estel's aid. When he did enter Estel's room, the trail of water and shivering child revealed to Erestor the chance his lord had taken.

"Set the water on the hot stones to keep while he settles," Lord Elrond's voice was muffled from beneath his hands.

"Milord, can he survive all this?"

"He has to, mellon nin, he has to."

It took only moments for Estel to stop shivering and go limp once more. He was still pale, but his fever seemed to be staved off for the time being. "It's now or never, Erestor. Hand me that knife please." Elrond cringed as the cold steel was placed in his hand.

"Lord Elrond, surely a sleeping draught?" Erestor moved quickly to delay the healer from forgetting.

But Elrond only shook his head. "We can't risk sending him deeper into sleep. He would never wake up from that." He paused. "Erestor, I'll…I'll need you to hold him steady…while I do this."

Erestor sucked in a deep breath and watched as Elrond removed the pillows from under his son's head and turned. When he returned to the table moments later, he was holding several ropes and cloths.

"I…I can't do this Erestor, I can't bind my own son to this table." He looked painfully at his servant who nodded and took the bindings, understanding what he must do. Elrond turned away as soft cloths were wrapped around Estel's arms, legs, and torso, and then he was bound tightly to the hard table.

"He is ready, milord." Erestor carefully turned Estel's head toward him and looked to Lord Elrond.

Elrond nodded and advanced on his son, hoping upon Hope that the boy would be safe; that he would not fail. "Valar protect you."


Glorfindel rode hard with Elladan grasped firmly in front of him, and Legolas with Elrohir. The guards and healers were sent back to inform King Thranduil of the events as all haste was now needed. Elladan was still unconscious, and both Elves feared for his life. Elrohir was still fading in and out of consciousness, but was still not aware enough to worry over his brothers.


Elrond had made the first incision into his son's scalp and was beginning to feather back the skin when Estel began to whimper weakly. He used some of the cloth to staunch the bleeding, and got his first view of the damage. There was a three inch crack along Estel's skull that, upon closer inspection, did not breach through completely from what he could see.

"This is going to hurt him, Erestor, but it is imperative that he does not move." Elrond looked to his aide.

"What are you going to do, sir?"

"I need to make a hole in his skull, large enough to insert this, and then I need to stabilize it and sew up his head. With any luck, he will be all right, and won't remember any of this."

Erestor nodded and placed one hand on the back of the boy's head and the other on his cheek. Elrond placed a pointed spike to Estel's skull and took a very small mallet from his supplies. With a nod to Erestor, Lord Elrond bit down on his lip and began his work.

The result on Estel was instantaneous as his eyes flew open and he tried to pull away. He could see that he was home, and more terror seized him as he felt the ropes and saw Erestor.

"Daddy! Daddy, help me! Mommy, please come!" Estel slipped into the Westron tongue, and Elrond faltered as his son called out for Arathorn and Gilraen. As quickly as possible, Elrond inserted the shunt and began to stitch up his work. It was too much for Estel, he could feel his Elven father near, but no one was helping him it seemed. With that, his body failed him and began to shut down.


Glorfindel and Legolas had just passed over Imladris' bridge when a scream pierced the air. It was familiar enough to cause Elrohir to blearily open his eyes and smile before passing out again. Elladan shifted in front of Glorfindel, the call of his father too strong to be ignored, even near death, but he could not wake up. The Prince and the Balrog slayer looked up towards the Healing Halls, where the shout had come from, and spurred their horses to move more quickly. The already exhausted mounts snorted, but did their masters' bidding, as they could sense the dire straits the Elrondions were in.

Reaching the gates, Glorfindel slid down to his own two feet and pulled Elladan with him. It frightened him as to how little the Elf had moved during the whole ride, and now as his broken arm was jarred, Elladan did not even flinch. Knowing that Legolas was right behind him with the less injured twin, Glorfindel did not bother to make sure they were all right before running up the stairs to the Halls.

Legolas slid off his own horse and turned to pull Elrohir down when he was greeted with pain-filled eyes.

"Where are my brothers?" The voice was weak, and even the Prince could see that Elrohir was close to losing his hold on consciousness once more.

"Gostau, mellon nin, pan namae."

Elrohir nodded, missing the fearful look in Legolas' eye, and slowly slid off the horse. As soon as he had his feet under him, however, consciousness fled, and Legolas had to catch him before he hit the ground.


Erestor had just walked out of the Halls, tears in his eyes and blood staining his hands and robes, when he was met with two blond Elves and a set of twins.

"Ai, Elbereth, no more please," was all he said before motioning to the room he had just exited. "Lord Elrond is in there with Estel." An audible sigh of defeat escaped him, and he turned towards the supply hall.

Fear gripped both conscious Elves as Erestor left, and they hurried to see what had disturbed him so. As they entered the Halls, they glimpsed a crumpled form in a chair, holding a small being. They could tell that Elrond held Estel, but only because the child was the only one so small in all of Imladris. His entire head was masked in already soiled bandages, and what was free of white linen was covered by the Lord's robes.

Elrond barely acknowledged that there were others in the room at first. It took him only a moment to notice that his other sons were in dire trouble as well, and could not mourn one son while two others were of his need. He rose slowly and lay Estel back down on the hard table, and turned to the others. Glorfindel had already set to work on Elladan, but was shooed to Elrohir when the Healer reached the beds.

"What can I do to help, my Lord?" Legolas could not just stand there, but he did not want to be in the way either.

Elrond needed only to look at Legolas to be filled with anger. He was angered by the fact that the Prince had come too late, and was not hurt, but he stopped when he realized that the Prince had probably helped to save his sons' lives, Estel included, and that his well-being, while a rarity, was truly one of Illuvitar's blessings, few though they were on this day.

"Stay with Estel and talk to him, I can do no more for him, it seems he is to die, but maybe…just maybe…" he trailed off, tears in his eyes once more, and turned back to Elladan, muttering "he was the hope of Man, how could I let him die like that?"

"What, my Lord? Your son is not dead, and he won't die today."

"I appreciate your fervor, Legolas, but it is too late for him I think. I tried to help him, and I couldn't even do that, and now he will pass from these lands. He was calling for me to help him, to save him from the evil that was hurting him. Legolas, it was I that was hurting him…I was torturing him, and I could not stop his pain."

"He will be all right, my Lord, he has to be. I have yet to be introduced to him."

The statement was enough to garner a grim smile from the father, and he nodded before turning back to his work.


The Elves worked long into the night on their charges, and it seemed it would be to no avail until the very end. It seemed that Illuvitar himself had finally decided to grace the Elrondions with his presence, when Estel moaned and clutched Legolas' hand, Elrohir's eyes opened once more, and Elladan had finally decided to stay among the living.

With that, Elrond stepped out of the Healing Halls for a breath of fresh air, his sons' blood mingling on his hands. Estel was out of the woods, so to speak, Elrohir would be fine in a few days...but Elladan...well, the Lord was sure now, though he hadn't been moments before, that he would survive, but it had been too close, and the damage was still severe. He didn't know if his pride and joy would have the will to endure the hardships that Arda threw at him anymore.


Mae govannen – well met

Edain – human

Neth pen – young one

Ion nin – my son

Gostau, mellon nin, pan namae – do not fear, my friend, all is well