Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! Thank you all so much for your reviews! They mean the world to me, seriously. I am terribly sorry about the delay in updating, but real life has been a real pain in the butt. To put it mildly, I am terribly busy. I have five million things going on at once. Trust me, you do not want to know my schedule. Many thanks to my wonderful beta enb2004! As promised, here is Chapter 12. Enjoy!
Two days later in Mirkwood, Estel was finally showing signs of coming around, much to everyone's relief. Himband had been deathly afraid that he had accidentally made the sleeping herb too strong when Estel hadn't regained consciousness after the first day.
The twins had hastened to reassure them that this was hardly the first time that Estel had slept longer than the drug dose should allow. "It's because of his stubborn nature," Elladan had said.
Sure enough, Elladan and Elrohir were proved right when Estel started to moan and stir a bit on the bed.
"You see Himband? I told you that it was because of his stubborn nature," Elladan said.
"Stubborn nature indeed. How in arda does Elrond put up with him?" Himband questioned aloud.
"The same way he puts up with the twins. Where do you think Estel learned it from?" Thranduil said, amusement very evident in his voice.
Himband scowled at the King before turning his attention back onto Estel. "Tell me, have you come to a decision on what you are going to tell Estel?" he asked.
"Yes." "No," the twins, Thanduil and Glorfindel said together.
"It's either yes or no. Which one is it?" Iaurdil asked, about at his wits end. He had been listening to the twins, his father, and Glorfindel argue for the better part of the past two days.
"Estel shall not be told, that is all there is to it," Elrohir said with a scowl.
"Will you all be quiet for five seconds! He's coming around," Fuina said.
All talking ceased as they watched Estel struggle to open his eyes. "Estel, can you hear me tithen pen?" Elladan asked, his voice full of concern.
Estel did not say anything but he groaned as he put his arm over his eyes.
"Himband, close the curtains, the light is blinding him," Thranduil ordered.
"Estel? How do you feel mellon nin?" Legolas asked as he gently sat down next to the injured man.
Estel moaned again, and slowly opened his eyes once he sensed that the curtains had been closed.
"Legolas?" he questioned weakly.
"Yes Estel, it is I," Legolas said quietly.
"How do you feel tithen gwador?" Elrohir asked.
Moaning, Estel glanced over at his very concerned brothers, about to say that he was fine.
"Ah! No you don't Estel. Don't you dare pull the I'm fine line. You are far from fine by friend," Thilloth exclaimed.
Estel shot him a dirty look before looking back up at his brothers. "Fine, fine. I feel as though an orc decided to trample me with his warg."
"That bad eh?" Iaurdil asked, trying to lighten the mood somewhat.
Estel groaned and buried himself into the covers in answer.
"That would be a yes Iaurdil," Elladan said, amusement tingeing his voice.
"What did happen to me anyway? The last thing I remember I was heading back indoors from the garden," Estel said.
Everyone in the room visibly winced. While it was good that Estel couldn't recall what had happened, it would only come back to haunt him later. Gorothdil was still after him and it was only a matter of time before he came back to finish what he had started. Estel needed to be prepared for what was going on around him and the danger he was in. This was not going to be good.
"Umm, Estel, I really don't know how to say this so I'm just going to tell you what happened," Elladan said hesitantly.
Estel eyed his older brother strangely. It was quite rare to hear Elladan sounding so unsure and unconfident in himself.
"You see Estel, there is a mad elf on the loose and he happens to have a taste for your blood," Elladan said cringing at the thought.
"Aye, he attacked you when you entered the room. He, he, stabbed a sword right through your arm," Elrohir said while trying to stay calm, a feat that was proving to be impossible given the circumstances.
Estel's eyes widened as he listened to what his brothers were telling him, although he was still puzzled by a few things. One being that his arm didn't hurt for some reason. "Umm, if I was stabbed through the arm, why doesn't it hurt?"
Himband looked at Estel sheepishly. "That would be my fault Estel. You are still feeling the effects of the pain and sleeping herb I gave you. I believe I miscalculated and gave you too much."
Estel blinked. "Oh, is that why my head feels so fuzzy?"
"Yes," Himband said.
"Okay then, next question. Who is this elf that is apparently trying to kill me and why is he trying to kill me?" Estel asked.
Elladan and Elrohir shot each other a quick glance before turning back to Estel. "I wish I could say we knew who, but we do not. As to why, we believe it might have to do with the fact that you are mortal. He seems to have a passionate hatred of the mortal race, humans in particular," Elrohir said.
Both twins pretended not to notice the nasty glances the others were sending them. It was better this way. Valar knew that Estel didn't need to suddenly be reminded of the time he had been stabbed by Gorothdil when he had only been four years old.
Legolas and Thranduil both were about to open their mouths and tell Estel the twins were lying to him, when Glorfindel grasped both of them. "Nay, do not. Estel will figure it out on his own eventually, and when he does, it will be on their heads, not ours," he whispered fiercely.
Thranduil and Legolas looked about ready to argue that point but stopped themselves when they saw Estel yawn and his eyes start to close.
"All right everyone, that's enough. Now, myself and two others will stay with Estel for tonight. Who wishes to stay?" Himband asked.
"Hey!" Estel protested indignantly. "I do not need to be watched over!"
"I would disagree Estel. Even if there was not a mad elf on the loose, I would not let you sleep without someone watching you, not after all the drugs I pumped into your system," Himband said.
Estel huffed but relented, but only because he was far too tired to argue with anyone.
"We'll stay," Elladan said quickly with Elrohir nodding in agreement.
The others started to protest but was cut short by one glare from Himband. "Fine, the twins may stay. The rest of you, scat! You all need a decent nights sleep anyway."
The others moaned and grumbled, but reluctantly left the room, but not before bidding Estel a goodnight.
Once everyone had left, the twins and Himband shut the door and secured the window.
"Just rest Estel, we'll look after you," Elrohir said softly.
Estel just nodded as he closed his eyes wearily. Within no time, he was fast asleep.
Himband and the twins nodded silently and took up their watches for the night. Nothing would harm Estel while they were there with him, nothing.
-
While the twins and Himband were able to watch over Estel and keep him from physical harm, they could not protect him from his own mind. As he slept, nightmares plagued him.
Dreamscape:
"Who are you!" Estel shouted at a dark figure who was holding out a knife and was about to stab a child.
"Urchin," the dark figured hissed, but not at Estel, but towards the child.
"NO! Do not harm him! He has done nothing," Estel cried out seeing the dark figure's intent.
The dark figure paid him no heed however. No matter how hard he tried, he could not force himself to move in order to stop the thing from harming the child. He was forced to watch as the dark figure smiled cruelly and stabbed the innocent little boy in the arm.
When the child had been stabbed, Estel felt like he had been stabbed himself and cried out in pain. Grabbing his arm, he was surprised to find it covered with blood. Looking up, he saw the dark figure looming over the child once more.
Summoning all his strength, he pushed himself between the thing and the child. Suddenly, he felt the child's absolute terror, and before he could stop himself, his voice rang out through the air.
"ADA!"
End Dream:
Elladan, Elrohir, and Himband nearly jumped out of their skin when Estel's cry for his father filled the air.
"Estel! Calm down tithen pen, tis only a dream," Elladan said.
Wake up Estel, it is only a nightmare," Elrohir said as well, he too trying desperately to calm his brother before he could harm himself with his flailing about.
"Himband? Elladan? What is all the noise," a sleepy looking Thranduil asked as he entered the room, having heard Estel from clear across the palace.
"Estel is caught in the midst of a nightmare that we seem to be unable to wake him from," Himband said, while continuing to shake Estel in hopes of waking him.
Seeing the distress Estel was in, Thranduil quickly hurried to his side. "Estel Elrondion, wake. It is time to wake up now Estel," Thranduil said sternly, while gently shaking Estel's good arm.
Thranduil's firm voice seemed to have gotten through to Estel, for only seconds later his eyes opened and he flew into an upright position, breathing heavily.
"Easy Estel, twas only a dream, nothing more," Thranduil said soothingly.
For a few seconds, Estel eyed the room warily before realizing where he was and that there was no dark figure with an knife. He lowered his head when he noticed even more people coming into the room.
"Forgive me, I did not mean to wake you," he said sheepishly.
"Estel, you have nothing to be ashamed of mellon nin. Valar knows, if I had been attacked by a crazed elf with a knife, I would have nightmares too!" Legolas exclaimed, having come in just as Estel apologized for waking everyone.
"Legolas is quite right tithen pen. Nightmares are not things that one can control. Why don't you go back to sleep? I promise we'll wake you at the first sign of a nightmare," Thranduil said.
Himband growled at the King but said nothing. He knew there would be no way that he would be able to force everyone to leave again.
Estel nodded reluctantly. He was not eager at all to go back to sleep but his body's demands were too strong to ignore. Within seconds of closing his eyes, he had fallen back into a deep, and hopefully peaceful sleep.
"Good, he needs the rest so his body can heal," Himband said quietly. "Come now, if you are all going to stay here, I recommend you pull up a chair or bed."
The others nodded quietly and took their places next to Estel, guarding him from both physical and mental harm throughout the rest of the night.
-
It was the next morning in Lothlorien and Celeborn, Arwen, and Haldir were eating breakfast together when a messenger came running up.
"Milord Celeborn, this just arrived from Mirkwood. It appears to be for Lord Elrond," the messenger said.
Celeborn scowled and took the message from the servant. "Thank you, I shall handle this," he said.
The servant nodded and left in a hurry.
"Are you going to open it Grandfather?" Arwen asked curiously.
"I don't see that I have any other choice. I have no idea as to where your father went. If the message is important, I don't want to be the one to blame for it being read to late," Celeborn said.
Hesitantly, Celeborn opened the letter. He for one did not like reading other people's mail but in this case, it was necessary. Sighing, he started to read.
While Celeborn was reading the letter, both Arwen and Haldir watched on with fascination at the range of emotions that played across his face. First, there was confusion, then anger, then surprise, and then last but not least, rage.
"Grandfather?" Arwen questioned softly. Very rarely did one see Celeborn in a rage, but when he was, he was not someone you wanted to trifle with.
Celeborn looked up from the letter, his face set in a grim expression. "Arwen, you are to stay here and rule Lothlorien in my absence. Haldir and I will be leaving for Mirkwood as soon as the necessary supplies are ready.
"You are?" "We are?" Arwen and Haldir said simultaneously.
"Yes, we are. We cannot afford to linger here," Celeborn said grimly.
"Why? What does the letter say Grandfather?" Arwen asked, a feeling of dread creeping up and down her spine.
"Estel is in trouble," Celeborn said but did not elaborate any further.
"Grandfather!" Arwen exclaimed.
Celeborn sighed and turned to face his granddaughter. He knew that he could not hide this from her, but that did not make it any easier to tell her.
"Arwen, Haldir, sit down," he said wearily.
Haldir and Arwen exchanged uneasy glances. This was most unusual and more than a little disturbing behavior for Celeborn.
"This letter is from Glorfindel. Apparently, Estel has been attacked," Celeborn said.
Haldir hissed and Arwen gasped in surprise. Who would dare to harm Estel Elrondion, son of the Lord Elrond Peredhil?
Celeborn could guess the question in their minds. "I'm afraid, that the attacker is someone we know. He attacked Estel nearly 16 years ago, when Estel was little more than a babe."
Haldir and Arwen both gasped this time. "WHAT! GOROTHDIL!" Haldir exclaimed.
"I'm afraid so," Celeborn said.
"Come, we must leave at once," Haldir said, practically already out the door.
"Grandfather, may I not come along?" Arwen asked.
"No Arwen, someone must stay here and rule in my absence. That job falls to you my granddaughter," Celeborn said kindly. He knew how hard Arwen had to be taking this.
"Very well Grandfather, but I expect a letter as soon as you arrive telling me all you know," she demanded.
"Of course Undomiel. Take good care of the kingdom," he said.
"I shall Grandfather. Make sure you take care of Estel," Arwen said tearfully.
"Fear not child, I shall. I suspect your grandmother and father are already on their way to Mirkwood as we speak. Estel shall be fine, we will see to that," Celeborn said before leaving to pack his belongings.
As he walked out of the room though, he could not help but think that Elrond and his wife would arrive too late. "Hold on Estel, help is on the way," he murmured to the air.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Ion nin: My son
Tithen pen: Little one
Tithen gwador: Little brother
Mellon nin: My friend
Arda: Middle Earth