A/N The first of this may make you think you've missed something (or that I have), but I clear up the confusion in paragraph 3. Once you survive paragraph 3, it will be much easier! nautika
As Elrohir and Estel drew near to Imladris, the twin halted his mount. "Let us rest for a time, little brother."
Estel obediently pulled his pony to a stop and dismounted.
Elrohir assumed a position of leisure under a tree and patted the ground beside him. The human sat in the spot the elf indicated and accepted the water bag offered him. Elrohir watcher the boy as he drank, then accepted the return of the bag and took a drink himself before speaking. He had been considering this ever since Elladan had left them. Continuing on to Broryl's with Estel after his revelation that he thought Elrond no longer wanted him was not an option. But Elrond had sent a messenger ahead of his sons to let the human family know of their plans to visit. If they all three turned back, Broryl would be concerned and begin a search for them. It was decided that Elladan would go on to Broryl's and Elrohir would return home with Estel. Their Ada needed his son and Estel need his father. Despite the best effort of the twins, Estel was still not convinced Elrond wanted him at Imladris. The shock on his brother's faces when they realized what Estel had asked had done more to frighten the boy than to help him understand the misunderstanding. If possible, the young one was more miserable than he had been before. The ride so far had been quiet. Elrohir had wanted his brother to ride with him, just to feel him in his arms would have been a comfort to the elf, but Estel had refused. Elrohir swallowed a sigh. It was time to follow through on his plan.
"Estel, I know you have been refusing to hear Ada's stories at bedtime, but I have a story I think it is important for you to hear." He placed his arm around his brother and drew him close to his side. "I am told that in the world of men all stories begin Once Upon a Time. Is that how stories begin at Lainon's home?"
"Lainon's naneth says they are too old for stories."
"Ah. Well, I believe that depends upon the type of story. Certainly you are too old for some stories, but even elves as old as Elladan and I still enjoy a good tale around a fireside."
"Really?"
"Yes. When you are old enough to remain up after a feast, you will see the Hall of Fire filled with elves of all ages, all intently listening to stories. They are the kind of stories like Ada tells you…stories from the days of the Alliance between elves and men, stories from the Shire and of Dwarves and their great caves. Have you missed Ada's stories, little brother?"
Estel's eyes dropped and he nodded sadly. Elrohir gave him a quick squeeze.
"Well, the next time your head touches your own pillow, you will hear a story from Ada. He has missed them as much as you."
"He has?"
"Very much. Now for my story."
"Once upon a time…" Elrohir paused to exchange a grin with his brother - thinking how long it had been since the child had grinned at all - and to wish his twin and their adar could see it, too.
"Once upon a time there was a very wise and loving elf. He had lived a long time and he had loved his parents and his brother and his wife. Even though they loved him as well, they all left Middle Earth."
"Was the elf sad?"
"He was very sad, even though he had children who loved him and whom he loved, much of the time his heart was filled with sorrow. Then one day, something very special happened. His sons came home from battle with someone very special."
"Was it a dog?"
"No, Estel, it was a small child. A human child. The elves too the child into their family and the wise and loving elf's heart was so filled with love and joy at the presence of his new son that he was almost never ever sad at all." Pushing thoughts of what his father would say about the rest of the story to the back of his mind, the dark-haired elf continued his story.
"For six years, the boy lived with the elf and his sons and they all loved each other very much. But the young elflings did not know the boy and his kind heart the way his family did. Many times, because of their ignorance, they said things that hurt the boy. His family, who loved him, saw this and they were sad. They wanted him to have friends his own age, so they took him to the home of a human the elf's older sons knew well, so he could play with the man's son."
"Elrohir-"
"Shh, Estel. Let me finish. The boy was only gone for two days and one night – barely a drop of time to an elf – but the house was quiet and empty without the young boy. The elf was so worried about his son that he could not work, but he was happy that his son was making a new friend and he could hardly wait to hear all the stories the boy would tell when he returned home.
But when the child arrived, he was quiet. He no longer challenged his instructors with countless questions or helped the cooks in the kitchen or ran through the house. He no longer wanted to spend time with his brothers and he no longer wished his father to tell him stories at bedtime.
The elves were very worried, especially the adar. They had sent the boy to visit other humans to make him happy, but he was no longer happy with them and he would tell none of them what troubled him. So the elves decided that he no longer wished to live with them because he wanted to be with the humans-"
"Ro!"
"Shh, Estel." Elrohir placed two fingers gently against his younger brother's lips and continued his story. "So the father woke his older sons one morning and said he had sent a messenger to the man, saying his three sons were coming to visit. He told his older sons that he wanted more than anything for his little boy to be happy again. He said the boy must always be safe, too, so he was sending his other sons, the boy's brothers, to live nearby that they might always be there to protect him. And then the wife and loving elf would be left alone in his house and his heart was once more filled with sorry. But it did not matter to him because what was important to him was his little boy's happiness. So he quietly packed all of his youngest son's favorite things and he had the boy's pony made ready so he would not be separated from it because he loved it so. Then he hugged each of his sons and waved goodbye. Only when they were far enough away that the boy could not see did he allow himself to drop to his knees in tears." Elrohir knew neither he nor Elladan would ever forget that sight. It had taken a major force of will on their parts to hold their own tears at bay for Estel's sake.
Drawing himself back to the present, he found Estel standing before him, his small hands were on the twin's shoulders and he was pulling with all his might.
"Get up, Ro. Get up! We have to go now!"
"Very well, little brother. Mount your pony."
"No. I want to ride with you. We need to hurry. Gwanunig can find his own way home!"
"Estel?"
"I have to see Ada now! Please, Ro?"
Elrohir cringed mentally. Elrond was going to be livid. Then a small smile touched the elf's face. It would be worth it.