Is It Really Home, Sweet Home for Estel? Part 4 of 4

Elrond was just coming out of his study when the front door of the Last Homely House burst open with such force that it slammed back against the wall. The sound resonated through the structure, bringing the elf lord's gaze abruptly to the cause of the disturbance.

"Ada, Ada!" The boy was running toward his father as though being chased by wargs.

"Estel?" The elf moved swiftly to meet his youngest, knelt and swept him into his embrace. He tried to examine the young one for injuries at the same time he looked to the door for his elven sons…and found only one. Elrohir's smile relieved his concerns about Elladan's well-being and the exam showed no injuries on the human.

Estel pulled back from his father's chest so he could look into his face. "I do not want to live with Lainon's family. I want to stay here with you and Ro and Dan."

"He thought we were sending him away because we no longer wanted him. I believe he understands the situation better now. Elladan went ahead to Broryl's to tell them of the change of plans so they would not worry. Estel wanted to see his ada, so here we are."

"Oh, ion nin, I am so glad to see you. Of course we want you here. You are my son and a brother to the twins. We only wanted you to be happy. The house is not the same without you."

"Elrohir told me."

"Now that we have cleared up our misunderstanding, perhaps you would enjoy going to Lainon's with the twins for a short visit."

Before Elrond completed the sentence, Estel was shaking his head. "Maybe someday, but…" The child's brows came together as he thought about exactly what he wanted to say. "You say it is not nice to say bad things about people and Broryl is Dan and Ro's friend…He was nice to me and they tried to make me feel at home, but I did not like it. I want to be here with all of you. I promise I will try harder in class and ask a lot of questions and I will help cook and I wish to begin bedtime stories again and I will listen really hard to them."

As Estel stopped to take a breath, Elrond heard the twin mutter "…listened well enough to mine." At his father's raised brow, Elrohir dropped his gaze to the floor.

"You do not have to promise to do anything, Estel, other than to tell me or one of your brother's if something is bothering you. Does that seem fair?"

Estel graced his father with a huge smile. "Yes, Ada. I love you."

"I love you, ion nin." The elf lord rose with the child still in his arms. It had been a long time since Estel had permitted him this, but now he placed his head on his father's shoulder and stretched his arms about the elf's neck. Elrohir joined them, placing a kiss on his father's brow and a hand on his brother's arm.

"So, little brother, what about your visit with Broryl's family? Was there nothing that you enjoyed? Did you like Lainon?"

"Oh, yes. I liked Lainon and his little sister. Her name is Toya. But their naneth is going to have another baby…Lainon hopes it is a boy and Toya wants it to be a girl…and I do not think she is happy. Do you think she is well, Ada?"

"I am sure she is, Estel, or Broryl would have said something to one of your brother's about it. He knows they are healers. It is not unusual for a woman expecting a child to be easily tired."

"I guess. She worked hard. She cooked and cleaned and washed clothes. Lainon and I gathered wood for the fire and we dried the dishes after she washed them. But I'm not sure it really helped."

"It sounds very helpful. Why do you think it was not?"

"We dropped wood chips on her clean floor. She did not say anything to me but she told Broryl his son made a mess of her clean floor. Lainon turned really red and said he would clean it up, but she said she would do it since he had a guest. I said I could help, but she said we could best help by going outside until dinner was ready."

As Elrond turned this over in his mind he tried to get his son to speak of a different part of his visit without feeling he was saying 'bad things' about his new friend and his family. "I imagine Lainon's naneth is a good cook."

"Oh, yes, Ada. The food was very good. And they thanked the Valar, just like you do."

Elrond smiled with pleasure at that information.

"But…"

"But what, Estel?"

"Well, Toya spilled her mile – it was an accident, but her naneth smacked her hand and scolded her and Toya cried and …"

"Did it frighten you, Estel?" Never had an elf raised a hand to his child, not even the elflings. It was unlikely Estel had ever seen anyone 'smacked' before. Smacked…Estel had learned a new word while visiting his new friend and Elrond did not like how he had learned it.

"No, but it made me sad. I do not think Toya enjoyed her meal after that, but they made her eat every bite. I was afraid she would be sick, but she was not."

"Not everyone is as blessed as we are, Estel. Milk may be hard for them to obtain and food is not always plentiful." The elf lord did not approve of the human's method of discipline, but he could understand their desire to teach their children not to be wasteful. It would not do for Estel to believe Elrond disliked the man and his family. One day, Estel would live in the world of men and it was not too early to begin preparing him.

"I know. They did not have as much as we do – but I did not mind and I ate everything, even though my stomach felt funny after Toya's naneth punished her."

"I am very proud of you, my son. Did anything else trouble you?"

"They do not listen to Lainon and Toya, Ada. Not really listen. I was sad for them, but I am glad for me, because you are my ada and I am home! I wish everyone could have you for an adar!"

"I am very fortunate to be blessed with such special children. I am sure Broryl and his wife feel the same about their children. Now is simply a trying time for them. After the new baby is born, I think we will all visit them. You wish to see if it is a boy or a girl, do you not?"

"Oh, yes, Ada. If you go, I know everything will be alright."

The elf lord cast a concerned look at Elrohir. After all he had done for his little brother, Elrond did not want him to be hurt by Estel's words. Elrohir simply smiled and placed an arm around his father's waist. "Fear not, Ada. He is only saying what Elladan and I have known all along."

The two elves and a human spoke quietly as they made their way to the kitchen. Tomorrow, Elladan would return to Rivendell and things would return to normal. And the House of Elrond would once again be home, sweet home for Estel.

End

A/N This fiction began with my desire to show some of the difference Estel might see in human families as opposed to the ways of the elves. I don't think I presented that part well, but I felt it needed to be included. Whether I made my point or not, I leave to you to decide. At least I think the end is fluffy enough. :D nautika