Sunset poured ruby red light through dove grey tatters of cloud, coating Imladris in its' rosy hues. Usually, such magnificence could not have passed without some ten elves commenting on the sheer beauty.

This evening was different. Imladris was, for the most part, immune to natures' fine display.

Lord Elrond's sons, in particular, his youngest, usurped the attention that would have been spent admiring so beautiful a sunset. Estel had been missing for nearly two days now. The twins were absent as well…but then, yesterday had been the first of Norui.

Elrond scowled as he paced his garden paths. More than anything, he was afraid Estel had gone with his elder brothers. He knew that neither Elladan nor Elrohir would have been so abysmally stupid as to allow such a thing, but this would not have been the first time Estel had snuck after the twins when denied permission to accompany them. Worry creased the elf lord's forehead. Was it not enough that he had two sons risking their lives on a regular basis? Why had the Valar seen fit to 'bless' him with another?

"Hir nin?" A gentle hand touched the dark haired Noldo's elbow. Distrurbed from his thoughts, Elrond glanced at the elf standing beside him and wondered how long he had stood there without being noticed. "Yes, Glorfindel, what is it?"

Glorfindel grinned slightly. "I've been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes, hir nin. You walked right by me at least three times in your pacing."

Elrond smiled somewhat weakly at his seneschal's gently ribbing. "What is five minutes to an immortal? Do not tell me that Estel's impulsiveness has rubbed off on you too." The joke fell flat, almost immediately consumed by the overwhelming wave of concern that appeared on Elrond's face as he mentioned the name of his youngest. With a sigh, the lord of Imladris turned from his friend and resumed pacing. "Did you have something to tell me?"

Glorfindel caught his elbow, halting him once again. "Listen."

A frown marred the elf lord's forehead. "What…?" Then it reached him. It was soft, but there. An elvish voice, singing. Not unusual in an elven city, but Elrond recognized the sound.

"Elladan." Well, that was some comfort anyway. The twins were back early this year…perhaps they had discovered Estel and were bringing him home!

Elrond hurried from the gardens, Glorfindel at his side. A new fear began to assert itself ever so slyly as the Noldo made his way toward the sound of his son's voice. Why wasn't Elrohir singing? And why was Elladan singing something so…dreary? Usually, when the twins returned, their songs were of victorious battles. The clear notes that drifted through the evening air were almost…sad. Elrond felt his heart twist within him. Had something happened to Elrohir?

Without conscious thought, he quickened his steps. The closer he drew to the courtyard, the clearer Elladan's song became. It was an old tune…a lullaby Estel had been particularly fond of as a small child.

The worried father reached the courtyard just in time to see his sons enter it.

What was left of them anyway.

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The sweet sad melody died on Elladan's lips as he saw his father's white face. The younger elf swallowed hard and wished he could look away. A pang of guilt made him wince. How bad must it have been for his father all these years? He knew Elrond watched them leave every year, and though he tried to twist away from the knowledge, he knew how much it pained his father. Because he was never sure of their return. How selfish he and Elrohir had been. They had been blinded by rage, but they had allowed it. Never once did they sit with their father and ask for help, though Elladan had no doubt that Elrond would have gladly given it.

"Ada," Elladan nearly croaked. "Mae govannen."

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Elrond's eyebrows soared to his hairline. Almost simultaneously, he was seized with a mad desire to laugh. It was too ridiculous! The twins stood before him; bruised, bloody, and dishevled, carrying a stretcher between them constructed from two branches and Elladan's tunic, on which Estel was lying, and all Elladan could say was "mae govannen."

The Lord of Imladris shook the feeling off and quickly moved to Estel's side as the twins lowered their makeshift stretcher to the ground. Whatever mirth remained was swiftly driven away as he ran a knowing gaze over his youngest. Estel's face was pale, and sweat coated it liberally, yet he shook as though chilled. His eyes were screwed shut against the rosy light, and he was mumbling deleriously.

"It is his arm, Ada," Elrohir said quietly, his nimble fingers already unwinding the crude bandage.

Elrond's eyes went wide as he saw the wound. "Those are teeth marks. No," The dark haired elf swiftly held up a hand as Elladan opened his mouth. "Now is not the time for explanations, ion nin. I must get his fever down." Elrond caught Estel's frail frame up into his arms and straightened. For an instant, his grey eyes seemed to hold to each of his sons, embracing them with warmth and love, even if he could not put his arms around them at the moment. "See that your hurts are treated," He said softly. "I must tend to your brother."

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Elrohir watched his father stride towards the house and he felt his heart lift. Estel would be all right now. The last few hours had been truly terrible for him, and he knew Elladan had suffered as well. To see their brother in such a state had been nearly heartbreaking. Especially when Estel had started to speak. Elrohir winced as he recalled the boy's fevered mumbling. He had been pleading, almost begging the twins to take him home. Elladan's singing had calmed him somewhat, but it was not enough to completely ease the youth's state of mind.

Their blood lust had frightened him so badly…

"Glorfindel," Elladan's voice brought Elrohir out of his torturous thoughts. The elder twin looked grim and drained as he addressed his father's seneschal. "There is a camp of orcs about 3 hours ride from here. Would…"

"Elladan," Glorfindel raised an eyebrow in an uncanny imitation of their father. "Be serious. Neither you nor Elrohir are fit to go anywhere save for the healer's quarters! Your father would skin me if he even thought I would entertain the idea of allowing you two out to fight orcs."

"We know," Elrohir said quietly. "That is why we are not going."

The golden haired elf stared at the twins for nearly two whole minutes. "I…what?"

Despite his guilt, Elrohir could not suppress a small smile at Glorfindel's dumbstruck expression. It was not often they could leave one such as this speechless!

"We are not going," Elladan repeated, his face twitching in much the same fashion as his twin's. "You are quite right, old friend. Not only have Elrohir and I slain our fair share of this particular group, I fear we would not be much help to you, battered as we are. That is why I would request that you take a patrol of our warriors, and deal with them."

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Glorfindel stared from one dark haired elf to the other, half expecting one to say, 'just kidding'. The twins had not refused to hunt orc since before their mother's capture over 400 years ago! Could it be..?

Blue eyes nearly as piercing as Elrond's gray caught both young lords in their gaze. They looked…tired. Bruised and worn, both tunics missing, and filthy.

But the black rage that had held their souls for so long was gone. In its place was grief, and remorse.

Glorfindel felt a warm smile spread over his face and he had to resist the urge to start singing loudly. "Of course," he finally managed, happy that is came out fairly normal. As he turned away, the blond elf could not help humming a cheerful tune as he went. A great weight had been lifted off his mind. Every year, he watched as the twins left for their 'hunting', and every year he watched as their recklessness added to their father's sorrow. He had tried to reason with them, oh yes. As had nearly every elf in Imladris. Nothing had done any good.

Strange, that a human boy could create such a change.

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Shouldn't we do something about the orcs?

Estel desperately wished he could shut his eyes to the carnage he knew would follow. The twins leapt forward, their eyes burning, weapons at the ready. Without hesitation they threw themselves at their enemy.

The teenager cried out to them, pleading with them to stop. He could see what they could not. Their rage was taking hold of them…twisting them…the more they fought, the less they looked like Elladan and Elrohir.

The more they fought, the more they resembled the very ones they sought to destroy.

If they could just get home, Ada would fix them! Ada could fix anything. Estel called out to them again and again, until his throat hurt.

The fighting stopped suddenly. There were only two orcs left standing. Estel's silver eyes darted back and forth desperately, searching for his brothers. What had happened? Where were they? He had lost track of them in the confusion.

The orcs turned toward the boy, and Estel felt his eyes widen. The swords in their hands were elvish. Elladan and Elrohir's blades. He recognized them. A moments worth of rage rushed through him. How dare these creatures touch his brothers' weapons! But wait…

Their eyes were grey.

Estel choked as the truth hit him. The two orcs leapt towards him, weapons raised.

He screamed.

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"Estel!"

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One of the swords bit into his left arm. It hurt so badly…it burned…

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"Estel, come back to me."

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Someone was calling him. The monsters blurred in his vision and started to fade. He was moving away from them, rushing towards the safe sound that called his name…

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Estel opened his eyes with a jerk. With the horror of the fevered dreams still upon him, he tried to rise. "Ada!"

"Shhh." Elrond's face appeared above him, his hands gently, but firmly pressing against his son's shoulders. "Nin hi, ion nin. Îdh."

The wiry teenager relaxed slightly, drawing a deep breath and letting his body fall back onto the softness of his mattress. Confusion creased the young boy's forehead as he recognized his surroundings. He was in his room, and it was late. Moonlight poured through his open window. His father sat at his side, one hand still resting on his shoulder. Estel smiled wearily at him even as he fought to make sense of this. How had he gotten back home? The last thing he remembered was seeing his brothers…

No. He didn't want to think of that.

Elrond must have seen the momentary flutter of horror cross the slender youth's pale face for his own creased into frown. "Man na den, Estel? What troubles you?"

"Nothing, Ada." The boy turned his face away from the elf lord. " They are only dreams."

Elrond resisted the urge to press. He already knew somewhat of his youngest's 'dreams'. Nightmares, was more fitting. Estel had talked through his delerium, and the small glimpse that Elrond had was more than enough to bother him. What had happened out there?

At least the boy's fever had broken. His wounds had been cauterized, cleaned and bandaged while he was unconscious, and Elrond was thankful for that. He would not have wanted Estel to be awake for something so painful.

"Ada," Estel turned back towards him, his silver eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Elladan, and Elrohir…are they all right?"

The hesitant, guarded way Estel spoke his brothers' names set alarm bells off in Elrond's head. "They are fine," he assured. "Elladan has an arrow wound, and Elrohir some nasty warg bites, but neither of them were as bad as you were." The elf lord brushed a gentle hand over Estel's forehead, smoothing back the sweat soaked dark locks. "I was worried for you, Estel."

The boy winced. "I am sorry, Ada. I…I did not think." He was sorry. Sorry he had ever set foot after his older brothers. The things he had seen haunted him, and he had the horrible feeling that they always would.

"Hopefully you have learned a lesson from all this," Elrond's voice was dry. "When I say I do not wish you to go, there is usually a good reason."

"Yes, Ada." Estel blinked and yawned. His body was tired from fighting the infection. Sleep pulled at him, but he resisted. The threat of nightmares hung heavily on his mind.

"Sleep, ion nin," Elrond said gently. "Your body needs all the rest it can take."

"Will you stay?" Estel murmured as his eyes started to drift shut. Perhaps the nightmares would not come if his father stood guard over him. "I …I would like you to stay, Ada." The boy almost blushed, even in his semi conscious state for such a childlike request, but he could not help it. " mí fuin na…gurth."

The last comment slipped from the slender youth's lips as he crossed the threshold from waking to sleeping. It disturbed his father greatly. The elf lord brushed his son's forehead tenderly, stroking his hair. "Avo gor i mor. Nin hi." Concern and sorrow furrowed Elrond's brow. What had his young one seen?

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"Ada?"

Elrond woke with a jump, fearing that Estel called for him. But no. Estel was still sleeping peacefully. Morning light flowed through the window and brightened the room. Two elves stoood in the doorway. Though they were cleaned and their wounds taken care of, both the twins managed to look somewhat worse then they had yesterday evening.

"Elladan." Elrond smiled at his sons and beckoned them inside. "Good morning. What troubles you, iyn nin?"

Neither one said a word as they moved forward. Elrohir seated himself on the end of Estel's bed, and Elladan took his place beside him. Their faces were drawn and grieved. And…changed.

Elrond's eyebrows drew together as he looked from one to the other. These were not the same twins that had left two mornings ago. Nor, in fact, the same twins he had lived with and loved for the past 435 years. Something had changed.

Not that he didn't recognize them…but it had been so long since he had not seen that powerful blackness behind their eyes. It had been so long since he had not seen the need for vengeance that was twisting and warping his precious children.

So long…

"Ada," Elrohir whispered. "Gohena…" He stopped, a choking sound coming from his throat. Gray eyes burned suspiciously bright in his fair face. Elladan placed a hand on his twin's shoulder in support and opened his mouth as though he would speak, but he could find no words.

Emotions flooded through the elf lord with the force of a tidal wave. He was being overwhelmed. Could it be true? Years he had watched and felt the pain as the twin's black vengeance tore them further and further away from him. But now…

"Iyn nin! Ai, iyn nin!" Before they could move, Elrond lept from his chair and caught both young elves in a crushing embrace. Tears flowed from his eyes as he held his sons.

Elladan and Elrohir buried their faces against their father, as they had done when small elflings in need of comfort. They felt no shame as they shed tears of their own.

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"Gwenyr nin…"

Estel shuddered as he heard the soft syllables fall from his lips. He could see the two elves standing before him, their weapons in hand. Blood lust shone in their gray eyes. The boy wanted to weep. Where were his brother? Where were the elves that were so kind? So patient in their teaching, though his clumsiness nearly caused him to despair. Why did he only see what he wished to never see again? Why this…

Elladan and Elrohir stepped towards the orcs, raising their weapons. Though he knew what would happen, Estel called out again, hoping against hope that they would stop.

"Estel." A familiar voice spoke next to his ear, and a hand squeezed his shoulder warmly. Confused, Estel turned…

…To see Elladan and Elrohir standing beside him. Elladan took his shoulder and gently, but firmly, turned him away from the scene of carnage. "No, Estel. It did not happen."

Estel was now even more confused. "But I saw you…"

"Almost." Elrohir's smile was tight. It softened slightly as he gazed at his younger brother. "We would have…had it not been for you."

"Me?"

"Yes." The twins eyes were sad, even though they smiled. Elladan squeezed his shoulder again, and let his hand drop. "You brought us to our senses, pen neth. Hannon le."

"Hannon le," Elrohir echoed gravely.

Estel stared open mouthed at his brothers. He had done this? Him? The human? The one who was eternally too young? The boy who knocked over vases and broke at least one very valuable item (or so Glorfindel claimed) every day? He looked up at his brothers in astonishment.

Then he noticed it. The blood lust he had seen was gone. These were the brothers he knew once more.

Estel threw himself at them both, his arms wrapping around their waists and holding fast. The twins embraced him readily.

"Hannon le," Elrohir whispered against Estel's ear. "Thank you for bringing us back."

Finish

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Hir nin- My lord

Ada. Mae govannen- Father(daddy). Well met.

Nin hi, ion nin. Idh. –I am here, my son. Rest.

Man na den, Estel?- What is it, Estel?

Mi fuin na…gurth.- In the darkness is…death.

Avo gor i mor. Nin hi.- Do not dread the dark. I am here.

Gohena- Forgive…

Iyn nin- My sons.

Pen neth- Young one

Hannon le.- Thank you.

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