The Ghost Of Estel Chapter 1: Just The Beginning, a lord of the rings fanfic

The Ghost Of Estel

Summary: Elladan and Elrohir are busy setting up The Last Homely House for Christmas, and do NOT want to be bothered by one of Elrond's friend's elflings, so they entertain them to a story, which, knowing the twins turn out to be embarassing and a recipe for disaster before anything has begun. Set before FOTR.

Disclaimer: Grrrr... I have to hate these things above everything else! According to this big wad of paper saying 'nope, can't have them', I'm guessing that the characters Tolkien made up aren't mine... (sniffles). But, Rúnya, Táridur and Kirwen are all mine! (huggles my creations)

A/N: Please no flaming, Me and my lil' elves, bless them are wearing flame resistant clothes, and anyways, these clothes are dry clean only, and i don't think you really want annoyed Elves after you. I mean look what Legolas done when someone took his shampoo... (points to a mess on the floor and shakes head) That Elf is barmy...not right in the head... Anyways, this is my first fic, and i'll try to make it as good as others, but my english sucks! Oh yeah, and my elvish isn't all that good either, so don't yell at me if i get things wrong, i am partial to laud noises... Anything else? I dont think so... Okay then! On with the story!

The Ghost Of Estel

Cold, all he felt was a disturbing chill escalate his spine. A shiver wracked his system as he rubbed his hands together to try to stay warm. 'Why is it so cold?'. Elrohir put down the pine cones he was arranging on the tree and looked around. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his breeches, he went in search of the mysterious draft. It was a nuisance to say the least. 'Speaking of nuisances where was Elladan?'.

Whipping his head around and shuffling his feet across the hall floor Elrohir reluctantly went of in search of his gwandur. It took him just three seconds to find him. Just three. Oh, and he found the chill there too. 'Ro didn't like what he found.

Elrohir mentally slapped himself. 'I ended up with this to decorate with? I'd prefer to have Erestor. At least he does something!'. Sighing to himself, Elrohir shuffled forward and stood behind Elladan just watching him. The said person was hanging out the window, watching the snowflakes fall from the Heavens, trying to catch them on his tongue, and when he missed, produced a string of curses, that would have made the Dark Lord blush. Suddenly, his brother jumped, shook his head whilst staring into the sky. Even more perplexed Elrohir, just silently watched his twin.

After about five minutes, Elrhoir was becoming, very very bored. 'Elladan isn't all that interesting really... Hang on a minute, i sould be enjoying myself! I'm the one doing all the hard work here!' Grinning, Elrohir stepped next to Elladan and nudged him over and leaned his elbows on the window sill. "What you doing?"

Giving a gasp of suprise Elladan jumped off the floor and spun around, glaring defiantly as his somewhat too relaxed brother. "What am I doing? I was on look out, before you gave me a heart attack! Aren't you supposed to be decorating?"

Elrohir shook his head and turned to look at his brother. "Actually" he paused and leaned out of the window to pull the shutters closed. "Actually, you are supposed to be decorating also remember... you are the one who wanted to get this hall done before Kirwen and her brothers arrive, right?"

"Oh Valar! I forgot!" Elladan looked rather pale, Elrohir decided. 'I don't blame him either, after the last visit, Elladan always has seemed to be just that little less...colourful' Taking Elladan by the arm and leading him back into the Hall of Fire, Elrohir shoved a pile of holly wreaths into Elladans arms and pushed him into the direction of a blank wall at the far end of the hall.

Resisting the urge to wince and rub his sore arms, where the holly had embedded itself in his skin, Elladan rose up to his full height, squared his shoulders and strode off with a firm 'humpf'. Elrohir sighed and rolled his eyes, Elladan was always reluctant to decorate the halls, but when it came to cooking the cookies, Elladan was the first one to volunteer. Elrohir pondered over the thought why his brother's name loosly meant 'Elf-Man' 'Pft! Elf-man indeed.'

Turning back around to see how was Elladan was getting on, he smiled and returned back to his tree. 'Now, where was... wait a minute'. Turning back around and staring at the back his brother's head, Elrohir gasped and his eyebrows rose into his brow. Though, not after long, the gasp turned into a fit a giggles. Elrohir tried to hid them but failed...miserably.

Elladan was feeling sour, very sour, he just didn't want to do this right now. He'd prefer to be off in the snow throwing snowballs at unsuspecting passer-bys or sitting in the tree tops and feeling his hair whipping about his face. But oh no, he couldn't do that he had more important things to attend to - he had to decorate. All thanks to Elrohir that was. A smile tugged the edges of Elladan's lips as he began to think about the possible pay-backs Elrohir was looking for. 'what about turning him festive... 'Ro would look good as a walking tree...' Elladan calmed down somewhat, until he heard Elrophir laughing.

"For Eru's Sake Elrohir! What is it now?" Elladan yelled, spinning around and glaring at his brother.

Elrohir visibly jumped and stopped giggling, and Elladan smirked a little, but still corssed his arms and yelled a little more forcibly. "Well?"

Grimincing Elrohir noticed the uncanny Lord Elrond Elladan pulled off. Though when Elrohir caught the white smudge he spotted earlier dripping slowly down the side Elladan's hair, he was giggling even more uncontrollably. Elladan watched his brother with full disdain as Elrohir turned a nice sahde of blue and collpased to the floor clutching his sides, no longer giggling but hiccuping. Elladan narrowed his eyes as Elrohir even began to cry with laughter. "ELROHIR! WHAT IS IT?"

Elrohir noticed that his twin had turned bright red, and through past experiences reaslised that 'Dan's wrath wasn't really what he wanted. So, slowly composing himself, Elrohir steadied his breath and pulled himself off the floor. Still clutching his sides and giggling every so often, he explained with the best thing he could come up with - through bursts of laughter "Oh...nothing...I was...just...thinking..about something". Elladan wasn't convinced, he could see a familiar looking twinkle in his brother's eye, the same twinkle when he was up to something. Not being botherd to ask, Elladan growled and set off back to work.

Closing his eyes and silently laughing, elrohir also got back to work Òh, how naive you are brother dear.'

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After three hours, two bedraggled elves stood, next to each other admiring their work - a tree, which was still rather blank, and a wall... just a wall. Through the last three hours, they had managed to argue for 20 mintues at a time, and managed to annoy each other 6 times. Nothing was going to get done at this rate.

Elladan groaned, this wasn't working! 'we're not even half way done yet!'. He groaned with frustration, a little louder this time as he took in the state he was in. His tunic had little holes pierced into it and in some parts a few holly leaves stuck out. Down the front of him there was a bright red smear, where the berry juices had got him. His outer tunic was tied about his waist and his boots, where, well somewhere in the room. He glanced quickly over to his twin and grinned. He didn't have to carry out his plan, his borther already looked like a tree, pine cones were wedged in his belt, fern leaves were arranged in his hair and the few pieces of bark were lodged behind his ear - how on earth he had done that, he didn't know.

This was too much hard work, he found it hard enough getitng up at sunrise just to train. Trying to climb up pillars of the hall and wrap holly trails around it, and then climb up another and do the same, and then fix the one you had a done half an hour ago for the third time becuase it kept falling down, was just too tiring. He needed to sleep. Elladan yawned, stretched an wearily closed his eyes. He slumped backwards into a chair, swung his legs over the arma nd fell into an exhausted sleep in no time at all.

Elrohir smiled after he had heard a soft 'thump' form behind him. he had actually given Elladan the hardest job. It was just amusing watching him fail. He could remember just an hour ago, Elladan had thrown a temper tantrum, jumped up and down on the holly repeatedly, kicked it half way across the room, put his hands on his hips and smiled to himself. Elladan was never patient.

Elrohir turned to his bother and felt like sleeping himself 'its only for a little while'. He pushed the large sofa nearer to the fire and warmed himself before, like his twin, fell asleep. But their slumber wasn't going to last for long. Oh no, they had forgotten who was coming to visit.

Three snow clad elflings ran through the halls, searching out their favourite play mates - the twin sons of Elrond. It was, once again that time of year when Elrond's friend's cousin's daughter's children came to visit. Why Elrond let them, was a mystery, they were evil, cynical little brats, or thats how Elladan would put it. Last time they had visited, they had made sure that they didn't leave until Elladan was hanging by his feet, covered in head to toe in a sort of floury mushy stuff. He could never get it all off, and has since been a plae whitish clour, even lighter than his natural colour.

Rúnya the eldest of the three siblings was about 14 in human years and was always coming up with the pranks. He was the sort of leader of their threesome and never had really liked the twins. He had a light brown colour of hair and wore a pair of deep emerald eyes which was always twinkling with some sort of mischeif.

Táridur, about 10 in human years had always loved visiting his Lord, he loved The Last Homely House, and he loved listening to all the stories that they had here in the Hall of fire. He loved the twins, unlike his brohter, but had laways had a soft spot for Elrohir. They had bonded better, Elrohir had a love to Literature, unlike his twin, Elladan was far more impulsive. He had always liked the peace and loved reading. He looked similar to his brother, but his eyes were a shade darker.

Then there was little Kirwen, only about 5 in edan years, she was fond of everything long and shiny. And even at her young age, she still fancied a few people. Every since she had first met the twins, she had adored them, although, her favourite was Elladan, he played with her more. He would play hide and seek longer than Elrohir would, and he would take her to the highest tops of the trees, Elrohir ahd always argued that she was too young. She had a deep crystal blue eyes and black hair, which almost swept the floor. her hair wasn't long, she was just a little bit shorter than others. That's what prematurity does to you. She could get annoying and whined constantly when she couldn't get what she wanted. Maybe thats why Elladan was so nice.

They had all just come in from the cold, their boots were soaked through and snow left sparkling dots in their hair. Kirwen squealed when they came through the doors and bounced up and down in her brother's arms. "Can we go see them now Rúnya, please? Can we now?"

Rúnya released his hold on Kirwen not saying anything and without spoken permission, Kirwen got the message, picked up her dress in one fluid motion and raced as fast as her legs could carry her to the Hall of Fire. She rushed past a rather confused Elrond as he approached the door to greet his new guests.

Elrond smiled and bowed, greeting the vistors formally "Welcome again. Come in, must be chilly out there." He smiled as he laid eyes on the two elflings. "Táridur, Rúnya", Elrond greeted nodding at them both as he said their names. "The twins are in the Hall of Fire at present, you may go see them". Needing no more to be said they boys rushed off. Rúnya grinned to himself, 'This is going to the best Winter Solstice ever!'.

Elrond kissed the hand of their mother, Telpëalata. She smiled and greeted in a low curtsey and dipped her head slightly, letting her chestnut hair fall about her shoulders. "Thankyou for allowing us to stay Hir nin"

Elrond nodded his head, "It is my pleasure you and your children are a pleasure to have. Even if you are my friend's cousin's daughter...or something. My home is open to all". Come, are you hungry...thirsty...tired? Not wating for an answer, he took her by the hand and led her towards the dining room.

"What about my children hir nin?" She was highly worried, he children were not the best of angels.

Elrond shook his head and held motioned to a seat. "Fear not, Elladan and Elrohir are capable" He persuaded her more with a smile and pulled out the seat for her to sit on. When she was seated, he asked the maid to get them some food, and sat in his seat. 'Or so i hope' Elrond hoped

The trio stopped at the doorway and Táridur had to grab his sister before she sped right through this room, and into the other. She was fast for a tiny one. Rúnya smirked as he spotted the twins sleeping. He knelt down to Kirwen and whispered something into her ear, and with that she was off, and sat on Elrohir's legs. she wiglged about a bit to wake the sleeping Lord and when Elrohir woke with a start and almost kicked her off in his surprise she clung to his leg.

Elrohir had been in a really nice dream... a pretty maiden dream. that was until a weight fell onto his legs. Thinking he was under attack, he awoke quickly and tried to kick the thing off, but to his dismay it clung to him like a leech. 'AI! What now?' Elrohir shuffled back against the sofa, blinked a few times to clear his vision peered down and wished he hadn't. There staring up at him through those annoying innocent eyes was Kirwen. Elrohir smiled sarcastically and casted his gaze over to the doorway and satnding there were the other two, wispering to each other. 'I want to wake up now!' Elrohir yelled at himslef. They couldn't be here just yet. How long was he asleep for? Elrohir looked at the window and almost screamed, it was daylight when they were decorating and now it was coming towards sunset. He fell backwards into the sofa a bit more and tried to loosen the grip on his now dead leg. 'It hasn't spoken yet...'

"Good Morning 'Ro! Come play! We're all here, Naneth too! Come on!" Kirwen shuffled onto the sofa, grabbed Elrohir's hand and began to tug on it. When Elrohir refused to move, Kirwen bounced onto his chest and all the air Elrohir had been using to calm himself left his body in a large 'wooshing' sound. Kirwen grinned as Elrohir began shuffle beneath her, trying to remove the thing not letting him breath. Giving the biggest shove he could muster, he soved Kirwen off him and coughed trying to get some air into his lungs...

"Kirwen!" Elrohir gasped still sounding a bit raspy "Don't do that again. You..." Elrohir's attention was brought from admonishing Kirwen to a loud thud coming from behind him. He spun around to see Elladan face down on the floor, trying to ease himself off the floor again. He spotted four hands grasping the edges of the chair and the tops of heads peeking over the top. 'Uh no..Elladan's gonna be mad...' Elrohir was about to help his brother up, but was pushed behind and landed on top of Elladan sending them crashing to the floor. All Elrohir heard was a groaning noise coming from underneath him. Getting up off his brother, he dusted himself off and offered a hand to Elladan who was greatly accepted the help and rubbed his head. Elrohir grimanced, that was going to leave a bruise.

Suddenly a red blur past him, and all Elrohir could gather was that was Elladan running after his assailant. Rúnya and Táridur were in deep trouble. He turned his attention back to Kirwen and gasped, 'she isn't here, then where is she?' Elrohir frantially looked around him only to find out where.

Elladan had been sleeping oh so peacefully, and he could have sworn he heard Elrohir talking or something. He wasn't botherered right now, all he was bothered about was getting a good sleep. He yawned and turned in his makeshift bed and fell asleep again. Only to be wake up face down on the floor with a smarting headache. He looked up and noticed Táridur's duck down behind the chair. 'No, no, not now! Valar!'. Elladan tried ease himself off the floor and managed to get up to his elbows just to be pushed back down again. This was no fun! He groaned in spite of himself, lying on the floor was not very comfortable. Then just like that the weight had gone. Elladan raised his head off the floor and saw his brother offering him his hand. Elladan used Elrohir as a lift and hoisted himself up. He waited until his ead stopped spinning adn then he ran past Elrohir, after Táridur and Rúnya. 'They had better run... i am NOT in the mood'. Elladan had caught up with Rúnya and grabbed him from his tunic and held him up in front of his face. Elladan looked into the sneering face of Rúnya and narrowed his eyes

"What you smiling about" Elladan growled and was answered by a point of the finger. But before he even had time to look around his head jerked back and he released his grip on Rúnya. He was pulled to the floor by his hair and landed smack on his back 'Ai! I did not deserve that'. Elladan peered upwards and saw the grinning face of Kirwen looking down at him. She smilied innocently once more before pouncing on Elladan and jumping up and down on his abdomen. To say Elladan was annoyed was like saying the the Nazgul were really a bunch of clowns dressed up and preferred to have tea parties with Arwen then really stab anyone.

Yelling at the top of his voice and with what breath he could get Elladan screamed,"Get...this...imp...off...me...NOW!"

Táridur, giggled and then stopped, Kirwen was goign to get mullered by Elladan befoer too long, so he was about to rush over there, but before he could step a foot forward, Elladan was standing before him holding out a rather Kirwen at arms length, acting as if she had done the smelliest poo in the whole of Arda. Táridur looked up and smiled. Well what else could he do? He was just about to grab Kirwen before Elladan's booming voice scared him to the Halls of Mandos.

"I HOPE SHE DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU!" And with that Elladan dumped Kirwen on the floor and stormed off. Even Rúnya looked scared. But his scared face soon deminished and he was locked in a fight against giggles. Táridur was confused, 'What had just happened?' Gathering the tearful Kirwen in is arms, he stared at Rúnya. His brother mearly pointed at Elladan's hair and that was all that it took for him to laugh. How could he miss that?

Elrohir smiled and looked at the floor, he tried not to laugh, Elladan was in one of those moods where people could get hurt. But still... it was funny. He saw Elladan spin round, storm up to Rúnya and glare at him through stormy grey eyes.

"And what is so funny this time Rúnya?" Rúnya said nothing and just burst out laughing. Elrohir could see Elladan's veins pop out of his neck, he looked truly annoyed. He felt sorry for Táridur. Since Elladan was about to talk to him.

"Táridur, exmplain to me what is so funny. NOW!"

Kirwen jumped and hid her face in her brother's tunic, but Táridur's face stayed passive. He looked at his brother who was laughing and couldn't help laughing himself. He patted Kirwen's hair befoere exmapling to Elladan what was the matter, "Well,since you asked, its you hair..how long ago wsa it that you washed it?"

Elladan blanched. What was wrong with his hair? Elladan ran his fingers through his hair and stopped at the top of it. He drew back his fingers and rubbed what he found between his fingers. He almsot threw up. 'Is this what i think it is? Was this what Elrohir was laughing at earlier.. wait Elrohir, that scheming...'. Elrohir didn;t have a chnce to react, he was pushe dback into the wall by Elladan and the look on his face told Elrohir, he should have been hiding.

"You knew? Elrohir, you KNEW i had bird crap in my hair? You kenw and didn't tell me!" Elladan stepped back and looked like he was about to cry. Hadn't he been humiliated enough lately?

Elrohir truly felt sorry for his brother. But something about him was a little suspicious. "'Dan, I'm sorry but..." Elrohir reached forward to place his hand on hid brother's shoulder, but it was gone. He didn't see what was coming next. A fist came flying towards his face and Elrohir was too schicked to do anything...except fall whne the blow hit his eye. "ELLADAN", Elrohir hollared, rubbing his eye. He lunged towards his brother and pinned to the floor.

Táridur, Rúnya and Kirwen looked on in shock horror, never before had they seen this. When they thoguht it was all over...it all began. Elrohir puched Elladan in the mouth, and that was that it took to get the pair rolling and hitting each other. Rúnya's mouth fell open and he covered Kirwen's eyes. This was bad. Suddenly a throat was cleared behind him and he looked backwards. There, in an upside down pose stood Elrond, and behind them, his mother. Rúnya cocked his head to the side and mouthed a 'hello' to his mother.

Elrond could not believe his eyes as he walked in. As he and Telpëalata had been eating dinner, and ignoring the feeble bangs and thuds, but when a loud thud had hit the wall, tehy both ran into the ahll, only to find his son's grappling with each other. He strode over there in four long steps and yanked the two fighters apart. "WHAT is the meaning of this?" He looked between his sons, glaring at them both. He shook his head and let them stand on their own two feet. Elladan opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by Elrond, " Wait, I don't even want to know. But i want you to know i am very disappointed in you. Do not show that kind of behaviour in front of guests again!" Elrond then walked off, montioned for Telpëalata to follow him. When he got a few yards out of the Hall he caled behind his back "Tell them a story or something to keep quiet! ALL OF YOU BE QUIET!" With that he rounded a corner and was gone.

The five elves stared each other and shrugged. It was the best idea they had had yet.

The five elves were huddled around the fire. Rúnya leaned up against the wall, nearest to the fire, folded arms and leaned a leg against the wall. He stared down at the group. A few feet in fornt of him, Elladan was reluctantly trying to calm down a bouncy Kirwen and to the right of them, Elrohir was trying to edge away from a clingy Táridur. Elrohir stopped after a while and leaned back against the chair and let Táridur lean on his shouder.

They all watched in amusement as Elladan tried to calm down Kirwen. She was crawling all over his legs and pulling at the braids in his hair and then plaiting them up again. Elladan was trying to grin and bear it, but everyone knew , that was not goign to work. Though after five minutes, Elladan pulled her off his hair, arranged her on his knees and bounced her up and down. Kirwen squealed with pleasure and soon was quiet, enjoying the fun.

Táridur was the first to speak "So, what we going to be listening about now then? We're here, and we want to be entertained". Elrohir tutted and rolled his eyes. He looked over to Elladan who was having a staring contenst, actually more like a glaring contest with Rúnya. Them two were so annoying. Elrohir cleared his throat and thankfully garnered the attention of his brother.

"Elladan, I believe we have a story for them. How about the time where a said man got drunk and died, and then...", Elrohir saw Elladan smile and took the answer as a yes. Hopefully this would keep those annoying brats quiet.

Rúnya scoffed. "Alright then, get on with it." He slid down the wall slowly, pulled his knees up to his chest, folded his arms over his knees and leaned his chin on them. "We all don't want to turn out to be as old as you two guys".

Elrohir shook his head. He adjusted Táridur on his shoulder. He looked over the group saw Kirwen snuggle down into Elladan's arms and glanced at Rúnya who just glared

back 'Spoiled brat'. With the crackling and spitting of the fire, Elrohir began.

"Well..."

Well what did you think, remember it was my first ever fic, and it kinda turned out longer than i thought... ooops. So R & R, give me some feedback, Should I carry on, or just drop it? Oh, and if my grammer is like yrch poo, sorry! I have read through this like 4 times, over and over, and i don't think i could see anything, but if you guys find anything you think could be changed, just let me know!

Naamarie, Shadowiel

Translations:

Hir nin - my lord

Gwnadur - brother

Naneth - mother