Summary – Estel does not want to play…what can be wrong with him?

I Don't Feel So Well!


The sun shone bright, and five year old Estel did not feel like welcoming the coming of morning like he usually did; for a young child he was exuberant, and happy. He always felt happy, though sometime he got upset when he couldn't find Ada. But mostly he really didn't care one way or the other where his Father was just so long as he could curl up in the Elf's arms.

This morning however, he wished to stay in bed; his tummy rumbled but it wasn't out of hunger, it was out of something else that Estel did not want to think about! He sighed as a knocking came to the door. Erestor, Ada's friend and Counselor opened the door in and smiled a little at the small lump on the bed.

"Little One, it is time to get up, breakfast shall be served in ten moments time," Erestor said.

"Don't wanna," Estel mumbled but Elves have wonderful hearing and Erestor hear the small child.

"Oh? Did you play a trick on your brothers?" Erestor asked, wanting to laugh but thought better of it. Estel sighed and sat up in bed, his long dark hair had come out of its braid sometime during the night and the boy looked as if he had gotten no sleep at all.

"Darling, are you feeling all right?" Erestor asked coming into the room. Erestor knew a thing or two about Humans, not that he lived among them, but Halbarad was a good friend to him and Erestor had learned that sometimes humans could get sick.

"Yes," Little Estel whined. The boy was not one to whine and so Erestor knew what he had to do. He bade the young boy to sit down.

"I'll be right back, don't move," Erestor ordered and left the room.

Estel didn't feel like moving, so even if he hadn't been ordered he probably would have stayed in bed; he drew a pillow over his head and settled into the cool darkness. But all too soon, it was taken away and a cool hand was upon his forehead.

"Erestor, Mellon Nin, you are right," it was Ada!

"I thought you would want to take care of him, what herbs shall I bring?" Erestor asked.

"Atheleas and lavender, the head Healer should have something for congestion," Elrond replied. Even though Rivendell did not get many human visitors, Rangers would stop by every now and again and Elrond always wanted to be prepared. Even during the winter. That was probably how Estel got sick, he had played way too long outside yesterday and now had come down with a cold. At least, that was what Elrond hoped.

"Ada? What is the matter?" Elladan sprang into the room, a frown on his face. He had just met with Erestor who was on his way to the healing wing.

"Estel is just sick, do not worry over much," Elrond replied.

"Sick?" Elrohir asked, he had only been a moment behind his brother.

"Indeed, humans get sick, Estel will be sick at times,"

"Oh, will he die?"

"No, no, it is just a cold; in a few days he will be better," Elrond replied. Estel opened his grey eyes at that time and gave them all a smile.

"Can we go play later?' he asked.

"Not today, today you must stay in bed," Elrond replied.

"But do not worry, we shall entertain you!" Elrohir smiled.

"Tell me a story, please?"

"All right," Elladan smiled and started in on a very much made up story; "There was once a pour boy named Jack, he and his mother lived in the hills and did not have enough food…"

Elrond smiled as Elladan told a new story he had probably heard in Bree – he put some ointment on Estel's chest, and bade some boiling water be brought to the room so that he could put the lavender and atheleas in it.

"So, Jack traded the old cow for a handful of Magic beans and went home to his mother. However, when he got home…his Mother was very upset, she took the beans and threw them out the window and sent Jack to bed with no supper…"

Estel was entranced, he loved tails of any sort and this one was terribly exciting, at least, to a five year old!

"What happened then , Ell'dan?"

"Well, it was all quiet through out the night – but when Jack woke up the next morning…there was a giant bean stock in the gardens! Jack was so excited the he raced out of the house without his shoes and started to climb it! He climbed on and on and he wondered at how long he had been climbing for it felt like a million centuries had passed; either way, he got to the top, and in front of him was a huge white castle!" Elladan smiled.

Estel and Elrohir gasped in appreciation, Elrond raised an eyebrow at the 'white castle', but Elladan smirked and went on with the story. Elrond for his part, piled more blankets onto the bed about his son, and put the atheleas and lavender in the boiling pot. He built up the fire in the before empty grate and listened to his sons giggle.

Elladan had put on a gruff voice as he imitated the evil giant; "Fee, fie, foe, fumb! I smell the blood of a peasant man! I will grind his bones to make my bread! Well, when Jack heard that he wanted to turn tail and run! But he was very brave, the Harp had asked him to help her, and so he did! He hid from the giant, and then he picked up the harp and started for the front door of the exit!"

"But, the evil giant caught site of him and started for little Jack, who ran out of the castle and down the green slopes to the bean stalk. If he thought it took forever to climb up the stalk, he was surprised at how short a time he had spent climbing down with the Harp on his back. Once he got to the ground, he picked up his ax, and started chopping at the bean stalk,"

Estel gasped and Elrohir giggled a little – Elladan ignored his twin.

"But the giant was getting closer and closer. Jack despaired that he would never get the stalk down…but guess what happened next?"

"What?" Estel asked, his breath coming in gaps now, but his eyes as big as dinner plates.

"With a huge CRACK! The bean stalk had been hacked in two and started to fall – bringing the giant along with it. In moments, the giant was dead and Jack was safe with the harp. After that, the Harp blessed Jack and his mother, then their house was filled with gold and they all lived happily ever after," Elladan finished.

"Oh Elbereth! I don't think I can be as brave as Jack!" Estel said, his eyes holding awe for the fictional character.

"You don't need to be, because you are brave in your own right," Elrohir said.,

"Tell another!"

"What shall you hear?" Elrohir asked, it was his turn now.

"Don't care," Estel said, settling back in the covers, the mixture of herbs that permeated the air was calming his aching lungs.

"I'll have someone fetch you some tea and a small breakfast for Estel," Elrond said, leaving the room. That was when Elrohir got an evil idea!

"Estel, have we ever told you about that time that Ada went hunting but had been caught by some fair maidens in the forest of Imaldres?"

"Ada likes girls?" Estel asked, then coughing a bit. Elrond rolled his eyes and left the room. THe laughter of Elladan and Elrohir followed after him.


Throughout that afternoon; the boys had entertained themselves with stories of all sorts. Estel had asked Elladan to repeat Jack and the Beanstalk twice, but Elladan happily did so and changed the story around a bit each time. Estel did not pick up on the subtle changes, but he had fallen in love with the story!

Soon, however, Estel was yawning and Elladan knew that it was time for his brother to sleep. So, he started to sing softly –

The leaves were long, the grass was green,

The hemlock-umbels tall and fair,

And in the glade a light was seen,

Of stars in shadow shimmering

Tinuviel was dancing there,

To music of a pipe unseen,

And light of stars was in her hair,

And in her raiment glimmering….

Elladan did not finish the old song for his little brother was asleep – he and Elrohir quietly put more herbs into the boiling pot on the hearth of Estel's fire and quietly left the room, leaving the door open a crack behind them. They knew that the tea their brother had would have him go to sleep and both were glad.

"So, brother, tell me…where did you hear about Jack and the beanstalk?" Elrohir asked.

"Don't know, it was the only story I could come up with!" Elladan shrugged.


A/N – The song that Elladan sung to Estel is in Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien, on page 216. I don't own the song nor the characters! I know that these chapters are short but they are only snap shots of the family at different times of their lives. In this Estel is five.

Ta,

Poppy