Title: A Lesson in Lightning
Prompt: #78 - Lightening / Mellon Fic 100
Author: TrinityTheSheDevil
Rating: PG
Genre: Humor
Characters: Estel, Elrond, Erestor
Disclaimer: Not mine, at all.
Summary: Estel learns to harness lightning.
Warning(s): Shameless Erestor torture.

A/N: I know next to nothing about lightning ... anything I may have learned in 8th grade science has went POOF from my brain. I'm just having fun with this!

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It was with relief that Elrond sat in his soft, squishy chair in front of his desk, sighing with content. His day has been quite full, what with the meeting with the men from the next town, and overseeing the birthing of one of the human women staying in Rivendell. He had just now finished teaching Estel about storms, more in particular, lightning. The boy had been fascinated with learning of the deadly bolts of light. Any other time, Elrond may have been suspicious of the child, but today he was simply too weary to think twice about it.

Elrond grinned, thinking of the questions Estel had asked. The boy was curious if nothing else. Estel had wanted to know if lightning could light a single candle, or a hundred of them, at one time. Elrond had sat a moment, and then responded with, "Maybe, Estel. If one were to manage to harness the lightning, perhaps it could. However it is far too dangerous for a mere mortal to try, so nobody has done it before."

Apparently Elrond did not notice his slip of the tongue, for when he had said "mortal", Estel's eyes had lit up as if he were told he could eat his favorite treat for every meal. Estel had then asked what attracts lightning, and Elrond had told him, "Lightning usually strikes things that are very tall. Living things also seem to attract the bolts, as well as things that are made of metal."

Elrond had then said that the lesson would be cut short, and Estel was to observe the storm that night from the safety of the watch tower. The boy had jumped with glee before hugging Elrond and taking off, exclaiming that he would learn to harness the beautiful lightning, and he would be known for it everywhere. Elrond, in his weariness, had simply laughed softly and shaken his head at the antics of children.

Later he would look on this as a foolish action and wonder where his thoughts were.

An hour later, Elrond spotted Erestor passing by his study, and he called to the elf.

"Erestor," Elrond said when the other had walked through his door. "Would you do me a small favor tonight?"

"You have but to name it, Elrond." Erestor replied.

"Can you keep watch over Estel for the night, while he is in the watch tower? I have instructed him to observe the storm that will be here tonight and watch the lightning, and I do not want him to do anything foolish for he seemed a bit over excited at the prospect."

"Certainly, Elrond. Will that be all?" Erestor asked.

"Yes. And thank you, Erestor. I seem to be a bit tired tonight so I think I will turn in."

It was just as Elrond was settling in for the night when the storm began. There was not much in the way of rain and wind, but thunder boomed quite loudly and the lightning was an awe inspiring sight. Elrond thought that Estel must be having a grand time watching the display.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard what sounded like a scream. Jerking upwards he jumped from his bed and ran to the window, looking out. He could not see the watch tower from his room, but could clearly hear muffled cries that sounded like Erestor's voice. Now very alarmed that some kind of harm may have come to Estel and Erestor, he threw on his robe and ran out of his room, rushing towards the tower as fast as his legs could carry him. The lightning was constant now, keeping the ground lit as if it were daylight.

Once he arrived at the tower, he gaped in shock at the sight. There, at the very top and tied to what looked like a wooden pole, and holding a sword towards the air, was Erestor. He was quite nude and his hands were bound around the wood with the sword tied to his hands. In his mouth was a gag that looked like Estel's soiled socks, and there was a large metal bound wire wrapped around his waist.

The wire led from Erestor's body to a table laid out on the ground, with several candles under the wire. Elrond frowned in confusion and wondered where his son was when it suddenly hit him. Just as he thought this, a voice sounded from behind him.

"Hello, ada! Come to watch the show? I have did as you instructed and now I shall harness the lightning! I wanted to use Glorfindel, since he is such a mighty elf and I am sure that lightning would not do much harm to him, but he is away hunting. Erestor shall have to suffice. If you are wondering why he is nude, he was wearing his good robes and I am sure that the lightning would do harm to them, so I took them off after I hit him over the head with the hilt of the sword. It took some maneuvering but I finally got him tied to the rooftop of the watchtower, the highest building. The lightning should strike him soon, I cannot wait until it does! My candles will be lit and I will be known as Estel, he who harnessed the lightning!"

Elrond's mouth gaped open as he listened to this, wondering what kind of evil spirit had taken over his son's body. Surely, his innocent Estel was not capable of this? But as he watched the boy look on in anticipation at Erestor's naked body, he knew that somewhere he had gone wrong. For now, he had to save Erestor from a nasty bolt of lightning.

"Estel, I did not say to tie my advisor up to the watch tower roof to be struck by lightning!"

"But ada, were you not listening? I wanted to use Glorfindel and he was not here. Erestor was the only elf around that I could carry up the watch tower without someone else becoming suspicious!" Estel said proudly, as if thinking of this was a great deed on his part.

"Nevermind, Estel. Come, we must get him down before lightning does strike him!" Elrond said and started towards the tower.

"But ada, you cannot! My candles have not been lit!" Estel said. As Elrond was about to reply, what he feared suddenly came to pass. A large bolt of lightning came down and struck the end of the sword, traveling through Erestor's naked body and then down the cord. It kept going until it hit the candles, managing to light each one that was on the table. Erestor's muffled screams could be heard all throughout Imladris.

"Ada, did you see that! Did you see it! It worked, my candles are lit! It worked! I have harnessed the lightning!" Estel jumped up and down with glee, clapping his hands. Elrond gasped in horror and ran to the tower, now in a hurry to get Erestor down. As he was climbing the stairs, he heard the lightning strike again and Estel once more scream, "Again ada! It did it again, did you see? I can harness lightning!"

By the time Elrond made it to the roof, Erestor had been struck a total of three times by lightning. Estel was now on the ground pondering over the fact that his brothers had told him lightning does not strike the same place twice, and Elrond overheard him remark that he would have to try the experiment again with Glorfindel to test this theory and find out exactly how many times lightning can hit the same spot. Making a mental note to discipline Estel heavily for this later, Elrond went about untying Erestor from his post and carrying him down to the healing chamber. Elrond was, needless to say, very worried about his advisor. Erestor was twitching and all of his hair was standing straight up, there were burns on most of his body, and he was drooling.

As he began to spread salve all over Erestor's body, the elf came alive, snapping out of his stupor.

"Did you see what he did? He bashed me over the head with the sword! I found myself naked at the top of the tower, where Estel explained that I was to be hit by lightning for his experiment! And I was! Not once, but three times the bolts came down! I shall not be watching your son again Elrond, next time you can do it!" Erestor was yelling at the end of his rant, breathing heavily.

Elrond said nothing, merely giving Erestor some tea which left the elf asleep in moments. He finished bandaging the elf, made sure Estel was safely in his room, and went back to his own chambers. Crawling in bed, Elrond decided he would deal with it all in the morning, and explain to Estel that one cannot simply tie someone up and use them as a lightning conductor.

End