Murderer
Estel: 5
"I'm a mu'd'rer!"
Elrond and Elrohir spun around in shock at the shout which echoed throughout the Lord of Rivendell's bedroom as his youngest son burst through the door, tears falling down his cheeks as he looked up at his father.
"Quiet, Estel!" Elrond all but hissed, hearing soft cries coming from the adjoining room. Groaning, he turned and looked pleadingly at Elrohir.
The younger twin smiled softly and stood up. "I will see to her," he said, walking into the room and closing the door behind him.
Elrond turned to his five-year-old, fixing him with a stern gaze. "What is the meaning of this, Estel? Myself and your brother have only just managed to get your sister to sleep, and now you have woken her!"
The elf lord's angry expression slowly turned into a frown as he saw how blood-shot the small boy's hazel eyes were, and the way tears were falling uncontrollably down his bright red cheeks. He walked closer to him and kneeled down in front of him, placing both hands on his frail shoulders.
"What is it, tithen Estel nin?" he asked in a much softer voice.
"I am a mu'd'rer, Ada. I killed him!"
Elrond's frown only deepened as he heard these words. "You killed who?"
"Wiggly!"
The elf lord's eyebrows slowly rose. "Your… caterpillar?" he asked.
"Yes!" Estel confirmed, and he moved forward, wrapping his arms around his father's neck and burying his head into the muscled chest, sobbing loudly.
Elrond sighed and effortlessly lifted the boy up. "How did you kill him?"
"I-I stepped on… on him when I t-t'ipped on a rock."
The caterpillar had been one of Estel's many outdoor 'pets' for about three weeks, now. It had been quite a remarkable looking creature – bright purple with yellow markings – and so he did feel quite remorseful that it wouldn't be able to turn into the beautiful butterfly it had been bound to become.
"Estel, you are not a murderer."
"But I killed him!"
"It was an accident, ion nin, only an accident! You did not mean to step on him."
Estel nodded. "I wan' to give him a fun'ral."
"Alright. We shall do that."
The boy sniffed, taking in a shaky breath. "Where is he now?"
"He is in a happy place, now. Do you remember talking about the Halls of Mandos? I believe Wiggly is now in a Hall made specially for caterpillars."
Estel smiled widely. "Good."
And as the boy was set on his feet, toddling off to go and find Elladan, Elrond could only think about the day his son would have to kill much more than caterpillars…
Elvish used:
Tithen Estel nin – My little Estel
Ada – Dad/Daddy
Ion nin – My son