Title: Faerie Child

Author: Celestial Seraphim

Warnings: OOCness, violence, angst, language, drama, darkness etc.

Pairings: AragornxArwen (Others are unknown feel free to make suggestions)

Disclaimer: I neither own Harry Potter nor LOTR. All claims go to their prospective owners.

Summary: Waking up in the middle of the forest he doesn't know who he is, where he comes from or what happened to him. All he does know is that he's a child, he's in danger and his ears are pointed. All they know is that Mithrandir needs them to save this boy but upon saving him they get their own shock. What elfling has the ability to shift into a leopard cub and why does he have the family name of a very ancient race of elves that had been lost?

Author's Note: I am sooooooo sorry this took so long to get out. I've honestly been rewriting this chapter over and over again. I'm still not happy with it but I feel like I owe you guys a chapter already for being such faithful followers. I've had this sitting in my laptop for a while now anyway. I'm also currently dealing with school, work, writing a book and trying to get my business going so my life is pretty hectic now. However, I will definitely work on getting chapters out! Thank you guys for being so patient and faithful. Love you all and hope you enjoy!

Faerie Child

Chapter 5

A whiskered nose twitched with all the scents being filtered through it as two velvety soft ears swiveled about, catching all the sounds around the little cub. Arwen watched the cute little leopard cub pace back and forth in the saddle in front of her with a fond look, her eyes catching Aragorn's amused ones for a moment as they shared a look. Silently, they both thanked heaven's they were getting in some early practice on child rearing. Her mare's affronted snort made her attention zero back in on Syllith's cub form to see him attempting to playfully swat at her ears. Arwen laughed and gathered the cub in her arms, cuddling the little ball of fur as she said lovingly, "Syllith, leave her be or I will not tell you the story of the Fellowship."

Rectangular ears perked up at the mention of his Ada's previous adventure and Syllith obediently relaxed into his Nana's arms. Aragorn sighed softly, letting it end in a chuckle as Arwen began the story of the fellowship. Elrond and Aragorn added their own two bits there and again when they needed to correct her or give their own personal perspective. The little cub listened with rapt attention, crinkling its nose at dangerous parts and making strange chuffing noises at the more amusing parts. When the story finally ended Syllith was curled in a ball on Arwen's lap, deep breaths signaling sleep as they continued their journey through the trees. Elrond pulled up beside her, running a hand absentmindedly through short fur and earning a rumbling purr as he spoke. "We are almost at the edge of the forest now. Gondor will only be a short while away after we have passed it…Perhaps we should have visited Lady Galadriel in Lorien."

Arwen smiled at her Ada and said soothingly, "She will already know about him. She will come to see him at her own time."

He gave his daughter a grateful smile just as she felt Syllith's body tense up, his fur puffed out even at his tail. A strange almost wailing sound coming from his mouth that she vaguely registered as yowling. It was a horrible sound to come out of the body of something so small and when Arwen looked green eyes were watching the forest around them intently, ears pressed back into his skull and tail lashing about agitatedly. It was then everyone realized there was a sudden heaviness around them in the forest and the horses pranced nervously, pulling at their reigns as their eyes rolled around in their heads.

Arwen, Aragorn, and Elrond felt the hairs on their bodies lift up as though they were being watched as they got closer to the edge of the forest. There were no song birds singing and no animals moving within the forest which was greatly disturbing. When they finally broke through the trees and into the plains, everyone let out sighs of relief but Arwen noticed one small pair of emerald eyes did not leave the forest even after it was no longer in sight.

(OoO)

A few days later when they'd stopped to rest, everyone was enjoying each other's company as they laughed and told stories. Aragorn turned, a smile playing on his lips after the story one of the elven warriors had told, to notice little Syllith was nowhere to be seen. He got up slowly, turning his head this way and that way to try and catch a glimpse of the little elfling as worry slowly set in. He turned when his Queen spoke up softly, "Is something wrong?"

Aragorn hesitated but looking into Arwen's eyes he knew he had to tell her. "Have you seen Syllith?"

Her gaze sharpened and she too looked around their small encampment before saying, "He was here earlier…speaking to one of the soldiers."

Aragorn noticed a small wooded area not far from them and sighed, a small smile tugging his lips. "I told him he could go play when he asked me. I should have asked him where."

He gestured to the wooded area and Arwen smiled slightly, both of them sure that their little Elven fae child was there. "I will go collect him then we can continue on."

Arwen hummed her agreement and turned to go find her father as Aragorn went into the small patch of woods. He searched for a little while before he caught the sounds of a conversation, one voice he could recognize as Syllith's.

"Will you come to play again?"

"…. …. …."

"Won't she get mad though?"

".. …. … .. …."

Aragorn blinked, hearing the feminine undertones in the other voice and he frowned. He got a little closer to where he could hear the voices clearly. "We are kin princeling. Our lines intertwine to when the agreement was first met."

"So you know my Nana?"

"You're first Nana? Yes we knew of her."

"Will I see you again?"

"You can always call on us."

Unable to stay quiet he rushed towards the voices, wondering who whispered lies into the little elfling's ears. "Syllith!"

He heard a splash of something hitting water and his heart jumped up into his throat. However, when he crashed into the clearing Syllith was standing completely dry near a stream, refusing to meet his Ada's eyes. Aragorn looked around for a moment for a trace of any presence but there was nothing to be found. He looked down at the little boy and asked, "Who were you speaking with?"

Syllith shifted but still did not look at Aragorn when he said quietly, "No one, Ada."

Aragorn almost didn't stop his mouth from hanging open at the blatant lie. Syllith did not tell lies, he hated lies yet here was the little boy clearly lying to him. His eyes grew hard and he said firmly, "Do not lie to me. Who were you speaking to just now?"

He noticed the little boy body grow rigid and he finally met his Ada's eyes. Aragorn took a step back at the dark look he saw on the little boys face, no it no longer looked like a little boy. The look was far older and somehow alien on such a usually gentle child's features. "If I say no one then it is no one! Why do you and Legolas keep insisting! Leave me alone!"

A fire burned in that emerald gaze and suddenly there was a loud crack just above Aragorn, he looked up in time to see a tree limb falling towards him. He jumped out the way and stared at his adopted son, a fear he'd never felt before engulfing him at the sight of this small enraged child. Just then Arwen and Elrond rushed through the trees, stopping just before them. Like a curtain being drawn, the rage slowly melted from the child's features and replaced by teary-eyed terror as he looked at Aragorn's horrified face. A wail broke through the child's trembling lips as he pleaded forgiveness and Arwen rushed to Syllith's side but Aragon just stood there watching the crying child. She tried to ease the child's cries but emerald eyes did not move from Aragorn as they pleaded with him. "Ada! Ada! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I'm sorry!"

Arwen threw a look at Aragorn, bewildered that he was simply frozen there and finally the child's pleads broke through his horror. Taking a step and then another and another until he was kneeling in front of the distressed child. He shushed him softly, telling him it was okay and that there was no harm done. However, even when the child threw himself into Aragorn's arms and continued to weep the warrior could not get the enraged look from his mind.

(OoO)

"You were not there, Arwen. You did not see the look in his eyes and the anger contorting his face. It was not our Syllith." Aragorn reasoned after telling them what happened, his eyes flickered down towards the child in his loves arms. Syllith had fallen asleep a while ago having cried himself to sleep after they had continued on towards Gondor. Arwen frowned at her husband, holding Syllith closer as she said softly, "Don't be silly of course it was our Syllith…perhaps the voices you heard were simply his magic manifesting."

Aragorn opened his mouth to argue his point but Elrond smoothly cut in as he said, "You cannot forget that the child you are raising is an Old One. He is as much Fae as he is Elf and Fae were notorious for their bad tempers. Add to the mix he also has Istari like powers and accidents are prone to happen."

Estel wavered for only a second before remembering green pleading eyes and knowing it'd been wrong of him to be afraid of his own child. He winced, wondering if he'd done irreparable damage to their bond and hoping he'd be able to fix it. His attention was brought back from his thoughts when a shout went out from the front soldiers, when he looked up Aragorn could see the beginnings of Gondor's great city. A warm smile lit his face and he urged his horse closer to Arwen's, gaining a curious look from her until he reached for Syllith. Gently he took the sleeping child from her arms and jostled him lightly, bleary and somewhat swollen eyes opened slowly to look up at him. Syllith looked at him blankly for a moment, obviously still not comprehending what was going on but it only took a second. Like a switch emerald eyes dulled and the young child ducked his head so his eyes didn't meet Aragorn's. His body stiffened slightly and Aragorn couldn't help the pang in his chest that told him he might have just set back their progress.

However, before he let the little boy retreat into himself completely he lifted him up and placed him on his shoulders with a gentle smile. "Look, little one. Our home."

Syllith hesitated, watching Aragorn closely for a moment before glancing up and the awe inspired gasp was enough to make the ex-Ranger grin. "Ada! It is so big! Will this truly be our home?!"

Aragorn chuckled as they approached the city archway and Arwen said contently, "Yes little one. This is where we and our people prosper and grow, as will you."

Syllith opened his mouth to comment but the people who began to clamor about and line the streets caught his attention instead. They called to them and the soldiers, welcoming them and giving thanks they were back safe. Many pairs of eyes watched Syllith curiously but all had warm welcoming smiles on their faces. "These are our people Syllith. One day they will be your subjects."

The little elfling blinked before leaning down so he was looking at Aragorn in the eye backwards, "My subjects?"

Aragorn ruffled the boy's hair and was glad to see the light back in his eyes. It let him know he had not done any irreparable damage. "Yes…One day as our son. You will be king of these people."

Syllith blinked before a shy smile curled his lips and if Aragorn didn't know any better he would have thought his little elfling son had purred.

(OoO)

"Nana…when is Las coming?" It was the third time since being in Gondor that Syllith had asked about the platinum blonde elf and Arwen sighed knowing she was going to be disappointing her adopted son once more. "I am afraid he won't be able to make it for a while. His Ada has him doing a lot of important things since he is also a prince just like you."

She watched as he seemed to sag tiredly under her words and he became quiet before getting up and walking into the small little garden that was really just a patch of grass with a tree and water fountain. The little elfling had been missing his playmate terribly and all the children in the castle weren't comfortable playing with him. Arwen realized Sylith was different, he was a little more mature than the other children and seemed to understand things most children would have trouble grasping. While she was very proud of her little emerald jewel it worried her that it would cause him problems al throughout his life. When she looked up again a smile graced her features, on Sylith's lap was a little black rabbit that slept peacefully within his grasp. She couldn't understand the Fear or uncertainty others had for her adopted son. When she looked at him, especially like this, she couldn't help but thank the Valar for him. He was so full of light and innocence that love blossomed deeply within her. She could only hope that others would see that one day.

Her thoughts drifted to what her husband had told Syllith their first day back. That one day their subjets would be his subjects and she hoped beyond a reason that, that would be the day they did. When large emerald eyes looked up at her with a toothy grin and sparkling emerald eyes, Arwen walked over to him, warmth still bubbling tantalizingly through her just as Syllith got up and laid a hand against her slightly bulging stomach. "I will be the best big brother I can be. Pomise."

Arwen stroked the back of his head lovingly as she said softly, "I know and I am sure the baby cannot wait to meet their big brother."

Syllith giggled before pulling away, deciding to go find his Ada to tell him about his decision and Arwen smiled once more but this time with relief. Since whatever had happened they'd gone back to normal and they hadn't needed to start all over again. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea to come to Gondor after all, things seemed to be working out for the best much to the Queen's relief.

TBC…