Chapter IX: Never Again, Ada

Prepare for fluff n' stuff n' a whole lotta' heart to heart.

Tathor sat against the back of a tree in a state of relaxation next to the unconscious man, eyes closed, calm, and collected as he listened to the sounds of the forest. With thousands of years, elves had learned to be very patient and therefore did not understand why his human companion was so fidgety. He could sit here for days like this and not feel restless. One again, Thalion paced from one end of the glade to the other and back. "Must you pace so?" Tathor asked when the man's fidgeting again interrupted his concentration.

"I hate doing nothing," the young man responded.

"Perhaps you should try it. I find it rather engaging." Sparrow sat down next to the elf in the same manner, legs crossed, hands placed gently in his lap, and eyes closed. "Relax."

"I am relaxed."

"Your tense and agitated. Take a slow, deep breath," he did, "Clear your mind of everything," he paused, "and let it out slowly. Do not think about anything."

"Tathor!" Sparrow jumped up at the boy's greeting.

"Estel, so nice to see you again. I am glad Celebfán managed to find you," he smiled without breaking his concentration.

"Halbarad?" Sparrow was shocked to see Halgon's son in the arms of the elf. "I did not know you had been taken as well. Your father will be glad to know you are safe."

"No he won't," he sobbed, "he's dead."

"Dead? He was fine the other day at the inn."

"Ravin, I mean, Hal's father was one of the men who kidnapped me," stated Estel. "Ravin killed Darryn and Hal got mixed up into the whole thing."

"How did…Hal become mixed up in it and who is Darryn?" asked Celebfán.

"Hal came to help find me and Darryn is one of the men who kidnapped me," Estel sniffed, "but he was a good man, he was bringing me back home when Ravin killed him."

Tathor looked over at the man on the ground, "Is this he, Estel?" Estel noticed for the first time Darryn lying near Tathor. Estel nodded. "Fear not, for he is not dead, but he is not entirely alive either. I have done what I can, but he is not out of the woods yet. You yourself need medical attention I see."

"I want to go home."

Ravin laughed loudly as the young man before him slew Lord Elrond and then proceeded to kill his brothers. Estel watched himself slay thousands of innocent people with Halbarad at his side doing the same thing. Everything they were told to do, they did it.

Suddenly, he sat on a white throne and the land was covered in darkness. The grasses and trees turned to ash. Animals fled the lands. He wore a crown, but Ravin always stood behind him, pulling the strings. The elves were forced to leave Middle-Earth. All but one left, a beautiful she-elf was weeping by Elrond's grave. The most beautiful he had ever seen. He felt compassion and walked towards her. She glared darkly at him and rose to defend the grave of Elrond. Ravin was there. He pointed at her and Estel drew his sword. He hesitated, she was so beautiful, but he had no choice. Estel could not bear to watch as he thrust his sword into the maiden.

Estel got older and Sauron came back into power. Halbarad turned on them and was sentenced to a cruel and torturous death at the hands of the dark lord. He felt alone and empty as he stood beside Ravin overlooking a great city. He felt he could bear it no longer. He had done this. This could not be true. He did not want this, any of it. Estel hid his face in his hands and let himself sink down into despair and the nothingness that he was…

Estel woke clutching his blankets as tight as he could. No one was there. He was alone in his room in Rivendell. He was not a man, but a boy, an eight-year-old boy. Halbarad had been taken home by Sparrow and Thrush days ago. Darryn was still recovering in the healing wing. Estel had told his father everything that had happened and Elrond had forgiven the man.

He climbed out of the bed and slid his feet into soft elven slippers. The floors were icy this time of year. He glanced about the dark empty hallway as he padded softly up to the large oak doors of Elrond's bedchambers. He grasped the knob with both hands and tugged the heavy door open.

The room was dark and he could hear the sound of the elf's slumbering breaths. Closing the door carefully, Estel walked slowly across the carpet to the large bed. Elrond was indeed asleep, his chest rose and fell soft and slowly with his hands neatly folded across and his eyes were glazed over.

Estel jumped to pull himself onto the bed but he slid on the slippery bed coverings and fell onto the floor, landing on his behind with a thump and pulling the sheets with him. Elrond's eyes focused and sat up to see the disturbance. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the sheets off Estel. "Oh, it is you, tithen pen."

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Estel stared up at his father from the floor. Elrond nodded and lit the lamp sitting next to his bed. He helped Estel onto the bed and sat with his back propped up by pillows against the headboard holding Estel in his arms.

"Now, what is the matter?" Elrond asked him tenderly.

"Adventures are not as fun as I thought them to be. I am never going to leave here again. Never again, Ada."

"I do not think that is necessary, ion nin. What is really on your mind?"

"Even though he was Halbarad's father, I am glad Ravin is dead."

"Estel, you should not say such things," Elrond scolded.

Estel sat up and faced his father, "But he hurt me and Halbarad. He also hurt Darryn and Celebfán."

"It is not our place to decide who dies, even if they deserve it. Death is not to be taken lightly nor celebrated. Darryn did many things that one could say is deserving of death but aren't you glad he did not die?"

"Well, yes. He tried to save me when he realized what he did was wrong."

"He changed, Estel. Anyone can change, if they want to."

Estel pondered this for a bit then spoke his mind, "When Ravin had his bow aimed at Celebfán; I stabbed him in the leg with his knife. I did not want to, but Celebfán was in trouble. Was that wrong?"

"No, I have no doubt Ravin would have shot Celebfán. You were protecting him and when protecting someone violence and death are sometimes unavoidable."

"Like my father?"

"…Yes, like your father."

"Can you tell me about him?"

Elrond ran his hand through Estel's evened hair, missing the original length. He sighed, "Perhaps when you are older."

Halbarad sat by his window looking out at the other children playing below, he wished he could play with them, but his ankle was still mending and besides that, he was grounded. His mother had been furious and relieved, but had grounded him nonetheless. Hiril had pestered him about her missing cloak until he told her he had given it to Estel to use after their rescue. She was very excited to let Estel have it and did not care if she never got it back. Halbarad sighed heavily and put his chin in his hand.

I met

Translations:

Tithen pen- little one

Ion nin- my son

I met- the end

*~*~*~*~*BONUS SCENES*~*~*~*~*

It seemed such a shame to not add these little snippets after the story. Enjoy!

*Bonus Scene1:

Thrush felled the rabbit with an arrow form his bow, and then gathered his catch. That made two and that was enough for him and his brother. He walked back to camp. Sparrow was sitting still next to the fire with his eyes closed and his hands on his lap. He breathed deep breaths in and out, looking very relaxed.

"What are you doing?"

"Shhh, don't break my concentration."

: D

*Bonus Scene 2 (Practically an Epilogue!)

12 years later

Aragorn left Elrond's study to go to his room. Elrond had refused him Arwen's hand, though he had not asked for it. In his room, he grabbed his pack and began filling it with items. It was best he leave until things cooled down around here. He did not wish to cause strife in his family. He opened the chest at the foot his bed and paused. Where would he go? Strayton, or Bree perhaps? He reached into the chest and pulled out a small blue cloak. Hiril's cloak.

Halbarad. He would go visit his relatives in the Dúnedain village. He had not seen Halbarad since that time twelve years ago, though he still saw Darryn from time to time. Darryn had left Rivendell a changed man; he even refused the bit of money that Elrond had offered him to help him start a new life. He wanted to do that on his own, and he did. He became a farmer, had even married, and had a son of his own, now turned eight. Estel smiled and folded the cloak and put it in his pack.

He set out the next morning and arrived within the next day. He looked at the village before him. It had not changed much. The house he sought sat a little ways off, and in a few long strides, he reached it and knocked on the door.

A boy of about twelve summers opened the door. Aragorn looked down at him and smiled, "Hello, Halmir."

"Mother!" he cried. He was unused to having strangers know his name. The door opened wider and a young man stepped out. He eyed the stranger in front of him. Dark braided hair to the waist, grey eyes, fair skin, and elven traveling clothes. It could not be.

"Estel?" The stranger smiled wider. "It is! Estel!" They stepped forward and met each other with a fierce hug. "No wains this time I see."

"No, not this time."

"Come on in, we were about to have lunch." He ushered Aragorn inside. Estel hung his cloak on the peg inside the door. "I have missed you, how have you been?"

"Splendid and you?"

"Who is at the door, Halmir?" Helkawen came into the foyer and saw her sons standing with a young man. Aragorn looked at her. Her hair was a little gray, but otherwise as he remembered her. She folded her arms and looked skeptically at him, "Let me guess, Rána, and he shall be staying for lunch."

"If you shall let me, milady, knowing how much trouble I caused the last time I was here." He placed his hand over his heart and bowed respectfully.

"And still very polite, I see. Too bad Halbarad did not take lessons from you in all your time together. Come, let's have lunch."

The four of them gathered into the dining room. Aragorn set his pack beside his chair. Hiril came out of the kitchen with bowls of warm stew and Aragorn stood up out of politeness. Halbarad leaned forward with his head in his hand, rolling his eyes. She had grown into a beautiful young woman, but his heart was already pledged to someone else.

Hiril nearly dropped the bowls when she saw him standing there, a tall handsome man, almost elflike in his poise. Royal and kingly he looked in his elven garb. He picked his pack up from the floor as she set the bowls down on the table, blushing deeply. He pulled out the cloak and handed it to her.

"I think this belongs to you." She took the cloak and giggled. Halbarad smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.

The end!

: D

It was a much longer bonus scene than I anticipated, but I love it. I hope you enjoyed it.