I'm back! Sorry for late update, I was busy. Enjoy, as usual!

MiaraElerina: okay! I will wait patiently... I will try, anyway. ;) No! Don't use the puppy dog eyes! Noooo! here, here's the humor! *cowers* enjoy! XD

Chapter 12

I sank to my knees, tears streaming down my face and a smile on my face, eyes closed. A letter was clutched in my hands.

"Onònë?" Came Legolas' panicked voice. I wordlessly handed him the letter. He read it and his eyes widened. "What?!"

I explained the whole affair. "He's gone, Toron! Middle Earth is safe!" I shrieked, throwing my arms around his neck. We tumbled to the floor as he laughed happily with me and hugged me back in unrestrained delight.

"Adar!"

...

It's been a week since I received the letter that the ring was destroyed, and that both Mithrandir and Bilbo were safe. We were now celebrating with them in Mirkwood. Adar had thrown quite a feast and party, as well as most of the other kingdoms of Arda when the word had gone out.

"I can't believe you did it, Bilbo!" I exclaimed happily, hugging him tightly. He chuckled embarrassedly.

"Well, I would say that it was a bit harder than outwitting a dragon- but I won't." He added hastily as my Father growled slightly. I smacked his arm. "Father! Behave!" He rolled his eyes at me and I promptly stuck my tongue out at him. He decided not to push it.

Toron was muffling his snickers at the end of the table. We smirked at each other. "Um... Adar? What do be do now that there are no more big adventures?" I asked mournfully. All I got were a mix of incredulous, are-you-crazy, and long-suffering looks. I failed in my attempt not to laugh.

...

"Eruanna!" Exclaimed Legolas, barging into my room.

"What?" I looked up from my desk, annoyed.

"Look!" He exclaimed, waving a piece of paper and shoving it under my nose.

I backed up and plucked it gingerly from his fingers. Opening it, my eyes began to light up as I read it.

"See? Told you so!" He crowed triumphantly.

"Did you ask-"

"Duh! He said yes. We can leave today if we want!"

"Yeah! Give me thirty minutes!" I scrambled to pack. The letter was an invitation from Yavien, Estel, and the twins to come visit them for a while. As I packed, my eyes glittered at the opportunity to start a few more prank wars.

...

"Ahhhh! Eruanna, Legolas, Saphira!" Squealed Yavien, throwing her arms around me and squeezing the breath out of me.

"Ack, Yavi, can't. Breathe." I wheezed. She let go with a laugh. I clutched my throat and exaggerated. Estel rolled on the floor, laughing.

"Why is it that I can't go anywhere without getting choked to death? I get it every time I go to Erebor!" I protested, waving my arms like windmills in vehemence.

The twins were bent over double. "THAT is why I missed her, Ro." Dan nudged him. I glared and he promptly shut it.

"What's that? It looks like my Evenstar!" Asked Yavien curiously.

"Wha-? Oh, that's my Morningstar- same thing as yours." I explained with a grin.

"Cool!" Exclaimed Estel.

"Estel! You've grown!" I said, face crumpling. "Not fair! I haven't!" I tugged at my clothes with a forlorn face.

"Don't grow yet, Ren. It's more fun when you're still short." He giggled.

I put my hands in my hips and raised my eyebrow. "Oh is it?" I asked suspiciously.

"Uh huh."

"Well then, I will have to think of a way to pay you back for that." I teased, eyes glinting. He dived behind the laughing Yavien with a yelp.

There were several silent groans from different elves in the hallways as the children passed by, talking and laughing. Erestor, in particular, was NOT impressed. There were, after all, some rather- prominent- paw marks on his robe hem.

...

I ran around the halls, panicked. Finally I saw Legolas in the garden. "Toron! Guess what!" I exclaimed excitedly, skidding to a halt in front of him.

He looked up confusedly. "What?"

"Five hours to get rid of it!" I shrieked happily.

"What?" Now he was baffled.

"You said the word 'what' so now you have to make someone else say it within five hours. If you don't there's a penalty. Oh, and you have to find someone that hasn't said it yet. No, don't ask. I don't know who hasn't yet." I said, grinning at his lengthening face. He sighed.

"Fine. Who exactly keeps track of the time?"

"Yavi." I retorted, running away. "Better hurry! Count down has started!"

Dan lost. We decided that his punishment was to take the blame for the next three pranks that we would play. He was not very happy. But then, we retorted, he had lost. All was fair and game.

...

But the peace did not last for long.

"Eruanna, Legolas! Quick! I heard Estel screaming from the river!" Shouted Yavien, running into the room. Her face was pale.

Both of us leapt up and began tearing frantically through the halls with her. "Where?" I asked, out of breath.

We arrived at the river to see a group of orcs holding Estel in their midst and jeering at him. His eyes were wide and his mouth was gagged. Tears streamed from his soft green eyes and pooled on his tanned cheeks, dripping from his chin.

I choked on tears. "Estel." Yavien whispered, hands wringing.

"It will be alright, Yavi. Its only a few of them. Easily taken care of." I started forwards only to have her grasp my wrist. "Eruanna-" I pulled away gently.

"Is okay, Yavi. I've been in a battle before. I know what I'm doing." I comforted. My face hardened in determination. "I will not let them harm Estel." Legolas grasped Yavien's hand and nodded at me.

I strode forwards into their sight. "Unhand him, filth! That is my brother you are holding captive, and I will avenge him if he is hurt." My voice was low and dangerous.

The orcs jeered and hooted with laughter. "What is the she-elf going to do without a weapon?"

I shrugged. "I warned you." In a flash a fiery arrow had darted into his neck and he fell with a parting gurgle. Arrow after arrow flew until I suddenly froze. The only Orc left had grabbed Estel's arm with a yank and held a knife to his throat.

"Shoot and he gets killed." He snarled in a ditch effort. I lowered my bow, agitated.

Estel whimpered. I took stock of him and blanched. He cheek had a hand print on it, his legs were scratched and scraped, and his arm had a nasty gash on it.

I lifted my arrow and let it fly. Just as the Orc fell, though, his arm jerked. Time suddenly slowed for me. I let out a scream and reached out my hand. Estel's eyes widened as the knife punctured his chest and he fell. Yavien's wail seemed far off. Then everything sped back up.

I leaped forwards and ran down the bank, scooping his limp form up. I checked his breath. He was only unconscious, but his breathing was shallow at best. Legolas picked him up out of my arms and started running for the healing room.

"Yavien! Go get the twins and Lord Elrond!" I shouted. " We'll take him to the healers! Hurry!" She sprinted off and both Toron and I made it to the healer's. He set Estel down on a cot and I leaned over him frantically, running my fire over all of the small wounds.

Lord Elrond came in with the twins just as I finished healing the mark on his cheek. He rushed over and bent over the small boy along with me. "What happened?" He asked. Legolas gave a hurried account. He frowned.

"Can you heal him with your fire?" He asked me abruptly, turning to face me. I trembled, tears rolling down my cheeks, and shook my head. I had already tried. "It's too deep. I have tried already." I admitted in a shaking voice.

He looked heartbroken. "I cannot heal this. There is not enough time. He is fading too fast." Yavien broke down in tears. The twins held her up, as did Toron.

My mind whirled. "No, Estel, please." I begged, gathering the small boy up into my arms and gently hugging his still form. "Please, don't leave me. You are my precious little brother." I pleaded, tears streaming as I sat down on the bed.

Suddenly, a thought popped up into my mind. I set him back down and then grabbed my Morningstar. "I have to. I have to. I will." I determined.

Everyone looked up at me. I leaned over Estel, clutching the Morningstar in my hands. I turned it over and the word on the back began to glow. Words bloomed in my head and made their way out of my mouth in a steady cadence of elvish.

"Estel, chosen one. Your time has not yet come. What has been given me, I now gift you. May the grace of the Valar that has been bestowed to me now pass down to you. It is my will and my choice. Wake, dear one, and be whole." A golden glow passed from my necklace and landed on his chest and filled the puncture wound. I saw through the haze that my tears made that his ears grew slightly pointed. I blinked the tears away as his wound knitted together and his chest began to slowly rise and fall with steady, deep breath.

I hugged him tightly and burst into relieved sobs. "What did you do, Eruanna?" Asked Dan wonderingly. Breath hitching, I explained to them my Morningstar's one power.

"Thank you." Said Lord Elrond gently. "It was a precious gift." I shook my head.

"Not so precious as Estel." I whispered. I looked down at his sleeping form and let out a trembling sigh as Yavien sat next to me and we held hands, gaining comfort.

Yes, now he would be our little brother as long as we stayed in Arda.