My Brother, My Son

Part 3

The wagon swayed slowly beneath him as they moved through the wilds towards the Empty Lands; the day was sunny and clear, but he could hardly feel this pleasant weather because the wagon had been closed up tight, and was actually quite sweltering in side. Estel was busy working away at his manacles. The needle he worked with was of a steady sort, it was long, sharp and easy to hold.

Estel had to stop picking at the locks many times because Glorion had come to see him; Glorion had made sure that Malikki was as comfortable as possible, the medication that he had given Estel made the younger man sick. But Estel would not give into his body. He had to get free as soon as possible; which might take him longer than planned because at that moment, the teams master had called a halt. Estel quickly hid his needle as the canvas at the farthest end of the wagon was pulled aside and Glorion entered.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'd feel much better if you let me go," Estel replied with a glare. Glorion sighed and took Estel's arm; he gently pulled Estel out of the wagon and led him to a nearby tree. Estel took a look around the glen and saw that the Misty Mountains was south to them. It wouldn't take long to get back to Rivendell, he decided. However, he would probably have to take a round-about-way, and he would also have to watch out for the Lord Vess. If he ever got away.

Glorion, however, was not fooled by Estel's curious look about their camping place for the evening. He brought out a black cloth and tied it tightly about the younger man's eyes. Estel pulled away but quickly toppled to the ground. The men about them ignored the scene. They wanted their Lord to be happy once more. He would be if only he had his young son back again. However, they all knew that the prisoner was no son of Lord Kelev.

"Malikki, please behave," Glorion said as he pulled Estel up to his feet once again.

"Will you stop calling me that!" Estel growled.

"It is your name,"

"No it isn't, and you know that I am not who you want me to be,"

"But you must, Father will be so happy and…"

"And where would my father be? And my brothers?" Estel asked.

"They shall see the greater good," Glorion shrugged.

"No, they will diminish in grief because they cannot find me; you don't know elves the way I do…"

"Elves? You were raised by those creatures?" Glorion shook Estel hard by his shoulders. Estel growled and kicked the elder in the shins. Glorion quickly stepped away from his younger brother, growling in anger.

"I cannot believe the gods actually had you be raised by those…"

"Don't you dare insult my family!" Estel yelled.

"They are not your family, they do not understand,"

"They know me better than anyone ever could!"

"You had better forget about those fowl beings; I shant have you talking about them again! Do you hear?"

"Ce orch 'waur!" Estel replied with as much venom as he could conjure at that moment. Glorion reared back his hand and slapped Estel soundly across the face.

"I don't know what you said, but NEVER talk in their fowl language again!" he yelled. Even though Estel could not see, that did not mean that he would take such abuse.

"Why? What have the Elves done to you?" he asked.

Glorion did not even bother to answer, because he had no answer. He did not know why he got so angry at the fact that his young brother (he refused to acknowledge Estel as anything but) had been raised by the High Race, but he was, and he did. He had also hit his brother for talking to him in their language. It was…saddening? No, not exactly, more like…confusing.

"It would be best if you forget about them," Glorion replied before calling over two of the men. These men had Estel sit with his back to a tree, a rope tied him securely. However, Estel was not thinking about escape, he was thinking about what Glorion had told him. He had never wondered about how it would be like if he had lived with a human family. He had always assumed it to be the same, but maybe it wasn't. He knew that his life wouldn't had been exactly the same, but maybe he would have grown up with a loving human father, a human mother and siblings.

Maybe he would had been the oldest; and then he would had taken care of the family when father was away; and maybe that family would be Rangers, and he would have grown up with the Ranger training he sort of lacked at the moment. Estel threw those thoughts to the side.

What use was it to think of what could have been; he had a wonderful family and life, he had to get back to that. Because in all reality, the family of Elves waiting for him back in Rivendell was what kept him going on dreary days. This situations wasn't dreary at all, more like scary. Estel admitted that he was scared to let these people take him so far from home; but he promised himself that he would escape soon. And then he would disappear and his captors would never see him again.

Nan gaer ar in elin! I swear that I will get home! I belong with Ada, and my brothers. I know they are watching for me. By the Valar, I won't let them down! Estel vowed deep within his heart, where none could see but himself.

Elladan packed his pack on the back of the light dappling horse before him; Elrohir was doing the same to a grey near by and their father was watching them. It seemed that they did this a lot, not that they minded. They didn't, actually they would rather be out there looking for their young brother instead of just waiting around! Honestly, they may be elves, and they may be patient (most of the time) but there was only so much patients to go around.

When he was done; he and Elrohir walked back to their father who stood on the front porch of the Last Homely House. Elrond looked a bit saddened, but he knew this was for the best. He had his own duties and so he had to see the twins go and search for the human.

"Guren ninnatha nan lû e-achened vîn," Elrohir said. Elrond pulled both twins into his arms and gave them a small peck on the cheek. He then let them go.

"I will be watching," he said. No one said a thing as the twins leapt atop their horses and spurred them past the gates. No one sang as the two rushed off into the deepening twilight, it was with a rush of grief that the twins held about them and left.

Back at his captors camp site; the fire was going strongly, but a cold burst of wind made Estel shiver. He breathed deeply and smiled a little; he may be human, but he had a strange way of reading nature. This wind was telling him one thing, one thing that would help him to hope. His brothers were on their way.

Which meant that he had to escape as soon as posibble.

ELVISH GLOSSARY

Guren ninnatha nan lû e-achened vîn -- My heart will weep to the time we see again

Nan gaer ar in elin! -- By the sea and the stars!

Ce orch 'waur! – You are a dirty orc!

A/N – Sorry that I haven't updated this in a long time! I was stuck on plot! Now I completely forgot what I wanted to do. However, I think I got an alternative. Please review and tell me what you think!

Ta,

Poppy