A/N – Well, look at that
A/N – Well, look at that! I am updating once again! I hope you all like this. One of these days I am going to re-vamp this whole thing and hopefully sometime soon. I have a book to edit on the side and hopefully it will become a best seller! Ah, one can hope!
My Brother, My Son
Part 8
Mens regnum bona possidet – An honest heart is a kingdom in itself.
I knew they would come, Strider thought as he made his way through the streets of Utivar. The cool wind from the North made his cheeks severely pink in the early evening air. His foot steps quickened as he thought about his brothers, and Arwen. He and Arwen had only met a handful of times and his love for her had festered in his heart. Strider knew that he would never marry another; he would adopt a child before he married any other woman besides Arwen Undomiel.
A hand reached out and Strider found himself pulled into an alley way, his attacker pushed him up against the wall. "Malikki, I'm glad I found you,"
Strider glared at Glorion, " What do you want?"
"This is getting a bit old, younger brother, we are going home and if I have to wrap you in rope and chains than I shall do just that," Glorion laughed as if everything was a huge joke.
Vess was the sort of man who hated it when he got bad news.
The messenger his nephew had sent included a report about the young man they had captured in the woods. The boy had apparently escaped and Glorion informed him that the boy would once again be captured and transported to the Empty Lands.
It did not help that the room they were having their conference held a portrait of the Elves with a boy wit grey eyes. The same that Vess had observed of the boy in the woods. The Ranger was of this family, Vess was sure of it; but, they did not know this yet. Vess smirked to himself – even if his brother found out the boy wasn't his youngest son, they could use him to get what they wanted.
And Vess was an ambitious man, he wanted Rivendell.
Arwen had met up with Elledan and Elrohir, non of them had found Estel and they were pretty sure that he had to be someplace in the town. Several people said that they had seen a boy of that age and description in the market place with the Healer's three girls; Tauré, Mîrwen and Lótelas. The girls had told the market people that Strider was a long lost cousin of theirs from some place beyond their little wall and valley. Arwen was sure that Estel was with the Healer and so they had all decided to go in that direction.
"I'm not exactly sure where it is, I've gotten three different directions," Arwen sighed.
"It's all right, dear sister, we'll find it sooner or later," Elledan reassured her.
"Yes, and then we can give our brother a lecture for not sending us a letter," Elrohir said. Arwen smiled at that, she knew how much Estel hated the lectures the older elves always gave him. Elledan gave his sister a quick hug before they walked onwards. However, harsh words from an alley way made them stop.
"I understand your loss more than you will ever understand. However, I refuse to budge one step, I am going home, back to Rivendell where I belong,"
"That sounds like Estel…" Elrohir whispered just loud enough for Elvin ears to catch his words.
"Malikki, I do not appreciate you thinking of those fiends as your family, they stole you from us!" an unknown person (at least to the elves) replied.
"Do you honestly think that?"
"Aye, I do,"
"And there is no way that I can convince you otherwise?"
"No,"
"Then I am sorry for all the loss you have endured,"
Arwen, Elledan and Elrohir gasped slightly as Estel brought up his had and grabbed Glorion by the back of the man's neck. It two seconds the man's eyes rolled up into his head and Estel gently laid him on the ground.
"See!" it was Elrohir, "I told you he would need that one day!" he smirked at his siblings.
"Oh please! You forget, brother, that it was I who taught it to him!"
"You two are horrible! I suggested it in a letter!"
"We thought of it first!" Elledan and Elrohir yelled at her. Arwen smirked at the both of them.
"No, it was my letter, you replied, remember? Or have your memories grown worse over the years?" Arwen jibed.
"T'was not!" the Twins argued.
"T'was so!" Arwen rolled her eyes.
"T'was not!"
"T'was so!"
"If Ada was here he wouldn't appreciate the arguing of five year olds," Estel said, grinning at them.
"Estel! My brother!" Elledan and Elrohir hugged the human at the same time, going on and on about not coming home or sending a letter of some type and what have you. Arwen just laughed at the three, they were very close and she could see Estel's eyes shine with happiness at seeing them again. If Estel could have a glow of his own, Arwen was sure that it would be brighter then any she had ever seen.
"My brother's, come, we must send word to Adar," Arwen said.
"Of course, dear Sister," Elrohir agreed. The four exited the alley way. Estel was safe with the knowledge that he would soon be home and he would soon be hugging his Ada.
If Tauré could have known she would be meeting an Elf Princess, she would have scoffed at the idea. It was a fancy that only children had, she was sure of, however, with the three elves and the human they called brother having tea in the dinning room with her father – Tauré wasn't so sure if such childish fancies couldn't become a reality in her own world.
Of course, Arwen was happy to talk fashion with the girls while Elledan and Elrohir happily shared some of their herbs with the Healer, in a thank you regarding their young brother. Estel was just happy to see them all again.
"I must admit, it was odd of my daughters to bring home a boy," Eadfrid said.
"Our Ada would have kicked out any male Arwen came back with," Elrohir said.
"He would not! And besides, I am old enough to have a suitor if I wanted," Arwen snorted in a princess sort of way. The girl giggled at this.
"Remember Tuvalu?" Elledan asked.
"Oh, well, he was the only one," Arwen said. The twins laughed at this, Eadfrid looked at Estel who only shrugged back; he didn't know what the twins were talking about either.
"So," Elledan turned to Estel, "What did Glorion want anyway?" he asked.
"Apparently, he thought I was a reincarnation of his young brother, Malikki, who died in a hunting accident," Estel explained.
"Oh, that's brilliant of him," Elrohir rolled his eyes.
"Indeed, anyway, he was taking me to the Empty Lands to try and pass me off as said brother,"
"He would have to call you crazy and lock you up someplace," Elledan said.
"I have no doubts that he would have done something like that," Estel agreed.
"And where was he going?" Arwen asked.
"Rivendell, with his Uncle,"
"Uncle….who?" the twin looked at each other.
"Vess I think it was," Estel replied.
"Oh Valar!" the twins gaped at each other.
When Glorion awoke, he had a head ache the size of Mirkwood and Lothlorian put together. Cursing Elves in general he got to his feet and looked around him. Malikki was gone, and now Glorion would have to look for him again. But this time…he pulled out a knife he always carried; in old runes not used any longer in Arda was his name on the hilt. If the boy would not come, he would have to kill the Ranger.
Of course, his Uncle was very forceful in the letter of reply to Glorion's report. He wanted the boy alive so that they could barter him for Rivendell. Like that would ever happen, Glorion suspected the Elves would fight before giving up the human. For if a human was protected within the vales of Rivendell, then the human must be very powerful and very needed to be within the elvin realm all his life.
Making his way to the exit of the alley. Glorion looked about to see what time of day it was. He must have slept for a terribly long time for the sun was just peeking over the horizon. He sighed to himself – how was he to break the news to his father, he had promised to bring Malikki home. And in his heart, he knew the boy was indeed his brother.
Elledan finished the warrior braids of his brother's hair and now it was Elrohir's turn to do the same with his twin's dark brown hair. They would do the same with Estel, the boy had yet to cut the long tresses as he had been talking about ever since he had gone off to become a Ranger. But, the young human hadn't found the courage to cut his hair yet, Elledan wasn't sure if it was because Estel wanted to still fit in with the Elves or if it was losing a part of himself.
If Elrohir knew what his twin was thinking, the only indication of knowing was a slight pat on the back. Somehow, they knew if something bothered the other twin and that was their way of supporting the other. Neither of them had been away from the other, they went everywhere together and if they strayed apart, their bond was the only thing they had to know if the other was alive or not.
"All is right with the world, my brother," Elrohir said.
"Indeed," Elledan agreed. With deft movements, Elrohir finished the warrior braids in Elledan's hair.
"Now, let us find little Estel," Elrohir said.
"I heard that you bloody elf!" as if on que, the boy walked in, he was towel drying his long hair and glared at his brothers.
"Such language!" Elledan said mock-glarnig at Estel.
"Dol lost nin," Estel muttered taking up a brush and throwing it at Elledan. The elf had lost his wits for a second and so the brush knocked him on the head do to his inattentiveness'.
"That was a good one Estel!" Elrohir laughed.
"Only you would think so!" Elledan glared as he got to his feet.
"Oh no! it's the Orc-Slayer-thing! Run!" Estel said as he took off, Elledan on his heels.
Arwen sighed as she heard her brothers playing in the hallway of the Inn. She was paying the woman for the use of the rooms and waiting for her siblings to get done and join her for the ride back to Rivendell. Estel probably provoked the twins and that was why he was running away from them. Elledan was waving a brush and Elrohir had all their bags, he was laughing as the Estel ran from the elder twin.
"Just you wait till I get my hands on you!"
"In your dreams!" Estel yelled back.
"Elledan! Estel! Calm down!" Arwen ordered. The two stopped and blushed.
"Sorry sister," Elledan said.
"Yeah, Sorry Arwen," Estel scratched the back of his head.
"Boys," Arwen muttered. Lady Bower just laughed as she shook her head.
"Boys will be boys," she said.
"Indeed," Arwen had to agree to that one.
The young Lord of the Empty Lands watched as the three elves and the human jumped upon the young geldings, Malikki sat behind one of the Elvin males. He was smiling and joking with them, like how he used to joke around with Glorion ages ago. It seemed like only a short time ago that his brother had died. Hunting accident indeed, Glorion had to hold back a sob. It was his fault.
Malikki would get the buck this time. He decided as he notched an arrow. This time he would bring home the buck and his father would hug him and tell him how proud he was of his son. Smiling at this thought, Malikki let go his arrow and…struck two feet short of his target. He sighed as the buck bounded away from him. Rolling his eyes he sat back to think. His day dream had shattered, now if anyone got the buck it would be his older brother Glorion.
Standing, he stretched a bit before looking around, he was hiding behind some huge bushes that hid him perfectly. "Maybe Father is right, maybe I do need more practice," he muttered, he turned to make his way out to find his brother.
He didn't know what had happened at first, but, he felt a sharp pain in his middle. He gasped and brought his hands to the bleeding area. Looking down with wide eyes, he notice he was bleeding. Screaming in terror, Malikki collapsed onto the ground. He was scared. Terribly scared.
"GLORION! BROTHER!" he yelled as loud as possible.
Glorion held back tears as he watched his quarry and the elves leave Utivar. He was happy to be with the Elves, happier than Glorion had seen the young man while in his keeping. If what Gandalf had said was true, than his brother was truly dead, Vess was wrong – no matter how long they searched they would never find his brothers reincarnation.
However, Glorion knew that if the boy made it back to Rivendell before the talks were threw, he would ruin the plans Glorion and his Uncle had for Rivendell. A real home with real trees and more game than Glorion had ever dreamt of. It was the ideal place to raise a family. Glorion wanted that so badly, the peace it would bring him and his father. Peace within themselves, not just for their bodies.
He had lost his brother, but he would not break his promise.
A/N – Sorry, I know its boring. But I had to set up for the last chapter. I know exactly what I am going to do! Yay! Please review!
Ta,
Dizzy
May the stars shine upon you!