Disclaimer: see first chapter, I own Nada. Except for the cruel idea that Elladan, Elrohir and Elrond would ever forget poor little Estel.
AN: Special thanks to LilithDarkFire for my first review. I plan on taking your advice Lilith. Also Special thanks to AWanderersHaven and Calenlass Greenleaf, Wanderer for your kind words and enthusiasm, and Calenlass and Lilith for helping me decide to fix this up.
Summary: What happens when a little game of hide and seek ends with trouble? Estel has a head wound leaving him unconscious and dreaming his family doesn't know him, while in the real world his family fights to bring him back.
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Chapter 2: Fears Unfolded.
Elladan and Elrohir:
They walked next to the stream, looking for signs of Estel.
"I don't see anything up here; do you think we missed something?"
"Try some optimism, we have not even reached the point he climbed down yet, he may not have left that area" Elrohir said to his brother, he understood why Elladan was worried, but he was usually more calm in situations like this. Although, most situations like this didn't have Estel as the victim.
"We're nearly there, still no signs back here" Elladan called, putting up a calm front. They reached Estel's point of entry within a matter of seconds and searched the area thoroughly. Careful not to slip, Elladan made his way half-way down the hill.
"He's bound to have a broken limb, look at the shape of these roots" Elladan said pointing out some obviously broken plants. After a closer look, they proved to have been broken recently. Elrohir followed his brother and knelt next to the root.
"Poor Estel, he must have fallen, it would have taken some force to break those, and they look as old as Father!"
"Elrohir, honestly, what would he say if he heard you speaking like this?" He mock reprimanded, trying to lighten the mood. His brother's frown remained in place.
"lets just go back down, keep searching for more clues, so far I'm guessing he's unconscious, and as you stated, probably has broken something, if not his thick skull. Honestly, if he isn't hurt, I'm going to slaughter him." Elrohir said shaking his head.
"Elrohir!"
"Relax, I'll do it carefully"
"Elrohir!"
"What!?!" he near yelled. Elladan was a few feet ahead of him, and staring at the flat ending of the ravine.
"I can see his foot steps, this might be harder than it looks…" he said. His brother looked at him questioningly.
"He walked away from the fall, and we cannot see him, think about it."
"Don't worry, Estel is smart, maybe he's alright and just can't hear us! He is human after all." Elrohir replied trying to sound optimistic.
"His hearing isn't this bad" Elladan mumbled to low for Elrohir to notice.
It took them awhile, but eventually they got back to the bottom without slipping as well.
"'Ro, the footsteps lead this way" Elladan said walking eastward to the sound of water.
They stepped over the broken tree and walked towards the stream.
"You don't think he could have fallen in do you?"
"I hope not, but we both know Estel, we have to look, anything at all could have happened." Elrohir spoke the words his brother was thinking.
"That's what is worrying me" sighed Elladan as he sat on the tree.
Elrohir continued to search the streams edge. After a few minutes he stood up.
"'Dan, it doesn't look like he fell in, he stopped here, but then turned around and…" Elrohir looked up shocked, "Get up!"
"Why?" Elladan asked jumping up.
"Your sitting on him!" he exclaimed running to the log. He knelt down and peeked into the tree, sure enough, there was Estel.
"How are we going to get him out of there?" Elrohir asked, and then mentally slapped himself.
"Wake him up" he said as Elladan replied at the same time. They tried tapping his foot, knocking on the log, even attempted to shake the tree itself. Alas, all was a no go.
"We could pull him out"
"And risk damaging him more? Nuh uh, no way, what about carrying the entire tree?"
"You numbskull, we can't carry the entire tree…unless we break it"
"Right! We'll break the tree around him, but we have to be careful or we'll hurt him more" 'Ro replied examining the trunk of the hollow tree.
"I've got an idea" Elladan stated as he held a rather sharp looking rock in one hand, and a large dull one in the other.
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Aragorn:
"w-what do you mean how do I know your names? You're my brothers, why else would you come for me?" he sniffled. Elladan and Elrohir glanced at each other again.
"You must be mistaken; we have no other brother…" Elladan said carefully.
"…We only came down to hunt! You just happened to be here" Elrohir continued.
"How, how can you say that! What have I done wrong, to deserve this?" he cried harder. His sobs came in short gasps, giving him the hick-ups, and every hick-up made his leg and head hurt worse with the movement. The twins were just standing there, staring at him as if they honestly didn't recognize him. He lowered his head into his knees as he started coughing.
"Elrohir? What should we do?" He asked with wide eyes, he had met rouge humans before, but not a child and Estel could tell quite easily tell, even through his sight was blurry and couldn't understand completely.
"Uhm, take him back to Adar, he'll know what to do" Elladan reached down to help Estel up, but he knocked the offered hand away.
"NO! Don't touch me." He screamed. Shocked at the child's behavior, Elladan took a step back. He glanced at Elrohir again, raising an eyebrow that would give his father a run for his money.
"Child, we're taking you to our father, he can help you!" Elrohir called over Estel's wailing. He was holding his ears close to his head willing it to help. The pained expression on his face made Estel cry harder.
"Why do you even care, and my name is Estel! NOT child"
"Estel, let us help, please?" Elladan asked kneeling next to him and placed a hand on his arm.
"I just want to go home!" he cried. Elrohir joined his brother by Estel's side and hugged him as he cried. With both of them there, they managed to calm him down enough for Elladan to pick him up and they started making their way up the safer route to the top of the ravine. Elladan whispered to Estel in elvish, trying to sooth him. As each step led them closer to home, Estel pretended to sleep. He was mad at his brothers and didn't want them to talk anymore. When they reached the clearing, the twins started to talk to each other.
"Oh what is father going to say when we get home!?" Elladan groaned as he shifted Estel into a more comfortable position and continued walking. Elrohir cleared his throat and, after stopping to pose, in his best Elrond impression said:
"No, you can not keep him"
This did the trick and the two laughed, not noticing the tears that fell from Estel's closed eyes.
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Elladan and Elrohir:
Elrohir grunted as he pulled off the last bit of bark covering Estel. They had decided, instead of carrying part of the tree with Estel in it, they would just cut the top half of it and lift the child out.
"You're carrying him!" he said glaring at Elladan. Because it was Elladan's idea, naturally Elrohir had to be the one to complete it, but he didn't complain…much. After all, it was his baby brother.
"No problem, I already know you're too weak to do it yourself" he jested. Elrohir growled and pointed at Estel.
"You want to be the one to tell father the reason we didn't get him home sooner was because you were JOKING about it?"
"Calm down Elrohir, don't get your trousers in a bunch. I'll carry him." He said soberly. After carefully lifting their brothers unconscious form into Elladan's arms, they made their way up the ravine and into the forest.
"How is he doing?" Elrohir asked forcing himself calm and acting his age for once.
"He's still breathing, that's all I know, don't worry, father will know what to do." He replied trying as much to relax Elrohir as he was himself. They weaved their way through the trees, trying to get home as fast as they could without harming Estel.
"The clearing is just ahead!" Elrohir called back to the two.
"We'll run as soon as we can, although I'm afraid it will hurt him."
"Then thank Eru he isn't awake to feel it, come on, it's just a little further," Once they hit the clearing, they ran to the front entrance of the house and were amazed that someone was already there waiting for them. It was their father, as well as two of his assistant healers and a stretcher.
AN: Next chapter will be only one form of the story, I should have it to you all tonight, seeing as this is only an edited chapter, not a new one.