Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for reviewing :) Each review brings a smile to my face and makes me want to write more. So thank you!
I don't own LotR or Natsume, though I wish I did.
They rode hard through the day, only stopping to eat and relieve themselves. All three brothers were anxious to be home were there would be no danger to their precious charge, excited and nervous to break the news to the people of Rivendell. There would be quite an uproar in all the elven communities once the information about the child spread. The elfling had swapped places after their first break and had sat with Elladan during the rest of the ride. Estel almost worried the pair would crash into a tree near the beginning with how enraptured the twin was with the child. Fortunately they didn't and there were no mishaps that day, the child actually fell asleep in Elladan's arms halfway through the journey.
They stopped again for the night, as much as they would like to continue to ride through until they eventually came to Rivendell, It would be unfair to both the child and the horses. At the speed they were travelling it would hopefully only be one more day until they finally arrived at home. The child tried to offer his help in setting up the campsite, or unsaddling the horses, but most things were large, heavy or dangerous to hold and he was told to wait to the side and rest. The boy wouldn't even sit down, he stood and fidgeted, wringing his hands and fumbling with the strings of his strange clothing. He looked uneasy again, as night approached as if he didn't know what to do with himself.
Elladan P.o.V
Finally the camp was ready for another night, fire again crackling merrily and bringing light and warmth, he turned around to check on the child and to his surprise the child hadn't come forward at the completion of the campsite. He stood on the edge looking unsure, "Come and sit by the fire child," I called to him, making sure to keep my voice light and cheerful. The boy looked relieved as he moved towards the warmth of the fire, and again I felt anger stir in my gut. Although the child had no visible injuries or scars that they could see it was obvious he had been neglected to the point that he was no longer comfortable with other people, even elf-kind. And it didn't just anger Elladan, but hurt, his very soul was crying out in thinking that an elfling had been treated so. But I calmed myself, no lines of anger reached my face, for the child who was so unsure but beginning to trust them would likely grow uneasy at the sight of it.
It had filled my heart with joy to hear his unrestrained laughter earlier in the day and it was my goal to hear it again and again. When he joined me on the horse, to have him in my arms filled me with warmth, the small touch made him feel more real. It reminded me that it wasn't some hopeful dream; the child was actually here with us. Then he fell asleep in my arms, and a profound relief filled me, to know that he trusted me enough to fall asleep in my hold made me nearly laugh out loud in sheer joy at the thing.
Natsume was quiet, and I decided that now would be a good time to gently question him about how he came to be alone in the forest. To our great relief his fever was now almost non-existent, although elves were immune to most sicknesses; elflings were generally weaker than even human children when it came to illness.
"Natume," I began rolling his strange name on my tongue and he looked at me, for one his gaze clear of wariness, "Where are your parents? Why were you alone in the forest?" Estel looked at me reproachingly, it had been a silent agreement to not question the child until we reached Rivendell, but the child had looked calm and I could no longer hold myself back. Elrohir looked relieved when I voiced my question and I knew he felt the same, and all three of us now turned to look at the child to hear his response.
His gaze was again uneasy, and it hurt to think it was my fault for his peaceful look to go away, but I needed some answers or I would go mad. He gazed into my eyes as if trying to read my intentions, before looking back to the ground, "Both of my parents are dead, I was living with distant relatives…"
I had expected as much about his parents, but to hear the boy say it himself made me feel like I had been doused with icy water. Although the relatives explanation didn't make much sense, for even if they were distant relatives they would have loved the elfling like their own and all the elvish communities would have heard of him. Despite this leaving more questions than answers I didn't push the child, the words spoken seemed to have taken a toll on him and no wonder for it must have brought up painful memories. He seemed to curl inwards on himself clutching his trousers so hard his fingers went white. Estel slowly approached him, in the same manner one would approach a frightened animal, when he finally reached the boy he knelt down to his level.
"I do not know what happened to your parents, nor do I know what happened to your relatives, but you are with us now. Me and Elladan and Elrohir will take care of you. The other elves will welcome you gladly…And you will not have to leave unless you yourself choose to do so." His soft words barely carried to where I was sitting but were warm and kind. The boy looked completely stunned, his face filled with disbelief. A little tear trickled down his face, but he seemed to master himself and his choking words that followed made me want to cry as well, "me?" he said softly, with the same disbelief that filled his face, "They would gladly welcome me…You want to take care of me?" Each time he said "me" it was filled with a quiet self-loathing, and I wanted to hunt down the people who had put it there. Estel didn't say anything else; he took the child's chin in his hands, looked him in the eye and nodded. And that seemed to break some invisible barrier, the child threw himself into Estel's arms and began to sob, he sobbed in a way only a child can. Heartbreakingly soft hiccups and little wails echoed softly in the clearing as tears poured down his face looking like they would never stop.
Estel picked the child up and held him to his chest rocking him slowly, his gaze met mine over the child's head, and his eyes were filled with horror that I was sure was reflected in my own. He held the child and murmured reassurances, while patting his back. Slowly, slowly the child was soothed and only the watery hiccoughs remained until he at last laid his head on Estel's shoulder clutching his clothing in a tight fist and fell asleep, exhausted by his overwhelming emotions.
Elrohir sighed and put his face in his hands, I went over to sit next to him, giving and drawing strength from him. I again thanked the Valinor (I think that's how it's spelled) for being born a twin, his support always made me feel stronger. I felt him shudder next to me and was surprised to see gleaming tracks trickling down his face, he hadn't cried in hundreds of years, not since our mother passed! I touched my face and was surprised for a second time; my face was wet with tears as well. It was just too much, an elfling alive was fantastic, it was something he never thought he would see again, but for it to have so much self-doubt, for the child to be so unhappy just shook him to his very soul. It was wrong; it seemed against nature for something like this to have happen.
Estel lay the child down to sleep, although he had a hard time removing the child's iron grip off his clothing. He shook his head and sat down closer to the fire, he put his head in his hands, mirroring the exact position Elrohir had been in moments before. He did not cry though, his face remained blank and I knew he was trying to process all that had happened. After a few long moments he went to lie down, a silent request than one of us take first watch this time.
Normal P.o.V
Morning came with the presence of grey clouds; hopefully they could arrive to Rivendell before the downpour started. The child woke and blushed bright red again as he no doubt recalled his breakdown. None of the brothers mentioned it; they just calmly cleaned up the campsite and kept conversation light and even silly. They made sure Natsume had enough to eat and drink, and then Elrohir picked him up and placed him on his horse. Natsume smiled a hesitant smile as they began to ride again towards Rivendell. He did not complain a single time about the long journey with little breaks, although he did rub his legs and stretched vigorously whenever we stopped, showing he was uncomfortable. A little bird flew into their sight when they stopped to eat and nearly clipped Estel in the head with its wings, it startled everyone, when the boy let out a long stream of merry giggles. The boy himself looked taken aback at his own carefree laughter and apologized to Estel for laughing at him, Estel merely shrugged and laughed as well telling the boy there was no reason to apologize.
They set off once again, Natsume sitting with Estel this time, and all three brothers were glad as they all realized they were very close to home. The very air seemed more and more peaceful as they approached home.
"Look forward Natsume, for we will soon have Rivendell in our sights, and it is not something you want to miss," Estel could be heard telling the boy, and as they got to the top of a rather small hill, there it was Rivendell in all it beauty. The child let out a sharp gasp, his eyes wide in wonder at the city sprawled out before him.
"Welcome home," the twins said together and Natsume could do little but nod in agreement.
"Natsume…were they really all good people? There were the ones who drank and then hit you…and ones who pretended they'd forgotten and didn't feed you. Kids will be kids…When they all get together, they can be so cruel, can't they? It's not right, is it? I thought that humans were supposed to love children unconditionally. So I wonder…why are you not loved?"
"Shut up! It's because I'm not normal! Isn't it obvious!? It's obvious no one would want to bring someone they don't understand into their precious family!" Natsume ch 31