Three weeks had passed since Legolas departed on a dangerous quest to help destroy what was known as 'Isildur's Bane.' Despite her family's best efforts at comforting her or helping to take her mind off Legolas' absence, nothing seemed to help. Estella just could not be consoled. For the first few days, she would not eat, and she cried nonstop.
Elladan tried his best to help his daughter, but she would not even allow him to hold her. Every time he attempted to touch or talk to her, she would snap at him, telling him to leave. He could not understand what was happening. Elrohir at first told his brother just to give her space, and she would come around, but as the days went by and Estella still would not let anyone near her, he began to have his doubts this was just about Legolas being gone.
"I am worried about her, Elrohir. I know you said to give her space, but it has been almost a month, and she is getting worse," Elladan told his brother one morning after a particularly rough confrontation with his daughter. By this time, she refused to even come out of her room.
Elrohir agreed. This was not normal. He had remembered how their father behaved when their mother departed for the Undying Lands and even he had not shut everyone out like this. "Perhaps, Adar will know of something which can help us. You are right; this is not normal."
Leaving Estella's room, the two walked to their father's study where they knew he was at this time of day. Not even knocking, they entered. Elrond looked up from his work about to chastise his sons for barging in, but when he saw the worried looks on their faces, he put his quill down and stood to his feet. "Estella?" he asked concerned. He had known of her behavior as of late. Yes, she allowed him to come near her, but that was only because she was pregnant and he was a healer; otherwise, she would not even tolerate his presence.
"Yes. I am really worried about her. It has been almost a month, and she will not allow anyone in her room, she hardly eats, and she yells and cries all the time," Elladan explained to his father.
Lowering his eyes, Elrond turned towards his window. He knew he had to tell his son this was not just because of Legolas' departure. "I should have told you this a while ago, but I thought by now Estella would have told you herself," Elrond said slowly.
Elladan looked at his brother who was just as confused as he. "Tell me what? What is wrong with my daughter?" he demanded. If there was one thing he did not tolerate, it was people keeping things from him which involved his brother or daughter.
Turning around Elrond met his son's eyes. "Your daughter has not been depressed solely because of Legolas being away although that is a huge factor. Estella is carrying twins, and Legolas not being here during this time is causing her to be more emotional than normal."
Feeling the floor almost come out from under him, he sat down reeling in shock. "Estella is with child?!" Elladan repeated still not believing what he just heard. "How long have you known and why have you not told me this before now?" Elladan was trying to keep his voice calm but found it next to impossible. Next, to him, Elrohir was keeping a hand on him to seek to calm him, but he knew his brother was in shock as well.
"I know you are upset and you have a right to be," Elrond began. "Estella came to me five weeks before the Fellowship left telling me she thought she was pregnant. After examining her, I confirmed her suspicions. I asked her if she was going to tell Legolas and she said she did not know. By the time they left, I knew she had not told anyone despite my urging her to." Elrond stopped and looked up at his son, "I would have thought she would have at least told you by now. Forgive me, ion nín, for not coming to you sooner." Elrond's eyes held remorse for withholding this from his son. Elrond hated keeping things from him, but at the same time, he did not want to betray his granddaughter's trust.
"Well, that does explain a lot of why Estella has been so emotional, but it does not explain why she would not tell us," Elrohir said trying to come to terms with this news.
Elladan was still fuming over the fact his father had blatantly not told him knowing all along he was worried about his daughter. How many times had he come to his father almost crying himself because he did not know how to help his daughter?
"I think," Elrond started sitting down once more, "that Estella may still be in shock she is with child and the fact she conceived only to have Legolas leave, is too much for her. You must remember she has known mainly pain. She grew up without a father, she was treated horribly growing up knowing she was different, Estella lost her mother at a very young age, and now she is with child, and the one person who should be rejoicing with her is away possibly never to return. I do not think her mind can handle all of this, so she is shutting everyone out."
"So, are you saying Legolas does not even know he is to be a father?" Elladan asked, his heart breaking for his daughter. She was still a child in the eyes of an Elf and for her to have gone through so much pain, was almost too much for him.
Elrond shook his head. "No, he does not know. I think if he knew, he would not have left. They had not even planned this pregnancy out. In fact, Estella was in complete shock she conceived knowing that Elves controlled when they had children."
"I think Legolas should have stayed, to begin with," Elladan spat. "For him to abandon my daughter so shortly after they were bound is despicable. They could have sent another in his place." Elladan loved Legolas as a brother, but he could not help but feel angry at him for leaving knowing Estella had been through so much already. Heck, even Thranduil was not happy with Legolas for leaving. Despite his hatred towards the Elvenking, he had to respect him for the love he felt for Estella.
"You know there was no one else Elladan. You and your brother are needed to help Aragorn, Glorfindel could not go, and Thranduil is needed in Mirkwood. Legolas did not like it any more than you," Elrond reminded him.
"Adar," Elrohir started suddenly, his face looking pale. "Estella does not know we are to leave in a month. I am not sure she could handle losing Legolas and us at once. Surely, Aragorn could handle this on his own? The Rangers will be with him."
Elrond felt his heart sink. Elrohir did have a point, but unfortunately, war did not take sides nor did it take into consideration how people will handle the loss of loved ones. "I know, Elrohir, but you know you must aid your brother. As cruel as this may sound, Estella is not the only one who must learn to cope with family departing for war. She will just have to conjure up the strength to handle this."
"How do we help Estella then? What can we do? She refuses to allow anyone near her." Elladan knew his father spoke the truth; however, it did not make it any easier.
Elrond stood to his feet and walked to the door. "I think it is time we show some tough love. I understand she is very upset, but she needs to remember it is just not her anymore she needs to consider."
Elladan and Elrohir glanced at one another before they followed their father to Estella's room.
Estella lied on her bed staring out the window. Her mind drifted off thinking about Legolas. Was he safe, would he even come home? How would he react knowing she never told him she was carrying his children? I should have told him before he left. He would never have left if I did, she thought to herself.
Estella knew she should be happy she was having Legolas' baby, but she just could not stand being parted from him. Her heart felt like it was being ripped from her chest. Every night she would have nightmares his body was being brought home. She wanted to tell her father, but she did not want him to see her like this. Was this how her parents felt when they had been separated?
As she pondered on these thoughts, she heard a knock on the door. "Estella, it is me. Open the door."
When she did not answer, she heard the door open. "Estella? I know you are with child, and we need to talk."
Estella's eyes opened wide, and she sat up in bed with a jolt. "You told him?" she asked her grandfather feeling betrayed.
"Estella, your father had a right to know. I only agreed not to say anything because I thought you would have told him by now. This family does not keep secrets from one another," Elrond said harshly. Then softening his voice, he sat on the bed. "Estella, I know you miss Legolas very much. You have two people in this room that know what it is like to be separated from their mate, but shutting us out is not healthy for you, and it is not healthy for your children."
Elladan sat on the bed and put his hand on hers. "Estella, I know what you are going through. Like you, I pushed everyone away when your mother disappeared. I am speaking from experience when I say, that is the worst thing you can do. Please, let me in, allow me to comfort you."
Tears filled her eyes. "I do not know how. My chest hurts so bad; it feels like my heart has been shattered. I keep having dreams Legolas is brought home dead. What if it is not a dream? I do not think I can live without him."
Holding his daughter close he did not know what to say. With his daughter not eating much, her crying all the time, the bad dreams and now her heart hurting, he could not help but wonder if these were the first signs of her fading.
Long moments had passed before anyone spoke. "Estella, you must find the strength to live if the worst does happen and Legolas does perish. You must find the strength for your children. They need you, just like you need us," Elrond said kneeling in front of her.
Looking up into her grandfather's eyes, she could barely talk. "I do not know how Daerada."
"We will help you. Now, you must try to eat something. Both you and the babies need the nourishment," Elrond said placing a soft kiss on her head.
Nodding, Estella stood and with some assistance, was led to the family sitting room where food was brought up. It took a tremendous effort on her part, but Estella was able to eat some toast and a bit of fruit. Yawning, she laid down on the sofa and fell into a light sleep.
Despite everyone's best efforts, Estella could not get over her despair. Even though she allowed her family to comfort her, and she tried to believe Legolas would return, her dreams became more terrifying, and she slowly started losing the will to live. It was soon apparent to everyone, Estella was fading.
One night as Elrond was talking to his sons about what could be done, Estella woke up screaming. "Ada!" Running as fast as they could, they entered her room to find Estella sitting in bed reaching her hands forward, her eyes wide with fear.
"Estella!" Elladan cried rushing to his daughter grabbing her. "Wake up, it is okay, you are just dreaming," he kept repeating to her.
After several minutes, Estella's eyes came into focus, but she was still very shaken up. "Ada?" she asked uncertainly.
Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, he whispered to her. "Yes, sweetheart, it is me. Your uncle and grandfather are here as well. What were you dreaming about?"
Estella looked around as if she was looking for someone. "Legolas, I dreamed he died. I saw him fall into fire and darkness. He called out to me, and I tried to reach him, but I couldn't…"
Elladan looked up at his father unsure of what to do. "I will get her a slight sleeping draught mixed with forest turmeric to help ward off the dreams," Elrohir said to his father so he could stay with Elladan and Estella.
Elrond nodded and sat on the other side of his granddaughter. "Estella, I promise it was only a dream. Legolas is not dead."
"How do you know that?" she asked quietly.
"Can you still feel the connection with him?" he asked.
Estella closed her eyes and searched for the bond she shared with Legolas. After a moment had passed by, she opened them up. "Yes, I can."
Smiling softly at her, he rubbed her back gently. "Then he is still alive, and you have nothing to fear."
A few minutes later, Elrohir came back with a cup of tea mixed with a sedative and forest turmeric. "Here," he said handing her the cup, "this will help you sleep, and it will ward off bad dreams."
Taking the cup from her uncle, Estella drank the tea without even smelling it. Too tired to even gag on the bitter taste she handed the cup back to him and laid back down. Within minutes, she had fallen asleep.
Covering her up, Elladan placed a kiss on her cheek and walked out of the room followed by his father and brother. When they were down the hall, Elladan stopped. "She cannot keep going like this Father. Estella is fading, you can see it in her eyes. She is beyond exhausted and can hardly stand. Her carrying twins is not helping either. I fear for all of them."
Elrond was just as scared for his granddaughter as Elladan was. This was a very uncertain time for Estella and for the first time in a long time, he felt helpless. "I know my son, but I am not sure anything can be done."
After a moment of thinking, Elladan came to a decision. "I am writing a letter to Thranduil, asking him to come at once. I might not like him, but he loves my daughter as his own, and something tells me he is her only hope." Without waiting for a reply, Elladan went off to write an urgent letter to Thranduil telling him to come at once.