Two weeks went by since Elladan had written a missive to Thranduil asking him to come at once. Ever since Estella left, the Elvenking had slipped back into his cold demeanor. With both his son and daughter-in-law gone, nothing seemed to cheer him anymore. Even the other Elves noticed a huge change in the environment and their king. When Estella was here, the king appeared to be happier, kinder and even the prince seemed more content. Now, with his son on a quest which more than likely would fail and Estella in Rivendell, Thranduil had relapsed into his old ways.
Thranduil was in his study looking over old maps and reports trying to decide the best course of action to take in stopping the evil from spreading further through his realm when Feren burst through the large oak doors a look of distress in his eyes. The king was about to demand to know the meaning of his actions but stopped as soon as he noticed the worried look radiating from his eyes. "Feren, what is the matter?" he asked standing at once from his seat.
The ellon shakily handed Thranduil the sealed letter bearing Elladan's seal on it. "It is a message from Lord Elladan. It arrived just a moment ago by pigeon." Feren's voice held a fear to it despite his best efforts to conceal it.
His face paling, he knew it could not be good. The only reason messages were sent by air was if the letter held ill news and the only reason Elladan would even write to him was if it had to do with Estella. Ripping the seal off, Thranduil immediately read the letter. Before he had even finished, he fell into his chair and dropped the paper.
"What is wrong, my lord?" Feren asked rushing to his king's side.
"Feren, ready my fastest horse, I am leaving at once for Imladris," Thranduil ordered slowly regaining his composure.
"Alone, my lord? What has happened?" Feren could not figure out why Thranduil would leave especially since they were due to march out to Dol Guldur in a few weeks.
Looking Feren in the eyes, Thranduil swallowed hard, his eyes moist and full of uncertainty. "No, I will bring a few Elves with me, but I must leave within the hour. Elladan has summoned me and asked me to come at once." Feren's eyes widened with disbelief. He knew as everyone else did how much contempt the eldest son of Elrond held for their king. Thranduil took a deep breath to steady his heart. "Estella is fading. Elladan did not go into details, he only said, to please hurry for he did not know how much longer she would last. He believes I am the only one who can help her."
"Estella, is dying, my lord?" Feren repeated not sure he heard his king correctly.
"That is correct, Feren. The longer I wait to leave, the less likely I can save her if she can, in fact, be saved." Thranduil stood slowly to his feet and paced the floor.
"My lord, what about Dol Guldur? We are scheduled to leave within a few weeks." Feren did not mean to sound heartless, he loved Estella dearly—a lot of the inhabitants of Mirkwood did, but surely something else could be worked out to help Estella?
"Haerelion will have to take over the march against Dol Guldur; he is just as capable as I am at leading the troops. Estella is the wife of my son and the future queen of Mirkwood; she needs me."
"Then I shall ready your horse and get together a small escort." Bowing, Feren left at once.
When Feren had left, Thranduil picked up the letter once more and reread the words over. His eyes moist, he exhaled softly. "Hold on pen dithen," Thranduil murmured.
An hour later, a small escort stood ready at the main gates ready to leave with all speed to Imladris. With any luck, the group would arrive within a fortnight, three weeks at the most. Haerelion had already been told he would oversee leading the battle at Dol Guldur and since he knew the plans and maps already, he told the king to leave and get to Estella.
Before leaving, Thranduil had given temporary control of Mirkwood over to Feren. "If all goes well, I hope to be back within the month. If I am unable to leave, I will send a message. Until then, you are in charge Feren."
Feren nodded his understanding. "Safe travels, my lord and tell Lady Estella our thoughts are with her."
"I shall," Thranduil replied, and with a soft command to his horse, the small group took off at once toward Rivendell.
Elladan sat vigilantly over his daughter as she lay in a restless slumber. Estella could not keep much down, and she woke with regular night terrors of Legolas dying. Despite the fire which Elladan ordered always to be lit and the blankets piled on her, Estella shivered with cold. Elrond was on call twenty-four hours a day in case the worst were to happen to either her or her children. So far though, the babies were doing fine, though they were now starting to steal all the nutrition from their mother which was making matters worse for Estella. If Thranduil could not find a way to get his granddaughter to heal, then it would mean certain death for all three.
As Elladan stood up to stretch his legs, a knock on the door sounded. "Enter," Elladan said, turning around to see who it was. The only people he had agreed to bother him were his brother, father, Glorfindel and Erestor. When the door opened, he felt joy fill his body. "Lord Thranduil, I never thought I would be so happy to see you," Elladan said giving a small bow.
"I came as fast as I could. How is she?" Thranduil asked looking over at the sleeping form in the bed next to him. As he came closer to Estella, Thranduil felt his heart break. She seemed so pale and frail, he had no idea how he would be able to heal her, and if she died, he knew without a doubt his son would follow her to Mandos soon after. Absentmindedly, he stroked Estella's forehead, taking a seat next to her where her father sat moments before.
Watching Thranduil with his daughter, he slowly started to realize just how foolish he had been all these long years. Realizing his brother and he had to leave in just over a week to help Aragorn, he knew he needed to make amends with Thranduil—for his daughter's sake. "Estella sleeps now, although only just. She grows weaker by the day. Thranduil…I did not explain why she was fading in the letter because I felt I needed to tell you in person." Thranduil looked up at Elladan with a confused and concerned look on his face. "Estella is fading because she dreams of Legolas falling in shadow and fire. No matter what any of us here tell her, Estella keeps having night terrors of his death. She cannot bear to be parted with him, and it is not just because of the quest…" here Elladan struggled to find the right way to tell Thranduil she carried his grandchildren. "Estella is not the only one suffering from this incident—Thranduil, Estella is pregnant with twins and if she dies, so do they."
If Thranduil felt shocked by Elladan writing to him and asking for his help, it was nothing compared to what he felt now. "Estella is with child?" Elladan merely nodded. "Does Legolas know?"
Elladan shook his head. "No. Estella apparently conceived on the day they became bound to one another and did not find out until several weeks after the Council, and she thought if he knew, he would not go on this quest. In fact, none of us aside from my father knew she was pregnant. I did not find out until a week or two after Legolas left."
"I knew it was foolish for my son to go on that quest. This is unfortunate news indeed," the Elvenking said feeling the weight of the news hit him.
"What is worse is my brother, and I are scheduled to leave to help Aragorn in about a week, and I fear what that will do to her. Thranduil, can you help her?" Elladan looked at him as if his daughter's very life lay in his hands.
Closing his eyes, Thranduil took a deep breath. "I am not sure Elladan. Your daughter is nearing the point of no return. I can try, but do not trust to hope." Staring up at Elladan, he wanted to make things right between him. Both had hard feeling between one another, and he could not shake the feeling now would be the only time to make things right. "Elladan, if I may, I would like to apologize to you for not helping you search for your wife. I see now; I was wrong in not doing so."
Sucking in air, Elladan forced himself not to lash out at Thranduil; instead, he decided to ask him the one question he had always wanted to ask. "Why? Why did you refuse to help me?"
Thranduil's eyes looked sorrowful, and he found he could not hold his gaze. "I was scared…scared because I did not know what it was that stole Luiniel away from you. Mirkwood is filled with dark magic and not knowing what caused her to vanish or if it would happen again and take my people as well, I panicked. I have always regretted my decision, but because of my pride, I never repented nor asked for your forgiveness."
Elladan just stared at this once proud king. In all his long years, he had never heard Thranduil admit he was wrong or apologize. Although a part of him wanted to tell him he did not forgive him and he could feel guilty for the rest of his life, he could not. "If you had of only said that from the beginning instead of just throwing me out, we could have avoided this from the outset."
"I know, and I cannot apologize enough to you. As someone who has lost a wife, I should have had more compassion." Thranduil could tell Elladan was fighting to contain his emotions and for a moment, this half-elf reminded him of himself.
"I do not know why I am doing this but, I forgive you. Even though Luiniel is forever gone and I will probably never be reunited with her, I forgive you…and I would like to thank you for taking care of my daughter when she was brought back to Middle-earth. If it were not for you and Legolas, she would probably be dead." As soon as Elladan had finished speaking, he felt a heavy weight lifted from his chest.
At a complete loss for words, all Thranduil could say was thank you. "Now let us see if we can save Estella." Pulling a ring off his finger which contained a green jewel, he gently placed it inside Estella's tiny, cold hand. "Estella, penneth, can you hear me? Open your eyes for me."
At first, it did not seem like Estella would listen, but after a few moments, her eyes slowly opened. When her vision cleared, she smiled weakly when she realized who was sitting in front of her. "Thranduil?"
Thranduil cringed inwardly at how frail she sounded but managed a smile nonetheless. "Yes, pen dithen, it is me. How are you feeling?"
"I feel cold and tired," she said trying to snuggle deeper into her bed. "Why are you here? Did my father send for you?"
"Yes, he did. He said you were fading and thought I might be of some help to you; he replied squeezing her hand.
It was then, Estella felt an object in her other hand and opened it to see a beautiful emerald ring. "What is this?"
"That is a family heirloom that is shared between my son and me. You see, there are two of them, and when one wears it, the other will always know whether the other is alive or not."
Estella's eyes lit up and for the first time since Legolas left, they shined. "Really? How can you tell?"
Thranduil smiled and took the ring from her. "You see how the ring has a soft glow? As long as it continues to glow, and as long as it remains warm, Legolas is alive." He placed the ring back into her hand, and she closed it tightly.
"I will take good care of it and return it to you when he returns…if he returns."
"Estella, look at me," Thranduil said, his voice slightly stern. "Legolas will return. I do not know how I know this, but I do, and you must cling to that hope. You must fight this grief and fight to live. If you do not, both you and your children will pass on, and I can promise you, Legolas will not survive that kind of loss."
Her eyes growing wide, Estella's breath hitched. She had never thought about what would happen to Legolas if she and her children died. "Forgive me; I never considered that. I have been selfish, haven't I?"
This time Elladan came over and sat on the edge of her bed. "No, Estella, you have not been selfish. Stubborn perhaps, but not selfish. But now that you know he is alive you must find the will to live. Not just for him, but for me. I lost your mother…I could not bear to lose you as well." Elladan had to struggle to say the last few words.
Realizing just how many people would suffer if she gave into her grief, Estella looked back at the ring and smiled. "I will try my hardest to overcome this. I swear it."
"Thank the Valar!" Elladan said, breathing a huge sigh of relief. Bending down, he placed a kiss on her forehead., then turning to Thranduil, he smiled. "Thank you, Thranduil. Might I have a word with you in the hall for a moment?"
Estella looked worried, but her father laughed softly. "Do not worry iell nín; it is nothing bad."
Thranduil got up and followed Elladan out of the room. "What is it?" he asked not sure what was so important, he did not want Estella to hear.
"Again, thank you for everything you have done. If it were not for you and that ring, Estella would have succumbed to her grief. But I have one more request to ask of you. Would you be willing to stay with Estella while I am gone?"
Thranduil was shocked. He was beginning to wonder if this was the same Elladan who only weeks ago, wanted to kill him. "You wish for me to remain here?"
"If you would not mind. I know she is especially close to you and when my brother and I leave, I fear she could relapse."
Thranduil was torn. He loved Estella as his own daughter, and he was flattered Elladan would even ask him to do this, but he also had a duty as king, and his people needed him as well. But seeing the look on Elladan's face and knowing the fear he was feeling—for he was a father himself—he could not say no. "Very well," he sighed, "I will stay until she is well enough. Does Estella know you are leaving?"
"Thank you," Elladan said feeling an immense relief. "Yes, she does, that was another reason her health took a turn for the worse. She has already lost her mother; I believe the fear of losing me as well is heavy on her."
"If you are anything like your father, you will return, and you will be a grandfather as well," Thranduil laughed.
"A scary thought to behold," Elladan smirked. "Let us go tell Estella the news.
When the two entered the room, they noticed Estella sitting up and stroking the ring which Thranduil had given to her. "Estella?"
Looking up, she saw both Thranduil and her father and could not help but have a look of bewilderment on her face at seeing them together and on good terms. "I see you two are talking civilly to one another," she noted.
The two only laughed and came to sit on her bed. "Thranduil and I were talking, and he has agreed to remain here with you and your grandfather until you are well enough."
Estella grinned. "Really?"
"Aye, really," Thranduil said returning her smile. "Now, I think you have had enough excitement for one day. You should get some rest now."
Stifling a yawn, Estella did not realize just how tired she was. Laying back down, she clutched the ring to her chest, and for the first time since Legolas left, Estella slept without any night terrors plaguing her mind.
One week later, Estella seemed to be doing better, though she appeared to be struggling with her father gone. However, unlike her constant despair with Legolas, she made her mind up not to lose hope that her father and uncle would return. After all, her father had told her they had been on many quests before and always returned.
It was on one sunny day when Estella was strong enough to walk with some support that she noticed her Aunt Arwen, laying on a chair outside and upon closer look, she observed that she was shivering and looked so weak. Looking over at her grandfather who was helping Estella to sit, she placed a hand on her now slightly swollen belly. "What is wrong with Arwen, Daeradar?"
Elrond looked over at his daughter and frowned, a pained look in his gray eyes. "Arwen has chosen the fate of Lúthien, and now she is learning what it means to become mortal."
"Mortal? I thought she was Elven?" Of course, she knew of the fate of Lúthien, but she was not sure how it applied to Arwen.
Elrond raised a brow and sat next to his granddaughter. "Your father never told you, did he?"
"Tell me what?" Estella asked now more confused than ever.
"Ai! That fool of a son of mine!" Elrond seethed. Taking a deep breath, he tried to think of how to explain this to her. "As you are aware, Lúthien was given a choice whether to remain in Mandos Halls and be reborn at another time, or become mortal and suffer the fate of Men which is to die. Lúthien chose the latter and returned to Middle-earth as a mortal with Beren. Upon doing so, her descendants starting with my parents were given the same choice and then my brother and I. Of all of us; only my brother chose to be counted among the race of Men." Elrond looked at Estella who was taking in every word. He was not sure how he was going to tell her what her father should have told her from the beginning. Exhaling, he continued. "Now while my brother's descendants will remain mortal, my children are given a choice to decide which race they wish to be counted among—the race of Men or to be counted as one of the Firstborn."
"And Arwen chose to become mortal?"
Elrond frowned. "She did."
"But what does that have to do with me?" Estella could tell her grandfather was hiding something, and it was starting to frighten her.
"Since your father and Uncle chose to be counted among the Firstborn, any children they have will be faced with the same choice as I was and as they were."
Estella gasped and felt her stomach lurch. "You mean, I will have to choose whether to be mortal or be like you?"
"I am afraid so, my dear."
"What will happen if I choose to become mortal?"
"If you go down that path, then you will be forever sundered from your father and Legolas and Legolas will more than likely fade once you grow old and leave this world." Elrond saw the look of horror on her face and felt like throttling his son for not telling her this from the beginning.
As she heard her grandfather speak those words, she felt numb but also anger at her father for not telling her this. "Why didn't he…my father tell me this?
"He thought by not telling you; you would choose to be counted as one of the Eldar after you married Legolas. He was going to tell you before you married Legolas, but once he saw how happy you were when you came to ask for his blessing to bind with him, he could not shatter your happiness by telling you this."
Estella nodded. Although she understood why her father did what he did, it did not make matters any easier. "How long do I have before I must make my decision and if I do choose to remain immortal, will my children have to make the same choice?"
"You have until I leave these shores to sail to the Undying Lands, and as for your other question, I do not know. If you choose to become one of the Eldar, you would have to sail at some point in time or eventually you would cease to be visible to the mortals over time. If you sailed, your children would more than likely be counted as one of the Eldar; otherwise, I do not know."
"I understand." From this point on, Estella would have to consider her choices and the consequences if she did not. How am I going to tell Legolas? she wondered as she looked back over at Arwen. Could she truly forsake her immortality and be forever sundered from those she loved?