Healing Hope

Chapter 33

We Will Be Brothers

“There is a destiny that makes us brothers: None goes his way alone: All that we send into the lives of others comes back onto our own.”  Edwin Markham

Dusk was settling over Imladris like a soft blanket of shadow dulling the brilliant colors of nature to grayness as Elrond, accompanied by Glorfindel, walked into his library for the anticipated meeting with Mithrandir, Celeborn, and Galadriel.  He immediately noticed that the three had not been served tea or refreshments and realized once more that his home did not run quite as smoothly without Erestor at the helm.  Dearest Erestor, always beside him seeing to the finer details of the household with such superb competence that the esteemed Elf Lord did not even have to voice his wishes most of the time, was still confined to the healing wing with the twins. 

Elrond glanced at Glorfindel, who had noticed the same thing.  The golden one bowed slightly and left to request tea and a light repast for the meeting. 

“Where is Arwen,” asked Celeborn as Elrond neared the table where they sat.  “Should she not take part in this gathering?”

“Arwen is with her brothers,” explained Elrond.  “She will join us later in the hall of fire.”

“I have never known my grandsons to be overcome by orcs,” observed Galadriel, “despite the numbers against them.”

Galadriel was not without her powers, but she had been as blind as he in the moments after his first realization that the twins were in jeopardy.  The pair had communed by far speak as he sought to answer his fears while Glorfindel searched for the twins.

Mithrandir was watching the pair closely for signs that they could feel the same pulsations as he.  This was the first time the three rings of power resided in the same room at the same time and each was singing in concert with the others, creating their own unique sensations within the three bearers.

Glorfindel reappeared with a pair of servers following closely behind.  One of the servers began lighting the oil lamps for the room had fallen into shadow.  Glorfindel’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Elrond.  It was readily apparent to the warrior that the Lord of Imladris was struggling somewhat to master raging emotions.  He suspected the culprit to be the invisible ring of power on his finger.  The warrior’s eyes slid to the place on Elrond’s hand where the ring was worn, and he shuddered slightly.  Such power was not something he desired. 

Galadriel smiled, as though reading his thoughts.  “Yet you emerged from Mandos’ Halls to re-walk Arda and protect the line of Eärendil.  Olórin, it was, who brought you forth.”

Humor glinted in Mithrandir’s eyes at the look on Glorfindel’s face.  “Sit, my old friend.  You have been around Galadriel long enough to know how she enjoys attempting to catch you off your guard.”

Galadriel chuckled at Mithrandir’s words and gifted Glorfindel with an apologetic smile.  “Sit and be at your ease, golden one, for we have much to discuss this night.  But first, I must thank you for saving the lives of my grandsons.”

O-o-O-o-O

As night approached, the remaining riders from Mirkwood rendezvoused with the king’s party.  Falathar offered to have the king’s pavilion erected, but Thranduil opted to remain with Legolas and Estel in the small cottage so that the child could be kept near the fire.  With the advent of the extra warriors a larger fire could be built without fear of the smoke being seen.  No roaming band of orcs would dare to attack so large a contingent of Elven warriors.

The king had also ordered that the disgusting remnants of the bed be dragged outside the cottage and burned for he would not abide the stench of the thing any longer.  Estel was transferred to the pallet in front of the fire as Thranduil met with the riders who had joined them from Imladris seeking news of Erestor and Sariboril.

Estel turned over in his sleep, whimpered slightly when he bumped his broken arm, and shifted so that his weight was not resting on the appendage. 

“Do they all sleep this long?” asked Falathar kneeling down beside where Legolas sat on the pallet beside Estel.

Legolas met his eyes, “I do not know,” he admitted, “for this is the only edain that I have watched sleep.  I remember Erestor saying that young ones required more sleep than adults, however.”

“It is regrettable that Lord Erestor and the Healer were not able to come with us as planned,” observed Falathar.  “It would have made things much easier.”

Legolas glanced wryly at his friend, “Infinitely easier, my friend.  Your gift of understatement is not diminished, I see.”  He glanced around to assure himself that they would not be overheard and leaned conspiratorially towards Falathar.  “Adar is going to send the First Healer to Lake Town to confer with the healers there as to the proper care and feeding of a young edain.”

Falathar could not hold back an inelegant snort of laughter.  “I would forfeit a few thousand years to see that!  Thedin hates the edain as much as…well, I was going to say as much as the king, but that seems not to be the case here.”

Legolas matched his smile.  “No, it would seem not.”  The prince gently stroked the cheek of the sleeping child.  “It is hard to hold on to hate or prejudice in the face of such innocence.”

“Well, if anyone can, it will be Thedin,” replied Falathar.  “He is of foul humor on the best of days.”

Legolas frowned slightly, thinking about the first healer.

“Seriously, Legolas,” Falathar pressed, “there are many in Mirkwood who hold deep hatred for the edain.  I am not sure how warm a welcome the little one will receive.”

“We will not tolerate a guest being treated with anything less than courtesy!” said Thranduil from the doorway.  “Does that answer your concerns?”

“Yes, my liege,” replied Falathar meekly.  He rose from where he had knelt beside Legolas and bowed before the king.  “By your leave, Sire, I shall see to the defenses for the night.”

“You are dismissed,” Thranduil said.  The king sat down beside Legolas.  “Well, Thranduilion, shall our people think their king has taken leave of his senses?”

Legolas smiled.  “I would say that you never cease to surprise our people, my lord, and that is but one reason they love you.”

Thranduil hitched his eyebrow, “It also helps that I am not averse to tossing them into the dungeons when they displease me.”  

Legolas chuckled, “Yes, father, there is that.”

O-o-O-o-O

“Have I left anything out, Glorfindel?”  Elrond asked, turning to his commander.  He told them all he could think of beginning with the death of Belan, and continuing up to the attack on the twins.

Cool and soft, the breeze sighed through the room from the open terrace as the warrior thought.  “No,” Glorfindel responded after a moment, “I believe you have outlined the facts in your usual methodical manner.”

“The orc leader specifically said that he had stalked the twins and Imladris?”  Celeborn asked.  “It is most unusual for orcs to offer such information before a battle.”

Mithrandir nodded his head in agreement.  “Glorfindel, did you hear any of what was said?”

“No,” Glorfindel shook his head.  “When we arrived I caught but a glimpse of Elrohir standing over Elladan’s body, protecting him, before they were seemingly buried under the mass of orcs.  If Thranduil’s warriors had not been assisting us from the trees, I might not have reached the twins in time.”

“Thranduil’s warriors...here?” asked Celeborn, glancing at Galadriel.  

“There is much that Elrond has not told us,” said Galadriel, her eyes never leaving Elrond.

Celeborn looked from Galadriel to Elrond.  “Perhaps now would be a good time, my son.  We cannot help to untangle the knot of this problem if we do not have all the threads.”

“I agree,” said Mithrandir.  His penetrating gaze bored deeply into Elrond’s.  “Tell them all of it,” he urged.

Elrond looked at Glorfindel for a long moment before rising and walking over to the open terrace.  He stood with his back to the room as he noticed that the earth had fallen into the silence of a night kissed softly by starlight    “Very well,” he said with a sigh, turning back to the waiting elves.  “It began two years ago...the night Arathorn was killed.”

Elrond outlined Estel’s history in Imladris; the attack by Quenthar, the reason for Thranduil’s visit to Imladris, and of the voice Estel heard in his dreams...the one seeking his location.  Lastly, he told of Estel’s impact on his life and those of the twins. 

“And you feel that the orc attacks are aimed at Estel and ending the line of kings...” observed Celeborn.

“It would make sense,” observed Mithrandir.  “With the child in his control, Sauron could use him against us.” 

“That is why I am keeping his eye fixed on Rivendell until we can discover by what magic these orcs are being protected.” 

“By placing your own sons in danger?” accused Galadriel softly.

All sound in the room ceased as Elrond rose suddenly from his seat.  “Estel is, in every way, my son,” declared the elf lord.  He paced the room a moment while gathering his thoughts and then turned and fixed Galadriel with what the twins called ‘the ada look.’  “What would you have me do?  He is only a babe.”

Celeborn cleared his throat to ease the tension.  “Please, sit, my son.  Galadriel was not implying that you would care less for your own...for the twins than you do for Estel.

Elrond remained standing, the strain of the past days finally taking their toll.  “I believe I will look in on the twins.”  Without further word he walked from the room.

‘Well,” sighed Mithrandir, “that went well.”

Glorfindel rose too.  “You do him an injustice, Lady Galadriel.”  Without waiting for a reply the golden one started towards the door.

“Where are you going?” frowned the Maia.

“Where I always go,” declared Glorfindel.  “to follow my lord.”

O-o-O-o-O

Estel sat up somewhat awkwardly on the pallet.  The firelight reflected in his bewildered eyes as he struggled to remember where he was.

Legolas could see the confusion on the child’s face.  “All is well, tithen pen.”

“Legolas,” Estel whispered, embarrassment coloring his cheeks.  “I have to go.”

“Go where?” asked the puzzled prince.

“Go,” Estel repeated with a bit more urgency, “out there.”  He looked past Legolas to the darkness.

Legolas turned around and looked over his shoulder and then back to Estel.  As Estel’s expression became more frantic and the boy began to squirm, Legolas finally understood what the child was asking.  This being a big brother was going to take some getting used to.  “Come with me little one,” he said, holding out his hand.

Still overbalanced by the clumsy cast, Estel took the prince’s hand and let himself be helped to his feet.  Then he followed the prince out to the dark tree line.

“I, uh...”  Estel stammered.

Legolas smiled.  “I will turn my back.”

“Thank you, Legolas,” breathed a relieved Estel as he walked a few feet away.

Several moments passed.  Legolas could tell that Estel had completed his...business, his Elven hearing assured him of that.  What he was surprised to hear was a soft whimper as Estel started to cry softly.  The prince did not know whether to turn around or not.  He did not want to embarrass the child, but it was clear that Estel was in distress.  “Estel?”

“I n, n, need Rester,” cried Estel. 

Legolas was at a loss.  “You know that Lord Erestor is not here.”  His mind raced as he sought some way to relive the child’s embarrassment.  “Is there something I can do to help you...something that you would ask of your brothers?”

There was silence from Estel for a few tense seconds.

“Would you help me, Legolas?  I cannot tie my pants with only one arm,” said Estel sadly.  He hiccupped slighted as he fought the dreadful tears of frustration and shame.

“Oh Estel,” said Legolas, walking quickly to the child’s side.  He knelt down and quickly pulled up Estel’s pants and tied the drawstring.  He stayed on the child’s level and placed both hands on the boy’s shoulders.  “Do not ever be ashamed to ask me for help.  Every warrior needs such help sometimes.  I myself was once consigned to my bed with both my arms immobilized after a fall.  I could do nothing for myself.  My Adar had to do everything for me...even brush my teeth.”

Estel giggled at the image Legolas described.  “Were you embarrassed?” he asked softly.

Legolas paused as the thought back to the incident from his youth.  “I was at first,” he sighed, “but then my Adar helped me to understand that we show our love by helping each other.”

Estel thought about what Legolas said.

“Would you be embarrassed for your brothers to help you?” asked the prince.

Estel shook his head, “no.” 

“Then don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask anything of me while I am with you.  I will be as your brothers for as long as you need me.”  The prince stood and held out his hand.  “In return, I ask you to be my younger brother.  Is that an acceptable bargain?”

Estel smiled as he slipped his hand into Legolas’ outstretched one.  “It is.  We will be brothers.”

O-o-O-o-O

Glorfindel found Elrond standing in the doorway to the healing rooms listening to the animated conversation taking place between his children.

“And dirt follows Estel wherever he goes,” laughed Elrohir.

“And he is more curious than anyone I have ever met,” said Elladan.

“Catastrophically curious,” added Elrohir.  “Is that not right, Erestor?”

“This from the two who greeted the King of Mirkwood covered from head to foot in mud,” snorted the seneschal.

“You did not?” laughed Arwen.  “Oh, that must have been a sight to behold.  Daernaneth says that Thranduil is rather prissy.”

“Sometimes, I suppose, but he was wonderful with Estel,” said Elladan thoughtfully.

“I wonder how Estel is getting along?” sighed Elrohir.  “If Ada would just let us go, we could catch up to them; I know we could.”

That comment brought the elf lord into the room.  “The only place you are going to go is downstairs to the hall of fire for dinner.  That is if you are feeling up to it, and only for a short time.  I do not want you to overtax your strength as you recover, but I feel that a little while outside this room would do you all some good.”

“That statement includes me, I hope,” smiled Erestor.  “There is no telling what nightmare cook will invent if I am not there to keep her in hand.  The elleth lives to vex me,” he concluded. 

Elrond turned a fond smile on the grousing elf.  “You may attend dinner as well, but there will be no leaving to check on any function of this household.  Between Glorfindel and cook things are running adequately.”

The only reply to that was a snort of derision from Erestor. 

TBC