Estel

Written by: Soul of a Young Man
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All Credit goes to the original author

Strange how such a small child had become such a massive part of their lives in only a few short days.

Every elf in Imladris could sense the change. It flew on the breeze, whistling through the treetops, rustling the leaves. It swam in the stream, bubbling over the pebbles in a happy dance. Suddenly, the air was free once more, as gurgles of joy echoed throughout the Last Homely House.

The heir of Isildur had arrived in Rivendell, and no elf was able to resist his charm.

Not even Elrond Peredhil and his sons.

While Gilraen mourned the loss of her husband, the elves found themselves the unwitting playmates of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, now to be known only as Estel. Though it had been many centuries since the warriors had been required to keep occupied the mind of something so small, Elladan, Elrohir, and young Estel quickly fell into something akin to a routine.

Sticks became weapons. Insects, their innocent victims. And, though the twins used all their power to stop it, dirt often became food.

It was on one of these occasions that Lord Elrond watched a genuine smile creep upon his sons’ faces – first on Elrohir’s and then Elladan’s, as if it were a communicable disease.

It had been many centuries since such an event had occurred, since before their naneth, his beloved Celebrían, had sailed to Valinor.

The soft sound of footsteps imposed upon his solitude.

“Hîr nin,” Glorfindel, his most trusted friend, respectfully greeted.

The Elf Lord nodded once in response, but did not answer. Estel had, at long last, surrendered the dirt in his mouth in favor of live prey in the form of garden insects. The twins were frantic, and the latest addition to Elrond’s family, who sat sweetly in the middle of the flower patch sucking crunchy legs off his chubby fingers, did nothing but stare up at his new elder brothers with his clear grey eyes and giggle uncontrollably.

Exasperated smiles graced the twins’ mouths as they pulled the young human from the dirt and dusted him off.

“Such a small child,” Elrond muttered. “Yet so full of wonder and mischief already. It is no wonder they have taken a liking to him.”

“As have you, hîr nin,” the Balrog slayer remarked. “A smile graces your lips.”

Elrond paused thoughtfully only to find what his friend said was true. “Indeed, it does.” An emotion akin to contentment spread throughout his body. “Indeed, it does.”