Black Death

Young mother,
So long since you held your son.
The days have turned into years,
As he grew.
Now you come,
Expecting him to remember you.
So long has it been since he knew,
Your love.

(*)

"Elrond Peredhil, lord of Imladris you are here again." The voice of Vilya spoke in the darkness.

Elrond stood not saying a word, by being here he knew he was dead... Again. How many more times did he have to die before he lived? Or at least till he crossed over to the great halls.

"It is not your fault your body is weak." The voice said as reassuringly as a mothers. "I will help you all I can. You must wake up Elrond, you must wake up."

Confused Elrond looked at where he placed the figment of the voices body. How could he wake up, he had tried? Tried so many times, but all it lead to was more darkness. Now Elrond was to tired to fight anymore. His lungs ached to question Vilya, but his voice did not come. It was lost before he ever muttered the first syllable. Elrond felt something surround him, holding him like an infant.

"Remember who you have to live for." The voice said. "Remember all the elves and humans waiting for your return. Remember all the good stuff Elrond, use that as a rope to wake up. I'll be right behind you to keep you from falling. Please Elrond try again."

"Celeborn." Elrond finally whispered finding the fight to wake up.

(*W*)

Surreally Elrond opened his eyes, his body was not his. It was as if his soul was seeing nothing else. But he realized he was awake when he herd a tiny voice screaming. Then the feel of something heavy scrambling off of him. Quickly that voice was muffled, by what Elrond couldn't figure out. He was dumb, and felt numb all over. Looking around Elrond saw fuzzy shapes, two tall and skinny, one small almost invisible.

"Estel, shh, stop screaming." A familiar voice said. "I'm sorry we have come only to find father gone-"

"No!" A tiny have pitched voice broke through his gag. "Look!"

One of the two tall skinny fuzzy forms moved over to him. Still Elrond's mind could not register who, but somewhere he told himself that the form was his son. Elrond closed his eyes trying to clear his mind of this fuzz. Then he opened them again, still the name escaped him.

"Bloody Valar, to holy-" The voice broke off as the fuzzy form backed off.

"Elrohir what is it."

Elrohir pointed at Elrond, his face ashen. Puzzled by his brothers actions Elladan walked over to his father. There two confused eyes looked at Elladan. Then the same realization hit him that plowed over Elrohir. Their father, who they figured for dead, was alive. Elladan stood besotted beside his father.

A noise caught Estel's ears, despite the shock he felt, he herd foot steps coming there way. Little time remained before they were caught in the room. Estel gabbed the hands of both twins and pulled them towards the window. Which was no easy task for he was considerably smaller.

"What is it Estel?" Elrohir asked.

"Someone comes!" Estel said in a high whisper.

"Not a good time, father I bade you fair well, and please hang on." Elladan said to Elrond, nearly tossing Estel out the window.

As they darted out of site, the door opened; Glorfindel had returned. As Glorfindel saw Elrond looking around confused, he dropped the bowl in his hands. It shattered against the stone floor, water splattering the floor. Glorfindel couldn't move, and his voice choked him.

"W... W..." Elrond tried to say something but words wouldn't come.

It was at that time Glorfindel burst out in tears of joy. He hurried to Elrond's side, checking him for the coldness that consumed him for the last days. Elrond felt warm, besides confused, his vitals were on the way to normal.

"Lord Elrond, may I request that you do not do that again." Glorfindel choked out. "I thought you to be dead."

"W... Who?" Elrond asked voice shaking.

"Who, what do you mean?" Glorfindel countered not knowing the twins had visited.

"Been in here, who?" Elrond's voice crackled.

"No, no ones been in here besides for me." Glorfindel said.

Weakly Elrond shook his head no. "Three."

"Three?" Glorfindel pondered that number for a few seconds. "Despite what was ordered, it was probably your sons. Elrohir, Elladan, and Estel. Don't fret, but your twin sons need you, they have gotten themselves into a load of trouble."

Elrond blinked in acknowledgment, his sight still fuzzy. Then blinking one more time he drifted off to sleep. This time his eyes remained opened. Glorfindel bushed back Elrond's hair, a sense of relief came over him. He knew now that the elf lord would not leave him. Lifting his eyes out the window he praised the elf gods.

"Rest Elrond, you deserve it." Glorfindel whispered.

(*3D*)

Three days later, one spent in a restful slumber, Elrond had began to recover more. Elrohir and Elladan remained in hiding, their father still to ill to deal with them. No more cases of plague were reported. The combination of cold, and swift action stopped the spread in Rivendell. The troubling days of Rivendell coming to an end. News of the demise of the humans remained unknown. That is till today, a rider came from afar.

"Halt, no humans are to come beyond the gates of Rivendell." Glorfindel voice boomed.

"Poppycock Glorfindel, open these gates or I'll report to Elrond how you treated the mother of one of his sons." The voice replied with a playful manner. "I know I'm a few years late, forgive me."

"Gilraen?" Glorfindel asked.

"It is I."

"Well, I hate to report but Elrond is ill, but he is getting better. I'm sure your visit will lighten things." Glorfindel called to her. "Let her in." He said to Raeka.

The gates opened and Gilraen rode in, Glorfindel hugging her in welcome.

"How fare the humans?" Glorfindel asked walking with Gilraen to the house.

"Over half of Middle Earth has parished human wise. Dwarves managed to get struck in a few places, but remain strong. Hobbits from what I hear have escaped the plague. Don't ask me how." Gilraen answered. "It helped a lot when messengers came with the message that a rider told them what carried the plague. Still humans have a long way to go till they recover."

"You swear to that?" Glorfindel asked.

"Yes, I do, why?"

"I'll tell you later, I think you know where to head, if not there are elves around to help."

(*R*)

Gilraen peered into the room, Estel babbled leaning against Elrond. His feet swinging freely over the edge of the bed. Elrond looked exhausted, and she noted the wrappings around his neck. Reluctant to disturb the moment she knocked on the door lightly.

"Pardon me," Gilraen smiled.

Estel stared at Gilraen, his feet stopped swinging, some where in his mind he recognized her. Behind him Elrond nudged him towards the woman at the door. It had been years since Estel had last saw her, so he did not recognize her. Thus nudge sent him snuggling up to Elrond, hiding behind the elf lords arm.

"That's your mother." Elrond said trying to keep life in his voice.

"Mother?"

"Yes Estel."

"Where were you for all this time mother?" Estel snapped.

Gilraen opened her mouth, not knowing what to say. She had left Estel with Elrond shortly after the death of Arathorn. The destiny of her son weighed great on her shoulders, Gilraen could not take the pressure, so she left. It was not time yet for Estel to know about his heritage, so she could not tell him the truth. Nor could she tell him an out faced lie.

"Estel," A voice came beside her. "Let father rest, we don't need him slipping away again."

"Elrohir!" Estel darted off the bed and ran to Elrohir.

Elrohir picked him up, balancing the kid on his hip. His eyes soon fell on Gilraen who stood in the doorway. Her face trying to hide the pain she felt when her son did not even recognize her. Sweetly Elrohir smiled, looking her square in the eyes, reaching over then shutting the door.

"Gilraen, thank you for the freedom, we were getting cramped where Estel hid us." Elrohir paused. "Say, would you like to come with us to free a certain Mirkwood elf?"

"Mirkwood elf here?" Gilraen answered puzzled. "But Mirkwood is so far away."

"Why, don't think us elves could make it?" Elladan asked.

"I know you can make it, but never thought one of you too leave one of your homes." Gilraen froze. "I do not think I should go with you, Mirkwood elves hate humans more then those bloody spiders."

Elrohir laughed, "Yes that is true, but we're working on this Mirkwood elf to change that."

Looking over at her son, Gilraen saw how comfortably Elrond rested against the twins shoulders. Estel had his thumb in his mouth sucking away at it, staring at Gilraen intensely. Would they take him too, to see the Mirkwood elf? Surely they would not, it was a danger to the kid. Enough the still let him suck his thumb.

"Estel, your to old to suck your thumb." Gilraen said soothingly.

Estel screamed loudly, barring his face into Elrohir's shoulder. Elrohir quirked an eye brow and looked at Gilraen. Indeed her son did not like her to much. Young Estel had taken a better liking to Legolas.

"Shall we go, before I loose my hearing?" Elrohir asked.

(*C*)

Together they walked to the cave, which by now, was no longer a secret. Gilraen looked around, admiring how much Rivendell had changed since she had left. Shivering she rubbed her arms, glancing at her son. Estel was not wearing a coat, in stead he huddled close to Elrohir, finding sufficient warmth. Still this irked Gilraen, it was to cold to be out here without a coat.

"He should be wearing a jacket." Gilraen scolded.

Elladan glanced at Estel. "He's warm, but do not tell father, he will skin us for taking him out without one."

"Especially after getting over the plague." Elrohir added.

"Estel got the plague?" Gilraen gasped.

"Maybe Estel will show you his scars." Elladan said.

"Maybe you will show hers yours Elrohir."

Elrohir glared at his brother, opening his mouth to say something back as Estel broke loose. Running into the cave, Ursa not knowing what passed him. Legolas stood as he herd Estel splashing to the water. Upon impact of Legolas' leg, Estel wrapped his arms around it. Instantly Legolas brain switched, his words coming out before his thoughts.

"Elrohir, Elladan get this human filth of my leg! It's worse then a dwarf." Legolas hissed.

All four, Ursa, Elladan, Elrohir, and Gilraen, stood in the door way shocked. Smirking Elladan stepped forward, using this slip in Legolas' vocabulary to his use. Legolas caught on to this, so did Estel. Elladan approached him, as Elrohir held back Gilraen. Ursa pulled out his sword, not catching on.

"Legolas, he is just a child. Please don't kill him." Elladan said jokingly, but sounding every bit serious.

"Get him OFF!" Legolas boomed.

Ursa caught on, stepping forward as if to strike the Mirkwood elf down if he attacked. Getting nearer, Elladan reached out for Estel, who still hugged Legolas' leg. Picturing Legolas a mountain troll, Elladan inched forward.

"Estel, please go to Elladan." Elrohir pleaded.

"Yes Estel, please." Gilraen begged. "For the love of your father please."

Reluctantly Estel let go of Legolas' leg, walking towards Elladan. Catching his cloth shirt, Elladan pulled Estel behind him.

"I'm so sorry Legolas for-"

There was no time to finish, for Legolas slammed Elladan into the cave wall. A crack sounded through the cave, as Elladan's head smacked the rock wall. Legolas did pull his move a little though. For it was just enough to send Gilraen screaming, if only a short, strangled, scream. Elrohir, followed by Ursa burst out laughing. Legolas and Elladan having to other option but follow. Even little Estel was in hysterics.

"I'm sorry." Elrohir gasped, "We needed a good laugh."

"Glad I can be of amusement, now Estel please get out of the cold water."

Turning around Estel held his arms up to Legolas, who still had Elladan pinned against the wall. Suppressing the rest of his laughter, Legolas let Elladan go, and picked up Estel. Checking Estel's scars to see if they healed good. He was happy to see that they were healing quickly.

"Gilraen, I like you to meet Legolas Greenleaf, prince of Mirkwood." Elladan introduced.

"God their doomed." Gilraen mumbled.

(*)

AN: End it here and begin the next planned story, or continue it for a chapter or two?