DISCLAIMER: I don’t own the people, places or things in this story. JRR Tolkien does. This story is AU and NOT Canon.

This story picks up right after Before He Was King.  The Title Means: Winter Solstice in Sindarin

Chapter 1

It was the very early hours of the morning. The frost had just begun to form on the plants outside, and the moon was still high in the sky. The Last Homely House of Imladris was completely silent, the entire family sleeping soundly in their beds. A sudden high pitched scream pierced the night and resounded throughout the entire house.

Elrond awoke with a start. He sat up quickly, trying to determine if he had merely been dreaming. It was quiet for a brief moment, and he almost laid back down, when the Elven Lord heard it again.

“HELP! ADA!”

Elrond threw off his covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stood, quickly grabbing his robe, and rushed out the door.

“Ada, where are you?! Ada!”

Elrond ran down the hall and flung open the double doors to Estel’s bedroom. He was able to make out the form of his six year-old son, crouched up against the head of the bed, cowering and whimpering. The Elven Lord swiftly made his way to the bed and sat down, gathering the frightened child into his arms. Estel clung to his father, trembling. He had a thin film of icy sweat on his face, mixed with a steady flow of tears.

“Shh, it is only a dream, little one. Ada is here, you are safe” Elrond said softly, rocking the terrified little boy, in his arms.

“Please make them go away!” Estel cried, still immersed in his dream. His splinted arm hung limply over Elrond’s shoulder as the other wrapped itself tightly around his father’s neck.

Elrond stood up and paced the room, gently rubbing circles on the six year-old’s back.

“They were hurting you Ada!” Estel hiccupped.

“It’s all right. They are gone. I am not hurt, see?” Elrond held Estel out so the child could get a glimpse of him.

Estel just sniffled and rested his head on his father’s shoulder. Elrond walked around slowly, trying to calm him. The nightmares were becoming more frequent. Estel had been emotionally scarred by both the Warg and Orc attacks, and although he was slowly healing physically, he remained terrified of the dark.

After several moments, Estel’s breathing became more relaxed. He had not fallen asleep, but had fully woken and felt more relaxed. He now merely sniffled and let out an occasional hiccup.

“I don’t like the dark, Ada” he whimpered.

“I know, child. But I promise you, there is nothing to fear, you are safe. Would you like some light?” Elrond whispered softly.

Estel nodded against his father’s shoulder. Elrond sat Estel down on the bed, and leaned over to the small table and lit the oil lamp. He then tucked Estel under the soft blankets before sitting down beside him, taking the child into his arms. He reached down and wiped the tears from Estel’s cheeks with the soft material of his robe.

“Better?”

Estel nodded.

“Would you like me to stay until you fall asleep?”

Estel’s eyes widened in panic. “Don’t go Ada!”

Elrond smiled sadly. Estel closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but after a few minutes he opened them again, and began crying softly.

“They’re always there, Ada! When I close my eyes, they come back.”

Elrond tightened his embrace. “Nothing will happen here at home, nin ion. Those monsters are gone” he replied.

Estel rubbed his eyes. “But I can still see them!”  

“Well, why don’t you try to picture something nice, to replace those scary wargs.”

“Like what?” Estel asked, leaning his head on his father’s chest.

“How about the Winter Solstice? Think of all the wonderful gifts!”

Estel yawned and twirled the belt to Elrond’s robe with his fingers. “I don’t think I will be getting any presents this year, Ada.”

Elrond opened his eyes and looked down at him, confused. “Well why ever not, nin ion?”

Estel sighed. “Elladan said only the good children get presents at Winter Solstice.”

“You are not a good child?” Elrond asked, puzzled.

“I try to be, I promise! But I have not been good all year” Estel replied seriously.

Elrond rested his head atop Estel’s, and sighed. “I can recall a few times you have gotten into mischief, my child, but none that would label you a bad child. Why is it you think you will receive no gifts?”

Estel shrugged. “I killed an Orc, and I made you very angry, twice” Estel replied sadly, closing his eyes.

Elrond chuckled softly. “Little one, you have nothing to worry about. It is natural for a child to frustrate their parents. But if it took only a little mischief to deprive a child of presents, Elladan and Elrohir would still not be receiving any! Those two have aged me and tried my patience much more than you ever have!”

“So they have made you angrier?” Estel inquired.

“Tis not anger, Estel. It is frustration. But yes, they have frustrated me to no end!”

Estel smiled. “I never knew. So, maybe I will get a present?” he asked hopefully.

Elrond leaned down and kissed the six year-old’s hair. “I happen to know personally, that you will be a very fortunate little boy, this Solstice. You need not worry a moment longer.”

Estel smiled and snuggled his face into the soft velvet of his father’s robe. “I cannot wait.”

Elrond gazed down at the child, fondly. Estel had finally managed to fall asleep, with a smile on his face. Elrond gently removed himself from Estel’s grasp, and tucked the blankets snugly around the sleeping child. He walked out into the hall and found Elladan and Elrohir standing in the doorways of their bedrooms, which were across the hall from one another.

“We heard Estel scream, father. Is he all right?”

“Yes Elladan, he is fine. Just another nightmare of the attacks. I have only just managed to get him to sleep. I want you two to be more careful about what you say to him. The poor child believed he was not getting gifts for the Winter Solstice this year, all because you told him only good children receive presents. He believed himself to be a bad child.”

“But father, you used to tell us that all the time, to get us to behave” Elrohir interjected.

Elrond raised his eyebrows. “Aye, I did. But it did not work, did it? You still gave me grief, and you still received gifts. I only ask that you be more wary of your comments. Estel is very insecure.”

The twins nodded. “Yes Ada.”

“Good. Now, off to bed with you. It is late.”

~~**~~

Estel lay in bed and sighed miserably. Today was the fourth day in a row that he had been confined to his bed. Lord Elrond had told him it was too risky to get up, as there were a lot of stitches, and little boys healed much more slowly than little elves. Elrond arrived a few moments later, dressed to start the day. In his arms he carried two trays, one on top of the other, with two plates of food, and two bowls of fruit. There was two of everything.

“I have decided to have breakfast in here with you, this morning” the Elven Lord smiled.

“But what about your meetings?”

“They can wait. I have a special request from the kitchen staff. It appears they are so busy baking their sweets for the Winter Solstice Festival, they forgot to string the cranberries for the tree in the Hall of Fire.”

Estel’s eyes widened. “May I help?! Please, I will be careful!”

Elrond chuckled. “Of course, I have already informed them of such. They have put the holes in the berries, so here is the string, and a big bowl of cranberries.”

Estel grinned. “Oh thank you, Ada!”

“You are quite welcome. But first you must eat your breakfast.” Elrond pulled a chair up to the bed after setting Estel’s tray across his lap. The Elven Lord then set his own tray on the bed and sat in the chair.

“Ada, how much longer do I have to stay in bed? It will snow soon and I want to go outside to play” Estel pouted as he poked at his oatmeal.

Elrond sighed and set down his tea. “Perhaps tomorrow you may get up. But it will be quite some time before you may go outdoors to play. You have serious injuries, nin ion.”

Estel frowned. “Oh.”

For the rest of the afternoon, Estel sat in bed and strung the cranberry garland. Elrond brought paperwork down to the bedroom, and sat at the small table by the fireplace.

“Ada, what was your favorite present from the Solstice?” Estel asked, pushing the small string through the end of a red berry.

Elrond looked up and bit the inside of his lip in thought. “I think my favorite present would most definitely have to be you.”

Estel wrinkled his nose. “Me?”

“Yes, Gandalf and the twins arrived with you on the eve of the Winter Solstice festival.”

“Really?”

Elrond nodded. “That is when you received Elear. Elladan gave him to you as a gift for the festival. He knew you would like him.”

Estel reached under his blanket and pulled out his brown stuffed rabbit with the floppy ears. It was care-worn from many years of hugs. “Elladan gave me Elear?”

“Yes he did. Elear was his rabbit when he was a young child.”

Estel smiled. “What was your other favorite present?”

Elrond sighed and set down his quill pen. He knew there was no use in trying to get any work done. The Elven Lord stood and crossed the room, taking a seat on the bed, by Estel’s feet.

“When I was quite young, younger than you, I received a wonderful gift. My father used to sail on big ships, so he would be away from home, frequently.  I missed him very much. One night, late on the Eve before the Solstice, my father woke me. He sat on my bed and handed me a gift, wrapped in silver paper with blue stars and a brilliant gold bow. He said he had to sail away again, but he wanted me to open my gift before he left. So I tore away the wrapping, and opened the box.”

Estel’s eyes grew wide in anticipation. “What was in it, Ada?!”

Elrond smiled and held up Estel’s stuffed rabbit.

“Elear?” Estel gasped in disbelief.

The Elven Lord smiled and nodded. “My father did not want me to miss him. He gave me Elear to remind me that he was always thinking of his home and family. He said Elear would protect me from bad dreams.”

Elrond handed the stuffed rabbit back to the six year-old.

Estel hugged it to his chest. “How come you gave him to Elladan?”

Elrond reached out and tucked a piece of Estel’s hair behind his ear.  “When Elladan was four years old, he was convinced that a monster lived in his closet. One night he became so frightened, he jumped from his bed and fell, breaking his wrist. He was so upset, so I allowed him to hold Elear as I mended his injury. After that, he refused to go to sleep without him” Elrond explained.

“But I still have nightmares, Ada. He hasn’t made them go away.”

“Well, you need to make sure you hug him real tight. He can’t just sleep beside you” the Elven Lord instructed.

The realization finally hit Estel. “Ohhhh, I see. Ada, are you sure you want me to have Elear? Do you want him back?”

Elrond smiled fondly. “No, Elear belongs with you now. But you must take very good care of him.”

Estel sighed, relieved. “I will, I promise. But you can borrow him any time you need to Ada, if you have monsters in your room, or bad dreams.”

Elrond chuckled and planted a kiss on the six year-old’s forehead. “That is very generous you.”

TBC??????  Winter Solstice is the New Year for the Elves.  I imagine they would celebrate it as we do Christmas or Hannukah.

*Elear:  Visionary  (thought this was appropriate for Elrond)

** Nin Ion: My son