Title: Tangled Web 
Author: Blue Gold 
E-mail: bluegold@surfy.net 
Beta: Beckyboo 
Pairings: Erestor/Glorfindel, Elrond/Celebrian, *Flinn/OMC, 
Flinn/Amrod, Amras/Amrod, Lindir/Melpomaen, Erestor/Thranduil, 
Glorfindel/? 
Rating: NC-17 
Summary: A web is a strange thing with tangled lines all leading to 
the same point. Your path can be straight, you can go in circles for 
what seems an eternity or you can end up trapped, stuck forever in the 
grand design. This web goes beyond life, death, mortal, immortal, 
elven and half-elven to find one connection in the middle of it all 
and that connection is Erestor. 
Disclaimer: I *sniff* do not any of the characters in this story. They 
are owned by Tolkien/Jackson. 
Warnings: AU Angst, Mpreg, incest, child loss, 
Authors Notes: *Despite the name Flinn is not an original char but for 
the sake of the story *Flinn* must remain *Flinn* for a while. Halda 
O'line is my own creation and another necessary plot piece that will 
be explained. AU I talking I took canon and pretended I didn't know 
it! Deal! 
 
Elrond and Erestor stood side by side, the Lord and his shadow, as the 
party from Mirkwood approached. Thranduil was the first to dismount, a 
wriggling bundle of muddy green in his arms. It wasn't until he placed 
it down that they recognized it was a child, most likely Legolas, 
Thranduil's son. Though they were surprised that Thranduil would take 
such a young child on such a journey. 
 
Erestor barely noticed the child as he felt a tingling sensation in 
his arm. He shook his arm but the feeling did not pass. "My Lord…my 
arm it…" 
 
"Do not even finish that statement," Elrond hissed, feeling as if he 
were scolding a child instead of his Chief Advisor. 
 
"Yes my Lord. Ow!'" Erestor exclaimed, smacking his arm and feeling a 
strange wetness. He lifted his sleeve and a small spider carcass fell 
out, leaving a bit of slime on his arm. 
 
"I think it bit me." 
 
"Erestor, I'm warning you." 
 
"But it bit me!" Erestor hissed. 
 
"There are 23 different species of spider in Imladris and none of them 
are poisonous so please stop." 
 
"What if it was rabid?" 
 
"Erestor, spiders do not get rabid." 
 
"Elrond?" Celebrian asked as Thranduil had finally given up trying to 
keep Legolas from scurrying about the floor and under the approaching 
horses as the others of the party had caught up and dismounted. 
 
"Get the Twins," Elrond said as he was dragged forward by his Lady. 
 
Erestor went into the house and found the Twins in their playroom 
stacking blocks and knocking them over with dragons. 
 
"Yes Erestor?" Glorfindel said and Erestor blinked startled not having 
noticed the blond. 
 
"Oh, I didn't see you," Erestor said with a faint blush. 
 
"Hi, did you come to play with us?" Elrohir asked as Elladan was 
already leading him to a seat beside Glorfindel. 
 
"No I came to bring you two to meet someone," Erestor started. 
 
"Who?" The twins asked in unison. 
 
"Prince Legolas of Mirkwood. He looks around your age." 
 
"You think he will want to play?" 
 
"I'm sure of it," Erestor said with a smile. 
 
"Let's go," Elladan said tugging Erestor to the door as Elrohir 
attempted to pull Glorfindel to his feet. 
 
Glorfindel grinned and stood slinging the child over his shoulder. 
Together they followed Erestor to the main yard where Thranduil was 
speaking with Elrond and Celebrian as Legolas scanned the ground and 
nearby shrubs. The Twins watched with interest and Elladan called out. 
 
"What are you looking for?" Legolas' head snapped up and waved the 
twins over. He whispered a few words to them and then all three 
children where scanning the ground. The parents smiled as the children 
all continued the strange search. 
 
"King Thranduil, let me show you to your room," Celebrian said when 
the adults shifted their focus from the children. 
 
"Legolas?" Thranduil called. 
 
"Coming Ada," Legolas said but not before whispering to Elladan, the 
closest twin, who nodded. 
 
"Sir?" Elrohir started. 
 
"King Thranduil, Elrohir," Elrond said with a smile as his son 
preformed a small bow. 
 
"King Thandil, can Legolas come play?" 
 
"He has to take a bath and eat first." 
 
"Okay, can he have lunch with us? You can come too," Elrohir said quickly. 
 
"That would be wonderful, what is your name?" Thranduil asked. 
 
"Elrohir and that is my brother Elladan. And that's E'stor." 
 
"I know Erestor. We were friends when he was as big as you are." 
 
"Wow, E'stor was little? Did he wear robes? Did you know Fin too?" 
Elrohir asked in rapid succession. 
 
"Of course he was little, we all were, and he wore clothes much like 
you are wearing now. And I have never had the pleasure of meeting 
Fin?" 
 
"Glorfindel," Elrond explained. Thranduil nodded but did not remove 
his focus from the child in front of him. 
 
"So, Fin and E'stor can come so you have some big Elves to talk too. 
But they kiss each other," Elrohir said making a face as Thranduil 
grinned, looking at Erestor who blushed. 
 
"What about your parents?" 
 
"Ada doesn't have lunch, just tea. Nana brings Ada his tea." 
 
"Ah I see, well we must get cleaned up," Thranduil said snatching 
Legolas up into his arms as he passed by his father, having resumed 
his search when Elrohir and Thranduil started to talk. 
 
"Bye," Elrohir called and the pair waved. 
 
"What are they doing?" Erestor asked as the Twins continued to scour the ground. 
 
"Searching," Glorfindel said simply. 
 
"For what?" He asked. 
 
"Apparently a big leaf," Glorfindel said as Elladan took one up off 
the ground and walked over to Elrohir who was standing on the stairs. 
Together they lifted something, wrapped it up in the leaf and tucked 
it into Elladan's tunic. 
 
"I will go tend to the escorts," Glorfindel said noticing Elrond was 
not sure what to do with them past leading them to the stables. With a 
quick peck to Erestor cheek he was gone leaving the advisor with the 
twins. 
 
****** 
 
"Ada, take a bath too," Legolas said tugging on his father's clothes. 
 
"Are you saying I'm smelly?" Thranduil asked with a smile. Legolas 
played along and started covering his mouth and waving his hand to 
ward off the scent of his father. Laughing Thranduil started to strip. 
He ended up laughing, splashing, and playing with Legolas for over an 
hour, getting clean more of a by product of the play. 
 
It wasn't until Thranduil was rubbing Legolas dry with a large fluffy 
towel that he realized his son had no other clothes. Sighing he 
quickly dressed, ignoring his wet hair, and made for the door. 
 
"Ada," Legolas asked wide eyed, the towel swallowing his tiny form. 
"Where are you going?" 
 
"We are going to get you some clothes," Thranduil said placing a 
slightly wet and naked Legolas on his shoulders. 
 
"Okay!" Legolas exclaimed patting his father's head like a drum. The 
pair was directed by a servant to the twins quarters. Entering he 
found the twins chasing each other and a very frazzled looking Erestor 
dozing in a chair. Grinning Thranduil cleared his throat and Erestor 
snapped to attention, relaxing when he saw it was Thranduil. 
 
"Um, we seem to have a problem here," Thranduil said putting Legolas 
down as he squirmed, wanting to join the twins. "As you can see he has 
no clothes." 
 
"We have lots, come on!" Elladan said pulling Legolas into the other 
room along with Elrohir. 
 
"Thank you," Thranduil said as he and Erestor followed them into the other room. 
 
"If you give me Legolas' measurements I can pass them on to the 
tailor. He should have clothes for him in a few days." 
 
"That would be wonderful." 
 
"How is it that he has no clothes?" Erestor asked as Legolas pulled on 
some green leggings. 
 
"You must know Legolas was not going to be on this trip. He took it 
upon himself to sneak in along the small cart of provisions and 
clothing and such we brought with us. We found him the first night we 
set up camp. But he would not go with the guards quietly and you know 
what a danger that could be. I sent word to the Queen and we 
continued." 
 
"I wonder where he would get such an idea." 
 
"Are you implying that I was such a handful?" Thranduil asked. 
 
"I recall being dragged into some truly mad situations," Erestor said 
shaking his head. 
 
"We were young." 
 
"And foolish," Erestor said though he had a smile on his face. 
 
"Ada, you forgot my boots," Legolas said, wriggling his bare toes. 
 
"Well let's go get them. I still have to comb my hair, only Erestor 
can pull off the untamed look well. Where is lunch?" 
 
"Here," Erestor said simply. 
 
"Leglas, we found it," Elladan said suddenly. 
 
"Leg-O-lass," Legolas corrected. "When I come back." 
 
Thranduil and Legolas returned just as the food trays did and the 
three children quickly took theirs to a corner where they started 
eating and whispering animatedly. Thranduil watched them, amused, then 
turned to Erestor. Noticing his friend was dozing off again he touched 
him lightly on the shoulder. 
 
"Go rest. I will stay with the children." 
 
"But Glor…" 
 
"Somehow I think it will be easier to rest without him," Erestor 
blushed lightly and nodded, making his way to bed wondering why he was 
so tired in the first place. 
 
******* 
 
Glorfindel entered his chambers after helping to put the now 
inseparable trio to bed for their afternoon nap and grinned when he 
saw Erestor sprawled out on the bed. One arm draped lightly across his 
stomach, the other hanging off the side of the bed. The only thing 
covering his lover a light blue sheet that was barely draped across 
his legs. The slow rise and fall of his chest showed that he was still 
asleep. 
 
Grinning, Glorfindel stripped off until he was as bare as Erestor. 
Slowly he climbed on top of the bed until he was hovering above his 
sleeping lover. So pale he had a glow in moonlight, rosy lips and the 
power to blush down to his navel. A discovery Glorfindel had been 
quite amused to make. 
 
Settling between the splayed legs he was surprised Erestor was still 
asleep, but shrugged it off. He hadn't had much sleep the night before 
and even a few hours with the twins could be quite exhausting when 
they were outside. 
 
Glorfindel bent down to kiss the slightly parted lips and was rewarded 
with a sigh. Slowly awareness returned to Erestor's eyes and he simply 
slipped one pale arm around Glorfindel. Glorfindel grinned wickedly 
into the kiss and lifted Erestor's arm kissing it from elbow to 
fingers and back up again. 
 
Erestor sighed as Glorfindel repeated the process on his other arm. he 
was content to let his lover do as he pleased, Erestor simply enjoyed 
the sensations. 
 
"Are you sleeping?" Glorfindel asked wryly. 
 
"No, I was simply allowing you to have your wicked way with me." 
 
"Well, if you insist," Glorfindel sat taking Erestor's hands and 
placing them over his head before moving to kiss his way down 
Erestor's chest. He lazily dragged a tongue along a nipple causing 
Erestor to moan and squirm on the bed and Glorfindel moved to the 
other, biting lightly as his lover gasped. 
 
Licking the nub gently he kissed his way down Erestor's chest down to 
his navel. Looking up at his lover as he licked his way around the 
area then slowly dragged his tongue in and out of the indentation an 
indication of things to come. 
 
Erestor was moaning, his hands still over his head flexing 
uncontrollably. Glorfindel dragged his tongue down, licking along 
Erestor's hip bone and the Elf shuddered. 
 
"Glorfindel please," Erestor moaned. 
 
"Hmm?" Glorfindel breathed as his tongue ran slowly down Erestor's 
thigh, continuing to ignore his lover's erection. 
 
"Insufferable tease!" Glorfindel grinned knowing if Erestor could 
still form such coherent sentences he was by no way undone. Moving 
down to Erestor's foot he stroked the Elf's arch before lightly 
licking the bottom of Erestor's foot. 
 
Erestor shrieked pulling his foot away as he stifled his laughter. 
Glorfindel simply reached for the other foot ignoring his lovers 
squirming as again licked his arch. Erestor could hold it in no longer 
bursting out into laughter, trying to push Glorfindel away with his 
arms and legs. 
 
Glorfindel tsk'd and pinned Erestor down to the bed. Their fingers 
interlaced on either side of Erestor's head. Erestor's laughter 
quickly died away as Glorfindel rubbed their erections together. 
 
"In me," Erestor whispered. Glorfindel kissed the tip of his nose and 
started to unlace one of his hands from Erestor's. "No, now." 
 
Glorfindel nodded spreading Erestor's legs with his own as he set a 
snail's pace for entering his lover, not willing the risk to hurt his 
lover, finding it an interesting torment and a test of his endurance. 
 
He had barely entered Erestor an inch before pulling out and repeated 
the process a little further each time. By the time he was fully 
sheathed inside Erestor sweat was rolling down both their chests. 
Erestor rotated his hips wanting his lover to move. 
 
Glorfindel did not disappoint slowly pulling out of his lover and 
sinking back in just as slowly. "Oh Valar," Erestor moaned, hardly 
believing Glorfindel could keep up this slow pace. But he continued 
the torture, slowly in and out rubbing his prostate on each thrust. 
 
Whimpering, Erestor tried to increase the pace but with Glorfindel on 
top of him pinning his hands he could do little to change the 
situation. Then Glorfindel stopped all movement and Erestor's eyes 
flew open never knowing he had even shut them. Before he could mouth a 
protest Glorfindel rocked and the world narrowed to blinded ecstasy as 
he came. 
 
Glorfindel finally released his hands as he too came and Erestor 
wrapped his arms about his lover as he rode the waves of pleasure. 
Glorfindel slumping on top of him as he tried to catch his breath. 
 
"Fin?" Glorfindel groaned in acknowledgement. "Fin air," Erestor said 
with a roll of his eyes. Technically it was a lie but it always got 
him into his second favorite position in bed with Glorfindel. He 
smiled as Glorfindel slid out of him and flopped onto his back pulling 
Erestor against his chest. 
 
"Better?" 
 
"Much," Erestor replied snuggling up to his lover, tracing a finger 
down the sweat dampened chest. Glorfindel captured the hand and gave 
it a kiss. 
 
"Thranduil is interesting, how did you two come to be friends?" 
Erestor blinked staring at Glorfindel. "You fell asleep love," 
Glorfindel said, discarding the towel and pulling on leggings. "It's 
nearly dinner." 
 
Erestor blinked and lazily climbed out of bed stretching before 
plodding into the bathroom. "Well?" Glorfindel asked not ten minutes 
later when Erestor returned. 
 
"Two outcasts, even one of royal standing will fast make a 
friendship," Erestor said remembering he had been the only child not 
fearful of Oropher and Thranduil had been the only one not to consider 
him too weak to be a friend. 
 
"Is that all there was?" Glorfindel asked grinning. 
 
Erestor sighed. "He told you." 
 
"Seems you were always the diplomat." 
 
"I was a child that did not know any better and luckily for me Oropher 
was not an ogre to children at least." 
 
"But what did happen, Thranduil only told me the after effects." 
 
"I was being molested by some children because even though we were of 
the same age I looked years younger. I was pale and thin then," at 
Glorfindel's raised brow he amended, "paler and thinner. Anyway 
Thranduil jumped in the fray and defended me. He got a cut lip and a 
torn formal tunic for his trouble. Not moments after that he was 
pulled towards the palace by his guard who warned of the beating he 
would receive. Naturally, I followed." 
 
"Yes naturally," Glorfindel said trying to imagine a young Erestor 
chasing a guard and an equally young Thranduil. 
 
"So of course they would not let me in. So I took matters into my own 
hands and climbed into the lowest window after climbing a helpful 
shrub. I landed in a heap in a hall and hearing footsteps fled into 
the first room I saw. It happened to be the throne room, I think there 
were some meeting occurring but I spotted Oropher and instantly 
connected him to Thranduil. Though the similarities were not as 
striking as in Thranduil and Legolas, they were there. So I marched 
right up to Oropher and tugged on his robes." 
 
"You tugged on his robes?" Glorfindel asked his jaw agape. 
 
"He was standing and I was short for my age as I already stated," 
Erestor said starting to braid his lover's hair. "He asked me if I was 
lost, ah yes the visitors were from the gray havens he thought me to 
be one of their children." 
 
"And you said." 
 
"No I had come to speak to him about his son. And I told him how 
Thranduil had saved me, I'm quite sure I added a dragon or two, and 
that he should not be punished and that I would like to play with him, 
if it was alright." 
 
"What happened then?" Glorfindel asked as he pulled out one of 
Erestor's slippers instead of his own boots. 
 
"He stared me down, surely full grown Elves had cowed at such a look 
but I found it reminiscent of my own father. I admitted to the lack of 
dragons but still insisted that Thranduil was not at fault and would 
much like to play with him again. Then he dashed all my hopes." 
 
"How?" 
 
"By interjecting the logic of an adult. What if Thranduil had no 
desire to be friends with me? He was much older and he was a Prince." 
 
"Much older?" 
 
"Three years, but I did not look my age. Oropher may have thought it a 
decade difference. Which might as well be an age when dealing with 
children." 
 
"So what did you do?" 
 
"I did what any self respecting child would do: I started to cry and 
made to run off, quite sure that I would never have any friends 
because I was so small. But I did not get far. Oropher caught me and 
kneeled so he was at eyes level and asked me why I was so sure 
Thranduil wanted to be my friend. I'm quite sure my answer shocked him 
and he had Thranduil brought in and we were nearly inseparable after 
that," Erestor concluded opening the door so they could go to dinner. 
 
"But what was your answer?" Glorfindel asked slipping an arm around 
his lover's waist as they walked to the dining hall. 
 
"Oh that," Erestor said avoiding looking at Glorfindel. "I told him he 
was the first child to help me instead of throw rocks at me with the 
others." 
 
"Why would they…" 
 
"I was small an easy target? I had dark hair, which quite strange in 
Mirkwood, I had no mother, the list goes on an on, but it does not 
matter as they brought me closer to the best friend I've ever had." 
 
"How old were you?" 
 
"15," Erestor said as he entered the dining hall and Glorfindel 
stopped the line of questions seeing his lovers mood had changed from 
amused embarrassment to sadness. He held his tongue in check though he 
desperately wanted to ask about his mother and the dark haired origins 
he had never given much thought to as they were common place in 
Imladris. Instead he kissed his lover's raven hair as he sat down at 
the table. Erestor smiled slightly at the tender touch and Glorfindel 
relaxed. 
 
Erestor looked at the dinner plate and bile rose up in him. He pushed 
the plate away, shut his eyes and took a deep breath. 
 
"Erestor?" Glorfindel asked. 
 
"I don't feel well," Erestor said to his lover. 
 
"Don't you dare…" Elrond growled. 
 
"Don't feel ill?" Erestor asked, confused. 
 
"You are a walking exaggeration. If you cut your finger on a parchment 
you are sure it's going to fall off." 
 
"I…" 
 
"You are an Elf! Elves are IMMORTAL! You are FINE," Elrond snarled as 
Thranduil stared, along with most of the Elves in the hall. The 
silence was broken by a light chuckle beside Erestor. 
 
"He does have a point, you do worry a bit much," Erestor stared at 
Glorfindel and pushed his chair back. "Erestor, finish your dinner," 
Glorfindel said taking his hand. 
 
"I seem to have lost my appetite," Erestor said pulling away. 
 
"Just eat and stop this foolishness. In Thranduil's presence none the 
less," Elrond snapped and Thranduil whirled to face Elrond but Erestor 
beat him to it. 
 
"I'm sorry to burden you all with my company," Erestor snapped and 
stomped out of the room. Making his way to Glorfindel's room he shut 
the door and locked it. He curled up on the bed still angry. He didn't 
understand why Elrond acted as if he were lying. He felt odd but if 
his Lord did not want to hear it then he wouldn't burden him with his 
feelings again. 
 
Glorfindel began banging on the door then and Erestor tried to ignore 
him. "Erestor please! Thranduil said you didn't have lunch either." 
 
"I'm not hungry. Go away!" Erestor snapped from the bed. 
 
"This is my room," Glorfindel pointed out. A fuming Erestor pulled the 
door open to face his lover. 
 
"FINE! Enjoy your blasted room!" He said before going towards his own 
neglected room. He locked the door behind him and when Glorfindel 
banged on the door he pulled a pillow over his head to drown out the 
sound. He had no idea when he fell asleep but awoke to stomach cramps. 
Curling up in a ball he spent the last hour before dawn wondering why 
the sensations did not pass after a while. But at the same time 
getting up to get something to eat seemed like much too daunting an 
adventure. He finally drifted back to sleep shortly before dawn. 
 
******* 
 
Erestor woke with a start completely disoriented. He sat up and 
realized he was in his own quarters, a place he rarely spent time as 
of late and his head was throbbing. Looking around, he tried to 
discern what had woken him when another set of bangs on his door 
reminded him. 
 
Padding to the door barefoot he opened it, hiding behind it at the 
last moment remembering his current state of dress. He shut his eyes 
for a moment, his vision blurry, before actually making eye contact 
with a frantic Glorfindel. 
 
"Must you bang on the door?" 
 
"I was about to break it down!" 
 
"What for? Am I not allowed to sleep either?" 
 
"Since when do you sleep until midday?" Erestor paled. "Are you alright?" 
 
"According to you all I am fine." 
 
"Erestor…" 
 
"I'm fine," Erestor snapped annoyed. 
 
"Fine! You are fine!" Glorfindel responded in aggravation before 
stomping down the hall. Erestor rolled his eyes and shut the door, 
rubbing his temples to make the headache pass. He bathed and dressed 
quickly and made his way to Elrond's study. Groaning suddenly when he 
realized the departing form of the Balrog slayer had been dressed for 
patrol. 
 
Opening the door to Elrond's office the half-elf glanced at him and 
raised a brow. "Are you alright?" 
 
"Fine," he whispered. 
 
"Did you get enough sleep?" It was then Erestor noticed the underlying 
tone of sarcasm. 
 
"Plenty," Erestor said icily. 
 
"So you are feeling better?" 
 
"I'm fine!" Erestor exploded. "I just chased away the first lover I've 
had in centuries, spent the night alone and awake, after being 
ridiculed by my Lord in front of half of Imladris and one of my oldest 
friends but I'm just DANDY," Erestor raged stomping out of the office. 
 
Elrond sighed and sunk glumly into his chair. He hadn't meant to push 
Erestor. He was just trying to make a point. 
 
******** 
 
The Twins and Legolas were running through the gardens playing tag 
watched over by their fathers. 
 
"I haven't seen him since," Elrond admitted. 
 
"Well Erestor has always been sickly, which is why I didn't understand 
why you did not take him seriously." 
 
"Sickly? How so?" 
 
"Even you must notice how pale and thin he is, even though he used to 
be smaller." 
 
"Smaller? Erestor is the tiniest Elf I've ever seen. The only ones who 
don't tower over him are dwarfs, hobbits and children." 
 
"I know and if you saw his father, the Elf is a head taller than I am. 
Erestor took all his features except his height. Though he is also 
very slender." 
 
"Erestor speaks little of his family." 
 
"There is little family to speak of. Erestor is his father's image. 
Though I do wonder where he got the gray eyes, his father's are a 
startling brown." 
 
"I see. Does…" Elrond's words faltered as two matching tear stained 
faces ran towards him, trailed behind by an equally distressed 
Legolas. 
 
"Ada, make him wake up!" Elladan cried tugging on his father's robes 
as Elrohir simply sobbed into his robes. 
 
"E'stor," Legolas filled in from where he was hugging his father. 
 
"Were?" Elrond asked standing up, carrying a twin in each arm. They 
lead him quickly to where Erestor was sprawled out on the ground. 
Elrond could hear short, laboured breathing and the shut eyes worried 
him immensely. 
 
Placing the Twins down on their feet he lifted Erestor into his arms 
and made his way out of the garden, nodding quickly at Thranduil. 
 
"Boys, come," Thranduil said still carrying Legolas who watched 
Erestor go with wide eyes, his thumb finding his way into his mouth. 
 
"We want to stay with E'stor," Elladan said wrapping his arm around Elrohir. 
 
"Your Father needs to work. You could make him something for when he 
gets better." 
 
The Twins seemed to think on it for a few minutes but finally they 
nodded and Thranduil lead them to the play room as the sun began its 
descent. 
 
"What does E'stor like?" Elrohir asked Elladan. 
 
"Books," the twin answered simply. 
 
"But we can't make a book," Elrohir said with a frown. 
 
"Yes you can," Thranduil said as Celebrian entered the room. 
 
"Boys its time for dinner." 
 
"No!" The Twins exclaimed in unison. "We have to make a book for 
E'stor," Elrohir pleaded again, near tears. 
 
"What why?" Celebrian asked lifting her distraught son into her arms 
stroking his hair. 
 
"Because he is sick. Ada took him to make him better," Elladan said 
wrapping his arms around her legs. 
 
Celebrian turned to Thranduil. "They," he said indicating the 
children, "found him collapsed in the garden." 
 
"Vala, okay here's what we will do. We will go have dinner while they 
bring in paper, paints, and everything you will need to make a book 
for Erestor. Then you can work for an hour before you got to bed. Then 
finish in the morning." 
 
"When is Fin coming back?" Elladan asked suddenly. 
 
"Lunch time tomorrow," he nodded and kissing Elrohir who was calm 
again she put him down and extended a hand to each of her sons. "My 
Lord," she said leading the Elves to the dining hall. 
 
"What is the matter with E'stor?" Legolas asked as they walked the 
halls, thumb still in his mouth. 
 
"I don't know son," Thranduil said gently prying the thumb out of 
Legolas' mouth, "but Lord Elrond will work hard to make him better. 
 
"Okay," Legolas said making himself comfortable against his father's chest. 
 
"Yes let's go see what's for dinner." 
 
******** 
 
Elrond barely noticed as the time for dinner came and went as he 
observed Erestor. The Elf had stiff muscles and that was what was 
causing his laboured breathing as his body continued to stiffen. He 
showed no outward signs of the type of poisoning that would cause 
such. There was no skin discoloration, on Erestor's stark white skin 
anything would show. 
 
The one noticeable difference was his normally rosy lips were slightly 
blue due to lack of air. It did not happen often but Elrond was 
stumped. So were the other healers who had gone to ravage the library. 
He took Erestor's hand, glad that it was still warm at least and 
wondered what had happened to his friend. 
 
"My Lord?" Elrond's head snapped up and he saw Melpomaen, Erestor's 
assistant and head scribe. A small mousy Elf that hardly ever spoke up 
and even now he shifted nervously from foot to foot. Shaking his head 
he supposed it was fitting that he and the most vocal Elf in the land 
were lovers. 
 
"Yes Melpomaen?" Elrond asked, stopping his musing. 
 
"I looked up the symptoms in the new catalogue Erestor and I were 
working on and the only thing I found that seems exactly similar is 
the bite of a Mirkwood spider. The venom is a slow acting poison 
stiffening the limbs because the spiders enjoy live…" 
 
"The giant Mirkwood spiders? You don't think we would have noticed a 
giant spider in the garden?" Elrond sighed when he saw how Melpomaen 
shrunk back into himself holding the book close. "I'm sorry, I'm just 
concerned. Did you find anything else?" 
 
"Not yet, this is the first thing that resembles his symptoms most. 
Will he be alright?" 
 
"I do not know," Elrond said worried. "I will try some general 
treatments for poison and hope." Elrond stood and moved to a shelf 
picking up a vial that would induce vomiting. Getting a bowl he placed 
it on the bed and sat Erestor up and froze. Erestor hadn't eaten since 
breakfast the previous day. A breakfast they had had together before 
Thranduil's arrival. If it had been the food he would have been 
afflicted first being a half-elf. Instead he gave Erestor some water. 
 
Feeling useless Elrond began to search Erestor's body for marks of any 
kind or anything else that could give him a clue to what was going on 
in his body. All he found was a tiny, yellowish fading bruise on his 
arm. The skin was not even broken and Elrond prodded it anyway and 
noticed it was slightly stiffer than the rest of the arm. Frowning he 
wondered if Erestor's assistant could be right. 
 
Standing he asked one of the remaining healers to keep an eye on 
Erestor as he made his way to Thranduil's guest rooms. 
 
"Thranduil?" Elrond asked knocking lightly. 
 
"Yes," Thranduil whispered opening the door and Elrond caught sight of 
Legolas sitting on the bed, in what was clearly Thranduil's shirt. 
 
"Your spiders, do they come in another variety besides giant?" 
 
"They grow to that size if that is what you mean. Why?" 
 
"Erestor was poisoned. I have most of my healers and scribes searching 
and the only thing they found that resembled his symptoms was the bite 
of a Mirkwood spider. 
 
"But that would happen in hours and how would a spider make it this far?" 
 
"I would assume, like most creatures, the poison gains strength over 
time. I do not know how it got here but you have a cure do you not?" 
 
"My warriors always carry it. But from what you are telling me it is 
much too potent. Its main ingredient is the venom itself." 
 
"We need to get that spider then." 
 
"How will we find one spider?" 
 
"We have to or Erestor will die," Elrond hissed. 
 
"Ada," Legolas whispered. 
 
"Legolas, go back to sleep." 
 
"Ada, I'm sorry," Legolas said starting to cry. 
 
"Legolas what's wrong?" 
 
"It was so little and I thought…I don't want E'stor to die…I'm sorry…" 
Legolas said holding out a box to Elrond who took it. "Make E'stor 
better." 
 
"Thranduil I will need your help to prepare it." 
 
"Give me a moment," Thranduil said lifting Legolas into his arms and 
rubbing his back. "Son, I have to help Elrond but you can stay with 
the twins. We will talk in the morning but I want you to understand 
this is not your fault," he said moving quickly down the halls, 
followed by Elrond. Entering the Twins room Elrond's heart contracted 
painfully seeing the twins laying face to face, arms around each 
other. 
 
Elladan looked up and quickly shut his eyes. Elrond arched his brow 
and it was then he noticed the lantern hidden between the two boys. 
"Why aren't you asleep?" 
 
"We wanted to finish the book for E'stor." Legolas broke out in fresh 
sobs then as Thranduil placed him down and both twins went to him 
wrapping him in a hug. "I want you all to go to bed." Elrond said 
sternly. The Twins nodded solemnly. 
 
******* 
 
It was nearly dawn before the potion was ready. Together Elrond and 
Thranduil fed Erestor part of the potion and rubbed some into the 
bruised skin. Elrond labeled the rest of the potion and salve and 
placed both on a shelf as Melpomaen entered the room. 
 
"My Lord Elrond, King Thranduil, your children are calling for you." 
 
"Ah yes, sit with him, you saved his life," Elrond said clasping a 
blushing Melpomaen on the shoulder as they walked out to the Twins 
room. 
 
Elrond and Thranduil entered the room to find the Twins trying to coax 
a sobbing Legolas out of a corner. Elladan walked over to Elrond. "We 
told him it was okay and you would make E'stor better but he doesn't 
believe us." 
 
Thranduil and Elrond glanced at each other before Thranduil approached 
and Elrohir stepped away from Legolas. Thranduil took a seat cross 
legged on the floor across from Legolas. "Son, I want to talk to you. 
You did not do anything wrong. You did not know the spiders you had 
were the same as the big ones." 
 
"They were blue," Legolas whispered sniffling. 
 
"And the giant ones are gray and black, then when you found out you 
told us right away so we could help Erestor. A bad Elf wouldn't have 
told us because they didn't want to get in trouble. And you are sorry 
right?" Legolas nodded. "Well then the Twins are right, when Erestor 
is feeling better you will see. I know he will be very happy if you 
help make his book." 
 
Legolas sniffed but moved into his Father's arms and Thranduil smiled. 
"I think someone is waiting for you." Legolas looked up and Elrohir 
held out a hand to the blond. He pulled him to their workstation which 
was their small play table covered in leaves, flowers, paint, 
feathers, parchment, quills, charcoal, paste, cloth, twine and even a 
small pot of ink. There were a few completed pages childish drawings 
which Elladan neatly stacked and placed to one side creating a place 
for Legolas as Elrohir lead him to the seat. 
 
"Ada?" Elladan asked. "When's breakfast?" 
 
"It's dawn, it will be sometime yet. Most Elves are still in bed," 
Elrond said smiling. 
 
"Oh," Elladan said. 
 
"But we could go raid the kitchen. I would do it myself but I seem to 
have forgotten where it is," Thranduil said with a wink. 
 
"Okay," Elladan said glancing at Legolas and Elrohir who were working 
together to place a single black feather on a page. Elrond moved 
closer as Elladan decided to properly lead Thranduil he had to be 
sitting on his shoulders. 
 
"What are you doing?" Elrond asked. 
 
"This is E'stor page, see," Elrohir said pointing to the carefully 
written name on the top of the page. Elrond smiled and didn't dare 
mention it was spelled wrong. 
 
"It's wonderful," Elrond said stroking Elrohir's hair. Legolas tilted 
his head and whispered to Elrohir. "What's your Ada's name?" 
 
"My Lord, that's what the big Elves call him," Legolas frowned having 
heard the same term used for his own father. 
 
"What does your Nana call him?" Elrond grinned immensely amused by the 
conversation. 
 
"Why are you so happy?" Thranduil asked. 
 
"Ada," Legolas whispered waving his Father over when he placed the 
food he had down on another table in the room. 
 
"Yes?" Thranduil asked and Legolas waved him closer before whispering 
in his ear. Thranduil grinned and whispered back. "Elrond, Lord 
Elrond." 
 
"Um Lord Elrond how are we gonna put the book together?" Legolas asked 
looking at the pages. 
 
"Don't worry, we'll take care of it," Elrond said Melpomaen would be 
happy to fulfil such a request. "Excuse me, I want to go talk to your 
Mother." 
 
"Bye Ada," Elrohir said as Elladan waved his mouth full of his and 
Thranduil's hoard. 
 
"By Lord Elround," Legolas said and Thranduil snickered. 
 
"Ada!" Legolas said looking up from his pasting. "You should make 
E'stor a page too." 
 
"I suppose I should," Thranduil said sitting down looking at the 
supplies and pulled some parchment and a quill to him but stopped. 
Grinning he took the paints instead. 
 
-- 
**Blue Gold** 
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