AN: I am alive, everyone! I know it has been so long since I updated this, but my muse has decided to jump kick me and flee thou coup.

Warnings: none

This takes place when Estel is around six years old.

It was a hot summer's day in the Valley of Rivendell if the sight of the family cat was any indication. Trouble had taken to sleeping all day in the family library, his chubby body sprawled out, looking as if he had been ran down by a horse. Laughing softly to himself, Elrond decided to leave his four-legged friend to sleep and went to find his three sons.

After about fifteen minutes of looking, Elrond found them playing by the central fountain, the youngest of them squealing with laughter as his eldest sons splashed him with the cold water. Walking over, the three stopped when they noticed their father. "Good day, Adar, how do you fare?" Elladan asked, stopping for a moment.

Elrond smiled. "Hello, ion nín, I am well, thank you. I see you three have found a way to keep cool this day."

"Yes, we have. I am so grateful we have this fountain here. I do not think we would have had the energy to take Estel to the river otherwise," Elrohir said splashing aforementioned brother. As an afterthought, Elrohir looked to the sun and shuddered. "Come to think of it; I do not remember the last time it has been so hot, even us Elves felt the effects, no matter how slight."

Elrond had to agree. The last time, it was this scorching hot, his sons had just come into their majority, and if it was affecting them, how much more, was it Estel? Looking down at his youngest son, he saw his little cheeks beginning to become flushed from the heat. "I know, Elrohir. Speaking of Estel, do not let him remain outside for too much longer, lest he becomes ill." Estel splashed and squealed before jumping into his unsuspecting father's arms. "Ada, stay with us please?"

The twins laughed as they watched their baby brother attempt to convince their father to stay using the pleading look they had taught him when they were his age. "Yes, Ada, stay with us," they replied in unison, both giving the same look.

Elrond mocked glared. "I see you have been teaching your brother how to persuade." Sighing in defeat, he handed Estel to Elladan. "Very well, I see I have been rendered helpless with those pleading eyes. I will stay and watch you play; just remember what I said." Elrond took a seat nearby and watched as his children continued splashing.

As the hour wore on, he was brought out of his reverie by the sound of his eldest son's voice.

"Okay, Estel, we need to get you inside where it is cooler."

Getting to his feet, Elrond rushed to his youngest side and saw his cheeks were flaming red and the fatigued looked in his droopy eyes. "I think you have been outside long enough, Estel. Elladan is right; we need to get you inside and cooled at once." Picking Estel up, he rushed him indoors and to the healing ward where he knew it was cool. Elrond was well aware of the dangers of heat sickness, and if not treated quickly, it could kill.

"Adar, we are sorry. We should have stopped a while ago," Elrohir said as they reached the healing ward.

"Do not apologize, my son, this could have happened to anyone."

Sitting the young human down on a bench, he began to strip his youngest until he was in nothing but his undergarments. "Elladan, get some cool rags and a glass of ice water."

Elladan nodded and quickly went to retrieve the requested items. Upon returning, he saw that his brother was holding his side crying. "Ada, my tummy hurts."

"I know, ion nín. But it will stop once we get you cooled off." Taking the cold rags, Elrond placed them on his son's hot body in hopes this would help bring his temperature down. "Drink this, but slowly so you do not get sick," Elrond said, handing him the cup of ice water.

"Will he be okay, father?" Elrohir asked, becoming extremely concerned for his baby brother.

Elrond took in his young son's features. His body was the color of a tomato, and his normally bright eyes were dull and exhausted. Aside from a painful sunburn, he was pretty certain Estel would be okay as long as he remained indoors and got some rest.

"Yes, I think he will be okay. You stopped in plenty of time, and with lots of rest and fluids, he should be in no danger." Elrond took the empty cup and refilled it with more water and took some aloe vera, slathering it on his son's body. After placing more cold rags to the back of his neck and the bottoms of his feet, he helped Estel lay down.

It did not take the small child long to fall asleep, exhausted from both the heat and the fun he had with his brothers. When the twins knew their little brother was sleeping soundly, they kissed him on his head frowning at how much heat radiated from it.

"Do not worry, in no time, his temperature will be down, and Estel will be back to his usual mischievous self."

Elladan brushed a piece of wet hair from Estel's eyes. "May we remain with him?"

Elrond nodded. "Of course. Just make sure to reapply more of this to his skin in about an hour or two and wake him to drink more water at that time if he has not woken." Placing a kiss on all three, he went to work on some paperwork.

Later that evening, when neither of his sons had come down for supper, Elrond had three plates brought up to them. When he entered the room, he smiled, seeing his sons sitting in a chair on either side if Estel, who was still sleeping.

"I brought some food for you since you missed supper. How is Estel?" Elrond asked, placing the plates on a nearby table.

"Thank you, Adar," Elrohir said, standing to stretch. "Estel seems to be doing much better. The heat has gone down tremendously. He fell back asleep about thirty minutes ago. He did not seem too hungry."

Feeling Estel's now cooled forehead, Elrond agreed. Estel would make a full recovery. "It does not surprise me he is not hungry. But you two should eat, and then get some rest. I will stay with him until the morrow—and that is not a request," Elrond said with a chuckle.

Knowing they had lost the argument, they resigned to their fate. Picking up a plate of food, they kissed their father good night. When they had left, Elrond shook his head, smiling. No matter how old those two got, they would always remain elflings at heart. As he looked down upon his youngest sleeping, he smiled and placed a kiss on his brow.

"Whatever will I do with you three?" Chuckling, he took a seat where Elladan had been sitting moments before and watched Estel sleep until he fell into a dreamless slumber.