Touching Tomorrow

Title: Touching Tomorrow – Part Six
Author: Charlie

Beta: keiliss
Contact: legolaslovesaragorn@yahoo.co.uk or glorfindelanderestor@yahoo.co.uk
Type: FPS

Pairing: Erestor/Elrond

Rating for this chapter: R
Warnings for this chapter: Very AU, Violence, implied M-Preg
Disclaimer: Don’t own these elves, sadly.

feedback would be wonderful, thanks!

Summary: Secrets Revealed…

A/N : Featured songs :
Haunted, By Evanescence
Mad World, By Gary Jules
Someone's Waiting For You, by Disney.

** - Watchers thoughts



Chapter 6

Hoovering.

If there is one thing I hate, it’s that loud, infernal thing.

Plugging it into the wall, I turn it on and recoil backwards from the loud ‘Vrooom’ it makes. Though I use
it often, I don’t think I will ever get used to the sound, but at least there is only the hall, the lounge and
Rodoniel’s rooms to see to, as the kitchen floor is wood, as is the case in our bedroom, and the bathroom
has linoleum.

Steering the horrific machine, I hoover the hall first, cleaning the dust and fluff from the creamy carpet – I
have always thought it bears a strong resemblance to curdled milk, but Elrond wanted it….

I shake my head, for I am becoming distracted again. It is easy to do so in this godforsaken house, without
Rodoniel…Oh Angel, where are you? I move on to his room, and, as I clean, every little detail catches my
eye, reminding me painfully of him.

I work quickly, and then flee to clean the lounge, though this is of little help to my uneasy mind because, no
matter what I see, everything relates back to my angel.

I turn off the Hoover, and the house is plunged into blessed silence, at least so it seems after the roar of the
beast machine, but I know that all too soon it will become depressingly quiet. Putting the vacuum away, I return
to the kitchen to find the washer whirling away, and the radio still playing softly. Such normal sounds, such an
abnormal day

I stop to listen as a new track comes on – the tune is unusual, the song is new to me, and perhaps it will distract
my mind for a few moments...

“Long lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside…”

I turn off the radio abruptly; the lyrics are hitting too close to home.

Glancing out of the window to distract myself, I am shocked as I see just how dark it is, how late it has become, and
remember that I still have to go shopping.

I quickly bundle up in my coat, and, picking up my bag and turning off the lights, I leave the flat.

I close the door behind me, carefully locking it, and descend the very stairs that gave me such a fright
yesterday – and once more I am painfully reminded of Rodoniel’s absence.

Pushing open the sturdy door at the base of the stairs, I walk out into the cold night, clumsily clutching my
coat close to my chilled frame, trying to block out the biting wind. No matter how tightly I fasten it, the wind
still finds the small gaps, working its way to my exposed skin like ghostly fingers, chilling me to the bone.
I turn the corner, increasing my pace as I want to spend as little time in the chilling cold as possible.
Turning again, I now find that the wind is behind me, pushing at the small of my back like the palms of
little childrens’ hands, urging me onwards.

Cars drone on past as I walk, their bright lights blazing, horns loudly cutting through the night.

Looking up, I smile with relief as I see the store and carefully cross the street to walk through the huge, open doors

** I watch him as he walks along, alone and seemingly oblivious to the dangers of the night. Following slowly
behind, I see him glance back from time to time, almost as though he suspects that someone, or something, is
following him.

As ever, the shadows are my friends, and, as Erestor hurriedly, almost fearfully, crosses the road, I glare through
the heavy, liquid darkness of the night, before once again slipping unnoticed into the unlit backstreets.

You’re right to be scared, Erestor… you never know what will be waiting for you in the dark when you walk…alone… **

The lights of the store dazzle me as I step inside, and I blink, trying to accustom myself to the brightness.

Picking up a basket, I take a deep breath and smile softly, trying not to draw attention to myself as I walk
down the first isle.

As I pick up each item and place it in the basket, I mentally tick it off the list.

~Bread....Cheese.....Potatoes...~

We don’t need much, just perishables and whatever we have run out of. The list grows shorter as I work
through the store.

~Eggs....milk....butter...~

All around me I can hear a dull murmur of voices - soft whispers, loud questions, sweet answers…

As I listen, I become aware of something else, too, a song playing lazily in the background, which I had not
noticed to begin with.

I’m sure I know the tune, but I am equally as sure I have never heard it before. I strain to listen, to get some
clue as to what it might be.

“…I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
are the best I’ve ever had…”

It is as though a hush has fallen over the store, though looking around I see everything going on as normal, no
stop, just my own mind blocking it out.

The words leap out at me, a soft purr of enticement, a seductive promise of rest, and, alarmed, I shake my head,
managing to drive all other thoughts but those of shopping from my mind.

~Apples…Pears…cherries…~

Glancing down at the basket, I find I have slipped a bag of cherries into it, and I frown. Why did I choose those?

They are not something I normally buy, so I return them to the shelf.

Finally, I place the last item into the basket and go to the check out, paying with the credit card Elrond gave me
for shopping.

Packing the food into bags, I grimace as I realize there will be at least five, probably six, of them for me to carry
home alone.

After packing the last items, I accept my card back, and, putting it away, I grip three bags in each hand and heave
them up.

I am not overly strong, and they are very heavy, so I must walk slowly.

Leaving the store, I shiver in the cold wind once more and walk as fast as I can, heavily laden as I am. The plastic
handles dig sharply into my fingers, and the bags themselves swing from side to side as the wind batters at them.
They start bashing against my legs and tangling together, causing them to pull even tighter at my fingers.

I am more than glad when I catch sight of the flat and hurry towards it, finally entering the huge door and climbing
slowly up the stairs.

I put the bags down so that I can open the door, and I stumble inside. I smile in relief as I realize I am not the only
one home, even though no lights are visible as all the doors are closed.

However desperate I am, I know I must first unpack before I go through to investigate. I do so quickly, putting
food onto the shelves and into the fridge, before putting away the empty bags and brushing down my hair. I then
walk through to find Elrond and, hopefully, Rodoniel.

Walking along the corridor, I realize Elrond is in our room, and, taking a fretful breath, I push the door open. I find Elrond waiting for me, in a very dark mood. I’m immediately on edge, already worried senseless about Rodoniel.

“Where is he? What have you done?” I demand. I am terrified, but the love for my son gives me courage.

“Nothing. He had a little ‘accident’ so I put him to bed. Come here!” Elrond orders me shortly, making it clear that he is not to be argued with.

“What happened?”

"When I took him out today he carelessly took a tumble while trying to climb down the stairs on his own. He's asleep. Now, come here! I will not ask you again," he says coolly. He is watching me smugly, daring me to accuse him of lying.

"I'm going to see him. I need to say goodnight..." I whisper. I need to see him. I know there was no accident. After yesterday I know that Rodoniel would not try to do that again. He hurt my angel.

“I said he’s asleep!” Elrond hisses dangerously, eyes narrowing to slits.

“I don’t care what you say, I don’t believe you!” I scream angrily, turning towards the door, turning my back on him, something I have never dared….

“Erestor, if you go to him now, I *will* punish you!” Elrond snarls darkly.

“Punish me then,” I hiss, slipping from our room and into Rodoniel’s.

The room is dark, and I close the door behind me before swiftly rushing to the cot. In the darkness I can hear his quiet sobs.

“My sweet angel, what has he done to you?” I whisper heartbrokenly, carefully lifting him into my arms and carrying him over to a chair by the window. I pull back the curtains to let in the moonlight and the glow of street lamps.

He looks up at me; his face is covered in tear tracks and displays a huge bruise.

“Oh love, I’m so, so sorry...” I say softly, cradling him close to my body, rocking him gently as he sobs into my shoulder.

“Shussssh, my darling, dry your tears,” I tell him gently. As he turns his head I point to the sky where, even above the street lamps, we can see the stars.

“Be brave little one
Make a wish for each sad little tear
Hold your head up
Though no one is near
Someone’s waiting for you,”

I sing softly to him, a gentle lullaby to try and help soothe the pain, to show him how much I love him.

“Don’t cry little one
There’ll be a smile where a frown used to be
You’ll be part of the love that you see
Someone’s waiting for you
Always keep a little prayer in your pocket
And you’re sure to see the light
Soon there’ll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright”

I gently wipe away his tears as he presses against my body, cuddling him, giving him the comfort he needs so much.

“Have faith little one
Till your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someone’s waiting to love you”

When I finish I find he has slipped into sleep, and, smiling down at him, I take him to his crib, gently putting him down and tucking him in.

“I’m sorry, Angel… I failed you. I thought you were safe from him, but I was wrong.”

I take a deep breath, trying to hold back my own tears.

“I promise I won’t let him touch you ever again,” I say, gently touching his soft, bruised cheek.

“Sleep, my angel….I love you so much,” I whisper quietly, leaving the room and closing the door behind me.

** I have been here, watching and waiting for him since he entered the house. I know he will come to the window. He always does.

A flicker of light flashes, then dies, and I know he has just entered the room. Sure enough, his silhouette soon falls across the window, drawing my attention instantly.

I wonder if he can feel the intensity of my eyes on him as I study his face, barely visible in the dim street light. He gazes out of the window, forcing me to step back into the darkness of the alley to avoid being seen. My face is shrouded in shadow as I continue to watch him until, finally, he steps back and is gone.

Glancing once more up at the empty window, I turn on my heel and fade back into the darkness as I have done night after night, telling myself yet again that this has to stop. I am determined that this time will be the last, for, although my heart tells me something is wrong, I cannot keep suspecting, assuming. It is not my place to interfere, and now, somehow, I must find the will to walk away. **

I lean against the door to our bedroom, and I wrap my arms tightly around my trembling body, trying to comfort myself as I sob silently, shaking as tears flow down my cheeks.

Suddenly, I feel the door open behind me, and I tumble backwards, failing to break my fall with my arms and hitting the hard wood floor sharply. I cry out, looking up into the smirking face of Elrond in shock and pain, before trying to scramble to my feet.

“How could you do that to him?” I demand, struggling to stand, glaring at his arrogant face. “How could you do that to your own son?”

“Come now, Erestor, surely you know by now that when you disobey me ‘accidents’ happen?” he mockingly asks me, smirking cruelly.

I back away in horror as the full impact of his words hits me. I had been so wrong! I had thought that Rodoniel would be safe from him. I had thought he would not hurt his own son. No matter what he did to me, I had never thought he would do that.

Now I realise the truth - that he would not only hurt him, he would use him as a weapon against me, making him pay for *my* mistakes.

“But he’s your SON, Elrond. You would never have done that to one of the twins or Arwen,” I accuse him, raising my voice in disbelief.

“Be silent for once in your life. That was different!” he snaps at me, growing angrier by the minute.

“How, how was it different?” I cry, tears streaming down my face.

“Because he’s not hers! Because he’s yours, and they were hers!” he screams at me, and a heavy silence falls over the room.

He darts forward and, grabbing my wrist, twists it hard as he pulls me to him and then, ignoring my cry of pain,
jerks me round and pushes me into our room.

"Bathroom!" he snaps. "Wash, and wait for me. It seems you need to be reminded of your place."

I shiver, and, after he has dismissed me with a nod, I walk slowly across the room, preparing myself for what I
know is to follow.



tbc