Madness of war
Elrond and Eldarion
"Please, Grandfather, please?! The young boy climbed up to his grandfather's lap. "Please tell me about the war with Sauron and the fighting you did on that huge mountain".
The boy's grandfather sighed, rubbed his temple and closed his eyes for a second. His grandson pulled his robes and a smile came upon his face. The boy looked up to him with pleading puppy-dog eyes, the same stormy-grey as his father's eyes, his foster-son Estel, nowadays better know as King Aragorn of Gondor. Though the grandfather could be recognised as an Elf, because of his still youthy looks and his serene and impassive face even at his high age; the boy looked human and was not much older than ten years.
"Why do you want to hear about war and fighting every time I see you?" Elrond, because that is who the Elf was, asked his grandson.
"I don't know Grandfather " Eldarionshrugged. "I just like hearing about it. I want to be a hero just like you was."
"A hero" Elrond asked slightly confused.
" Yes, Ada told me about all the things that happened before he became King and he mentioned that you had fought in the first war against Sauron and that war you won so you must be a hero, right, and Ada couldn't tell me more about it because he wasn't born yet then and now I want to hear it from you so that I know what I have to do before I'll be a hero too and how to fight a war and....." Elrond chuckled and raised his hand to stop the rambling of his grandson, but the boy wasn't done talking yet. "...and besides, you promised to tell me a story."
"I did?" Elrond asked.
"Yes, you did, when you arrived, remember?" Eldarion said, looking at his grandfather worriedly, because he never forgot a promise he had made.
Elrond's mouth twitched a bit when his thoughts went back to his arrival two days ago. He hadn't been in Minas Tirith for quite a while and Arwen and Aragorn were to see him again. But that was nothing compared to the excitement Eldarion had shown when he heard his grandfather had arrived. The young boy remembered the last time very well, with lots of presents and stories. He flung his arms around his beloved kinsman, not bothering to say hello. "Did you bring presents, Grandfather? And are you going to tell me stories again? Please?!" Elrond chuckled as Arwen took her son in her arms; "Won't you say good day to your grandfather first, ion-nin", she said. "Oh, hello " Eldarion said hesitantly, quickly followed by: "Well, are ya??"
Elrond looked to his grandson in his arms with a loving smile. "No, I did not forget, how could I?"
"Great, well then, will you tell me about the war and Sauron and how brave you were"
"If you wish I shall tell you, but it might not be as heroic and happy as you think." Elrond said with a sad and remembering smile...
